Faith

FAITH

What is Faith and why is it a must for our lives?  Hebrews 11:1-3 tells us:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.  By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things that are visible.”

I am struck by this first thought that faith is the substance of things hoped for.  Hope is what pushes people forward.  When we are hopeless we tend to isolate ourselves and dwell on negatives often to point of depression.  This biblical definition of faith pointing to hope is a great comfort.  As God’s people we need to remember that we have a great hope which should be evident in our lives and that is solidified by our faith.

Our faith is like many other areas of our life in that it will have its ups and its downs.  But when it is firmly rooted in biblical truths it will secure us from being overcome by the trials that we face.  Faith is something that we develop over time through observation, education, and intent.  No one creates a useful or abiding faith without intent.  In my own journey to a saving faith in Christ I remember having a conversation with a minister friend of mine in Jefferson City, MO who told me,

“I know that you will find what you need.

You have a good heart and are seeking the truth,

Just keep it up.”

He was right, I did find what I needed. One of the implications of his statement was that many do not seek after truth.  Without intent it is very unlikely anyone will stumble upon a meaningful faith, and without truth no faith can be meaningful.

So what about doubts?  Many people of faith will have doubts from time to time.  Occasional doubt is a good thing, in that when we don’t have doubts or insecurities it may indicate that we are becoming complacent or overconfident in our faith.  It has been said that “pride cometh before a fall,” and that very easily could be the state of our faith when we claim to have no doubts.  On the other side of things we cannot be in constant doubt, as this would indicate a very weak and passive faith.

Faith is a building block for us to build upon with so many other positive attributes as is shown in 2 Peter 1:5-7,

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence,

Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge,

To knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance,

To perseverance Godliness, to Godliness brotherly kindness,

To brotherly kindness love.”

This week examine your faith.  Where do you stand?  Do you have doubts?  Set your foundation in faith and add to it through prayer, study, and service.  In these things you will Do Well, and your faith will grow.  As your faith grows you will see a change in how you respond to trials and difficulties that come before you, and others will too.

Under Construction

Each of us are at varying stages of life.  Just as the photos with this post show homes in various stages of construction.

It is easy to make the assertion that we ouselves are under construction as well.  No matter our age, abilities, interests or desires we are involved in construction from birth to end of days.

Whether it is faith, fitness, finance or any other functional area of our life there are principles of construction that must be followed to end with the best results.  These are like the foundation of a home.  Without a firm foundation the house will not stand, a principle we teach our small children in the song, "The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock." 

At the most basic foundational level is the plan or blueprint.  Without a vision for the finished product and an understanding of what is required to get there it will be near impossible to have the desired product in the end.

Once the plans are established comes execution.  This is how we follow or fail to follow the blueprint.  How closely we follow the blueprint will determine our eventual success or failure.  With our fitness for example, if we jump in too quickly and overexert ourselves we will face pain, if not injury, and our plans may become derailed.  The same applies to our financial lives, as well, to keep our budget on track means not making those impulse purchases that may put us in a bind.

In building a home you can't do much of the interior work until your construction is "in the dry" meaning the inside is safe from the elements that might otherwise do it harm.  Likewise as we progress we seek to make a difference on the inside this may mean aquiring additional knowledge in a particular area to allow for more detailed construction or renovation.

This concept also leads me to think about the quality of materials that we are using to build our lives.  There is a term GIGO in computer programming which means garbage in garbage out.  Choose the best materials that will stand the test of time when inputting knowledge to build your life upon.

When construction is occurring on a home often the homeowner will track the progress each day with the builder, noticing the sometimes subtlest of differences.  We too should adopt this practice in various areas of our life.  Progress made and witnessed is powerful reinforcement to continue.  The process we take to build a better life requires planning, great materials and constant progress checks.

If you will adopt these practices, you will DO WELL in building a better life.

Where Are You Going

Earlier this year while returning home from a youth event in Conway, AR, my wife, Angie, snapped this shot of our church bus headed home.  As with most trips there is a great excitement and energy in the going, but it also ends with the quiet comfort of returning home.

