Forged By Faith

Ecclesiastes 3:12 NIV I have a bit of news that may come as a shock to some of you. Kind of one of those things that I think we tend to ignore for the most part. But no amount of ignoring it will change it's truth. So here we go: Odds are we're not getting out of this alive. I know, and I'll give you a minute. (insert brief moment of shock here) It's just the way it is my friends. These lives that we're living have an expiration date. With so much going on around us in the middle of probably the most deranged year in history, I wanted to encourage you all just let some things go. So many people are so riled up and deep in these fights and arguments. A lot of others just don't feel well. A bunch of us are simply tired of seeing all the drama and foolishness. Still others are losing hope and all the madness is really getting to all of us in some way. Life is just too short to get caught up in all the bleak parts. Why spend any amount of time being miserable if you...

2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV When I am weak, then I am strong. Wait, isn't that backwards? Well, in the world's perspective it is. We're all led to think that we have to be invincible. So many people have gotten used to painting on these smiles and pretending that everything's just fine so that they don't let anyone else see their weaknesses. But living a lie never helps anyone in any possible way. In truth, we're our strongest in our weakest moments. That's because when we've reached the end of ourselves, then we've found the beginning of Christ. When our own strength has run out, then we get to see His take over. We never get that opportunity as long as we're managing things on our own and making it under our own steam. So in all reality, it's the things in life that completely break us down and expose our weaknesses and flaws that help us the most. They push us past what we can do by ourselves and finally get us to that place where we have to l...

Luke 15:4 NIV Yesterday we talked about trusting that God has a purpose for His plans. Everything we face in life is there for a reason, and we can get something out of every trial in our path. I'm truly thankful that God doesn't give up on us or on the plans He has for our lives. Often times it may feel like tough love, but it's all just because He knows what we're capable of and won't give up on getting us where He knows we can be. We've all spent a large portion of our lives running away. From trials, from fears, from pain, from God. Whenever we see difficulties up ahead, we run the other direction. We want to just be left alone to do things our way so that we can make sure we find the path of least resistance. But God wants better for us than we even want for ourselves. And He will never give up pursuing us to lead us back to His path to the best life we could possibly live. I'm 32 years old, and oddly enough, I've discovered very recently that I kno...

Romans 8:28 NIV This past week brought yet another surprise hospital visit for our family. There have been so many health issues in this little group of four people over the last several years. At times I've wondered why. I've tried to figure out the reasons and some way to help make things better for everyone. I've tossed up countless prayers and have been joined in those humble requests by many friends. And the hits just keep coming. But this last one has been quite different. The problem has actually been found and is now heading in the right direction. The patient has faced it all with this kind of peace and almost gratitude that exudes confidence in God's plans. Seeing someone in such pain and how they manage to see the good that is underneath all the bad is seriously inspiring. So this one has been on my mind for quite some time now. It's so easy to miss the purpose because of the pain. Nobody likes pain. No one enjoys not feeling well. But I've always sai...

Isaiah 5:21 NIV One of the biggest problems that we're facing is that so many people have convinced themselves that their way is the right way. The issue is that none of this has anything to do with what we think is right or wrong. It's about what Christ says is right and wrong. So when we take it upon ourselves to determine our own version of wisdom, then we're saying that He may not know what's best after all. Dangerous mindset! There's a night and day difference between humility and arrogance, and our society is walking on the wrong side of that line. Everyone's doing and saying whatever they want to solely on the basis that they think it's right. Problem is that without a universal truth, such as the Bible, as our foundation, there's nothing to hold us accountable. When we get it in our minds that we can define what's right based on our own opinion, then we put ourselves on the throne and shove Christ out of the way. Our own definition of what is...

Proverbs 29:25 NIV Ok, last one on this idea. For a while at least. I promise! I think one of the biggest things that holds us back from being who God made us and sharing the message He's entrusted us with is that we know it isn't popular. And our world is thoroughly enthralled with being popular. Popularity is the new drug of the masses, so doing or saying anything that isn't widely accepted brings this fear of being labeled an outcast or freak. So we let the fear of those around us keep us from sharing the message of the One who loves us. We don't talk about Christ because the world doesn't like His kind of truth. They don't like this idea of sin and how some things are just wrong to say, think, or do. Everybody just wants to do what they want, and God's way just doesn't jive well with that kind of thinking. Fear of man prevents us from fearing God. Worrying about saying something that makes someone else angry can keep us from telling them the truth. W...

