This morning’s sermon at the Vineyard was really awesome. I’m so thankful the Lord planted me in this wonderful body of believers where we are encouraged to join with God in His work on earth. Anyway, the message this morning was on the difference between belief and faith. By the time the service was over, I was feeling supercharged. Here are a few of the notes I jotted down:
- The word "faith" is only used 15 times in the Old Testament (NIV) and most of those are in reference to "breaking faith." The word is used over 150 times in the New Testament, and these are mostly related to Jesus.
- Faith goes beyond belief. Everyone has a belief system, even atheists. They believe there is no God but it is a belief system. In the dictionary, faith is defined this way: "(1) Complete trust or confidence in someone or something; (2) Strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof; • a system of religious belief; • a strongly held belief or theory."
- The church isn’t fragmented on matters of faith but on matters of belief.
- Faith is cultivated in crisis. When we let go, Christ picks up.
- There are many mysteries in the Bible. If you don’t have mystery, you don’t need faith.
- Faith gives us the confidence to respond to God’s call to service, the call to adventure.
- We must be deliberate in living beyond our comfort zones.
I’m going to be pondering this sermon quite a bit in the days to come.
Last week was a busy one. Wednesday, the inspector and the appraiser came to the house. During the three hours they were here, I ran errands. Thursday I reserved the day for the movers to come (household movers and the piano movers). Friday Shred It came to my home and destroyed 18 boxes of old files and checks and other records. That was also the day my new home was being inspected. I took my mom over with me to see the house for the first time, but let me fall back a ways before I tell you about that.
About a month or so ago, I took Mom to see a patio home. I took her to the closest one to where we live now. It was a couple hundred square feet smaller than the one I am buying. As soon as we were in it, I saw that we wouldn’t be buying that one. The layout would have been very inconvenient for Mom getting to and from the bathroom, plus the bedroom was smaller than the one she has now. What I haven’t known is that she got it in her head that she would have to be content with a very small bedroom. She’s been promising God that she wouldn’t complain and being very brave.
Now back to last Friday: When we walked into our new home and she saw her bedroom (bigger than what she has now) with it’s big window and window seat and the built in bookcase, she was almost giddy with joy. She loves the whole house and walked through it twice. The only problem we have is that there is no place for her swing on the patio because it would back up to the great room window and obscure the view. I’ve got to find her a gliding patio chair but so far haven’t seen one at RC Willey or Lowes.
After we left the house, we stopped at the furniture store so she could see the items I’ve picked out. They had wheelchairs just inside the store, so I was able to push her all over that big building. We had fun, and she found a petite recliner (electronic) that fits her better than the one she has now so she is going to buy it.
Yesterday, I was back to sorting, tossing, and boxing. Have done more of the same since getting home from church. I imagine that will be the pattern for the next couple of weeks. It’s just a bit more than that until the movers come. Wow! I have a feeling those two weeks will rush past. If you’re in the mind to pray, please pray that I’ll stay healthy and have lots of physical strength throughout the move. I’d appreciate it.
-rlh-
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