The Faith to Dream

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Is God Setting the Stage?

I've been studying Esther. There is a moment where things look really bad. After Mordecai Stands up for God and refuses to worship Haman. Haman asks to kill all the Jews and King Xerxes agrees. Letters go out to let the people know. That is a bad day. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood up for God and were thrown into a furnace. That was a bad day. Moses stood up for God to Pharoah. That was a bad period of time for the people of God. Jesus stood up for God. He was crucified. You know what else all of these stories have in common with each other? They all have pretty amazing endings . They are the stories that we share with each other. We study them. We teach them to our children. We use them as examples for inspiration and hope and faith and love. There is a theme throughout the bible of God rescuing those who love him. He doesn't prevent bad things from happening. He doesn't make sure our lives are perfect. He doesn't tell us exactly the path we are to tak...

The Simple Joy of Having It All

I was listening to the radio on the way to work this morning and a McDonald's commercial came on. They are promoting their healthier options. The slogan: The Simple Joy of Having It All. Doesn't it sound lovely? Like everything you have every wanted? So...simple. All I really want is everything, is that too much to ask? Just the simple joy. Honestly, not simple. Maybe not even joyful. Having it all can be a lonely place. Having it all can be a place where it is hard to find the need for God. Having it all doesn't always come without some cost. Do you think God wants us to have it all? I don't. I think God wants us to need Him. If we never need Him we will not have the joy of experiencing God in our lives. The times where I have had to trust and rely on God were some of the more difficult times in my life. They were also the times where I grew in faith, character, and understanding. Those hard times shape me for who I am. They are the times I gain more wisdom becaus...

Trouble Will Come a Knockin'

This ain't heaven y'all. We live in a fallen world and sometimes it is hard. Really hard. Don't worry, I'm not talking to you right now. I am talking to myself. Because sometimes I fool myself into thinking that this should be easy. This trying to do the right thing, be a good person, and have grace and forgiveness for others stuff. This overcoming stuff. This getting through times full of hardship or grief stuff. Because we have all said it one time or another haven't we? "Why do bad things happen to good people?" "Why did God let this happen?" John 16:33 In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world. Jesus let's us know ahead of time that it is going to be difficult. But He will be there to pick up the pieces. Do I blame God or draw closer to God in hard times? Because He wants me to draw closer to Him. Wouldn't I want to run into my dad's arms when things are really bad? Yes! I wouldn...

Not a Story About Greatness

The faith to dream. My blog title. It isn't a story about how I have made a lot of money. It isn't a story about how I saved a lot of souls. It isn't a story about greatness. It is a story about trying to overcome. I am afraid. Afraid of falling mostly. Airplanes, bridges, elevators. Afraid of falling from grace. Afraid to have strength and confidence. But that is not God's desire for me. Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. I am God's daughter. What is there to fear? I read in the book Anything today that sin is from areas where we do not trust God. My fear is from areas where I don't trust God. Or maybe I just haven't found the way to giving that area over to Him yet. But I want to. I want to have a great faith. A faith that knows no bo...

Do I Have Enough Faith in God to Have Faith In Myself?

Not too long ago I did a study on faith. One thing that surprised me is that the bible talks more about God's faith in us than our need to have faith in Him. There are those places of course. The israelites often lacked faith and Jesus wanted His disciples to have more of it too. But when I read scriptures with the word faith I heard about how God has faith in me. This weekend at church the pastor talked about how God took the time to make us so He must have a great plan for us. Then I was reading The Good Wife's Guide and found that God doesn't call the skilled but He equips the called. At first both of those things sound warm and fuzzy. But I realized there is a challenge in there when I really digested it. I need to have the faith to believe in God's faith in me. He might want big things for me. Bigger things than I can even imagine. I need the courage to step out and take the God opportunites that come my way. It doesn't matter what I think. Moses didn't...

Contempt for the Riches of His Kindness

Romans 2:1-4 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge anohter, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment against those who do such tings is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? I feel like I read this scripture for the first time today. I know I have read it many times, but today it pierced my heart for the first time. I have been working on not judging others. I have lived cozily in the self appointed seat of judgment. I have had contempt for the riches of God's kindness. But I am only a mere human. Throughout Jesus' life he forgave many people. He asked them to change their lives and follow him. Many of those people did not se...