Today starts the first day of long awaited dream. I've looked forward to the day when I would be able to go back to school and begin accomplishing my nursing degree. It's been a joy to live these last 21 years - raising our 3 kids and being given the privilege of being a stay at home mom. I have enjoyed being a partner with my husband in his ministry when it was necessary and being able to help him to accomplish his goals. Today, as I sit and contemplate what today will look like I just have to take pause and thank the Lord for this opportunity. After all it is only by His doing that we are here. Directing us and leading us every step of the way. I always find such joy in learning and I pray :) oh about 12 hours from now when I'm in the midst of re-learning math and learning to appreciate art, that I will still be smiling and thinking- Wow! I'm really in school again at 40!
I'm reading in 2 Thess.1 and today the focus for me is on how we as believers are to expect persecution and every kind of suffering. But that we can't lose sight in the why of it all.
Paul writes to the church of Thess. and encourages them to remember why suffering is necessary and why their faithfulnes
s and perseverance is a testimony to God's faithfulness and to bring Glory to our Lord Jesus. In verse 11-12 Paul writes:
" To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, So that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thess. 1: 11-12
I was taken to Phil. 1: 21-30 - where Paul writes in verse 21: " For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain".
Suffering is apart of our life as believers.
I pray today that as we all walk this road God has for us that we will be mindful that all suffering is to produce Glory for Him and that in Him we too will be glorified, might not be here on this earth but one day we can look forward to being Glorified with HIM!
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Hebrews it's all about Jesus
I haven't been able to write much lately and to tell you the truth I've really missed it. As most of you know I was able to go back to my home away from home and see what Father is doing there. What always amazes me is that when I expect to go and be used by Him, He totally choses to use the time for teaching me something either about Him or about what I should be doing.....
I've been studying in Hebrews this past year and as our House Church began to wind the study up I kind of got stuck in Chapters 11- 13.
Here is what Father has been teaching me on my Journey with Him.
" Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible" Hebrews 11:1-3,
" And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
" All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. but as it is , they desire a better country, that is a Heavenly one.
THEREFORE GOD IS NOT ASHAMED TO BE CALLED THEIR GOD; FOR HE HAS PREPARED A CITY FO THEM."
Hebrews 11: 13-16
This chapter has so much in it how could I digest it in one sitting. It has taken me months to really process and learn what it is that Father wants to teach me about what it means to be faithful, to have faith in the things hoped for, to have convictions of the things I know are there but yet can't see, to understand that it is by faith we gain approval and that without faith I can not please my Heavenly Father; Jesus, To realize that He is the rewarder of those who seek Him...... I could go on but for today :) I'll just post about one aspect.
Verses 13-16-
The picture is of an older lady whom we have known now for 11 years. We don't have a deep relationship with her but a casual friendship with her. She has been shared with and knows the truth yet to our knowledge she hasn't believed. It is because of these and others who have yet to hear the Name of Jesus that my heart breaks and cries out to my Father in Heaven, " Lord , Please let me be apart of bringing the Harvest in ". I know it is a selfish cry and plea but an honest one from the depths of my heart.
Chapter 11 has brought some clarity to my life since having changed roles and jobs just over 3 years ago we moved out of being apart of the harvesting to helping with the administration of how to bring in the harvest. At the time while it was hard to leave our post and pass it off to someone else, somehow there was perfect peace to walk in obedience and to trust that Father was going to use us no matter where we served or in what compacity. It was truly the hardest transition for me personally and in some ways it was a struggle for my husband. Going from sharing our faith with the lost to leading those who were believers and then to add to that white faced americans was far from being simple. There were days we would look at each other and say, I pray we never acted like that or we would say Lord, teach us from all these that we may be changed and more like YOU. Not that everyone was bad or had issues but as we all know when you begin working with and leading other Christians especially americans. We quickly realize how bad "we ourselves included" all are at getting along and loving each other. That's for another post ! The fact is that while we truly did feel called to this role and felt we had an obligation to fulfill it for the term it wasn't easy for us to just walk out of being able to witness and share Jesus with the lostness around us and then turn all our efforts in encouraging, uplifting, helping others in their work and ministry.
