goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Promotion

By Linda Tancs

It’s hard to talk about death or dying. That’s why you hear euphemisms like “passing away” or “expired” or “end of life.” Believers, in particular, use phrases like “gone to be with the Lord,” “homegoing” or “gone to Heaven.” Sometimes people use the word “promotion.” That’s a great way to speak about death—as a promotion to Heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8). The world is full of people striving for a promotion—in social circles, online or on the job. But promotion to Heaven is the best advancement you’ll ever receive.

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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

The Cistern

By Linda Tancs

We live in an age of “cancellation.” Cancel culture is a form of ostracism in which someone is removed, personally or professionally, from a physical or online environment. People are cancelled regularly because of their social, religious or political views irrespective of their socioeconomic status. No one is immune from cancellation. It’s tempting to think of cancellation as a modern phenomenon but it’s really as old as time; only the methodology has changed. In the prophet Jeremiah’s time, cancellation meant being thrown into a cistern because his words were unpopular. In Jeremiah’s case, though, his cancellation was overturned when an official complained to the king that the prophet had been treated unfairly (Jeremiah 38:4-10). It’s fair to say that Jeremiah would’ve stayed in the cistern, unwilling to compromise his values. Would you do the same?

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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

Honor His Name

By Linda Tancs

In the Lord’s Prayer, we’re reminded that God’s name is hallowed (Matthew 6:9). Many times a message on this portion of the prayer reflects on not taking the Lord’s name in vain. Of course, that’s one important aspect of the prayer, but it goes far beyond that. Indeed, this portion of the prayer imparts an edict that we honor Him in all that we say or do. All of our actions should elevate God in the earth (Matthew 5:29-30). Does your behavior bring glory and honor to God? Think about that the next time you pray the Lord’s Prayer.

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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.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Know When to Shut Up

By Linda Tancs

Do you speak doubt, or defeat, over your goals and dreams? If so, then you’re at risk of speaking death over your future plans by giving the devil an opening to undermine your desires (John 10:10). In the Old Testament, Zechariah was incredulous when an angel arrived to tell him that his aged wife would bear a son. His doubt and unbelief caused God to shut his mouth until his son, John the Baptist, was born (Luke 1:8-23). He didn’t shut up so he was shut down. Jesus knew better. Before His death, He warned his disciples that He would soon stop speaking so that the enemy would have no room to work in Him (John 14:30). You need to know when to shut up.

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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.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Speak to the Rock

By Linda Tancs

During their exodus, the Israelites sometimes lacked water. On one such occasion, God told Moses to speak to a rock for water to flow. Unfortunately, Moses struck the rock instead and suffered the consequences of his disobedience (Numbers 20:2-12). The story of the rock provides a metaphor for approaching problems. Think of a rock as an obstacle, a problem. If you speak to it, then you attempt to relate to it, to come to terms with it. But if you butt heads with it by striking out against it, then you only make the problem worse.

What are your rocks in life? Speak to them.

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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

Owning It

By Linda Tancs

A popular phrase these days is “owning it,” meaning that you take responsibility for the outcome or decision you made. In the spiritual realm, the term has no meaning because we don’t own anything (Mark 12:17). We are stewards. Our entire being, all of our outcomes and decisions, for better or worse, belong to Him. That doesn’t mean, of course, that we abdicate any responsibility for what we do on earth. Just don’t hang on to your outcomes like possessions. Instead, acknowledge that everything you are belongs to Him and allow Him to shape you as He sees fit (Isaiah 64:8).

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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

Be Still

By Linda Tancs

Someone once said, “Christianity is fundamentally convalescence.” That’s an interesting way to put it! We typically think of convalescence in the context of recovering from something. In addition to recovery, other ways to think of it include recuperating, reviving, restoring, rejuvenating, mending or improving. Regardless how you think of it, convalescence is a process. I think that another way of understanding Christianity as convalescence is to be still enough to recognize Him as our refuge (Psalm 46:10). That might be hard to do if you’re a Type A, go-getter type. Let go of striving and be still.

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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

Right Back Up

By Linda Tancs

Setbacks are hard, but they should be expected (John 16:33). After all, the enemy comes at us with the aim that we lose our hope (John 10:10). That’s why it’s so important to recover from disappointment as soon as possible (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). I’m reminded of that when I hear these words from a popular song: “Knock me down. It’s all in vain. I’ll get back on my feet again.” The devil is a defeated foe; you already have the victory (1 John 5:4). So get right back up.

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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

The Best Things

By Linda Tancs

Fashion designer Coco Chanel reputedly said, “The best things in life are free.” And so it is: the air we breathe, fresh water from a stream, our faith, our hope. Best of all is our salvation (Romans 6:23). How blessed are we that it comes to us without a price we need to pay. Jesus paid the price (John 10:9). All believers need to do is accept it for the precious gift that it is.

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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

Be Careful What You Wish For

By Linda Tancs

You’ve no doubt heard the expression, “Be careful what you wish for; you just might get it.” There’s a great illustration of that in the Bible, the parable about the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). In that story, a son wishes to receive an advance on his inheritance from his father and gets his wish, only to waste the money on dissolute living. In real life, stories abound of folks getting what they wished for, only to lose it through improper choices or bad advisors. The good news for the prodigal son is that he got to go home again and experience the love of his father. Similarly, we can experience the love of the Father when unanticipated results occur from an answered wish. Wishing is illusory because we only know in part (1 Corinthians 13:9). Like that son, the outcome may not be what you expected but, as the story shows, all things work together for good when you realize that His plan is ultimately better than a wish (Romans 8:28).

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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.