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John, this is a very thought provoking blog. I one add one thing I think is important...
Faith is not just something we believe, it is how we LIVE our lives if it has real Christian meaning.
Shalom, Art
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Posted 12/10/2009 08:50am
Author: aliveintheword
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Love that one-liner Art!!
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Posted 12/31/2009 11:54pm
Author: abelajohnb
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Ah, another great one-liner Milt !!
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Posted 12/31/2009 11:55pm
Author: abelajohnb
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Certainly this is curious and interesting interlude on what faith is! And I must say that Jesus says that faith is not getting even with you enemies and how much they owe you or me. In the Parable of the Insistent Widow, the widow kept fretting the judge, God who would bring here justice with her adversary to make some good to her. And the heading of this Parable, Jesus says that men should always pray and not loose heart...
And faith is in praying to God and having trust on him to grant us what we need to be reasonable content in the calling he has given us. And faith to me is he understanding that God is everything to us and for us. I woke up this morning and I confessed to God that I had at that moment was him God and a copy of his word. And I have trust that is all I really need. God says not to glory in our wisdom, it can dissappear, not to glory in our riches, they can dwindle, and or our strength, sickness and what have you can topple us at any moment. Let's turn there to Jeremiah,
["...Jeremiah 9:23 (Whole Chapter)
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
Jeremiah 9:24 (Whole Chapter)
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD..."]
And faith is a gift and a privildge to know this above and not exalt on anything we do or how much devotion we have. Faith is some and the trust God gives us to focus on him for all thing and to not trust ourselves or our works or our holiness or anything but God himself being the porthole to everything we can possible need and even eternal life itself...
May you be blessed. Thanks for this wonderfu blog. Shalom!
thbg
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Posted 12/10/2009 09:11am
Author: tohimbeglory
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Well, it just turned 2010 a few seconds ago...
I have to say thbg, the way you post bible verses really confuses me... but it's a new year so I'll try to figure it out :D
From most of what you are saying, it seems to be that you feel a major part of faith is involved in trusting in God. I think this is a major aspect of it. However, I also know there have been times in my walk with God when I maybe didn't really trust that God was out there, yet the faith inside me told me He of course was. The difference being that my faith was not dependent upon my brain, but upon my heart. I've always felt trust was an intellectual facet, while faith was heart facet.
I do totally agree that faith is a gift - imparted to us at the time of recognizing that God is Lord of our lives. Yet faith is also one of those things that we have to work out throughout our lives.
Great comment - thanks for it!
John
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Posted 01/01/2010 12:07am
Author: abelajohnb
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Over the past two years, my faith has been questioned a lot. Not by myself but by others... simply because God is doing things differently than what they how they say God should do things. Funny... if God miraculously removed the tumor, I have faith but if I believe that I am in God's hands and keep walking beside Him regardless of what any test results say, I don't? That makes absolutely no sense to me! Shall I have faith in God's Word only if God does things my way in my time? Absolutely not for that would mean my faith is in my circumstances, my faith is in human understanding, my faith is in what I see. not faith in God!
I believe faith is a living, growing thing. Oh I know, some people say we are only given so much implying that some are given the capacity to have more while others have less. Personally, I do not believe God short-changes anyone and He gives us all that we need! It is up to us to use it.
Blessings!
K 
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Posted 12/10/2009 11:40am
Author: kreynolds
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Hey K,
I am not sure I've never heard of anybody saying that we are limited to a certain amount of faith... but if such people do exist, I guess they are in a world of hurt in the faith department, eh!
I am totally 100% with you - God gives to His children exactly what they need!
John
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Posted 01/01/2010 12:42am
Author: abelajohnb
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Hebrews 11:1 Faith is being certain of what we hope for and sure of what we do not see. Thanks for your blog reminding me of this and my view also is that faith is spiritual power. With faith all things are possible, since faith becomes stronger through spending time with God through difficult times, and with God all things are possible.
Have a superduper day!
God Bless you all.
Alison McQueen
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Posted 12/10/2009 01:39pm
Author: alisonwhitefordmcq
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Hey Alison,
Yes, nothing defines what something is better than the Holy Word of God!!
Many Blessings!
John
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Posted 01/01/2010 12:45am
Author: abelajohnb
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When I think of faith, or try to define it, I think of faith as trusting in God, to believe Him, and as kreynolds so aptly put it, "Shall I have faith in God's Word only if God does things my way in my time? Absolutely not for that would mean my faith is in my circumstances, my faith is in human understanding, my faith is in what I see. not faith in God!"
If our faith is only in our circumstances, it is not faith at all, for then our faith would fail us when circumstances failed us. Consider Job. Circumstance did not turn him away from God. And if anyone had such a right as to allow circumstances to destroy his faith, no one would have a better argument than Job.
I used to moderate Christian forums, and we had a Pastor visit who because of circumstances lost his faith, even his belief in God. He had 2 sons, twins if I remember correctly. The one that appeared healthy died early. The other had some serious health problems in life. This tough set of circumstances caused both he and his wife to turn from God. He had to give up being a Pastor. We (my co-moderator & I) talked and worked with him for quite some time, and the conversations for him were tough. He was desperately seeking answers. He was in some serious pain. I think we worked with him for 3-4 months, possibly longer. In the end, before leaving us, he thanked us for our patience and our loving time, as he felt we helped him a great bit. He knew his path would be a long hard road, and felt it was time to move forward. He said he now believed in God once again, but his faith just was no longer there. I wish we could have kept in touch. His faith was one of circumstances. He felt God let him down and turned his back on him. We talked at length about Job and others in the Bible. I can only hope and pray he has worked through all of this.
