Living by Faith...

"The just will live by faith." Paul wrote these words in Romans 1:17 and the implication here is the "normal Christian" life would be one lived by faith in Christ. But what is faith? How do I live by faith? How can I have more faith?

Faith is the combination of two things, belief and trust. Faith is more than simple belief! Faith is believing something is true and then trusting (relying upon, resting in, depending upon) what we know to be true. Unless you have come to the place where you trust what you believe you have not yet genuinely experienced faith.

Living a life of faith means living your life in light of your relationship with God and what He says is true. We must believe God is who He says He is and trust He will be completely faithful to do what He says He will do! Dependence upon the faithfulness and goodness of God enables us to be a person who lives by faith.

The first step to having more faith is reading the Word of God and learning more of who God is and what He has promised to do on our behalf. The second step is placing our trust in what we have come to believe is true in God's Word. Faith can be strengthened by our life experience but it is obtained and broadened through what we learn about God in His Word and trust to be true for our life!

Pray and ask God to help you live by faith today!

James

A Dose of Encouragement...

I just finished reading, "The Selfless Way of Christ: Downward Mobility and the Spiritual Life" by Henri Nouwen and thought I would write a short review for those looking for something good to read this summer.

I will begin by saying I know very little about the author, his theology or background. I might disagree with many things he taught while a professor at Yale Divinity School. However, in this particular work he seems very inspired and has much to say which I believe will encourage all Christians in their walk with Christ.

Nouwen's premise is that we are all called to follow Christ on a "downwardly mobile road" which leads to love and selfless service for the Kingdom of God. He writes of how this "downward mobility" is in contrast to the "broad path of success, fame and influence" which our culture has defined and thrust upon us. Nouwen contends that the culture's demands stand in direct contrast to a Scriptural understanding of growth, success and ambition. He believes the temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness were temptations to be relevant, spectacular and powerful. Nouwen believes these temptations are the same we all encounter on a regular basis and must deal with in a Christ-like manner if we are to truly be a follower of Christ. Christ set aside the glory of Heaven to pursue a "downward mobility" in order to love and serve; we too are called to the same downward mobility, setting aside what might be for our own glory so we might love, serve and give glory to Christ.

Nouwen finishes the book by giving a "game-plan" for facing temptation and the self-serving ambition it entices us to pursue. He encourages us to grow in our walk with Christ through participation in the church, time meditating upon the Word of God and personal prayer. His writing on these three subjects is very good and will encourage readers to pursue all three with renewed passion and discipline.

This is a good book little book (can be read in an hour or so) and I recommend it to those looking for a shot of encouragement in their walk with Christ!

James

A Little More Humor...

A Divine Appointment

Over the years God has truly blessed me with wonderful people in my life. I have been completely amazed how He would introduce someone into my life exactly at the time I needed them. He has been faithful to place people in my life who have been through very similar experiences and feelings and could completely empathize with me - which I know for me, always made the situation I was facing a little bit easier. I heard someone once say that these are "divine appointments" and I have loved that saying ever since. It gave me goosebumps to know that God, Himself, had arranged my life and this other person's life to meet at the very time that we met! Having someone counsel you and support you through something they have already conquered always gives great hope! It is so encouraging to see that person on the other side and be reassured that I too will get though this.

Sound familiar? Jesus, is that person for all of us! Jesus came to this earth as a human and experienced the same pain that we do today - the death of a parent, physical pain, temptation, etc... He has been through all of it! That is why one of his many titles is counselor".... And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6. The most divine of all appointments is when Jesus comes into your life! Once you've had that appointment you know you will never be alone and there will always be a Wonderful Counselor to support, love, encourage and help you through those difficult times. What more could we ever need?!

Kim

Putting First Things First

I love my wife. I like her a lot too! She is a wonderful woman and I thank God for her. God not only blessed me with a very beautiful wife but a very good woman to spend the rest of my life with as well. I am blessed to be Kim's husband and a part of what God is doing to make her more like Jesus everyday. I could never have dreamed of a better woman to be my best friend, lover and partner than Kim.

Old timers are usually quick to say that marriage is not easy and requires a lot of work if it is going to be a success. Even if you have the best of partners you must still make a daily choice to love her (or him). Paul helps us know what real love is in 1 Corinthians 13. In this passage the apostle helps us understand love is much more than a goofy feeling in the pit of our stomach; love is a real, intentional choice and involves action! Be intentional and make the choice to love and serve your spouse today. God will bless you and your marriage when you put both He and your spouse ahead of yourself!

James

Sin is Always Crouching at the Door!

Yesterday I read an article about the latest casualties of World War II. You can read the story here . War, and the loss of life which comes with it, is tragic; but even greater the tragedy when victims die 65 years after the war ended! Bombs from the war are routinely found in Germany with four discovered in the past month alone. These hidden reminders of war still have the capacity to take life!

Christ died on the Cross to pay for our sins and defeat the power of sin in our life. Yet, sin is like a hidden "bomb" which lurks around us everyday and we should always be alert to the danger it represents. Christ defeated sin and it no longer has power over the believer, but sin still seeks to enslave and defeat us nonetheless. Never forget the danger sin represents and don't think because Christ won the war over sin 2000 years ago that you can't become a casualty of sin today! Don't give sin the opportunity to destroy the life Christ intends for you to have as a believer in Him!

James

Giving to God What is His Already

How much of our life does God deserve? This may seem a funny question, but I believe it is one worth asking. When you prayed to receive Christ as Savior you gave your life to Him. What does this mean? Does this mean God has ownership of my pocketbook, time, children and marriage? Does this mean God has the right to my free time, where I live or what kind of car I drive? What does it mean to give God your life???

Many people spend their entire life seeking to justify continued "ownership" of those parts of their life they choose to keep from God. They reason God isn't really concerned about life's little details and doesn't really care about things like: what they watch on television, listen to on the radio or look at on the internet. Surely, God isn't really concerned with what we wear is He???

God really DOES care about the details of our life! God has rights to our ENTIRE life! And God is even interested in the little things we often think we should still have control over like our "me time" and the type of clothes we wear. When you gave your heart and life to Jesus it was a complete and total abdication of the rule of your life! When you were saved you committed to God 100% of everything that is you! All of our life should now be lived with God's will and desire for us in mind.

It may seem a scary proposition to give up control of every area of your life to God! But remember, God is completely good and loves you so deeply it cannot be comprehended. God wants what is very best for your life. God is looking at your life with eternity in mind and seeks what will make you most like Jesus too. God can be trusted! Pray and ask God to help you give to Him what you may be holding back from Him today!

James