In 2013 Pastor Conway Edwards, from ONE Community Church in Plano Texas, noticed that a road was needed close to his church for attendees to access the premises from the main and minor streets.  However, the city told him that his church would have to pay for it.  He disagreed because it was a public street hence the city should pay.  With faultless faith, potent persistence and careful charisma he progressed up the chain of authority to speak with the mayor.  After he presented his case this time, the city found there was a clause that would require them to complete the street at their expense.  The pastor’s faith was grounded not in himself, but in God.

Perhaps you feel that you have no faith.  You do, as demonstrated every day when you do something like flipping a switch and believing there would be light even if you don’t see the electricity.  Or pressing the brakes when you need to stop your vehicle and believing it would stop even if cannot see the mechanics happening.  Even if your faith is as small as a mustard seed it can move mountains in your life (Matthew 17:20). 

There are interesting facts surrounding the mustard seed.  It is among the smallest seeds there are, it develops rapidly and it grows into the largest plant of its kind, which is an herb.  Not only can your faith be used regardless of its size, but it can grow quickly if you cultivate it (Matthew 17:21) and grow significantly compared to the size it started at.  When Jesus told the parable of the mustard seed, He referenced it because it was the smallest seed local to that community.  Small faith in one person may be large for you and vice versa so avoid being distracted by the size of faith in someone else.  A giant step for you may be praying about a job and leaving it to God by deciding to not lose another night of sleep over it.  Maybe it might be praying for a mate and leaving it to God by not selling yourself short by settling for someone who is not for you.  You can exercise your faith anywhere and if it is not working for you then it is dead (James 2:26).  So get your faith in action! 

 

Faith in Action!

Show me faith by your works and I know it exists

Because, small or great, it can develop without limits

We entrust it to the meaningless thing or unworthy person

Willing to sacrifice our life – heroic but the wrong version

 

I prefer faith in God, He who orchestrates the universe

It is not blind, for He holds tomorrow in better or worse

Today maybe my belief is in the little yet I will see it materialize

But tomorrow action will lead to greater without fantasize

Last weekend my wife and I attended a marriage retreat sponsored by our church and left with an even healthier union.  Couples ranged in wedding years from 0 to 42.5.  There was even a gift given to the longest married couple and you could imagine the woos and applause for the highest number.   

From the presentations we took away nuggets to keep our relationship oiled.  Here are three of them.  1. Assume your spouse has your best in mind.  Here is how that would look.  If he bolts through the door after a provoking day at work, still in attack mode, and answers you like you were the one who threatened to take credit for the work he did, do not take out a verbal machete.  Instead, pause, and ask sincerely, “What happened at work?”  Sir, maybe you went the extra mile for your wife this time and you were even proud of yourself.  But instead of a “thanks,” you get criticism about what you did not do or what you could have done better.  Do not bolt out of the room and slam the door.  Instead, pause, and listen to her concern. 

2. Forgive.  This can be a tall order at times because it seems like all you can think about is hurting the other person when they have hurt you.  We cannot help the way we feel but we can sure control what we say and do in response.  Brother, you would not intentionally hurt yourself and you ought to love your wife like our own body (Ephesians 5:28, 29, 33).  Sister, respect the man God blessed you with (Ephesians 5:33) and avoid criticizing him (Proverbs 21:19).

3. Get familiar with what is perceived as love and practice it.  Gary Chapman in The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lastsnoted five ways we can communicate love to our spouse.  They are Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Gifts, Acts of Service and Physical Touch.  So imagine a birthday is around the corner and you decide to give the gift of a huge fanfare.  But your spouse may just want that Quality Time of just the two of you for a candle light dinner.  During the conference, one speaker said it took him 7 years to start practicing his wife’s love language.  This was way too long.

Why not communicate your love to your spouse today in a language they understand to be love.

 

I Still Do

I still smile when I look bak at a moment first rate

At the cute princess I perceived on our first date

Soon I knew our fate my treasure for the adoring

You see I called you through a prayer one morning

And today I still want you

I like the way you share with me your heart so true

And I see you still regard me as your knight too

After the years, to my vows I say, I still do