Having FAITH, even when you don't feel like it

Faith is one of those things that is very hard to explain.  You either have it...or you don't.  It is one of the few things in life that is pretty clear cut.  Now, of course, there are varying degrees of faith to which people live by.  But believing and not believing is as easy to see as white verses black.  And the funny thing is...people who have faith in the Lord can't for the life of them figure out who people with out faith make it through the day.  But likewise, those who choose not to believe in God think along the same lines but in the opposite direction.  This is an extremely tough subject, and I am in no way the expert.  However, I will give you my spin on it, as I see it, and based on my personal experience, for what it is worth.

Faith is believing in something you can't see, can't touch, can't smell, can't have any tangible way of coming in contact with it, yet believe it is as real as the computer I am typing this message on right now.  When you stop and think about it, basically it defies all logical thinking.  Maybe think of it as a sixth sense for lack of a better comparison.  Something you feel inside your gut, and you know God is there, you sense it with all of your being...sometimes!  Then sometimes, for whatever reason, if you are grounded in your faith deep enough, you don't feel it quite so much, but because you have before so strongly, your mind takes over and helps you move past the fact that you don't feel Him as closely as you did last week, last month, or even last year.  This is where the title of this message comes from today...having faith even when you don't feel like it.  Sometimes you continue to move along in your faith, and walk with the Lord although you feel distant.  And if you have even been there, you know what I am talking about.  It is a very odd and unsettling time for someone who believes with their whole heart, and knows how they desire to feel close to God, but just flat out don't :(  Since everyone knows you are sold out to God, you continue to move along like always, but you can't shake the feeling that you almost feel like a fraud.  You go through the motions, but your heart feels like it is somewhere else.  You wonder if anyone can tell?  Do you think they notice you aren't quite feeling it? And this is what I call having faith even when you don't feel like it. Not a great place to be...or is it?

I have decided since I have been there a time or two, it is often a time of waiting for the next big thing.  I almost look at it as a time of quiet reflection and rest before God uses you in a mighty way.  Or maybe a time where you begin to miss Him so much, you build up a longing in your soul which builds and builds until you are ready to explode.  Then it could always be a slow building up, over many days, weeks, months, until you finally see the end of the long and lonely road you have been on for all this time.  Either way, once you get back to feeling God close, you are overjoyed at the sound of His voice and His feeling of presence in your life.  But, I wonder how many find themselves in this wilderness feeling all alone, and never make it back to the Lord? Could it be a bit of a test?  I don't know, I told you I totally don't have all of the answers!!! But what about those that choose to not believe...

I have a very short little bit to say about this because I have no idea how it feels.  I have believed my whole entire life since I was a small child.  It is all I know to have faith, and although my religion has changed along the way, my faith is still in the same one God of the universe.  My simple thought to those who don't believe, is I get it.  If you don't feel it, and you don't believe, then flat out you just don't.  So, if I am wrong and there is no God then the worst I did was profess to believe in something that wasn't real, and maybe wasted a total of several years of my life at church and studying God's word. But what if I'm right, what if there's more, and there is a God...A God who could have blessed you in ways beyond your comprehension if you would have just allowed Him to do so.  And if I'm wrong, then when I die, I will do just that, die and be buried, gone forever with nowhere to go.  But what if I'm right, then I will spend eternity with the Creator of the universe, and those that choose not to believe will be separated from the presence of God.  

To sum it up then, if you have faith (even if you don't always feel it) the possibilities are potentially limitless, and all you have to give up is pride that you and your way are best.  And if you don't believe, you are limited to only what you see around you on this earth.  It is quite a chance to take the way I see it.  If I'm wrong, I wasted a bit of my life on something that wasn't real, and in the end, I die and that's that.  If you are wrong, you lived your life as you wished, but your eternity after death will be spent wondering why I didn't have faith even when I didn't feel like it...

Out with the OLD, in with the NEW!!!

2 Corinthians 5:17

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here!