Now some of you might say, why stop sharing? Well, we didn't stop sharing but when your focus and work is with those like us (white faced believers) the work changes and so much the time we spend with lostness. The Lord really did begin to show us some things and teach us some amazing things but it wasn't until I started studying in Hebrews that He began to pull all the pieces together or like I love to say," He Began threading them and making them complete by weaving them together." So what I'm actually going to share with you is the finished work of all that He's been doing in my own personal struggle of understanding why sometimes we have to do work that we feel may not be where our Joy is and how we learn to have Joy in the midst of what is very difficult. Then comes the garment of Praise-
As I went back into China and had the privilege of talking with those we shared with and lead to the Lord then it became clear to me that God was at work and was going to teach me something else from Hebrews. I was at a dinner one night with some of our dear brothers and sisters and we had asked them to share their testimony of when they came to know the Lord. Each one began to share and then came one dear sister and her husband. It was sweet to hear her talk about how she first saw God's love and how by life example ( life on life living) she saw that His Love was so different from her own. She was embarrassed and ashamed to be around us ( our family) because she always felt convicted that her Love wasn't like ours. She went to ask a malaysian friend why we were so different. This opened the door for Wakmee to share about God's love and how it changes people and touches people like our helper. She shared that for months she would see us day in and day out and how even when we got mad or upset she couldn't believe how much we cared about her that we would stop to explain that while we were upset it wasn't at the person as much as at the problem. Then she said, shared how we would always pray together and no matter how mad we got we always showed love to one another. It was because of this example that she first felt God speak to her and say she was not a good person and that she needed His Love to complete her.
I sat there and cried as she told the story and I translated. I never really knew totally how much our life on life living affected her. We had shared with her and witnessed to her but what really caused her to want to know Jesus was ultimately because she saw how our life was and how much Love we had and Joy we had even in the hardest times. She talked about our son, Justin's accident and she said, she was a believer then but still she couldn't believe how much Faith we had to trust God with our Son. She wasn't married yet and didn't have kids so she just couldn't imagine trusting in God to care of her kids let alone her Justin whom she saw and loved as her own little brother. Yet, she said, this was another example of how God used us to teach her about His love and His care for His children. She said, she remembered at the Hospital how we prayed for the doctors and the staff that they would come to know God through this experience, even before praying for their son. She said, it convicted me about my selfishness...... During this time of sharing I was reminded of the beginning of Hebrews 11 when the writer talks about those men and women of Faith who walked before us. In this instance the Lord allowed me to see how these dear brothers and sisters were being reminded of our faithfulness and it was encouraging them to remain faithful. That was so humbling because in that moment I realized and confessed," Yes, Lord, I've forgotten to remember those who have worked/labored before me and to be encouraged to press on and remain faithful......"
This testimony and others shared was so convicting to hear. Yes, it was a joy to hear how Father had used us to bring so many to faith but it was still convicting as well. I have missed being hands on and living life on life with lostness. Yet these past few years have taught us so much about how to live in community and how that is so important. It is what we need to model to the church in the Big country. It is the next step....... I was reminded in reflecting upon the conversation that I had just been given a glimpse into why we had to walk these past 3 years and how important it was going to be for us to model what we have learned. Share openly our own failures and victories of these past few years and to pass on to those younger in the faith so that they will not flounder or struggle in the same ways. We have a duty to proclaim GOD's FAITHFULNESS and His provision in all situations.
How does all this fit into Hebrews 11 you ask?
When I began studying Hebrews I was learning so much about Who Jesus was and how neat it was the progression of this book from Creation to Christ to the laborers and how neat it was that CHRIST was weaved through and through..... But what struck me was that there were times in these past 4 years that I have truly wanted to quit and to just go back to the states. There have been times when all I could see was the "Grass was greener over there( in the states). When I read Hebrews 11 I was shocked back to Right thinking.... I had taken my eyes off of JESUS first of all and had focused on my circumstances. I had forgotten of the many who have been FAITHFUL in the past and forgotten to look back to their faithfulness to spur me on to do the things I know CHRIST has called me to do. And finally I had not been willing to step out in FAITH knowing that what God was Calling me to He would be faithful to accomplish. That without faith I was not going to please Him and that "just doing" the work here in Asia didn't necessarily mean that was pleasing Christ. Especially if He was calling me /us to do something else. Change is never easy especially if it means getting more education for what lies ahead.
