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Archive for FaithLift
Winning Over Worry
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It’s been said that “Worry is like a rocking chair, it will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere.” Worry can get the best of us. It consumes our lives and leaves us continually desperate and hopeless. But, here’s the truth about worry (according to Psychology research):
40% of our worries are about events that will never happen Read More→
Grace Disguised
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There are times in our lives when God doesn’t appear to be who He says He is. There are moments, sometimes years, when our faith falls short and we’re consumed with the possibility that God either doesn’t care or He really isn’t there.When God is Silent
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Within an instant, suddenly, without notice, life can take a dramatic turn for the worse. Just when you’re certain you’re standing on solid ground, you feel yourself begin to sink, and in utter helplessness, all you can do is cry out to God. After all, you’ve experienced despair before, called out to Him, and He showed up. But, this time, with each passing, sinking moment, He doesn’t answer. As your situation becomes more and more dire, the distress of a seemingly silent God trumps the burden that’s pulling you under. God’s silence in desperate times is difficult at best; it can be frustrating and excruciating. There was a time when God was directing you, leading you, and blessing you, but now it appears He has simply walked away. In such trying times, when you’re unable sense God’s presence and hear His voice, you will feel abandoned, confused, and terribly alone . . . but you are not. In those times where your voice seems to be rebounding off heaven’s floor, when you’re hoping God will hear you, but you feel “unheard,” remember these things: Read More→
The “NOW” Factor
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There are many factors that affect our faith. But, none as powerful as the “NOW” factor. Whether you realize it or not, the “NOW” factor is affecting your faith in seen and unseen ways. The “NOW” factor is nothing more than claiming faith in Jeremiah 29:11 NLT (“I know the plans I have for you, they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”), yet demanding one stipulation . . . we want the “good” part “NOW”—not in the future.
The “NOW” factor disrupts, and can ultimately destroy, our faith because our preoccupation with what lies ahead deludes our desire to control what cannot be controlled. We want the security of knowing the future, rather than risking everything to trust God. We want to trust God, but at the same time, we want a light cast down that will show us our future, so that we might ultimately spare ourselves the trials that come with trusting God. To our demise, we betray ourselves by claiming our trust in Jeremiah 29:11, but demand to know so much about the future that we don’t need to trust God anymore. Read More→
The Heart of the Matter
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s an easy question, “Do you love God?” Seems simple enough at first, I’m guessing you probably didn’t even hesitate in your answer. But, when you dig a little deeper, you find that it’s really a loaded question; one that can’t be answered so easily. Here’s what that question is really asking: “When someone offends you, do you overlook the offense?” “When you’ve just lost your job, do you trust God to provide all that you will need?” “When your spouse lashes out at you, is your response through a gentle and quiet spirit?” “Do you set God’s desires for your life above your own?” “When your world seems to be falling apart at the seams, do you praise God in the midst of the pain and suffering?” Now, those questions aren’t so easy, yet they are equivalent to the question, “Do you love God?”
Too often, we see life’s circumstances just for what they are on the surface. But, if we look underneath it all, we find that there’s much more to it. God is using all things to search hearts and find someone who will make their heart completely His. (2 Chronicles 16:9) God created us for Himself, and until we pursue His heart, we will never experience the desires of our own. Read More→
Help Wanted
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Life gets overwhelming in a hurry. Even when you diligently try to simplify life, somehow it finds a way to complicate things on its own. Without much effort, we can find ourselves disillusioned with the reality that faces us. If we’re facing financial struggles, we diligently seek job opportunities with better pay. If we’re struggling with relationship issues, we seek out an “expert” that seems to know how to handle the situation. If we’re desperate to see a loved one who is chained to addictions set free, in fear, we decide that it’s time to take matters into our own hands. Each and every burden we face brings with it an opportunity to live out our faith, or become overwhelmed and reap the consequences of acting as if we’re more sovereign than God. If Jesus couldn’t do anything without God’s help, how can we expect to? If Jesus depended upon God to make the decisions in His life, why don’t we? Our lives should reflect a sign into heaven that simply reads, “Help Wanted!” Read More→
Christmas Presence
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As the lights line the Christmas tree and the ornaments adorn its branches, no one can deny what lies beneath its mighty splendor. But when the gifts have all been opened and it seems that Christmas has come and gone, we’ll find that underneath it all is not the “presents,” but the glory of God’s “Presence.” It is the gift that is given to us every moment of every day . . . each day of the year. It is never packed away in a box . . . His “Presence” is always present.
