We believe that to accept the concept of God and what He did for you - you first have to let go of the box that is this life we all live in. God is not in a box nor is He bound by the limitations of this world. Therefore, to believe in God...to believe in Jesus - you have to be willing to accept that faith is a supernatural experience.
It
is not for me to convey every theological point of Christianity - nor
will I attempt to here. But just know I will always take you
back to the truth that God is still God - despite our humanness.
Despite our limited understanding of where He came from...and where it
all started. He is the
Alpha and Omega. The Beginning and the End. He does not exist on our
linear time-line but above it. Seeing both the beginning of time and the end in His omniscience, and being fully present in all of it.
Faith
is a supernatural acceptance that things have happened and will
continue to happen that will absolutely DEFY what we can get our minds around. Making peace with that is a bit of a relief. Making peace
that in this lifetime you will never have ALL the answers - also a very
good thing. Understanding that some things (why do good people get
sick, why do bad things happen to good people) we may not fully come to
grasp this side of heaven. But knowing at your core that you are
FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made? (Psalm 139:14) You are the creation of a
LIVING GOD! And your response to that? That's where the living is at! That's where hope and faith and life resides.
Bottom
line: We believe the Bible is the inspired Holy Word of God. Written by
man, inspired by the Living God and spanning the ages to serve as a
"lamp unto my feet". Psalm 119:105
We believe in God, the creator and maker of all heaven and earth. We believe Jesus was the one and only Son
of God - fully God and yet became fully man, born of the Virgin Mary. We
believe He walked this earth and did amazing things over. and over. and over again. We believe He healed the sick and made the lame walk, and made the blind
see - and we believe He loved and impacted the world so well and so
much, that over 2000+ years later, He is still changing lives and His
truth still holds as a firm foundation. We believe He is exactly who
He said He was. The Way. The Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6) We
believe that no one comes to the Father but through the Son.
We believe Jesus, the perfect, spotless, sinless lamb, was tortured and
hung on a cross. That He was brutalized to bear our shame. To bear my
sin. To bear your sin and your shame. To make it right and do what no
earthly man could do - only God! In His human flesh, He stood to bridge
the chasm between God and man. To make a way, where there was no way. Even though I am sinful and fallen and broken...and wretched...He
loves me anyway. He took me out of the mire and made me His own. He
REDEEMED me! Though He knew what my sinful nature...your sinful
nature...the world's sinful nature was and would become...He did it anyway.
We believe He died on that cross and that the earth shook mightily. And
with all our heart, that He rose up and walked out of that tomb three
days later - alive and fully restored. That he ascended to Heaven and
will return one day. Maybe not in my own lifetime - but as surely as He
said He would.
I have to tell you, there is such freedom in Faith! What a relief it is to know that God has it all worked out...even when we fall down...He is there to pick us up and remind us of our place in His Kingdom.
Definition of FAITH (according to Webster's Dictionary)
2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust
3 something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs faith>
I have to tell you, there is such freedom in Faith! What a relief it is to know that God has it all worked out...even when we fall down...He is there to pick us up and remind us of our place in His Kingdom.
I am not perfect. AB is not perfect. Our kids are not perfect. We are far from it! I am a flawed, sinful girl. And we struggle with the same things you all struggle with.
But here is His HOPE:
When I'm depressed I will say "He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along." Psalm 40:2
When I'm depressed I will say "He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along." Psalm 40:2
When
I am confused and unsure I will go to James 1:5 "If any of you lacks
wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding
fault, and it will be given to him".
When
I am tired and overwhelmed in my life I'll lean on 2 Corinthians 12:9
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness".
When
I feel unloved or unappreciated I will turn to Jeremiah 31:3-4 "I have
loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with
loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt."
When I am afraid I will remember that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind". 2 Timothy 1:7
And
when I am unsure about my life or where it is headed or I'm feeling
consumed by my insecurities, I will remember: "Because of the Lord’s
great love we are not consumed for His compassions never fail. They are
new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
If you have interest in following Christ but have no idea where to start - please contact me here. No really. I'd be honored and blessed to be able to pray for you. I'd love to share my heart with you. And I'd love to get you a Bible if you don't have one.
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
~Stuart Townend
