How Strong Is Your Faith?

Do you have faith? You may not think you do, or you may feel like your faith is weak and puny. But consider this: Have you ever flown on an airplane without meeting the pilot? Have you ever eaten a meal without knowing who cooked it?

The Faith You Already Have
As Christians, we all have faith to some degree. The Bible says in Romans 12 that each of us is given "a measure of faith." We operate in faith all the time and don't even think about it.For example, some of you reading this article have teenagers you send off to school every day. That requires some faith. And we all need a little faith every time we drive in traffic.Even if you don't feel like a spiritual giant of faith, you can take hope in God's Word that says that as a believer, you have a measure of faith planted inside you.

Is Your Faith All Talk?

Some of you might say, "Well, I have faith. I believe in Jesus." Frankly, it's one thing to say you have faith, but it's an entirely different matter to apply your faith to life's challenges. When the storms of life come (and they do for all of us), do you stay calm, cool and collected? Or do you allow fear to overpower your faith? Do you give the situation completely over to God, or do you try to figure everything out?

Stuff Happens
It's easy for us to feel like we've got great faith when things go well or play out like we want them to. And it's easy for us to have faith when something new comes along and life is exciting. But stuff happens. And when stuff happens, how does your faith respond? I'm not just referring to big dramatic events that take place...I'm also referring to the little things that pop up and can easily sidetrack you. For example, recently I was at a conference, and I had a Starbucks coffee waiting for me after one of the sessions. I absolutely love Starbucks coffee. And the coffee was inside one of these big, double-walled Starbucks mugs that keep your coffee warm for a long time. The mug is a copper color, and I really love to use it when I drink coffee. Anyhow, after the session I went back to drink the coffee, and somebody had stolen it! The mug, even the creamer...everything was gone. You see, stuff is going to happen. And years ago I would have thrown a fit if that had happened. I would have cried, "Oh God, why does this stuff happen to me? The devil is always picking on me! It's not fair!"But I kept the faith and decided that the whole incident was actually quite hilarious. And then I started thinking, Well, somebody might have been cleaning up and thought they were doing something good. You see, I practiced something else the Bible tells us to do: to think the best of people. That also requires faith.

How to Release Faith
Faith is something that must be released. You can possess faith, but you must put it to use. A muscle that is not used gets weak and shrivels up. If you don't use your faith, then it's no different than not having any. When you sit down in a chair, you have faith that it's not going to collapse. You don't start sweating and trembling with fear saying, "Oh, I'm afraid to sit in this chair. I don't know if I should be doing this!" It's a silly illustration to make the point: You just go plop down in the chair because you do have a measure of faith. But what about when you have a problem? Do you go plop down in the arms of Jesus and say, "I'm asking You to take care of this and I believe You will." Do you release your faith through prayer, line up what you speak with God's promises, and do whatever He asks you to do without trying to figure things out? Now that's the way to release your faith!

Give your circumstance over to Jesus and be confident that He's got it all under control. Your life will change dramatically once you unleash your faith. Don't just have it in your heart—let it out, put it to the test and be amazed at what God does through your life!
This article is taken from Joyce's three-part series Unleashing the Power of Your Faith.

The Only Way Out is Through

Friday morning when i logged into my facebook I noticed a new blog had been posted by my friend Michele Longabaugh. Now I must be honest, I had not read her previous blog before this one and decided it was time to get caught up on her journey against anal cancer! I have previously shared part of her story on this blog and thought you would enjoy another glimpse into a survivors heart and soul!  This is the earlier of the two blogs I am sharing with you today and encourage you to go to her website and read the newest one!  She is truly amazing and inspires me to look at life in a different way! Enjoy! ~ Tracy

