Giving Up Your Glory: Sarah Hall of Faith

   "What are you really living for? It's crucial to realize that you either glorify God, or you glorify something or someone else. You're always making something look big. If you don't glorify God when you're involved in a conflict, you inevitably show that someone or something else rules your heart” (Ken Sande).
   One person in the Hall of Faith that may confuse some people is Sarah. Sarah was the wife of Abraham. She followed her husband and helped him make some not so good choices. Why would she be in the Hall of Faith?
   In Genesis 15 Abraham receives a covenant with the Lord. He is told that he will have a son and his descendants will outnumber the stars in the sky. In Genesis 16 Sarah tells Abraham to sleep with Hagar so that Abraham would receive what God promised. Now, this seems like Sarah isn't having faith in God because she's not waiting for God to work. However, Sarah was doing something many people now days would not do: reflecting God's glory. 
   Sarah could have said to Abraham that she did not want Hagar to have a child. Sarah could have been selfish and said, "I must be the one to bear the child of promise." Instead Sarah sacrifices her place as the head of the household and let's Hagar bear her child.  
   Now, we all know the rest of the story. Hagar mistreated Sarah, Sarah mistreated Hagar, God says Sarah will have a child at the age of ninety, Sarah laughed, Isaac is born, and Ishmael and Hagar are sent away. It kind of sounds like a soap opera. But, the point we need to take from all this is Sarah is in the Hall of Faith for a reason. She had faith and would have given up her glory in order to make sure the covenant was fulfilled.
   So, will you choose to reflect God's glory? Will you choose to follow God's plan and trust in him?

   Genesis 16, Genesis 21, 1 Corinthians 10:31

Giving Up Everything For God: Abraham Hall of Faith

   "Imagine what God would trust you with tomorrow if you trusted Him more today...” (Simon Lawton).
   Abraham was the start of the nation of Israel. However, when God chose Abraham he was far from perfect. Abraham worshiped other gods but when God called him to leave all he knew Abraham went.
   On this journey Abraham learned many things and was given great promises from God. God promised him land, children, and blessing. Abraham had to go through many trials before he received the promised child: Isaac. 
   Abraham loved Isaac as evident in Genesis 2:2 "Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac" He finally received what he was promised then God said this: "go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you."
   Abraham was asked to give up his most precious possession just because God asked him to. Abraham could have said no. It is evident from other passages that Abraham did not always trust God. This was Abraham's final test to see if he would trust Him. Abraham took Isaac and did what God called him to do. He stepped out in faith and trusted that God had a plan to keep the covenant He had with him. Would you be willing to give up your most precious possession for God? That's the kind of faith Abraham had.
   So, would you be willing to give up everything for God? Will you trust that God has a plan for your life?

   Genesis 2, Galatians 2:20, Matthew 19:21
   Image from here.

Special Edition: Bieber Family Benefit

   Sometimes life just gets you down. You may have some hard problems. During those times, it's important to have people come alongside you. Hebrews 10:24-25 says "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
   The Lancaster Bible College Women's Soccer Team has banded together this year to support one of their players in particular: Avery Bieber. Her father, Andy, is in a battle of stage 4 Gliobastoma. He has gone through many treatments to get rid of a brain stem tumor but the tumor has grown suddenly.
   The LBC Women's Soccer Team team is hosting a benefit for the Bieber family Saturday, September 21. There will be T-shirts available for donations toward the family's expenses as well as a bake sale.
   These girls have been so supportive of all of their teammates, not just Avery. This team bands together through good and bad times. They believe in each other, encourage each other, and pray for one another. It is inspiring to see a team that is truly living out the way Christ has called us to live.
   You can find out more about the Bieber family and the benefit here. 

