How To Help Your Faith Grow

Growth is an important part of our lives, both natural and spiritual. Healthy things grow and are a source of joy. Just ask any dedicated gardener.

God has given to each person a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Jesus said even faith the size of a mustard seed is important (Luke 17:5-6).

Jude 20 tells us to build ourselves up in our most holy faith, the basis of our spiritual life. But how? Let’s look at three possible ways:

ONE:  Know and Believe God’s Word:  God’s word is forever settled in heaven, and His faithfulness endures to all generations (Psalm 119:89-90).

We must hear the Word (Romans 10:17). It’s wonderful to get to attend church or hear God’s word taught over the airwaves, but we must also get into God’s word on our own (Psalm 119:105, 130, 133).

Knowing God’s word helps us to obey His will. That’s how we show our love for and our faith in Him (John 14:15).

TWO:  Be Encouraged by Testimonies of God’s Goodness:  Not only is God an ever-present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46:1), but faith in God brings about marvelous accomplishments. Be encouraged as you read testimonies in God’s “Hall of Faith,” Hebrews Chapter Eleven.

Testimonies are just personal stories of how God has worked in someone’s life. As we share, we build up one another’s faith and provide comfort where needed (1 Thessalonians 5:11, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Even the great Apostle Paul was encouraged by reports of the steadfast faith of believers in the places He had ministered (1 Thessalonians 3:6-8).

THREE:  Review How God Has Worked in Your Life:  First of all, be thankful for your salvation (John 3:16-19). What a marvelous gift. We don’t have to work for it; however, after we are saved, the good works we do are to bring glory to Him, not us (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Personally, I’m thankful for the gift of the Holy Spirit, the One who leads us into all truth (John 14:16-17, 16:13-15).

I also thank God for every good thing He has brought into my life over the years. I don’t believe in luck, fate, good karma, or horoscopes. Scripture says every good and perfect gift comes from God our Father above (James 1:16-17).

Read your Bible and mark verses that speak to you. We’re not cookie-cutter Christians. God works with us individually. How awesome is that!

Pixabay: Soil, Seed, Seedling image: Plnatbest.

How to Kill Off Stupidity

When and where did you learn life principles? Or, did you? When I was growing up, I not only learned such things at home, but also in church and at school.

I hear people complain that our culture is short on moral principles today. But my question is, “Who is teaching them?”

Reading Proverbs is not THE answer. But I think it’s ONE small step in the right direction for ALL mankind.

I have met many people who read a chapter of Proverbs a day. Some have done it for a lifetime. It’s thirty-one chapters, imagine that!

When you tire of reading it in one translation, why not try reading it in another? *It’s not hard to do these days.

Are you familiar with 2 Peter 1:1-10? It says by faith we receive the righteousness of God through our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are blessed with grace and peace, but there’s more!

Peter lays it out clearly in verses five through eight: Make every effort to add to your Faith.  As we mature in our Christian life, we should see growth in these areas: (1) Virtue, (2) Knowledge, (3) Self-control, (4) Perseverance, (5) Godliness, (6) Brotherly kindness, and (7) love.   

The Book of Proverbs has some things to teach us in the above areas. 1 Kings 4:29-34 says Solomon’s wisdom was known worldwide. Kings weren’t the only ones who sent envoys to listen to his wisdom.

The Queen of Sheba came to test him with hard questions, too. You can read all about it in 1 Kings 10:1-13.

The **Book of Proverbs is known as wisdom literature.

I believe we can kill off stupidity, but the best advice, even from the wisest man in the world, will do you no good just by reading.

The real value comes when you put it into action!

Pixabay: Puzzle, Sense, Non-Sense; geralt.

*I have the YouVersion Bible app on my phone, but there are others.

 **The majority of The Book of Proverbs is written by Solomon, but in later chapters, credit is given to two others.

  

Who Cares

A lot of people care. I see it in friends and family, co-workers, and leaders of various kinds. Who would argue with the idea that the world is a better place because of people who care?

This week I was talking with someone whose life is taking an unexpected turn. He is close to retirement, but due to his wife’s health, he is becoming a caregiver.

As we talked, I was reminded of the daily challenges in my care-giving days. I had been retired one year when Dad needed help because he could no longer drive.

To this day I’m grateful my husband agreed and was willing to make necessary life adjustments to also help Dad. A few years later, I became a caregiver for my husband.

