Fresh Faith...from an random perspective

I woke up this morning and read about wisdom. I drove to work this morning wondering if my life displays wisdom? Solomon was known for wisdom. What made him wise? What did he do that credited his life to be considered "wise." And do I hold qualities that make my life worthy of such?

Makes me think back to the "Sunday school lesson" on the talents. Wisdom comes from the Lord. And according to the story of the talents God gives according to the diligence of His children. Today I wondered if God has given me wisdom in which I have chosen not to utilize. Have I buried my wisdom to hold on to it? Have I used it carelessly or have I taken, learned and applied it? With what I have been given, have I made myself worthy of receiving more? Do I live a life of wisdom or a life where wisdom take a back shelf?

I often consider my opportunities and wonder if I made the most of them. I dont want to look back on my life and see chances I had to be the woman of God I could have been. I wanna know that as God grows and stretches me, that I am acting in accordance.

This morning I was also reminded that our "work" is rooted in our faith. It is at times difficult to act when we have no belief in the action or in the outcome. So I ask...do my actions reflect the strength of my faith or is the depth of my faith too shallow to produce a life resembling my faith.

Faith. Belief. I was raised to know that I know what I know. I was raised in church, a christian school and among peers that "accommodated" my faith. I would say encouraged. However, when you are brought up among "christians" you find quickly that the role itself can at times be as shallow as a role. When faith is a role, it is accommodated. When Faith is a life...it is encouraged and built up! Anyway, When I went to college, I quickly found my faith challenged. I was accused of believing simply because I was told to. Which lead me to really dig and discover what I believed. I wanted to own my faith rather than being handed my faith on a platter in the form of pews, private school tuition and bible studies. I wanted simply what all those things gave me the desire to want. To know that I know what I know!

When you dig. You learn and when you learn you grow. And when you grow...you stumble. You face moments that test what you are taught. Dedication determines the outcome of your stumble. Will you fall and retreat or will you fall and persevere?

I stand now as a 28 year old that stumbles on a daily, if not hourly basis! But I also stand with deep roots in my faith. A faith that is MINE to claim. A faith I can live by because it has been challenged, tested and remained steadfast.

Not as if I have "arrived," because the life of faith is never accomplished...rather it is constantly developed. But now, my faith is to produce a life that exemplifies what I believe. For 'faith without works is dead.'[James]

In any job that you master, you grow tired of the repetition. I am so thankful that my relationship with God is an ongoing pursuit on both parts. Never growing weary of the fresh faith He gives me each day! Helps me see how incredibly blessed I am!

Grace

Grace. What does it mean to you. Have you truly stopped to realize the gift you have received in grace? Have you grasped the amazing God that desires to look past our fault and see our possibility?

In church this week the most profound statement left echoing in my mind has been: grace produces faith that leads to obedience. How wonderful to know that our obedience is not a requirement for grace but a production of the grace so freely given!

Humility reveals our need for the grace of GOD...Faith reveals our trust in His grace!

I am so thankful to be saved by grace! The law was in place prior to Christ's death on the cross, but his death was a transition of sorts in which grace was introduced and the grip of the law was released.

The laws demands: Do your best with your resources to live up to the high and holy standards of God. IMPOSSIBLE!

It is impossible to build a relationship with God with that plan of action. Our resources limit our ability to be "good enough." The law only produces defeat. It is simply by grace that we are able to walk with God and have a relationship with God. Accepting that grace and living by that grace is what enables us to know Him. When we act on our own, pride and self reliance hinder our relationship with God. They give us a false realization of what we are capable of. Pride blinds us to our need. Self-reliance causes us to stumble. Humility and Faith are the building blocks of a relationship with the Almighty because in humility and faith we see our need and trust His fulfillment.

Humility allows us to stand before God IN GRACE. GRACE is the very essence of God drawing us close to Himself in our current condition. Faith is the next essential step. Trusting God for his provision, that is Faith!

Humility says: "I need what you have." Faith says: "I trust you are sufficient for my need."

The results of God's grace is to bear fruit. Producing a life that honors that grace. Grace produces a growing life of obedience. I read in my devotional yesterday that grace leads to courage. Courage is edified by knowing grace. How much more dedicated and driven would you be, knowing that someone saw it fit to have grace on you. That drive is courage result of grace, result of pardon.

John 15:4-5 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

The grace of God stirs our faith and we find that in spending time in the word and with our God, we realize his life filters ours and produces fruit! Going to church to merely go, or reading to say we read, talking the talk with out walking the walk is no different that wax fruit. True fruit is produced from a relationship, not from religion or ritual expectations.

I love living with God's grace on my mind! It causes me to view possibilities differently! It produces hope for every moment! Because of Grace...my life can far exceed the limitations of my human nature! I can be Christ-like!

And another great encouragement is knowing that when I faulter...God's grace is an all-sufficient supply! A God with so much grace to grant us, is a God that sees something GREAT in us!

Are you living today with the realization of the possibility that God sees when He looks at you?

Insecurity surmounts...

Insecurity (by definition)

in·se·cure (ns-kyr)
adj.

1. Not sure or certain; doubtful
2. Inadequately guarded or protected; unsafe
3. Not firm or fixed; unsteady
4. Lacking stability; troubled
5. Lacking self-confidence; plagued by anxiety

Insecurity is our greatest guard and our worst enemy. Insecurity tantalizes our thoughts and balances our risky behavior. Insecurity is all in all a win lose situation. It gives you the reality of our situations and the presumption of our fears. The core of insecurity is defeat and destruction. Feeding our fears and driving our tears.

After reading these definitions I realized something. Those who claim to be believers can rest in the Lord to dismount all insecurities. Let me explain:

1. Insecurity says I am not sure. The Bible however states: "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." Psalm 54:4 Those who love God, can rest in in knowing that they know what the know is what they know to be true! They can be sure.

2. Insecurity says I am vulnerable. The Bible says: "Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between His shoulders." Deuteronomy 33:12 When our identity is in the Lord we are guarded and He has our best interest at heart!

3. Insecurity says I am unsteady. The Bible reminds us "If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand." Psalm 37:23-24 Our lives are steady and stable when we live a life pleasing to the Lord we love.

4. Insecurity says I am troubled. The Bible says: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me." John 14:1 and "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 God pleads with us to trust Him when troubles arise. Our perception is skewed by our limited vision. Trouble to us may be the avenue for blessings later. Trust makes trouble bearable and leaves insecurity lifeless.

5. Insecurity says I am anxious. The Bible says: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phillipians 4:6 We can take all concerns to the One who can offer our hearts comfort that produces peace! Peace dispels all insecurity. They cannot coexist!

So for every definition of Insecurity the Bible refutes its hold and offers us answers of hope! Let your hearts be comforted in the ONE who desires to give you a hope and a future!

Where is the richest place in the world?

Take a wild guess.

Would you say the city of New York, Saudi Arabia, Japan, The Gold Coast of Ghana, or perhaps The Oil Wells of Kuwait? Many of us can rack our brains to think of riches beyond our wildest dreams. However...the richest place on Earth is a place that never cashed in. A place who left all to chance and never let their dreams take flight.

The richest place on earth is the graveyard. Where there lie paintings never painted, books never written, businesses never begun, dreams never pursued. Relationships never started, songs never sung, items never produced.

So, will you rest in peace or will you take your dreams to the grave? If you have dreams ideas or aspirations what are you doing to pursue them? What are you accomplishing?

Will you aide in making the graveyard richer still or will you pursue the dreams God granted to your heart. Afterall, we are here for a time to accomplish good. He has placed a purpose in each of us that we are trusted to accomplish.