Meet Jesus at the Well...end of the 50 Days Series

Well, we're at the end of the 50 Days study.  Homegroups will be finishing up the study this week, the sermon series has been tucked away to be used at an unforeseen time in the future, and this is the final blog post.


The story I'm sitting with today is the story of the woman at the well.  It's found in John 4, and the spine of my bible is well-worn in that spot...Jesus has used that woman to teach me quite a bit.  


I'm sure you're familiar with the story, Jesus and the disciples are traveling through Samaria and he meets up with a woman getting water all by herself in the middle of the day.  Jesus is tired and he asks the woman for water.  She replies stating their status immediately (as a Jew he wouldn't have spoken to a Samaritan woman) and then she says, "How can you ask me for a drink?"  


Jesus tells her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." (John 4: 10)  


The woman and Jesus go back and forth...she's talking about the well they are standing at...it's a well Jacob himself dug, and Jesus is trying to get her to understand the concept of living water.  Eventually she agrees and asks Jesus for water.


His reply is immediate and a little odd:  "Go call your husband and come back."  


She says, "I don't have a husband."


Jesus essentially replies to her and agrees; he tells her how she's had five husbands and how she's currently living with a guy. (a big no-no)


She tells him he's a prophet...and Jesus continues to reveal himself to her, and eventually tells her that He is the Messiah.  


The woman leaves and gets everyone in the village, telling them to meet the Messiah, the man who knew everything she ever did.  So, the people of the village come and meet Jesus...and they ask him to stay with them, deciding not to just believe the woman's testimony, but to know for themselves.  


Jesus grants their request and stays with them for two days.  The last passage of this particular story is from the villagers saying, "We no longer believe just because  of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." (John 4:42)


So, what's the point of going over this story? 


 Jesus met one woman at a well, and changed her entire life.  He met a whole village at that same well and changed many of their lives too.  The well in the village was a permanent fixture in their lives.  I can't help but think how many of them (the woman in particular) would have returned to that well, day after day, and remembered meeting Jesus in that spot.  


Can you imagine meeting Jesus?  


Meeting the Savior of the world in such a mundane place...in such a basic way?  Jesus took something all of us need, water, and used it as a metaphor for his ability to be the place of refreshment and life.  


Has Jesus used this 50 Days series in your life?  Did He meet you in this little devotional and reveal himself to you?  Did you learn more about His heart, how to worship Him, how to have faith in Him, how to have strength through Him?  


Did He meet you at the well?  Did He show you how He can be living water?  


Will you look at this book and remember what He did?  Remember what He taught you?  


I'm always thinking of "wells" in my life...some people call them spiritual markers...but I like to call them wells.  It's a place where I can remember where Jesus taught me something, and a place where I can return to get His living water and truth.  


Was the 50 Days series a "well" for you?  


Share if you would...and the next blog will be on Crazy Love, good stuff!


H :)   

Love story...Day 43

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” 

- Dr. Suess

That's the quote at the top of today's study...and it's all I can focus on.  

I read to fall asleep at night.  I'm a big fan of the classics.  Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, The Great Gatsby, Jane Eyre.  Who doesn't love a good story that's told with such richness and eloquence you find yourself swept away with the characters, the language,  and a great love that transcends time and distance...now that's a great story.

The Bible has been said to be the greatest love story ever told.  

It's a story of God's all consuming love for us.  How God begins a relationship with man and woman and how they ultimately fall out of relationship with their Father.  How the Father rescues his loved ones again and again, to the point where He sends His own son to die for them....so that their relationship is redeemed...and no longer will they be separated from the Father.  That's a good love story.

It's my absolute favorite story...and it's all true.  Elizabeth Bennett might have her Mr. Darcy...but I've got Jesus...the one who laid is life down for me, how could I not love Him?

Which brings me back to the Dr. Suess quote.  There have been times in my life when reading my bible puts me to sleep...but more often lately I can't read my bible because it gets me so fired up for Jesus...so excited about His plan for me, His love for me, His sacrifice for me, His passion for me...I can't possibly sleep.  

