TRUST #25: Trusting in the Reliability of God's Word

When my parents were working with CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship), I was a young girl, around Kindergarten age. During that time, I can remember them asking my older brother and sister and me to sing some CEF songs and record them on a cassette tape to send to our grandparents.

LISTEN HERE TO US KIDS SINGING ONE OF THOSE SONGS:

THE WORDS TO THE SONG:
I'm glad I'm a Christian.

I'm TRUSTING the Lord.

I'm reading my Bible;

Believing each word.

The past is forgiven;

From sin I am free.

A mansion in Heaven

Is waiting for me.  

I chose to share this song with you today because it presents an important message about TRUSTING in the Lord. You can see it in the first verse, about how a big part of TRUSTING comes from  BELIEVING. But, its not just about believing God exists, its also about believing His Word (the Bible) is TRUE. In order to fully TRUST in God, it is important to believe in the reliability and inerrancy of His Word. It is the foundation of the Christian faith, and believing in its truth will make a huge difference in the strength of your TRUST.

If you are currently doubting the reliability of Scripture, I really don't think there is anything I can say to convince you of its truth. It is a matter of faith and worldview on your part, and something you will need to choose to believe in. But, if you are struggling with this subject and want some good articles to ponder, here are a few to get you started. I pray they will help answer some of your questions:

• FOCUS ON THE FAMILY:  How Do We Know the Bible is True?
• ANSWERS IN GENESIS:  How Do We Know that the Bible is True? 
• LIVING WATERS:  Can We Trust the Bible?

TRUST #24: Allowing Our Son to Go and Do

As I look at the photo above (taken in 2008), I see my 5-year-old son, JJ, and smile. He was so little then, and was so dependent on me and David. We knew he could have easily fallen and gotten hurt while playing on this playground equipment; but we also knew we needed to allow him this time of play. Why? Because, as he was having fun playing, he was also developing a range of much-needed skills. He was developing motor skills, coordination, creativity, confidence-building, and independence - all necessary skills that have helped him learn, grow, and engage in the world around him. 

JJ is 15 years old now, and he is experiencing a new form of independence and confidence-building skills while spending a large part of his summer 6 hours from home. He is with my brother and his family at Youth Haven Bible Camp in the hills of Kentucky. The first week of June, he attended Jr. Staff Orientation, then spent a week of being a camper during teen week, and now he is working and serving as a Jr. Staff member until the middle of July.

If you are a parent, you can understand how difficult it is to allow a child to go so far away from home, and for so long of a time; but, I realize that allowing JJ to go and do new things is all part of the growing up process - for both him and for me (heh heh). So, I have been praying for JJ daily, and have been choosing to TRUST in God by placing JJ's well-being into God's hands. In fact, David and I have both been praying, not only for JJ's health and safety, but also for his spiritual growth, and for him to have learning experiences that will help shape him into the young man God wants him to become.

I remember back when I was barely 16, and I spent most of the Summer working as a "summer missionary" at Camp Good News in Minnesota. I have memories from that time of situations that have helped shape my life and make me the person I am today. I can only ask the same for JJ. So, although I miss him, I am thankful he has this opportunity to spend some time with his cousins, and to serve and work at the camp.

Playing in the park can help a young child's development. In the same way, being away from home for awhile can help a teenager's development. I am TRUSTING that this experience will be an exciting time of learning and growing for JJ, and I look forward to hearing about all he has done and learned during his time away.

TRUST #23: A Father Who Can Be Trusted

On the day each of our children were born, David was a tremendous help throughout the labor and delivery process. He stayed near me the entire time, making sure all was going as well as it could be. Then, as soon as our baby was born, he quickly checked to see that I was okay, then went to be near the young ones as they were being cleaned up. At each birth, he had made an obvious transition from being a caring and protective husband to being a caring and protective father. And, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

David with our 1st-born child -1998

David with our 2nd-born child - 2003

A good father can be TRUSTED to love his children, protect them, and to care for them in ways that only a good father can. I am thankful and pleased to have that kind of a father for my children.

Unfortunately, not everyone in this world has had a father who has earned that same kind of trust. If that is YOU, don't be discouraged. We know from God's Word that you, too, can have a Father who can be trusted - a Heavenly Father. When you accept Jesus as your Savior, you are adopted as a child of God. He becomes the good Father you never had.
 
So, today, which is Father's Day in the United Stated, don't be afraid to open your heart to the Heavenly Father, placing your TRUST in Him. He is a Father who loves you, cares for you, wants to be a part of your life, and knows you better than anyone - even to the point of knowing how many hairs are on your head. He is a Father who can be TRUSTED.

TRUST #22: "Trust the Engineer" (A Quote by Corrie TenBoom)

“When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and TRUST the engineer.” 

 ~ Corrie TenBoom

TRUST #21: Twila Paris "Do I Trust You?"

Way back in 1984, when I was a young teen-aged girl, a song came out on Christian radio by TWILA PARIS. This song, according to CCM CLASSIC was "written in response to Keith Green's untimely death in 1982."  Keith was also a well-known Christian musician at that time, who died on July 28, 1982. It was a plane crash that took his life, along with two of his four children.