2 Timothy 2:4 NIV Saw this one yesterday when I was searching for a verse to share that went with what was on my heart for yesterday's post. Man, if there's a verse that fits what I've been feeling lately better than this one, I look forward to finding it! We just talked about how we each have a mission to share Christ with the world. No matter what anyone tries to offer, nobody will ever convince me that something else is more important than that! The problem has become that we've gotten used to this place. It's not our home, but we're here long enough that it can definitely start to seem like it is. We have to always remember that we are in this world, but never of this world. God calls us to walk outside the edge of society, not to get lost inside of it. We are not here to be consumed with worldly nonsense. We're here to serve God and help Him reach people who need His salvation. The more we become like the world and get consumed in the things that everyo...

1 John 3:1 NIV To know Him and make Him known. I've heard that quite a few times over the years. Never really thought it would become my focus in life. But this has seriously been on my heart and mind lately, and so why not share it? As I've talked about a little here recently, I've just felt this change in my life and I honestly couldn't be more excited about it! I've spent the majority of my 32 years on this earth pretty much focused on myself. Chased so many things I thought I needed or wanted. Worried mostly about the things going on in my own life. Spent my days trying to make myself look good or feel important according to the ways of this place. Completely distracted, completely selfish, and completely lost. Guess that's why I'm so excited about this change that I've felt lately. It's like this fire's been lit inside to try as hard as I can to share Christ with the world. I reckon I've just been looking around at the moral and ethical ...

Revelation 21:4 NIV Some days start off fine and stay that way. Some start okay and get a little bumpy. Others start out rough and get better along the way. Then others start out rough and manage to get worse. Today's been one of those last kind. Life is this crazy mix of different kinds of days and emotions. And it's that constant uncertainty through all those ups and downs that somehow keeps us grounded and clinging tightly to our faith. It's in these rougher days that our faith is tested, but also manages to shine through the most. Yes, it's scary. It's painful. It's nothing that we'd wish on anyone. But it's also a chance for us to see just how powerful our faith is. It's our chance to let go and truly trust that God's always in control and that He's got this, whatever this may be. It's easy to believe that when life is going smooth. Much different story on those harder days. Oddly enough I've has this verse from Revelation saved ...

Titus 3:7 NIV I actually had this picture made and posted with yesterday's post, but it just didn't feel right. Something was off, and so I changed it up and the verse from yesterday just fit what I had on my mind better. This one is along the same line, but different at the same time. Yesterday we talked about how we need to stop looking for justification from those around us. This verse is why. We don't need it. We've already been justified through our faith in Christ. His gift, His mercy, His salvation have given us our identity. We don't need to find it in this world. We don't need others to like us or approve of what we do. We don't need them to approve of our beliefs or even agree with this faith that we hold so dearly. We don't need anything from this world, because He's already given us more than we could ever hope to find anyway! One of the most powerful and commonly shared ideas in our faith is that this world isn't our home. These live...

John 12:43 NIV The day before yesterday I talked about this amazing new peace that I've found in my life recently. I've just discovered that I don't have to be approved of by anyone else. I don't have to live my life to please anyone or meet this world's expectations. It's truly like this weight has been lifted off of my heart, mind, soul, and life. One of those things that I honestly hope everyone gets to experience because it just brings a smile to your face! It gets old trying to be everything that you think everyone else wants you to be. Kind of like what I talked about in yesterday's post. We spend our lives living to be the best we can be and trying to live up to the expectations that we've been told matter. But in the process of trying to be what everyone else wants, we lose sight of who God made us to be, and that's the only place we can find this peace that is unlike anything else. People do things they don't like or agree with and justi...