So, are you so passionate about the love of Jesus that you can't sleep?  

Do you see his love as reality?  

Does it keep you awake at night, and is it greater than anything you could've dreamed up?  

How are you doing heading into this last week of the 50 Days study?

Warrior heart...Day 42

When my son was around age 3 his absolute favorite story was David slaying Goliath.  What boy doesn't love that story?  


Goliath is this giant of a guy...he shows up daily to trash talk the Isrealites and God, and then there's David.  David brings lunch to his older brothers out fighting the battle and witnesses Goliath's taunting.


David is angered and challenges the Isrealite army, he has a confrontation with one of his older brothers and eventually talks to Saul, the king.  David convinces Saul that he has the ability to take down Goliath.  He tells Saul, "Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.  The lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." (1Sam 17)


When David goes to meet Goliath, he yells out (and this is my son's favorite part, we used to stand up and act out the whole speech David gives Goliath, making our bodies big, arms wide, and deep voices) "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled."


David goes on to describe what he plans on doing in God's name and under God's authority to Goliath, and proceeds to do exactly as he says, and David destroys Goliath and God is glorified.


That is a cherished memory of mine...I'm sure you have great memories that are similar.  My son was just a toddler, and he envied the battle, he envied the hero, and learned about our great God.


My son isn't a toddler anymore.  He's seven now and has the begun to experience the cruelty of the world.  He understands bad language, poor attitude, selfishness and abuse...he's just beginning to see the sin that is possible.  So, how do I take that little boy, who envied the warrior heart of David as he battled Goliath and apply it to today's wars?


God is holy; He is set apart.  We are to be set apart too, we are to look like aliens in this world.  David felt like an alien.  His heart was so heavy for God he felt like set apart at times.  


I feel it's the job of my family to expose my son to a new enemy.  The battles will look different as he gets older, but war with the world and with his flesh will continue...but the good news is that God has already conquered it...and when it looks glum...God will prevail.  John recorded what Jesus said,  "“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.  I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”


My son loved the story of David and Goliath because it was a great adventure and the little guy won...now we get to help him find the real Goliath's in his life...and he gets a real adventure, and guess what...the little guy will win, if he's got God in his corner.


So, what Goliath's are you facing?  


How's your warrior heart doing?

I've got a little story for you...Day 37 & 38

I have two children, a boy Robin (7) and a girl Katie (5, those are her sweet little baby brown's in the picture above).  


One afternoon we are walking as a family around the boardwalk in Coeur d'Alene.  Robin, who is a professional 7 year old, is talking a mile a minute and asking question after question, as Katie and my husband and I are walking along the boardwalk.  Katie has gotten tired of not getting a word in the conversation and has taken to carefully stepping on each board of the dock so she doesn't step on any cracks.


At one point Robin says, "Dad, could you throw a football from here to that tree" (about 20 yards away)


Dad answers, "Oh yeah, I could throw a football that far."


Robin asks, "Dad, could you throw a football from here to that boat?"  (about 50 yards away)


Dad answers, "Yeah, I could probably throw a football that far."


Then Robin asks excitedly, "Could you throw a football from here to that house?!" (as he points to a house clear across the lake)


Dad answers, "No Robin, no one could throw a football that far."


And little Katie who's holding my hand, so she can balance on her tippy toes, and concentrating very hard to avoid all the cracks and grooves on the boardwalk pipes into the conversation and just says, "God could."


And we all stopped and looked at her..."you're right Katie, God could."


While I can't think of why God would choose to throw a football clear across a lake, the point is, He could.  If it brought people to Him, brought glory to Him, showed people who He was...God could do that...whether or not He would is up to Him.  


And that's why I love this little moment with my children.  My daughter didn't care how or why God would do it, it was the point that God is that big and powerful and amazing to her, that He could do that in her mind without any question or hesitation or doubt.  That's the Father my daughter is in love with...and it's the same God David loved too.


That's the kind of God we have.  The God David desired, the God who loved David's heart.  


