Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Step Out!


I was inspired to blog after watching the movie "Julie & Julia". If you've seen the movie, then you'll know why. If not, then you'll just have to go see the film. Who knows, maybe I'll get as lucky as Julie did! You won't know until you've tried! Right? So, here is my first step of faith, which brings me to the title of this blog, Feet of Faith. Allow me to share with you how the title was conceived.


This summer, I posted photos of my summer travels and events, from the perspective of my feet, on Facebook. Each photograph showed my feet in the forefront of the picture and the location in the background. I'm sure some may have thought I had some kind of a foot fetish, but actually, I just thought it was a creative concept to share my summer travels. Kind of reminds me of the photographs of the gnome in the movie "Amelie". If you haven't seen this film either, you'll have to check it out. In conjunction with my travels and photographs from this summer, I was also visiting different churches in Los Angeles. Sometimes we need a new and fresh perspective. I think it's a good thing, spiritually, to see how God is working in the entire Body of Christ. We often get narrow minded and forget that we are all parts of the One Body. That's a topic for another blog. During my visits, I kept hearing the message of Faith. Why faith? Was I not living by faith? Or maybe not using faith at it's full capacity? All the scriptures I've ever read and heard on faith were suddenly brought to my attention again: faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen; faith comes by hearing the Word of God; faith without works is dead. Ah! That's the part most of us get stuck on. The action! You mean I actually have to do something? I can't just say I believe and just wait for that thing to fall in my lap? I kept hearing, "Just do it! What are you waiting for? You have the ability and the talents, now go out and do it! Take that first step.”


During my visits to various churches, there was one Sunday message that really challenged me. The pastor broke it down so simply. He referred to the story of the woman in the Bible who had the issue of blood (Mark 5). For those, unfamiliar, she was a woman who was hemorrhaging for 12 years and had spent all her money on doctors and nothing worked. She heard that Jesus the Messiah was in town and he was doing miracles and healing people with all sorts of ailments. The scripture says, Faith comes by hearing, and by hearing the word of God. (Romans 10:17) She heard about Jesus, the living word, and that he was in town. Then she said to herself, "If only I could touch his garment, I would be healed." She professed it and believed it to be true in her heart. Then, here it comes, the part we get stuck on! She took action. The scripture says, Faith without works is dead. (James 2:17) She stepped out and fought through the crowds to get near Jesus so she could touch his garment. It wasn't easy for her. Just think how weak she must have been, but she didn't give up. She was determined to touch Jesus. And when she did, what was the result? Yes, she was healed!! And Jesus said to her, "Your faith has healed you." If she had not stepped out and took the action, she would never have encountered Jesus and would never have received her healing.


I've heard this story time and time again, but this time, it had new meaning. I was so challenged by this. I have been sitting around talking about wanting to write my play, write a book, write this blog. I’ve written out a great plan, but now I need to stop talking about it and just do it! My summer travels, the feet photos, and the message of faith seemed to all tie together nicely which led to my title, Feet of Faith. So, here I am taking my first step of faith and believing, that which is not, as though it is!


We all have something that we are believing God for. What are you believing Him for and what are you going to do about it?