In our lives we have many parts to the journey we are living.  There is faith, family, fitness/health, finance . . .  Many will say that we must keep a balance among these and other areas of our busy lives.  Over the past couple of years my thinking has changed on this.  I used to also believe in balancing, but have come to believe rather in integration.

When we seek balance we are actually living in dis-integration, separating our lives into distinct boxes of unrelated thought.  However if we strive for integration we recognize that we have one life, and that it all works best when it is all working together.  As Christians this is summed up very succinctly in Romans 8:28 (NASB) "and we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."  This screams out to me that integration is better than balance.

The life of integration then must center on God and be built upon His Word, and His will for our lives.  Everything else must then be structured around that faith.  We then can ask the question, how does this part of my life impact my relationship with God?  Each thing we do has an impact on every other part of our life as they are interdependent, thus integrated, and cannot effectively be fully separated.  Be it our finances, our health, or any other aspect of life.  In the end Solomon tells us in the final two verses of Ecclesiastes, "The conclusion when all has been heard is, fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.  For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden whether it is good or evil." (NASB)

This week look into your life and ask yourself, am I living an integrated or disintegrated life?  I pray that you are or will be living in an integrated way.  It is the basis to Do Well, and truly "head home".

Refresh Yourself

The photo attached comes from the Buffalo River near Yellville, AR.  For me this is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in our state which is full of many such places.

Why you may ask would I choose such a photo for this blog?  It comes down to one simple word, RELAX!  We go at a frenetic pace each and every day.  We chase after our goals with determination and, often wrecklees, abandon.  Goal chasing is not a bad thing, it is in fact a good thing.  We must keep it in perspective, and allow our mind and body some down time to process, recover, and repair itself.

The latter part of Psalm 46:10 is very familiar to many of us, "be still and know that I am God."  When is the last time you allowed yourself to be still?  In the Old Testament we are told of the Jewish people honoring the Sabbath, which was the seventh day, as a day of rest.  While we are no longer under the sabbath, but live under a new covenant, we are still to learn from the old law.  It is my belief that this is one area that we might all benefit from reexamining.

Science points to the importance of adequate sleep in our lives, and studies show the physical benefits of meditation and times of rest.  It's interesting that science seems to catch up with Biblical truth as time marches forward.  Can we learn to take downtime, to reclaim the times of refreshing, to clear our minds and commune with God?  If we will, and I am among the most needful in this area, I believe we will see a marked improvement in our outlook and our performance.

Take heed of the signs your body and mind are giving you.  Listen to that inner longing for rest.  This week set aside some sacred times of rest for your body, mind, and spirit.  If you do, I believe you will DO WELL!

MONDAY MORSEL #5

MONDAY MORSEL #5
May 1 2016

Meekness is NOT Weakness.

Matthew 5:5 "The meek shall inherit the earth."

True leadership is servant leadership, not authority of position, but authority earned through relationships that are not self serving.

MONDAY MORSEL #4

MONDAY MORSEL #4
April 25, 2016

Marriage is NOT a 50-50 proposition as many might say.  It is a 100-100 proposition with a man and woman each giving all they have under God's leadership.

www.workoutyourfaith.blogspot.com

Years Well Spent

Today marks my 23 years of marriage to my wonderful wife, Angie.  Without her who knows where or what I might be, and I doubt if any of it would be very good.

Over the years there have been many lessons to be learned through the gift that is marriage.  The first lesson we learned was that it is best for newlyweds to live away, a good distance away, from their families.  This time away allows the new couple to learn to lean on God and each other keeping both families at arm's length. 

Though in the beginning I was only a person of nominal faith it was the quiet strength of her faith that challenged me to grow my own.  That too was a good thing.  While living away, in Jefferson City, MO, we had the blessing to meet up with a minister who really touched my heart, and opened my mind to the quest for a deeper, more biblically sound faith.  This quest grew to a decision to follow Christ in December of 2003.

This decision was two and a half years after the most spiritually challenging time of our early marriage.  In 2001 our wonderful daughter Olivia was born two months premature and spent 6 weeks in the hospital at Little Rock.  We really didn't understand how this would work but with the love, support, and assistance of our families and friends and by God's grace we survived and thrived as a family.