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It’s 5 AM. Being awake this early has nothing to do with insomnia and everything to do with needing to write. I have been, not suppressing really, but more ignoring my feelings since my last treatment. Not wanting to put the truth in black in white. Not because the truth is so terrible or frightening but because the truth is not so “pretty” I guess, for lack of a better term. So this morning I am awake and the words are pressing on me for escape. The truth is aching for release so I can liberate my mind as I step into my virtual ring for my last round of chemotherapy. Things have been generally predictable this last go round. The first three days being manageable. My sister cleverly figured out how to keep my “pipes” clean despite the unbearable constipation that is a key side effect of the drug given. I am not talking about the average “I can’t go” scenario here. I am talking about a magnitude that I had never experienced before in my life! There is nothing more compounding to the misery of queasiness, dizziness and general malaise than plugged pipes. We finally got that figured out and prevented it entirely this last round and will approach it the same manner this time as well. I am not writing this to talk about my bowels however. Discussing toilet habits, to me, is humorous, and something mothers of newborns and those of advanced age place high on their hierarchy of basic needs and even writing about it here makes me want to laugh at myself. The woes of constipation are not what awakened me this morning. This truth does not lie in the physical. I have been experiencing a feeling of dread as I approach this last treatment. I am not afraid. After all I have been through little frightens me with the exception of great pain. I have had great pain and these treatments are nowhere close to that. I am not unhappy. I firmly believe that happiness is a choice. Some days it’s easy to choose happy, others not so much but I embrace my happiness everyday, even on the ones that seem most difficult. I don’t think I have a bad attitude. My fatigue can be interpreted as a bad attitude I suppose or perhaps even depression but it’s just a side effect and I was already chronically tired to begin with. There has been no uncontrollable weeping or excessive sleeping here just some predictable grumpiness from time to time which I usually state openly with an “I’m grumpy.” No, this dread is more like the feeling one gets during flu season only if one has truly had the flu in the past. Those folks do anything and everything to avoid the flu because they don’t ever want to feel that way again. It’s seems like no matter how fearless, happy and positive I am this “shard” of dread is annoying me. Lest I sound like like a whiner or ungrateful for the opportunity to defeat the beast I have pressed this feeling down and it feels like an anchor. Not really dragging me down with it but more holding me in place. So there it is. Today I release my dread. It’s time to rise off the stool in my corner of the ring. My team is with me making sure my gloves are laced tight but the mental game is up to me. I need to get my head in the fight and not dread stepping back to the center of the ring but welcome it. I am about to deliver the knock out punch to the beast! Yes, I am tired of this fight and wish it was already over, but one more round is required and I am up for it. I have to do this! I can do this! I will do this! The battle is almost over and the only way out is through. ~ Michele Longabaugh
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We are all fighting our own battles! Some of them bigger than others but to us they can seem overwhelming just the same! Always remember that we are armed with the best weapon and that is our faith and with that we can find our way out and that is through!

Why the Men Quit Singing

It happened again yesterday. I was attending one of those hip, contemporary churches — and almost no one sang. Worshippers stood obediently as the band rocked out, the smoke machine belched and lights flashed. Lyrics were projected on the screen, but almost no one sang them. A few women were trying, but I saw only one male (other than the worship leader) making the attempt. A few months ago I blogged, “Have Christians Stopped Singing?” I did some research, and learned that congregational singing has ebbed and flowed over the centuries. It reached a high tide when I was a young man – but that tide may be going out again. And that could be bad news for men. First, a very quick history of congregational singing.Before the Reformation, laypersons were not allowed to sing in church. They were expected to stand mute as sacred music was performed by professionals (priests and cantors), played on complex instruments (pipe organs), and sung in an obscure language (Latin). Reformers gave worship back to the people in the form of congregational singing. They composed simple tunes that were easy to sing, and mated them with theologically rich lyrics. Since most people were illiterate in the 16th century, singing became an effective form of catechism. Congregants learned about God as they sang about God. A technological advance – the printing press – led to an explosion of congregational singing. The first hymnal was printed in 1532, and soon a few dozen hymns became standards across Christendom. Hymnals slowly grew over the next four centuries. By the mid 20th century every Protestant church had a hymnal of about 1000 songs, 250 of which were regularly sung. In the church of my youth, everyone picked up a hymnal and sang every verse of every song. About 20 years ago a new technological advance – the computer controlled projection screen – entered America’s sanctuaries. Suddenly churches could project song lyrics for all to see. Hymnals became obsolete. No longer were Christians limited to 1,000 songs handed down by our elders. At first, churches simply projected the songs everyone knew – hymns and a few simple praise songs that had come out of the Jesus Movement. People sang robustly. But that began to change about ten years ago. Worship leaders realized they could project anything on that screen. So they brought in new songs each week. They drew from the radio, the Internet, and Worship conferences. Some began composing their own songs, performing them during worship, and selling them on CD after church. In short order we went from 250 songs everyone knows to 250,000+ songs nobody knows. Years ago, worship leaders used to prepare their flocks when introducing a new song. “We’re going to do a new song for you now,” they would say. “We’ll go through it twice, and then we invite you to join in.” That kind of coaching is rare today. Songs get switched out so frequently that it’s impossible to learn them. People can’t sing songs they’ve never heard. And with no musical notes to follow, how is a person supposed to pick up the tune? And so the church has returned to the 14th century. Worshippers stand mute as professional-caliber musicians play complex instruments, sung in an obscure language. Martin Luther is turning over in his grave. What does this mean for men? On the positive side, men no longer feel pressure to sing in church. Men who are poor readers or poor singers no longer have to fumble through hymnals, sing archaic lyrics or read a musical staff. But the negatives are huge. Men are doers, and singing was one of the things we used to do together in church. It was a chance to participate. Now, with congregational singing going away, and communion no longer a weekly ordinance, there’s only one avenue left for men to participate in the service – the offering. Is this really the message we want to send to men? Sit there, be quiet, and enjoy the show. And don’t forget to give us money. There’s nothing wrong with professionalism and quality in church music. The problem isn’t the rock band, or the lights, or the smoke machine. The key is familiarity. People enjoy singing songs they know. How do I know? When that super-hip band performed a hymn, the crowd responded with gusto. People sang. Even the men.