That's the God David defended.  That's the God that can do the impossible...and does the impossible when He chooses.  


It's not up to us to decide when and how God acts...it's up to us to have a heart of knowing He is a great God, who can do impossible things.  God can defeat armies, bring down giants, change hearts...and throw footballs (if he wanted too).


That's my little story and I'm stickin' to it.  


Have you got a good story...a story that shows someone's heart for God?


Share it with us! :)

Here I am Lord...Day 36

I know we're talking about David and how he had a heart for God, but there's something back in Abraham's story that's popping into my mind as we start this week's study on David.  

As Abraham is tested with sacrificing Isaac there are two times in the story the Lord calls out to him, and Abraham's response is, "Here I am Lord."

Why would Abraham answer in that way?  God knew where Abraham was, but it's the attitude Abraham has that has me intrigued.  God calls out to Abraham, and it's written as a shout of his name from God..."Abraham!"  And the response is simple..."Here I am."  I picture Abraham stooped over, working on a project around his home, and as he hears God call out his name, I see Abraham stand up and reply calmly, "Here I am."  There's something so true about that phrase.  Admitting I have nothing to hide from God, it's just me, simple and honest...I'm here Lord.

We see that in Day 36 with David.  David comes into his home from tending the sheep. He is a young boy, "ruddy with a fine appearance and handsome features," and God says, "rise and annoint him; he is the one." (1 Sam 16)  

Just prior to God identifying David, He tells Samuel that "the LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."  

What does my heart look like?  

I spend an awful lot of time worrying how things look on the outside, making sure appearances are in order; not just cosmetically, but that my kids are behaving, and I don't argue with my husband in public and I am a polite driver, things like that.  But am I more concerned about how it looks like I behave, than the motivation behind my behavior?  

David's older brothers looked like fine examples of kings to Samuel.  Samuel even says, "Surely the Lord's anointed stands here before the Lord."  

There's something about standing "here" before the Lord that's working on me today.

There's relief in the honesty and simplicity of being free before the Lord, to just be me...there's no "appearances" to keep up...He knows all of my terrible habits, and poor decisions, and how I'm struggling in obedience and He loves me anyway.  The statement "Here I am Lord," contains freedom.  I can be emptied out before Him, and He can embrace me and fill me back up with everything that is good about Him.  

So, bottom line is there's no hiding from God.  Nothing you can think or do without His knowledge...so why not be honest about it before Him?  David had a heart for God...a heart of honesty.  How's your heart today?  Mine's a little sore frankly...so "here I am Lord, and I desire You and Your presence in everything I do and think today...and I adore You.  I want to be known by You Lord, and do Your will, mold me and use me."

H =)

I am His workmanship...and you are too. Day 34 & 35

Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."


This is one of my favorite verses.  I refer to it often as I'm feeling befuddled, or down.  When I question my purpose and how God is working in my life, this verse gives me comfort.


God's word is living and active, and it penetrates better than any two-edged sword...and it is true.  This verse that I have loved so much for many years, is taking on new life for me.


The verse basically says that we are God's creation, created by Christ Jesus, in order to do the amazing work that God already set before us...and we get to join Him.  


Before this little journey with Samson came along, this verse represented solely the idea that I get to go do God's good work, and that He's created me for a specific purpose to accomplish good things He has all set up for me.  I looked at my life as one big, endless journey of hurdles and choices where I get to choose to do what God would have me do in any situation...and that's still true.  


But what Samson (the rockhead) has taught me is that there I times I do some good works on my own (or at least I think I do it on my own)...and I give very little glory to God in the process.  


I need to acknowledge that when good work is done for God's kingdom, and that means ANY good work done...that's the stuff God planned for me to do anyway...and when it's all said and done, I need to be remembering that it was all His idea, part of His glorious plan for me.  The glory ALL goes to Him.  