If anyone has had a child, specifically a girl within the last ten years who has watched Disney Channel, you know who the characters are to the right are.  The High School Musical cast is singing "I Want Fabulous" and it is a cute song, and I will admit I have watched this movie and the other two that go along with it quite a few times.  It is the Grease of this current generation, and to tell you the truth, I love the music and general theme of each movie.  But let's get down to the point of this weeks blog.  The song starts with the very first words being, "Out with the old, in with the new, goodbye clouds of grey, hello skies of blue." And of course, Sharpay is your typical spoiled rich brat who has everything and wants even more.  But that is not really my point, but rather the out with the old, in with the new part.  You see, when we die to ourselves and become a new creation in Christ Jesus, the old you is gone and the new you is here!  Clouds of grey or an eternal life without God is gone, and an eternity of blue skies in the presence of Jesus is yours.  

But not just in heaven...before that, on earth things will and should be different. We want fabulous, and God does want to fill our hearts desires, thus giving us what we want, within reason of course.  Does this mean once we are  saved by the blood of Christ we should expect to be like Sharpay, and demand only the best of everything and God will miraculously make it appear? NOPE!!! And there is a difference between God fulfilling the desires of our hearts, and just making us spoiled brats.  Life as a Christian doesn't mean money, fame, and rose petals falling from the sky...but rather a more purpose filled life. A better life can often actually be one that is striped of all the worldly things that distract us from the God who loves us beyond our comprehension. Often fabulous, is simple and uncomplicated, so when God shows up, we aren't preoccupied with "stuff" and miss seeing Him and the work He is doing in our lives.  

Seriously, busy does not equal better...but often just that busy.  Kind of like seat work at school, and I always hated seat work because in essence, it is just busy work with little to be truly gained by doing it.  And Satan loves it when we are busy, even if it is with "church" stuff.  Even he knows when we are distracted, we aren't at our best.  We want fabulous, and our Father wants fabulous for us too, but in a different way than we often think.  He wants lives changed, lives fulfilled with the new us, not a newer version...literally a whole new you.  One with a new mindset, new world views, new standards, new prospective on everything, and we like new.  But new is scary, because we don't know exactly what to expect, and we like to know what comes next. Which is why I like to go to the movies with someone who has already seen the movie.  Then, I can ask them what is going to happen next. This is where FAITH comes in...God is like that person who already knows what is going to happen, and we have to walk in faith that He will help guide us to the most purpose and fulfilled life, the one He already knows can be ours.  We just need to listen, pay attention, and then obey. 

So, might I suggest we all take a long hard look at our lives, and our kids lives too.  What in our lives is just busy work, that seat work that has little to do with living our lives for our Savior.  Things that distract us and our families lives from pursuing the true desires of our hearts, and making us the new in Christ we should be showing the world.  If the new you is here, chances are there are things from the old that still need to be taken to the curb and tossed out for good.  Pray about it, make a list maybe if you are like me and like seeing things on paper, and I challenge you to remove at least one thing that is keeping you preoccupied with you, and focus more on Him.  Simplify, slow down, and live the new.  I think you will be amazed at what was right in front of your face, but you failed to see because the busy was blurring your vision.  

Surrendering to God

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you;

he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

 Surrender:  “to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand; to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another; to give (oneself) over to something (as an influence)” 
– Merriam-Webster Dictionary


I feel for the most part people are built to either easily give things over to God, or they hold them so tightly in their hands they have white knuckles!  And of course, there are always those that pick and choose to give over or hold tight...but usually it is a personality thing.  I am for the most part a control loving kind of gal!!! I like order, tidiness, don't mix the play-doh colors, and predictability if at all possible (unless of course I decide to change things, that is different :)  It has taken many years for me to be able to give things over to the Lord, and especially things that I revere as important.  It's easy to give little things over to Him...but way harder to give over those we might call the big kahunas! You know, things like getting that job, buying a house and where, having kids and when or how many, and all those others we feel we have a better handle on than... Ummm God! And let me just say for the record, that is probably one of the biggest jokes of all time.  We don't know what is often best for our lives...we often can't even make healthy choices on what to eat for lunch for Pete's sake!!! So why is it so hard for us to give it up, to surrender, to lay it down at the Cross, to let go and let God? 

