I loved this quote by Bill Winston; “Faith is now and in the present tense because it knows that God already did it.” Present tense. God already did it. What a powerful and accurate statement of what faith is. The confident assurance that He heard and delivered even when you don’t yet see it in the natural. When you just ‘know’ it’s a done deal.

Hebrews 11:1 ERV says: Faith is what makes real the things we hope for. It is proof of what we cannot see.”

And in the Amplified reads: Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

Did you read that? Faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses. Let me add to this that faith without works is dead. You have to do something and the bible is very clear on giving first in order to receive. What is God saying to you to do?

OMG! Just thinking this morning of the times in my life when God was faithful. The times when it looked one way but just in time, the answer came through. Ever have times like that in your life? Since Christmas is just around the corner, let me share a true event that happened to Walt and I the year after he lost his job in the early 80’s.

The girls were small and we lived in a sleepy farming community in the middle of nowhere. We had moved there to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and it had a very good but small school where Stacy would start that fall. Walt had been with his job a large bakery for over 11 years, we were even looking to buy our first home. Then on a Thursday he was handed his pink slip, they were closing the doors the next day and with no warning, we were unemployed in the middle of the worst recession. He put applications in  as far away as W. Virginia but nothing opened up. He took a part time job at a meat market working minimal wage, I started cleaning houses, we bartered our rent by painting the old farm house we were renting. God was faithful, but provision didn’t come in the ways we expected.

Then came Christmas with no job but something wonderful happened. We never shared our plight, but God knew. The company that our landlords owned decided that instead of exchanging names at Christmas, they would pool their money and buy groceries for the unemployed family. That family was us. The week before Christmas, they backed a car up to our back porch and unloaded a trunkful of groceries to our kitchen counter. I remember weeping and thanking God for his faithfulness but he wasn’t finished yet. The next day, a local family brought a trunkful of wrapped gifts to put under our tree. We’d never met them before, they didn’t even attend our church, but he said to us that a few years back they were in the same situation and someone did this for them. They decided than and there that they would make a habit of doing this for a family every year. We’ve followed their example, because the joy of knowing that you’ve been the hands of God to someone else is the most amazing feeling in the world.

What will you do this year with your faith? Will you put legs to it and do what God has lovingly placed in your heart to do or will you just wait for God to bring some answer to you? You could provide a Christmas tree and some hot chocolate while you watch a family decorate it. You could take your children to the store to buy something for someone else’s children, wrap it and allow them the honor of giving. You could buy some groceries, practical items like pillows and pillowcases, laundry soap, baggies, things we use daily and think nothing of it. We must remember that Gods kingdom works selflessly as givers, not takers. We live to be a blessing to others. 

Over the years, I’ve shared this story countless times to challenge others to stop thinking of Christmas in the way they’ve always done. Jesus came into the world as a giver, there was nothing selfish in how was born or how he lived. He taught us that it is far more blessed to give than to receive. May His life be honored as we celebrate His birthday by being a giver everyday.

John 8:31-32 ERV So Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, “If you continue to accept and obey my teaching, you are really my followers. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  John 14:6 ERV Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.”

In my quest to know God I must realize this truth; there is only one way-Jesus. It’s through his example, his teachings, his walk of love, the revelation he gives, it’s how I become a follower of his.  So many people say they are Christians but do not follow him or his ways. They simply wear the title ‘Christian’ but their lives do not reflect anything that Jesus did. There is no mercy, no compassion, nothing they do even remotely resembles him. They don’t read the Word of God, if you ask them about Jesus, they become flustered, upset, like you’re challenging who they are. They are what I like to call lizards, they try to blend with whatever surroundings they are in. If they are hanging with their church friends, they are a Christian but when they are at work, they become complainers, talking about their co-workers and bosses. On Friday night, they hang out in the clubs and blend with the world even more but come Sunday morning, they clean up and sing in the choir. 

Call me crazy, but I don’t see anywhere in the Word where Jesus became like the people he was ministering to. It didn’t matter where he went, he went about doing good and healing everyone of everything. It’s time to come clean with and separate ourself from the ways of the world. To be His disciple means leaving behind all that you were and becoming like Him. Accepting His sacrifice in more than just word only. There MUST be a change of heart not just a change of clothes. I must carry the name of Jesus Christ in my person, separating myself from the ways and manner of the world. Not to be holier than all of them, but to love them deeply enough to bring them the things they are searching for; The Way, The Truth and The Life so they may know the Father.

