Laced With Grace

What comes to mind when you think of running in a race?  What is needed to successfully stay in the race?

Hard work
Determination
Motivation
Preparation
Training

All of those listed above are important but something that’s absolutely necessary is …endurance.

Our faith walk is similar to running a long distance race.  It takes preparation, sacrifice and endurance.  In the book of Hebrews chapter 11, we are given a list of some of our Bible heroes including Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, David and even a prostitute named Rahab.  What did each one of these people have in common? 

Hebrews 11:39 gives us the answer to that question: “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.”

In Hebrews 12:1 we are given a ‘therefore’ so that we will look back on what our Bible heroes went through, especially when we tend to get weary. We are advised to throw off anything that hinders us including sin that gets us off track.  We are to run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us.

The remedy for persevering in our faith race is to …”fix our eyes on Jesus”. 

We have to look beyond what we see with our physical eyes.  That takes our spiritual eyes; our eyes of faith.  We can’t see the end but we know the end and we are on the winning side. 

The enemy loves to discourage us, especially when we’re being used by the Lord for His Kingdom purposes. 

If He chose to use Rahab, a prostitute and David, a murderer and adulterer, why can’t He use you or me?

I know I can all too easily slip into periods of depression when stressful situations continue and I don’t see any change happening (at least not in my time frame).   When I’m depressed, it’s easy to let down my guard in other areas of my life.  And then I’m not as effective and my endurance starts lagging.  I begin to depend on my flesh and believe me, that’s trouble.

So, what do I need to do when this happens?  I remember that I need JESUS for my endurance. 

Of course, I can’t accomplish all that He has prepared for me to do in my ‘self’.  I am His vessel and only when I allow Him to work in me and through me will His purposes  be accomplished.   It doesn’t matter if I don’t have all the right credentials.  If the Lord has called me to do something, He will lead me and equip me.  And best of all, it will be obvious that it’s Him and …not me.

Then He gets all the glory.

So let’s not grow weary but press on toward the goal of completing our walk of faith.  And may we encourage one another.

Blessings and love,

What is currently fueling your life?  Is it faith or fear?

Even if you’re not a believer, I can say with assurance that you live by faith to some degree:

•  You probably have faith that on a two way street the car driving on the opposite side will not veer into your lane. 
• You have faith that when you sit down the chair will hold up underneath you.

But what is faith on a spiritual level?  Hebrews 11:1 says: 

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

It can be challenging for me when I don’t know what the future holds.  I like to set my goals and then work to make them happen.

But sometimes life has problems and challenges that I didn’t count on.  It might be an uncertain economy, poor job and real estate market. Some problems may be directly or indirectly caused by unwise decisions or even sin.  

So what do I do?  I confess and turn away from that sin.  Even if I wasn’t the cause of the problem, my sin may be the sin of bitterness and unforgiveness towards another.  So again, I must confess and turn from that sin.  I am forgiven but there may still be long term consequences. 

Fear can be a strong human emotion when dealing with problems. 

Not all fear is bad.  There can be a very healthy fear that alerts me to possible harm. 

But when I begin to dwell so much on the ‘what if’s’ in life, fear and anxiety can take over.  And that leaves …no room for faith.

There are certain promises in the Bible that we can literally take to the bank.  No pun intended. 

In Hebrews 13:5 God has promised “…never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”.

Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus”.

So even though I may be encountering challenges and difficulties in my life,  I know by faith that His promises are true.  But I must remember that the Scripture doesn’t say “my God will meet all my wants”.  After all, only He knows what’s best for me and He has a purpose …even in the  midst of suffering. 

So, how are we to live our lives?  If you are a born again believer and follower of Jesus Christ, you are deemed righteous.  Jesus’  blood covered your sins.  Jesus paid the penalty for your sins.  We are to live by faith, believing God’s promises are true.

I recently read a blog post entitled “Praying in the Haystack“.  It was written by Sonja of bits and pieces… .  She shared something her father had learned about prayer.  A lay ministerhad taught him  to …plead the promises of God. 

But it takes faith to take God at His Word.  Do you really believe His promises are true?

May I challenge you to step out in faith?  

No matter what’s going on during this season of your life, will you trust God? 

Thank Him in advance for His answer.  It will come in His perfect timing and His perfect way even if it’s not what you expected. 

Determine to live by faith and not by fear.

Blessings and love,

Touch is one of our seven senses given to us by God. 

Babies have a need for touch that is essential for proper growth and development.  

Studies done  in hospitals  and orphanages demonstrate that infants lose weight and become ill without touch. 

Many people didn’t grow up in families where touch was the norm.  Or maybe it was used inappropriately.  So as adults, many people don’t like to be touched.

But I remember something my pastor said in church one Sunday as he asked us to greet those sitting nearby.  An elderly woman told him that the only time she is touched all week is when she comes to church on Sunday. The shaking of hands was so important to her.

That caused me to pause and wonder how many lonely people may be sitting in church alone?  Has anyone reached out a hand to shake or simply to help one from slipping and falling?  It’s such a simple gesture and yet it could mean so much to a lonely person.

It’s easy to go about your day in a hurry and not notice the person sitting alone.  I enjoy sitting with friends in church and it’s a time to catch up and chat before the service. 

But then I remember the first time I came to church after years away.  I sat alone and in the back. 

There were two ladies who noticed me and introduced themselves as “Frost” and “Snow”.  I had to laugh as that was their last names.  I surely couldn’t forget that.  They shook my hand and let me know how glad they were to meet me. 

The next week they were looking for me!  They came right over and shook my hand again and …even remembered my name.

I want to challenge you this week. 

When you go to church on Sunday, look out at the people sitting in the pews.  Find someone who is sitting alone and walk over to them.  Introduce yourself and shake their hand.  Remember their name and look for them the following week.

1 John 4:21 says “Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

Why not reach out and touch someone in the name of Jesus?

Blessings and love,