But Without Faith, Part 2

Welcome back! This is part 2 of a blog I published about a month ago entitled, “But without Faith” where we discussed what faith is. Today we will continue with this topic and look at answering the following questions:

Where does faith come from?

How do you and I get faith?

How does our faith grow?

First, let us recap a bit and look at some definitions for faith:

allegiance to a duty or person,

belief and trust in and loyalty to God,

a firm belief in something for which there is no proof.

The Bible tells us that, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

If we cannot see faith…how can we get it? To have the faith that is talked about in the Bible, we must open the Book and read the Words of God. As I delve into this topic, please know that this is not based on my own opinion. I highly encourage you to open God’s Word and read for yourself, that is where we find our answers. It is the Holy Spirit that teaches, not I.  I can pick a topic and write about it, but I must rely on the Holy Spirit (and so must you) to impart the truth. He does this by the revealing truths in the inspired Word of God.

The Holy Spirit calls you, sparks your interest, guides you and teaches you.  Do not be afraid to dig deep. The Holy Spirit is your Helper, He will help you to understand.

As a child of God, He longs for you to know Him. Take out your Bible and let’s get started.

Where does faith come from?  

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God.”    Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV)

Faith comes from God in the form of a gift. We would not have faith if not for God having His plan and reaching down to offer it to us. We then have the option to choose to accept faith through salvation. Salvation and redemption through Jesus Christ.

God uses faith as the way to bring salvation to His people. God gives faith because of His grace and mercy, because He loves us, His creation, so very much. He desires for us to have a way to know Him.

How do you and I get faith?

“So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” Romans 10:17

As we hear the Word of God and the Salvation plan, which is what Jesus accomplished on the cross, we are given faith. Faith to believe that there is something more to life than just existing and going through the motions of living day to day…faith to have HOPE in Someone bigger than us, Someone who has a unique plan for each of His beloved children!

It is the Word of God that produces faith. A person could receive faith while reading about Jesus in the  Bible or by hearing a sermon teaching the Good News or by you or I sharing the story of Jesus—any time the true gospel of Jesus is communicated, there is potential for faith! How exciting! That you and I can be part of the chain of events that God has orchestrated!

How does our faith grow?

If we are not in control of even getting faith on our own…how can you and I increase our faith. I wish to be more faithful.

We can pray and ask for more faith just as the apostles asked of Jesus in Luke 17:5,

“And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’”

Our faith grows as we build our lives on the truth of Jesus Christ, what we are taught about Him in and directly from God’s Word. We model our lives after Him. It is built on the truth of what God says, not what man says. When we are listening to pastors, preachers, spiritual songs, or fellow Christians, we must hold those words/that teaching up to God’s Word. We must stay away from teaching that is not in line with Biblical truths. We need to be careful about who is teaching us.

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7

We need to always remember that faith was given to each believer as a gift. We cannot take credit for it or tout it in the face of others or think of ourselves in a prideful way.

“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Romans 12:3 (NKJV)

By knowing our saving faith comes from God alone, it should encourage us as Christians to not think of ourselves more highly than we ought; but remember that God decides the measure of faith each one receives.

So, as we can see from reading God’s Word…that receiving faith comes from God and our faith increases by spending time in His Word.

I want to end on a note of thanksgiving. We should be thankful always for the faith God has given us, thankful that He chooses to use us in ministering to others. It is a privilege and honor to serve the Lord and His people.

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 1:12-14

May God bless you with wisdom and increased faith as you dig deep into His Word.

Gentle as a Butterfly

Be gentle as a butterfly

We are all fighting some type of battle. Relationship issues, job issues, too many bills and not enough money, sadness, brokenness, hopelessness, and on & on it goes…

You & I have the opportunity every day to make a positive difference in those around us.

Look at our butterfly friends. Butterflies gently land on a flower, take a drink and in doing so, they help to pollinate the flower. Then they leave without causing any harm. Wouldn’t it be a better world if we could gently come along side of someone, give them a kind, encouraging word and do no harm?

