Today our ACTION HERO stands among the giants of Faith. Our Hero found the answer to true HAPPINESS!

Isn’t that what we are all looking for? I mean, seriously, it is impossible to even count the number of books on the bookshelves at your local Barnes and Noble that begin with the title…’The Key to Happiness Is”…and they graciously fill in the blank with their version of what they believe will make not only them, but you happy.

“Happiness is loving and being loved”, “Happiness is deciding to not say negative things”, “Happiness is the smell of a new book,” “Happiness is an unexpected piece of chocolate,” and the list goes on and on…

While all of these things and many others may bring momentary “Happiness”, that happiness does not last.

Unless the unexpected chocolate find is a lifetime supply! Just kidding!

Seriously, even that does not bring lasting happiness. I was reminded of the true Biblical definition of Happiness this weekend as I listened to my son preach. “True HAPPINESS comes through our blessings from God.”
Those gifts in our lives that cannot be taken away, do not fade or tarnish, do not grow old or worthless. They are the blessings that our Father gives us freely because He loves us.

Our Action Hero knew what true HAPPINESS was and he embraced it and followed it faithfully!

“The Lord said to Abram, (Abraham), Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will BLESS you and make you famous, and you will be a BLESSING to others.”
Genesis 12:1-2

ABRAHAM WAS BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

Our Action Hero of the Faith was a HAPPY man, not because his life was easy, and his path in life smooth. He was a HAPPY man because he knew that following and obeying God, NO MATTER THE COST, is the key to TRUE LASTING HAPPINESS! He obeyed God, and THEN the blessings came.

So much of the time friends, we fail to complete the steps God is asking us to take. We grow tired, discouraged and frankly, WE GIVE UP! Or, even worse yet, we don’t even take the first step! We decide that what God is asking us to do is too hard and the cost will be to great. We even rationalize in our minds that God could not be asking us to do that. After all, it goes against everything the world tells us will bring HAPPINESS. We must have heard God wrong.

Our Action Hero knew that God’s economy is “UPSIDE DOWN” to ours. What the world tells us is to stay in our comfort zone, to surround ourselves with family and friends that make us feel good, and to stay where we are comfortable and secure. Our Action Hero knew that True HAPPINESS is not found in the comfort zone. He knew that the “comfort zone” can become the “Danger Zone!”
He knew that complacency could set in and cause him to never make a move.
Our Hero was willing to step out in faith and follow God no matter the cost!

“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by FAITH.”   Hebrews 11:8-9

ABRAHAM WENT, then he was blessed and then he was happy, not before. Abraham obeyed God and left his hometown, family, relatives and all of his familiar surroundings. He obeyed God based on FAITH alone! He did not know where he was going! He did not understand why God was moving him, and he was alone! But He knew that TRUE HAPPINESS only comes through the blessings of God. Everything else in this world is temporary and fades away.

Abraham was blessed by God, he was famous and he did become the father of many nations just as God had promised!

“All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:3b

However, it came at a cost! A cost our Hero was willing to pay. Are we willing to pay the same cost?
Friends, I submit that if we are not, we will not find TRUE HAPPINESS here on Earth. Momentary happiness, sure, but TRUE HAPPINESS-the kind that permeates our soul, makes us feel content even while surrounded by chaos, and makes us feel the peace that makes no sense to us or the world around us.

TRUTH BOMB

TRUE HAPPINESS ONLY COMES THROUGH GODS BLESSINGS!

