About Faith

I found my faith at the bottom of my purse the other day. You see, my granddaughter gave me a necklace just before my mom's funeral. It was the word "Faith", with a bit of bling in it.

After the memorial service, when I packed to move back home, I slipped it into a special pocket in my purse and forgot about it.

This week I was cleaning out the frass of life from my purse while waiting in my parking spot for someone to ride with me...receipts, shopping lists, notes to self, rubber bands...then something hit my fingertips. It was the necklace. When I pulled it out of the pocket, it was a bit tangled but still as bright and sparkly as when I first received it. I detangled it and hung it from my rearview mirror. It's always in front of me, like a compass with bling.

It has been a difficult few months since my mom passed away. I have had flashbacks from the hospital, memories of camping trips and dread for upcoming holidays. My faith was pushed to the bottom of my soul...covered by the frass of life.

But when I take time to order my life and really dig deep in my heart, I can reach the Faith that has never left me. It remains, even when I think I've lost it.

The Bible calls Faith a shield. (Ephesians 6:16) It is something that you indeed keep in front of you. It guards you from the fiery arrows of the enemy. Christians live by Faith. It is essential to our surviving this broken world.

So my question for you is, do you think you've lost your faith? Dig deep dear reader, search with all your might. Ask God for more faith, pray and seek His will for your life. I truly believe you will find that shining faith that is a compass to point you Home.

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, {being} more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9

Forty Days

It's almost Thanksgiving and we are in the crush of the holiday season. With our calendars filled to the brim, we will somehow cram more than the usual amount of festivities into every 24 hours. There will be shopping and cooking, gift wrapping and visiting. All with the usual work and school schedules wedged in between.

There will be countdowns to Christmas, last minute gift buying and Top 20 lists for the year. Who is your favorite movie star? How about the best song of the year? What's the 10 best ways to prepare turkey leftovers? Not to mention the multiple renditions of the song, 12 days of Christmas!

I realized today that it is almost 40 days until 2008. And I got to thinking...A time period of 40 days was pretty important throughout the Bible.

Noah was in a rainstorm that lasted 40 days and 40 nights. Moses went up on the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments from God for 40 days and 40 nights. When the Israelites sinned against God, Moses appealed to God on his face for 40 days-so they would not be destroyed. The spies took 40 days to check out the Promised Land. For 40 days Goliath taunted the army of Israel, before David vanquished him. Elijah traveled after one angelic meal for 40 days and nights to the mountain of God and God revealed himself in a still small voice. Jonah warned Nineveh that it would be destroyed by God in 40 days if they did not repent. Christ was tempted for 40 days by satan in the wilderness before He began His ministry. And finally, after the resurrection, Christ appeared and spoke to many people for 40 days before He ascended to heaven.

So in the midst of all the holiday clamor, I ask that you set aside 40 minutes a day for God--it can be early morning, lunchtime or late at night. I am a firm believer that when you give God time, He seems to stop time and your day goes more smoothly!

You may find yourself in the midst of a storm right now, it will wane. You might find this short time an amazing time of growth, and find yourself journaling. You may find forgiveness and abounding love from God who only wants you to forgive yourself. It might be that someone is taunting you for your faith, pray for them for 40 days and see how quickly they quiet. You may have a journey of faith that you are starting, begin with the bread of Life--Christ's words every morning. It will sustain you for the trip. Listen to Him as He brings up things you need to repent from. You may be facing a lot of temptation these next 40 days in the form of food, spending or covetousness. God knows that and wants to release you from it.

As you shut off the noises during your quiet time these next forty days, listen as Christ speaks to you with His scripture, His people and His presence in your life.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving {And} His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. Ps 100:4