Pondering my faith low these many weeks during my travels, this came to me as advice to a dear friend who is struggling with her faith. With two small additions since sending it to her, I thought it could apply to me, to you, to all of us, and so I share it with you:
B:
Merry Christmas to you! And a very happy new year! There will be challenges for sure, but you will rise above them and you will prosper!
Think of the great journey that lies ahead as one that leads to all good things. Continue to embrace your faith and faith will embrace you. When you cannot not carry it, you will find that it carries you. At first, you will be a student, and then, you will be a teacher. At first, you will teach, and one day you will become a master in the pattern of the Master.
Let go of the endeavors that are not working. In so doing, you will make room for the wondrous miracles to come. In the broadest sense, this is the leap of faith. Before you can refine the gold, you must first dig it out of the earth—nugget by nugget— and the rock that surrounds it. An arduous job for sure, but one you must undertake. The fear you have known is not God’s gift. This is God’s gift:
Isaiah 9:6 (Kings James Version)
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Sandman
(Photo credit-top of page-Cross on wood: Images72/Shutterstock)
I am new to your blog and truly feel moved by what you have to say. Yes, we have had fear, but it was created for us by our government and media. God said there is only one true fear, and that we have to release all other fear except the fear (or reverence) of God. The problems with humanity in the world (especially this country) is that we have taken God out of everything that we do. We have broken up families, and given children no boundaries, as many boundaries aren’t politically correct. Without family and church, there aren’t learned boundaries and therefore create a lifestyle that becomes a challenge to find one’s true self, gauge satisfaction, accomplishment or even contentment.
The Bible defines killing, and murder. Our service people go off to do the bidding of this country, and kill, not murder. It changes their lives forever, however many tours they provide. As a daughter of a mother and father that both served in WWII, and two nephews in the military, only then can you truly understand the sacrifice that not only they, but their families provide to our country.
I try to find the beauty in each person and nature, as God asked us to do. To go out each day with thanks, happiness, and love in our hearts. To be bold, and not afraid to talk about God as a christian had always been available to us before, but times are changing…
Ralph Waldo Emerson said:
“…Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful,
We must carry it with us or we find it not…”
He must have taken that from quote from God…
Also, Goethe wrote:
“…Nothing should be more highly prized than the value of each day…”
That my, friends sums it up: If you live right with God, he will show His glory each and every day so that we can pass it on to those that need our encouragement.
Faith, Focus, Fortitude and Follow-Through… It truly is an easier way to find your goal and then to accomplish it.
God bless us and pray for the world…
Nancy