I know there are those who put on airs trying to prove to people they are people of faith. Have you seen that in me? That’s my question for you.
What I do know is for the past 22 years my faith in God has been tested beyond measure. As a teenager my one and only child began finding every reason to try my faith in God by doing everything I oppose. She informed me I was judging her if I spoke even one word against her choices. She was judging me and Jesus for the bad things that happened to her. What she didn’t recognize was it was her choices that took her to dark places. While she was in this state of mind I had to find distractions to keep my eyes on my Jesus. When I say she chose the dark path it was worse than a haunted house. You yourself know through the requested prayers where she has taken me. If I had given up on Jesus nobody would have been surprised. Yes faith is the substance of things I could not see yet I remain hopeful for when all of this comes to an end. About two weeks ago she met a man who is of another faith. Ordinarily I would not approve but the man does not like her drinking. What I could see was changing something in her I could not and doing it in a way I could not understand. I’m at a place now knowing I can’t leave Jesus, I need Him with me always. I haven’t let her go, I’m just letting God!
Lucinda hold on! Looks like Jesus is in the process of changing her for the good!
My daughter had a friend, and when he met me he said “I’m not a Christian. “. Well that shocked me so much(like a knife in my heart). But I didn’t say anything. One day we were all eating at the table and the Lord said to me “I love him”. I said well okay I love him too. Then we were talking about my church and I told him”Jeremy, God told me He loves you. Jeremy jumped up all excited and said “That’s good to know “. From then on he started reading books on Christianity. All kind of books about God. Long story short. Jeremy is my son-in-law and goes to church twice a week. Praise God He is Love!
Sep 20, 2023·edited Sep 20, 2023Liked by Donny Mac
Good question Donny regarding "You have faith...so what?" I know I've met people over my lifetime who are fake. I've asked myself that same question from time to time throughout my life and still do, as kind of a self-check for myself. I hope and pray that I haven't or ever come across as someone who seems to be fake. That is or never has been my intention. I try and fail, but I do my best in living out my FAITH as having that personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I do my best in trying to discern His will for me with the choices I make.
One word that came to my mind while listening and watching the prayer walk was "COMMIT." If we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, how "COMMITTED" are we to our FAITH in trusting Him solely? How committed are we in living out our faith? I agree, sometimes it's good for us to stop and take time to reflect to see how we're living out our FAITH whether it's a follower of Jesus or whatever. This is where I believe the word "COMMIT" comes into play. I think it's important that we are not hard on ourselves if we take time to examine and reflect. God would not want that.
I know I'm trying my best each day in living out my faith as best I can as a follower of Jesus Christ. I hope and pray that is reflected to others as God gets all the glory, honor, and praise, not me. I just have a desire to be His humble and committed vessel to share my faith with others.
I think I'm always seeking answers regarding my level of commitment. That's where the "self-check" comes into play for me. As I grown in my faith, I really believe so does my level of commitment in service to God. I try and not ever come across as anything else. We need to be honest with ourselves, but not hard on ourselves in doing so. More in the past than now, I was very hard on myself. That doesn't happen as often due to my growing closer to God. I want to be more committed in my faith in doing so through God's will and not mine.
Thank you Cindy! I do try. I used to "hide" behind my faith, but thankfully, that was in the past. I like you feel deeply about godly things and just have the desire to serve Him faithfully.
I think this is a loaded question because so many people have faith in so many things or people..I have been a Christian since I was 8. My faith has gone through many stages, but as I have matured, I believe my faith in God has gotten so much stronger. I know God will get me through anything even when I don't get the answers that I want. I also believe that my faith gets stronger as I go through the trials of life and have to depend more on Jesus. During 2020, I was very vocal about standing up for God. I got ridiculed and put down; but, that made me more vocal about standing for the Bible and biblical truths. We, as christians, need to be more vocal (in love) as we continue to get closer to the last days.
I learned in a study on Hebrews 11 that faith has two categories: the first is the “conviction” that God's promises will be fulfilled even if I don't see it. The second is the “certainty” that the Holy Spirit is ministering in my heart and mind, guiding my choices and decisions.
It's not easy to maintain these internal convictions, especially for me who reacts according to the heat of emotions. But, I prefer to think that despite my mistakes and little faith, there is a beautiful promise from God, as written in Job 11:13-15
“if you consecrate your heart to Him and extend your hands to Him; If you put sin out of your hands and do not allow wickedness to dwell in your tent, then you will lift up your face without being ashamed.”
Applying faith in the Christian life is an ongoing path of spiritual growth as we learn to trust God more and live according to His will.
