Tag: Faith

  • Unexpected – Thoughts on worry

    Mother Sandhill with chick
    Mother Sandhill Crane with juvenile

    Some personal reflection this morning. Today’s image has  nothing to do with the content. I simply like this image of a sandhill crane.

    Just over five years ago, I had surgery to remove a cancerous mass from my left kidney. It was discovered quite by accident (read God’s providence) when I rolled my truck, and the hospital ER was checking out the extent of my injuries.

    Each year, near the anniversary of the surgery, I undergo a series of routine blood tests and have a CT scan to confirm all is clear.

    Last year was my five-year check-up.

    I was feeling great as I awaited my by-phone doctor’s appointment. I would be officially five years cancer-free, and the risk of recurrence was considered extremely low after that point.

    The doctor informed me that all the results from the blood tests were normal. My kidney function was so high that there was no evidence of it ever having had an issue.

    I was feeling great, five years cancer-free. Then, you guessed it, there was a “but”. I have a lesion on the left kidney and spots on the right, which will need further testing.

    I was crushed and depressed for the balance of the day. I had known that such a result was possible and that if something showed up, it would be in the very early stages, so easily treated. I also knew that God is entirely in control, no matter what happened, so that I could face whatever news without fear.

    I promptly forgot all that for the next twenty hours and felt sorry for myself. Then I remembered what I knew about God and His plans and moved forward.

    The next step is an MRI, which, depending on the backlog in our medical system, could take many months to get an appointment. From there, only the Lord knows the next step at this point.

    Is it cancer? Maybe. Am I worried? Not really, for the same reasons I forgot.

    My faith in the goodness of God and HIs love for His children is stronger than my fears. More than 350 times in the Bible, we are told to “Fear not”.

    I know he has my back.


    Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:26-34 ESV

    With Jesus, we can face anything, even if the outcome isn’t to our liking.

    Trust Jesus no matter what and praise His name.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    Where do you find faith in chaos

    Some thoughts on tribulation and perseverance

    When the end comes, can you claim you didn’t know?

    Monsters in the mist

    Facing into the wind

  • At Work – Saved by grace for works

    Danger - People at work sign

    It’s a fundamental tenet of the orthodox Christian faith  that we are saved by faith alone. The Bible clearly states it.

    For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

    Other passages that clearly teach salvation through faith alone include Acts 16:31, Romans 3:28, 4:5, 5:1, 11:6, Galatians 2:16, 3:24, Ephesians 1:13, and Philippians 3:9.

    We are aware of this, and we will stand by it; yet, we can often fall into a trap.

    We sometimes claim salvation is by faith, but live as if it is by works. Indeed, works should flow out of our salvation, but they don’t cause it. James addresses this subject frequently in his brief New Testament letter.

    We start to think that somehow, God needs our help. What would God do if I didn’t do it for him? Now perhaps we might not state that so bluntly, but it’s at the heart of our attitude.

    Single-handedly, we can save a ministry, a local congregation, or even Christianity. It may sound a little absurd, but that’s how many people act and feel.

    At the risk of offending, God doesn’t need your help. He is more than capable of doing it all without our assistance. Our lack of participation and effort will not thwart his mission.

    Yet, the Lord chose the church as His hands and feet to bring the truth to a lost and hurting world. He allows us to participate in the process that grows and blesses us.

    He calls us to serve in many ways, but effective service is always led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We serve at the pleasure of the King of Kings.

    Let’s remember that He saved us out of love and serve Him out of gratitude. It’s a privilege to serve beside Him, and without Him, our efforts are in vain.

    May you find freedom in faith and joy in service.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    Our journey and the kingdom of heaven

    The gospel – the best news

    Right belief or right living?

    Better Than Eden – our paradise to come