By Karen Moore
karenmooreauthor.com
Recently, I was struck by the word “faithful.” I couldn’t help thinking that faithful must mean, “full of faith.”
Okay, that made me realize that it’s unlikely I’ve ever been “full” of faith. I’ve had some faith, but I’m probably down a quart or two most of the time, when it comes to “full” faith. I do like the Hebrews 11:1 verse that says, “Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.”
I think I understand that idea. After all, that’s the faith by which I perceive the world, and even my family and friends because I have hope. My hope isn’t just whimsical or magical. It’s a hope based on the awareness that I am not in control and that God truly exists. Therefore, I believe many things that are still upside down in the world can be turned right side up again. I feel sure God is with us, so I have hope, and that hope makes me want to have more faith.
God is faithful
I cling to this scripture from Deuteronomy that says, “So know that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God. He will keep his agreement of love for a thousand lifetimes for people who love him and obey his commands.” It reminds me that even if I have rocky faith, God doesn’t. He is forever faithful. He does not forget who we are. That idea encourages me to look for God in all things.
So if I have hope, and if God is faithful, than I have to actually want my faith to grow. Now, that’s a challenge. What will help fill up my faith quotient? Part of the answer has to do with the condition of my heart and my spirit, and the truth that I want to carry around with me. If I want faith to be my anchor, then I have to learn everything I can about it. That means I read God’s word and seek His direction. It means I trust Him when things look bleak, and I turn to Him when I don’t have any answers for the circumstances around me. To be full of anything, I have to do everything I can to discover it, trust it and gobble it up. I have to immerse myself in it because just giving it a casual glance will never get me where I want to go. My fuel gauge will always be running on empty. Faith has to be active and running for it to ever get to fullness.
Finally, Hebrews 11: 6 says, “Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him.”
Okay, I’m taking that as a challenge. I’m taking my scrawny faith and holding it up to God and saying, “Show me more. Teach me more. Help me become more faithful, more full of faith!”
I like the little adage that says, “Doubt knocked on the door, but when Faith answered, no one was there.”
Maybe I simply have to trust that Faith will keep showing up, and fill my days with joy.
Leading a church into missional living means helping them give to gospel causes along with helping them participate directly in gospel causes.
Steven A. McKinion
Professor of systematic theology
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
When Jesus said in John 10:10 that He came that we might have life and have it abundantly, His emphasis was on both eternal life and also the proper quality of life now.
Morris Murray Jr.
Jasper, Ala.
“To reach people, it takes a lot of honesty, one-on-one conversations and consistency,” said Austin White, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Dayton, Nevada.
“Associations are vital in what we do to stay connected with our churches,” said Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief Director Ron Crow.
The gospel is good news for sinners. Jesus paid for all the spiritual and moral debt you owe. He stands ready to redeem and restore your life.
@brandonelrod
X (formerly Twitter)
Gratitude as a way of life
When I am at my best is when I am most grateful for the people in my life.
We all know that we live in a divisive and chaotic world. The 24/7 news cycle bombards us with harsh and negative news in an unceasing fashion.
One way to counteract that reality is to stop and express appreciation for people. It creates an atmosphere of genuine love which our Lord personified.
Paul the apostle illustrates this lifestyle of appreciation. His letters are filled with thankfulness and appreciation.
Remember, he wrote, “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you” (Phil. 1:3).
Let us all follow his example. We all need it.
Rick Lance
Executive director, Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions
ricklance.com
Sustained: 2023 Pastors Conference
The dictionary defines “sustain” as “strengthening or supporting physically or mentally.”
As pastors and ministry leaders, we are all aware of our inability to carry out the call of God on our lives in our own strength.
The pressures of ministry and the barrage of temptation and attack from the enemy are too much for us to handle on our own and, honestly, at times are more than we can bear.
That may be where you find yourself right now.
You may come to our conference walking with a “limp.” You may be carrying concerns for your family, your church, even your own ministry and calling.
Our prayer is for you to be reminded of God’s sustaining grace, power, faithfulness and peace in your life and ministry.
God’s promise to us in 2 Thessalonians 3:3–5 is that He will establish us, guard us and draw us into His love and steadfast faithfulness.
I don’t know about you but that’s a word I need in my life every single day!
We need a powerful move of God in our lives and our churches.
Please join us for the 2023 Pastors Conference, Nov. 13, at Taylor Road Baptist Church in Montgomery.
We pray you will be encouraged and empowered by the truth that you are sustained by the God who loves you, created you, saved you, called you and who will finish the work He has started in you!
Pastor Daniel Atkins
President, 2023 Alabama Baptist Pastors Conference
EDITOR’S NOTE — Find more information about this year’s conference and a full schedule at albaptistpc.com.
In order for us to reach the next generation, I think we just need to be praying for the next generation. … I think the whole church should rally around youth ministry. … It’s important to really put an emphasis on going out and building relationships, and just loving youth and telling them about Jesus.
Caleb Barbier
Student pastor at Springfield (Tenn.) Baptist Church
There exists an incredible irony in the ministries of many pastors, pastors who work themselves to the brink of burnout largely on tasks that have nothing to do with their primary calling — that is, the call to “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you” (1 Pet. 5:2).
@PastorCroft
X (formerly Twitter)
Few words. But a strategic plan of action. One tested and tried through the ages.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6).
Everything travels through day and night. All the things. Each situation and conversation. Every person and praise and problem.
Susan Lafferty
susanlafferty.com
I’m convinced that PRAYER and PATIENCE are two of the most under-emphasized needs in the Christian life.
Prayer is the means by which God’s work is done. Patience is the evidence that we are relying on God to get His work done.
@DanielDickard
X (formerly Twitter)
“There’s nothing wrong with being an older pastor with years of accumulated wisdom, but we also need to encourage a new generation to take up the challenge of leading churches,” said Sam Rainer, president of the Church Answers network and pastor of West Bradenton Baptist Church in Bradenton, Florida.
Here’s a cheat sheet of how Satan whispers:
If only you were …
People think you’re so …
Why can’t you just …
You’re too much.
You’re not enough.
Don’t let him get you into a state of defeat by believing and repeating his scripts. God knows you completely and loves you fully!
@LysaTerKeurst
X (formerly Twitter)
The King of kings accomplished the exodus for us all. Through Him we have passed from death to life, darkness to light, slavery to freedom. He by His death and resurrection has led us out.
@DianeLangberg
X (formerly Twitter)
The Pharisees wanted Jesus dead because He disrupted their pretentious piety of quibbling over minute doctrinal applications like which herbs to tithe while they ignored the vulnerable, exploited, oppressed and powerless.
Theological precision ≠ True religion before our God.
@blondeorthodoxy
X (formerly Twitter)
41 sermons later and we’re done with Genesis! What a joy it has been to journey through this book looking at the origin of humanity and God’s promise to set things right. I’ve found my faith strengthened in God’s sovereign work in my life.
@ronniep
X (formerly Twitter)
God grants sinners repentance and faith, but He does not repent and believe for them.
@pastorjaycbc
X (formerly Twitter)
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