Well, first let me comment...none of us are alone!!! We all do this, not wanting to give up control over our lives that is.  So, don't feel like you are the only one who struggles with this, it's a biggie!! We often struggle because we simply don't completely trust God has it taken care of...pretty funny since you know, He made the heaven and earth, is beginning and end, and knows all, is everywhere, and ultimately could control everything but chose to give you and I free will! Go ahead and laugh, it is pretty ridiculous when you think about it really.  And my life is a living testimony of how God can bend you, break you, glue you back together, break you, glue, break, glue, break...you get the point! Yeah, that's me and my life in a nutshell, and after all that bend, break, glue routine I have finally figured out to just give it over and skip all the bend, break, glue stuff because that quite frankly is way too painful!!!  Trust me, skip it friends!!! Pray about things, give it over to Him, and then trust whatever happens is going to work out best if it is in God's will.  Plus, it takes a little of the burden off of us having to deal with the consequences since if we are in God's will it comes with benefits :) God does have the ability to show favor over our lives, our finances, our jobs, our everything!  Now that is what I call some nice benefits, but you have to trust and surrender.  

So, think it over...wrestle with it if you must.  But I will tell you with some serious experience under my belt, trust God even if you don't understand.  Find peace when life hands you disappointments, as He has a plan...it just looks different than yours because of your prospective.  That disappointment could possibly become your greatest gift in the end once your prospective becomes aligned with that of Gods will.  Surrender, yield to the power, give up completely, give over yourself...and it won't come naturally, but with a little practice and learning the hard way a few times...you will come to the place where you finally get it, and oh how sweet it is.  Trust me, I'm living it every day :) 

His ways verses our ways...

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

Why is it we even think for a split second that our ways are possibly greater than the One who created everything we can see, and everything we can't see?  Seems pretty silly when you stop to put it in those terms...and I would maybe go so far as to say absurd and completely ridiculous!  Yet, we spend countless hours of EVERY day trying to manipulate life to get where or what we want.  Not to say we should just sit around waiting for God to drop money or food into our laps, but there are a couple of reasons why we should consult the Lord over all before we try doing "life" on our own.  And just for the record, I will not be pretending to have the answers...but merely promote some food for thought on this subject :)

First of all, lets face it...not many of us are in control anyway, though we try to pretend we are.  Mostly, we just waste energy, brain power, and precious time often on things we need or want today; only to find we don't need it or what it tomorrow.  And of course we do have control over many things in life, but they often have minute impact in the whole scope of our lives.  We control when we get up, go to the bathroom, eat, sleep, and routine things like this.  We also control if we go to school or work, obey the laws in society, and the such.  But much of life is beyond our control.  Our eye color, sex, who our parents are, where we are born and live, social status born into, our IQ, and etc. are all chosen for us by God.  And according to His word, He knows what He is doing!!! So why when the most individualized and important attributes of our lives are chosen for us do we worry with those having less importance?

Secondly, we (and I include myself in here) need to often stop trying to shove a square peg into a round hole.  And what I mean by this is, we often try to be someone God didn't create us to be, and live a life God didn't plan for us to live, and do things God never intended us to do!  He knows what He is doing, what is best for us, and He has reasons we often don't understand!  Probably because we only see our little slice of life and at that time we think something is so important...rather than how God views our lives from Conception to the end of time, and everything in between!  He also sees how what we do affects not only ourselves, but others around us, our kids, our kid's kids, and so on down the line.   

So, what should we do about it you might be thinking?  Keep in mind this is purely my opinion, and experience as I have let go of trying to control everything and everyone, as well as stopped driving myself around the bend with not getting the results I wanted after so much stress and hard work.  If life is handing you a round peg, place it into a round hole!  If God asks you to move, then move.  If He calls you to the mission field, then GO!! If He stops your "big plans" - then He has a reason.  Life is very unpredictable and uncertain, at best.  I have in the last several weeks seen this first hand, and how little control we truly have in not only the big decisions of life but the small ones as well.  Life will be less stressful and more smooth if we all just give over the control of our lives to the Lord, and let Him handle it, as He is way more equipped to orchestrate our life for the best than we ever will be.  Just roll with it, because His thoughts are far superior, and His ways are eons beyond anything we will ever dream up!!!  

What has happened to our world? Are we in End Times?

2 Timothy 3

New International Version (NIV)

1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Sad to say, but unless you have been on a deserted island with Gilligan, you have heard of the horrible tragedy which occurred at the elementary school in Connecticut on Friday morning.  How could anyone shoot little kids point blank is well beyond my comprehension.  I don't understand, I can't understand, and my heart is completely broken for all those who have lost loved ones, who had to endure the horrific hours of terror, and a nation that kills it's own.

