Faith in Action

One of my favorite verses is found in Jeremiah 29:11:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (ESV)

But let us continue to read the next two verses (v.v. 12-13):

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me where you seek me with all of your heart. (ESV)

When we look at these verses, first it says God knows the plan he has for us and it is to give us a future and a hope.  But then it says we will call upon God, come to God, and pray to God.  Then God will hear us.  We will seek God and find him when we seek him with ALL of our heart. This requires action – our faith in action.  Believing and trusting in God’s plan – sometimes before we understand it or know what it really means.  Changes come our way that we do not understand or know how to deal with, but God knows the future.  I am so thankful that all our tomorrows are in his hands. I love this quote:

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sometimes, we don’t see God’s whole plan.  We don’t see where the next step takes us, but faith says to take it.  Sometimes the stairs appear too steep and we can’t see the top (or bottom) but we just have to move forward. 

One of my favorite old gospel songs that I keep going back to in my mind is “One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus”.  The lyrics are:

I'm only human, I'm just a woman
Help me believe in what I could be and all that I am
Show me the stairway I have to climb
Lord, for my sake teach me to take one day at a time

One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from You
Just give me the strength to do every day
What I have to do

Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord, help me today, show me the way
One day at a time

Do you remember when You walked among men?
Well Jesus, You know, if You're looking below, it's worse now than then
Cheating an stealing, violence and crime
So for my sake, teach me to take one day at a time

One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from You
Just give me the strength to do every day
What I have to do
Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord, help me today, show me the way
One day at a time

Maybe, it is even one step at a time as we move forward in God’s plan.  Faith – trust and believe – that God’s plan is best.  Take the step even when we can’t see the whole staircase.

Set Sail

A ship in port is safe,
but that’s not what ships are built for.
Sail out to sea and do new things.
– Grace Hopper

 So we must take the first step to reach our dreams…to find our purpose and then dream again and again.  Even though the winds may toss our ship and our direction may change over time, we keep going.  Even though we may fall out of the boat at times, we must get back on and adjust our sails to move forward.  Sometimes the storms of life may be hard but with God’s grace we can get through them and keep sailing.  There’s sunshine in the day and stars at night to light the way – even hiding behind the clouds.  God’s presence is all around us and with us.  If he is our guide, our destination is secure.

Come with me on this voyage and think about the waters of your life and how you face each day.  Ponder how to adjust the sails so that the winds move us forward…

And move forward, we must.  We must challenge ourselves and take first steps that lead us on our journey.  Today, it is a new journey – a new adventure – a new sharing of thoughts, ideas, and words of encouragement.  Please come with me…

 “Don’t wait for your ship to come in; swim out to it.” – Unknown