Back then, when this song was new, many were blessed by the words. In fact, many are still being blessed by them. So, today, as we continue with the theme of TRUST, I am sharing the lyrics of this song with you....

DO I TRUST YOU?
(Click the title to hear the song)

Sometimes my little heart can't understand
What's in Your will, what's in Your plan.
So many times I'm tempted to ask You "Why?"
But I can never forget it for long.
Lord, what You do could not be wrong;
So I believe You, even when I must cry.

Do I trust You, Lord? Does the river flow?
Do I trust You, Lord? Does the north wind blow?
You can see my heart, You can read my mind
And You've got to know, I would rather die
Than to lose my faith in the One I love.
Do I trust You, Lord? Do I trust You?

I know the answers, I've given them all
But suddenly now, I feel so small
Shaken down to the cavity in my soul.
I know the doctrine and theology
But right now they don't mean much to me.
This time there's only one thing I've got to know

Do I trust You, Lord? Does the robin sing?
Do I trust You, Lord? Does it rain in spring?
You can see my heart, You can read my mind
And You've got to know I would rather die
Than to lose my faith in the One I love
Do I trust You, Lord? Do I trust You?

I will trust You, Lord, when I don't know why
I will trust You, Lord, till the day I die
I will trust You, Lord, when I'm blind with pain
You were God before and You'll never change
I will trust You, I will trust You
I will trust You, Lord
I will trust You, I will trust You
I will trust You, Lord
I will trust You, I will trust You
I will trust You, Lord

Songwriter: Twila Paris

Do I Trust You lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

TRUST #20: Romans 15:13

How the New EU Law Affects My E-mail Subscribers

I don't really know a whole lot about this but, it is my understanding that a new European Union law requires me to give European Union visitors information about cookies used and data collected on this blog.

Basically, I take this to mean, if I use an email list to sell a product (like books), or provide a service or a program online or through my blog, the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) requires me to let you know how I use your data. This pertains to those located in, doing business with, or making contact in the EU. The law protects against spam and unwanted data-sharing and goes into effect May 25, 2018.

So, for those of you who have signed up to receive my blog posts via email, please note how I intend to use your e-mails: I will not sell your e-mails, or share them with anyone else. I will not use them to send you newsletters. (NOTE: Blog posts are not the same as newsletters.) If you signed up to receive my blog posts via e-mail, Blogger will only use your email address to send you my new posts.

If you no longer wish to receive these blog post notifications in your e-mail, there is a link at the bottom of each e-mail that will allow you to unsubscribe.

Thanks for reading. 

TRUST #19: "Trust" Quote from Chip Ingram

CHIP INGRAM is a Christian pastor, teacher, and author. He is the founder and teaching pastor of Living on the Edge, an international discipleship ministry, and is also the senior pastor of Venture Christian Church in Los Gatos, California.

I like this quote about TRUST from Pastor Ingram:

Nothing will enter your life that God does not either decree or allow. And nothing will ever enter your life that, if you are willing to TRUST in him, he cannot work out for your good.

TRUST #18: What Faith Means to Me (Guest: Carolyn McIntosh)

In 2009, I asked my mom to write down what FAITH means to her, and I shared it on my blog at that time. Since today is Mother's Day, and in honor of her, I want to share her article with you again.

Even though I am focusing on TRUST for this year's posts, you will notice below that FAITH and TRUST are very similar in definition.

FAITH:  Complete trust or confidence in someone or something. (In this case: God)

TRUST:  Reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; Confidence.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

What is Faith to Me?

By:  Carolyn McIntosh

I think of the words to a song, “FAITH is just believing what God says He will do. He will never fail you, His promises are true.”

FAITH is trusting in Jesus alone as the one who died for my and your sins. Believe He was buried and rose again from the grave. He promised He would forgive us if we believe in Him and ask His forgiveness.

FAITH is believing, if we have the faith of a mustard seed, we can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). God has moved many mountains for me and my family - both physically and financially. Why? Because He promised to supply our needs. Not our wants, but our needs.

I have a prayer journal and have had it for about 40+ years. I encourage you to do the same. Then, occasionally go back and read how God was faithful to you, in good and hard times, sometimes even giving you some of your wants. That’s how good God is!

God is faithful to us. We need to be faithful to Him. Believe His Word (His promises), read it and obey it. Cling to His promises every day and, if you are His child, believe His promises are true for you - because He said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5b)

TRUST #17: Prayers Can Show Our Trust

It can be easy to say we are trusting (or relying on) God, but how do we truly know when we are relying on Him?

The answer to that question came to me when I read 21 Days of Faith Challenge by Christian speaker and author, Shelley Hitz. She has several books available on Amazon, and this was one I grabbed when it was available for free on my Kindle.

On DAY 14 of the faith challenge, Shelley tells of a time when she and her husband were doing missionary work and waiting for direction from God in a particular situation. During that waiting time, her husband wrote this quote and posted it on the wall in their kitchen:

Prayer is the proof we are relying on God.

Prayer is not just about asking for the things we want or need. It's about realizing we need God in our lives. It's about putting ourselves in God's hands. It shows we are relying on Him to help us through our circumstances, and not relying on ourselves. 

I encourage you to show you are relying on God by taking your requests to Him in prayer.

Then, TRUST HIM with the outcome.