Unfortunately, today's scripture tells us exactly why it happened, why similar things will unfortunately happen again, and why it is highly possible we are indeed in end times. Now, let me preface this with the fact that I am not a scholar of end times, or an expert in any way.  But what I am, is a believer in Christ, believer in God's Word being true, and have read enough to feel comfortable with my opinion on the subject.  

Do you often wonder if the world could possibly get any worse?  Of course, next thing you know, something happens to prove that, YES, in fact it can.  I believe this is what we were all confronted with by Friday afternoon when everyone knew someone walked into a school and shot kindergarten students probably sitting nicely in their desks.  What has happened to this world we live in?  It is very very scary, and to tell you the truth, I haven't let myself think about it much.  Not because I don't care, but because it is almost more than I can bear.  I have prayed for all who lost their lives, their families, and all affected by this tragedy, with a most saddened heart I might add.  But, I have yet to turn on the news to see first hand reports.  I heard about it from others, my mom, and a few little blurbs on Fox News Breaking news that pops up on my iPhone.  

I know things weren't perfect when I was little, nor were they when my mom was little, but at least we weren't afraid of what would happen to us at school other than getting in trouble, bad grades or going to the principals office.  We never worried that while we were sitting in class, someone would just show up at the door and shoot us to death.  It is for reasons such as this, that I feel pretty certain we are getting closer to the time Jesus will come for His people.  And the way things are going, I sure wouldn't want to be one of those left behind.  Can you imagine what life on earth would be like after the Rapture?  I truly can't image, and I don't plan to find out.  My faith, trust, and hope are in Christ alone; and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt who holds my tomorrow! Do you?  If not, might I suggest if you want to know you are going to heaven you might say this short yet eternally powerful prayer to yourself with a most sincere heart.  

It's really as easy as your ABC's!  "I know and Acknowledge I am a sinner, I repent of my sins before the Lord and ask for forgiveness.  I Believe Jesus Christ came to this earth to die for my sins, and I accept Him as my Lord and Savior.  And Commit your life to Jesus!  It will be the single best thing you could ever possibly do in your entire life, and you will never ever regret it for one second.  

Please continue with me to pray for not only those involved with this terrible tragedy, but for our country and world who desperately need a Savior, Jesus Christ!

How did Christ go Missing from Christmas?

Please, take 3 minutes to listen to this amazing song I just came across about a week ago.

Matthew 1:23

New International Version (NIV)

²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”^[a](which means “God with us”).

Stockings hung, tree up and decorated, wreath on the door, lights out on the bushes, holiday dishes out, nutcrackers and snowmen all around, and one Willow Tree manger set that my dear friend gave me one year for Christmas.  As I looked around my house today, I suddenly realized there was little to do with Jesus out but a whole lot of Santa stuff around.  How could it be that the original reason for celebrating Christmas Day in the first place is often completely let out of the day?  Of course, someone a few years back coined the term, Jesus is the Reason for the Season...which is true.  However, now even that has lost it's luster a bit.  And don't get me wrong, there are lots of people upset over the Governor of Rhode Island, Lincoln Chafee deciding to call the Christmas tree a holiday tree!!! Let me just say my two cents worth, that is completely insane.  Since when do we put up a tree at Easter, Forth of July, or any other holiday for that matter? NEVER!!! It's just dumb, plain and simple. Ok, I feel better and I will gracefully step off my soap box, for now that is :)

Now, most people, may or may not know that Jesus was actually NOT born on Christmas day.  Truth is, He was probably born sometime in August, as best as theologians can tell.  But, none the less, this is the day we have decided to celebrate the birth of Immanuel, God with us.  The day our Savior shed His robe in heaven and exchanged it for flesh and blood, to save His people some 33 years later.  Let's just stop and think about that one for a minute.  Imagine the ultimate, and I do mean ultimate, place you have ever been to, or the best and most amazing time you have ever had...and times that place or time by a million zillion trillion; this would be what heaven is almost as good as.  And He chose to leave that for us, sinners.  He chose to come and feel pain, hurt, disappointment, temptation, hunger, desertion, and eventually death on a cross while bearing the sins of the world from start to finish.  He endured all this for sinners; as in you and I who totally didn't deserve it.  Sorry, but I really needed to go there...putting a little prospective on the upcoming advent season as we anticipate the birth of Jesus Christ!  