So, this last thread is really taking all of that and weaving it together, re-learning how to step out in faith; trusting the Lord for something I can't see and knowing that He is in control of all that is seen and unseen. It is learning again, that it is by Faith that others before me gained approval and that while I am secure in my faith; rather I am faithful or not, the blessing of walking in Obedience towards completion is necessary and since I am a believer then I too am gaining approval through my own obedience and Faith. It is realizing that with or with out me God will accomplish the work. I've seen this time and time again when I have stalled out or just not been obedient I see that He calls someone else to do the job I was meant to do. OUCH! It is realizing that My FAITH isn't just a one time occurrence but should be lived out day to day and that I should desire to please my Father in heaven through my Faith being lived out in the day to day things. I have seen how the Lord has had to take me back to the beginning of our ministry and show me how He has used us and how I need to not forget that even if He choses to use me in different ways I have to trust Him and not look back at the life I once had. Keeping my eyes on the eternal things not earthly things.
So may I close with this :
Phil. 3:13-14
"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Luke 9:23-25
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."
May we all be ready to step out in Faith not fearing what lies ahead nor looking back at what was but looking to the Heavens knowing that our home is not here on earth but in Heaven. May we all realize that it is Christ who is the author and finisher of all things and that it is in HIM that we do all we do and may we not forget those who have walked in Faith before us - remembering their faithfulness and sacrifices which gives us HOPE to continue on even if we can not see the fruits of our labor. May we be encouraged to do the same and to look to Christ whom we are made complete because of HIS sacrifice and love!
A Garment of Praise - To My father in Heaven, Thank you for using me and molding me into Your image!
Melissa
I've been studying in Hebrews this past year and as our House Church began to wind the study up I kind of got stuck in Chapters 11- 13.
Here is what Father has been teaching me on my Journey with Him.
" Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible" Hebrews 11:1-3,
" And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
" All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. but as it is , they desire a better country, that is a Heavenly one.
THEREFORE GOD IS NOT ASHAMED TO BE CALLED THEIR GOD; FOR HE HAS PREPARED A CITY FO THEM."
Hebrews 11: 13-16
This chapter has so much in it how could I digest it in one sitting. It has taken me months to really process and learn what it is that Father wants to teach me about what it means to be faithful, to have faith in the things hoped for, to have convictions of the things I know are there but yet can't see, to understand that it is by faith we gain approval and that without faith I can not please my Heavenly Father; Jesus, To realize that He is the rewarder of those who seek Him...... I could go on but for today :) I'll just post about one aspect.
Verses 13-16-
The picture is of an older lady whom we have known now for 11 years. We don't have a deep relationship with her but a casual friendship with her. She has been shared with and knows the truth yet to our knowledge she hasn't believed. It is because of these and others who have yet to hear the Name of Jesus that my heart breaks and cries out to my Father in Heaven, " Lord , Please let me be apart of bringing the Harvest in ". I know it is a selfish cry and plea but an honest one from the depths of my heart.
Chapter 11 has brought some clarity to my life since having changed roles and jobs just over 3 years ago we moved out of being apart of the harvesting to helping with the administration of how to bring in the harvest. At the time while it was hard to leave our post and pass it off to someone else, somehow there was perfect peace to walk in obedience and to trust that Father was going to use us no matter where we served or in what compacity. It was truly the hardest transition for me personally and in some ways it was a struggle for my husband. Going from sharing our faith with the lost to leading those who were believers and then to add to that white faced americans was far from being simple. There were days we would look at each other and say, I pray we never acted like that or we would say Lord, teach us from all these that we may be changed and more like YOU. Not that everyone was bad or had issues but as we all know when you begin working with and leading other Christians especially americans. We quickly realize how bad "we ourselves included" all are at getting along and loving each other. That's for another post ! The fact is that while we truly did feel called to this role and felt we had an obligation to fulfill it for the term it wasn't easy for us to just walk out of being able to witness and share Jesus with the lostness around us and then turn all our efforts in encouraging, uplifting, helping others in their work and ministry.