May 8, 2013

by: David Murrow

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Psalm 95:1

When You thought I Wasn't Looking

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and wanted to say,' Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.

Lean On Me

I was sitting on our tour bus one afternoon watching a video of the 1998 Australian Eco-challenge. Every year, four-person teams from around the world compete in this international adventure. The teams are given a compass and several days to conquer unbelievable obstacles as they rappel down cliffs, hike, climb and canoe. It is absolutely critical that competitors rely on their teammates.

In the 1998 contest, a woman on the Japanese team injured her foot quite badly. The doctors said her team would have to quit because she was unable to walk. This was a shattering blow for them, particularly because the Japanese had never before finished an Eco-challenge. After some discussion, the team decided that rather than give up, they would carry her the rest of the way. My brothers and I watched in amazement as her teammates carried her across mountains and rough terrain for miles. They had a goal of finishing and were not about to give up.

As I watched this unfold, it brought tears to my eyes to realize how powerfully it relates to the Christian life. The body of Christ functions best when we rely on each other. It takes humility to rely on people, admit that we need help, and allow others to share our load. It also takes trust in them that they're not going to let us fall! I'm sure that the Japanese competitor would have preferred to walk on her own. Our natural human tendency is to be independent and try to handle everything alone. But that's not what life is all about—especially the Christian life.

We also need to be willing to carry one another's burdens. The Apostle Paul challenges us: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). Have you ever had a friend who was dealing with something difficult, but was afraid to tell you all about it? I have. In those situations, I have come to see that my biggest responsibility is to love my friends unconditionally and pray for them. I've realized that even though I can't carry all of their burdens, I can help shoulder the load.

I want to encourage you to commit your relationships to God, asking him to help you carry the load for your friends. Even if someone doesn't tell you what he or she is going through, be a faithful friend, express unconditional love, and most of all, pray! Who knows, there could come a time when you'll be in that same situation, when you might need to allow someone else to carry you. And, above all else, as we carry one another's burdens, we can be assured that our God is carrying us.

By Rebecca

Dead Ducks Don't Flutter

Many years ago, a wealthy man went duck hunting with a hired hand named Sam.They took a horse and carriage, and along the way a rim came off one of the wheels. As Sam hammered it back on, he accidentally hit his finger. Instantly he let go with some bad words. He quickly fell to his knees, asking God’s forgiveness. “Lord, it’s difficult at times to live the Christian life”, he prayed. “Sam” said the man, “I know you’re a Christian, but tell me why you struggle so, I’m an atheist, and I don’t have problems like that.”

Sam didn’t know what to say. Just then two ducks flew overhead. The man raised his gun and two shots rang out. “Leave the dead one and go after that wounded bird!” he shouted. Sam pointed at the duck that was fluttering desperately to escape and said, “I’ve got an answer for you now, Boss. You said my Christianity isn’t any good because I have to struggle so. Well, I’m the wounded duck, and struggle to get away from the devil. But you Boss, you’re the dead duck!”

That insight fits Paul’s description of his Christian experience in Romans 7: 14-25. Struggle is one evidence of God’s work in our lives Forgiveness of sin is available, so don’t despair. Remember, dead ducks don’t flutter.


–Dennis De Hann

Struggle, yes, it’s part of living
Nothing’s gained on beds of ease;
But when our heart is set on Jesus,
Struggle drives us to our knees.

