Path Towards Faith

I published new episode:3. "Newish" Believer, please check it out. You can also find it on iTunes and Spotify! https://www.podbean.com/ei/pb-gmhte-e7caeb

"I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all. shall windy words have and end? Or what provokes you that you answer? I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you."  Job 16: 2-4 To say that I have had periods of deep mourning over the past two years would be an understatement. The sudden loss of my stepson followed a year later by the loss of my mother-in-law has been significant in my life. However, I know my grief is nothing in comparison to that of my husbands. His grief is much deeper than mine. My solitary role in all of it is to comfort him. It would do us no good for me to tell him anything about moving on, or as time passes it will get better. It would be similar to what Job's friends were doing and to say the least it was of no comfort to him. It is not my place to say any of that, the simple fact is I have no right to tell someone else how to grieve. As I have read throu...

Photo by  Luis Miguel Martínez Bonilla   A few days ago I was reading a devotional and within that the author, Priscilla Shirer, told a story of a donkey that spent its life walking in a circle giving rides to little children at fairs. When this donkey was "retired" it went to spend the rest of its days in a huge, beautiful pasture. Instead of roaming around its new land it just walked in circles, because that is all it had ever known. The point of her analogy was to show us that as Christians we have been given a new life, and to question why we keep walking in the circles of unforgiveness, shame and guilt. "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; an new life has begun!" 2 Corinthians 5:17 If you, in your heart, have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, knowing that he died for our sins, then you are born again (made new). This should be exciting news! As believers, we are not called to remain in those circles of gu...

Photo by Piotr Bizior "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home." John 14:1-2 Life can be so hard and many times we believe, falsely, that it shouldn't be. We have never been promised an easy life here on earth. It is our eternal life in Heaven which will be magnificently wonderful. I have often found myself in prayer wondering why I am going through something difficult, or why bad things happen. What is amazing is when I have these thoughts, I turn to God's word, and in turn He speaks back to me. Reassuring me that all is right and being done in accordance to His will and that He is here as my Comforter. Trials, or challenging times, are a part of our walk with the Lord. It is our reaction to these trials that will either build our faith, or rip it apart. When you doubt, question, or just feel upset about a situation, you need to get on your knees and pray. Ask God to help, ask f...

Photo by Nat Arnett "You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy." 1 Peter 1:8 When learning God's word we should feel joyful! Making studying, learning and sharing the word as a priority. It should never feel like a burden or dull to study scripture, because knowing God's love for us is amazing! As I have shared before when I told my family about my love and belief in God it brought me to tears both times. I was overcome with emotion, especially when I told my 14 year old, she hugged me and said she loved me. Which of course made me cry more, but it was a joyous loved filled cry and hug. Love among myself and my children believe it or not is nothing compared to the love that God has for us. We are commanded in scripture to love God and to love each other, it is one of the most important commandments. So how do we show our love for God? We show it by longing for pers...

Some big events took place this week for myself and my family. First, because I have recommitted to God I had to tell me husband and children for the first time in 18 years what I believed in and where I stand. I had to talk to them about my past and apologize for not doing what God commands of me as a Christian for so long.  It seems like this would be simple, but it was very difficult for me to do simply because I did not know what their response would be. I did not know if this was going to destroy my family as I have known it, but it had to be done even if I lost it all.  As I read this week about forgiveness, honesty and integrity, I was being strongly conflicted that as much as I value those words I was not embodying them by remaining silent about my faith in God.  The conversations went well and I know that was God. I now feel the freedom to offer to pray with my teenagers and to talk to them about God, there is no hiding in fear any longer. I new I had to truly ac...

Today's versus were : Exodus 18:13-16 Deuteronomy 18:20-22 Matthew 13:24-30 Acts 17:11 1 Timothy 4:1-2 Jude 1:8-11 The focus of these were on  discernment  which has always been so important for me to really have a deep understanding of. Some thoughts that jumped out right away to me are to scrutinize all teachings against the word of God, beware of false teachings/teachers/prophets. A good working knowledge of Gods word will build up discernment against those things. "Judging" from the stance of Gods word is what we should be doing. "Condemning", saying who goes to hell, is not our place, that is for God to decide. Four questions to discern false teachings/prophets: 1. Does it recognize Jesus as the Son of God and only way to salvation? 2. Does the teaching agree with scripture? 3. If miracles are involved, do they bring glory to  God? 4. Is the teaching generally rejected by the world? "If something is popular it doesn't make it right. It's actual...

Today's versus were : Jeremiah 31?30 Luke 12:47-48 Luke 19:11-26 1 Corinthians 10-15 The focus of these were on  accountability  and wow did it have an impact on my thoughts. Some things that stuck out is that we all die from our sins and we are responsible for our own actions. Now obviously as believers we know that they can be forgiven, but we should always take care not to sin. Luke 12:47-48 really struck me: here are my thoughts at the time of reading    "Oh boy, I have NOT done this well at all. I do however feel I was never prepared to carry anything out. I did/do not fully understand the word of God or what my "calling" is to be sure I honor, serve and spread His word." The passage for 1 Corinthians is about building your foundation on God and His word. It talks about taking your gifts and abilities God has given you and to use them for His glory. This is a place I feel stuck in, I am not certain what my "gifts" are, I continue to try and work t...