I've been using this verse only as a comfort, only seeing it from one side...the side that needs to know God's big purpose for me.  I'm not looking at the verse from the opposite side (after the work has been completed), and remembering that when the good stuff happens, that was God moving and working in my life, I experienced Him!  And what do I do?  I blow right past it, wondering when the next thing is going to happen, questioning what He has for me again...


I want to use my gifts for God, and I want to glorify Him for everything, and remember all of the things that God does along the way and all of the things He has set aside for me to do with Him.


I'm feeling quite repentant.  


Father I ask for your forgiveness.  I ask that you forgive me for my pride and for neglecting to acknowledge where You have done good works through me.  I thank you so much for your loving, gracious presence in my life and that you help me to remember that you have given me gifts and abilities and they are to be used to bring You glory.


Hope you've enjoyed the Samson study this week...any input on what God is using Samson to teach you?

Some ways I'm deciding NOT to be like Samson...Day 32

Still frustrated with Samson, but the guy's starting to grow on me.  


Samson let his gift of power get the best of him.  He was to be set aside and get things done for God.  He was to never consume alcohol, be in the presence of anything that was dead, and he was never to cut his hair.  


Those three things set him apart from everything else and were to help give him specific purpose.  Well, over time Samson blew through all of the things that he wasn't supposed to do, he liked having his own power and choices in doing what he liked to do...and eventually he lost everything.  His strength and sight gone, he ends his life begging God to help him one last time.  And God does...however, that was God's purpose all along.  The prophecy made was that Samson was to begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistine's.  Sounds like God still used Samson, despite all of the guy's faults, to accomplish His will.


So, what's the story I'm stewing on to correlate with Samson?  I know you're all curious...


Before Jesus ascended into heaven after the resurrection he told his disciples something crucially important, it's found in Matthew 28.  Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."


What on earth does Samson the Rockhead have to do with Jesus giving us the great commission?  


The answer is that Jesus said to make disciples and "to teach them to obey everything I (Jesus) have commanded" and I can be terrible at obeying what He's asked me to do...a little bit like Samson.


My family and I have been a part of Real Life for more than eight years now.  My husband and I met Jesus here, our children were born into this church family, and we've been involved in more ministry than I can possibly remember.  We've been a part of small groups that have branched numerous times, and while I feel confident in where I am sitting with my family...I know there are some people missing.  


Jesus tells the story of a sheep who's wandered off... and the shepherd who leaves his flock of 99 sheep to chase the one; and when he finds that one he joyfully picks it up on his shoulders and carries it back to the flock.  When the shepherd gets that one sheep back he calls his friends and they have a celebration and rejoice because what was once lost, is found.  That's something Jesus said to go do...go chase the ones that have wandered and bring them back to the flock.


That's what is sitting with me regarding Samson today.  There have been times in which I've used the gifts God has given me in ways that are good, in ways that bring Him glory...but there's also some simple things He has called me to do and I'm just not getting it done.  I look around where I am now, and I see fruit because of my obedience in some areas, but the area of chasing the strays is starting to look pretty shriveled up on the vine.  


So, unlike Samson, I'm going to spend some time with Jesus looking at my heart and understanding how He would like me to accomplish one of the things He asked me to be obedient in...anybody with me?


Any ideas on how we can deny ourselves, be the opposite of Samson, and do what God is asking us to do?


Have you got a good story?...


Here's my visual...they aren't sheep, but I would think pigeons would be as hard to corral as people can be sometimes, what do you think?

Looking forward to hearing how God's using Samson the Rockhead to get through to you too.


Love, Heidi :)

Samson, the Rockhead...Day 31...and a bit of honesty :)

Okay, gotta hold up the blogging boat for a minute and say something.

My name's Heidi and I've been blogging for a while now, personally, and now it's part of my job.  I work for Real Life and someone on staff thought it would be a great idea to start up this blog so there would be a place for people to chat about their "50 Days" journey.  So, I did.  I've been faithfully working on this little blog for a couple of weeks now and we are near 1100 "hits" on the site, which is fantastic news to me.  I've enjoyed being anonymous writing this blog, but I think it's time I pop out of the blogging closet.


