As we come to the end of this series, let us use one of the greatest tools we have in understanding who we are and who we desire to be: reflection. The beginning of our story has come to pass, and the end of our story has yet to be, so let us reflect upon the place where we now stand: smack dab in the middle of a most brilliant tale.

And let us admit that the journey of faith is not a task easily endured for the journey often requires more of us than we are sometimes willing to give. But the journey itself- the ups and downs and in-betweens- are worth every moment of frustration, heartache, and growing pain. And let us put aside all the things we don’t know and reflect upon all that we do know:

Our journey has a starting point. It begins by recognizing we have a living problem. Sin is the root; forgiveness is free. But there exists One we can trust to save us. There exists One who came to love us. And His love is not a list of rules but protection from harm and heartache. His name is Jesus.

We can experience this love through unmerited and undeserved favour upon our life. Obedience is freedom. Our faith in Him that which carries us through the trials and triumphs of life. It is an epic story… one we are invited to be a part of with our name penned upon the pages.

The salvation of God’s people, and the greatest story ever told, began with a Saviour named Jesus. And when the world has faded away and all that we know has come to pass, it will end with a Saviour names Jesus. He is the beginning and the end. The Alpha and Omega. And He greatly desires to write our story in order to fulfill the greatest of plans and purposes for our life.

He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.
Colossians 1:18-20, (The Message)

So, no, this isn’t the end but only the beginning. Let us keep talking. Let us keep walking. Let us keep asking the questions we may never find the answers to. And above all else, let us share our stories with the world that’s hungry to hear them.

Father, thank you for all you have done. Thank you for all you are doing. From beginning to end you are there never to leave nor forsake us. Day by day, moment by moment, keep writing my story for your glory and not my own. In Jesus name, amen.

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The journey of faith we embark upon begins with an invitation to go on an adventure with Jesus. He challenges us to let go of all that which is holding us back so that we may experience the abundant life. But how far we get on this journey depends on how hard we are willing to peddle the bike.

There will be situations and circumstances of life that will make us feel like we are peddling water not pavement. Interruptions in life that may force us to the rails may happen. And there will be seasons when we won’t feel like we have made it very far. But what matters is the ability to find contentment in the peddling, pushing ourselves harder when we need to, and seeking rest in Him when we require it.

Holy Scripture is our lifeline that gives us hope. God’s Word promises that there exists a future and specific blueprint for our life that is unique to each and every one of us. And His promise is that He will never leave us nor forsake us on the journey. But in order for us to gain any understanding or comprehension of our future, we must be willing to put forth the effort that Jesus requires of us. And He requires us to seek Him offering up our praise and worship to heaven before anything else.

Here in this great gathering for worship I have discovered this praise-life. And I’ll do what I promised right here in front of the God-worshipers. Down-and-outers sit at God’s table and eat their fill. Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him. “Live it up, from head to toe. Don’t ever quit!”
Psalm 22:25-26, (The Message)

If we desire to know Him more, we must seek Him more. If we long for wisdom, we must ask for wisdom. If we are in need of knowledge, we must educate ourselves to gain knowledge. The world is quick to tell us that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. But the gift of our salvation found in relationship with Jesus is free… but how full we feel walking away from the table of life is up to us.

Father, I desire to feast on your bounty knowing only you will satisfy. And though my feet may ache, and my load sometimes heavy to carry, I ask that you give me all that I need to keep peddling forward chasing after all you have for me. In Jesus name, amen.

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But his words aren’t trendy. And perhaps to some they are old fashioned. With a well-worn bible in his hand, he stands and shouts the Lord’s Decree for any and all to hear. Whether one agrees with his tactic or even agrees with his message, one can’t take away his witness at what Jesus has done in his life.

To testify. What a richly layered word. Its origin is from the Latin word testis which means to witness. And when we encounter the one true living God, we are called to testify- witness- to others how our lives have changed.

In truth, we are a people created to believe in action before words. God created us this very way, so, perhaps that is why He fulfilled the greatest of action by having His very own flesh strung on a cross. To show us, the people, that He is serious when He say’s that He loves us. He knew we would respond to action before we would respond to well meaning words.

Whichever way we choose to share our faith, we must do it with the presence of Jesus in action within our lives. The greatest invitation from Jesus may still be waiting for your RSVP. He desires to not just tell us of His power but show us of His power. And one of the greatest witnesses we have of Christ’s power is the Apostle Paul himself.

