Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Is that sign Faith?

Ever want something so bad you pray and think about it and wish for it more than anything? Ever then received news that it was not for you.  Then did you go to check on it just to see and been told it may be for you after all? Well could it be that is a sign and it is Faith. I keep asking God for some things in my life and so far I have not gotten all of them. That is okay. I figure it is a sign that at this time the things I want are not for me. Then comes my impatience and wanting to know what is in store for me.
Are all of those signs Faith? Are they telling me I need to have Faith that my life will be even better than what it was? Although it is hard for me to accept it and believe it that is what they are telling me.  Right now I am trying to have Faith that God's plans in this time of my life are somewhat going to match mine.
Let me ask you...do you feel that sign is Faith? When you usually are the first one off from a red light and the one time you hesitate a car comes speeding through the light do you feel that is a sign? When you usually do a California roll and this time you don't and a pedestrian is walking is that a sign? It is a sign. It's a sign that you were meant to be okay and so was that person walking. It's a sign that an accident was not in store for you. It's a sign that you are supposed to keep living your life and maybe being last off of the light or not doing California rolls is how you are supposed to live it.
So if something in your life is going on...ask is that sign Faith? You may be surprised to see it is.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

What happened to Faith?

This may not seem like a Faith topic tonight but it is. It takes a completely different route today but it questions Faith in people and us.
What happened to our Faith as Americans? Was it September 11, 2001? Did we lose Faith because terrorists decided to hurt American lifestyles and cultures? Or did we lose Faith in the earlier years?  Did we lose Faith when darker skinned people were brought from Africa, Egypt, the Caribbeans and other places and were bought to America as slaves? Or even still did we lose Faith in the early 1990s when the Oklahoma City bomber decided to kill all of those innocent people?
What happened to us as Americans? What happened to the Faith we had that it would all be okay? What happened to the freedom and the acceptance of all? I thought this was a place where everyone was accepted. I thought America was a democracy and although you may be different you are still accepted.  Well, this is not always true. I grew up not being accepted. Why? Because of the color of my skin.  I learned to get through that and I lived and survived. Now, it is happening to others. I am a believer in equality and I have had lots of mistreatment and I have had inequality. I know the racism, the nonacceptance and how hard it can be to try to fit in.
Now, let me ask you again. What happened to our Faith as Americans? Was it when slavery was the most popular thing in the world? No...because people had Faith. The slaves had Faith they would be free one day. The slave owners had Faith they would not have to work in the fields.  Well, both sides had Faith. The slaves became free and the former slave owners had to pay people to work their fields.
Was it when the Oklahoma City bombing took place? No, because we as Americans had Faith it was an isolated incident. We had Faith the city would rebuild and although we would not forget we would forgive. The Oklahoma City bombing was one person. Slavery was many people. So what about September 11, 2001? We as Americans lost our freedoms due to a few people. We (Americans) keep trying to rebuild but people keep pushing us down.
Let me tell you something. I feel for everyone that lost a family member in September 11th. I may not have lost anywhere there that I know of but I have lost people in my life. With that said, have Faith everything will be okay. So Muslims want to build a mosque. If they are American who are we to tell them they can not practice religion here? Are we not a democracy? Are we not accepting of all? Are we not supposed to be the best country around?
WAKE UP! Where is your Faith? Does everyone really think that with the mosque being built these are people who will attack? They may have had family in one of the two towers. They may have had family in one of the planes. They are people too and they suffered just like we have. Let Muslims have their mosque in NYC near Ground Zero. They deserve to practice their religion just like we do.  Did you condone Hitler and trying to make the world an Aryan nation? Are you along with the skinheads who want to take out all that look different? Let me ask something else. Do you agree with the immigration law in Arizona?
If you said yes to any of these, you do not have Faith in people. You are placing blame in people that have nothing to do with what we are facing today. Racial profiling due to incidents that occurred because of stupid and ignorant people is just as stupid. Have Faith in people. We can let our past control the future in the worst way, or we can take a chance, learn from mistakes in the past and have Faith it will all work out. With Faith we will go forward. Without it, we will continue to go backwards as a society and see some of the worst times ahead.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Faith is God not Giving Up



Ever wonder where God is when you are going through some of your darkest and hardest hours? The perfect way to describe it is the poem by Mary Stevenson Footprints in the Sand.

