Does our faith affect the next generation

Since I blogged last on faith I saw a church sign that reads Faith- the ability to not panic.  WHOOA wait just a minute.  I don't think that's what God says faith is. 
In the bible when God talks about people who have faith they have "done something they were told to do" or trusted with there WHOLE heart that God would take care of them and do what HE said.  Examples: Abraham in  Romans 4- God told him he would have a son and he trusted what God said even though "old age" was against both he and Sarah.  He also trusted God in that when he was told to sacrifice Isacc he had all things ready to do so when the Angel of the Lord stopped him.  God had promised Abraham that he would be the father of many generations and he trusted God enough that he was willing to kill the son in which those many generations would come.  A Gentile woman in Matthew 15:21-28-  She had heard that Jesus could heal people and she trusted without a doubt that He could heal her daughter and she kept persisting until He answered her pleas. Mary in the "gospel" accounts what if she and Joseph hadn't had faith.  Joseph had faith in what God told him thru the angel that she would have a Son and he would be called Jesus and He would save the people from their sins.
 
We have here three examples in the bible of genuine faith that has affected the next generations.  If Abraham had decided that he better could have decided about his children than God then the rest of us wouldn't be here.  If this woman hadn't had faith that Jesus would heal her daughter, the daughter would still be demon possessed. And then Joseph's and Mary's faith. WOW...  Joseph had faith that what the angel said was true and he didn't put away Mary.  And Mary what if she had decided that being pregnant was just an inconvenience or at the wrong time. Then we wouldn't have the chance to spend eternity with God in Heaven.

So I think that our faith does affect the next generation in ways that we can see and in ways that we can't. The faith in the church is affecting the next generations.  We have older men and older women who are instructed in Titus 2 to teach the younger men and younger women how to conduct themselves.  I don't see that happening in MOST churches today. We aren't told...much less instructed on these things and these are the things that affect our faith.  We don't see examples in the church of those men and women who TRUST in GOD for all THINGS.  We feel the need to control some areas of our lives.  We feel the need to only have faith in God when things are going the way we want and if not then we take back the reigns.  God didn't say it was going to be easy to let Him control things and He didn't say we would like all the paths He directs us in.  But He did tell us it would be worth it. Luke 6:23 Matt. 5:12

I want to encourage each of us to look inside of ourselves and examine do we have the faith we want our children to have?  Do I know 100% without a doubt that if the Lord returns today that I'll spend eternity with God in Heaven and if my children have my faith will they do the same.  If not then we don't have the faith that the Bible instructs us to have.

Defining faith

Faith....

Something that I have been thinking a lot about lately. Faith is something that I thought I knew the meaning to.  I have been "told" by many people what faith is.  It seems we all have our "own" definition of what faith is but is "our" definition the same as what God tells us in His word. 

First, lets see what the world says faith is:  According to Wikipedia faith is confident belief or trust in the truth or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.  Websters defines faith as allegiance to duty or a person; something that is believed especially with strong conviction.

But what does God tell us about faith? In Romans 10:17 He tells us how we obtain faith " So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." In Heb 11:6 He tells us without faith its impossible to please Him "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Heb 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." In James "But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."  These are just a few of the verses that talk about faith.

From the above verses I think we can observe that what God tells us faith is and how the world "defines" faith are different.  Faith in the Bible is active, faith as the world defines it is a "belief" or "allegiance" to something or someone we don't have to do "anything". How do you define faith?

In the near future I want to post about examples we have of the men and women of the Bible and the FAITH they had and how we can have that faith. So ....Stay tuned for the rest of the story. 

On my way to Work

So this morning on my way to work I said a prayer as I usually do.  I have been praying that God will bring me closer to Him and that in all things I will do His will and that I'll teach my children to do the same.  Well, this morning after my prayer.  I decided that since I have started "blogging" my thoughts that I will have the children do the same, except theirs will be on paper.  I am going to teach them to "count their blessings" and to "pray without ceasing" and to journal these things so that they will learn to "see" who God is and how he answers our prayers. 

I have learned that sometimes the things we consider "blessings" are not what God  considers "blessings.''  We need to study God's word to find out what God considers a blessing and count those things. A quote that often comes to mind when I think of blessings and how the world sees them is from Doug Phillips~ "The Bible calls debt a curse and children a blessing; but in our culture, we apply for a curse and reject blessings." 

So now I am on my way to "WORK" to teach my children and my self what true blessings are according to God's word.  I am going to count my blessings and watch as God teaches me to walk each step with Him.  To think and act the way He would.  To rid my mind of what the WORLD has crept in and taught us (even in the church) that blessings are.

Matthew 5:2-12
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Wow, our view of blessings are much different from God's, we can see that in just a few short verses from Matthew.  Let us learn to count our "true blessings"  as God has so richly given us.
In Him

Why, How, and intentions

This is my first attempt at a blog.  Most people won't find me or the things I will write about interesting. I will answer the above three questions in this first post.  

I choose to start a blog to put my thoughts about numerous things out for others to see. Hoping that those who read it will be challenged in their current frame of mind.  That you will be provoked to check things out for yourself.  

I have learned lots of lessons over the past few years and I want to share some of those things that have lead me to lead the life I now do.  Some of the things that I will blog about I am currently studying and learning and growing in and others I have already studied about (which still doesn't mean I'm right). I will blog about my life, politics, and most importantly the Bible... You'll learn quickly that I am learning to Trust and Obey God in EVERY aspect of my life.  

I'll  be glad to answer any questions that anyone may have about any given subject...  We may have to agree to disagree on some subjects.  One thing that I will NOT agree to disagree on is the Bible.... 1 Cor. 1:10 "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."  Having said that....I may have a misunderstanding of a scripture and if you believe I do,  PLEASE correct me. I'll be glad to dig deeper and will gladly correct any misconception or misunderstanding I have.