The Apostle Paul was originally known as Saul of Tarsus. Paul took advantage of his status as both a Jew and a Roman citizen to minister to both Jewish and Roman audiences. But before Paul’s conversion, he was passionate about the persecution and slaughter of the early converts to Christianity. It was while he was travelling to Damascus that he encountered the resurrected Jesus who caused him to go blind for three days time. His sight was restored when Jesus sent Ananias of Damascus to heal Paul by laying his hands upon him causing the scales of dead tissue fell off his eyes. Ananias was sent to not only heal Paul but give him instruction in the way of the Lord. Paul would become one of the greatest leaders of the Christian faith who wrote most of the New Testament in the Bible.

Paul’s encounter with Jesus upon the dusty trail from Jerusalem to Damascus was his greatest starting point and epicenter of of his faith. And the witness he became for the Kingdom of God would not only change his life but the lives of millions of souls over centuries of time. One of the greatest lessons we can learn from Paul’s testimony is the truth that one person can change the course of the world by being a willing witness to the power of Christ.

Father, whatever the moment, whatever the cause, use me as a willing vessel to testify to the world by my actions that you have changed my life. In Jesus name, amen.

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I was there to help, lending a hand in the transformation. Stacks upon stacks of papers were in desperate need of sorting. Miscellaneous piles were in desperate need of homes. Either in this one or somebody else’s home. Stuff was scattered every which way that left a soul feeling as cluttered as the rooms.

I assured my friend that it would look worse before it looked better. In a matter of hours the walls of her home office were bathed in white. With the clutter gone, one could breathe again. And I also assured my friend that all her effort was not a waste of time. Piece by piece, moment by moment, the transformation would unfold itself.

Time wasting. The beloved best friend to every procrastinator. I have been there. I have served this friend well. The art of procrastination is one that is perfected over time. Oh, the irony. When we struggle to see the end result, or feel that what we desire to see looms too far off in the distance, time wasting slips in to fill the void. We often welcome it like the respite it was never intended to be.

But the process of transformation that begins when we embark upon a faith journey with Jesus is anything but a waste of time. Jesus isn’t a time waster. There simply isn’t time to waste.

We can’t claim that we’ll “get to that faith thing” tomorrow for tomorrow is never promised. And we can’t procrastinate in our spiritual journey for Jesus said we must be ready for Him when He comes to claim His congregation.

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Matthew 24:42-44

We must stand firm knowing that the journey is a process. Let us not waste time worrying over yesterday or fretting over tomorrow. Let us not waste time by waiting for the “perfect” starting point. There exists no such thing. Right now is the perfect time.

Know that we enter into a journey with Jesus at our own risk. It will change everything. Know that we’ll be pulled and dragged from one emotion to another. Piles of mental debris will litter our soul. Know that there may be moments when we scream out to Jesus questioning why we feel like we’ve imploded upon ourselves.

But let us be assured that there will come the moment when we can breathe again. Bathed in white we will breathe again. Because when Jesus is at work, He wastes no time in doing so.

Father, when the desire to waste time calls to me, help me to see the big picture and goal at the end of this race called life. Procrastinating never got me anywhere. This journey of faith is a day-by-day kind of race. And I’m in it to win. In Jesus name, amen.

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In the evening when the sun has died down below the glass structured buildings, soft warm light from dangling exposed vintage bulbs illuminates the small alleyways. Various genres of music can be heard vibrating off the brick walls. People of all walks of life can be found floating from one place to another enjoying the scents and sounds.

The epicenter. The heartbeat in the downtown core of such a beautiful and vibrant city. But in truth, the word epicenter is often misused in today’s language. The word derives from the New Latin noun epicentrum, and the latinisation of the ancient Greek adjective epikentros which is, “occupying a cardinal point, situated on a centre”. But the word epicenter is actually a term of seismology that refers to understanding the damage caused by earthquakes. And in the science of seismology, the epicenter is the point on the Earth’s surface directly above the point where the fault begins to rupture, and in most cases, it is the area of greatest damage.

We have learned that our faith has a starting point. We have questioned what it would be like to start over again and begin anew this thing called faith as an adult. We have searched for our bullseye on the blueprint of life seeking where we should take our next step for all we can do is take one step at a time. But if we are going to consider Christianity as an adult, the only question we must consider is who Jesus is at the epicenter of our faith.

The apostles and leaders called a special meeting to consider the matter. The arguments went on and on, back and forth, getting more and more heated. Then Peter took the floor: “Friends, you well know that from early on God made it quite plain that he wanted the pagans to hear the Message of this good news and embrace it—and not in any secondhand or roundabout way, but firsthand, straight from my mouth. And God, who can’t be fooled by any pretense on our part but always knows a person’s thoughts, gave them the Holy Spirit exactly as he gave him to us. He treated the outsiders exactly as he treated us, beginning at the very centre of who they were and working from that centre outward, cleaning up their lives as they trusted and believed him.
Acts 15:6-9 (The Message)

Jesus is the point of the greatest damage in our journey of life. Hear me out: when we submit unto Him and who He is, He tears down false gods, shreds apart faulty thinking, and shatters the chains of sin that hold us down. He destroys and causes the greatest damage to that which the enemy built within us.