–D. De Hann

If Jesus lives within us,
Sin need not overwhelm us.

Do You Have Faith? The Charles Blondin Story

The amazing story of Charles Blondin, a famous French tightrope walker, is a wonderful illustration of what true faith is.

Blondin's greatest fame came on September 14, 1860, when he became the first person to cross a tightrope stretched 11,000 feet (over a quarter of a mile) across the mighty Niagara Falls. People from both Canada and America came from miles away to see this great feat.

He walked across, 160 feet above the falls, several times... each time with a different daring feat - once in a sack, on stilts, on a bicycle, in the dark, and blindfolded. One time he even carried a stove and cooked an omelet in the middle of the rope!

A large crowd gathered and the buzz of excitement ran along both sides of the river bank. The crowd “Oohed and Aahed!” as Blondin carefully walked across - one dangerous step after another - pushing a wheelbarrow holding a sack of potatoes.

Then a one point, he asked for the participation of a volunteer. Upon reaching the other side, the crowd's applause was louder than the roar of the falls!

Blondin suddenly stopped and addressed his audience: "Do you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?"

The crowd enthusiastically yelled, "Yes! You are the greatest tightrope walker in the world. We believe!"

"Okay," said Blondin, "Who wants to get into the wheelbarrow."

As far as the Blondin story goes, no one did at the time!

This unique story illustrates a real life picture of what faith actually is. The crowd watched these daring feats. They said they believed. But... their actions proved they truly did not believe.

Similarly, it is one thing for us to say we believe in God. However, it's true faith when we believe God and put our faith and trust in His Son, Jesus Christ.

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Note: In August of 1859, Blondin's manager, Harry Colcord, did ride on Blondin's back across the Falls.

Testimony of a Believer: imprisoned without God

We all are imprisoned without God in our lives; we live as though there will be no tomorrow. We do things everyday that is wrong without regret, that is the way of the world. We need to be set free of the world, the Bible says to be set apart from the world and that comes from God, he holds the key to freedom.  We have all done things that were wrong; sometimes we got away with it or thought we did, other times we were caught. When caught we have to suffer the consequents for what we did it might even be serving time in such a place as a jail. Well let me enlighten you on what I now know to be the truth, it make no difference if you are caught by your parents, or the law of the land or not at all. God has already caught you and you will have to serve a sentence for what you did for all eternity without any parole or pardon. However there is a way to change the out come of Gods sentence, it is not hard and there is no pain other than being humbled. It takes a real commitment on your part and it is one that must last a lifetime.  I am talking about living a Christian life with Jesus as your Lord and Savior. If you will give in to what you know is right and ask God to forgive you let Jesus come into your heart and be born again by the spirit of Christ, then God will not sentence you on what you did before you meet Christ. You will have a clean slate and a chance to do great things in your life. You will be blessed by God in everything you do. Maybe you feel that you are not good enough or maybe you were once living a Christian life and failed God in some way and think that you cannot get it back. You are wrong, maybe the reason you are having trouble in your life is because God wants you in his care, to be an obedient child serving him. After all God is to be the center of your life, he will not be second the Bible tells us this. If you are a Christian that has fallen down, get up go to God admit your sin and ask forgiveness, it is the only way you will ever find freedom and peace. I know this to be true because I to was a fallen Christian that had to get up and ask God to forgive me in order to have peace. Now I serve God in all ways that are possible for me. I never turn down an opportunity to serve My GOD. My life belongs to Jesus, he was willing to die for you and I, what are you willing to do for him. John 8:36 so if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Won't you let him set you free today so you will have a tomorrow worth living for?

The Eagle

Years ago, my friend, Harvey Mackay, told me a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point. He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey . He handed my friend a laminated card and said: "I'm Wally, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.." Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said: Wally's Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.

This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean! As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, "Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf." My friend said jokingly, "No, I'd prefer a soft drink." Wally smiled and said, "No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice." Almost stuttering, Harvey said, "I'll take a Diet Coke." Handing him his drink, Wally said, "If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today."

As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card. "These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio." And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day.. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts. 

"Tell me, Wally," my amazed friend asked the driver, "have you always served customers like this?" Wally smiled into the rearview mirror. "No not always. In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day. He had just written a book called You'll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, `Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the cloud.'" "That hit me right between the eyes," said Wally. "Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more."

"I take it that has paid off for you," Harvey said. "It sure has," Wally replied. "My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action." Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab.

I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting. Johnny the Bagger and Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. They decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.

How about you?