I feel very very close to this topic today. Seven months ago Jim and I packed up our home of eleven years. We left the city we had lived in for the better part of 30 years. We left our church family, relatives and dear friends. We left our daughter, son-in-law and grand babies! I am not going to lie, as we drove away, it felt like my heart was being ripped apart! There were moments I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I would burst into sobs and moans that sounded something like a wounded animal. And then, there would be no tears, no sound at all. The sadness felt overwhelming!
The world was telling me, and actually doing the opposite of what Jim and I were doing. As they were seeing their grown children move away from home, get married and have children of their own, people our age were moving closer to their children and grand children.
But we had clearly heard God calling us to a new ministry in Sebastopol California. So we went. We followed and obeyed not because it “felt good,” or seemed “logical”, or even “natural”, it actually felt “unnatural”, but because we know and have felt the goodness of God’s blessings on our lives when we have followed and obeyed Him in the past!
In fact, we only felt the pain of leaving family, friends and home because they were God’s blessings to us in that season of our lives. We have “left home before.” We have traveled to foreign cities and foreign mission fields, and every time we have left someone or something precious behind. And every time God has blessed and given us more than we could ever dream, think or imagine! And we know He will again!

Our Action Hero of the Faith today, Abraham, gives me hope, encouragement and inspiration. I in no way compare my sacrifice to his, but like all true action heroes, his Faith inspires mine!

“Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.”  Hebrews 11:10

SO AM I! I long for the day when we too will be in that eternal city with our heavenly Father and He will say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant,”, my version…”Well done good and faithful Action Hero,” you demonstrate your faith by putting it into action!

Let’s aspire to be True Action Heroes of the Faith! Those who have gone before us inspire us to nothing less!

Love you friends and thankful for you!

Speak Truth Love

It’s HOT! I mean sizzling Hot!!!

The kind of heat that does not leave you questioning if you could indeed fry an egg on the sidewalk! All kinds of records have been broken this week all over the United States with record breaking high temperatures! The worst part for many is the consecutive days of heat, where you feel no relief and no end in sight!

This reminds me of our Christian Life when we hit trials and difficult days. It can feel like there is no end in sight! It can seem like no one else “gets it.” And if they do “get it”, it still feels like we are a part of the ‘Weak and Weary Club.’ We feel our strength drain from us. We look around and feel like no one is on our side. Our days seem long and our nights even longer! We grow weary of doing good, and long for our heavenly home. We find ourselves thinking of Heaven, and may even on occasion, ask God to take us there.

Trials are tough, perseverance is difficult, and we may find ourselves desiring to be this weeks Hero!

“It was by Faith that Enoch was taken up to Heaven without dying – He disappeared, because God took him.”  Hebrews 11:5a

WHAT? SIGN ME UP!
I mean, what a way to go! Pain free, no hassle, no doctors, no meds, no messiness whatsoever, just “taken up to Heaven without dying.”

You heard me right! God took Enoch to Heaven with Him without Enoch having to die!

Now, before you get too jealous and a bit of envy sets into your spirit, read the rest of the verse with me…

“For before he was taken up, he was know as a person who pleased God.”

Hebrews 11:5b

This was not a “free ride!” This was not an old fashioned “E ticket” at Disneyland that got you on all of the best rides! This was a life lived to please God! This was PERSEVERANCE, for a life time! Listen to the dictionary definition of PERSEVERANCE:

“A steady PERSISTENCE in a course of action, a purpose, a state etc…

Now catch this last part…

“especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.”

This Hero of ours stayed the course! He “Walked the Walk, and didn’t just talk the talk!”
He became an Action Hero of the Faith because he “pleased God,” in what he did, not just what he said!

The Theological definition of PERSEVERANCE is “Continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.”

Boy, did this prove true for our Hero! He continued, PERSEVERED, walking in close fellowship with God all of his life, and God took him home to heaven with him without dying first!

God “took him.” Genesis 5:24

Now, if you are thinking…”easy for him,” stop right there!
Nothing about our Hero, Enoch’s life was “EASY!” The Bible tells us that in order to “PLEASE GOD” we are required to;
“Fear the Lord our God, and live in a way that please Him, and love Him and serve Him with all of our heart and soul. And always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees.” Deuteronomy 10:12-13

That’s all our Hero had to do, No Big Deal!

