Having Faith

 

HAVING FAITH

What is Faith anyway in layman’s terms and why do so many Christians claim they have it. To me Faith is.....trusting God so much that your belief turns to hope; your hope is a result of the Word of God that convicts you but clearly convinces you; that you can have confidence in, rely on, and completely depend on, every Word God says; even though you don't see the results readily.  Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen....Hebrew 11:1.

The Bible says the Faith is a way of life.  Galatians 3:11 says, clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "the righteous will live by faith".   I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit.   For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything.  What matters is something far more superior; faith expressed in love.  Galations 5:6 Message Bible.  Therefore hate drains faith.  And all of these, though they won divine approval by [means of] their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised...Hebrews 11:39  In our human relationships, there are sometimes discord.  By faith, we attain victory.  For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith   1 John 5:4 

Are you getting a clearer picture, faith is an action word.  It produces.  Faith without works is dead.

By the way, Faith is imputed or credited to us and makes us wise, fully justifying us.  By faith I can believe everything God has said in His Word.  This is how I can believe He can do the impossible, because He can.

Heavenly Father, Increase our faith today, make us whole in a daring way.  Keep us close when all else seems false,  help us not to operate out of human impulse.   We believe, we trust, and we know; that having faith in You is the way to go.  Bless us today with a new trust in You.  We pick up our cross, deny ourselves and follow You. We have faith!  In the wonderful name of Jesus.  Amen.

Single Mother

It’s Monday morning and God has awakened me, not my alarm.  I’m feeling congested and not even able to raise my head.  I’m sick.  I start talking to God saying; the problem today Lord is that I can’t be sick.  I have too much to do and no one else here to help me.  I can’t be sick today, I must make breakfast for the children, take care of my child’s runny nose, help them with their clothing, take them to school, and I can’t miss work because I can’t afford to lose the pay.  There is no one else to do these chores.  It's only me Lord.

 

By now, I start to cry because I have to get up, it doesn’t matter how bad I feel.  I have to push myself beyond this illness.  Father, please help me is my prayer.  The tears are flowing down my face in streams because truly I can’t be sick.   My child had a fever a couple of days ago and now he is crying as I awaken him.  Ah, don’t tell me he is sick too.  I know I can’t do all these things but I have to take care of us.   I’m a Single Mother.

 

Dear Father in Heaven today is the day that You have created and I will rejoice and be glad in it. I know that there are many blessings in store for me.  Obeying You is better than sacrifice.  So I cast these cares upon You because I know You love me when no one else does.  Give me guidance, direction; show me what to do and how to do it.  Your Words says  My thoughts are not Your thoughts, neither our my ways, Your ways......Help me to be wise today.  In the mighty name of Jesus.  Amen.

ARE YOU OK?

I've heard so many say that they have someone staying in their home that sits at home watching TV while they go to work basically taking care of them. ADULTS, I’m talking about adults, someone over 18.

They eat, drink, and are merry while you go to work. They missed the due date for paying rent and sometimes they don't contribute at all. In essence, you are supporting them fully by residence, food and access to your car.

Now I’m a Christian and I desire to help so many people, those who are sick, old, or unable to care for themselves yet they are the last to ask and those that are healthy and walking around are the first to ask. The Bible says that we are to be faithful stewards of our money, time, and resources.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 4:2. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. God says that if you don't work, you don't eat.

Luke 10:7 says Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. Ah, this is why we must read the whole chapter instead of taking text here and there. What this text is really talking about is......

Some of my friends don't even know how individuals got into their homes. One had a person come for a weekend and did not leave for 8 months, another had someone come for a few months until they found employment and they stayed 2 years. Wake up people, individuals within your home must pull their weight. They must clean, buy food, pay rent, clean the car or support in some way fashion or form. Life is not free for you or them. WE do so much better when we help each other.

Who wants to be used or taken for granted. Give your freeloader a date. Tell them it's time for them to leave. They have two months to find another location to live. It's simple and you will feel so much the better for it. Are you OK? Or are you co-dependent. That's a person who pleases another person at the expense of their enjoyment, comfort, or happiness.

Romans 12:13 says When God's people are in need be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Why should we do this, because we may entertain angels and because we love people? We are to love them not enable them. Each situation is different, really look at yours 15:25-27.

We must not be enablers of bad behaviors. We must not contribute to the delinquency of adults. Are you with me?

FATHER IN HEAVEN, one of our greatest injustices is to enable wrong behaviors even our own. Search me and cleanse me and help  me and everyone else to know themselves but more than that help tus all to be healthy as we live this life. In the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen

Keep Your Bleeps to Yourself

I’m sick and tired of pollution. It’s all around us and we barely have any any control over it. The government can’t regulate it and friends and family don’t seem to care about it.

There are so many different kinds of pollution but the worse has got to be foul language. Why do people feel they can cuss on my Facebook page, play loud and inappropriate music that i can hear even in my car? When I’m in my car, I don’t want to hear your music.  I don’t want to hear you cursing out your children.  I don’t want to hear curse words anywhere, it’s not cute.

It seems that freedom of speech violations, have no limit. However, everything has a limit that’s why there are clear and distinct rules of law. Some just refuse to respect boundaries of someone else’s space. There is a law against spitting on the ground and there is a law against foul language in specific states. Foul Language laws

Here's specifically what God says about foul language: Exodus 20:7  You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name. Ephesians 4:29 says Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearer. Ephesians 5:3 says But among you there must not be a hint of sexual immorality or of any kind of impurity; or of greed because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or course joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. Also see Ephesians 5:12.

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, let this mind be in us that was also in Christ Jesus who being God, became a man and lived upon the earth; upright, holy, and seeking Your Will in everything. Give us good speech, good thoughts, good words, good behaviors resulting from our time spent with You and not the TV, movies, uncouth friends and relatives. Help us to be the example for the world and make our influence great, just like Jabez. In the Worthy name of Jesus. Amen

How Do We Help Sick People

I’ve heard it said many times that the church is a hospital for sick people and I’m one of them. In this age of free speech and do whatever you want to do, people feel they have the freedom to say and do anything without being held responsible. However, with this freedom comes responsibility.

You've heard it said that hurt people, hurt people, it’s true. And just because someone is having an issue doesn't mean i have to contend with their actions.

As a result, people sometimes confuse these three words, forgiveness, mercy, and accountability. The Word of God says forgive 70 times 7, Matthew 18:22. That is exactly what we should do. Forgive, extend mercy but it’s imperative to hold people accountable. I’m not talking about retaliation, revenge, or anger. No, vengeance is mine says the Lord of Hosts. Yet, forgiveness means you will not return the favor, and mercy means, you can empathize with their sickness and still hold them accountable which means making someone aware of a higher standard.

And of course grace is getting the power to do things right which is the ultimate accountability. I’m talking about stopping behaviors that are offensive whether it’s perceived or not. Shouldn’t we hold all people accountable for their behaviors, even ourselves? Tell me how do you hold sick people accountable?

Prayer: Our Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and help us to be whole; filled with Your Holy Spirit's power, sweet in our disposition, kind and loving, peaceable, with a strong sense of our self-worth in You. Keep us near the cross that we will bear all truth in Love and that we will hold people accountable for their actions so that we can say, It is good to have come in the House of the Lord and to dwell with Him. May we all receive healing, a fresh anointing to our souls. In the Worthy name of Jesus. Amen.