The Faith Guarantee

We were in Berryville this weekend working on the house. We made a lot more progress with the painting. We should be able to finish the painting by next weekend! Woo Hoo!

We went to church Sunday morning and I just have to share this with you.

You know how sometimes the message seems like it's just for YOU? Well, the message Sunday was just for US!

Here goes:
Pastor has been speaking on the topic of faith for a series of messages. This week's title was: "The Faith Guarantee" and the text was out of Hebrews 11.

Here are the notes I copied down:

When you live a life of faith things begin to happen in your daily existence that are beyond explanation. This doesn't mean it's easy. There is no neutral/coasting/park in the life of faith. Furthermore, there is no reverse- only full speed ahead. Sometimes when you are living a life of faith it leaves you with fear or makes you sick to your stomach. Because we don't know what's coming next. We need to learn not to worry. If there are obstacles, they are temporary. We don't live by our feelings- We live under the provision and protection of our God. Faith is something you decide and do.
If you live a life of faith, the Bible promises:
1. You will be pleasing to God. v.6. It's our faith that keeps us connected to God. He wants us to love Him, to need Him, to depend on Him. That's why He respons to our faith. You can't put your faith in God without being personally involved with him.
2. You will sometimes abandon security to enter parts unknown.
3. You will be called upon to prove yourself. v.17. There will be times of testing, but it won't last forever.
4. You will be called upon to make sacrifices. There will be seasons in the life of faith when you're not on the receiving end of God's blessings- but on the giving end of personal sacrifices. During that time of waiting, it is absolutely essential that you remain faithful.
5. You will see the power of God unfold before your eyes. v. 29 & 30. God is able to make the impossible happen.
If we want faith when we need faith, we have to live faith everyday.

With everything that has been going on in our life lately, I really needed this message. For me, it painted a picture of what I've been feeling but maybe couldn't put into words or make it make sense. It all makes sense now. (For now anyway! :-)

As you know by now, we took a huge step of faith to move our family to a new town and essentially, a new life. We "heard the call" in our hearts, and we were moved in less than a month after that. Not easy. But totally necessary.
Here's how our life corresponds to this message:

1.We have definately had fear and been sick to our stomachs quite a bit lately! We are encouraged that we are pleasing to God due to our living out our faith.

2. We definately abandoned security to enter parts unknown. I know we're not trudging our way through the jungle or the desert on another continent like some, but we are in new territory. Me not knowing where things are and having to print out mapquest maps before I go to the Electric Company, Water Department, etc. qualifies in being in "parts unknown" in my book! The boys having to move to another school also qualifies, for sure. We are so proud of them for adjusting so well. Rhett slept all night last night and didn't cry about going to school at all this morning. Praise the Lord!!!!

3. "You will be called upon to prove yourself". Ummm, yeah. I feel like we've been doing lots of proving lately. As if enough hasn't been going on, I got the kids all buckled in to go to school this morning, and my car wouldn't start. Without the reminder of this message yesterday, I might have broken down in tears, but instead, I just laughed and said, "Are you kidding me?" Chalk it up as another "test" of faith. Thankfully, Jason was only about 15 minutes away and was able to come get the boys and get them to school. They were late, but the teacher's were still calling roll when they walked in, so they didn't miss much.
Jason jump started my car and I took it to have the battery, starter and alternator checked and everything checks out fine. So bizarre. Thankfully, we were reminded that this won't last forever!

4. I know my "sacrifices" are nothing compared to many, but to me, they are sacrifices none the less. I believe that God knows that too. Here's a few. 1. 900 sq ft has already gotten mighty small in the last 5 weeks since we've been in the apartment. There's 5 of us and we're trying to run a business and our lives at the same time, out of this tiny little space. The kids have no room to run and we're constantly shushing them so as not to bother the neighbors. It's definately different than we're used to. 2. Since Rhett has been having sleep issues, he's been sleeping in our bed. Jason still can't sleep with him because he can't help but lay awake and watches him most of the night, so he's been sleeping with Braden. I don't get to see my husband much (although now more than ever) and we don't get to spend a whole lot of time together, between work and kids and life; so not having him next to me at night is so hard for me. I feel like I miss him all the time. Definately a sacrifice in my book. 3. The sacrifice of free time. With us being so busy all during the week and on the weekends too; with working on the house, etc. We feel like we never have a free moment. One of mine and Jason's favorite things to do together is watch movies. Before we moved, no matter how busy we were, we never went more than 2 weeks without taking time to snuggle on the couch and watch a movie together after the kids went to bed, and usually it was at least a movie a week. I've lost count, but it's been at least 7 weeks since we've watched a movie. I miss that so much.

5. "You will see the power of God unfold before your eyes". We believe with all our hearts that we're where God wants us to be at this time in our life. We are trusting Him with all the details involved. Selling the house, buying a new one. We know that He's got all those details figured out and it will work out when it's supposed to. We trust that there are bigger and better things out there for us.
In the meantime, we're just going to do our best to live out lives of faith each day.
I hope you will do the same!