The point of all of this is that I am about ready to pull my hair out reading about Samson.   I could relate to Moses, and Abraham, and Solomon...but Samson...oof!  That guy just makes my brain hurt.  I've written and decided to scrap more drafts of blogs on this guy than anything else I've blogged in my entire blogging history (okay, maybe that's not saying much to you, but it does to me!)  


Blogging has been relatively easy for me to do...I pull up the site, pray about what God wants me to say, find a groovy picture, write about what's rumbling around in my little brain, and click the little "publish post" button, and I'm done.  But there's something about Samson that has got me so befuddled and bumbling and unable to write...I feel tied up and frustrated as all get out.

And maybe that's the whole point.  The other characters were easy to write about, but Samson, who couldn't be tied, did so much under his own will and power, finally had something that tied him up...and Samson himself and his qualities are tying up my writing. 


God's using Samson with me...my head's been shaved and I've got to come to the realization that GOD is USING me....it's not me doing anything...so here I am, with my little stubbly head, throwing something down that's honest and real and I don't have anything eloquent or moving or poignant to say...just honesty.  


How are you doing out there in blogging land?  


Has your head been shaved?


How's the stubble feeling growing back in?...mine's a little itchy and uncomfortable and a reminder to me that I am nothing without God and his spirit and blessing.  


Thanks for reading...let me know what you think,

Love, Heidi :)

Where does Strength come from?...Day 29

Strength is an attribute.  One we gain with hard work...I think of heavy lifting, body builders, exercise.  Strength has to be tested to be proven.  It takes time and discipline to gain strength.


Samson is brought forth to parents who are childless.  An angel of the Lord comes to Samson's mother and explains to her, "You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son.  Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, because you will conceive and give birth to a son.  No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Isreal form the hands of the Philistines." Judges 13: 3-5


So, right from the beginning, Samson is special.  He is set apart, born at a specific time, under specific circumstances and for a specific purpose. His mother needed strength from the beginning of his life.  His mother was to carry a son that would help deliver the people of Isreal from the Philistines. She needed strength... strength to obey the promises of the Lord, strength to endure the rules set before her,  to abstain from drinking or eating things the angel of the Lord told her to avoid, and strength to obey the requirements of not cutting Samson's hair.


Strength comes from discipline, it comes from obedience, and it comes from trial.  Samson faced some tough trials in his life...many of which he reacted out of anger and revenge...but God continued to use Samson.  He was a bit of a "rockhead" as we like to call them around Real Life.


I'm a "rockhead" too.  I react poorly to trials in my life too.  I can move to action and destruction, okay so I don't take people out with a donkey jawbone or anything, but I know I use words that can cut and destroy.


Samson fell victim to his flesh at times.  He fell in love, dealt with jealousy, and struggled with his pride and temper.  Sound familiar?  Samson was quite motivated to action at times in his life.  He was motivated to battle and take on the enemy...but most of the time his motivations were a little off.  His heart was settled on getting things done to satisfy himself, not obey God.  


The interesting thing about Samson's story is at the end, when he's broken down, and tied up and defeated, he's blinded and he finally asks God for help with his strength.  The one gift he'd had all his life, he'd relied on to get him out of trouble, he finally got to the point where he realized he needed God to really make it happen.  And when he cries out to God in his weakness, he says, "O Sovereign Lord, remember me.  O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes."  Samson also asks God to let him die with the Philistines, and he ends up killing more with his death, than he did in life.


God works in some wondrous ways.  I'm not sure how this study of Samson and his strength is going to play into our 50 Days study, but I'm willing to go where God's been working...you ready too?


Today's challenging question has us thinking about our motives...I know my motives can be pretty fleshy, and similar to Samson.  I want to satisfy my pride and ambitions, and I can forget to acknowledge God in the gifts and strengths He's given me...so I guess the question I'm chewing on today is:  Why am I doing what I'm doing?  Is it to honor God, or myself?  Do I have the strength to really look at my heart and see something I don't want to see?  