It is the catastrophic centre of the emotional storm that births the change from who we were were to who He desires us to be. The epicenter is where the spiritual warfare on our soul exploded in the fiercest moment of the battle. And that moment- that focal point in our journey of faith- is the greatest starting point of them all.

Father, as I seek you and all you have for my life, tear down and destroy all that they enemy has built that keeps me from experiencing your very best. In Jesus name, amen.

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But this time it was not the drivers seat I was sitting in but the passengers side. With the back reclined just enough for my legs to stretch forward, I nestled myself in with a neck pillow and an agenda to do nothing but watch the scenic hills of Kentucky pass me by.

The sky radiated in a brilliant shade of blue behind bright greens of all shades that littered the landscape. In my pollinated daze I took notice of the faint script etched upon the car side mirror: Objects in mirror are closer than they appear. And it occurred to me in the moment that a few times a day, several times a week, and perhaps even thousands of times a year, I have seen those words yet failed to notice them. The subtle reminder is truly a most brilliant truth.

I did not notice the warning until I was out of the drivers seat relinquishing control of the car to one who had greater wisdom in navigating the road ahead. When I stopped focusing on the road and began to enjoy the journey, I was able to let my guard down and simply trust.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us
Hebrews 12:1

This is exactly why we are continuously encouraged in the Bible to never give up in our faith. In the book of Hebrews it is described as running a race- pressing forward in perseverance so that we will finish well in every situation and circumstance we encounter. Because the truth is that in this life, in this dying and messed up world, we will always be faced with some sort of battle. And that which we must face will be closer than we may expect it to be at any given moment, at any given time.

But let us remember that the Saviour we so desperately need is as well. Jesus is always closer than He may appear to be at any given moment, within any given situation or circumstance that threatens to pull us down. It is by our faith that we can get out of the drivers seat relinquishing control of the journey so we may enjoy the ride.

Father, I won’t stop. Help me to persevere forward to run the race you have marked for me. As I move forward in this journey of faith, may I always remember to put you in the drivers seat so that I may enjoy the journey every step of the way. In Jesus name, amen.

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Every night before my children close their eyes and drift off into dreamland, we lift simple, childlike prayers before heaven. My youngest daughter had lost her eye glasses and her father and I spent days searching for the elusive pair of spectacles. No where to be found, the entire situation was frustrating for the cost of replacing that particular pair would have been painful on the pocketbook.

I suggested my daughter ask Jesus to help her find them. And so she did. A simple request rolled off of her lips as she giggled peering at me through the slits of her half closed eyes.

As quickly as she prayed a thought popped into my head to look in the toy bins that stood at the end of her bed. Sure enough, there they were tucked into the corner of a bin. Not only was it a teachable moment for my children, but it was a teachable moment Jesus had reserved for my children. For just that morning my husband searched those very toy bins scouring the mishmash of bits and pieces eager to find the valuable glasses. But in the end it was apparent that Jesus had placed greater value upon the life lesson of simple faith instead.

Following Jesus requires faith. Great faith. But great faith isn’t scary faith or even overwhelming faith. Faith in Jesus is simple. It is the mind and emotions of a human soul riddled with sin that muddles it into a complex notion. The starting point of simple faith is trust: believing that Jesus really is the way, the truth, and the only way to everlasting life. When I had given my life to Jesus, true faith began to settle in my heart when I chose to believe that Jesus was who He said He was. I had heard story after story from countless souls who had experienced the power of Jesus firsthand in their life. It was the stories of simple faith fleshing itself out that had the deepest impact on my own faith journey.

But you don’t have to take my word for it. Take the Lord’s Word instead.

He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned: that there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.
1 Timothy 2:4-7 (The Message)

Father, you prove yourself in the smallest of details caring about even the smallest of things. Help me to trust you with the big things knowing that my faith in who you are will always get me to where I need to go. In Jesus name, amen.

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Knowing that these friends of mine are on a different journey than my own, I am gentle in the way I share my faith always praying that my actions will speak louder than my words ever will. It seems that life continually throws curve balls causing decisions to be made and new starting points to begin. Knowing that my husband and I are in the middle of some transitions in our life, they asked hard and raw questions curious to the pros and cons regarding a situation in our life.

I openly embraced their realness valuing the opinions each brought to the table. But in the end the only answer I had that was honest and true was the fact that hard decisions and life changes are exactly why we rely upon the faith we hold so tightly to our chest.

