goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

It’s For the Best

By Linda Tancs

You lost that game. You lost that job. You lost that friendship. It’s for the best. “It’s for the best” is a common refrain when something potentially unfortunate has happened. After all, when was the last time someone got promoted to an executive position and was told “it’s for the best.” Funny thing is, ‘it’s for the best’ is actually the best thing to think in the worst of times. It’s about thinking that something is happening for you rather than to you. That’s the way Joseph (Jacob’s favorite son) saw it. His jealous brothers wanted to kill him but they sold him into slavery in Egypt instead. He rose to “CEO” of the country, only to be thrown into prison after a false accusation by the boss’s wife after he scorned her advances. After the truth was revealed and he met up with his brothers, he had no regrets. He even told them that what they intended for harm God intended for good (Genesis 37-50). It’s for the best, indeed.

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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

Happiness or Contentment

By Linda Tancs

Happiness and contentment are frequently treated as the same thing, like simply a matter of word choice. But nothing could be further from the truth. Contentment is a condition of the soul; happiness is conditioned on circumstances. The apostle Paul is a great illustration of the difference. Do you think that his series of hardships (2 Corinthians 11:23-33) were a source of happiness? Indeed not. But he said that he learned to be content in all circumstances (Philippians 4:11). How did he do it? By focusing on Christ rather than his circumstances (Philippians 1:12). Circumstantial happiness will never bring true contentment, but contentment will bring a kind of joy that only the Spirit can produce.

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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

Somebody

By Linda Tancs

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon comes to terms with vanity in the sense of meaninglessness. He surveys life and concludes that all the power grabbing, striving, positioning and other activities are meaningless (Ecclesiastes 1:1-3). It’s all like a vapor, here one minute and gone the next. The poet Emily Dickinson had her own take on that with her poem “I’m Nobody, Who Are You.” Like Solomon, she recognized the futility of scrambling to be a somebody. The apostle Paul had his own awakening on the uselessness of being a mover and a shaker. Like Solomon, he’d acquired a long list of credentials but counted it all as nothing in the light of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8). Remember the popular expression, “you can’t take it with you.” Material things will always fade in value and importance. Make it your chief aim and desire to have a relationship with God above all else. He’ll take care of the rest (Matthew 6:31-33).

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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

Life Happens

By Linda Tancs

A popular expression reminds us that life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. Who knew that better than Simon of Cyrene? He was the man compelled by the Romans to carry the cross of Jesus on the way to His crucifixion (Luke 23:26). Regardless of his reason for being in town that day, it was hardly the kind of thing he would’ve had on his to-do list. It was a sudden, random event for Simon. Not so for us because we’re commissioned to pick up our cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23). That’s when life really happens.

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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 Heart of the Matter

By Linda Tancs

It’s fair to say that the Bible gets to the heart of the matter–that is, matters of the heart. We’re told that out of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). That’s one reason why we should guard our heart (Proverbs 4:23). We should be cheerful (Proverbs 17:22) and pure hearted (Matthew 5:8). Above all, take heart in Jesus (John 16:33). No doubt you can come up with many illustrations showing how the heart is at the essence of everything we do, say, think or feel. It’s the foundation for our spiritual and temporal well-being.

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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

Long Enough

By Linda Tancs

You might enjoy camping for a week, but you wouldn’t want to stay there. So imagine what it was like for the Israelites, camped out for 40 years in the desert. God finally told them that they’d stayed long enough on the mountain. It was time to move toward the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 1:6-8). Have you dwelt long enough in something? It might not be your living conditions but maybe it’s in a mountain of debt, or pain or rejection or illness. It’s time to move mountains (Matthew 17:20).

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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

Peanut Butter and Jelly

By Linda Tancs

There are some things in life that, arguably, are inextricably linked, like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Like Frank Sinatra sang, you can’t have one without the other. Contentment and gratitude are like that. Just try to experience one without the other (Philippians 4:11). Contentment fosters gratitude; gratitude brings on contentment, or at least soothes discontent. Think of that the next time you see a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

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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 Street With No Name

By Linda Tancs

Imagine a GPS that couldn’t give you the name of a single street along the route. You’d be pretty confused, wouldn’t you? In the spiritual realm, that’s the place we’re in regularly, and it’s easy to feel confused (Romans 11:33). That’s why it’s so important to place our trust in God. When we do, then He’ll make straight and plain our paths (Proverbs 3:6). We only need to follow the road; street names are unnecessary.

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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

Your Best Self

By Linda Tancs

There’s no shortage of advice on becoming what pop culture refers to as your “best self.” It means different things to different people: taking control of your life, maximizing your strengths, living in alignment with your values. No matter how you define it, the goal is ultimately the same: to acquire a positive mindset. It’s pursued in a myriad of ways: losing weight, changing careers, starting a business, you name it. Spiritually, there’s only one way to become your best self, and that is to imitate Christ (Romans 8:29). And that’s the best way to maintain a positive outlook on life.

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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

Starry Nights

By Linda Tancs

God created the stars and, as a popular song says, He knows them by name. He knows the lifespan of every star in the sky and guides each of them to its expected end. So as God so guides the stars, surely it’s a comfort to know that He’ll chart a course for you as well (Luke 12:7). Remember that the next time you’re enjoying a starry night.

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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.