Since these times we have grown through other difficulties and struggles and known success on many varying levels.  The greatest of these successes has been receiving a phone call in February of 2015 informing us of Olivia's decision to follow Christ while attending a youth rally in Conway, AR.

With God on our side there is a bright future ahead.  This future is at the heart of my desire to achieve a higher level of fitness.  Fitness that will allow me to be there and enjoy the years to come with Angie and Olivia as well as those who God has not yet introduced to our lives.

Happy Anniversary to my lovely, warm, humble and oh so much more wife.  May there be many wonderful years to come as we continue to write our story, and may the example we set help others to see what is possible with God, a little patience, and the mutual attitudes of a servant.

May we and those around us Do Well!

Power for Positive Change

Seeking change is a difficult thing, whether it is walking away from sin in our life or changing our habits to create a healthier lifestyle.  How do we deal with change when it is necessary, or sometimes thrust upon us?  That is the question for today.

In order to adopt change in our lives we must recognize the necessity for the change.  This is often our biggest challenge as the status quo has a lot of momentum behind it.  We must be able look beyond the here and now to the brighter future that positive change provides.  This will slow that momentum of the past.

Next we must truly be able to visualize the future we desire from the change.  When we can see it in our mind's eye, then we can begin to determine the course or courses of action to get there.  At this point motivation becomes a key factor, do we have the internal drive, an internal compass to guide us each step toward this true north?  If yes, then we are well on our way, if no, then we still have some work to do before we can plan and implement positive change.

Assuming we can see the brighter future, and have the right internal motivation then the steps along the way will become more clear.  In our Christian walk it is stated that, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  God's Word is a wonderful starting point for our journey and my recommendation as the proper lens to view all aspects of our life.

Within our journey to fitness, faithfulness, or an other worthy change we must recognize how to see the change and then be the change.  No, change will not come easy, but it will be rewarding.

Finally we must admit when we get off course, and turn back to the pathway of success.  For the Christian this is repentance and acceptance of God's grace.  When we step aside from the chosen path we cannot beat ourselves up, but rather course correct and give ouselves a bit of grace, just as God our Father give us grace.

If each of us would look inside, and follow these steps as the need for change arises in our lives, we would be much more likely to succeed.  Change your world for the better, Do Well.  Others are watching and your positive change can inspire others to be better as well.

Inspiration, Ramping it Up!

There is something special about youth and the energy they have to share with us all.  I just spent the weekend at a youth leadership development convention for children within churches of Christ called Lads to Leaders.  This was our family's 6th year to attend and though I typically leave physically exhausted I ALWAYS leave with a renewed mind and enthusiasm to work with our kids.

When you combine the zeal of youth with the power of God and implant upon their hearts habits of servant leadership amazing things begin to happen.  We can all take this model and work to deepen our faith and truly get our serve on as we move forward.  By organizing our priorities and looking for ways to grow and serve not only will we develop a better life for ourselves but will very positively impact the lives of others.

I am inspired, in a big way, to up my game just as nearly 10,000 people in Nashville this past weekend likely are too.  Where do you find your inspiration?  There are plenty of options out there and God has placed someone or something in your life to energize, motivate, and inspire you to be the best you that you can be.  Do you see it, hear it, feel it?

This week I challenge you all to look, listen, feel for that special blessing that will move you forward to a better and more Godly you for today and into the future.  Get inspired and Do Well.

Resolve

What is Resolve?
   *Used as a verb- to decide firmly on a course of action.
**Used as a noun - firm determination to do something.

This powerful word can have application in many aspects of our life.  So where are those application points?

*Peer pressure, or the pressure to conform to cultural "norms".

*Dating and Marriage - we MUST follow  biblical principles not he ever changing cultural norms that have given us a 50% divorce rate and an "evolving" definition of marriage.

*Work - We should return to the work ethic of our forefathers and recognize that being a workaholic is dangerous and counterproductive on many levels.

*Pray - scripture tells us to "pray without ceasing."  How much do we practice this?

*Worship - Be there, and open our hearts to it.  There are reasons God instructs us to assemble together.  It holds us accountable, protects us, encourages us and allows us to learn at a deeper level.

