Yesterdays Faith is not enough for today.

In church we are working our way through Genesis. We covered a story I have never heard (shocking after growing up in church and in a christian school). Genesis 9:18-29

After getting past the amazing encouragement found in seeing such a great man as Noah make infantile mistakes, I got so much more from this odd passage! Honesty, it is continuously frustrating to see myself falter in the same areas over and over again, no matter how many times I try to "be better." So to know that it is more a reflection of our human nature than our faith, my heart was encouraged. BUT one statement in the sermon remained heavy on my heart. "Yesterday's Faith is not enough for today." And how profound to think. In the words of Lloyd Shadrach: You cant stockpile faith. He compared faith to breathing ... yesterdays breath was not enough to keep you going today. You have to keep breathing! You need another measure of faith in the same way to get through today's obstacles. The faith you built yesterday is not sufficient for the days to come, however, we build further on the faith.

So what have you done today to build your faith...to increase the roots by which you live by today? After all...you never know what obstacles await around the corner! So why not prepare yourself?

Who you really are!

When you woke this morning ... did you smile at your day or cringe and hit snooze? Do you face each moment knowing your capabilities or fearful of your failures? Do you focus on your weakness or your strengths? Do you step over your past and move forward or are you blocked by the past that got you off track? Do you see yourself through the worlds eyes or through Gods?

I think the GREATEST obstacle we face each day is our own opinion of ourselves! What others think of us is meaningless unless we choose to believe it! Our pasts do not define us unless we let it! So...I ask. Are you fallen to these obstacles or are you choosing to have a Godly perspective of who you are?

We can accomplish more if we choose to believe what God says about us!

Quit looking in a distorted mirror of what peers and partners and parents have said to you. Start repeating what God says about you: "I am acceptable, I am lovable, I am valuable, I am forgivable, and I am capable."

Psalm 27:10 says, "Even if my mother and father forsake me, the Lord will receive me." What others think is variable when you first consider what God thinks. Just like knowing monopoly money counterfeit to US American currency. We can know the truth of what others say about us, by first considering what our GOD says about us. And rest in the fact that even in our failures HE chooses us. Wants us and Loves us unconditionally!

Psalm 139:14 God says,“you are fearfully and wonderfully made." In Psalm 17, "you are the apple of His eye." In Deuteronomy 7:6, God tells you that you are "His treasured possession." In Philippians 4:8, God tells us we are to think about whatever is "true, noble, right, pure, and lovely."

If you struggle to believe what he thinks about you, read in His Word the truth of what He says about you, believe it, and let Him change your heart.

I am a child of God John 1: 12
I am a joint-heir with Christ Romans 8: 17
I am the righteousness of God in Christ. 2 Cor.5: 21
I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 6: 19
I am the apple of His eye. Zec.2: 8
I am an ambassador for Christ. 2 Cor.5: 20
I am free from condemnation Romans 8: 1
I am more than a conqueror Romans 8: 17
I am the salt of the earth. Mathew 5: 13
I am the light of the world Mathew 5: 14 & Eph. 5: 8
I am a member of the household of faith Gal.6 :10
I am a branch of the True Vine John 15: 5
I am the will of God James 1: 8
I am in the palm of the Lord’s Hand Isa. 49: 16
I am covered by the shadow of His Hand Isa. 51: 6
I am loved by God as much as He loves Jesus John 17:23
I am in God’s Hand and none can pluck me out John10:28
I am delivered from sin Romans 6: 7
I am free from weaknesses and diseases. Matt.8: 17
I am complete in Him. Col.2: 10
I am translated into the kingdom of God’s Son.Col.1:13
I am delivered from the power of darkness Col. 1: 13
I am accepted in Him Eph. 1: 6
I am dead to sin and alive to God in Christ.Rom.6:11
I am seated in heavenly places in Christ. Eph. 2: 6
I am redeemed from the curse of the law. Gal. 3: 13
I am in Christ. 1 Cor. 1: 30
I am hidden with Christ in God. Col. 3: 3

Choose today to believe what GOD says you are!

Faith that moves mountains...

Please continue to pray for the Atwood family as their faith grows and their hearts heal. Pray for them as their family continues to build their hope and restore their joy. Pray that they hear from all the numerous people who have been moved, challenged and changed by the ONE day their son lived in this world. Pray that they continue to rejoice knowing that their Son will see them again in Heaven!