I leave you with this warning from Paul from 2 Timothy 3:1-7 ERV;  Remember this: There are some terrible times coming in the last days.  People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud and boast about themselves. They will abuse others with insults. They will not obey their parents. They will be ungrateful and against all that is pleasing to God. They will have no love for others and will refuse to forgive anyone. They will talk about others to hurt them and will have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.  People will turn against their friends. They will do foolish things without thinking and will be so proud of themselves. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. They will go on pretending to be devoted to God, but they will refuse to let that “devotion” change the way they live. Stay away from these people! Some of them go into homes and get control over weak women, whose lives are full of sin—women who are led into sin by all the things they want.  These women always want to learn something new, but they are never able to fully understand the truth.

John 6:15-21 NKJV ¹⁵ Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

¹⁶ Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷ got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. ¹⁸ Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. ¹⁹ So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. ²⁰ But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” ²¹ Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

This happened just after he fed 5000 men plus women and children with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. There were a couple things here I felt the Holy Spirit wanted me to see this morning. First, when Jesus perceived the people were going to take him by force and make him king, he left and went to the mountain alone. He knew the people weren’t happy with the king of that day and could tell that they wanted him as king but that wasn’t his purpose for coming. Gods plan was much greater than filling their physical needs. His plan was redemption, giving man back the authority he once possessed and allowing him to once again walk and talk with God in the world He had given Adam. But these men were just like men today; what can you do for me? How can you feed me, clothe me, give me healthcare, meet all of my needs and keep me happy. Once again, man can only see what’s in this realm not the realm of the Spirit.

Secondly, the disciples got into the boat and started for the other side of the lake. I’m not sure if anyone has ever rowed a boat before, but it’s not as easy as it looks, for sure! They had rowed 3-4 miles by hand and a storm came up. Ok, thats a bit scary, but than Jesus walked toward them on the water and they were REALLY scared. Once he announced himself and got into the boat, they were instantly where they were meant to go. Ok, I looked back in this story and didn’t see anywhere that Jesus gave them the command to ‘go to the other side’, or ‘go on without me, I’ll catch up’. There was another time when he fed people, went away to pray and told the men to go to the other side and wait, however this was not that time.

How many times have we assumed that just because God did it that way the last time, we need to do it that way again? How many times have we struck out on our own only to get into trouble and need to be rescued. Perhaps if they had waited on the shore for Jesus, they wouldn’t have needed to row that 3-4 miles but would have entered the boat and been on the other shore just like that. We need to learn that the pressures of our need is not what moves God to intercede. Waiting on the Lord FIRST and allowing Him to direct our steps is key here. We must not be moved by feelings, but allow faith in God and His plan to be what moves us. 

Father, I have read your promises to me and you are faithful. Nothing and no one can stop your plan from being accomplished in my life. When one door closes, I will wait for you to open another, I will not keep trying the knobs and banging on the doors. I will listen to your still small voice until I hear you say, ‘This door will open for you!’ because with you, nothing is impossible. I will not fret or worry when I’m surrounded by opposition for you are much greater than them. You laugh at those who stand against me for you have purposed to bless me and nothing can hold back the blessing of my God.

Perhaps you’re facing the most difficult season of your life. Like the storm that arose on the journey to Capernaum, you’ve been rowing in a boat that’s going no where fast. Be still. Put down the ores and wait for Jesus to arrive because once he comes, you’ll be where you need to be immediately. God has things to do through you, wait for Him to take you there.

Luke 8:11-15 GNT ¹¹ “This is what the parable means: the seed is the word of God. ¹² The seeds that fell along the path stand for those who hear; but the Devil comes and takes the message away from their hearts in order to keep them from believing and being saved. ¹³ The seeds that fell on rocky ground stand for those who hear the message and receive it gladly. But it does not sink deep into them; they believe only for a while but when the time of testing comes, they fall away. ¹⁴ The seeds that fell among thorn bushes stand for those who hear; but the worries and riches and pleasures of this life crowd in and choke them, and their fruit never ripens. ¹⁵ The seeds that fell in good soil stand for those who hear the message and retain it in a good and obedient heart, and they persist until they bear fruit.”

