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Thursday, April 30, 2015

Thoughtful Thursday: Faith vs Doubt




“I hope that he does, but I doubt that he will.”

I overheard someone say this the other day.  Because of the context of the statement, I was saddened to hear it, but then it got me thinking.  How many times do we say that about God?  Hoping that He does something, but doubting that He will actually do it.   
Okay, so we probably would never say it out loud, but we have thought it at least.  We may not even purposely think it.
This doubt is probably most evident when we pray for something.  Maybe not so much for the smaller things that we petition God for, those are easy to have faith for, but more regarding those larger, harder to imagine things.  These are the things that seem impossible or unattainable.
Faith is defined as complete trust or confidence in someone or something. 
Doubt is defined as a feeling of uncertainty or last of conviction.
Which one sounds easier? 
Doubt for sure.  It’s much easier to be uncertain of something. 
Faith requires complete confidence.  That’s much more difficult. 
Faith requires total belief and confidence, no room for doubt. 

In Matthew 21:21, it says “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
He goes on in verse 22 saying “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

So how do we make our faith strong, leaving no place for doubt?
Romans 10:17 says “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

This past summer, I taught a class for our Vacation Bible School.  This was one of the verses we learned, so one of the days I had to illustrate the verse.  I started by putting a blindfold on one of the children, then put some headphones on him, then hooked the headphones to my phone and played music.  He could not hear or see me.  I then began to give him instruction.  Of course, not knowing that I was saying anything to him, he just stood there.  I told the children that this was the way we will live our lives, unless we take off our blinders, believe in God, then listen to His word.  The Bible is written to us as an instruction book and as a love letter.  I believe our faith is increased by us reading the Bible.  God has given us so many promises in His Word.  Reminding ourselves of those and remembering that He is perfect, will begin to push out any doubt and leave room for complete faith.

“Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith.” - Unknown

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

We Pray Wednesday: P.R.A.Y.




 Praise 
Psalm 107:8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his wonderful works to the children of men!

 Repent 
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

 Ask 
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

 Yield   
Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

These are just a few verses to go along with the acrostic for pray. We hope and pray that this small reminder to praise, repent, ask and yield will be a help to you today!

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Teen Tuesday: Our Healer




Everyone faces problems and heartaches in every stage of their life.  Sometimes adults minimize the problems of teenagers, making them seem small or unimportant.  God understands our situation at all times, even when no one else does.  Every teenager will be put through tough times or circumstances that will cause them to struggle.  I have met teenagers that could not live with their mom and dad.  They live with a family member, and see their parents occasionally.  Some of the teens in our church live with one parent, and visit the parent they do not live with every other weekend.  Some teens in our church have a family member that has hurt or abused them.  Every teen will deal with heartaches before they reach their adult years.

I do not know the story of your life, whether your life has been extremely difficult, relatively easy, or somewhere in between.  I do know Psalm 34:18a tells us: “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.”  When we are going through difficult times our Saviour cares.  1Peter 5:7  says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”  No matter if you feel like those heartaches are understood by your parents or other authorities or not, Jesus always cares and understands what we are going through.  During those times, run to God and share your heart with Him. 

Monday, April 27, 2015

Monday's Message: Such Were Some of You



Such Were Some Of You:  
We are all sinners, and the Bible tells us that there is not one person who is good or righteous.  That’s right!  You read that correctly there is not one good person who has ever lived with the exception of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We are all sinners undeserving of Heaven.  It is a shocking reality, but it is absolutely true; however, God gave us the scriptures to provide us with the information we need to get to Heaven. [1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.]

“The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God” at first glance, can be very unsettling and possibly misleading; however, we can be certain even though we are sinners, once we are declared righteous because of Christ’s sacrifice we will have a home in the Kingdom. The only reason certain people are referred to as “righteous” in the Scriptures is they have the One who is righteous living inside of them.  There is not a special group of people who have decided to live their lives according to a certain set of rules and made themselves righteous, but rather a group of sinful people who have been justified by faith and now have a home waiting for them in Heaven because of Christ.  If you would like to know more about how you could join that group please contact me!

When we read the Bible, we should do so with the desire to understand all of its truths as they are written, and not with a desire to correct it or force it inside our existing beliefs.  It is God’s Book and He gave it to us to teach us and guide us throughout our entire lives.  When you come across a statement that seems somewhat confusing, shocking, or incorrect study out the meaning of that particular passage or at least ask someone to explain it to you.  Do not buy into the lie that this wonderful Book contains errors or that it is too difficult to understand!

I Corinthians 6:9-11:
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
 

Friday, April 24, 2015

Family Friday: Funny Friday!




A couple were admiring their garden from the kitchen window. The wife said: "Sooner or later, you're going to have to make a proper scarecrow to keep the birds off the flower beds."
"What's wrong with the one we've got?" asked the husband. 
"Nothing. But mother's arms are getting tired."


 An American man went on vacation to the Middle East with most of his family, including his mother-in-law. While they were visiting Jerusalem, the mother-in-law died. With the death certificate in hand, he went to the American Consulate Office to make arrangement to send the body back to the United States for proper burial. The Consul warned that to send a body back to the US for burial was an extremely expensive business and could cost as much as $10,000.          
"In most cases," advise the Consul, "the person responsible for the remains normally decides to bury the body here. That would only cost $300."          
The man gave it some careful thought before answering: "I don't mind how much it's going to cost to send the body back home; that's what I want to do."          
The Consul remarked: "Considering the difference in price, you must have been extremely fond of your mother-in-law." 
"No, it's not that," said the man. "You see, there was a case many years ago of a person that was buried here in Jerusalem. On the third day he rose from the dead. I just can't take that chance!"
    
A couple were going out for a rare night on the town. They put on their best clothes, called a cab, and put the cat out. The taxi arrived but as the couple walked out of the front door, the cat shot between their legs, back into the house and up the stairs. Knowing that the cat would wreck the house while they were gone, the husband ran upstairs to chase the cat out again while the wife waited in the taxi. 
Since she didn't want the cab driver to know that the house would be left unoccupied, the woman explained to him: "My husband is just going upstairs to say goodbye to my mother." 
A few minutes later, the husband reappeared and climbed into the taxi. 
"Sorry I took so long," he said. "Stupid old thing was hiding under the bed, and I had to poke her with a coat hanger to get her to come out!"