Daily
I Timothy 4:9-10 (NIV)
9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10 (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
Good morning!
Our house was so quiet last night, the lack of noise was deafening! Joshua, Emily and Andrew went home to be with their parents. Vacations are wonderful experiences; and yet, there is just no place like home. Isn’t it wonderful to be able to crawl into the comfort of your own bed after having been away for awhile? We kept the grandkids very busy while their parents took a little break and did some world traveling. I’m not certain who kept whom busier, but we were definitely busy together! It was an action-packed experience for all of us.
Our lives are filled with action-packed experiences. We choose how we will maneuver through our days. Last night, I stopped by the store to pick up a Secret Santa gift, and noticed a pretty young lady skating down the aisle in a pair of tennis shoes with wheels! Those shoes look like a lot of fun, and I wished I had them when I was younger. My balance was better then. It’s probably a good thing I don’t own a pair today. I’d be crashing into the aisle racks and knocking down Christmas displays for sure! That sweet little girl seemed happy, as she moved through the store aisles at quite a clip. When I shop, I have to think about what I’m actually purchasing. I stop to read the labels, price tags, and compare the cost. My husband hates shopping with me because I take the long way around the store. I look at everything, sometimes twice. We have a lot of fly-buy shoppers in our world. People who really are just flying through their lives, simply getting by the best way they know how. I believe there are moments when we have to slow down and pay closer attention to what we are doing. When we speed skate through our days without making time to enjoy precious moments of grace, we miss out on many of the “blue light” specials – some of the best deals in life are acquired when we purposefully choose to slow down.
The Apostle Paul understood that living faith is a verb! For faith to be living and active inside of us, it takes action on our part, but that action may not have as much to do with the fast-paced schedules we keep. We must labor to encourage others to daily place their faith in Jesus Christ, the hope of the world. It is especially important to encourage acts of faith with the body of believers. We’ve been given a very special gift – it is the gift of faith, and the Lord expects us to use the gift we’ve been given to the fullest.
I believe living faith is borne in the slower moments of our days. It is a time to return home to the One who is our gift-giver. Did you take time this morning to stop and thank God for all that He has done in your life? Did you spend a few holy moments reading and meditating upon His Word, praying for guidance, and asking for His Spirit to guide you throughout the day? I pray that you will slow down just a enough to experience a renewing of your faith today. It is a busy of time of year. We are preparing for something big – a celebration that is just around the corner. May you find the gift of faith in the simple, quiet moments of your day. If there are no quiet moments to be had, maybe the slow down plan will help. A lack of noise can become sweet music to your ears. Steal away, and crawl under the comforter of God’s grace. He is waiting to renew your faith, so that you can be a faith-filled witness for others.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
Faith UMC -
Pray for: faith! Pray for holy moments where your faith is rekindled, even in the business and busyness of our days. He gives us His gift of faith when we believe and trust Him completely. Slow down, and don’t miss out on His gift, given especially for you.
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© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
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