Syllabus for Saints

Then they asked Him, 'What must we do to do the works God requires?'

 Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.'"

 John 6:29

Yesterday's sermon was "Faith That Impresses God," based on the Roman centurion who amazed Jesus with his faith (Matthew 8).  Last night our preacher prayed for all students, school staff, administrators and teachers returning to school this morning.  In the morning, Pastor Rick identified true, active faith, and last night he prayed those students and faculty (and all believers) would live out their faith on a Monday. Identify and apply. Easier to study than to do. 

As believers, our CORE class throughout life is "Identifying and Applying Faith."  This class comes with a universe-sized laboratory and no graduation date. Graduation only happens when we bend our knees at Heaven's throne and faith becomes sight.  Today, Monday, (or whichever day offers you the greatest challenge) we may have forgotten that class is in session.  Look at the board to see our learning objective and the exercises God has for us in Jesus' own words:  

Faith 101:

"The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent." 

John 6:29

Easy-peasy. No wonder it's Faith 101. Done. Check it off. Next class.

Faith 102:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, 

who have been called according to His purpose." 

Romans 8:28

All things? And thus begins the difficult work of trusting that God works for our good on Mondays, in frustration, without funds, under pressure, and with obstacles.  The verse rolls off our tongues and our heads say "true," but our hearts drag their feet when it comes to believing God uses "all things" for our good.  After all,  you and I both have histories from which we've emerged still asking "Where's the 'good' from that?" without seeing the "good." We will have to repeat this class several times.

Faith 201, 202, 203 and 204

"but be filled by the Spirit,
speaking to one anotherin psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,
singing and making music
from your heart to the Lord,
giving thanks always for everything
to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
submitting to one another
in the fear of Christ."

Not so easy peasy after all.  Memorizing the material is nothing compared to applying this information in life's lab.
1) Remembering to invite God to fill us?  That takes time, work, and relationship.
2) Making music in our hearts? Requires focus, love, learning a melody.
3) Giving thanks always, for everything?  We're going to be busy this semester.
4) Submitting to one another?  Is it too late to drop this class? 

Faith is . . .
     more than words,
     more than a creed,
     more than a favorite Scripture.

Faith is a laboratory of opportunities to "believe in the One He has sent" from our hearts all the way through our actions. 

Lord God, we like living at our leisure like students on holiday, but nothing compares to life's laboratory for fine-tuning our faith.  Remind us to ask You to fill us with Your Spirit and Your Song.  Prompt us to thank You for every gift, great or small. You send every good gift.  And, Father, the hardest exercise of all may be to trust You enough to submit to others and to situations You allow for our good. In submitting we exercise faith that You see, You know, You understand, You shape, You use, and You reign.  May we seize this day's opportunities to trust You.
In the Name of Jesus Who could submit to others because of His Faith in You

Delivering the Good In Spite of Wasted Contractions

"May the God who gives hope fill you with great joy.
May you have perfect peace as you trust in Him. May the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope."  Romans 15:13

My firstborn just before she med her firstborn.

I remember the day our firstborn entered the world. It was a day procrastination didn't pay. My water broke at 4:00 a.m. and we were completely unprepared as Julie would make her appearance a month early. We had no suitcase packed, no gas in the car for the hour drive to the hospital, and to top it off, we hadn't attended the last two birthing classes.  Don't ask me why because this gal and her non-morning husband didn't know nuthin' 'bout birthing babies. Picture me in the car at dawn cramming for this upcoming final exam, studying the "How to Breathe" section of the brochure from the class. Between my squeals of joy ("We're having a BABY today!!") and cries of fear (We're having a baby TODAY!!"), not a bit of the information stuck and there was no going back. 

As I lay on the hospital bed 13 hours later, cluelessly contracting, the doctor I had hoped would be in Hawaii when our baby was born, walked through the door.  He stared at me writhing at the mercy of my body and told the nurses in disgust, "She's wasting contractions. It will be at least another 45 minutes," and left.   

So many emotions knotted in me at that moment.  
1) Anger at this man who showed contempt for my plight and hadn't bothered to tell me how to do it better.  Idiot! Saying what he did in THAT tone to a woman in labor! If I had known how to control my body I would have rolled after him and bitten his ankle. 

2) Frustration that pain, nausea and the bizarre out-of-control feeling wouldn't end sooner.

3) Fear that this process would tear my baby or my body apart.  

4) Humiliation that I was failing as a birthing mom.  

5) Joy hovered quietly in the background since we would see our baby's face sooner than later - maybe even in 45 minutes.

6) Peace slipped in, since billions of moms had historically (albeit, hysterically) birthed babies without the benifit of classes or brochures.   

Kind nurses gave me a crash course in focusing better and flailing less. Julie Dove arrived and we rejoiced at her sweet red, squalling little face, ten fingers and ten toes. All my negativity melted into a stream of thankfulness as I heard myself repeating, "Thank You, God!"

Today, we may find ourselves stretched to our limits to bring forth good from first-time challenges and possibilities before us. Nay-sayers and humiliators will step in to distract us from trusting God, but somewhere in our believing hearts hover joy in God's presence and peace in God's purpose. 

Lord, we ask Your mighty help in learning to focus on gratitude and in replacing our natural reactions of flailing, blaming, and biting ankles with simple trust in You.  Deliver us from anxiety, worry and pride and deliver us into Your joy and peace.  Whatever character traits and fruit You're developing in us, may we rejoice that the trials come and go with purpose.

In the Name of Jesus, Savior Who faced Nay-Sayers and Humiliators to Deliver Us