God’s Word encourages us to do the same thing:

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

Fear is a Liar

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

I love the song by Zack Williams called, “Fear is a Liar.” It is about all the lies that the enemy tells us to try and break our spirit, to make us get off track in our walk with the LORD and to eventually cause us to give up. If Fear is talking louder than the TRUTH, read on and … look it up this song on YouTube. It is a really good song. Some of the lyrics are as follows in quotes Lyrics from Fear Is a Liar by Zack Williams

“When he told you you’re not good enough
When he told you you’re not right
When he told you you’re not strong enough
To put up a good fight
When he told you you’re not worthy
When he told you you’re not loved
When he told you you’re not beautiful
That you’ll never be enough”

Fear tells us we can’t do it. It stops us in out steps. Fear tells us we have messed up too many times. LIES! LIAR! LIES! Fear is a liar!

God says He did not give us a spirit of fear. Fear is the absence of peace. Fear wears us down. Fear makes us believe things that are not true about ourselves. Fear tries to belittle & hide the TRUTH of GOD. Where does fear & doubt come from? It comes from the enemy of God’s children, from the evil one, the devil, Satan.

In John 8:44, Jesus said this about Satan, “…He (Satan) was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he (Satan) speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Why do we so easily fall for the same old tricks, the same old lies? The lies the powers of darkness puts in our minds discourages us, and if we continue to listen, it can ruin our soul. How can we stop the voices that tell us awful things?

As a child of GOD, you can choose to listen to your Heavenly Father. Listen to GOD. Look into the love letter He gave us..His Word, the Bible.

How about if we answer each line with what GOD says!

“When he told you you’re not good enough” What a LIE! We are created in GOD’S Image. (Genesis 1:21 & 1:31)
“When he told you you’re not right” Don’t you believe it! Our wrongs are forgiven! We are made righteous in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21)
“When he told you you’re not strong enough
To put up a good fight” It is a spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:12) Our strength comes from the LORD (Psalm 46:1, Psalm 22:19, Psalm 28:7-8, Isaiah 12:2 & many more!) and the battle is His (1 Samuel 14:47)
“When he told you you’re not worthy” Jesus died for you & me while we were against GOD (Romans 5:8)
When he told you you’re not loved GOD loves us so much He sent Jesus to die in our place (John 3:16)
“When he told you you’re not beautiful” GOD says we are beautiful (Song of Solomon 4:7)
“That you’ll never be enough” We are GOD’S Masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10)

Call fear what it is…A LIAR.

Strength in the Storm

Are you going through a storm?  A fierce trail or heartache that seems like waves of sadness & defeat are slapping you again & again and not letting up.  You are not alone and MORE IMPORTANT…you DO NOT HAVE TO GO IT ALONE!  I will share the comfort that our amazing Heavenly Father is giving me.  It is yours for the taking too!

When one of the biggest emotional storms hit my life, I fell to my knees. When my whole life was shattered like a pile of broken glass on the floor, I needed hope.

When my heart was so broken and I slid to the floor, I cried out to God.  In the quietness of my heart I heard His reply, this is how the conversation went,

Me: “God, I can’t take this. There is no way that I can get through this.”

God: “Yes, my child, you will.  I will help you.”

Me: “No Lord, it is too much.  I can’t bear it.  I don’t have the strength.”

God: “You are right.  You do not have the strength, but I DO.” 

Me:  “I don’t understand Lord.  What must I do?”

God:  “Lean on Me.  I AM your strength, don’t let this shake you.” 

“He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” (Psalm 62:2)

Me:  “I’m scared Lord.”

God:  Shhhh, little one, I am here.  I will never leave you.  Trust Me.”

He is right.  All my struggles did not go away but leaning on God and trusting that He is working on my behalf gives me peace…I will get through this in His Strength.

You may be going through difficult times.  Maybe you have felt lost and without hope. When we are dealing with missing loved ones who have passed, broken families, wounded relationships, and the stresses & storms of life…Lean on Him.  Trust Him.