Are you kidding me? I think I mess up on the first two before I’ve stumbled my way down the stairs to pour my first cup of coffee!

What truly sets our Hero apart, and makes him a True Action Hero of the Faith, is that he did it for 365 years!

“Enoch lived for 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God.” Genesis 5:23-24

Again, this is inspiring! I struggle daily to “keep on keeping on,” to “walk humbly with my God.” Enoch did this PERSISTENTLY for 365 years!

If you and I are going to live Action Hero Lives then we must be PERSISTENT!

TRUTH BOMB

ACTION HEROES ARE PERSISTENT!

Enoch walked closely with God for 365 years! It can be done friends! You and I can walk closely with God if we will Persist, Not Give Up, Keep On Getting Up When We Fall, and ALWAYS, ALWAYS BE PERSISTENT!

Stay the course, be purposeful and be gracious along the way!

This is the mark of an Action Hero of the Faith!

Speak Truth Love

 

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Brown paper packages tied up with strings. These are a few of my favorite things…”

Have you started singing along with me yet?

These words to a famous, well-loved song are truly some of my “favorites!” As is waking up to raindrops on my patio! Which I did this morning, when I wrote this blog post. Yes, you heard me right. I woke up to raindrops, all over my patio. And not just my patio, rain had fallen pretty hard during the night and had left everything covered in a fresh coating of crystal glaze. There were even puddles!
Welcome to life in West Sonoma County in June!

The prettiest sight of all were the raindrops hanging gently from my father’s roses. Yes, I said roses, plural! Three additional buds have opened, and four lovely red roses have hung from my father’s rose bush, and this morning God covered them in raindrops.
My heart leapt for joy as I stood outside in the coolness of the morning, taking in the fresh scent of rain, and smiling from ear to ear at the sight of raindrops clinging to my dad’s roses.

Both are miracles you know. Only God can cause a flower to grow and bloom, and only God can cause the rain to fall. How do I know? Because until our next Action Hero put his faith into action, no raindrops had ever fallen!

Today we are introduced to a Boat Maker! A man of God who found so much favor with God, that he was called a “righteous man, blameless, one who walked in close fellowship with God.”

“Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on the earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.” Genesis 6:9

This was our Boat Maker before he ever considered going into the carpentry business!

We do not know what Noah did for a living before God asked him to be a carpenter, but we do know the kind of life he lived. He was a good family man, who obeyed God, walked with God in close fellowship, and remained “blameless” in the middle of a corrupt and violent world!

“Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence.”
Genesis 6:11

Sound familiar? But instead of feeling lost and hopeless, Noah demonstrated great Faith in God and remained “blameless” and walked in close fellowship with God!

We could stop right here and declare that Noah was already a Hero of the Faith. But, actually the story has just begun! Noah becomes a true ‘Action Hero of the Faith’, as he faces and accepts his greatest “Faith Test” yet!

“It was by FAITH that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. HE OBEYED GOD, WHO WARNED HIM ABOUT THINGS THAT HAD NEVER HAPPENED.”
Hebrews 11:7a

“THINGS THAT HAD NEVER HAPPENED!” Did you catch that?
Action Hero Faith is not just believing in God, walking with Him, talking with Him…True Action Hero Faith is putting that faith into action when you cannot see the outcome. Or in this case, EVEN COMPREHEND IT!

Our Hero, Noah, had no understanding or comprehension of RAIN, let alone a FLOOD!

“So, God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth!”
Genesis 6:13

God put that exclamation point there this time, Not Me! This was BIG!
God was going to start over! His creation was not following Him! It had rejected His ways, and had turned to their own ways! All, but ONE!
One faithful man of God stood alone among the rest. Noah…and now God was calling him to be His ACTION HERO!

God was asking him to live out the reality of Hebrews 11:1, to “Act on what He hoped for, but could not see!”

