Faith

I was out early this morning at what looked like an annual 5o yard dash over at one of the local high schools.  It's a yearly event, fundraiser for the high school and usually a well attended event.  Everyone lines up on the grass right by the curb, checking out the competition and trying to scope out the prize set before them.  Not feeling particularly chirpy at 6:30, I joined the throng of about 100 people waiting for the 7:00 start time.  There was no start gun or whistle just a motion of hand by some brave woman, releasing the multitude of eager garage sale shoppers into the parking lot where tons of vendors had placed their "treasured" belongings in hopes of not having to cart it back home.  One woman near me ask is people actually run when released of which I calmly stated yes but I was not sure it was worth the risk......it's a dangerous thing for a woman to have money in her pocket, thinking she can get a great deal on something she "needs".

I did come away with a prize, nothing I really needed.  Actually I think I have about 3 other sets throughout the house.  As I was self reflecting today, there are certainly thing I always buy.  It doesn't matter how many I have, if it is a good deal, I am hooked.  I am sure you have your ticker list of what catches your eye.  It comes in handy being a counselor cause I use the techniques that I teach the children on myself all the time.  Like today, I saw a great overstuffed chair for $50 which matched everything in my living room.  Last time I saw one, I actually bought it and had a friend help me arrange the living until I could fit it in.  I think Darrell didn't sit in that chair for at least a month or more in protest to overcrowdedness.  (that is not a word, but you know what I mean).  So when I spied the piece of furniture today, I began my self talk.....you don't need that......you know how Darrell felt the last time you brought a $50 chair home.  It worked, I talked myself out of it and left without it.  I just can't hardly pass a great deal.  Darrell thinks it a spending "fix" that I need to have every day.   He may be right about that.....

Last week, I talked about our three bedrooms upstairs, Faith, Hope and Love and focused on the Hope room.  This week, I want to talk about the Faith room.  The very thought of this word is overwhelming to me. Is a verb or noun or adjective or  name.....are we to have a little or a lot, does it come and go, can it grow,  what can destroy it, etc.  So if I had to sum up my hope for the Faith room it would be out of Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

 ²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
So, I want people to have faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and  that God can make the impossible possible.  

About.com. Christianity states it concisely:

Definition: Faith is belief with strong conviction; firm belief in something for which there may be no tangible proof; complete trust in or devotion to. Faith is the opposite of doubt. 

Faith is possibly the single-most important element of the Christian life. Hebrews 11:6 states, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (NIV)

Hebrews 11:1-2 ¹ Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ² This is what the ancients were commended for.

Chapter 11 of Hebrews is called the "Hall of Faith".  Simply put, this chapter list heroines of  scripture who exhibited faith, giving glimpses of how they demonstrated faith.  There are other stories in scripture where people were raised from the dead, healed, received provisions all as an expression the gift of faith through the Holy Spirit in God and his son Jesus Christ.

Certainly throughout the last almost 30 years, Darrell and I have experienced the goodness of the Lord and attempted to lead a life of faith.  Sometimes faith as little as  a mustard seed, sometimes choked out by doubt and fear.  We have been blessed to see the miraculous hand of God for safety, provision, and healing all the while trying to remember He is our sustainer and our faith is in Him.

To close with a short personal story, we were in language school in Costa Rica for a year.  As we prepared for being aboard, you can only pack so much in suitcases and footlockers.  Having 5 children,  it was bound to happen that at least one of them would have feet to grow during that year.  Being missionaries on a very limited budget,  there was not a lot of extra funds for those types of needs.  Darrell explained to Isaac that we were going to have faith that God would meet his need for shoes.  We began to pray and believe that God was capable and willing.  At one point in that stretch of time (about 2 weeks), Isaac asked Darrell when was God going to send him his shoes.

As is with God, His timing is perfect.  We had invited an elderly gentleman who had supported Darrell through seminary to Costa Rica to visit us.  His schedule did not allow the trip but he felt that he should send the money (almost 2/3 month of our salary) that he would have spent in coming to us, as a gift.  Needless to say when we received the word and the money was deposited, we rejoiced in God's provision and everyone in the family not only got one pair of shoes but two.  A walk of faith, casting off doubt, believing that God is capable and willing to meet our needs.

Has fear had you bounded, tossing you to and fro?
Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 He wants to answer our faith.