Monday, April 26, 2004

Back to the Basics

Do you know what it is that you believe? And do you know why you believe that? Is it because you were raised that way by your family? Did you hear it from someone or read about it in a book or magazine? Is what you believe the TRUTH? Have you read it in the Bible? How do you KNOW?

These are tough questions for some of us, but we NEED to know the answer not only to make sure we are on the right track with our faith, but also so that we are leading non-believers down the right path as well. Yesterday in Church we were talking about Unity, and as a part of the sermon, the Pastor discussed basic doctrine. Many people don't really know what it is they believe, and if they do, sometimes they don't know why they believe it.

My husband and I were talking about a Bible Study he is a part of, and we were discussing that sometimes it is necessary to get "back to the basics" with our faith. We need to go back to the gospel and make sure we have a solid foundation of what it is that we believe, because Satan and those who believe differently will try their best to change our beliefs.

Getting back to the basics isn't always easy. It takes a desire to study, and learn and ask questions. It means prayer, reading the Bible, talking with your Pastor and church members, and making a personal investment in knowing and understanding God's plan for your life.

What do you do to get back to the basics of your faith? Feel free to write about it on your own site and post in the comments section, or if you do not have a site, feel free to post directly to the comments section.

Monday, April 05, 2004

Monday Musing: The Stones Cry Out

Once again, I would like to turn to an Our Daily Bread reading for inspiration. Last night we read from Luke 19:29-40 and the little story in the devotional told of a woman who was saved, and her way of spreading the Gospel was to paint bible verses on small stones from the beach and sell them to raise money for missionaries. I often wonder what other unique ways people minister to others.

This website is the same to me as her stones were to her. I wanted to find a way to use a skill that I have to be able to reach people that I normally would not have been able to reach. Sometimes it is easy to get discouraged when no one comments or responds to the things that we write, but I KNOW that we are reaching someone, because the site counter keeps on rising, and here and there we DO get a response, which is a great feeling! And, even if I only reach ONE person, then I feel I have been successful.

What kinds of things do you do to spread the Good Word? Does it matter to you whether your efforts are acknowledged? How does it feel to know you are reaching people with your personal ministry? Feel free to write about it on your own site, and post in the comments section. If you do not have your own site, feel free to post directly to the comments.