Friday, May 4, 2012
Pistis, the greek for faith:
firm persuasion, conviction, belief in truth, reality or faithfulness. The
first thing that comes to mind when I hear faith is Hebrews 11:1’s definition,
“Now faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not
see.” This faith is based on fact; Christ’s resurrection from the dead. This is
faith that I stand on; faith that saves me from death. However, digging deeper,
I never understood faith to mean firm
persuasion about what God wants you to do. Romans 14:22 says, “The faith which
you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not
condemn himself in what he approves.” In application I might paraphrase, “Where
and how God leads you, have firm faith and conviction, that He led you there.
You will be happy to not condemn yourself when you stand firm in this faith.” Raymond Edman once said,
“Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light.” After all, Romans
8:1 tells us, “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” I
struggle with consistently second-guessing myself in actions and words. Before
this revelation, I did not realize that this second-guessing is sin. Because,
if I am walking in the Spirit on a daily basis, (Romans 8:4-5) I must believe
that my words and deeds are what God leads me to say and do. To doubt His
leading is sin: “But he who doubts is condemned if he waivers in convictions because his
wavering is not from faith: and
whatever is not from faith is SIN,” Romans 14:23. I am not referring to
times when I know I am not walking according to the Spirit but rather the
flesh. When walking according to the flesh, mouth and actions will yield sinful
flesh. Of this, I must repent to both God and those I have offended. However,
if I am daily offering my body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) and hourly,
minute by minute walking in the Spirit, replaying and constantly analyzing the
past is a trap from the devil. They are simply opportunities for me to doubt my
convictions and leading from the Lord. When I find myself being lured into the
trap, I need to set my mind on true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, excellent
and praiseworthy things (Philippians 4:8). I need to stop, and say “Jesus,” to
choose to quote scripture. This is my putting on the full armor of God so I can
take my stand against the devil’s schemes. The mind is a battlefield, but with
God’s armor, we are more than victorious! (Romans 8:37)
1. Teachable
moments
2. Tylenol
3. Sprinklers
4. Water
balloons
5. Doctors
& walk-in clinics
6. Two-hour
sit of the boisterous one
7. Finger
smudges on the wall
8. Being
still
9. Kind
pediatrician
10. Warm
and inviting medical clinic
11. Kind
affirmations from father-in-law & mother-in-law
12. Wind
to blow away tree worms
13. Table
Saw
14. Excitement
about homework
15. Sweet
strawberries at $1.19/#
16. Eager
hands to pack groceries
17. Perseverance
of the calculating one
18. Three
golden heads speaking all at once, excited to see daddy
19. Judy
Moody…
20. The
compassionate one up in the middle of the night with sister’s bad dream
21. The
compassionate one praying when I’m clean out of compassion
22. Teaching
the golden heads
23. Teachable
spirits
24. Zumba
25. Golden
heads helping dad build
26. Saving
for a Hello Kitty camera
27. Safety
through the storm
28. Documentaries
29. Working
alongside the compassionate one
30. Daddy
treating the golden heads to a movie
31. Ruined
appetites from popcorn & milk duds
32. Wonder
of finding the lost thought gone
33. Diamonds
to pass down to a golden head
34. Fragrance
of washed hair
35. Playing
teacher with the golden heads
36. Thank
you notes
37. Invitation
to God’s kingdom
38. Gift
of righteousness given after saving faith
39. Being
the object of God’s love
40. Being
a chosen child of God
41. Pillow
talk with Derrick
42. A
dream shared
43. A
struggle shared
44. Edification
from the engineer
45. Leadership
of the engineer
46. Quicken
47. Budget
meetings
48. Opportunity
to tithe
49. Condensation
on window panes
50. Worms
wriggling across path
51. The
engineer memorizing Colossians
52. The
boisterous one falling asleep without sucking
53. Pink
casts
54. Gifts
that brighten the face when you have a broken arm
55. Two
blonde toddler heads in the stroller
56. Friends
at the park
57. Walk
with a friend
58. “”Shoot,
shoot, shoot,” says the boisterous one
59. Coffee
with a friend in the sunroom
60. Grandma
in heaven, perfection
61. Time
to rebuild connections with family
62. Leaving a Lois Legacy
63. Peace
during mourning
64. Legacy
of grandma
65. Cousins
playing in the rain
66. Basement
room at visitation for cousins to play in
67. Priceless
memories of staying with mom & dad while waiting to buy a home
68. Mom
sharing health issue with me
69. All
ten siblings and mom and dad around the table for pizza at home
70. Coffee
with Derrick on the deck
71. Inspiring
cousins raising Shaedyn with downs
72. Micah’s
smile
73. Heart-bearing
talk with Traci
74. Thirty-minute
drive to Beaver Creek
75. Memories
shared of grandma
76. Cousins
playing a “game”
77. Daniel
servant-leading the cousins
78. Derrick
quietly supporting my grief
79. Ten
grandkids singing “Jesus Loves Me”
80. Aliya
sleeping through the funeral
81. Grace
of God and family to pull Grandpa through
82. Grandma’s
faith example leading grandpa to faith
83. No
outbursts with Jess
84. Dar
making it through “Consider the Lilies”
85. Grace
sufficient in weakness
86. All
grandkids and great-grands at the funeral
87. Cousins
to play with
88. Hospitality
shared
89. Serving
mom and dad a steak dinner
90. First
campfire smoke of the year
91. Toasted
outside of marshmallow
92. Spongy,
soft, sweet angel food
93. Servant
mother-in-law
94. Knowing
Pipestone is home
95. Serving
mom a meal
96. Lucas’
gift of hospitality
97. Beautiful
hymnal chords and harmonizing
98. Desire
to be a better person
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