Psalm 46:10 NIV Stillness. Quiet. Tranquility. Those are some rare things in life anymore. So much of our day-to-day life is all about the rush. Everybody's running around like crazy trying to stay ahead of things. We're all so worried about potentially falling behind in this man-made rat-race that we inevitably forget all about the peace and calm that we once prioritized.  My family and I have really gotten into the little evening drives out to a local Civil War battlefield near where we live. There's just this amazing peace that you find once you get out of the city and out of cell coverage. No checking emails. No getting caught up on social media. No worrying about what we're missing or what the latest headline happens to be. Just calm. I think we get so caught up in trying to be the best we can be that we forget to just be. We forget to live. We forget to take time to break away from everything. And in doing so, we allow the things that bring us peace and happiness ...

Ecclesiastes 2:11 NIV This one really just describes much of what I've been thinking and feeling lately. I look around at all the things going on in our world and I'm just amazed, confused, saddened, and almost entertained. I see so many different priorities and I can't help but fail to see what everyone's trying to accomplish? I might be completely wrong, but I simply don't see how a lot of it is worth the time and effort spent doing or saying it. I've really been thinking about this idea, and to be honest it's one that's so big, so different that I can't really think of a good way to narrow it down. I feel like I've taken off down this really different road than the majority of people in life, and it's becoming one of the most exciting and interesting seasons of my life. I feel like God is showing me to a sense of freedom and peace that there's no chance of finding without letting go of things. We all know about the priorities of this p...

1 Thessalonians 2:4 NIV Yesterday we talked about how we each have the duty to share God's message of salvation and redemption with those around us. We often shy away from it because it will cause some friction with the rampant sin in this world. So we try to sugar-coat it and make it easier or more comfortable so that we don't rub anyone the wrong way. But the truth is that it's not about offending people or making it easier for them to hear. It's about the power of His truth and its life-changing ability. We seriously need to stop trying to compress the Gospel into something that our world will accept. I listened to this thing the other night and I was just amazed at how religion is so focused on making it as entertaining as possible. Gotta have big stages, bright lights, fancy tech, famous figures, massive budgets, plenty of games, and never, no matter what you do, never forget the coffee bar! I think we're rapidly losing sight of the mission and getting lost in ...

Ezekiel 3:17 NIV Came across this one the other night and I think it really fits with what we've been talking about the past few days. Sin is dangerous, and it's on those of us who know that danger to tell others. We are the heralds that are charged with bringing that truth to the world. Now they may not like it, but that part isn't on us. We can't force anyone to listen or like what we have to say. But we have to speak the truth anyway! I've been watching a lot of John L. Cooper 's podcasts lately, and we're in what he calls the post-truth society. People don't want to hear the truth. They want to do whatever they want to do and never want to have to stop and think that it might not be okay. It's becoming such a massive issue that for many, hope is running out because it seems to only be getting worse. Everyone is set on doing what they choose to do and aren't interested in anyone that disagrees. Problem is that mindset doesn't change the da...

1 John 1:8 NIV Yesterday we talked about how for some reason we find it easier to do what's wrong and ask for forgiveness later than just doing what's right to begin with. We would rather complain about the downside of our sins than to actually address them and do better. I know a lot of people hate the idea of change, but come on! Look sin is real and it is dangerous. We have to stop sugar-coating that fact. Yeah, the truth hurts, but not nearly as bad as continuing to live a lie! Sin seeks justification. If we can find some way to convince ourselves that our sins aren't that bad, then we don't have to feel so bad. Again, wouldn't it just be easier to stop living in sin than to keep on and try to find ways to make ourselves feel better? Just seems like a whole lot of extra work to make ourselves feel better when we could just put that effort into actually making better choices and becoming better for it. If we're doing something that's flat-out wrong and lo...

Lamentations 3:39 NIV We've got this really big problem in our world today. I was finishing up the book of Lamentations the other night and this one really stuck out to me. Nobody understands this idea of consequences anymore. Everyone just wants to do whatever they want to do without anyone saying anything to them. Got news for anyone that thinks that way, that's not at all how God works! You see, sin has a price. Evil has a price. Our choices have a price. They're called consequences. We don't have the right to do or say anything we want to just because we want to. And we definitely don't have the right to do or say anything we want to and never face the penalty that comes with it. We will never be able to get out of the fact that our choices truly have consequences, and that we are the only ones that are responsible for them. These days everyone wants to gripe and complain when they face the price of their poor choices. They hate the fact that they have to face p...