As for faith, Hebrews 11 is the faith chapter of the Bible. For those that may not be familiar with it, take a moment and read it, it will be worth the time. Then come back and comment!
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Posted 12/10/2009 06:28pm
Author: gregory
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You are so right gregory!
Faith is never based upon our circumstances!
As I said in my blog "True faith is your depth of a relationship with God."
This does not mean that circumstances of our life effect the depth of a relationship with God, but there is no doubt that at times our circumstances do seem to make us *think* our faith is weak. This is where most people stumble. They allow their circumstances to define their faith - instead of allowing their faith to define their circumstances!
Blessings,
John
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Posted 01/01/2010 12:48am
Author: abelajohnb
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I would add another comment, if you will, that if try to reason what faith is we won't get anywhere, where the road is straight! We read in Proverbs 3:5-6,
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
Lean not on your own understanding,
In all ways acknowledge him,
And he will make your paths straight...
And God tells us not to reason among ourselves as to what things are and how we understand them according to our own terms and limitations. And real faith is to thank God for all circumstance, hence: In all ways acknowledge God. And God promises to take you were you want to go if you follow his advice to trust him. And I certainly want to do that! Because I want my road to be straight and narrow and winding where I can fall off a ledge...
So in faith don't limit or reason with yourselve what is the limit of a request you make to God! Trust, don't reason, thank him and it will happen according to his promise...
May you be blessed. Amen.
thbg
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Posted 12/10/2009 10:06pm
Author: tohimbeglory
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Yeah, you are so right-on about this.
I was listening to a sermon by Rick Warren called "Radical Gratitude" (link to audio/video) that took on what you just said head-on.
It was pretty powerful and totally made the point you are making!
John
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Posted 01/01/2010 12:50am
Author: abelajohnb
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Hebrews 11, the great understanding of what true faith is... Your so right, Abraham's faith in God caused Him to please God so therefore God called Abraham His friend. How wonderful it is to know that faith is the fruit of the relationship and walk with God. THanks for sharing!
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Posted 12/11/2009 04:57am
Author: ladyvogue
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"Faith is the fruit of the relationship and walk with God"
LOVE that ladyvogue!!
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Posted 01/01/2010 12:52am
Author: abelajohnb
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Hey luckyone,
Ah yeah, totally right on with this one!
I have been looking at buying one of those Montana Canvas Wall Tent for the last year. As I have researched different wall tents, it seems to be all about the quality of the canvas used for the tent!
Without a good covering, the tent might as well be just a frame! The armor of God is the same!
John
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Posted 01/01/2010 12:57am
Author: abelajohnb
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And faith is not founded on what we think God should do. If you have FAITH you will be healed! If you have FAITH, God will make you wealthy! Faith, as you say, is our relationship. Even when we're not healed. Even when we're not healthy.
thanks for writing, John.
Gracie
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Posted 12/12/2009 08:15pm
Author: savedbyegrace
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Hey Gracie,
You are right in that our faith is not founded on what we think God should do!
Blessings,
John
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Posted 01/01/2010 12:58am
Author: abelajohnb
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I hope you do not mind my commenting on this again, John. I have been reading through the comments/posts I did prior to my stroke and came upon this one. I looked at the time and realized that less than 12 hours after I commented I was going to be tested in this very thing.
As I was rushed to the hospital 17 miles away shortly after midnight on December 11, I did not have time to examine my faith. I was physically unable to reach out and take God's Hand, call people to pray for me, get into theological debates, etc. I only know that while I could feel nothing else, I could feel His arms around me and above all, I was loved by God. He was right where He has always been... beside me every step of the way. Never ONCE did I ask God why. NEVER! For you see, through the years, I have steadily been learning to walk by faith and not by sight.
As I re-read the quote I made on this blog back on December 10th, prior to my stroke, I can truly say that it is still true after my stroke! God is faithful and true! In HIM will I trust!
Blessings!
K
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Posted 12/24/2009 03:13pm
Author: kreynolds
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Hope it's ok for a late comer to comment...
I love your post and all the other comments.
You said: "rather faith is living the truth of the Bible every day of your Christian life." OH! If we could all be of that strength, eh?
There are so many acts and lessons of faith that Jesus taught.
This reminds me of Jesus in the boat with the disciples and the "great tempest" occurred and the story of the Centurion especially.
Faith is when we ACT on rebuking the winds and waves of life. WE don't make them calm or disappear, but having the faith that He will.
Faith is 'only speaking a word' as the centurion did when he asked Jesus to come and heal his servant. We need to speak a word in faith.
Faith is truly acting on the words Jesus said in John 14:12-14. Faith is asking.
Faith is hope.
Faith is - if we can only just believe.
Faith is believing you are blessed 
Be blessed! Anita
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Posted 01/24/2010 10:12pm
Author: 2gvhmpraz
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Faith is the absence of Fear and Anxiety, knowing without a shred of doubt that Christ is in control of your life and loving him with all your heart, might and soul.
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Posted 01/26/2010 07:21am
Author: galatians67
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Grace is like the movement of a trained dancer. It's not free. It does not come by works. It comes by love... But not without works. Faith is the insight into the unseen law that governs and regulates the universe, underlies it's reality and informs its parts. Like the master of blackjack he know all the cards in the deck and knows the law of averages. He wins the game... Think about this can you see the law of averages?... Yet, you know it works... Just try it. This insight is what we call Faith.
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Posted 02/02/2010 10:05am
Author: melchizidec
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