F.A.I.T.H.

We have all heard the saying, "Just have faith."

But, do we really--deep down--know what it means to have it?

Webster's Dictionary defines faith as,

(1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof
(2) : complete trust

Here's another question. If I were to lead you to the edge of a bridge and ask you to jump into the water with me, would you? No! Why not?

The leading reason could be that you don't know me. You don't know what is at the bottom, or how deep the water is. There would be a multitude of concerns that I would have to address before you would take that leap. Right?

A Father's Love

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

Rick Hoyt (left) and his father, Dick, have

competed in nearly 1,000 marathons and

triathlons over 27 years.

What is a father's love?

I have asked myself this very question, off and on, over the last couple of years.

Yesterday, while perusing a social media site, I was introduced to Dick and Rick Hoyt--Team Hoyt. Never heard of them? Don't worry, I hadn't either. But now that I have, my life is forever changed.

I racked my brain trying to come up with a way to tell their story in my own words, but found that I couldn't say it any better than they already had.

The following paragraphs are from the Team Hoyt website,

  the original can be found here.

******************************

Rick was born in 1962 to Dick and Judy Hoyt. As a result of oxygen deprivation to Rick's brain at the time of his birth, Rick was diagnosed as a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. Dick and Judy were advised to institutionalize Rick because there was no chance of him recovering, and little hope for Rick to live a "normal" life. This was just the beginning of Dick and Judy's quest for Rick's inclusion in community, sports, education and one day, the workplace.

Are You Just Holding A Golden Ticket?

How many of us that say we are Christians actually are? Notice I didn’t say saved. The Bible says in Matthew 7:21 (ESV, emphasis mine)—

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 

There are thousands, maybe even millions, of people in this world that hold that glorious “golden ticket” to Heaven. But, how many are actually SERVING Christ? I don’t mean being a deacon, youth minister, Sunday school teacher, or choir member either. Have you totally, daily surrendered your life to Jesus in everything that you do? We are instructed, in Romans 12:2, to be transformed by renewing our minds. I will go one step further and say, as a true Christian, you need to allow God to make you a new person all together. Let Him give you a new heart.

It is one thing to know of God, but do you really know God? I made this mistake for years. I grew up in the church. I was in a pew every time the doors were open, but I failed to build that relationship with Him. I allowed the devil to trick me into thinking everything was smooth sailing when I prayed the sinner’s prayer. What I didn’t realize was, we are commanded to do more.  The Apostle Paul tells us, in Ephesians 4:22, that—

What's In It for Me?

There's a country music song that came out several years ago, which I'm sure some of you are quite familiar with. The chorus begins like this--

"I wanna talk about me
Wanna talk about I
Wanna talk about number one
Oh my me my..."

Kind of a self-centered view on life isn't it?

Unfortunately, I think we, as Christians, sometimes take this approach with God during our prayers, and even in our lives.

I'm as guilty of it as the next person. On occasion, I find myself praying, "Father, I would like this to happen, or I really need this in my life."

Not Open Says Me, But Open Says He

Have you ever had that aha moment--a point when you receive clarity on events in your life?

Yesterday, while jotting down notes for an upcoming chapter in my book, the story came to a place where our protagonist begins to count his many blessings and reflect on the great opportunities that God has given him. As I  named different items for the character, my mind began to dwell on times in my own life where doors started opening for me.

Looking back, I could see the hand of God leading me down certain avenues, preparing me for what He had in store.

I am reminded of a passage in the book of Proverbs:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge
Him,
He shall direct your paths.

(Proverbs 3:5-6, NJKV, emphasis mine)