"Help my unbelief"

It's Day 5 and I was seen Stepping out in my RED shoes today

when I visited "The Shore" church in Sarasota, FL.

What a great New Year's service!

I wasn't planning on visiting my daughter's church today, but late yesterday afternoon, I ran out to fill the car up with gas, and when I went to leave the gas station, my shifter got stuck in park.  

I had to jiggle, shake,

push and pull, and 

maneuver the stick shift,  

over and over again, until 

it finally slipped into drive.  

Oh no!  

Car issues wear me down!

The good news is... I made it home, no problems.  The bad news is... after shutting the car off, I restarted it again, and the same thing happened.  I had to almost force the shifter into gear.  That's not good.  The last thing I need is to be wondering whether or not I'm going to have to call a tow truck every time I go for a ride in the car.  

All things considered, I hopped a ride with my daughter to her church this morning.  What a delight it was.  I was impressed!  The Shore is still a fairly new church in Sarasota.  They are about to celebrate their two year anniversary.  Yet, the music was superb -- the atmosphere was filled with anticipation -- the place was packed -- and Pastor T.J.'s message was fresh, uncompromising and anointed!  They seem to have all the bases covered.  The cherry on top for me, though, was mingling afterwards with the people.  I was reunited with several old friends.  It was a wonderful time of hugs, conversation and prayers.  Now that's a good Sunday morning!

When my car started giving me problems yesterday, I could feel the heaviness descend upon me.  Ugg! Cars are not my thing.  Then I remembered the Word God had given me just two days ago.  There was coming three financial releases in my life.  1)  Regarding the book.  2)  Regarding how I make my living and  3)  Something about my car.   Okay... if I were making all that up myself, I may have been able to come up with #1 and #2,  but I didn't have a clue about #3... the car,   but GOD did!  That's so funny because when He spoke that to me, I remember specifically thinking... What's with #3, the car?  It didn't mean anything at the time.  Now it means everything.  

I know that God is in control, 

even when things seem so out of control.

Here's how I wish I would have reacted when I got home last night.  I wish I had come in the door, thanked God for getting me home quickly and safely, turned on some music and danced before Him in praise and anticipation for what He's going to do regarding my car.  After all... He knows!

Did I do that?  No!  I puttered around talking to God, shed a couple tears, read His Word and wrote my blog.  Not that those things aren't good -- they're fine.  I just wish my reaction had been a little bit more faith driven.  

There's a story found in Mark 9:17-29 in which a man brings his demon possessed son to Jesus for deliverance.  The man asks Jesus, "If you can do anything..."   First, Jesus responds, "If you can?"  He's asking the man, "Are you questioning my ability?"  This is where Jesus says, "Everything is possible for one who believes."  God's ability wasn't in question, but perhaps the man's faith was.  Ouch!

Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, 

"I do believe;  help me overcome my unbelief."

Looking down at the commentary in my Bible for that verse, it said this:  The man's faith has been shaken and he is conscious of its imperfection.  Therefore, he asks Jesus to remove all doubt and to grant him unquestioning faith.

Ahhh!  That's what I needed to do!  I hate when I get like that -- questioning God.  "Can you do that, Lord?  Will you do that? "   It's like trudging through mud.  It's heavy,  dirty and wearisome!  I shook off that heaviness on my knees as I repented before God.  Then I did my best to encourage myself in the Lord.  

Today I felt quite uplifted as I heard Pastor T.J. preach.  A time of communion followed.  I love communion.  For me, it's a time of making sure I'm in proper alignment with God, and if not, correcting that on the spot!  I did that.

All afternoon, the words of an old hymn,  keep going through my mind.

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus 

 by Louisa M.R. Stead and William J. Kirkpatrik  

'Tis so sweet to Trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His Word;

Just to rest upon His promise;

Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord."

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,

How I've proved Him o'er and o'er.

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

Oh for grace to trust Him more.

Now -- as I close today's message -- I'm stepping out onto the dance floor of my office -- in RED shoes of course -- and I'm taking a moment to kick up my heels,  and clap my hands, in praise to God, for the great things He is doing and is about to do! 

I believe!

Gail