Just a doubtin mind

Well I'm back as I promised I would be! Another crazy week is over. I'm hoping it will start getting back to normal so that I'll be able to come chat with you more like I used to!

 

 

Well after this crazy week, I woke up this morning in a lot of pain so I wasn't able to make it to church today, however, I watched a sermon on TV and on webcast. I figured I'd share with you what I learned!

 

Do you ever catch yourself doubting? Maybe you doubt yourself or maybe you doubt God? I'm not afraid to say that I'm guilty of both. I'm human and I face trials...I think it's safe to saay that you can agree. Doubt can creep into my mind and create a distance between me and God. That's not a good thing, but it can be overcome.

 

In the first sermon I heard, the pastor explained that we can be held responsible for that doubt for 3 reasons.

 

1. When we are unfaithful and are separated from the light (God). We place ourselves in darkness. For instance, we find ourselves in sin and don't do anything about it, except stay in it. Sin can create doubt because it can separate us from God. Now we will never be sinless (because we are human and imperfect...only Jesus is perfect), but we should try our best to stray from sin.
2. When we respond negatively to situations. It's always ideal to find the positive in everything. This may be easier for some people and harder for others. The situation may make it extremely hard to respond positively, but when we let negativity rule, doubt in God is sure to follow.
3. When we need tangible proof. Thomas, one of the apostles, desperately wanted tangible proof of Jesus' resurrection. When the other apostles had told them that Jesus had been resurrected, Thomas responded, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe" (John 20:25). A few days later, Thomas and Jesus were reunited and Jesus said to him, "Reach here with your finger and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing" (John 20:27). Thomas replied ,"My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). Jesus then said, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed" (John 20:29). When we need tangible proof, doubt can creep in, when really faith should creep in. Paul says, "while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18). Don't demand sensual truth. Be obedient in faith.

So when you are start doubting, don't beat yourself up, but turn to the truth. Ask God to remove that doubt, increase your faithfulness, and respond with positivity.

Since I haven't been consistently posting, I figured I'd let you know where we are in the year long reading plan. We should be caught up to Exodus 18. I'm sorry that I haven't been reminding you of the plan, but I'm going to try harder to be more consistent!

 

 

Now introducing...

I'm starting something new today...a 30 day blog series. Since I'm new to the whole blogging world, I figured I'd try this out. I'm a little nervous to see how this is going to play out, but I'm up for a challenge. Each day this month I'll be talking about something we find in God. So really it shouldn't be a challenge, because there is a lot we can find in Him.

 

 

Today, I met with a special friend who I haven't seen in awhile. She's such a special person to me for a number of reasons. We met a few years ago and hit it off because we were both living a gluten free life. We bonded over gluten free pasta and cookies, but little did we know we would be bonded by something deeper...Lyme Disease. I knew she had Lyme Disease when I met her, but I had no clue I would be diagnosed a couple years later. I would call that a God thing. She's been such a good friend and "Lyme mentor", but more than that she reminds me of faithfulness.

 

She has been through so much, yet has been so faithful. Right now, she's pregnant with a sweet baby boy who has a fatal birth defect. In a situation like this, doctors encourage the mother to abort, but what did my sweet friend do? She chose to carry and cherish the time she has with her gift from God.

 

Her choice reminds me of God's faithfulness to us. He would never get rid of us. He is the only one who will stand by our side through thick and thin. Although we may not completely understand or doubt His faithfulness, He is there. He is the only one that will always keep a promise - no doubt. Sometimes we may not see His promises fulfilled, but they will be fulfilled one way or another.  It isn't our job to figure it out, but to trust in His faithfulness.

 

In Him we find faithfulness.

 

Psalm 33:4- For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

Psalm 36:5- Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

Psalm 89:1- I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

 

I hope you join me the next 29 days!



 

 

P.S.- Today's scripture for year long reading plan is Luke 12-13.

P.P.S.- Please pray for my friend, Alisa Turner & check out her music on iTunes. She's awesome!