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints. So I said to the Lord, "You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?" The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you." ~ Mary Stevenson

God didn't give up. Neither do we.  We keep our Faith in God. He continues to bring us through the hard and dark times. God knows when we can not walk ourselves and he carries us. God does not leave us to fight alone. He does not leave us to go through the bad without anyone. He is right there with us either side by side or supporting us. God does not give up. That is what our Faith gets us. Faith is God not giving up. If he keeps fighting then shouldn't we?

Friday, August 13, 2010

Faith Travels

Do you travel or are you constantly in the same place? Since your answer can not be you are always in the same place then you travel. Even if travelling is just within a 5 foot radius in your house, you are travelling. Do you like to explore and take adventure in your hands? Do you like to see the vast beauty that the Earth has to offer? Do you like to get in a car, plane, train or bus? If so, let me ask you…do you get to your destination by yourself? Maybe while in the car… but a few people made that car and then someone has to take care of the car at the shop.
Where did you first find Faith? Was it in a church or on the street? Was it in your home or in a movie theater? No. Faith travels like you and I do. Faith does not stay at the same place just like we do not stay at the same place. Faith is everywhere. Do you have Faith? If so, Faith travels with you. If not Faith travels with someone else, someone that actually has Faith. But, as mentioned before, Faith finds you too.
Faith travels all over. Faith is in a five foot radius. It is in the car, train, plane or bus with you. Faith is likes adventure and likes to explore. Faith likes to see the vast beauty that the Earth has to offer. Faith helps you get to your destination. Faith is where you first found it and all around you. Faith is everywhere. So yes Faith travels. It is not just in one place.

Faith is Magic

Think about it. Faith is Magic. When you think about Magic you question how someone was able to do the trick. You wonder how they learned it and how long it took them to study it.  You wonder how the trick was so amazing and convincing and how you do not know the secret of what made it successful.  You wonder the amount of practice and patience that went into the Magic. When you are little Magic is so special and exciting. As you grow older Magic becomes more of a mystery and Magic is an unknown that is miraculous. People who believe in Magic believe that anything can happen. They are open-minded and ready for anything to happen.
Now, take everything I just said and instead of Magic use Faith.  Faith makes you wonder about the trick and how someone is able to have just great Faith. A person with Faith makes you wonder how long a person has had it, how they learned it and how long it took someone to study it and believe. You wonder how Faith is so amazing and convincing and how does someone know the secret and what made it successful. Faith requires patience and the amount of practice. Faith is special and exciting when you are little and as you grow older Faith becomes more of a mystery and it is an unknown that is miraculous. People who believe and have Faith believe that anything can happen. They are open-minded and ready for anything to happen.
Where does Faith differ from Magic? Both take a strong belief system. Both are up to individual people to make the decision about how they feel. There is not really a difference between the two. Faith and Magic are almost interchangeable. Both are in some aspects, unseen. A magician has Faith that his/her tricks will work. A person with Faith would believe in magic.  Both are incredible and remarkable.
To me Faith is Magic. It takes so much to have both and believe in both. So do you think Faith is Magic or is it something else?

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be

What a statement that is. So powerful. So strong. Such proof. No questioning. It's absolute.  May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. Notice it does not say where you want to be or where you feel you need to be. It says where you are meant to be. That is Faith. My friend posted this as her status on FB.  It made me think about it. I have to trust.  Do you know who I am trusting? I am trusting Christ. I am trusting that he leads me in the right direction. I am trusting that he leads me where I want to be. I am trusting that HE is not leading me to be with him in Heaven because I do not feel I am ready for that. But...maybe HE needs me with him. Who am I to know my purpose on Earth? Who am I to know where I belong?
I need to have Faith. Faith will help me trust in HIM. Faith will let me know I am meant to be here.  Why? Because with Faith I can trust, I can believe and I can know.  So...are you where you want to be or need to be? I don't know. You don't know. But Christ knows. And if you are, then that is where you are meant be.
May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. I am going to trust it and try to increase my Faith. Are you?