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1

God is asking Noah to build a boat, a large boat, and to waterproof it, because “RAIN” (which Noah has never seen or heard of), is going to “cover the earth with a flood!‘
Genesis 6:14, 17a

You see, the song I quoted at the beginning of this Blog never could have been written at this time! NO ONE HAD EVER SEEN A RAINDROP! No one had ever walked out on a beautiful morning, like I did this morning, and viewed the world covered in a soft, wet blanket. No one had ever seen a rose with a delicate drop of rain sitting upon it.
NO ONE HAD EVER SEEN RAIN!

Yet, God is asking our Hero to build a large boat, with God’s very specific instructions,(Genesis 6:14-16,) and fill it with his wife, his sons and their wives…

Let me pause here a moment and just say how thrilled I would have been to have said “YES” to the proposal from one of Noah’s sons! This was my passport to safety people! Just saying!
Seriously…”and a pair of every kind of animal – male and female, every kind of bird – male and female – and every kind of small animal that scurries on the ground.” Genesis 6:18-20

Now, granted, this would have been a stinkey ride, but a safe one!

Not only was God asking Noah to build a boat, but He was also making him to do even more physical work and load the boat with food for EVERYONE aboard!

“And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals.” Genesis 6:21

Noah had to build the boat, convince his entire family to get on board and “TRUST HIM,” round up two of every kind of living species on the earth, corral them onto the boat, and fill the boat with enough food for EVERYONE!

I could not imagine the migraine size headache Noah must have had as all of the “grumbling and complaining” started over what they wish the had for dinner, verses what they actually had for dinner! We are such complainers, aren’t we?

With all of this work behind him, our Hero is about to move into “Action Hero” status!

“So Noah did everything as the Lord had commanded him.”

GENESIS 6:22 and GENESIS 7:5!

That’s right! Not once, but twice, and I would imagine many other times before and after Scripture records it for us!

Our Action Hero was Blindly Obedient! Noah put His Faith into Action even when he could not see it or understand it!

Truth Bomb

ACTION HEROES ARE BLINDLY OBEDIENT!

“He (Noah) obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By His FAITH (in acting on what he did not see or understand), Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received righteousness that comes by FAITH.” HEBREWS 11:7b

Friends, if we chose to follow in the foot steps of the great Action Heroes of the Faith who have walked before us we need to
“Do everything as the Lord commands us.”

This means saying Yes, to the things of God, and No to the things of this world. It is our choice to make! Will we walk in Action Hero Faith like Noah and be seen to “walk closely with our God?” Or, will we walk just close enough to God, and just close enough to this world that no one can see the difference?

The choice is ours to make! Let’s be like our heroes of faith!

Speak Truth Love

Happy June everyone, and welcome to our new series on ACTION HEROES! We’re going to be studying those bold men and women who did not simply believe in God, but put their faith into ACTION!

“FAITH shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1

In the month of June when the days are long and warm, and we find ourselves diving into a refreshingly cool swimming pool physically, let’s also dive into a spiritual refreshment through Hebrews 11!

Commonly known as the “Hall of Faith,” this chapter promises to refresh our spirits and cause us to “walk our walk”, and not just “talk our talk!”

So Friends, join me as we jump into the refreshing waters of the book of Hebrews toes first, allowing it’s encouraging waters to engulf our bodies with encouragement and inspiration!

The author of Hebrews does not identify himself, except to indicate that he was a man. The original belief was that the author was Paul, however the writing style is not that of Paul’s and the author states in chapter 2 that “the message of this great salvation was first announced by The Lord Himself, then delivered to us by those who heard Him speak.” He is separating himself from those who were directly in contact with Jesus while He was on this earth.

The beauty of Hebrews is not just that it is filled with encouragement for us today to walk and act on our faith as those faithful follower did before us, but that it was more than likely written by a man of faith just like you or I! The most likely author was Barnabas, who accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey. The other candidate for authorship is Apollos who was associated with Paul in his early years of ministry in Corinth. Either way the author is a faithful, church going, scripture studying, servant of God, just like you and I! He put his faith into action, and by the guidance of the Holy Spirit penned one of the most encouraging books of the Bible! Now that’s FAITH IN ACTION. A real ACTION HERO in my book!

