LIVE IT OUT! — Sarah Francis Martin

Most people know that I am a political junkie of sorts. My television is permanently programed to Fox News Channel and I listen to the whole gammet of conservative talk radio in the car. You better believe that this past election cycle really got my blood boiling! So much so that I have become very passionate about encouraging Christians to wake up and pay attention to the legislation that is brought forth in Washington.

Today I will spare you and not go into the nitty gritty of all my woes concerning this world we live in. However, I do encourage you to take a vested interest in what your congressmen are doing as it often affects our conservative, Christian values and more often than not in a negative way. And this is exactly why we must take a stand for Christ and make an impact for Him upon this world.

Why should we make the effort? Well, one answer is that Christ is coming soon and we want Him to find us living as salt and light of the earth.

I recently came across this passage in Hebrews and I can’t get it off my mind:

Heb 1o:35-39
35Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back,my soul has no pleasure in him.”
39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

I can’t get over the phrase, in verse 37, “if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him…”
Oh man, I don’t want to be found shrinking back! I just had to look up the Greek meaning of “shrinking back” It means just what you think it would, but the definition is worth taking a look at.
Draw back
Withdraw
hesitate

Do you ever find yourself withdrawing from your relationship to Christ and drawing closer to the worldly things that displease Him?

Do you ever hesitate in your faith and not believe God is the Almighty and can handle any of your circumstances? Moreover, do you question if God can handle the mess that is going on in our world?

Here’s another angle, we are called as Christians to fight the good fight and not shrink back from our Biblical values. Wouldn’t it be shameful if, on the day that Christ returns, you were found totally engrossed in things that do not “preserve your soul?” verse 39

But rather, let us take a stand for Christ. It will be tough, it will be tempting to draw back, you WILL need endurance. Rest assured that, your reward in heaven is much greater and glorious than anything this world can award you!

LIVE IT OUT application:
Take a moment to check out your favorite news source today a pay close attention to events in Washington D.C. that are undermining your Biblical values. Pray about that situation and ask God how you can take a stand and not shrink back!

What a great day to worship! The weather was crystal clear and the leaves on the trees are bright fall colors.

At church they asked us to write on a piece of paper somthing that we are presently struggling with. We then put it in a basket and someone else randomly picked a piece and prayed for that person who wrote their struggle. I have to say that I really couldn’t find a huge burden or a struggle to write down…

Doesn’t this sound crazy that I couldn’t find a thing? Even in the midst of the upheavel that has taken place in my house? Even when my husband is deployed (again!?) and I am left by myself to raise our five month old?

You would think that I would have a whole huge paragraph to write on that piece of paper…

The fact of the matter is that our Great God has lifted that burden off my shoulder.

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Before Greg left, we made the very conscious decision to lay this burden and fear of the unknown right before the Lord. We pray together every night, telling the Lord that we trust His will and that He will give us strength during this trial. Good things will come out of this deployment because “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

So, in the past two weeks, I have felt nothing but peace and comfort and convidence that God has our life right in the palm of His HUGE and VERY CAPABLE hand.

I know that the next year won’t be easy, but I also know that when I grow weary the Lord never does Himself. When I need a nap, He never gets sleepy. When I get fussy, He is always in control and completly in charge. When my child gets fussy, God is there to give him peace. When I am taken aback, God is never surprised by any turn of events. Take a look at this verse from Isaiah and then click on the You Tube video-you will be blessed- I promise!

Isaiah 40:28-31 (New International Version)
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God,the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.