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

When is Faith?

When do you have Faith? Do you only have Faith when it comes to people? Do you have Faith when it comes to the sick? Do You have Faith when it comes to your life? To a friend or family member's life? When it suits you? When you are in a situation you think is life or death? Do you have Faith when on an airplane (like me)? Do you have Faith 100% of the time or 10% of the time? When is Faith for us?
When is Faith? Is it at a certain time of day? When we eat? Before we leave home? While the sun is shining? Do we get to choose when Faith is or does Faith itself choose when it is? When a sad boy who never had friends is getting ready to end his life at his crushes home is that when he has Faith? When a young girl has her life turned upside down and loses both of her parents does she have Faith then?
When is the time to have Faith? Is it now? Was it a year ago? Was it 9 and a half years ago? Was the time to have Faith when we were born? When we had that first fall and scrape? Is the time to have Faith before a major change? After a major change? When is Faith?
Faith for me is all the time. I constantly have it. I can not get rid of it. I feel it more at certain times than others. Faith does not have a time limit for me. I don't feel it at 1am but not at 1pm. I definitely feel it when I am on an airplane and when I land safely. I have Faith when it comes to everyone. I have Faith when it comes to my husband. I have Faith when it come to my family. I have Faith when it comes to friends. I have Faith when it comes to the sick.
When is Faith? Faith is when I decide to choose it but Faith is also when it chooses me. There are times I have Faith and I find it hard to believe I have it. Why? Because Faith chose me. Faith decided I needed it and it came to me. Now that is not often because I choose Faith on my own...about 99% of the time and 1% of the time it chooses me. Maybe you choose Faith 100% of the time and it never has to choose you. I'm not like that.
Faith is when I need it.  Faith is on reserve for in case I may need it at some time down the road but not at that moment. Faith is around me all of the time. I may waver on it at times but I see it. I see it in the face of a friend who can finally breathe because she still has her husband with her after all of their trials and tribulations. I see it when I get to see the story of a person who thought they were never going to walk again. I see Faith when everything seems to be going wrong and there is at that one inkling of hope.
Faith is all the time. Whether I choose it or it chooses me Faith is always here. Faith is for everything. Whether it is people, animals or things Faith is always there. Faith does not discriminate due to who your friends are, your color, your age or your ability. Faith does not care. Faith is always there. Faith is when you are awake and when you are sleeping. Faith comes in your dreams and in your nightmares. Faith is there 100% of the time.  Now, whether you have it or not, that is something you need to decide. But Faith is always there. Faith does not take time off. Faith does not get vacations or sick days. Faith is always there.
I know when I have Faith. I know when Faith is there for me. When do you have Faith? When is Faith there for you? You may think it is not there but surprise. It really is.

Monday, August 9, 2010

What is Faith?

