The heading on my blog reads,
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent...about things that matter.
I don't ever want the devil to win and keep me from saying what GOD wants me to say. Due to some eye problems I shouldn't be writing...because of HIM...I am. So, today...The LORD'S day...I just can't keep the words inside anymore.
All week I have been listening to friends, sermons, and Christian radio, tell me what I need to have to get through the issues I am currently experiencing...and I am "so" grateful for each and everyone. Without my friends words of encouragement and prayers, and the sermons I've listened too, I'm sure I would have had many more pity parties. There has been one main pervading thought in most everything I have heard. Faith...you have got to have it! GOD moves because of your faith. You just have to believe. All of this reminds me of something...The Wizard Of OZ. I know...how could this have anything to do with GOD?!! Hopefully I can write it the way I'm thinking it...
All you need to do is believe and what ever you need you get...the tin man, a heart...the scarecrow, a brain...the lion, courage. What they didn't know was, they really didn't need the wizard because they already possessed these things. If you watch the movie the lion did act out with courage and strength, and took charge of situations when needed, even though he was fearful. The tin man had a heart or he wouldn't have wanted one nor would he have wanted to love or have felt pain. The scarecrow thought of solutions to the problems the group faced so he obviously had a brain.Yet none of the characters believed it for themselves. They had to have a "symbol" of what they wanted to fully believe...too confirm it within themselves. That's how it reminds me of GOD and faith...
When you're going through a problem sometimes it's hard to believe that everything is going to be okay. However, if you are a Christian you are supposed to have faith in GOD that it will be okay regardless of the outcome. Faith is sometimes hard to have if you are the one with the problem. The characters in OZ were all given a symbol...something tangible for them to hold...to help them believe. We have the bible to read to help us with our faith. However there may be times in your life that you can't read it. Right now that is a problem for me so GOD sent other things and people my way to tell me what it says...too build up my faith when I'm having a hard time with it. One friend gave me cd's to listen to, another called and told me a Bible story and talked and listened and prayed, and still another just calls and prays. I am thankful for every friendship and the ways they encourage me. There is one thing they all have in common, lots of faith! One thing I have learned so far through all of this is...
We all have faith inside of us. I just needed to somehow find a way to possess the same kind of faith that each one of my friends have in their lives, what I call...a deep faith. In a way, they all gave me a "symbol". Things that I could hold onto until I found the faith that GOD instills in each one of us when we accept HIM. Without faith we could never have become a Christian.
Hebrews 11:6 (New Living Translation) And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Anytime we come to GOD with anything we have to have faith. Without it why bother to talk to HIM? We can't see HIM so we have to go on faith. One friend reminded me that all we need is the smallest amount...the size of a mustard seed.
Matthew 17:20 (New Living Translation) “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.
So...I'm thinking on all of this and talking to GOD. But...because I'm not seeing any difference in my situation I'm really not believing that HE is even listening. Then this morning happened. No...I can't see any better...but my attitude has changed. I'm watching a Gaither video and who sings but Ronnie Milsap...What A Difference You've Made In My Life. WOW...what a song!! It just hit me...actually I should say, GOD hit me!!! "HE" has made that difference in my life. Ronnie sang the next verse...What a difference you've made in my heart!! Again...WOW...GOD!!! It's true what people say. If you worship GOD when things are bad HE will respond. Your problem might not be resolved right then but GOD will be there with you and you will know it! If I have to have further surgery or my vision never gets any better than it is now...GOD has already made such a difference in me that it's okay. Because of the difference HE has made in me I had to write this.
Faith...I can't honestly say that mine is as "deep" as others, but...maybe this is what GOD is using to help get me there.
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent...about things that matter.
I don't ever want the devil to win and keep me from saying what GOD wants me to say. Due to some eye problems I shouldn't be writing...because of HIM...I am. So, today...The LORD'S day...I just can't keep the words inside anymore.
All week I have been listening to friends, sermons, and Christian radio, tell me what I need to have to get through the issues I am currently experiencing...and I am "so" grateful for each and everyone. Without my friends words of encouragement and prayers, and the sermons I've listened too, I'm sure I would have had many more pity parties. There has been one main pervading thought in most everything I have heard. Faith...you have got to have it! GOD moves because of your faith. You just have to believe. All of this reminds me of something...The Wizard Of OZ. I know...how could this have anything to do with GOD?!! Hopefully I can write it the way I'm thinking it...
All you need to do is believe and what ever you need you get...the tin man, a heart...the scarecrow, a brain...the lion, courage. What they didn't know was, they really didn't need the wizard because they already possessed these things. If you watch the movie the lion did act out with courage and strength, and took charge of situations when needed, even though he was fearful. The tin man had a heart or he wouldn't have wanted one nor would he have wanted to love or have felt pain. The scarecrow thought of solutions to the problems the group faced so he obviously had a brain.Yet none of the characters believed it for themselves. They had to have a "symbol" of what they wanted to fully believe...too confirm it within themselves. That's how it reminds me of GOD and faith...
When you're going through a problem sometimes it's hard to believe that everything is going to be okay. However, if you are a Christian you are supposed to have faith in GOD that it will be okay regardless of the outcome. Faith is sometimes hard to have if you are the one with the problem. The characters in OZ were all given a symbol...something tangible for them to hold...to help them believe. We have the bible to read to help us with our faith. However there may be times in your life that you can't read it. Right now that is a problem for me so GOD sent other things and people my way to tell me what it says...too build up my faith when I'm having a hard time with it. One friend gave me cd's to listen to, another called and told me a Bible story and talked and listened and prayed, and still another just calls and prays. I am thankful for every friendship and the ways they encourage me. There is one thing they all have in common, lots of faith! One thing I have learned so far through all of this is...
We all have faith inside of us. I just needed to somehow find a way to possess the same kind of faith that each one of my friends have in their lives, what I call...a deep faith. In a way, they all gave me a "symbol". Things that I could hold onto until I found the faith that GOD instills in each one of us when we accept HIM. Without faith we could never have become a Christian.
Hebrews 11:6 (New Living Translation) And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Anytime we come to GOD with anything we have to have faith. Without it why bother to talk to HIM? We can't see HIM so we have to go on faith. One friend reminded me that all we need is the smallest amount...the size of a mustard seed.
Matthew 17:20 (New Living Translation) “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.
So...I'm thinking on all of this and talking to GOD. But...because I'm not seeing any difference in my situation I'm really not believing that HE is even listening. Then this morning happened. No...I can't see any better...but my attitude has changed. I'm watching a Gaither video and who sings but Ronnie Milsap...What A Difference You've Made In My Life. WOW...what a song!! It just hit me...actually I should say, GOD hit me!!! "HE" has made that difference in my life. Ronnie sang the next verse...What a difference you've made in my heart!! Again...WOW...GOD!!! It's true what people say. If you worship GOD when things are bad HE will respond. Your problem might not be resolved right then but GOD will be there with you and you will know it! If I have to have further surgery or my vision never gets any better than it is now...GOD has already made such a difference in me that it's okay. Because of the difference HE has made in me I had to write this.
Faith...I can't honestly say that mine is as "deep" as others, but...maybe this is what GOD is using to help get me there.
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