Psalm 119:133 NIV A friend of mine shared this one and I just absolutely love it. I think it's one of those messages that everyone needs to here these days. One of those prayers that can truly change our lives and give us the strength we need to keep facing this world and it's brokenness. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we're all following or serving something or someone. Need to make it sure it's right! My family and I made an ice cream run earlier this afternoon. A simple little trip enjoying some peaceful family time on this cooler Sunday. As we were turning onto this road that's under construction, the guy behind us apparently disagreed with our caution and lack of desire to just go as fast as possible onto the uneven and unmarked road. So as he flew by us he gave that old one-finger salute. People are so angry, so lost, and so complacent in that broken state that they've stopped caring. This guy had his family in the car with him. He flipped us off in fro...

1 Peter 3:8 NIV Okay, so I'm gonna ask you guys to follow me into this fairy tale that I can't help but keep imagining. Picture this place where everyone gave everyone else a little room to be human. Not necessarily agree on everything, that truly is impossible! Not even try to understand everything someone else does, equally unlikely. But just this place where everyone was humble enough to realize that we're all just trying to figure out this life thing. It's a dream, this hope of a more peaceful world. Now I know that it isn't gonna happen. Sadly, I think that we're too far gone in some ways. There are too many people who have taken their selfishness and gone wild with it. Too many people are focused on fighting and arguing all the time. And too many people just don't care anymore. So I know that it isn't gonna happen, but that doesn't mean that things can't be better. While that old dream of world peace might be hanging on by a thread, we all ...

Psalm 133:1 NIV 19 years. Many of us remember exactly where we were that Tuesday morning. Most of us have vowed to never forget. What happened to our nation nearly two decades ago is one of those moments in life that leaves a mark that no amount of time will ever erase. It was life-changing for literally everyone that witnessed that attack on our country. But one of the things that I remember most is the transformation we witnessed in the days and weeks after. There was this incredible unity among pretty much everyone. Everyone was humbled and filled with this realization of the brevity of life. Everywhere you looked it seemed like American flags took root and blossomed overnight. People seemed to start caring for and about one another more than they had before. Everyone just made this effort to support one another and it was a truly amazing thing to witness. The peace and love that so many shared in the wake of that horrible day was this little glimpse of what I believe we were create...

Psalm 1:1 NIV Our post yesterday was about how we need to be careful who we associate with in our lives. The people around us have a seriously big impact on us, and it's up to us to make sure that they're making us better and pushing us in the right direction. This verse in Psalms is right along that same line of thought. Choose your circle carefully, because it's going to tell the world a whole lot about who you are yourself. I think sometimes we allow ourselves for forget our morals, our beliefs, our priorities, or so many other things all so that we can feel more loved and accepted in this world. Nobody wants to feel all alone in life, but we need to watch becoming so desperate for companionship that we lose ourselves to get it. While it's fun and makes us feel good to have a ton of friends or relationships, if they pull us in the wrong direction, then they're just not good for us. We shouldn't be afraid to walk alone if it means that we walk in the right dir...

Proverbs 13:20 NIV Leading by example is one of those messages that always seems to be on my mind. I guess I just feel this deep calling to be a good person and help encourage others to do the same. I lived a long time just going with the flow and fitting in wherever others wanted me to be. So I've learned the hard way that fitting in just isn't good enough, and I reckon I feel the need to do something different now. I was in the midst an awesome leg day earlier and I just thought about how great my family is. You know I used to have a ton of friends. Used to have all kinds of people to talk to, but that's not the case anymore. My family has become the rock that I think they we're always meant to be. But I've been thinking a lot about how inspirational they are. They've been through a lot recently. And I know that all of you can say the same thing about people in your life. Those people who face all kinds of things but somehow manage to do with it a smile. I...

Philippians 2:14-15 NIV We've been talking about how we go about finding calm and peace in the wrong way for a few days now. We think that we deserve those comfortable things in life. But the problem with that mindset is that it leads us to losing our minds and freaking out whenever it doesn't go that way. As I said a couple of days ago, it's not about asking God to take all our problems away, it's asking Him to help us learn to remain calm in the middle of them. We have to be able to face life in a calm and controlled way. When we don't, then we end up sending a really pitiful message about this faith of ours. When other people see us griping and complaining because life is hard, they're gonna start wondering where the power is in our faith. In their minds, if these so called Christians are acting like spoiled brats, then is their faith really all that special or peaceful? We have each been given these lives to help shine for Christ and point people to Him so t...

