Tight rope ride...

I found this illustration just today, and thought it was great! It goes along with my last post on the life of faith--

"If you have watched a man a hundred times ride a bicycle across the Grand Canyon on a tight rope as he carries people on his shoulders one-at-a-time safely to the other side, you probably admit that you "believe" he could carry you safely across too. You may hope he'll never ask you to go with him, but if one day he does look YOU in the eye and calls YOU by name to ride on his shoulders across that huge canyon would you do it?

Did he call your bluff? If your "belief" is only in your head, you would decline the offer! But if you really believed in him, then you would not hesitate to go across with him. The proof of your belief will be in your willingness to follow Him in obedience because true BELIEF determines what your ACTIONS will be."

Living by faith...

This summer the Lord has been stretching and growing me in ways that I never could've forseen, but am thankful for. He's been showing me what it is to trust in Him--because I know who God is, I can fully trust and rest knowing that He will provide, protect, and grow me according to His will and timing. A word that goes along with trust, though, is faith.

With the jail ministry that I'm involved in, there is a program that I use from time to time called Set Free. It goes through the gospel in every lesson, and it talks about being set free from addictive behaviors, attitudes, and substances. It has been so amazing to be able to share the gospel with these ladies every time I meet with them--many of them who have never touched a Bible in their lives and have only heard the name of God mentioned as a curse word. A few weeks ago, part of the lesson was on faith. What is faith?? They said believing in something you can't see. For many years I've thought the same thing, and yes, that is part of it--but not all of it. Faith is not just knowing something, but acting upon it. Because I have full confidence and belief in a thing, I will act upon that belief--I will do things that I perhaps never would have done before, because I'm believing in Something (or Someone) that is bigger than I. Someone that is to be trusted because He keeps His promises and will never forsake His own--He is perfect and is not willing that any should perish. Every time I go into the jail to minister and witness of who God is to these ladies, I am always astonished and amazed at what God teaches me. I've always thought about the phrase "living by faith" and wondered what it really meant. I have been catching just a glimpse, and am excited to learn more about what it means to live by faith.

Psalm 94:17-19

Psalm 94:17-19

17Unless the Lord had been my help, I would soon have dwelt in [the land where there is] silence.

18When I said, My foot is slipping, Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, held me up.

19In the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!