Faith... When I don't understand

It is easy to trust when I know how things are going to work out and I understand what is going on. But what about when I don't understand? What about when things look impossible or senseless? Do I have faith not only when I understand, but when I do not understand? The past couple of weeks I have really been challenged by the stories of those in Hebrews 11 who had faith when they did not understand.

Noah was warned by God of a coming flood and the destruction of the earth by water. Noah had never even seen rain. But he believed God and took Him at His word, even though it did not make sense to him.

God asked Abraham to offer Him his son Isaac. This was the son that God had promised to Abraham. This was the son that God had said, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called" (Hebrews 11:18). All Abraham's hope for the future was in Isaac, yet by faith, Abraham offered him to God because he believed that God was able to raise him from the dead.

When the Israelites came to Jericho, they were told to march around the walls seven days, and that on the seventh day the walls would fall. Who has ever heard of walls falling down because an army marched around them? It did not make sense, but Joshua and the people trusted God and did it anyway.

In each of these situations, it did not humanly make sense to do what God said. Noah, Abraham, and Joshua did not let this stop them. They did not understand, but they obeyed God. As a result, God saved Noah and his family, provided a lamb in Isaac's stead, and made the walls of Jericho fall.

I want that kind of faith. I want faith that sees past reasoning and trusts God to work things out. I want faith that says, "I don't understand, but I am going to trust God and do it anyway."

Is God Ashamed?

There have been times when one of my siblings has done something that I wanted to say, "I don't know you." I did not want to be associated with them, or be known as "so-and-so's sister." I just wanted to shrink back, out of sight.

The past couple of weeks, I have been working on memorizing Hebrews 11 for Advanced Excel. This week I come across this verse:

But now they desire a better country, that is a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God:for he hath prepared for them a city.

Immediately I wondered, "Why wasn't God ashamed to be called their God? Why wasn't He afraid to be associated with them?" I looked at the context, and this is what I found:
*These people desired a better (a heavenly) country. They were not content with an earthly one.
*They sought it.
*They died in faith without receiving the promises.
*They had a vision for the future (they saw the promises afar off), and were not caught up in the "here and now."
*They were persuaded that the promises were true.
*They embraced God's promises.

Because of these things, because of their faith, God was not, and is not, ashamed to be called their God. He likes being associated with these people. But is God ashamed to be called my God? Does He want people to associate Him with me? Am I embracing His promises? Do I desire a heavenly country? Do I have faith that sees past the present? Do I have faith to step out and do what God has asked? Do I trust God?

I want God to be able to say about me, "I am not ashamed to be called her God."

Photo Scavenger Hunt

Stapler: In its happy place!

Reflections: Tree in a lake

Leap: flying leap from a tree!

Fears: Heights and falling...

Coffee: We don't drink it, so if you come to our house this is what you get!

Time: The sun high in the sky in the afternoon.

Squirrel: He was prowling around our campsite...

White Trash: This doesn't belong here!

Date: Assignment deadline.

Police: Well, Lego police - I don't get out much :)

Self Portrait: Yep, this is me!

Making a Statement: I don't like you!

A Memory: AE

Weather: Raindrops on a lake.

Broken: It used to be usable...

Green: Stay away from this green stuff!

Music

A Favorite Thing: my comforter with mountains, beach, and clouds!

A Tool: machete straight from the Dominican Republic.

Vanishing Point: Our driveway.

Funny: Just look at those faces! We were trying to figure out what John was trying to sell the other boys that got such a response.

Divorce and Remarriage - What Does God Say About it?

“I, (Bride/Groom), take you (Groom/Bride), to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.” Marriage is a covenant, a vow made before God; it is not to be made lightly or meant to be broken. God would rather people not make vows than make them and break them.

“Until death do us part,” is a commitment between a man and a woman to remain true and faithful throughout life, not “until divorce do us part.” No topic is probably quite as controversial today among Christians as that of divorce and remarriage. However, scripture is quite clear on this subject, outlining specific guidelines.

God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman for life. Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” In Mark 10:9 Jesus said, “What therefore God hath put together, let not man put asunder.” In many cases where divorce occurs, God’s will was not sought before the marriage, or before the divorce. God’s will should be sought every step along the way.

Besides being against God’s will, who designed lifetime commitment and oneness, divorce has bad affects. If two pieces of cardboard are glued together and then allowed to dry, you cannot pull them apart without damaging either piece. Divorce is the same way; a divorce cannot occur without both people getting hurt, and if children are involved they will be hurt as well.

God is also clear about remarriage. Jesus said, “Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she commiteth adultery.” (Mark 10:11-12) Just because other people do it does not make it right. In the Mosaic Law, a command was given permitting divorce. However, Jesus explains this in the New Testament: “Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.” Jesus continued, “And I say unto you, Whosoever [no exceptions] shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication [harlotry, adultery, or incest], and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.”

Personally, I believe that divorce and remarriage are not scriptural, even if the person who wants to remarry was not the one at fault. While I have seen families who had a divorce and then remarried blessed, I do not believe that divorce and remarriage are God’s best. God’s will, not our changeable emotions should be the basis of all our decisions. If the other person is the problem, God can handle that; He is an expert at changing people.

Every Christian who is considering divorce or remarriage should consider the following questions: What kind of example is set when I divorce or remarry? Can the world see a difference in my life if I do this? Is God glorified through it?