Viewing 19 - 20 out of 20 Blogs.

<< First  < Previous | Page:  1 | 2 | 3 |

Matthew 7:24-29 Did you ever see an elaborate, masterfully crafted sandcastle? That's one of the most delightful experiences of a trip to the beach-you get to see some beautiful works of art in an unusual form. The best builders are painstaking in every little detail-the towers are straight, the windows are even . . . sometimes the outline of individual bricks can be seen on each wall. The end result is often stunning, rivaling the elegance of homes in the wealthiest neighborhoods of the world. There's a catch, however. For all its splendor, a sandcastle's hours are numbered. From the moment the first grain of sand is set in place, you can be sure that the miniature building is on its way to oblivion. Within hours, the details are destroyed. Wind, rain, the tide, and overanxious spectators can wreck in seconds what took hours to create. There is simply no future for a house of sand. Sometimes a believer's faith is like a sandcastle. Even though everything looks perfect on the outside, the slightest nudge from the elements can bring the whole thing crashing down. An unexpected hardship, an unkind word from a friend, a health or financial crisis... and faith turns to rubble. How can that be possible? Weak foundations produce weak faith. If your life of faith is centered around church attendance, ministry work, discipleship programs, and other seemingly "good" things, then your sandcastle is on its way down. Only a faith built on the rock-solid foundation of Jesus Christ - and Christ alone - can withstand the winds of adversity.

Hebrews 11:17-19 People put their trust in different things. Some place faith in the Lord; others trust in themselves or another person. Faith can even be placed in relationships, money, or politics. Anytime we put absolute trust in something, we demonstrate faith. So, the question isn't, Do I have any faith? but rather, In what have I placed my faith? Looking at that question honestly will shake up your assumptions about your spiritual life. An old saying explains, "Faith gives feet to belief." Simply put, this means that faith is the active _expression of what you believe about God. If you have the idea that He sits in some far-off place called "heaven" and only halfheartedly listens to your prayers, then that will reveal itself in your day-to-day walk of faith. Your God will seem small, powerless, and disinterested. The result will be a string of seemingly unanswered prayers and a general sense of defeat. If, on the other hand, you believe that God is right beside you, whispering in your ear, pouring out His Holy Spirit upon you - and that He is intimately familiar and concerned with the minutiae of your life - then such a belief will impact your faith walk. Prayer will be a joyful exchange between cherished friends, and the evidence of our heavenly Father's miraculous power will become commonplace in your daily life. Weak faith says, "God can." Great faith says, "God will." But perfect faith - godly faith - says, "It's done." What does your faith say about God?

<< First  < Previous | Page:  1 | 2 | 3 |