Extraordinary Faith

The Bible is filled with stories about regular people like you and me. So, how did they merit a place of such honor as to be remembered and discussed all these thousands of year later? It wasn’t their own capabilities or power. Quite simply, they were ordinary folks with extraordinary faith. The names and the faces that fill the pages of Scripture are those of shepherds, fishermen, tent-makers, seamstresses, fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, boat-builders, gardeners, butlers and maids. They dealt with insecurities, and struggled with sin. They were flawed and imperfect people, made perfect in the sight of God only by faith and His amazing grace. Despite their flaws and their failures, they believed God and everything He said to them to be true. When they fell down, they got right back up; when they veered off the path, they got back on track; when they lost their way, they refocused their sights on God. Just like you and me, they messed up from time to time. At times it even appears they took a step or two backwards in their walk with the Lord, but the overall trajectory of their lives was moving forward in faith, holding tightly to the hand of God.  Extraordinary faith is what makes these folks so note-worthy. As we read the stories of those who’ve gone before us, let’s find comfort in knowing we don’t have to earn God’s mercy or grace, we simply need to surrender our lives to Him in child-like faith.

Hebrews 11:1-2, “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.”

Harvest of Blessings

Gratitude changes everything and everyone.

Planting seeds of gratitude produces an abundant harvest of blessings, with more than enough to go around. Gratitude brings fresh joy to the air; it brings warmth to our hearts; it brings clarity to the sight of our eyes; it alters our perspective with optimistic hope. Gratitude positively affects everyone fortunate enough to be caught up in its path.

Appreciation, gratitude, and thanks—words to live by; words that give life.

Colossians 3:16, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

Counting Blessings

Far too often our awareness of the blessings that surround us is dimmed by the difficult circumstances we face. Our focus zooms in on all that is going wrong, eclipsing our view of all that is going right. In spite of hardships, God is always at work. Let’s step back and open our eyes to the abundant blessings God has put in our lives. Let’s be present in this very moment, and take notice and count all the blessings He’s poured and continues to pour out. Let’s ask Him to reveal them to us so that we can give Him thanks. In the process of recounting and praising our Lord, our spirits get lifted and our hearts get filled. Thanksgiving is an official day for thanks, but for our own benefit and to the glory of God, gratitude is meant to be a part of every day. Happy Thanksgiving all year long!

 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”