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.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Come As You Are

By Linda Tancs

One of the most liberating phrases is “come as you are.” Don’t worry about getting all dressed up for the dinner party; come as you are. No need to wear a three-piece suit to work every day; come as you are. Jesus says the same thing to those who would follow Him; no need to have your act all cleaned up first; just come as you are. That’s what the blind man did (Mark 10:46-52), and the leper (Matthew 8:1-4), and the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43). Just come as you are.

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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

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

By Linda Tancs

Jesus wasn’t shy about making himself a house guest. After all, he told the tax collector Zacchaeus that He would be staying at his house. (Luke 19:1-10). To associate with a sinner (a wealthy and detested tax collector) was unthinkable to his cohorts. But Jesus didn’t think like others think because He loved unlike others loved. The core of love is acceptance; the fruit of acceptance is redemption. Zacchaeus was a redeemed man thanks to his encounter with Jesus. What a dinner party that must have been!

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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

Closer Than You Think

By Linda Tancs

The etching in a passenger side-view mirror reads something like “objects in mirror are closer than they appear.” The reason objects are closer than they appear is because the mirror is slightly curved. The driver-side mirror, on the other hand, is not shaped the same way. Look at these mirrors through the eyes of faith. The driver is God; we are passengers. He knows where the breakthrough is; His mirror doesn’t need a warning. Maybe you think your victory in life, whatever it may be, is far away. But, just like that passenger mirror, it is likely closer than you think (1 Corinthians 15:57).

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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

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.