Now some of you might say, why stop sharing? Well, we didn't stop sharing but when your focus and work is with those like us (white faced believers) the work changes and so much the time we spend with lostness. The Lord really did begin to show us some things and teach us some amazing things but it wasn't until I started studying in Hebrews that He began to pull all the pieces together or like I love to say," He Began threading them and making them complete by weaving them together." So what I'm actually going to share with you is the finished work of all that He's been doing in my own personal struggle of understanding why sometimes we have to do work that we feel may not be where our Joy is and how we learn to have Joy in the midst of what is very difficult. Then comes the garment of Praise-
As I went back into China and had the privilege of talking with those we shared with and lead to the Lord then it became clear to me that God was at work and was going to teach me something else from Hebrews. I was at a dinner one night with some of our dear brothers and sisters and we had asked them to share their testimony of when they came to know the Lord. Each one began to share and then came one dear sister and her husband. It was sweet to hear her talk about how she first saw God's love and how by life example ( life on life living) she saw that His Love was so different from her own. She was embarrassed and ashamed to be around us ( our family) because she always felt convicted that her Love wasn't like ours. She went to ask a malaysian friend why we were so different. This opened the door for Wakmee to share about God's love and how it changes people and touches people like our helper. She shared that for months she would see us day in and day out and how even when we got mad or upset she couldn't believe how much we cared about her that we would stop to explain that while we were upset it wasn't at the person as much as at the problem. Then she said, shared how we would always pray together and no matter how mad we got we always showed love to one another. It was because of this example that she first felt God speak to her and say she was not a good person and that she needed His Love to complete her.
I sat there and cried as she told the story and I translated. I never really knew totally how much our life on life living affected her. We had shared with her and witnessed to her but what really caused her to want to know Jesus was ultimately because she saw how our life was and how much Love we had and Joy we had even in the hardest times. She talked about our son, Justin's accident and she said, she was a believer then but still she couldn't believe how much Faith we had to trust God with our Son. She wasn't married yet and didn't have kids so she just couldn't imagine trusting in God to care of her kids let alone her Justin whom she saw and loved as her own little brother. Yet, she said, this was another example of how God used us to teach her about His love and His care for His children. She said, she remembered at the Hospital how we prayed for the doctors and the staff that they would come to know God through this experience, even before praying for their son. She said, it convicted me about my selfishness...... During this time of sharing I was reminded of the beginning of Hebrews 11 when the writer talks about those men and women of Faith who walked before us. In this instance the Lord allowed me to see how these dear brothers and sisters were being reminded of our faithfulness and it was encouraging them to remain faithful. That was so humbling because in that moment I realized and confessed," Yes, Lord, I've forgotten to remember those who have worked/labored before me and to be encouraged to press on and remain faithful......"
This testimony and others shared was so convicting to hear. Yes, it was a joy to hear how Father had used us to bring so many to faith but it was still convicting as well. I have missed being hands on and living life on life with lostness. Yet these past few years have taught us so much about how to live in community and how that is so important. It is what we need to model to the church in the Big country. It is the next step....... I was reminded in reflecting upon the conversation that I had just been given a glimpse into why we had to walk these past 3 years and how important it was going to be for us to model what we have learned. Share openly our own failures and victories of these past few years and to pass on to those younger in the faith so that they will not flounder or struggle in the same ways. We have a duty to proclaim GOD's FAITHFULNESS and His provision in all situations.
How does all this fit into Hebrews 11 you ask?
When I began studying Hebrews I was learning so much about Who Jesus was and how neat it was the progression of this book from Creation to Christ to the laborers and how neat it was that CHRIST was weaved through and through..... But what struck me was that there were times in these past 4 years that I have truly wanted to quit and to just go back to the states. There have been times when all I could see was the "Grass was greener over there( in the states). When I read Hebrews 11 I was shocked back to Right thinking.... I had taken my eyes off of JESUS first of all and had focused on my circumstances. I had forgotten of the many who have been FAITHFUL in the past and forgotten to look back to their faithfulness to spur me on to do the things I know CHRIST has called me to do. And finally I had not been willing to step out in FAITH knowing that what God was Calling me to He would be faithful to accomplish. That without faith I was not going to please Him and that "just doing" the work here in Asia didn't necessarily mean that was pleasing Christ. Especially if He was calling me /us to do something else. Change is never easy especially if it means getting more education for what lies ahead.