A good example is Thomas (John: 20:25)
The fact that Thomas "doubted" vehemently placed him in a position of "unbelief", but after touching Jesus' pierced hands, Thomas says "My Lord and my God".
I think this scripture is so beautiful and I always get emotional when I think that Thomas found love through the wounds of Jesus.
And Jesus responds to Thomas, saying: "put your finger here, see my hands (...). Stop doubting and believe".
Thomas received much more than he expected. Love overflowed in Jesus’ wound, in his mercy.
Sep 20, 2023·edited Sep 20, 2023Liked by Donny Mac
Living your faith! I love your last line. When thinking about the questions you posed, my faith is solely in God. Without Him I have nothing. When challenges or trials come my way I rely heavily on that faith trying not to waiver, although doubts do enter my mind. I also realize I cannot transfer my faith to others. I alone can live and talk and walk my faith, as others must do theirs. I can pray and offer assurance to others but I, as others, own my choices. Where I struggle in the world today is the emphasis on self reliance, on our internal strength, our internal voice, our heart. Self love is definitely necessary, we are told to love others as we love ourselves. But can you love yourself too much. Romans 12:3, Galatians 6:3, Philippians 4:13. These versus speak to self reliance vs. relying on God for our strength. As my heart speaks to me I must recognize guidance that aligns with my faith, my beliefs. The heart can deceive. Your challenge to us this week speaks loudly to me. Does the person others see every day mirror the faithful person that I see in the mirror of my mind, heart and soul? Thank you for your time, dedication, inspiration and love. God bless you on your continued journey.
I couldn’t have children and by faith God gave me 3 children. We acted our faith by preparing for a baby. Had that baby girl and had two more(a boy & a girl. God is faithful to His Word. He cannot lie. His Word is True!
What do I have faith in. I have faith in the Lord and he is always with me. Since I lost my husband to cancer 5 years ago and know 53 years of marriage was not nearly enough time with him, I know that sometimes there truly is nothing you can do to change your circumstances. Sometimes all you can do is hold on for dear life and pray that God will help you find a way through the storm. Sometimes he shows you a way to escape and sometimes he walks through the fire with you. But I have realized that nothing happens here on this earth changes who God is.
I know there are those who put on airs trying to prove to people they are people of faith. Have you seen that in me? That’s my question for you.
What I do know is for the past 22 years my faith in God has been tested beyond measure. As a teenager my one and only child began finding every reason to try my faith in God by doing everything I oppose. She informed me I was judging her if I spoke even one word against her choices. She was judging me and Jesus for the bad things that happened to her. What she didn’t recognize was it was her choices that took her to dark places. While she was in this state of mind I had to find distractions to keep my eyes on my Jesus. When I say she chose the dark path it was worse than a haunted house. You yourself know through the requested prayers where she has taken me. If I had given up on Jesus nobody would have been surprised. Yes faith is the substance of things I could not see yet I remain hopeful for when all of this comes to an end. About two weeks ago she met a man who is of another faith. Ordinarily I would not approve but the man does not like her drinking. What I could see was changing something in her I could not and doing it in a way I could not understand. I’m at a place now knowing I can’t leave Jesus, I need Him with me always. I haven’t let her go, I’m just letting God!
Thank you for sharing Lucinda. No, I have not seen you "put on airs". 🙂
Lucinda hold on! Looks like Jesus is in the process of changing her for the good!
My daughter had a friend, and when he met me he said “I’m not a Christian. “. Well that shocked me so much(like a knife in my heart). But I didn’t say anything. One day we were all eating at the table and the Lord said to me “I love him”. I said well okay I love him too. Then we were talking about my church and I told him”Jeremy, God told me He loves you. Jeremy jumped up all excited and said “That’s good to know “. From then on he started reading books on Christianity. All kind of books about God. Long story short. Jeremy is my son-in-law and goes to church twice a week. Praise God He is Love!
Jeremy is such a good husband
Good question Donny regarding "You have faith...so what?" I know I've met people over my lifetime who are fake. I've asked myself that same question from time to time throughout my life and still do, as kind of a self-check for myself. I hope and pray that I haven't or ever come across as someone who seems to be fake. That is or never has been my intention. I try and fail, but I do my best in living out my FAITH as having that personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I do my best in trying to discern His will for me with the choices I make.
One word that came to my mind while listening and watching the prayer walk was "COMMIT." If we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, how "COMMITTED" are we to our FAITH in trusting Him solely? How committed are we in living out our faith? I agree, sometimes it's good for us to stop and take time to reflect to see how we're living out our FAITH whether it's a follower of Jesus or whatever. This is where I believe the word "COMMIT" comes into play. I think it's important that we are not hard on ourselves if we take time to examine and reflect. God would not want that.