Faith During Criticism: Noah Hall of Faith

   "To learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings." George Mueller
   Noah was on the earth during a time of great wickedness. God looked throughout the earth and found only one righteous man, Noah. Could you imagine that? If you were Noah how would you feel? It would be neat for God to say you are righteous. But, then you would be alone in your faith. I don't know bout you but if I did not have godly friends I am not sure I could face some of the trials I go through. 
   Then, after God finds Noah faithful, God tells Noah to build an ark. Mind you, there may not have been rain before this time and God told Noah to build an ark on land. If you were a bystander what would you be thinking? You would probably think Noah was crazy, especially because he is building a large ark on land. More than likely Noah received criticism for what he was doing. 
   This is a time when no one believes in God, Noah is building a boat on land that is huge, and it probably took years to build this ark. Just picture what physical, mental, emotional, and even spuritual pain Noah and his family must have gone through. But, if Noah had not followed God in faith what would have happened? We would not be here today. Without Noah being willing to follow God we would not exist. 
In life, we may be asked to do crazy things. But, we must remember to be like Noah and follow God's plan no matter what criticisms we get.
   So, would you have been willing to do as Noah did even through the criticisms he probably received? Will you be willing to do what God calls you to do no matter what trials you face?
   Genesis 6-8, Psalm 119:133, James 1:12
   Image from here.

Walking With God: Enoch Hall of Faith

   “Those who walk with God, always reach their destination” (Henry Ford). 
   Enoch is one member of the Hall of Faith that we do not know much about. What we do know is that he lived to be 365. In today’s standard that is pretty impressive, but back then it was not that impressive. Many people lived to be anywhere from 700-1,000 years old back then. Why is Enoch in the Hall of Faith if all he did was live 365 years?
   Genesis 5:24 says: “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” That still does not seem that special unless you dig into the words. The Bible goes into detail in a lot of genealogies. The reason behind that is important but in this case we need to pay special attention to the wording. “God took him away.” Enoch was so faithful to God that Enoch did not have to die.
   I am not sure I could imagine being so faithful to God that I would not have to die. Other than that we don’t know much about Enoch. We do know that he “pleased God” (Heb.11.5-6). He walked with God so much that he was able to reach his destination: Paradise with God, without having to go through the pain of death. Now that’s what I call faith. 
   How can we walk with God? We need to spend time with him.  The way to do that is pray and dig in the word. Just because we do that does not mean we will not have to die. What it does mean is that we will be doing what we are called to do: walk with God in faith.
   So, will you choose to be like Enoch and walk with God? Will you spend time with God? Will you have faith and trust in him?
   Deuteronomy 5:33, Hebrews 11, Genesis 5:21-23
   Image from here.

You Gotta Slow Down: Labor Day

   Have you ever said to yourself: "I wish I had more time to relax," "I'm too busy to relax," or "I have too much work and I'm exhausted." If you are like me, you have probably said something along those lines before. I have found that as we get older we just become more and more busy. That's probably why there's so much anxiety, stress, and crankiness nowadays.
   I think that we are forgetting something that is very important, not just to our physical health, but our mental health as well. We need rest. This is not a want it is a need. In Genesis 2:2 God does something we may not expect "On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work." Did you catch that? God rested after his work was complete. Does God need to rest? No, he doesn't. Why did he rest? Because, he is the ultimate example for us. He rested because we are to rest. God wants us to work and do our best. But, if we don't rest, or we don't spend time with God, we will get burned out.
   This idea reminds me of something my Aunt used to have. She had this plastic turtle with rubber legs that moved. I thought is was so cool because I didn't have a real pet at the time (bare in mind I was like 5 when I first saw it). The turtle also sang a song that went like this: "You gotta slow down, you're moving too fast. You gotta slow down, let go of the past. You're working too hard, you know it's true. You gotta slow down, and take some time for you."
   Yes, work is important. God calls us to work hard to reflect his glory. But, he also knows we need rest. If we overwork ourselves it will harm our mental and physical health. As well as, we will not do as well at our work and probably hurt others emotionally. That's why we need to listen to the turtle. We need to slow down. We need to relax. We need to spend time with God. It's a hard balance, but an important one nonetheless.
   So, are you overworking yourself? Do you spend time with God each day? What can you do to make sure you rest when you need it?

   2 Timothy 3:16 and Exodus 34:21

   Image from here.