Do you believe in God?

What a title for a blog post, right? Well...FaceBook brings out some interesting conversations and sometimes those conversations are about people’s beliefs or unbelief, as it were.

I have come to the realization that I do not understand Atheists. I'm sure that doesn't sound shocking, but I don't think I'd ever really thought about it before. I am sure that Atheists don't understand me either.

To me an Atheist is someone who doesn't believe in God. I mean, the one, true God. The God who created the all that we see around us, the heavens and the earth, man, the entire universe. Yes, the God who sent His only Son to earth to save us from ourselves. That's the One I'm talking about.

I never thought about it further. Atheists do not believe in any god, deity or any other supernatural higher power. Of course this makes sense, but I just never thought about it. So, think about it. No god of any kind. Maybe I just believe that as humans we inherently seek a "higher power." This could be because the God who made us, well...made us that way. To desire a relationship with Him.

There are so many arguments for a disbelief in God, I would be here all night trying to explain them, or even wrap my mind around them. So, instead of wasting any more space for that, I'll tell you why I believe in God.

First of all, how else did we all get here? The Big Bang? A pile of goo? Come on!
The intricacy of our universe and planet is well documented scientifically. In addition, think of how complicated the human body is, especially this crazy brain of mine! Who else, but an infinitely wise, all-powerful God could have come up with me? God was the beginning, He is now and He always will be.

Secondly...Fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. Think of all the prophecies in the Bible that have come true. Ok, if you can't think of any, here are a couple...

Isaiah prophesized of Jesus' birth and Jesus was born.

Isaiah prophesized that Jesus would be beaten and He was.

    (There are soooo many more!  I just said a few off the top of my head).

Finally...I have faith. I guess that's the bottom line, isn't it? Either you believe in Him, for whatever reason, or you don't. Without faith I wouldn't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I couldn't imagine that.

I have been saved by my faith. One of my favorite Bible verses says it best...

"For by grave you have been saved, through FAITH; and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not as a result of works, so that no one should boast." Eph. 2:8-9 (the translation may not be perfect, I didn't look it up)

I am so lucky to be loved by a God just because He does. I wouldn't want it any other way.

To end on an intellectual note...Albert Einstein said, "the harmony of natural law reveals an intelligence of such superiority that, compared with it, all systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection."  How true.

I guess the Atheists and I will just have to agree to disagree and perhaps to have more conversations in the future.


Love,
Michelle

Building Blocks

This morning my girls were building with bristle blocks.  I don't know if any of you remember those, but they are pretty easy to put together, especially for little ones like Lydia.  Anyway...I watched as each girl figured out how to build whatever was in their pretty little heads.

Sophie was trying to build a house.  She was able to get the four walls up, with a window in one wall.  Very impressive.  But, she couldn't figure out how to put the roof on.  She tried and tried, but couldn't do it.  Finally, with frustration in her voice, she asked me for help.  Together we built a roof and put it on top of her house.

Lydia was just trying to put more than two pieces together.  And she seemed to be trying to match the blocks.  She would only use red pieces.  After she got three pieces put together, the fourth seemed to elude her.  Just like Sophie, she kept tring and trying to no avail.  I wondered if she would think to ask me or Sophie for help.  Or if she would just divert her attention elsewhere.  Well, she asked me! :)  With a grunt she looked at me and said, "Mama, hiya, ug."  I'm assuming this meant, "Mom, please help me too!"  (I know I'm reading into it a bit).  So, I helped Lydie add another block to her tower or whatever she was making.

As I was building with Sophie and Lydia I was thinking about how I try to do things myself until the point of frustration.  Then I turn to God.  So, at what point do you ask for help?  If I am praying without ceasing, as I am supposed to be, I have help from the get go.  Right?  But, I ask myself if my faith is strong enough, if I believe enough?  I know it's bigger than a mustard seed!

What are the building blocks of my faith?  I remember many sermons on faith from the time I was a small child.  But, basically this is what I remember:

1. Prayer - I need to communicate with God to further my relationship and faith in Him.
2. The Bible - I need to spend time in The Word, again communicating with God, allowing Him to speak to me through His inspired Words.
3. Praise (Worship) - I need to praise Him for who He is, what He has done for me, and the blessings all around me.
4. Works (Faith in Action) - In James 2:26 "...faith without works is dead."  I need to use my faith to increase it and make it stronger.

Ok, so if these are the building blocks, I need to use each one to build my faith.  Without each "block"  I cannot begin to be who Christ has made me to be in Him.   I don't know about you, but I found this pretty convicting.  Not only do I need to be doing this for me, but I need to be teaching my girls how to "build" their faith too! 

Are your building blocks in place?  Are you using the right ones or trying to put two pieces together that don't fit?  Challenge:  Take the time to build your faith today and put it into action tomorrow!

Love,
Michelle