I love how honest the Bible is about its heroes.
The great faith hall of fame is littered with people living imperfectly, yet they lived "by faith". Hebrews 11-- wherein the Hall of Fame lies-- begins with the definition of faith: "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for."
There is nothing in that definition that places faith in ourselves, or even in our own obedience to God's call. They are not included on the list because of how perfect they were in showing their faith to Him--but they had faith in Him, recognizing that all they had, were, and accomplished was because God was faithful to them. And God was faithful through them.
God has called us all to live a life of faith and obedience. I have a stumbling, imperfect obedience, but the moment I say "yes" to God, I am saying yes to a Person more than just the calling. My yes is to God, knowing that following His lead in obedience is a work, but it is His work. I stumble, but He never stumbles or falls, so that means He is always ready to catch me and put be back upright.
Of course, in the context of God's call to embryo adoption, I love that Sarah is included in the Hebrews 11 narrative: "And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise." I am not past child-bearing age, but at 42/43, I am feeling closer than some of my younger sisters. God has reminded me of His faithfulness to Sarah. But what I LOVE about this passage is remembering Sarah's response when she heard the news. She laughed. And when God wasn't moving, she took matters into her own hands. Giving Hagar to Abraham to produce a son has produced a literal world history of regret. Do you see God's grace here? His grace in forgiving and forgetting commends her to the Biblical Faith Hall of Fame. Amazing grace indeed!
And of course this gives me hope, the hope in Hebrews 11:2, confident in faith of that which we do not see. Saying yes to God is so exciting and such an adventure. One I am sure that will be filled with my stumbling and faltered obedience, but God is there to keep picking me back up. The faith I have is that which God gives freely to me.
The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37: 23-24
Monday, January 16, 2017
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Surfer Girl
A disclaimer. Waves are presented in the Bible are tumultuous, but God has control over them, giving them boundaries and He stills them. I am not using a Biblical analogy in my post and I tread carefully on this post-- and I am asking you to do the same.
A month ago, we took a family vacation to the Yucatan, Mexico. Most of the kids time was spent in the water; most of this was spent trying to body surf. As I was out there with my kids, I realized that my attempts at body surfing was somewhat reflective of God's work in my life at that point.
I know very little about surfing, but I have begun to look intentionally for the right wave. There are many good waves to try to ride, but if you just take a good wave, you are missing "the" wave in the meantime. The right wave takes patience and intentionality to see. There are so many good things that we can be doing, but I wondered how many times I have missed out on the very thing that God has called me to while I have been distracted by those things I deem good and I decide on my own to do.
When I saw the wave I had been waiting for coming, one of two things occurred. As happened a few times, I froze, questioning the wave, only to watch it go by me and exclaim, "Shoot! That was the one!" And the wave was gone and I missed it. I, too, have been a bystander to the things of God and have watched the movement of the Spirit move right by me while I stood frozen, contemplating.
But the beauty of watching and waiting for the right wave-- the one that built the energy to carry me to shore on its crest-- and jumping on, that was giggly delight.
And this, my friends, is how I feel about where God's Spirit is taking us on this journey of embryo adoption. God's Spirit is moving and all we have to do is ride this wave into shore. This is none of our own doing, our own power or energy: God alone. I praise God that He showed us the right wave and prompted us to dive on top and let God do the rest.
I pray that, as the Spirit is always moving, that you would be prompted to begin or continue to follow as He is leading, under His power to sustain you and give you His victory.
My prayer request this week: I would be ready for our appointment on February 1--my body needs to be on track for proper assessment. Thanks friends!
A month ago, we took a family vacation to the Yucatan, Mexico. Most of the kids time was spent in the water; most of this was spent trying to body surf. As I was out there with my kids, I realized that my attempts at body surfing was somewhat reflective of God's work in my life at that point.
I know very little about surfing, but I have begun to look intentionally for the right wave. There are many good waves to try to ride, but if you just take a good wave, you are missing "the" wave in the meantime. The right wave takes patience and intentionality to see. There are so many good things that we can be doing, but I wondered how many times I have missed out on the very thing that God has called me to while I have been distracted by those things I deem good and I decide on my own to do.
When I saw the wave I had been waiting for coming, one of two things occurred. As happened a few times, I froze, questioning the wave, only to watch it go by me and exclaim, "Shoot! That was the one!" And the wave was gone and I missed it. I, too, have been a bystander to the things of God and have watched the movement of the Spirit move right by me while I stood frozen, contemplating.
But the beauty of watching and waiting for the right wave-- the one that built the energy to carry me to shore on its crest-- and jumping on, that was giggly delight.
And this, my friends, is how I feel about where God's Spirit is taking us on this journey of embryo adoption. God's Spirit is moving and all we have to do is ride this wave into shore. This is none of our own doing, our own power or energy: God alone. I praise God that He showed us the right wave and prompted us to dive on top and let God do the rest.
I pray that, as the Spirit is always moving, that you would be prompted to begin or continue to follow as He is leading, under His power to sustain you and give you His victory.
My prayer request this week: I would be ready for our appointment on February 1--my body needs to be on track for proper assessment. Thanks friends!
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