*Serve - Service is very important, it builds and shows gratitude for the blessings we have been granted.  It exposes us to the struggles and victories of others, and there is little that will build our faith faster than serving others.

*Study - Always begin with the Bible and be "in the Word" daily.  But don't stop there  fill yourself with other quality information to grow your perspective and build useful interests that bring fullness to your life.

2 Timothy 2:15 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

Can it be tempting to distort or twist the Word of God?  People do it all the time, it is the basis for many cults and misguided religious groups and beliefs.

Scripture gives example after example of people who showed great resolve in difficult situations.  Daniel, Joshua, and Ruth just to name a few.  These people were mere humans, just as we are, and yet they held firm to their various courses and changed history.  We may not change history in the same way these heroes did, but we can change the course of our family for generations to come.

Many of these principles can apply to how we work, how we take care of our physical health, manage our time and so on.  If we will start with resolve in our faith, and grow it into these other areas we can know a more abundant life.  A life centered on God and ready to experience the fullness of His blessing in tragedy and in triumph, today and for years to come.

Will you implement this resolve in an effort to Do Well at a higher level?

Wise Counsel

This little venture known as Workout Your Faith has been a great way to tune up my mind and share from my heart since it's inception last August.  I look forward to continuing it indefinitely into the future, likely with some changes to come.

For those who read it regularly, or have read it in the past today I am looking for your input:

1)  In what ways have these posts impacted you?

2)  What line of thought has given you the most to think about?

3)  Where are you most challenged when it comes to integrating your faith into your daily life?

4)  When you assess your fitness, do you include your faith in that equation?

5)  What line(s) of thought might you be interested in that I might be able to pursue?

 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. - Proverbs 15:22.  (fromBibleGateway.com)

Today I ask you to be my wise counselors to help me shape the future direction of this blog.  The Blogger platform offers a comments section, or your can respond to my email at:
        taocombsfamily@gmail.com.

May God richly bless each of you today and throughout your life so that you might Do Well, and be drawn nearer to Him.
                                 

                                            

Transformation

". . . and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  Romans 12:2

Transformation is a word that carries a lot of visual power for us.  We see our children transformed from the beautiful but helpless babies into vibrant, intelligent, active children all the way to adulthood, or we see the caterpillar transformed into the beautiful butterfly.  Do we want our kids, or ourselves, to be conformed to everything we see in the world?  I would hope not, though it can be so tempting.

There is a better path, one provided through Christ, that leads to a transformation in the way we think, speak, and act.  When we open up our minds to His word, the Bible, we find a new direction, a way of thinking that some will ridicule and others will mock, but that when woven into our daily lives changes us for the better.  It is not always easy to walk the path of transformation but it is worthwhile.

I want to challenge each of us this week to take a look at our lives through the words of this verse of scripture and determine whether we are being conformed or transformed?  The difference can be seen, and the difference can have overwhelming consequences.  Go out, be transformed, and Do Well!

Simplicity in Communication

Have you ever been touched by someone who can taking the seemingly complex things of life and simplify them to a point of extreme clarity?  What a gift that is to have that ability.

Over the past two evenings I have been blessed to listen to such a speaker, Dr. Spencer Furby of Kennett, MO.  He has simply, yet dynamically imparted two powerful messages to those who were  present at the Center Hill Church of Christ youth rally, Renew.  The theme for this year's event has been, "Renewing the Great Commission", and his messages have been right on target.  Each message has challenged us to look around for signs, and to look within us to recognize the path we are on and the destination of that path.

Apart from the intended lessons of scripture, the discerning ear also has learned the beauty of this communication style.  In a world fraught with legalese, jargon, and nonsensical forms of communicating that often bluster on not for the benefit of the reader/listener, but for the pride and ego of the writer/speaker, it is refreshing to encounter someone like Spencer.

This week I intend to practice this skill as I journey life's paths.  Would you join me in a commitment to simplicity in our communications?  This is another way for each of us to Do Well.

Routine or Rut-ine?

Have you ever noticed that within the word routine is hidden the letters you also need to spell rut?

