I have often heard great discussions centered around faith. What is faith? Is it what you believe? Or is it what you do with what you believe? The Bible refers to Abraham as a man of faith. Why? What was it about Abraham that earned him recognition as faithful? "The Lord had said to Abram (Abraham), ‘Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." Genesis 12:1 Is Abraham a man of faith because he believed the Lord? Or because he acted upon that belief? Is it enough to simply believe or does God expect more?

Recently, I've had to walk out my faith in God. I have publicly declared that I believe God is Sovereign. I firmly believe that if I seek first the kingdom of God, all these other things will be added unto me. Other things being of course my food, clothing and shelter. I believe that God is trustworthy and faithful to His word. The truth is I have not needed to test God in any of these things. Yes these are beliefs I have held in my heart and mind, but if they stay there they will never result in the life changing faith I really need. So how does belief become faith?

When you put your beliefs into action. Every once in a while God presents opportunities in our lives that will cause us to take a step of faith. Just as Jesus called Peter to step out of the boat, so too He still beckons us today to step out of our boat of safety and comfort.

I've been feeling a little like Abraham these days. My family and I are quite literally leaving the land of our fathers and going to a place He has prepared for us. Not all of the details have been revealed to us. But one thing is sure, every time we say, "yes" to his plan, he reveals a little more. That is how He builds our faith. You see if He were to show us the way and give us all of the details, and then confirm it every time we felt insecure, why would we need faith? That is not faith. It is easy to believe every thing will work out great when you are staring at the blueprints! How much more difficult as you survey the expanse of desert before you. Do you go? As Jesus calls us out do we go with Him as our only guide? Or do we cling to what we know? And if we hesitate and cling to our lives, do we miss the opportunity to really live?

There it is. Jesus said it. In order to find your life, you must lose it? The only time we will ever prosper in the kingdom of God is when we recognize that we are poor and miserably wretched . When we finally see how destitute we really are without the Lord, only then can we even begin to live. Only then can He begin to live in and through us. When you step out of the boat, as Peter did, you realize that nothing else matters. Only being with Jesus. Only obediently following his bidding. He didn't yank Peter out of the boat, He gently bid Him, "Come". ( Matthew 14:29) It was Peter's choice to step out onto the water. And when he did, wow! With his eyes on Jesus, he was able to walk on water! Imagine what God can do through you or me if only we were willing to step out of the boat?

I've been thinking a lot lately about dreams, desires, ambitions. Whose are they anyway? Where do they come from? Are they from God? And if so how can we be sure? There are many dreams & desires, in the hearts and minds of God's children that are not of Him. They may be carnal, worldly or just plain temporal. Others may be noble and good, and yet they are not His plan for your life. In the book of Proverbs we read, " Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21 So how do you know what dreams are from Him? Well the answer lies in a surrendered life. You must lose your life to find it. It is the Lord's purpose that will prevail. How comforting that even if I fight and resist, the Lord's plan will prevail. But how much better would it be if I surrendered my dreams and accepted His plans? Surrender it all. Every dream, every hope, every desire.

We must get to the place where we are willing to say, "Yes Lord" before we even know the question. That is faith. It is not faith in what God will do or what God will give or even in what God has promised. It is faith in who God is. It is putting into action your belief of who God is. It is being willing to step out of the boat merely because He bids you, "Come". When we are truly surrendered to God's purposes in our lives, that is when we finally begin to live!

This is the last column I will write from NY as my family and I are moving to Nashville, Tennessee. Why? Because the Lord has bid us, "Come". What other reasons do I need? I am sure there will be many adjustments to be made. I believe I may have coined a new phrase, "Everything's new in 2002!" A new home, a new state, a new church, a new baby. Oh the list could probably go on. But some things will remain. The Lord will continue to be my anchor and faithful guide. My wonderful husband and children are still my partners in all this adventure. The love of family and friends still warms my heart and gives me courage to press on . And of course, my column in the Christian Life Times as the new Nashville correspondent!

There are many of you that I will dearly miss, and yet I know that we will have eternity to catch up again. So here I go, pray that we keep our eyes on Jesus ( I don't want to get wet). My prayer for you is may you recognize and seize your God given opportunities to step out of that proverbial boat. May you walk in His grace. Thy kingdom come!

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