November 19, 2019

Happy Tuesday. 

Well...yesterday was quite a day for me. My mother-in-law who was 96 went to sleep the night before and woke up with Jesus. It was exactly how this remarkable woman wanted it. She didn’t even consider it would ever happen any other way—she had tremendous faith in that. 

And...I've been thinking about doing something for a couple of years but I just wasn’t quite brave enough. But yesterday just felt like the day I needed something joyful...so I jumped out in faith and did it. I bought a puppy. He’s a little Shichon Teddy Bear. Yes, he’s nothing short of adorable but what a giant leap of faith it was for me. 

“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. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible...And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him...All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth…Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1-3, 6, 13, 16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Now when the author of Hebrews was writing to us of faith he certainly wasn’t talking about bringing home a puppy. But he was talking about having confidence and assurance in what we say we believe to the point we act on it. Even to the point that when we don’t receive the promises here, it doesn’t matter—we still believe. 

I’ve heard faith described as living the future in the present. It is God’s word that makes the future as real as the right now. Promises and rewards belong to the future and that future may not include our time on this earth. Obedience, sacrifice, endurance, conviction, certainty, assurance, hope and joy, however, do belong to the here and now.i think that’s why God most often describes himself as the God who is. 

We we read this chapter, we are reminded of the faithful ones so we can be encouraged. Abel’s better sacrifice revealed his devotion. Enoch pleased God. Noah heeded God’s word with holy fear and obedience. Abraham was the father of the faithful. Even Sarah was considered faithful though she wavered at one time. 

So many times we say “I don’t want to be a weirdo” but right here we are told if we want to please God, we need to live as aliens (weirdos) in this world. I think that’s the hard pill to swallow in this chapter that we all love to read over and over, don’t you? 

But you know, if we keep going and plow on, and “fix our eyes constantly on our heavenly destination” it’s a whole lot easier. And when we think of that place where we are headed and those who await us there, only through faith can we know it is for real and that it is truly a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 

Father God, we pray we would imitate Paul who ‘kept the faith till the end’. Help us to learn from Abraham’s greatest test. And although we know that you have prepared heaven for us and it is real and your promises are real, we know also that trials and testings are real and they will surely come our way. We pray Lord that you would strengthen us and sustain us through the fire and through the floods we will face. Help us to count it all joy for you are a good, good Father even when circumstances are bad. We praise you and love you Lord. Spirit guide us and surround us. Thank you for Mildred’s life and all those she touched and influenced. What a remarkable woman she was. Thank you for how she loved me. Amen and amen. 

Love you dear one,

Pam