Truth is, we always hear about the “Biggies” of the Faith, those Action Heroes that make our mouths drop open, and cause us to stand awestruck and in wonder! Don’t get me wrong, I love those Heroes! I cling to those Heroes of the faith to help me stand firm! I use them daily for inspiration and encouragement, and we will talk about them. But I want to draw attention first to those “unsung” Heroes. Their faith was as big and stands looming over all Christian History as they made their mark alongside the greats of the faith, just like the author of Hebrews himself! He remains nameless, taking no credit for himself, yet pens the book chock full of the stories of the Action Heroes that help us all believe we can live valiantly for Christ!

In Hebrews chapter 11, verse 23, we are introduced to one of my favorite couples. They remain nameless, just like the author of Hebrews, but their Faith in Action allowed one of our ‘Super Hero’s’ to take his place in history. They are simply called “The Parents.”

“It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.”
Hebrews 11:23

These incredible Action Heroes risked death to put their faith into action! Understanding that the edict of the king, to kill all boy babies, went directly against God’s laws, they risked their very own lives to preserve the life of their son! I am especially in awe of the line; “they were not afraid to obey the king’s command.” This is true faith in action! They took the words in the beginning of Hebrews to heart…

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for, it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1

When we put our faith into action, and trust that what God says is TRUTH, even when we cannot see it, something supernatural takes place! Our fear, even of death, is replaced with a sense of peace and trust. We can step out of our fear and accomplish the impossible. We can accomplish the ‘Godpossible!’ Yes, I made that up, but it fits so perfectly!

These amazing parents saw something unusual in their son…

“They saw that God had given them an unusual child…” Hebrews 11:23

Being secure in their faith and the “evidence of things they could not see,” they acted in faith and their fear was gone! They saved the life of their son, while facing the threat of death, and he would go on to save God’s people from the bondage and persecution of Pharaoh and Egypt. These nameless unsung Action Heroes of the Faith, instilled in their son, in three short years, the same “Fearless Faith” that they had. These parents raised an Action Hero named Moses.

Moses went on to make his family proud!

“It was by faith that Mosses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the pleasures of sin.”          Hebrews 11:24-25

These nameless parents instilled in their young boy, an Action Hero Faith that remained strong within his spirit even while surrounded by worldly fame and fortune! Never underestimate the power of ‘Faith Filled Parenting!’ It will produce fruit, if we do not give up!

These Action Hero Parents did not simply pass on their “belief” in God, their custom or culture if you will, their heritage, they infused in their boy the “reality of what they hoped for.”

“He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt and , NOT FEARING THE KING’S ANGER. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the One who is invisible.”
Hebrews 11:26-27

In turn, Moses demonstrated the same “Fearless Action Hero Faith” his biological parents did! He left the land of Egypt to follow his God that he could not see, he was FEARLESS!

Did you catch the tiny detail that could easily go unnoticed? Both Moses and his parents had FAITH so great that they did not “FEAR THE KING’S ANGER!”
Now that is ACTION HERO FAITH! The kind you would see on any good Marvel Action Flick! They Acted on their belief with such great faith that DEATH was not a deterrent!

ACTION HERO FAITH IS FEARLESS WHEN WE KEEP OUR EYES ON THE HOPE OF WHAT WE CANNOT SEE!

Moses and his parents did not fear the anger of the king of Egypt, because they had placed their faith in the King of All Kings! They inspire and encourage us to live fearless lives for God as we not only believe, but put our faith into action.

Truth Bomb

ACTION HERO FAITH IS FEARLESS!

Fearless Faith only comes when we activate our faith and practice what we say we believe!

Speak Truth Love