Second Corinthians 12:9

Faith

Job wasn't perfect, but the Bible does say he was "blameless and upright" (Job 1:1).Even though God humbled and rebuked him at the end of the story--" 'I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.' "(42:5-6)--Job had faith. "Though He slay me," Job says in 13:15, "yet will I trust Him."


What does your faith look like? Are you willing to place your life completely in God's hands? Are you willing to leave it there? Are you willing to trust Him no matter what?


My Bible labels Habakkuk 3:17-19 "A Hymn of Faith." I'm always awed when I read this passage and forced to asked myself, "Is this the kind of faith I have?"

"Though the fig tree may not blossom,

nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail,

and the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

and there be no herd in the stalls--

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The LORD God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer's feet,

And He will make me walk on my high hills."

What does your faith look like?

The Blood of Jesus

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?

Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?

Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?

Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?

Are you washed

in the blood,

In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless?

Are they white as snow?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

~Elisha Hoffman

I stand redeemed

by the blood of Jesus.

The price is paid; my debt is gone.

The chains that bound me no longer hold me.

Because of Calv'ry, I stand redeemed.

~Ron Hamilton and Cheryl Reid

And such were some of you.

But you were washed,

you were sanctified,

you were justified in the name of the

Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

~I Corinthians 6:11, ESV

Eagles' Wings

When the valley plunges deeper,

And life shatters all my dreams,

Then I lift my voice to Jesus,

And He gives my spirit wings.

God gives wings as easgles;

God gives wings to fly and strength to rise above.

God gives wings as eagles.

When my feet begin to stumble,

And my dreams begin to crumble,

I mount up on eagles' wings.

--Ron Hamilton, Wings as Eagles

praying as the sun sets over Camp Ironwood, June 2010

Even youths shall faint and be weary,

and young men shall fall exhausted;

but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint.

--Isaiah 40:30-31, NKJ

The Day My Life was Changed

When I tell my testimony of salvation, I always like to start by saying that my parents were saved in high school; not because God has "grandchildren" but because that was the start of God's work of grace in my family's life. Neither of my parents’ families are saved and they did not have a good Biblical foundation until after they were married. But Mom knew that she wanted to immerse her children in Scripture.So every night, Mom had devotions with each of us.

I always liked to hear the stories—and of course, Mom told the Gospel story often. But it was just a story to me, until one night when I was almost 6 years old. I went to bed that night after having our devotions, and I remember realizing that Jesus died on the cross because I was a sinner and needed to be saved.“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, NKJ).

One of the rules in our house was that you never got out of bed after bedtime, but I thought Mom would be okay with it this one time, and so I got up and talked with her and I prayed that night, confessing to Jesus my sin and asking Him into my life.

It was around the age of 13 that I realized that being a Christian is not just going to church or even enjoying going to church, but it was about a relationship with Jesus Christ. “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). It’s been a growing relationship ever since—not because God changes, but because I am changing. God is refining my heart and making me more like Jesus Christ. God’s grace abounds in my life every day!

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14).

Life Happens... a.k.a. My Week

I didn’t mean to take a blogging break. But sometimes Life Just Happens.

• A brother leaves for his junior year of college (and the recent graduate stays home!).
• A work schedule changes.
• A grad school application is sent off.
• A day off becomes a 4-hour work day.
• A once-a-week babysitting job begins.
• A traffic jam delays things.
• God keeps drawing people to Himself and changing hearts!

With God, when Life Happens, everything is purposeful. But adjustments do take time. :)

 

Next week, Lord willing, I plan to share my testimony of salvation. Until then, have a great weekend following God! "Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!" Psalm 105:1-4, ESV

 

Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace you have been saved through faith.

And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)