I know I'm trying my best each day in living out my faith as best I can as a follower of Jesus Christ. I hope and pray that is reflected to others as God gets all the glory, honor, and praise, not me. I just have a desire to be His humble and committed vessel to share my faith with others.
Thank you again, Donny!
Thank you for sharing Anne, Good questions. Did you find answers for yourself regarding those questions?
I think I'm always seeking answers regarding my level of commitment. That's where the "self-check" comes into play for me. As I grown in my faith, I really believe so does my level of commitment in service to God. I try and not ever come across as anything else. We need to be honest with ourselves, but not hard on ourselves in doing so. More in the past than now, I was very hard on myself. That doesn't happen as often due to my growing closer to God. I want to be more committed in my faith in doing so through God's will and not mine.
Anne, I see you as a precious servant of God. You don’t hide your heart and feel deeply about godly things. 🙏
Thank you Cindy! I do try. I used to "hide" behind my faith, but thankfully, that was in the past. I like you feel deeply about godly things and just have the desire to serve Him faithfully.
I think this is a loaded question because so many people have faith in so many things or people..I have been a Christian since I was 8. My faith has gone through many stages, but as I have matured, I believe my faith in God has gotten so much stronger. I know God will get me through anything even when I don't get the answers that I want. I also believe that my faith gets stronger as I go through the trials of life and have to depend more on Jesus. During 2020, I was very vocal about standing up for God. I got ridiculed and put down; but, that made me more vocal about standing for the Bible and biblical truths. We, as christians, need to be more vocal (in love) as we continue to get closer to the last days.
I learned in a study on Hebrews 11 that faith has two categories: the first is the “conviction” that God's promises will be fulfilled even if I don't see it. The second is the “certainty” that the Holy Spirit is ministering in my heart and mind, guiding my choices and decisions.
It's not easy to maintain these internal convictions, especially for me who reacts according to the heat of emotions. But, I prefer to think that despite my mistakes and little faith, there is a beautiful promise from God, as written in Job 11:13-15
“if you consecrate your heart to Him and extend your hands to Him; If you put sin out of your hands and do not allow wickedness to dwell in your tent, then you will lift up your face without being ashamed.”
Applying faith in the Christian life is an ongoing path of spiritual growth as we learn to trust God more and live according to His will.
A good example is Thomas (John: 20:25)
The fact that Thomas "doubted" vehemently placed him in a position of "unbelief", but after touching Jesus' pierced hands, Thomas says "My Lord and my God".
I think this scripture is so beautiful and I always get emotional when I think that Thomas found love through the wounds of Jesus.
And Jesus responds to Thomas, saying: "put your finger here, see my hands (...). Stop doubting and believe".
Thomas received much more than he expected. Love overflowed in Jesus’ wound, in his mercy.
Thanks for the walk and reflections!
thank you for sharing Angela.
Living your faith! I love your last line. When thinking about the questions you posed, my faith is solely in God. Without Him I have nothing. When challenges or trials come my way I rely heavily on that faith trying not to waiver, although doubts do enter my mind. I also realize I cannot transfer my faith to others. I alone can live and talk and walk my faith, as others must do theirs. I can pray and offer assurance to others but I, as others, own my choices. Where I struggle in the world today is the emphasis on self reliance, on our internal strength, our internal voice, our heart. Self love is definitely necessary, we are told to love others as we love ourselves. But can you love yourself too much. Romans 12:3, Galatians 6:3, Philippians 4:13. These versus speak to self reliance vs. relying on God for our strength. As my heart speaks to me I must recognize guidance that aligns with my faith, my beliefs. The heart can deceive. Your challenge to us this week speaks loudly to me. Does the person others see every day mirror the faithful person that I see in the mirror of my mind, heart and soul? Thank you for your time, dedication, inspiration and love. God bless you on your continued journey.
Thank you for sharing Linda. good questions
That was awesome today
I couldn’t have children and by faith God gave me 3 children. We acted our faith by preparing for a baby. Had that baby girl and had two more(a boy & a girl. God is faithful to His Word. He cannot lie. His Word is True!
Wonderful!
What do I have faith in. I have faith in the Lord and he is always with me. Since I lost my husband to cancer 5 years ago and know 53 years of marriage was not nearly enough time with him, I know that sometimes there truly is nothing you can do to change your circumstances. Sometimes all you can do is hold on for dear life and pray that God will help you find a way through the storm. Sometimes he shows you a way to escape and sometimes he walks through the fire with you. But I have realized that nothing happens here on this earth changes who God is.