A caregiver’s life becomes the life of the cared for. As a widower, Dad was used to getting up and going to Denny’s for breakfast every day. I always enjoyed breakfast at home, so that was just one of my adjustments.

There were also challenges with all the doctor appointments and calls to the insurance company. Except for my bout with breast cancer, I’d been healthy and doctor visits were not ongoing.

When hospice was needed, they were a big help to me as well as Dad. It was a relief to be able to call his nurse if I had a question. But home health aides, the chaplain, and the social worker were also supportive and encouraging.

To me, caregiving was “tiring.” But in the conversation this week I heard the word “draining.” I think that’s a better word for it. After all, the person giving care is on tap 24/7.

Who cares? I’m hoping you do.

First a word for Caregivers: Love is expressed, said Jesus, by being willing to lay down your life for a friend (John 15:12-13). I’m sure this also applies to love in acts of service to family members.

Now a word to Non-Caregivers: The challenge this week is to consider how you can encourage a caregiver by showing them that YOU CARE!

Pixabay: Hands, Arms, Reading; GDJ. 

  

Perfectly New

Isn’t it fun to get something new? You open a package knowing the item has never been used and you get to enjoy it.

I find it interesting that God built the idea of “new” into His Creation. Each day begins with a new sunrise. Every seven days we start a new week, basically every thirty days a new month, and every twelve months a new year!

Cartoonists like to draw "Father Time." At the beginning of the year, he is pictured as a baby. But by the end of the year, he’s gray-bearded, old and scraggly. Perhaps people feel that way, too, as they make new-year resolutions to improve life.

You’ve probably heard life is what happens while you’re making other plans. Plans are good, but life is full of surprises. All we can control is how we will respond to unexpected challenges.

Read the heading on my blog and you’ll see I believe in “new.” To me, it’s a gift that Almighty God offers in many ways.

First, is the gift of salvation: Forgiveness of sins and eternity with God by accepting His gift of Jesus, who died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for sin. We are born again (spiritually this time), and no more animal sacrifices are required (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17). We have a fresh start.

Then we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). How? By going to church and reading our Bibles with a heart to obey God’s Word.

One day this old world will be replaced. God will create a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:10-13). But, to me, there’s even a better “new!” Here’s a scripture I live by:

Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed,

For His mercies never fail. They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness! (Lamentations 3:22-23 BSB)

Read a little further, and you’ll find that in God we have hope, and He is good to those who seek Him.

With that in mind, I'd say we have good reasons to enjoy a perfectly NEW year!

3 Powerful Points

Did you know the shortest chapter in the Bible only has two verses? When I was growing up, I used to enjoy *“Sword Drills” in Sunday School. It was one way to motivate us to learn the books of the Bible. Psalms was easy to remember because it was a big book right in the middle.

Though it’s extremely short, Psalm 117 carries a powerful message. We are reminded of God’s love and faithfulness, along with two qualifiers.

God’s love is not only unfailing, but it is powerful. And the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. It shows up every morning as new mercies. No re-runs, no leftovers, and no scraping the bottom of the barrel. Just a consistent supply of mercy for each day, like the daily manna sent to the children of Israel on their Exodus from Egypt (Lamentations 3:22-23; Exodus 16:4-5).  

The third point is this: God’s love and faithfulness are to all nations and all the people of the earth (v. 1).

The Apostle Paul emphasized this in Romans by quoting from Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Isaiah to prove His point of Christ coming for both Jews and Gentiles (Romans 15:7-12). But the angelic message to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth, and the gospel message in John also made it very clear that a Savior had been born to all people (Luke 2:8-11); John 3:16; Psalm 117:1).

So, the next time you can’t think of anything for which to give God praise, consider these three praise-worthy things: 1) God is for ALL people, 2) His love is unfailing and powerful, and 3) His faithfulness endures forever.

Psalm 119:89-90 brings it home this way: Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established the earth and it endures.

If that’s not enough, consider the words of Asaph, one of King David’s temple musicians: My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:26).

Let us also rejoice in our forever God!

*In Sword Drills, the teacher called the name of a book in the Bible, and the first person to find Chapter One got a point. The name was based on Ephesians 6:10-17 which lists the spiritual armor of God, including “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Pixabay:  

You Can Count On This

I once asked Mom, “What is your favorite Bible verse?” She immediately answered, “Great peace have they who love thy law: And nothing shall offend them” (Psalm 119:165, KJV).

As a minister’s wife for fifty years, I’m sure there were plenty of times this verse helped her. Offensive things can be odors, actions, or words. But I think words take the prize.