Like Samson I can cry out and ask God for strength when I am weak and needing help...and I know he'll come in when my heart is ready.  Praise the Lord in all His faithfulness!

Rescued by the Hand of God...

One of the things that disturbs me the most about Abraham's story is the point when he goes to the mountain to sacrifice Isaac.  

As a parent, this is the most excruciating thought I have...to suffer the loss of a child.  And to think that God actually asks Abraham to go and perform this sacrifice...to kill his son with his own hand...the thought just makes my stomach turn...these are the points in God's story when I honestly want to walk away from the Bible.  These are the stories that make me want to walk away from God...who is this Father that could ask that from one of His children?...what Father could ask for that kind of sacrifice?

But God didn't actually allow the sacrifice to happen.  The sacrifice was stopped before Isaac lost his life.  Isaac was rescued by the hand of God.

However, the sacrifice didn't stop before Jesus gave his life.

God is the kind of Father who understands sacrifice.  

He is the kind of Father who sacrificed His own son...death wasn't prevented when God's son went to the mountaintop.  God allowed His son to take my sin, your sin, and the sin of the world.  We have been rescued by the hand of God.  That's sacrificial love...that's the kind of Father we have.

And that's how I reconcile with Abraham's story.  That's how I keep reading the Bible... I know the ending and the sacrifice is complete.

It's so much easier to have faith in that kind of Father.  To trust the kind of Father who has given everything for me.  

LORD, give me the faith of Abraham...allow me to trust you and know you are good and to fully understand and remember how You rescued me.

Are there unreasonable things God is asking of you?  

How are you walking through it?

How's your faith feeling at this point in the journey?

Walking by Faith...Day 25.

I can't always see where I'm going, but I know where I've been.

Walking by faith can be a little nerve wracking.  Walking forward, when God has asked you to move in a specific direction can be scary and your steps can feel uncertain.  

However, there is some good news.  The trick to walking forward in trusting God, is to take a peak backward every once in a while.  

When you can see all of the places God showed up and led you through, walking in faith in a new area isn't so scary.

To know God is walking you through things, to see how He's been with you, how He's pointed you and guided you.  There's confidence in knowing you are never alone and never without Him.

Hebrews says, "By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.  He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.'  Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death."

How could Abraham walk with faith and follow through with God's request to sacrifice Isaac?  God had already walked him through so many things, how could he not trust God?  Abraham could find all of the spiritual markers in his life by looking backward...and then he could look forward to what God was calling him to, and take that first step of faith.

Have you been thinking of all the ways God has worked in your life?

Have you peaked over your shoulder and spotted your Father with you the whole time?

Where is He guiding you now?  

Are you ready to take that first step of faith?

Where are you going?...Day 24

What are you climbing toward?  What's the final destination?  What's the goal?

God has a plan and a mission for you.  He loves you as his child and he desires relationship with you.  He also has you on a mission, Jesus asked us to go into the world, baptizing and making disciples of Him.  He's got you on a mission, do you know what it is?

Often times we know what He is calling us to do...the question is, how do we respond?

Sometimes, it's easy to say "yes" to God.  Prayer before meals, church every weekend, volunteer in childcare, and throw something in the offering bucket every once in a while.

There are also times when saying "yes" to God seems more difficult.  Read the bible every day, step up to lead a small group, tithe, address a conflict with a co-worker, or pray with your spouse.

Abraham was a guy who chose to say "yes" to God when he could have refused.  He responded to God, he put his faith in God and chose to trust the almighty creator of the universe.  

How is God challenging you right now?

Maybe God wants you to think about the direction you are heading...is it toward a place He would have you go?  

What's God calling you to do?

Is God calling you to action?

Are you willing to say "yes" to him?

How's your faith feeling these days?  Are you feeling closer to God, more trusting of Him, or challenged and wrestling with Him?  We are curious about your story, share it if you can. =)

Unwavering faith...Day 23

What's it look like to completely trust God?  


What does it look like to follow where He leads?