Routines are good for us.  They bring order to our life along with a degree of certainty and knowing what to expect.  All of these are positive, but do we get so wrapped up in the routine that it becomes stale or mundane?  If you are anything like me that can become the case.  Before we know it we are doing nothing but going through the motions for no other reason but to mark them from our list.

It is at this point that the routine has become a RUT.  What do we know about ruts?  If we think of some of the country roads, they will become rutted by the traffic and if a spark of change ( road crew) doesn't do something about it the rut only gets deeper.  As a rut deepens it becomes harder to get out of and if it gets too deep we become stuck.  If we are stuck then we are not getting any results from our efforts.

Personally I believe I have fallen into some ruts in my life.  How about you?  Is it time to make some changes in our routines?  For me it is, and if you recognize a rut forming in your routine then I strongly suggest shaking up the routine.  It doesn't have to be drastic, but it cannot remain the same.

In Matthew 6:31-34 Jesus reminds us not to worry about everything "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." (NKJV)  If we will start with this thoughr at the top of our priority list then He will guide us through the rest. 

Go out this week with Christ first and then let Him take control of the routines of our life, that we May DO WELL.

The Challenge of Challenges

Challenges befall us at frequent intervals.  How do we respond?  If we are honest with ourselves we often fail.

Whether the challenges are physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual we have decisions to make, often in the heat of the moment.  What we do in those moments goes a long way to setting the course for our lives.  Two of the best ways to be prepared are to be an observer of others and to set in place some absolutes where we will not compromise when challenged.

To do these things will set us up for far more successes when challenged than failures.  By being an observer of others we see how others respond to their own challenges and this gives valuable information for facing our own challenges.  Setting up some absolutes is a form of resolve that truly defines who we are and what we are about.

If we are parents this idea of having absolutes is critical in modeling for our children.  Kids need to understand boundaries, and to know there are things that we, and they, cannot do. 

The week ahead will likely pose challenges for each of us, how we respond may be a defining moment.  How will we be defined?  Go out this week, face your challenges, and Do Well.

Checkpoint

We have put to rest the first week of the new year.  Many have set out on resolutions or goals for the year, now are they willing to check-in to assess how they are doing?  This at the heart of why many will not live up to the ambitious targets they have set.

If you truly seek change in your life, then it is imperative to check-in periodically.  When we fail to keep tabs on our progress  we often wind up in an out of control spiral away from the target, and that is when we give up.  You are better than that! 

In matters of faith, are you praying regularly?  In a letter to the church at Thessalonica Paul exhorted them to "pray without ceasing".  We are further guided to "study and show thyself approved. . ."  Have you been in the word?  Finally in the faith category, are you attending worship?  Being with others who are seeking God, encouraging one another and bearing one another's burdens is a wonderful blessing.

On the finance front what have you changed toward a different result?  Are you still living the bad habits of your past?  Adopt the "B" word, a budget, and work at it daily.  Work on yourself to hone your skills and increase your knowledge to make yourself more valuable in your workplace or the marketplace at large.  In the words of Dave Ramsey, use "baby steps".  We did not get to where we are overnight, nor will we get to our desired outcome that quickly either.

Finally on fitness, again it is a journey to a desired end.  Much like learning to ride a bike we will have crashes and some of them will hurt.  We MUST however, pick the bike back up and go again.  With practice we get better, and with a coach or a cheerleader, any accountability partner it is easier to get going again.  Do you have a champion, to turn to for encouragement, just as those learning to ride that bike typically have that parent running alongside until they get the confidence to go it more on their own?

The bottom line this week is don't let the early distractions or obstacles deter you from your goals.  Assess and limit the mess!  Together we can all DO WELL!

Commitment to Improve

Early in my adult life I worked as a retail store manager for Hastings Entertainment stores.  I recall that when we would have to write someone up for policy violations we used a form called "Commitment to Improve" (CTI).  Though the form name was meant portray a positive tone, it was never taken as such by those who were being written up.

As we begin the adventure that is a new year I want to challenge each of you to join me in making a commitment to Improve in some area or areas of your life. 

