August 15, 2011

"And blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me." Luke 7:23

In her Bible study, "Jesus the One and Only," author Beth Moore has a chapter entitled, "A Bout With Doubt." In it she says the following that has meant so much to me.

"Most of the time our doubts come from our heart, not our head. ‘We’ve got to know what we know even when we don’t feel what we want to feel.’" (p.88) She goes on to say that the Greek word for faith is pistis and means "a firm persuasion or conviction." It is a head-faith biased on knowledge of the one in whom we have our trust. Many times I have had to go back to my Bible and claim the promises of God’s love, forgiveness and salvation when my heart tried to convince me otherwise. Like Paul, I must declare, "I know (have a firm conviction based on the truth found, proven and established in Scripture, not feeling with an inferior feeler that can change with the wind) in whom I have believed in and am persuaded (based on the truth of facts not feelings) that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day." (2 Timothy 1:12) Is your pistis based on fact or feeling? When the storm hits and the bout with doubt broadsides you, only a firm conviction based in fact will bring you through. As Beth went on to say, "Believe it with your head even when you’re struggling with your heart." (p.90)

Thought for the week: "A pat on the back is only a few inches from a kick in the rear."

Funny for the week: "Traffic Camera"

A man was driving when a traffic camera flashed. He thought his picture was taken for exceeding the speed limit, even though he knew he was not speeding. Just to be sure, he went around the block and passed the same spot, driving even more slowly, but again the camera flashed.

He thought this was quite funny, so he slowed down even further as he drove past the area, but the traffic camera flashed yet again. He tried a fourth time with the same result. The fifth time he was laughing when the camera flashed as he rolled past at a snail's pace.

Two weeks later, he got five traffic fine letters in the mail for driving without a fastened seat belt.

Man I hate those cameras…….Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: Which book in the Bible immediately precedes Isaiah? (Song of Solomon)

This week’s question: In the list of Ten Commandments which number of Commandment is the following: "Thou shalt not commit adultery."?