Growing in faith…

Growing in faith is marked by a life of character transformation. Knowing God means that we are aware of his presence in each moment of our day. A life of faith is not a one glorious, mountain top experience after another; it is a life of consistency of following after God even when difficult times come. Growing in faith embraces challenges not as defeats or even as tests but as an opportunity to again prove God. Our faith may be weak and fumbling, yet our faith is maturing as it leans hard on God. – Ron Friesen

Living the Life of faith…

Living a life of faith does not mean being a person who has confidence in their faith. How often we hear people say, “Oh, I wish I had faith like she does.” This is a great misunderstanding of what we mean by living a life of faith. The issue is not the degree or kind of faith but the target of our faith. We do not have faith in faith; we have faith in God. We are called to a life of faith - not of reason or understanding – a life of knowing God. When our faith is rooted in knowing God, we will understand that our life is not judge by success but by obedience. – Ron Friesen

How do you respond to all the needs around you?

Are you frantically busy?

Do you see many needs around you? Do you sometimes wonder, “How can I meet all these needs?” There are many needs, there is one call. What followers of Jesus understand is that the need is not the same as the call. If we think the need is the call, we will soon wear out from the burden of the needs around us. Our call is first to be with Jesus. When we are united to Jesus, we find that our hearts are drawn to what he is doing in the world. When we are sensitive to what Jesus is doing and join him; we sometimes we ignore other demands around us. God is calling us to be faithful to him; we are not called to frantic busyness. – Ron Friesen

Are you frantically busy?

Do you see many needs around you? Do you sometimes wonder, “How can I meet all these needs?” There are many needs, there is one call. What followers of Jesus understand is that the need is not the same as the call. If we think the need is the call, we will soon wear out from the burden of the needs around us. Our call is first to be with Jesus. When we are united to Jesus, we find that our hearts are drawn to what he is doing in the world. When we are sensitive to what Jesus is doing and join him; we sometimes we ignore other demands around us. God is calling us to be faithful to him; we are not called to frantic busyness. – Ron Friesen

Rest from your labor...

Long before we were called to do something for God, we were called to be his sons and daughters. In our driven-world to prove we are productive we forget that who we are is more significant then what we do. If we think that productivity proves relationship, we will find ourselves worn out and easily discouraged. The good news is that God loves us for our sake not because we are doing anything for him. Here is the word for today: Rest from your labors; rest in God. – Ron Friesen

A piercing question….

Has Jesus ever backed you into a corner and asked you one of his piercing questions? St. Peter experienced such a moment: “Peter was grieved because he (Jesus) said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’” (John 21: ) Only a God who knows us perfectly and loves us perfectly can penetrate to the core of our being in such a way that we realize that the question is wrapped in love. The question bears within itself a revelation of God’s nature and truth that leads to the spiritual transformation that we desire. It does not come often in our lives, yet when it does we will know that it is a moment of God’s breaking in to do a greater work in our lives. – Ron Friesen

Do you really love me?

Do you really love me?

After the resurrection, Jesus met Peter, the denier, for a meeting of restoration. Peter was asked three times, “Do you love me?” Each time Peter responded, “Yes, you know I do.” With each confession, Jesus gave the command, “Feed my sheep.” There is no elaborate description given about how Peter is to show his love for is Lord and Savior; only a simple command: “Feed my sheep.” Jesus has some very peculiar sheep: some are messy, some are clumsy and aggressive, and some go astray! Loving Jesus and his sheep means setting aside my prejudices and feelings of who is worthy of my loving service. There is no room here for common sense or natural feelings of attraction. To love Jesus is to love all his sheep. – Ron Friesen