Each time we read the Word, hear the Word or think on the Word, we must understand this principle, the Word is a seed. A seed by itself will never produce until it’s planted, but that seed is as valuable and productive as the soil it’s planted in. If the soil is wrong, it won’t produce. When we landscaped our courtyard 10 years ago, we found that the soil in Florida is very different than the soil in Michigan. You can’t plant the same trees or flowers because the soil isn’t right nor are the weather conditions appropriate for some seed. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I can still plant tomatoes, but the fruit will taste different because the soil we plant them in here is different than the soil in Michigan. Do you get the picture? I could try to duplicate the soil, but once the sun beats down on the plants, they will wither and die, it’s just too hot down here in the summer for some things. 

The soil of our heart must also be ready to receive the seed of the Word, otherwise we’re just reading words on a page. How do we prepare our hearts? On Sunday morning, we purpose to listen to some good messages or music while we get ready for church. I try to pray in the Spirit as much as possible, it’s getting our soil ready so we can receive the Word of God. I take notes during the message. I write down scripture references so that I can go back and look them up. A good message on Sunday is just that until you meditate on it, study it and bring it back up for discussion with someone. 

I love what Paul says in Ephesians 3:16-19 “¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— ¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

There it is my friends; rooted and grounded in love. Key ingredient to the soil of our heart I believe is Love. It’s who our Father is and it’s what He instructed us to walk in. When your soil is right, you will bear much fruit and your fruit will remain. What is the fruit of the Spirit? Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, meekness, etc. Oh, I want me some peace in my life. I want me some joy! I must walk in love at all times, not just when I’m loved or feel like loving, I must be HIS love and to do that, I must constantly plant seeds of love because what I plant is what I reap. It is not our nature to love at all times. That will only happen as we surrender to Him and allow Him to change the soil of our heart to reproduce Love.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 GNT “It is true that we live in the world, but we do not fight from worldly motives. The weapons we use in our fight are not the world’s weapons but God’s powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments; we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.  And after you have proved your complete loyalty, we will be ready to punish any act of disloyalty.”

I love the NIRV “I do live in the world. But I don’t fight my battles the way the people of the world do. The weapons I fight with are not the weapons the world uses. In fact, it is just the opposite. My weapons have the power of God to destroy the camps of the enemy. I destroy every claim and every reason that keeps people from knowing God. I keep every thought under control in order to make it obey Christ. Until you have obeyed completely, I will be ready to punish you every time you don’t obey.”

What makes my weapons different from the worlds weapons? What causes me to win? It’s LOVE. Love responds differently to every situation. God is Love. He doesn’t just love, he IS Love. I Corinthians 13 is known as the ‘Love’ chapter, but if you really read it, you’ll understand that it’s value goes way beyond how we’ve always read it. It’s the very blood that runs through a believers veins. It’s what makes us dance in the middle of a mess, laugh in our distress, praise in hopelessness.  It’s a weapon against our enemies. Love takes people off guard, it’s not the typical way of response. They don’t know how to handle love.

Think about it; the world uses weapons of destruction. but it says right there that our weapons are opposite. What’s the opposite of hate? Love. What casts out fear? Love. What breaks down barriers? Love. That’s why Paul says that the greatest of these is Love. We can win over all the power of the enemy by Love. Jesus even said that the greatest command was to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. LOVE! That’s it, folks. If we get this, we win every time because Love conquers all.

I challenge you; respond to everything in love and let it rock your world. Let Love have it’s perfect work all the time. If you’re determined to get in the last word, let it be ‘I love you!’  Strongholds respond to Love. Sickness responds to Love. Lack responds to Love. Evil must bow to the most powerful weapon of all; Love.

Hebrews 12:27-29 Phillips “This means that in this final “shaking” all that is impermanent will be removed, that is, everything that is merely “made”, and only the unshakeable things will remain. Since then we have been given a kingdom that is “unshakeable”, let us serve God with thankfulness in the ways which please him, but always with reverence and holy fear. For it is perfectly true that our ‘God is a burning fire’.”

Wow, love this! The things ‘merely made’ will be removed but what is unshakeable will remain. What is the only thing that cannot be shaken? The Word of God. It’s a sure foundation (Isaiah 28:16), a solid rock (Psalm 18:31), it’s Jesus the Word made flesh (John 1:14), it’s God (John 1:1). The Word is powerful (Hebrews 4:12). If you know the Word and it’s in you, everything around you may fall but it won’t come close to you (Psalm 91), it can’t destroy you, your faith is solid, it’s in God.