“I wait eagerly for the LORD’s help, and in His word I trust.”  Psalm 130:5

God is trustworthy, steadfast and sure. He is the strength of my heart. May He be the strength of your heart too.

The Burden

The burden that I carry is so heavy on my back,

I am stumbling as I try to move forward, it is strength I lack.

Down again I fall as these trials get me down,

If only someone would help me get my life turned around.

 

I cry to the Lord, please help me, but He seems nowhere in sight.

My path is oh so dark, like the blackness of the night.

I cry again for hope, a faint cry that seems so weak.

The lying voice inside my head’s so loud I can’t hear You speak.

 

You say, “be still” and come to Me and lay it at Your feet,

I cannot seem to let it go, I’m afraid my expectations You won’t meet.

Oh how I wish to raise my head and say I will obey

But fear has got me in its’ grip, and on the ground I lay.

 

Get up my child, you gently say.  Get up and take my hand

I will work out all your trials, just not the way you planned.

I wove it all together before you were in the womb.

I paved the way so you’d be free, I even cleared the tomb.

 

So trust my child, I Am The Way.  I will not let you down.

I Am The Truth , it is not a lie,  I can turn your life around.

I Am The Life you seek to know, the path that sets you free,

I want so much to hold you close, if you’d just trust in Me.

Tami Cole April 2018

“What the Bible says about Healthy Living” by Rex Russell, M.D.

Follow me as I blog about “What the Bible says about Healthy Living” by  Rex Russell, M.D.

“Well, my first blog. I feel so hip now…is that the word or is it “bad” which really means “good”?!

Anyway…Its great to be able to express myself freely to other people around the world.  I teach classes about keeping our bodies healthy, and I am a certified Biblical health coach. ..BUT I really didn’t look into what God says about what I should be eating and apply that knowledge to my own life,   so why haven’t I???   I don’t know, I guess I thought I could do it on my own and I have found out that I can’t.  Well, now I am on a quest for getting healthy and eating better.  I want to know what God says about what we should eat…after all…He should know because I believe He created us. I hope you will follow me on this journey to health and wellness…God’s way!

I have lost over 20 pounds since last year, and I have learned a lot of things and I feel much better than I did, but I still have weight to lose and  my cholesterol is still too high and I want more energy.  I often wonder, What should I be eating to help my body to “heal itself”?   So,my husband bought me this book called, “What the Bible says about healthy living” by Rex Russell, M.D.

In Chapter one Dr. Russell talks about how cleanliness in hospitals in Vienna in the mid 1800′s dropped the death rate from 1 in 84 instead of 1 in 6 just by Dr. Ignaz Semmelweiss, a doctor there, had staff members wash their hands in a bowl of water before examing patients.

He goes on to say that “Diseases fill our daily lives–everything from the common cold to cancer and high blood pressure.  Yet the early pages of Genesis tell of a perfect world designed by a benevolent Designer.  What happened?”

I need to stop and look up benevolent—

–Adjective

1. Characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings: a benevolent attitude; her benevolent smile.

2. Desiring to help others; charitable: gifts from several benevolent alumni.

3. Intended for benefits rather than profit: a benevolent institution.

So it seems that everything God does is for our good.  After Genesis 3, mankind fell and the earth fell with us , producing all sorts of harmful influences that were not in God’s original, grand design.  But God immediately set about instituting His plan for redemption—giving us Salvation and ways to live—morally, spiritually and in good health.

Everything that God created is for a purpose and if we follow God’s plan, we can live long, healthy lives.

What is Old Testament Law to a Christian?  I always wanted to know that.  Why shouldn’t we eat pork and other animals?  what is the difference anyway?  Old Testament Laws have no effect on our Salvation, because it is “by Grace that we are saved”…but it shouldn’t be thrown by the wayside because the laws about “clean” and “unclean” animals still applies.  Enough for tonight…Iwill finish chapter 1 tomorrow.