goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Free But Not Cheap

By Linda Tancs

An old saying tells us that “the best things in life are free.” Well, some of the best things in life are, indeed, free: air, sunlight, water, soil and other natural resources. Although they’re free, they’re not cheap, considering their life-giving properties. Likewise, salvation is free (Isaiah 55:1) and certainly not cheap, considering that it cannot be bargained for like chattel. It can’t be earned through good behavior or social standing. How grateful we should be that God puts no price tag on the gift above all other gifts (John 10:9).

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Hiding Places

By Linda Tancs

Sometimes, a hiding place is a matter of life and death. Consider the story of Elijah and Jezebel in the Old Testament. Elijah ran and hid in a cave to avoid the death threats of Jezebel after he killed off her idols (1 Kings 19:1-11). For us, hiding may just be a means of avoidance. Where are you hiding, or what are you hiding behind? Is it blame, disappointment, discouragement, anger? Don’t run; don’t hide. You’re a mighty warrior (Judges 6:12) and more than a conqueror (Romans 8:31-37).

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Young at Heart

By Linda Tancs

American theologian James Freeman Clarke expressed the sentiment that a sanguine spirit keeps you young at heart, reasoning that youth and joy come from the soul to the body more than from the body to the soul. In that spirit, you can be content with anything (Psalm 16:11). That’s the real fountain of youth.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Acts of Righteousness

By Linda Tancs

Theologically, righteousness is being in right standing with God. But what constitutes righteousness? In Genesis, Abram (later Abraham) put his faith in God for an heir, and God credited Abram’s faith as an act of righteousness (Genesis 15:1-6). What other acts can be credited as righteousness? Surely, among other things, it’s love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Think about your behavior. How can you increase your acts of righteousness?

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Friends in High Places

By Linda Tancs

You’ve heard the expression “friends in high places,” meaning those who are able to use their power or influence for your benefit. But no matter how highly situated an earthly friend is, that kind of friend can fail you and often does at some point. There really is only one friend in a high place, and He will never fail you (1 Corinthians 1:7-9).

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

A Cloak for a Yoke

By Linda Tancs

A yoke is a type of harness fastened to the necks of two animals and attached to the vehicle that they are supposed to pull. That’s why they’re called beasts of burden. So it might be difficult to think in a positive way about Jesus wanting to relieve our burdens by inviting us to take His yoke upon us (Matthew 11:28-30). The key is not to think of it as a yoke, with all of its burdensome connotations. Think of it as a cloak. A cloak is a loose garment; it’s not heavy or burdensome. He wants us to exchange the weighty yoke for a cloak. Don’t weigh yourself down with the cares of this world. Cast them on Him.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

How Do You Do

By Linda Tancs

In bygone days, people would greet each other by saying, “How do you do?” It may be old-fashioned by today’s standards, but a new way of looking at it is to complete the sentence, as in “how do you do forgiveness?” Go ahead, fill in the blank. How do you do compassion? How do you do patience? How do you do perseverance? You get the point. So, how do you do?

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

A Thousand Agitations

By Linda Tancs

Bishop Fulton Sheen once referred to a disrupted soul as one suffering from “a thousand agitations.” Unlike a peace-filled soul, an agitated one is fearful, unhappy, disappointed, discouraged, you name it. Master your “thousand agitations” or else they will master you (Psalm 62:1).

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Adjust the Sails

By Linda Tancs

An old sailors’ expression reminds us that we can’t control the winds but we can adjust the sails. In other words, let go of the things you can’t control and focus on what you can control. You can’t control your employer’s mood, for instance, but you can control how you react to it. How do you need to adjust? Whatever it may be, trust and depend on God (Proverbs 3:5-6), be led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16) and walk in love (Galatians 5:13).

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Table Talk

By Linda Tancs

In Psalm 23:5, King David reflects on the fact that God will prepare a table for him in the presence of his enemies. And the king had a lot of enemies, even his own brothers, who belittled him. This passage is often contorted to suggest that those who belittle you will get a front-row seat to watch your success. But there’s a better way to look at it. It’s not so much a “haha” moment for you but rather an “aha” moment for those around you. They get to see and experience the outcome of your faith in the One Who did what He said He would do (Genesis 28:15).

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.