So...how exactly do we go against the grain and do a little more reflection on Christ, and a little less on the now very commercialized holiday of Christmas?  I am not 100% sure, to tell you the truth.  I just know we sure need to figure it out.  Otherwise, we might as well call it a holiday tree, if Christ has gone missing from Christmas!  I am thinking if we are ready to fight to keep calling it a Christmas tree, we need to fight to find more Christ...and be Christ to the world.  How about we all try to think of one tangible thing that would put more Jesus in this season, and then leave it in the comments of this entry for the rest of us to try and do. It is certainly time we come together as the body of Christ to help one another be Christ to this fallen world at Christmas time...and all year through for that matter.  Can I get an AMEN, and a little help on this? 

Are you living your heart's desire?

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:
 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; Psalms 37:3-7

Why do we settle?  I mean, why do we brush aside what we know we are born to do...what truly makes us happy?  Is it often money, social status, survival, or insecurity of our gift that holds us back?  Is there something that makes your heart sing when you are doing it, yet it isn't your career or even something you do on a regular basis?  Do we not trust God, I mean truly trust?  Do we lack patience, or the ability to just be still?  Could it be a lack of fully committing to the Lord as we should?  These are all questions we must ask ourselves if we are indeed not partaking in our talents and desires of the heart! Let us break this down a little, bit by bit, to pull everything out into view and have clarity on these passages.  

Trust!  Now that is a tough place to start, as it tells the truth on us and where we are in our walk with the Lord.  Trusting God has it handled (our problems, provisions, and everything in between) even when we often think He needs our help.  Trusting can often be most difficult if you are someone like me...a doer!!! You know those people, always trying to do something either for themselves or someone else to help fix the situation.  Now granted, trusting God doesn't mean we should just sit around and wait for the Lord to deliver our food, rent check, and all else to our door wrapped in pretty packaging.  

But maybe, we trust God will sustain us if we choose to take a job that makes less money, but is more family friendly, and following more closely to the meaningful job we desire.  Does it mean we will be driving a Porsche to teach preschool at the local church?  Probably not, but if this is the area that fulfills you on a daily basis, couldn't it be said that the sports car isn't more important than your After all, scripture is very clear in Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Of course, I realize if you are struggling financially, we often have to work in jobs we are not overly fond of to make ends meet.  But I am speaking about your life career which should be your heart’s desire.

And lastly, is it your insecurity in your gifts that hold you back from your own success?  Do you feel as if maybe you aren’t good at what you love to do?  Let’s be frank here, people usually do NOT like to do things they aren’t good at…like me and bowling!  I am terrible at bowling; therefore you will not see me signing up to play in a league in this lifetime.  This doesn’t mean bowling isn’t a great sport for some people, but based on my talent and ability (usually gutter balls); it would not be something I would choose.  This pretty much I would say is the rule of thumb for most people.  We naturally gravitate toward what we know and what we are happy doing; which is most likely something that turns our crank!!! I love to write, but so far it isn’t paying the bills…but it makes me happy, fulfilled, and content in my life; even if my life isn’t picture perfect.  You get my drift, right? So…what are we going to do with this???

We have a couple of choices, I suppose.  We can sacrifice the worldly things (within reason) to gain happiness through our hearts desires.  We can try to do a little of both, which is where I find myself these days.  I write on the side, perusing my dream to be an author and writer; and work as a Nanny and complete administrative work and sales calls for my husband’s company.  Will you see me sporting a Mercedes 500sl anytime soon?  Nope, but you will see me with a smile on my face, as I finally understand the scripture about God giving me the desires of my heart.  I love to write, write, and write some more; for adults and kids, or anyone who will read it for that matter.  I trust He knows my future and how this will all play out in my life.  I will exhibit patience as His perfect plan unfolds, and commit myself to Him once again as content.  I will “do” what I should, and let Him take care of the rest; rather than trying to make something happen out of nothing.  And I can’t wait to see my Heavenly Father to make my “rewards shine like the dawn!”  I choose to trust, wait patiently, and commit…won’t you?