So, this last thread is really taking all of that and weaving it together, re-learning how to step out in faith; trusting the Lord for something I can't see and knowing that He is in control of all that is seen and unseen. It is learning again, that it is by Faith that others before me gained approval and that while I am secure in my faith; rather I am faithful or not, the blessing of walking in Obedience towards completion is necessary and since I am a believer then I too am gaining approval through my own obedience and Faith. It is realizing that with or with out me God will accomplish the work. I've seen this time and time again when I have stalled out or just not been obedient I see that He calls someone else to do the job I was meant to do. OUCH! It is realizing that My FAITH isn't just a one time occurrence but should be lived out day to day and that I should desire to please my Father in heaven through my Faith being lived out in the day to day things. I have seen how the Lord has had to take me back to the beginning of our ministry and show me how He has used us and how I need to not forget that even if He choses to use me in different ways I have to trust Him and not look back at the life I once had. Keeping my eyes on the eternal things not earthly things.
So may I close with this :
Phil. 3:13-14
"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Luke 9:23-25
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."
May we all be ready to step out in Faith not fearing what lies ahead nor looking back at what was but looking to the Heavens knowing that our home is not here on earth but in Heaven. May we all realize that it is Christ who is the author and finisher of all things and that it is in HIM that we do all we do and may we not forget those who have walked in Faith before us - remembering their faithfulness and sacrifices which gives us HOPE to continue on even if we can not see the fruits of our labor. May we be encouraged to do the same and to look to Christ whom we are made complete because of HIS sacrifice and love!
A Garment of Praise - To My father in Heaven, Thank you for using me and molding me into Your image!
Melissa
Saturday, March 10, 2007
The Road Ahead
This road that lies ahead isn't always smooth. It isn't always easy to choose which way either. It seems that as the years go by we begin to see a pattern of how the Lord directs us and leads us to know which way is the right way for us to walk. This year has been full of these kinds of things. It may not even be our own road we are choosing but helping others as they seek which way is the Lord leading. Helping our children in choosing and trusting them into the care of our Lord and saviour.
It use to be that the Lord would lay things on my heart to study from His word. It's so cool that even He changes the way he parents us - according to our needs.
This week He's brought me back to some familiar ways of learning - He's challenged me to dig to understand better how He directs our path.....
Let me start with a story:
There is a young lady who is seeking the Lord's leading as to where she might go to college. She's fasted and prayed, sought counsel from others and finally came to the understanding that the school she needed to attend was her second choice. Mind you she could have chosen her first choice but for reasons she felt were the Lord's leading she submitted to the 2nd choice. It isn't a bad choice just not her first. So as she began to feel rested and comfortable with this decision two women came up to her and talked to her about this choice she had made to attend this College. They gave her more counsel and it contradicted the counsel she felt she had followed, which she felt at the time was the Lord's counsel.
All the things that these women spoke about were real concerns, would she loss a whole year of school if she decided to transfer after the first year? Would the rules at this school be confining and squelch her independence? Would she really be serving the Lord in a Christian University? Would it not be best to be in a State School where she could be a light to the lost? Is it worth saving some now to pay later? All these were concerns and these 2 ladies were just dredging them all up again.... Anxiety filled her heart and second guessing began.
Did I hear the way of the Lord correctly? Was He sending these ladies to redirect her? How would she know? How would she find peace, again?
" The mind of man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps" Proverbs 16:9
" Many plans are in a man's heart, but the counsel of the Lord stand forever." Proverbs 19:21
" Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:3
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
It is so easy to get confused as we try to search out and seek counsel in making decisions. One thing we must not do is to lose focus that our Heavenly Father is walking before us.
When we make a decision and feel sure it is the right one we must then make the choice to not "revisit" the decision making again. But putting our Faith in God to lead us and give us the peace that does pass all understanding. This can be so hard but we have to learn to entrust the Lord with all the worries we have and all the desires of our heart. He knows what is best for us and we must trust that He will do what is in our Best interest.
I can say from personal experience that it's not always easy to do but making a decision isn't just about choosing which way to go it is putting our FAITH in CHRIST that He is before us and that He is establishing our way!
Heb. 11 has always been an encouragement to me to be of good courage and to trust in the Lord. To walk in Faith and see Him provide.....
Ps. 37:23-24 says this :
" The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled head long, Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand."
There is a Y in the road and we are walking in FAITH on the one which the Lord has directed us on. It isn't going to be an easy road to follow. It won't be without it's struggles or hardships. However, He is the one who holds our hand as we walk .....
May we be reminded that He is holding our hand and is walking with us on the Road ahead........
blessings sisters!
Melissa
Monday, February 12, 2007
What's next
It's been a tough to decide what to do about this blog but I've decided I'm going to continue on with posting. Hopefully, I'll get back into a routine and post each week.
