Faith is an amazing thing...

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to visit an amazing church in Asheville, NC, where the pastor gave a sermon that illustrated a concept I have taught previously: our faith is only as good as the object in which it is placed.  Intellectually, I accept this - but do I live in such a way that reflects I believe it?

When Jesus indicated that he was both the author and perfecter (or finisher) of our faith...do I live as if I believe that?  "He who began a good work in you will see it on to completion..." again...good stuff to "believe" but do I live as if I believe it?

Available at Amazon.com
What has really inspired me to think about this is a wonderful book I am reading - Miracle at Tenwek: The Life of Dr. Ernie Steury. This American trained surgeon forsook the creature comforts of living in the United States to become a medical missionary at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet, Kenya.  This physician worked tirelessly to provide medical and spiritual care for the Kipsigis people - a people whose lives were inundated with bizarre cultural rituals, witch doctors, and rampant disease.

Story after story illustrates how this mission relied upon God's miraculous intervention to provide resources for additional staff, supplies, or even the first hydroelectric powered dam ever built in Kenya.

As I read these pages, I have asked myself: do I believe God works miracles like that?  If I do, why am I tempted to doubt God's provision to sell our home or for me to find a job when we move?  I read of God's intervention and I pray, "I want this kind of faith, God."  I want the closeness with God where I am moved to action: such as, "During my devotions this morning, I really felt lead to..."

Satan has been beating me up of late. He keeps whispering in my ear, "You're no good, Steve. You've made mistakes. You're worthless...God won't use you like that."  Sadly, I am inclined to listen to him. Why? And I know I am not alone...

I don't want "blab it and grab it" or "name it and proclaim it" faith. I want simple, childlike faith where, when God leads, I know it's Him and I follow.

God...help me to find and walk in your will.  I want real faith...the kind that will spur me on to action - that pleases you.

'Nuff said.

Comments

Post a Comment

All comments are moderated before publishing. Feel free to leave your comment here.

Popular posts from this blog

Review of Spiritual Junkie

Image
Books about spirituality intrigue me.  As a Christian, I will admit that I have a very strong faith and I am resolute in my beliefs.  A long time ago, I endorsed the ideology that purports: if you want to know the other camp--you should read what they do. Be careful "where" you look for spiritual advice. Opening such doors could cause you quite a bit of aggravation...after all, you never know what you might find. Happy Friday, -Steve Comments welcome. Spirit Junkie, A Radical Road to Self-Love and Miracles By Gabrielle Bernstein 288 pages, $23.00 ISBN-13: 978-0307887405 Non-fiction Review by Steven King, MBA, MEd Spirit Junkie, A Radical Road to Self-Love and Miracles is destined to be a best seller since so many impressionable people are clamoring for spiritual direction in their lives.  If anything will do, then quite possibly such people are willing to fill the void in their lives with anything that comes along.  Its author, Gabrielle Bernstein, believes she has fo
Read more

Book Review: "Get Out of That Pit" by Beth Moore

Image
Who has not experienced living life and suddenly feeling beat down by one’s circumstances? The feeling that your feet are stuck in miry clay, and, no matter what your effort you never break free. You feel as if you have fallen into a pit and cannot get out. There is no comfort in the pit; rather the continual reminder that you are stuck. Into this common reality, Beth Moore’s Get Out of That Pit breaks through with alacrity that is certain to resonate with the sullenest pit dwellers. Her message is one of both hope and deliverance – a way to break free of the pit.  Relying upon a recent event of deliverance in the Psalmist’s life, Moore culls her thesis from Psalm 40 [NET]: 1 I relied completely on the Lord, and he turned toward me and heard my cry for help. 2 He lifted me out of the watery pit, out of the slimy mud. He placed my feet on a rock and gave me secure footing. 3 He gave me reason to sing a new song, praising our God. From a biblical expositional point of vie
Read more

Review of " TURNAROUND: A Six-Month Plan for Change"

TURNAROUND: A Six-Month Plan for Change Charles S. Ricks Seagull Publishers ISBN: 978-0-9835883-5-1 98 Pages (Includes front and back matter) Thomas Jefferson once opined, "Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude." In an era where the need for change is often invoked as a panacea to return to a foregone era, few set out to actually make significant change.  Rather, many are happy to pay mere lip service to the idea of change but invariably settle numbingly into their routine.  Life becomes drudgery through the slough of despond where ideologues lament the status quo and are powerless to do anything about it. Dr. Charles S. Ricks has written a compelling short work to help people pull themselves up out of the miry clay and actually change their lives for the better.  His TURNAROUND: A Six-Month Plan for Change is not filled with gooey epithets intended
Read more