goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Be A Contender

By Linda Tancs

In the movie On the Waterfront, actor Marlon Brando delivered the iconic line, “I could’ve been a contender.” A contender is one who aspires to be an overcomer. The apostle Paul would qualify as a contender (2 Timothy 4:7). Are you a contender?

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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, Theology

Remember Yourself Forward

By Linda Tancs

A charismatic preacher exhorted his audience to “remember yourself forward.” That’s a great way of reminding folks that they’re overcomers: you overcame before, and you’ll overcome again. Jesus is the ultimate overcomer (John 16:33). There is no struggle, adversity or hardship that you can’t overcome because you’re more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37). You’ve had the victory before, and you’ll have it again (1 Corinthians 15:57). Just remember yourself forward.

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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

But God

By Linda Tancs

One of many phrases found consistently throughout various iterations of the Bible is “but God.” It’s a hopeful and restorative phrase (see, e.g., Psalm 49:15; Psalm 73:26; Acts 3:15). You might be more familiar, though, with “but how.” It shows up when a payment is looming, a marriage breaking, or a job ending, among other things. The next time you’re tempted to think “but how” think “but God” instead.

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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

Beauty in the Bud

By Linda Tancs

People often talk about becoming “undone,” a phrase that usually evokes an emotional or trying circumstance. But think of the bud on a plant. What happens when the bud is undone? A flower emerges. There’s beauty in the breaking. Life is full of buds. What looks like a setback might just be a setup for something better. Focus on the break, not the bud (Isaiah 61:1-3).

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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

Relax

By Linda Tancs

I have a sculpture of a pelican sitting atop a rock emblazoned with the word “RELAX” in large type. I love the symbolism of it, reminding me to be still, just as Jesus said to the waves on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:39). It means that I don’t need to know the particulars of how, when or where God will do His work in my life. I only need to relax, knowing that He will do what needs to be done at the right time. Your role in life isn’t to play all the parts yourself. Play your part, and let God do His part (Psalm 32:8).

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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

What is Hope?

By Linda Tancs

Billy Graham once wrote that hope is the sum of faith plus commitment. Indeed, hope has an element of faith (Hebrews 11:1). Hope also takes commitment, persistence and perseverance (Zechariah 9:12) lest you lose heart. Think of your own equation for hope.

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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

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 Glass is Half-Full

By Linda Tancs

Do you see the proverbial glass as half-empty or half-full? Psychologists use simple tests like this to determine whether a person tends to be an optimist or a pessimist. Optimists will usually say the glass is half-full, whereas pessimists will usually state that it’s half-empty. In a word, it’s about hope, which anchors the soul (Hebrews 6:19). Without it, you’re like a wandering nomad in ancient Israel. Pour hope into your life by trusting in God and, soon, the glass will be more than half-full (Romans 15:13).

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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.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Out of the Wreckage

By Linda Tancs

All kinds of events can reduce a life to wreckage in one way or another: an earthquake, a job loss, an accident. The wreckage is both tangible (loss of habitat or earnings) and intangible (grief, depression or anxiety). Regardless of the nature of the wreckage, one thing will never change: God is always present (Deuteronomy 31:6). That’s hard to swallow in the midst of turmoil, when the propensity is great to view God as silent or absent. But have you ever noticed the folks who, in the midst of a disaster, reflect a peace that defies understanding? They possess the capacity to be still and let God do His work (Psalm 46:10). Scripture assures us that God delivers the brokenhearted from their troubles (Psalm 34:17-18). His power is perfected in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Seek Him out in your turmoil, and you’ll find Him (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

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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.