I just read Ruth this week and it was a good reminder of how wonderful it is to be in God's complete care. The story of RUTH is a story of REDEEMING and it made me think about a lot of things. One of the things I read about was out of Lev. and Deut. it was how God intended for Families to take care of one another and in a sense redeem them if they fell into difficult times. It was to preserve their "family heritage and name". This is what happened to Ruth she and Naomi were redeemed by their kinsmen.
The second thing I was reminded about is devotion. Ruth's devotion to her Mother-in-Law. It made me realize how much she must have seen in Naomi's life for her to want to leave everything she has ever known to follow her mother-in-law and believe in her God. To devote herself to God and to trust that He would care for her a gentile. I also think about how God saw her devotion and Faith as something worth noting in Heb. 11 and what an amazing thing that He would bring her into such an important role. Being in Christ's lineage.
For me it all came together as we were studying in Heb. 11 and finishing the chapter in our House Church. It was neat because my husband, Dwayne, used this illustration. He held a string and started it at one end of our yard and stretched it to the other end. He began by saying , the start of creation was here- and walked about 3 steps and said, here is history as we are reading it in Heb 11. Looking forward he pulled out a paper clip and said, This clip is the life of those who walked in Faith. What they did has been used to teach generations for 100's of years. How will our life of Faith effect those before us?
That really brought the life of RUTH and Heb 11 full circle for me personally. Ruth's life wasn't just a moment in history it had an effect on future history. She was the mother of Obed and he became the father of Jesse and to Jesse, David... from David's lineage we are told Jesus would be born.
Her life of faith in God was used for God's plans and it is a great reminder to me how important it is that I walk in a manner worthy of my calling.
Heb. 12: 1-2
" Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Now- that should have us all looking at our life and asking ourselves, "Why don't I just trust and obey when I hear the voice of God?" Let us strive to walk in Faith and to be an example to those around us. Fixing our eyes on Jesus and claiming nothing as more worthy than what it is He is calling us too.
May you walk in obedience today and may your Faith be sure footed, do not waiver or flounder in doing what you know Christ is calling you to. Stand firm and know that others have walked in Faith before you and have been found faithful......
Press on dear sisters!
I just read Ruth this week and it was a good reminder of how wonderful it is to be in God's complete care. The story of RUTH is a story of REDEEMING and it made me think about a lot of things. One of the things I read about was out of Lev. and Deut. it was how God intended for Families to take care of one another and in a sense redeem them if they fell into difficult times. It was to preserve their "family heritage and name". This is what happened to Ruth she and Naomi were redeemed by their kinsmen.
The second thing I was reminded about is devotion. Ruth's devotion to her Mother-in-Law. It made me realize how much she must have seen in Naomi's life for her to want to leave everything she has ever known to follow her mother-in-law and believe in her God. To devote herself to God and to trust that He would care for her a gentile. I also think about how God saw her devotion and Faith as something worth noting in Heb. 11 and what an amazing thing that He would bring her into such an important role. Being in Christ's lineage.
For me it all came together as we were studying in Heb. 11 and finishing the chapter in our House Church. It was neat because my husband, Dwayne, used this illustration. He held a string and started it at one end of our yard and stretched it to the other end. He began by saying , the start of creation was here- and walked about 3 steps and said, here is history as we are reading it in Heb 11. Looking forward he pulled out a paper clip and said, This clip is the life of those who walked in Faith. What they did has been used to teach generations for 100's of years. How will our life of Faith effect those before us?
That really brought the life of RUTH and Heb 11 full circle for me personally. Ruth's life wasn't just a moment in history it had an effect on future history. She was the mother of Obed and he became the father of Jesse and to Jesse, David... from David's lineage we are told Jesus would be born.
Her life of faith in God was used for God's plans and it is a great reminder to me how important it is that I walk in a manner worthy of my calling.
Heb. 12: 1-2
" Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Now- that should have us all looking at our life and asking ourselves, "Why don't I just trust and obey when I hear the voice of God?" Let us strive to walk in Faith and to be an example to those around us. Fixing our eyes on Jesus and claiming nothing as more worthy than what it is He is calling us too.
May you walk in obedience today and may your Faith be sure footed, do not waiver or flounder in doing what you know Christ is calling you to. Stand firm and know that others have walked in Faith before you and have been found faithful......
Press on dear sisters!
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