James 1:2 NIV Our post yesterday talked about how faith isn't about asking God to take away the storms but to help us find peace within them. My Mom mentioned this one in her comment on yesterday's post, and yeah, it goes perfectly! In my opinion, this is one of those keys to life. It's one of those secrets to peace and happiness. In truth, it's not all that hard to find joy in our lives, we just tend to go about it the wrong way. I love how it says to find it purely joyous to face trials. What, are you nuts? Trials aren't any fun. They're not enjoyable. They're not comfortable. So where's the joy? Well, the joy is in realizing that those trials are chances to grow. It's in learning that we have plenty to learn and a God that is always trying to help us do so. There's the joy! Not in seeing the bad in things, but knowing there's good to be found somewhere. It's easy to gripe and complain when we're in the middle of life's messy ti...

Matthew 8:25 NIV How many times have you prayed for God to calm the storm's raging in your life? If you're like literally everyone else, then you've probably done it more times than you can remember. Nobody likes the uncomfortable moments that we face in life, so we almost instinctively start asking for it to just be taken away. We only see the difficulty, the fear, the worry whenever we're in the middle of the turbulent times. We rarely think about why we're facing them. Yesterday's Random Thought over on the blog that I've started talked about how we might be approaching this common practice the wrong way. Instead of asking God to always calm the storm blowing wildly around us, maybe we should be more worried about calming the fear welling up inside. Maybe it's not about the storm but about learning to not let it instill doubt in our hearts. You know, I honestly believe that none of us face anything in life without a purpose. There's a reason for e...

Hebrews 11:33 NIV Yesterday we talked about how we have to go all in when it comes to our faith. Guys, our faith is powerful because our God is powerful. So when we give Him absolutely everything and make Him the foundation that everything else is built upon, then nothing in this world will ever be able to beat us. We just need to learn to stop limiting Him and what we believe faith can be. Like I said yesterday, the time for this watered-down kind of faith is over. The seas out there are getting more and more tempestuous. But we do not have to be dragged into it. We don't have to be pulled away from our faith and into the messes that our world just loves creating. That only happens because our faith is so small. We've created this vision of what faith is, and in truth it's far bigger than we can imagine. God didn't create us as these weak, scared, and foolhardy beings that we've become. We created us to be soldiers that boldly carry the Good News out into the world...

1 Corinthians 10:21 NIV Here's the thing folks, God wants us to be all in. He doesn't just want some of our time. He doesn't want a couple nights a week. He doesn't want our prayers only when we're wanting something. He's not looking for part-time believers. It's all or nothing. This lukewarm, watered-down, time clock kind of faith just isn't gonna cut it. So if we're still dabbling in the ways of this world, then we're missing out on what walking with Christ is meant to be. We're called to fully, completely, totally, and humbly submit our lives to Him. He calls us to come to His table and lay down all that we're carrying. He doesn't say to hold on to the things that we still find valuable. He doesn't tell us to keep carrying the stuff that we've selfishly grown to enjoy. Doesn't ask us to follow Him while still trying to keep in step with the world around us. We have got to stop only going half-way in. We will never truly...

Psalm 37:23 NIV Yesterday we talked about the amazing opportunity that we have to be different. The fact is that all of this stuff around us that everyone else is always focused on is really nothing but a bunch of distractions that keep them from seeing what really matters. Our world likes to come up with things that it thinks are important, but in reality, it's all just nonsense that has been created to keep people distracted. Again, I'm not saying that we shouldn't pay attention to things going on around us. We need to be aware of stuff. But we don't need to let the worldly stuff get our priorities all out of whack. We only have so much time in a day, so much time in our lives, so we need to make sure that we're spending it focused on things that make us better and store up those treasures in Heaven that we discussed a few days ago. We look around us and see so many people bouncing between so many different things. Politics, protests, petty arguments, material des...