I have written a considerable bit about goal-setting in the past couple of months and want to make one more appeal to you in this regard.  Though plans often go astray they do provide us with a road map and a definition of success.  If we, as Christians, let others or the world at large define success we will be hopelessly spinning our wheels and likely have wedges inserted between us and God, that become far more difficult to remove over time.

Define your success, move forward toward it, and Do Well in 2016.

Fast Finish

We have entered the final week of another year.  Many things have taken place in the last 12 months some good and some not so good. 

In closing out the year it is typically a good idea to take a look back at the events that have brought us to this point.  It is from these memories and moments that we can do some of our best learning. 

Looking through this year there have been several meaningful items to shape this year.  Topping the list for me is the Saturday night in February when we received a call from Olivia, who was on a church youth trip in Conway, AR, stating she was ready and needed to be baptized and then just a few minutes later to see the video of that blessed event.  That was a proud parent moment for sure.  Other items included the ongoing health struggles for my dad, the opportunity to teach the young adults at Center Hill Church of Christ for a quarter over the summer, changes to my role at Total Life Healthcare which allowed me to become more focused and productive, the Super Summer Slim Down event at St Bernards, and the establishment of this blog in the late summer.

Looking back is great, and looking ahead brings excitement.  I know the Lord and that he has plans for me, just as he stated in Jeremiah 29:11.  I believe 2016 will be a fantastic opportunity to build on my 3 F's of Faith, Family, and Fitness.  My theme this year has been With God we will. . .

As we bring this year to a close I believe that with God we have done much and will continue to grow, proper and share.  Look in next week to see where we will be going and if a new theme has been established.

Boundaries

Words have meanings, spaces have perimeters, and games/competitions have rules..  Each of these serve as forms of boundaries.  Boundaries are for our benefit and are to be respected, if not enforced.

God set the example of boundaries in the Garden with Adam and Eve.  He also let us know there are consequences when these boundaries are breached as He booted them from the Garden when they sinned and crossed that boundary.

In our modern fully connected world, an age "ruled" by boundless ideologies such as secular humanism, atheism, and moral relativism it is increasingly difficult to define and thus enforce boundaries in our personal lives.  When we do seek to have boundaries for our time or behaviors we are often ridiculed or castigated.

Though we face those who would usurp our time or seek to take or destroy our property, it is imperative that we draw up, adhere to, and respect not only our boundaries but those of others.  Work is important in our lives, but we cannot let it wedge it's influence into every waking second of our lives, likewise with school, sports, and entertainment.  Each of these hold a place but our life should be built around our faith with all other aspects integrated in a secondary way.

Your challenge as we look to close out this year in the next two weeks is to look at the boundaries in your life and secure them.  At the same time look at the boundaries of others and respect those that you may not unduly encroach upon them.  With God we will. . . Have healthy boundaries.

An Invitation to Pray

"There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer." 
John Wooden.

As someone who is a recovering sports junkie it is hard not to use references from sports, because it held such a large part of my mind for so many years.  One of the most intriguing figures in sports is the humble little man who won so many championships with his UCLA Bruins basketball teams in the 60's and 70's.  Though I do not have memories of those teams they are the stuff of legend, with several of the stars from those teams being prominent sports figures for many years during my youth.

In recent years I read a biography about Coach Wooden and was thoroughly impressed with his faith, attention to detail, preparation, and absolute desire to develop character in his players.  We would all Do Well to follow his example in this way. 

How do we live our lives?  Do we truly live by our faith, or do we float along with the currents of life (a dangerous thing) going wherever those currents lead.  Jesus our Lord said that he has gone to prepare us a place.  Maybe, just maybe, we need to be preparing to go.  I don't always see it on my life, and if you are honest with yourself, I imagine you don't always see it in your own life.

In the quote above from the coach it says "that type of faith cannot be acquired without prayer."  How is your prayer life today?  Join with me this week in making prayer a priority.  The stresses and strains we put upon ourselves, particlarly during the holidays, can drag us down.  Don't succumb to the wayward currents and drift along, grab hold to the lifeboat of prayer and follow Paul's admonition to the Thessalonians, "pray without ceasing."  Keep in mind, "with God we will. . . Live by Faith."