Category: Encouragement

  • Faith Matters

    Coffee shop chat turns to faith matters

    Let’s talk about faith. I recently overheard a conversation in a coffee shop.

    A couple of fellows I didn’t know were having an animated discussion. One of the men said, “Who needs faith? I’ve lived my whole life without it.” 

    His friend replied with a sarcastic “Amen!” From the little I heard, it was clear that they were making fun of a mutual friend or acquaintance.

    They continued for quite a while, mocking anything to do with faith or religion, before moving on to some other topic.

    I wanted to (but didn’t) ask how they were managing to sit or drink their coffee. The chairs hold them up, but only their faith in that fact allowed them to sit. 

    If they didn’t have faith in the chair’s safety, they never would have sat down. They had faith that the coffee cup wouldn’t suddenly break and pour scalding liquid on them; otherwise, they never would have picked those cups up.

    We have faith that we’re going to be alive in the morning or we would never set our alarms. We have faith that we’re going to be alive for the evening meal or we wouldn’t plan the menu.

    Whether we recognize it or not, we all have faith in something. We simply couldn’t function without it. Even the most ardent atheist has faith, not faith in God but faith in many things.

    Faith Matters

    Faith is critical; without it, our lives would fall apart. 

    Even more critical, though, is where you place your faith. If all your faith is in personal relationships, you are going to get burned at times because people and circumstances change, and you will eventually get hurt.

    If all your faith is in your wealth, you’ll worry about the value of your investments and while you can be wise and diligent about your investment choices, you could lose it all.

    If your faith is in science, you’ll be shaken as new discoveries throw out old “facts”. 

    If your faith is in your own wisdom and abilities, you’ll be destroyed if those things are taken away. When all my faith was in my abilities and I suffered my brain injury, my whole world collapsed. Only coming to faith in Christ sustained me.

    You can’t live life without faith. More importantly, your eternal destiny depends not only in faith but in faith in the right person.

    There is only one unchanging place to put our faith, one true eternal hope. That place is Christ. 

    Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  Hebrews 13:8

    You may not understand all you are going through in life, but if your faith is truly in Christ, a you know that He will bring you through it. 

    Faith matters. 

    Faith in God matters more. 

    Faith in Christ matters for all of eternity.

    Until next time, may your faith be grounded in the Living God, through Christ by faith. Everything else is vain hope.

    Be blessed
    Kevin


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  • Joy – Only Christians can have it

    Christians are the only people in the world who have a reason for true joy. Yet we often walk around looking like this morning’s image of me.

    The word joy (and related terms) occurs over 1,000 times in the Scriptures. At times, it describes a state of being, but it’s often a command.

    Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

    Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!Psalm 32:11

     Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4

    Now, that doesn’t mean we put on plastic smiles, fake it and tell everyone “we’re blessed.” There is a time and place for sorrow, tiredness, grief and even righteous anger. It does mean that even in those circumstances, we still have a reason for joy.

    It’s our underlying joy and hope in the Lord, powered by Holy Spirit, that gives us the strength to go on in these circumstances. Nehemiah puts it this way,  Do not be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b

    Let’s be aware of the state of our hearts, which often shows in the expressions on our faces. 

    Count our blessings. Remember the God things God has done in our lives. Think on the forgiveness of our many sins and the promise of eternity to come forever in glory.

    We have many reasons to smile. Let’s let them out.

    Sour, pickle faces, cranky Christians, don’t bring much joy or glory to God. Nor do false smiles. Let’s remember to let the true joy of the Lord shine through us.

    May the smile on your face be a blessing in God’s name to someone else today.

    Be blessed
    Kevin

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