I tried to follow Mom’s example. God’s word was my peace, and I wanted to please Him above all others. But I also appreciate the wisdom of Solomon in that there is . . . a time to be silent and a time to speak (*Ecclesiastes 3:7b, BSB).

I was reminded of Mom’s verse this week as I studied Psalm 119. Perhaps you know that this Psalm is the longest chapter in the Bible. If we could read it in the original Hebrew, we would see that there are twenty-two sections, each one beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. I so enjoy these small nuggets of God’s word.

I stopped to consider Psalm 119:160 this week. The New Living Translation (*NLT) says: The very essence of your words is truth; all your regulations will stand forever. I don’t know about you, but I’m having a hard time knowing who’s telling the truth these days.

What a relief to know I can read God’s word and trust what it says. It’s not ever going to become obsolete since God’s word will stand truthfully forever. We are cautioned to be people of truth as well. First John 2:3-6 says if we say we love God, but don’t keep His commandments we are liars, there’s no truth in us.

Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Could it be any plainer?

You can’t count on what you don’t know. Are you reading your personal Bible daily?

Time is valuable. Consider your earthly and heavenly priorities. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8).

BSB: The Holy Bible, The Berean Standard Bible, Copyright 2022 by Bible Hub, Used by Permission, All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

KJV: The Holy Bible, King James Version, The World Publishing Company, New York, USA, Used by permission.

NLT: The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois, Copyright 2012, Used by Permission.

What Can You Trust?

A friend and I had a good laugh over a recent text message. After sharing an answer to prayer, her closing comment was, “Our Lord does work in mysterious ways.” At least that’s what she meant to say.  

The message I received said, “Our Lord does work in mistletoe ways.” I was pondering the mistletoe message when she texted her correction. 

I have learned to check my auto-correct. I’ve sent garbled messages with one-word changes, too. Modern technology is supposed to make life easier, but it doesn’t.

In the past two weeks, I’ve spent hours with one tech company, trying to update my accounts. I have two-step verification with several companies, but theirs seemed unusually challenging.

Technology is here to stay. My husband used to say, “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken.” I try, but always being told to go “online” is simply tiresome.

When E-books came out, publishers thought they’d lose a lot of money. Time proved people still preferred the printed page. That’s me! I like to pick up a book, read it, lay it down, and pick it up later. So easy! 

The best seller of all time still remains popular in print. I can read scriptures on my cell phone, but I have a satisfying *hard-cover study Bible. It comes complete with explanatory notes, cross-references, a concordance, Bible charts, and maps.

Since childhood, I have read, studied, and trusted God’s Word. He gives a lovely illustration of its trustworthiness in Isaiah 55:8-11 (NLT). I’ve always relied on verse eleven: **It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it (NLT).

The King James Version says: ***It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (KJV).

In our fast-paced, ever-changing world, it’s nice to have something we can trust. I have put my hope in God’s Word more times than I could ever tell. There is one thing I can say, however, “God always keeps His Word.”  

*Life Application Study Bible is an edition of the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, 2007. All Rights Reserved.

**Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright . . . 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by Permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, IL 60188. All Rights Reserved.

***King James Version, YouVersion app.

Pixabay Illustration, Trust, Reveal Identity, John Hain

 

You Can Count On This

Recent world events have people on edge. The signing of certain peace agreements had given us hope for the future. When a friend recently quoted 1 Thessalonians 5:3, I inwardly brushed it off. It says when people say peace, peace, sudden destruction will come.   

That section of scripture refers to the Lord's second coming, but scripture also comes true on several levels. In hard times we seek for an anchor. We want something to believe in, something to hold us steady. What can we do?

Movies have given us some memorable songs about confidence. In The King and I we learn when we’re afraid we can whistle a happy tune. In Sound of Music, we learn we can be encouraged by thinking of our favorite things. As much as I enjoy these musical productions, I have a different way of gaining confidence.

I find it in God’s word, for several reasons: (1) God has said not to be anxious about anything, but to make our requests known to Him (Philippians 4:6 NKJV), (2) I have read a great many testimonies, from our times, as well as centuries before us, of answered prayers, and (3) God has given us His word with a purpose.

After using an example of the trustworthiness of rain to make things grow so we can have food, Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV) says: So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Read the Psalms and you’ll see David pouring out his heart to God. You’ll also see praises and songs of thanksgiving to a God who answers prayer.