When our hope is in God, he is all we need to hold onto. Hold on! Some of you are going through a shaking right now. Your job is being shaken, your home is being shaken, your finances are being shaken, your health is being shaken. Hold on to God and His Word because it is your solid rock. When you run to Him, He holds you. When you lose your strength, He becomes strength for you. When life knocks you off your feet, He gently pulls you up into His arms and carries you. Whatever you face, His face is all you need to seek.

Father, I’m so thankful! All the shaking only frees me from stuff that is cumbersome. You’re the one I long for. You’re my hope, my help, my salvation. I don’t hope in my job, I don’t hope in my finances, I don’t hope in today, I hope in you. My heart is yours and I trust in you. My faith will not be shaken because it’s built upon a rock and you are my Rock. My life is in you, Lord. I’m thankful. What a wonderful gift you are to me. I’m thankful for the blood of your son that was shed for me. I would never be able to come this close to you, sit at your feet, hold your hand, have you teach me and lead me into the knowledge of who you are and what you’ve done.  I’m so thankful. You have put your Words in my mouth and in my heart. What treasure. I’m rich in your Word. Everything I need for today, tomorrow and my future is in your Word.

Colossians 3:12-14 “So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”

So many of us are thinking of buying a new outfit for the holidays. All those gatherings, parties, dinners and we just want something new to wear. But what are we wearing on the inside? What does our inner man look like. I’ve seen some beautiful people in my life, dressed to perfection, make-up flawless, a picture of rare beauty for sure, but the moment they open their mouth their true character casts a very dark shadow on the exterior appearance. The words and actions of a person makes all the difference in the world. Who are we reflecting?

What good are beautiful clothes if we haven’t bathed in a month? What if we opened our mouths and hadn’t brushed our teeth in a week and all that we’d eaten was visible to everyone. And the smell, can you even imagine? Ok, I’m making myself a little sick! When God made us new, he began with the inside, not the outside.  While we were sinners, Christ died for us so that we could be in right standing with God. Compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline; these are the undergarments that make love look good on us. We must put these on and wear them always or our lovely clothes will not hold the gaze of the world He loves.

Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you; Proverbs 10:12 NLV says, “Hate starts fights, but love covers all sins.” Do you look for a way to amplify what others do wrong or do you try to find a way to cover it, deflecting the focus off the wrong doer. I wonder how many times I’ve unknowingly (or intentionally) hurt someone passing through this life? Something I said, I’m sure! My mouth and I have not always gone in the right direction, but we’re working on it! I’m thankful for those who covered me, who said, “I know her. She didn’t mean it like that.” 

And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Like a simple black dress and a single strand of pearls, elegant always, that’s what love is. Pure love. It melts the heart of the hardest criminal, heals the broken, raises dead hopes. Love never fails to change things. It turns the heads of everyone in the room and gets the attention of the Father. Love lights up the darkest room and leaves it’s glow forever. Touching a life with love, that’s what we need to wear this holiday season. Can you imagine how much different things would be in our world if we would simply dress differently.

2 Samuel 25-29 “Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said.  So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You.  For You, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You. And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.  Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

I love how David just talks to the Lord like God is his friend. Oh yeah, he is. Please don’t think I’m trying to minimize God or his position on the throne, I’m simply stating that God is looking for friendship with us, fellowship, exchange of dialog. This all began when David wanted to build a house for the Lord and it pleased God. After David was told that it wasn’t his place to build it but that honor would be passed on to his son, David went and talked with the Lord to thank and worship him. What a beautiful relationship they had.

As I reflected on this generational blessing, I thought of my maternal grandparents, Charles and Ruth Smith. They were responsible for starting two churches in the Lansing area, committed to serving the Lord in any capacity they could. I have fond memories of Grandma sitting in her favorite chair with her giant bible in her lap as she would teach us about Revelation and Jesus’ soon return. When I returned from Haiti as a young adult, I was honored to live with them and invited to join them each night as they sat on the bedside and quoted a Psalm. How they loved the Lord. Out of their line came 4 daughters who formed a quartet, each one married and had a family, teaching them to love the Word and worship. Only two sisters remain and have an intimate love of the Word and the Lord. 

