Forged By Faith

2 Corinthians 9:9 ESV Reflections They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery unto those who are being imitated as it shows forth a willingness found within another to replicate, as best they can, something that said other has seen or heard or elsewise learned in regard to something they who are being imitated has done or become. It’s something of a round of applause offered via word or deed as is said or done because someone saw or heard someone else say or do something that they thought was good, right, true, worthy then of being reproduced. It’s an agreement unto the worth, the beauty, the simplicity, success or necessity of something that someone has already said or done. But unto those who see such things that they agree to try to redo, imitation has to be the easiest of all things to do. For all it requires is but a bit of study as to what’s been done, how it was done, how we might then redo, resay whatever was said or has been done so that we too can do what we fee...

2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV Blessing misunderstood And that simply because we’ve come to measure everything’s meaning according to what we think it means for us. And sure, I can see where and why and how this has become so common unto us. After all, we’re all down here living what are lives that have each of them needs that thus require certain things that not only make life able to be lived but do indeed make living a life quite better an experience that it might elsewise prove to be. I mean, indeed, if we were all naked and starving and so dehydrated that we couldn’t see clearly then walking this world filled with animal and enemy without neither a shelter in which to steal, yeah, that would be quite the ordeal! Definitely not much fun nor likely all that productive either. But you see, that’s what I think I’m finally starting to realize as to the amazing simplicity to life that all of us are missing one way or a million others. It’s that God does truly provide all that we need from food t...

2 Peter 1:3 NIV Follow by example For it’s only when we agree to so do that we can do anything worth being done, so long as they whom we seek to follow form for us the proper example that we’ll thus too become but mimics of thanks to our having chosen to run within what is the way in which they lead. Yes, we are indeed here to lead by example as this world clearly needs those who are willing to be different, to stand out, to stand up, to stand upon something worth standing on, something able to be stood upon. But even leaders follow the examples of things they’ve seen or heard or elsewise learned from another they once followed. Guess the only difference is that Christians never stop following Christ even despite the chance we’re through Him given to become leaders ourselves. No, there is no graduation process toward which sanctification aims. There’s not some ceremony in which we’ll celebrate our having come to complete our training, our learning, our changing even. Rather in Him all ...

2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV A life of suffice It’s a simpler life. A calmer, quieter life. A life lived without worry over want or win. A mind made upon making the most of whatever situation or circumstance you’re in. A heart not quite so heavily laden by all the things that everyone else is looking for, longing for. A soul satisfied with the simplicity of what is simply a simpler life. Sadly it’s arguably the way of life that I don’t know if any of us can or will ever know. I believe it to be the life we were created to know, the life we were made for. But we’ve long since lost the innocence which makes it so amazing. Lost it to looking for the ever-more that we’re all still down here looking for. And the strange part to me is that we just keep looking. No matter what we find, no matter how much we have, no matter how many days go good nor how many don’t go that bad, we still all awake unto each and every day with plans already firmly in place to sprint right back unto the race to what is f...

Hebrews 13:5 NIV Less isn’t more It’s actually everything. And that’s because it gives us the ability to see everything that would elsewise be missed were we too busy being impressed with only some part or portion of whatever is. It’s the opportunity to stop focusing on trying to see something specific or find something the same and rather just embrace this journey spent through both time and strain. It’s a heart willing to let go and look beyond and live for more. It’s the mind’s audacity to take stock of everything the eye can see and heart can crave and stand there and say, “No! No, there must be more to all of this than all of this.” Because if all there is is all there is then nothing much matters. For if in this life we can find our treasures, feel our pleasures, seek out both fame and fortune and, having successfully found them, make friends and have fun with them and because of them, then this world would then be our goal. Because here would have and hold all that we might need...