Trevor and Keva Atwood have two adopted sons, Micah from Russia and Isaac from Ethiopia. They brought a beautiful baby boy, Chai, into the world last week and God welcomed him home shortly after. As they buried their little boy's lifeless body, their faith resounded to everyone around them as they claimed the glory of their almighty God! I dont know how to endure such heartache or how to cope with such loss, but I do know that God granted them a STRONG faith to pull them through and shine as such Godly examples to the rest of us. I have not seen this family since college (other than on facebook), but my life and my faith has been and will continue to see huge growth due in part to this little life and to his family!

These were the words of a brokenhearted father at the funeral for his son: (prepare your hearts, for these words are not what you would expect! This is a true testament to a relationship with the almighty GOD!)

"How many tears can I cry until I have none left? I may find the answer to that mystery soon.

My youngest son lived just over 1 Day. How do I make that make any sense- to me, to my wife, to my Micah and my Isaac? There is only one hope of even beginning to understand this. It is the same hope that offers us any understanding for all of our lives, no matter the length. It is the sure hope of the glory of God.

Despite our world's narcissistic understanding of existence, this world, our lives, were not created for us. We were made to image God. To show him off. To display his character. To declare truth in the midst of falsehood, light in the darkness. In short, the purpose for life is to bring fame and glory to God.

Many miss this truth. Many live long lives, amass great wealth, become loved and adored by millions, and even do very good things for the world...but they miss the truth. Jesus death on the cross and resurrection to life is not a nice story. Neither is it your "ticket to heaven". It is the only way we can do what we were created to do. It is the only way that God made for us to overcome our own treason against a Father that perfectly loves us first. Our self-worship means that we are not worshipping him. Jesus death and resurrection, the gospel, is the only way to true life, one that worships and glorifies God.

Chai Samuel Atwood did not understand this truth. He could not. But God has made a way for children, those who cannot yet understand their own sinful natures and need for redemption, to be brought into his loving fellowship and to be made new. I thank God that Chai is with Jesus awaiting the resurrection of his body.

Chai lived only a day, but through his life and death, many will be reminded of the gospel and, we pray, trust the Jesus who has given him new life. In 24 hours God did more with a helpless, weak, baby than many who do not trust him, live for him, do in an entire lifetime. This is just like God (2 Corinthians 1:26-31). Why do we waste our lives by keeping the gospel silent? Why do we live as if these truths are not real and do not need to be proclaimed? It is because, many times, we think it will show us weak. It will expose us as needy. It will cause others to look at us strangely, to mock us. But God uses the weak to shame the strong so that no one will boast.

So this is where Chai has challenged me. If there is a hope like that of the gospel; a great hope that Romans 8 speaks of, that 1 Corinthians 15 speaks of, a resurrection, a renewal of creation, then I must make it known. I must live as if it is true.

I cannot waste the life and death of Jesus. It is clear that he accomplished salvation on the cross and through his resurrection. I cannot waste the life of my son, Chai. It is clear that his 24 hours of life and all-to-early death have brought the light of the gospel to many. But, I can waste my own life. I can sit on this truth and not live it and speak it daily. I can dope myself with the morphine of my own flesh and this world that comes in the form of life's comforts and ease. Or I can cry out with creation, "Abba, Father! Fix this broken world! Renew this sinful people!" All along, loving and living like there is a resurrection and that the God who created everything through and for his son (Colossians 1:15-20; Romans 11:36) loves me with an everlasting love.

The pain for me makes the message more urgent. Though it will remain, it will lessen in weeks, months, and years to come. For most of you who read this, you will forget the pain even more quickly. Do not pass this opportunity the Lord has afforded to commit yourself to him. It won't happen by promising him to do more or be a better person (Romans 4:5). The change you need, the change you long for, will only come by trusting him with every part of your life.

The gospel is not obey then be loved by God. It is that God has loved you perfectly in Christ, so you want to obey him. Trust him in your marriage. Trust him at your job. Trust him with kids and family. To believe the gospel is to give God everything in response to his great love for you (Romans 12:1-2). This is the way to life (John 1:4).

Chai's name means "Alive". How paradoxical that a child whose name means "alive" died in order for God to bring the message of life in Christ to many.

Does the life you have been graciously given scream the truth of the gospel? Chai's life and death has now for 24 hours and will continue to eternity.

I love you, son. Rest well in Christ."