After decades of following David’s example, I can tell you God does hear and answer prayer.

God always keeps His word. As you read scriptures in your Bible or on your cell phone, note those that really speak to you. As I studied Psalm 27 this week, the last verse reminded me that answers to prayers are not spontaneous. We are to place our confidence in His word and not give up.   

Photo: Pixabay, Harvest Background, Sunset: akirEVarga 

A Promise and Time

 

People think it’s strange when I take off my glasses to read. Even when I explain why, they seem skeptical. Maybe my experience is more unusual than I think.

A school eye test in sixth grade revealed my need for glasses. The doctor said I needed bifocals. Hardly any kids I knew wore glasses and I thought bifocals were for old people! I wasn’t a bit happy until I heard him say, “If you wear these now, you won’t have to wear them when you are older.”

I graduated from high school wearing bifocals . . . completed college, got married, and started teaching, still wearing bifocals. Years went by right up to retirement. That’s when I realized there’d been a change.

It happened in a photography class. I noticed people around me putting on their glasses to see close up, while I took mine off. I questioned my eye doctor at my next appointment and he confirmed, “You don’t need bifocals. You can read without them.”

Wow! After all those years the sixth-grade promise came true! Of course, promises aren’t made when something is imminent. Promises take time to fulfill.

Jesus made a promise that He was going away to prepare a place for those who believe in Him and would return later to take them to it (John 14:2-3).

Perhaps you feel about His return like I felt about my bifocals. I heard the promise, but years went by before it happened. I could do nothing to make it happen sooner. In fact, Jesus, like us, is waiting for the promised day of His return. He said only His Father knows the day and hour (Matthew 24:36).

His promise, like all others, requires time. World events have people asking, “Are these the last days? Is Jesus coming soon? Is the rapture real? Is there really going to be a Great Tribulation?” The Bible has proven true over thousands of years, so the answer to these prophecy questions is “yes.”

If you would like to learn more, I recommend *Dr. David Jeremiah of Shadow Mountain Church in El Cajon, California. He has been a minister, Bible teacher, and author for over forty years, and has also written several understandable **books about end-time events.

Make yourself a promise to pursue answers to the above questions. Then take time to fulfill your promise.

*Find Dr. David Jeremiah online under Turning Point. **His books are available wherever books are sold.

 

Don't Give Up

DON'T GIVE UP

I enjoy my home office. It's easy to rest my eyes as I look out the window above my desk. Is it windy? All I have to do is look at the movement of the pine trees.


Will I see wildlife? That's always a special treat, except for the javelinas that seem to root around and travel in packs. It's much more fun to watch the birds peck the ground for food.

Relief Without a Window

Years ago, I worked in a large church as an administrative assistant. My office had been set up to suit me and I enjoyed it. I'd say the only thing missing was a window. But I could delight in lovely landscaping whenever I chose to step outside.

This church had a large staff with many offices. It was a busy place and I enjoyed it, because I like having plenty of things to do. But I still remember one day that had been particularly tiresome.

About four o'clock I took a break and walked over to talk with a secretary whose positive attitude and work ethic I had always admired. I surprised her with a question. "Do you have a scripture of encouragement for a very tiring day?"

She said, "I wasn't prepared for that. I'll have to think about it." We talked a little more and I went back to my work.

About twenty minutes later, she walked over to my office. "I've got it."

"Great," I said, "what is it?"

She quoted Galatians 6:9. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

That meant completing an assignment, no matter how challenging or how short the deadline. Our satisfying harvest would be the job completed and handed over to the person who needed it.

Recently I read another scripture that this lady fulfilled. Hebrews 10:24 says, "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."

A Wider View

Office workers aren't the only ones who need encouragement. And spurring one another on in a positive manner need not always be verbal.

My parents used to encourage me toward good quarterly grades by promising monetary rewards for A's, B's and C's.

Little League teams seem to enjoy food rewards after a game. It's easy to see this spurring them on after expending all that energy.

Cards can be a great source of encouragement. So many choices---Get Well, Thinking of You, Sympathy for Your Loss, Happy Birthday, Thank You and more.

Not into snail mail? Send an encouraging e-mail. Or make a call to say, "Hi. I've been thinking of you and wanted to say thank you for . . . "

You Can Do It

Perhaps you're thinking I haven't even started to do good this way.

That's OK. I'm thinking don't give up. It's never too late to get started.

* * * 

NOTE: I have reduced the size of my photos to make it easier for cell phone readers.