I am one generation removed and that love of God and the Word has infected me as well. Generationally positioned just as Davids family through the ages, the mark of God on a family is amazing.  I watch the next generation rise up and leave a mark on the world and I’m in awe. Stacy and Shannon are destined to do far greater things than I could ever hope for and their children after them will rise up and also accomplish greater things. 

Perhaps you didn’t have grandparents like I did. Maybe you’re the first in your family to know God, to trust God, to have faith in Him and fall in love with his Word. Perhaps it will be you to begin a new lineage, to rise up and proclaim Gods favor over your home and family. Even if you don’t have family or have hopes of having children yourself, you can mark the lives of those around you by loving God with your whole heart, soul and mind. You have the ability to infect others with the passionate light you carry on the inside of you. Don’t hide your light. Burn bright and affect the darkness.

Psalm 34:17-19 GW “Righteous people cry out. The Lord hears and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to those whose hearts are humble. He saves those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person has many troubles, but the Lord rescues him from all of them.”

We were never promised a life free of trouble but we were promised a deliverer. It’s so clear in this verse that we are to cry out, that God expects us to.  He didn’t say whine and complain and I’ll hear you, grumble and I’ll listen. No he said to cry out. HELP LORD! Don’t try to fix it yourself; cry out. Don’t sit and worry, fretting over this and that; cry out! Then what? He hears and rescues us from ALL our troubles. What a great promise of rescue.

Somehow when the door was opened the other night, a very large lizard got in and crawled onto the ceiling. I cried out to Walt for help and he grabbed the fly swatter. Yuck! Even when I cry out at home about something as small as a lizard, my Wallyman hears me and comes to my rescue. He’s had to do that a lot lately. I know they’re helpful in keeping bugs down, but they don’t belong in my house with me. 

God cares about the little things and the big things. He cares when you have a bill past due and no way to pay it. He cares when you sit alone in a doctors office waiting for the report on your MRI. He’s always near, always listening, ready to deliver if we’ll just place our trust in him. He who made the earth, set the stars in place, set boundaries for the oceans and filled them with every creature. He who created us, every intricate detail of us and promised us long life. Is not his Word far greater than any other word on the face of the earth? Will he not keep his promise and rescue us? 

Psalm 42:5 ESV says: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation.”  Even David talked to himself, reminding himself of the promises of God. How many times did God come through for him? How many times did God deliver David, yet he still had to remind himself to praise the God of his salvation. We can’t be encouraging to those around us when we’re focused on ourselves. Trust in God! Thank him for his faithfulness, his provision, get joyful. Clap your hands, dance the dance of freedom for we have been redeemed from the curse and the God of angel armies watches over us.

Matthew 17:27 GW “ However, so that we don’t create a scandal, go to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that you catch. Open its mouth, and you will find a coin. Give that coin to them for you and me.”

I love that the church is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings because it gives me time to just be in the presence of the Lord, loving on him and worshipping him before I go to work. Yesterday morning was an especially great time because I had some hard stuff going on and I just left it at his feet and began to worship. Something happens when you praise him in heavy times. When you feel forsaken, broken, bruised and weary, I believe that the minute you open your mouth to worship, you get the attention of the Father. Instantly I found myself in an audience of one; me and him, he took everything I had in me and replaced it with a light. Not just any light, HIS light. That half hour was just what God had ordered for me, wish it could have last all day.

At lunch time, I went for a walk and began to declare the promises of God over our finances. Remembering when Jesus provided the gold in the mouth of a fish to pay taxes, I placed a demand on the covenant promise of his provision. When I got home, there was a check in the mail that covered all of what I’d asked for. So I will again praise and bless his mighty holy Name. He will never forsake the righteous, when they cry for help, he hears them. Nothing is too difficult for him.

You may be in a similar situation, waiting for your promise to manifest. There is power in the spoken Word, find your promise and declare it but most of all, put your faith in God. He created all things and all things were created by him and for him. Praise him for what he has done, for what he is doing. He’s not limited to our resources, his are vast and of unlimited supply. Keep praising! Keep worshipping! Turn your face from the problem to the Lord, he is well able and willing but you must not doubt. He doesn’t need your help, he just needs you to speak as He spoke, than trust that the unseen words you’re speaking in faith will become the substance that you’re hoping for.