Faith begins when we recognize that there exists something- or someone- bigger than ourselves. Knowing that we are but a tiny speck in a vast and grand universe reveals the truth that the world- and everything in it- is as complex as we are. And faith itself seems complex… but it needn’t be.

Faith is what labours so hope may be born.

Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.
Hebrews 11:1

The book of Hebrews is an incredible account of those who stepped out in great faith to accomplish much for God’s kingdom. Every story a riveting tale of individuals who are considered heroes in the faith. And the one thing they all have in common is the fact that each and every soul had to step up, step out, and trust that God was bigger than they were.

There is great freedom in knowing that we do not have all the answers. The world and everything in it continues to move forward at a rapid clip regardless if you or I breathe another breath. But in our humanity we desire to be sure of what we cannot see worrying overmuch about the things we cannot control.

What we can control is our ability to press into something bigger that ourselves. Over time, faith strengthens us on the inside as we labour for what will come. Faith takes time to mature and deepen through life experiences and the fulfillment of hope. And when Christ’s strength grows within us it becomes an anchor that holds us firm, unwavering when life attempts to toss us to and fro.

Father, as I press into the faith that I have in your plans and purposes, press into me filling my soul with your presence. There is much that I am unsure of, and much that I struggle to control, but I know that your perfection is greater than my plans. In Jesus name, amen.

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While my head was down I caught out of the corner of my eye the rustling of a long black robe called a cassock sweeping past me. When I lifted my eyes I was greeted by a large group of men in animated conversation with one another. Each man was dressed in different variations of black and white clerical clothing yet all had the same white collar wrapped around their neck. It was gathering of priests gathered for lunch on a warm afternoon. There was laughter and camaraderie among them as they appeared to enjoy each others company.

The seeds of faith once planted into their hearts had grown into crisp white collars that graced their necks. And those collars were now a symbol to the world of the faith hidden within their hearts. Submitted unto Christ, their lives are devoted to His work and kingdom- not their own. And here they were laughing over hamburgers and salty french fries like old friends.

I imagine each one of those men had a specific yet similar starting point in their personal journey that led them to the covenant with Christ they have at this point in life. Perhaps some have a past more colourful than others, or the call to lead of life of service came from the prayers of a little boy’s bended knees. But no matter the situations or circumstances that led them there, they all chose to wear their faith in a way that the world would see whom the serve.

[…] Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.
1 Peter 1:6-7

There comes a point when we must look upon ourselves through the lens of the world so that we may be aware of our reflection. Do I reflect the character of Christ? Would one who is unknowing of my faith be able to see upon first encounter? Though I may not wear a while collar, do I wear my heart on my sleeve?

There are many questions that we wrestle with when trying to understand where faith plays a role in our life. When we continue to press into Jesus, we desire to see the evidence of His victory. But faith is not a role in our life but a part of our very being. Our faith is built upon a solid foundation that cannot be shaken by mockers and gawkers alike. And rest assured, when the seeds to faith begin to sprout and grow, the beauty of the miracle becomes evident to those who stop to notice.

Father, help me to wear my faith like a badge of honour giving all the praise and glory unto your name and not my own. May others see my faith as a part of my very being, a child submitted unto a King. In Jesus name, amen.

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I began to notice a pattern within the walls of rock themselves. Low and behold there was water trickling down from seemingly nowhere in the rocks. Patterns of wet lines streaked the sides of the rocks and everything from green shoots to full grown trees were growing out of the rocks themselves. It was a wonder to behold.

I was reminded of a scripture found in the Gospel of Matthew:

Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
Matthew 7:24

Christ is the foundation- the solid rock- of our faith. He is all we can build our lives upon that will not be destroyed nor wash away when the storms of life begin to beat upon us.

But what I saw within the rock spoke another truth so deep to my soul. Though the rock of the mountain was solid, there existed water within it. And seeds that had somehow made their way into the crevices of the rocks were slowly sprouting into gigantic trees. Trees literally growing out of rocks. It appeared to be a miracle of sorts that I am sure many have missed during their travels along this beaten path.

But this exactly what faith does. Faith can take what appears to be impossible and not only make it possible, but create something that is living and breathing out of nothing. Faith comes to us as seeds planted within our foundation that is Christ. By His living water- the Word of God- the seeds slowly sprout revealing themselves to the world. And over time, those seeds have the potential to manifest themselves into gigantic feats for the kingdom of God.

Christ desires to show us His power by sprouting the seeds of our faith into something miraculous. All we need to do is allow the seeds to be planted watering them with His Word and promises and await His timing by being patient for the seeds to grow.

Father, plant seeds within my soul that will one day bring glory and power to your name. Make seemingly nothing grow into something so that they world will witness the miracles that you bring. In Jesus name, amen.

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