He is with us always. (Matthew 28:20)
God’s gift to us was One that would be with us for all eternity.
Although it did not come wrapped in pretty paper or topped with a glistening bow,
He wrapped it in His everlasting mercy and grace.
The unique part about God’s gift to us is that we can give it to others, yet still keep it for our own.
We can bestow His love and mercy and bring others into His “Presence.”
It’s the gift that keeps on giving, if we will simply pass it on.
Only One Thing Matters
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Have you ever wondered if maybe God miscalculated the number of hours needed in a day? Have you ever questioned His understanding of what it takes to live this life? We can submerge ourselves into His Word, but at the end of the day, we can’t understand how that time spent will get the bills paid, the house cleaned, the grocery shopping done, the yard work finished, the family fed, or the kids ready for bed. Maybe God just didn’t think far enough ahead into our fast paced, schedule driven, technology powered world. Maybe He’s not being reasonable by allowing us to spend a little less time with Him, so that we could get things done. And what about when the holidays come around? Did He not anticipate the decorations that have to be put up, the parties that need thrown, or the extra jobs that must be worked to pay for it all? Maybe God missed it.
Or maybe we have.
The question we have to ask ourselves is, “Am I a Mary or a Martha?” (Maybe we have multiple personalities that include the two. LOL) In Luke 10: 38-42, we find two women named Martha and Mary entertaining Jesus, only to end up at the brunt of one of His many unorthodox teachings. In those days, the women were to prepare the meals etc. The men were to be at the feet of a rabbi or teacher of the torah. There was no exception. So, Martha took her place in this world. And obviously, Martha was feeling as though she had more to do than she could handle on her own. (We can relate!) But, Mary recognized that her Lord was in the next room and there was nothing that was going to keep her from sitting at His feet. Read More→
Holding On
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If you’re feeling like you’re “at the end of your rope,” then you’re right where God wants you. The problem is that we tend to hold onto the rope . . . when we should be grabbing hold of our faith in God. So, holding onto God, trusting Him, means “letting go.” Don’t believe me? Here’s an example:
There was a mountain climber who desperately wanted to conquer the Aconcagua and began climbing it after years of preparation. But, he wanted the glory to himself, so he went up alone. He started climbing and it became later and later. He didn’t prepare for camping, so he decided to keep going. Soon it grew very dark . . .
Night fell with heaviness at a very high altitude. Visibility was zero. Everything was black. There was no moon, and the stars were covered by clouds. As he was climbing a ridge at about 100 meters from the top, he slipped and fell. Falling rapidly, he could only see blotches of darkness that passed. He felt a terrible sensation of being sucked in by gravity.
No Matter What
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There are three simple words you should know that will take you places in your faith that you never thought possible. They aren’t complicated and don’t require any “in depth” interpretation. Although frequently manipulated by the circumstances surrounding them, they are precise, pertinent, and powerful when it comes to growing your faith. Are you ready?
Here they are:
“No matter what”
If you’re not exactly sure how those three simple words can transform your faith, let me spell it out for you:
When you’re facing financial stress that brings you face to face with foreclosure and the loss of all your hopes and dreams . . . trust God—“No matter what.”
When your spouse is an addict, won’t get help, and continues to allow the devil to unleash chaos, pain and suffering in your home . . . trust God—“No matter what.”
When your child is battling a terminal illness and the end is eminent . . . trust God—
“No matter what.” Read More→