What is Faith for you? Faith can be multiple things.  The definition has different meanings including: confidence in a person, a belief that is not based on proof, or belief in anything. Sit and take a minute. Just think...what is faith? Is Faith the story of a man who fell 100 feet from the sky and lived with a broken bone? Is it the story of the soul survivor from a 10 car crash? Is Faith the story of a miracle? The miracle where given 6 months to live due to cancer it went in remission and the person lives for 10 years? The miracle where who knows what the disease is but all of a sudden the person is better? What is Faith? Is Faith just a belief? Is it less or more?
Faith for me is more than one thing. Faith is the confidence in people and the belief that is not based on proof.  I believe in God and Jesus Christ and no one can prove they were real. I believe in Santa Claus the same and I'm told he is fake. I believe if I pray it will all work out in the end. I have Faith without proof. I have never seen Santa or Jesus or God. I have Faith they are real. Santa has left me gifts. Jesus and God watch over me. I could be dead but my prayers and my watchful Saviors keep me alive. That is Faith. I go to sleep every night with the Faith I will see a new day. Do you have that Faith? I have no proof I will see tomorrow but I have Faith I will.
What is Faith? Is Faith actually a fact? Is Faith the fact that belief will bring you through it? Do we all have our our Faith? What defines Faith? Do people define it? Do places or things define Faith?
I define my Faith. I gain opinions and ideas but I define my Faith. I go to Church and have Faith the stories are real. They have not scientifically been proved. I have a Faith that encompasses so much but I did not get it on my own. I define Faith in my eyes. I don't see everything like you. I see it differently. You may look up at the sky and see blue. I look up and see the peach, purple and blue of twilight with the hint of off white in the clouds. We see the same thing yet we don't so does that make you wrong? Does it make me wrong? Or does it just mean we see the same thing differently? If the latter is true then won't we and don't we define Faith differently and see it differently?
Look into your self, your soul. Look....Do you have a solid Faith? You never question it or teeter totter from it? Do you wonder "What if" in your Faith? Is your Faith like mine? I doubt it. Do I have the same Faith as my sister? Mother? Father? Husband? NO! We all grew up differently. We all had different experiences. We all are different ages. And we all have different wisdom. Does it mean we are wrong? No. It means we are different. My Faith is different. My Faith may have the same principles as yours. My Faith may be structured off the same story as yours. But my Faith may be different. Maybe my Faith is stronger or weaker. Maybe my Faith is more fictional or realistic. Either way my Faith is mine. I define it.
So what is Faith? I don't think it will ever be answered but I know a few things. I define my Faith and you define your Faith. I question my Faith in different things and I wish I could solidify it. I don't have the same Faith in things as my family and friends. It takes a little longer for me to find Faith on a plane (like when I land safely on the ground I have it). I do not need the proof to believe and you may tell me something is not real but I have Faith it is. My Faith is my own. I may see it differently from you but we both have Faith. My Faith is a plethora of things. So now there is only one question left. What is Faith to you? What is your Faith? Well, maybe two questions.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

The Truth of My Faith

As a freshman in high school I went through confirmation class.  We discussed the Trinity (Jesus as Father, Son and Holy Spirit), Church and Faith. I believed in all of that. I guess I should say I believe in all of that.  It is true.  I believe in all of it. My faith is just currently wavering.  Have you ever wondered why a great number of people get injured and/or die at once? Plane crashes, Train crashes, war and September 11th made me wonder.  My grandmother's death made me question why God took her from me and it had me wondering.  My Faith wavered. I heard people say it was "their time", "they are in a better place" or the one I use to calm myself "they are better off in Heaven with God than on Earth". Oh....How do you keep the Faith? 
I tell myself often I have faith. I am able to get into a car and drive after being in several accidents. I can get on an airplane (with prescription drugs and alcohol) and land safely without me doing anything and having no control over what happens.  I have the belief I will make it to my destination safely and I do...my Faith gets me there. I have Faith in my husband. I know he will be able to find a better job. I believe he is a great man and I have Faith that as long as he loves me, we will make it through anything.  I have Faith he will give me the world and more when he can. 
I have Faith that God, the Bible and Jesus are real. My Faith in that does waver. I have Faith that I will go to Heaven, although I am petrified to die. God forgives and my Faith does not waver in that. I have Faith when I have children I will be a good mother and my husband will be a good father. My Faith does not waver in that. So why does my Faith waver when it comes to my employment? I am struggling to find a job and I don't know why. I feel let down and depressed more and more and I find parts of my Faith slowly running away when it comes to me and being unemployed. I am restless. God knows what will happen and I don't. He knows when I will get a job, where it will be and for how long. God knows my future and I don't. I have no control over my life and I question that. If God told me it would be alright would I believe him and keep the Faith? Right now, probably not since I am struggling with keeping my Faith it will all work out in the end and be alright!