We live with a church family where many of the members have come out of an Anabaptist background. (Amish, Mennonite, Hutterite) In their former environs they were carefully indoctrinated to believe the community was the only way to Heaven – belong, obey or be lost!! All read their Bibles for themselves, saw the truth and moved on, as difficult as that was. When difficulties arose they would say “I don’t have enough of faith” as if that was sufficient. Years of teaching have overcome that misconception.

With the mustard seed parable Jesus points out that it is not how much faith one has – it is whom it is in ! The One with no limitations will provide all we need in His time and His way, if we but abide in Him.

Exercising that faith by our obedience to Him and the leading of The Holy Spirit overcomes the human desire to be in control. Listen carefully after praying – seek sound Christian council and be confident in your actions. Time will prove you right in retrospect – then remember the lessons.

I’m not sure I have ever been so carried away – you know, saying ‘He has given His angels charge over me’ and then driving without my seatbelt on. I agree that faith should be upon God’s Word.

By the way, this is the basis of my walk with God.
1. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Meaning I need faith.
2. So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of GOd. So, I seek to hear the Word, so that I might have faith in order to please God.
3. Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only. So, I must do/obey the word of God that I hear and I must continue to hear the word if I want faith without which I cannot please God. That pretty much locks everything in for me.

I also believe that we are given free will to do whatever job we choose but to it in a manner that reflects our beliefs. When one reads His word and gets to know Him I believe that opens up the reality of who we really are and allows us freedom to not be held down but to sore. The things we pray for then are usually in line with His will because we are part of Him. The more time you spend with anyone you grow to emulate that person and hopefully we will emulate the love and acceptance of the Lord in all that we do toward people not stuff.

When dealing with specifics I think it is often hard to try to know the mind of God. When I pray and I think that I am asking according to His will, and then He says “no” to my request…or “not yet”…I have to go back to His character and remember that when I can’t understand His ways, I can trust His heart.

The best way though is to make sure that our daily walk with God is progressing…are we growing closer and closer to Him? It is like being married, after years of talking with and being with someone…you begin to know many things about them…sometimes even knowing what they might think about a problem or issue…That is the way it is with God. As we grow nearer and our relationship dearer…we know more and more how He would think about something. We are becoming one mind and heart…as we put on the mind of Christ…day by day.

At least that is what I believe…..

How can we be sure that we are putting our trust in what God wants rather than in something that catches our eye in a fleamarket approach to faith?

I feel like i am cheating … but the answer ( and the truth ) is found in the WORD of God …. ( Psalms 119:160, and John 17:17 ).

God will never want something that is contrary to His Spirit — : But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ( Galatians 5: 22 ) – if it’s not based in the Spirit of Christ it is wrong.

And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. I John 3: 19 – 24

God will never want something that is contrary to His Spirit — : But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ( Galatians 5: 22 ) – if it’s not based in the Spirit of Christ it is wrong.

Father, We give You praise, and we give You thanks for your WORD !!!!!

I just finished reading the Philip Yancey book Prayer last week, and one of the main points I took from the book is how we are to live, and view, this life from God’s vantage point and not from our level. It is not about us! It is about accomplishing His purpose.

For example, I spent the last three months trying to find a good school to attend, for my MBA. I narrowed it down to five places, but was still confused as to which one in particular I should pursue. I took my situation to God through prayer, and in a short time I had my answer. No, I didn’t receive some revelation. No, there wasn’t a beaming light coming down from above. Yes, the obedience of bringing my struggle to God allowed for me to see why I was confused, and gave me the answers to my concerns on the contrary. And no, it is not a Christian school but a state university that gives me more time (Online program) to be the kind of husband and dad that I have been entrused to be; a priority that is more important than academics.