For Abraham it looked like living in his well established home, with his beautiful wife, growing business, and family and friends around him...and God said it's time to go.


God revealed to Abraham, that He had given him everything, and it was time for Abraham to go to the place God would show him.  Abraham did as God asked of him.  


He took his wife and left everything that was familiar...not even sure where God had him going, but because he had faith in God he was willing to go.


Faith can be a touchy subject.  Hebrews 11 tells us a lot about faith, it says "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  


The point of having faith is not that we have it...it's where we place our faith.  


Sometimes, I put my faith in things of this world.  I begin to rely on the wrong things...and as the world starts to spin out of control I begin to fear, question and worry, my faith is tested and finally, I remember these truths:

• God created everything.
• God is ever present, all knowing, and in control.
• God sent His son Jesus to die for my sins.
• God resurrected Jesus, and gave me eternal life through Him.
• God desires a deep relationship with me.
• God will not allow me to be taken from His hands.
• God gave me His word, and it is to be trusted.
• God is good. 
• God is love.
• God is faithful.

 And when I remember those things about God...about my Father, nothing can shake the faith I have in Him.  I can stand firm and confident in what God's word says, in how He works in my life, and that He hears my prayers and petitions.  I can firmly believe that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains, and I have faith in His will for my life.  


The faith of Abraham is an admirable quality, and God asks us to trust Him and have faith in him for "The LORD preserves the faithful." Psalm 31: 23


How's your faith on Day 23? 


Interested in getting connected with others that can help encourage your faith?  Let us know!


http://www.reallifeministries.com/get-connected

The Faith of Abraham...Day 22

Are the hands you see closed or open?


It's kind of a "do you see the glass half-full or half-empty" question...only this time, the hands represent more than just an attitude or outlook.


As we enter into our fourth week of study we jump into some of the basics of Abraham's story. 


Here's a guy who's got things pretty well settled in his life and God asks him to "leave everything and go to the land I will show you." (Gen. 12)


Abraham's the kind of guy who goes when God tells him to go.  We see him respond actively to God's call in his life.  


Later God tells Abraham he will have a son and make him the father of many nations.  


Isaac is born and God tests Abraham, asking him to give Isaac as a sacrifice.  Abraham obeys God, is faithful through great trial, and God provides an animal to sacrifice.  


Abraham was willing to obey God, even past logical conclusion.  It didn't make sense for him to leave his home country, it didn't make sense for him to have a child at 100 years of age, and it didn't make sense for God to ask Abraham to sacrifice his precious son.  


Abraham obeyed God when he was asked.  He knew God, and "as Abraham actively responds to what he knows and believes about God we see his faith deepen and the risks he is willing to take get bigger." (50 Days, p. 84)


So, let's get back to the original question.  Are the hands open or closed?  


Are they relaxed and pliant, ready for God to use them...or are they tight and closed, and unable to be used by God.  Habukkuk 2 tells us that "the righteous will live by his faith."


How would Abraham's hands have appeared? 


How are your hands?  How's your faith this week?


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If you've got Jesus, you've got it all...Days 20 & 21

Solomon had riches beyond imagination and wisdom Kings would travel to witness.  He had women, power, fame...and yet, he was frustrated, he longed to understand his purpose in life, to unravel some of life's greatest mysteries.  

He never got to see God's great plan come together with the life, message, sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  

But, we do.  We've been given God's entire redemption story...from Genesis to Revelation, the entire Bible points to God, his love for us, and the message of the gospel through Jesus.  

Jesus is available to you.  Jesus is truth and light.  Jesus is love, hope, joy and freedom.  Jesus is God's son.  Jesus is real and He died and resurrected for you to have eternal life with Him.  

You can have all the wisdom and splendor and greatness of Solomon...but Jesus is the answer to real freedom, to real answers and to real relationship.  

The picture above shows a seed about to break free.  Jesus is waiting for you to break free and come to Him.  He's waiting for a relationship with you...go get it.  We've got ways to help, let us know how we can come alongside you.

http://www.reallifeministries.com/get-connected