When Faith and Doubt Collide.

I am going to go ahead and apologize for anything that doesn't make sense, is unreadable or misspelled in this note. It's pretty late, I'm up with a sinus headache and tons of random thoughts going on in my head. But, I truly believe the Lord has laid some burdens on my heart for a reason and I'm pretty sure He wants me to share. Although, I can't be certain if it's He that wants me to share, or just myself. I'm trusting that it's Him. If you know anything about me (and you must know a little bit if you are reading this note since we are "Facebook friends") then you know that I am totally and unashamedly a follower of Christ. I hope that I haven't hidden that well. I have put my entire mustard seed of faith in the authority of Scripture. I believe that what the Bible says is Truth. In that, I guess you could say, I have no doubt.

Ironically, I only begin to notice doubt creep in - when I struggle to share my faith.

I know that makes me sound like I'm completely contradicting myself. But, if I'm being honest... sharing Jesus is easy, if I'm inside a church or talking with someone who understands the words "salvation, grace, redemption, repentance, atonement, and everlasting life." But, it's not so easy when they don't.

I never want the message of Christ to become so redundant to the point where I don't even believe myself when I speak it! And unfortunately, I've felt that way at times. So, I'm determined to change this pattern of speaking and teaching and sharing Christ with others. I want to lead them to Truth - not with flattering speech, but with an authentically, changed life that could have only taken place through the power of something greater.

And just like John the Baptist in Matthew 11:3, when my faith and doubt collide, I'll be holding on to the words of Jesus to remind me...

"The blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them."

...it's always been about changed lives, anyway.