Even if Not

I have to admit, my faith is weaker than it should be.  I always wonder why, though.  For if I am certain that something is within God’s will, my faith is through the roof.  However, if it is something I am even slightly iffy on, my faith is more likely through the floor instead.  Until recently, that is…

Daniel 3:17-18 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

This morning, I was blown away at their faith.  “Even if he does not…”  They were prepared to face death, yet they stood in faith.  It didn’t appear to go unnoticed either.

Daniel 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

While no one is threatening me with death at the moment, I find myself backing away from simple tasks simply because it “might not work out” or it “might not be the best thing” and yet, what if it is?  Do I not have the faith to believe that His will overpowers even my faith?

Even looking at Jesus’ life, He gave up everything for a people that might not follow Him.  Though some did and many will, there will always be those that turn away.  My faith has indeed been challenged, my heart should be there regardless.

“It is a risk to love.
What if it doesn’t work out?
Ah, but what if it does.” ~Peter McWilliams

So there goes my whole heart into everything again, because faith doesn’t hold back.

~Tori Lynn

Confidence

Romans 14:23b and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Every step should be a step in faith.
Faith is a confidence, a trust in the unseen.
Were I to look up and suddenly not trust the ground,
I would be considered a fool.
And rightly so.

So why is it,
that when I doubt the steps I take,
that it seems natural?
This should not be,
for as much as the ground is still there,
surely He has and will be there longer.

This is quite the epic journey
And one rather unexpected.
However, this is no excuse to doubt.
I must be confident in my steps.
Not only on the physical ground,
but on this tangible pathway where grace abounds.

If I am to doubt,
as I have,
I am thankful for those
who correct my course.
That is love.

Full of twists and never-ending turns,
this journey will wind on.
And I am ever thankful
that this is the journey I am on.

~Tori Lynn

One

Ephesians 4:3-6 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism;  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

While there is much to say about all of this- my focus is on the body.  A sick day provides much time to think, pray and read.  While studying out relationships, I’ve stumbled over a principle I can’t recall ever not knowing.  However, for the first time I think I really connected with the idea.

Romans 12:5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Honestly, it brings me back to the days I used to self-harm.  When I was a child and teenager, I frequently cut my skin to supposedly relieve or justify the pain in my heart.  While it brought my heart relief, I deeply injured my skin, leaving some scars to this day.  Looking back, it pains me to imagine that others are still doing this.  A friend helped me see the true uselessness of it, but we still miss it everyday in the body of Christ.

As my hands acted on behalf of my heart and hurt other parts of my body, so we often lash out on other brothers and sisters because of our own pain, or the pain of others.  My heart is cut, this is not the way we should act, but as those chosen and dearly loved.

1 Corinthians 12:26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

We don’t have to injure one another in order to understand, but let us love one another deeply from the heart.  Now, I strive to do just this.

What are we, if we are not one?

~Tori Lynn

Flux & Flow

Flux: Continuous change

Change.  The ultimate shifts that cause us to become different.  However, do things ever really stop changing?  I’ve come to discover that change is simply part of the flow of things.  Without change, we become stagnate, annoying and essentially purposeless.

Psalm 66:10 For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.

It is by this ever-moving process of change that we are refined.  Through the intensity of heat in these moments, we find our sins being drawn the the surface and melting off.  Never will running from the fire produce this kind of repentance.  In it, though, there’s this element of unknown.  I’ve oft found the next step to be fuzzy when I didn’t see this one coming, but I’m learning that it’s no excuse.

Flow: a steady, continuous stream of something

Never-ending.  The calling to move onward against any and all odds.  Not to be stopped by obstacles or confusion, but pushing forward without ceasing.  But in this flow, do things really stay the same?  As a stream flows down a mountain, the land changes, the wildflowers are different, it has to bend around the land to continue, as do we.

James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

In this ever-changing process of movement, we grow.  Through these trails we become who we were made to be.  The elements of trials and opposition are much like the pain it takes to build muscle.  As we run against the waves, they don’t seem so large and intimidating anymore.  Though, as you push on towards deeper waters, the waves will still get taller.  Take heart, though, for we are also growing stronger as we continue to push through.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember in all of this is the reason behind it.  If we begin to fight the waves or stand through the fire for our own personal gain, we will lose sight and we will sink.

~Tori Lynn

Are you willing?

This past weekend, our wonderful student leaders carted us leadership assistants to the beach with them for initiation. While the physical and mental challenges yielded oh so very much, one of the most amazing moments was one I had in my one on one time with God. One of our quiet times, we were out at a pier-like place, with a small section of marshy beach we could venture out on. I was walking through the edge of the water with my prayer journal, pouring my heart out to God when a little crab snapped at my foot. It stung a little, but not enough to bother me, so I walked a little deeper into the water. Overlooking the sunset, I breathed in the salty air. How can people see this and not believe? How can people believe and not act? “Take me Lord God, all I am is yours.” I whispered over the lapping waves.  “Do you believe?” “I believe” I smiled and giggled. “I love you Tori” “Oh Lord, how I love you” I read Jude, one of my favorite chapters. Completely humbled before Him, yet ecstatic with all He has blessed me with. “How far are you willing to go?” His question was simple. “As far as you take me Lord” I thought about that for a moment, how many are really willing to go where He sends them? How many ignore the call? And now, now I ask you. Are *you* willing? Are you willing to give up all comfort to follow His perfect will? Are you willing to trust that He really does know best? Are you willing to give up anyone and anything in your life? Are you willing to go where He sends you? Are you willing to be an outcast, a freak in this world’s eyes? Are you willing to *really* be different?

During the physical challenges, we were pushed to go further. We were reminded, if you can do this, you can do anything. Breaking the weak mentality is half of succeeding if not more. But first, you must act. Paul didn’t burn out after all he went through, what excuse do we have?

As Ted Dekker put it in Black, “But I’d follow him anywhere. I’d follow him over a cliff, believing that after leaping I’d be able to fly. I’d follow him into the sea, knowing I could breath underwater.” That is how I believe as well.

Live and Believe, Love and Hope, Do Everything You Do For His Glory. ~Tori Lynn

A lesson from Vision Quest (QT)

So at Vision Quest there is an unusual opportunity to grow closer to God in a short amount of time. Distractions gone, quiet times mandatory which eliminates running out of time.  So one day during my quiet time I constructed this so I thought I’d share it with you.

One day to late ~ Skillet

This song means allot to me, one of my life-describing songs actually. Here are a FEW of the lyrics that stood out to me, even though pretty much every single part of it does.

“Now I’ve made my mind up, Today I’m gonna try a little harder, gotta make every minute last longer, gotta learn to forgive and forget, cuz we don’t have long gonna make the most of it, today i’m gonna love my enemies, reach out to somebody who needs me, make a change make the world a better place cuz tomorrow could be one day too late…”

Hebrews 10:24-25 Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. (MSG)

Hebrews 10:24-25 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (NLT)

Never let circumstance get in the way of your goal/purpose. Maybe today isn’t a good day for you, but did you ever think that tomorrow (or however long it takes you to feel better) could be too late? Don’t miss the opportunity to be there when someone needed you just because things aren’t going great for you.

Live long and prosper, Tori.