Forged By Faith

Romans 6:3 NIV Oh, we do, for such has been made most perfectly clear! It’s then just that we tend to get rather remarkably lost looking at the toward what as opposed to embracing the what through. Yes, we all know quite well where this road leads and the things done by which to secure passage for those to whom said promise was, is promised. But there exists alongside our understanding of the gravity of a grace as given in that place that we call a grave, consider then life’s utmost disgrace, an almost violent refusal as to the perusal of the persecution through which said promise was purchased. For we like the sound of Heaven, but alas we cannot admit that hell must then exist too. Nor then that this world is the closest to either we’ll be depending upon how we determine to live our lives as thus defined by where our treasures are stored. For if here is held as home, and our treasures housed here as well, then, as the Word reads, we’ll be amongst those who’ve had their reward. Meaning...

John 10:10 NIV Seeing/Believing And anymore, as always before, it seems, unfortunately, that we then get caught seeing a scene as seen in the sight of the assumption of what we thought we saw as seen inside of that we’d sought to see. And while this may prove fairly harmless in regard to most things, for now at least, it can become quite the issue when allowed audience inside of certain situations, scenarios, circumstances or conclusions. And that determined upon the choices and their always corresponding actions as chosen and then taken within any, and in fact all, of all the above. Something perhaps proven best within the discrepancy still clearly seen between Golgotha and Calvary. Indeed, it seems that all of us, without exception mind you, that all of us have considered the Gospel from only the vantage of we the disadvantaged as displayed within the disadvantage as seen upon that place called Golgotha as opposed to accepting our invitation, as still standing so long as we’re here s...

1 Thessalonians 4:14 NIV There's an immense reason as to why the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is one of the foremost concepts discussed and believed upon within our faith. And that's because those three experiences apply to us too. Yet we find ourselves still living as a people unwilling to accept we owe any personal cost for anything. We’re surrounded by this mindset that has everyone most assured that there’s nothing ever to be required of them in life, in faith, in love, in anything. It should all just be there, should just be free. Life is a gift, but that doesn’t mean we’ve nothing to give it in return. And faith, so too a gift, is also more than deserving of hearts willing to immerse themselves into whatever it may take to know a deeper level of hope. Especially since we should have none. But alas, we likely don’t see it that way. We probably find ourselves somewhere in the middle at best. Sort of stuck between here and somewhere else, somewhere we don’t know ...

Philippians 3:10 NIV Many want to know about Christ, but to know Him demands a kind of surrender saved for very few who are actually willing to lose everything in order to gain what can’t be found while still living. Because it requires a rare mindset that allows a person to admit and accept that they’ve been living a life that never brought them anywhere close to where they wanted to be. It’s that shattered reality that leaves you ready and willing to let it all go. And I'm not talking about the mere surrender of the trinkets and toys that a person's accumulated. Not talking about the hopes and dreams planned out across a few years spent potting a path toward a perfect life. What this faith deserves is something altogether deeper than all that. This faith rages well beyond the surface and superficial, and that’s a place few are willing to go. But until we do, we’ll simply find ourselves going nowhere. No, having been so lost for so long trying so hard to convince myself I'...