Today Eric wrote about Africa. Not in sweeping, emotional tones, but in humble and practical response. Right now his incremental step of faith is to give up eating on Fridays, particularly eating out. In addition to cost savings that he can redirect toward a charitable organization focused in Africa, fasting provides him with many promptings (thank to his grumbling stomach) to redirect his mind to prayer for the needy, as well as opportunities to tell other people about what's happening there when the inevitable why-aren't-you-eating-too questions arise.

Wow. He called giving up an entire day of food, not just once but weekly, incremental. I think I need take a look at my own life. What are the incremental changes that I need to make with my time? In my conversations? With my money? And not just relating to Africa, but to every area of neglect in my life?

It is so easy for me to become overwhelmed with the problems around me, both major world issues like starvation in Africa, and the more mundane issues like exercising daily, or responding to my children in love. Often I think I know how the problems should be addressed. I have grand ideas and ground breaking solutions. But Eric's encouragement to take incremental steps of faith instead of shirking away from the giant leaps of faith makes a lot of sense.

Don't be surprised if you see some very tiny steps happening around here. God, please help me to keep taking them.

We certainly each have our own trials. Mine tend to be in the area disappointments both with other people and with myself. Honestly when things are going pretty well in life I tend to try to get by on my own, without much interaction with God. It can be easy for me to forget to bring my everyday to God. But when the waves of hardship come, my heart has no where to turn but to my true Fortress. 

I'm seeing that God is not above allowing heartache into my life, if only to get me to turn to him. It seems like it would be better for me to just turn to Him on my own. But I usually don't. In the end though, I don't really regret the hardships. The closeness I experience with the Lord resulting from my pain and neediness is sweeter and more personal than anything I could learn from a book. There is a reason he uses hardships.

There Is a Reason

I've seen hard times and I've been told
There isn't any wonder that I fall
Why do we suffer, crossing off the years
There must be a reason for it all

I've trusted in You, Jesus, to save me from my sin
Heaven is the place I call my home
But I keep on getting caught up in this world I'm living in
And Your voice it sometimes fades before I know

Hurtin' brings my heart to You, crying with my need
Depending on Your love to carry me
The love that shed His blood for all the world to see
This must be the reason for it all

Hurtin' brings my heart to You, a fortress in the storm
When what I wrap my heart around is gone
I give my heart so easily to the ruler of this world
When the one who loves me most will give me all

In all the things that cause me pain You give me eyes to see
I do believe but help my unbelief
I've seen hard times and I've been told
There is a reason for it all

written by Ron Block, Alison Krauss & Union Station - Live

John Hever has been taking us through a series at H2O titled Life Lessons. Part 5, Responding to God in Trials, stuck it to me in the most personal way.  My notes from John's teaching are as follows:

"One of the greatest effects of the gospel message is that, in a horribly tragic and fallen world, the gospel invites and enables us to enter difficulty... with hope" - John Hever

1. Trials defined - Hardship designed by God specifically to test my faith.
2. Trials of  many kinds
   1. gnats
   2. dragons
   3. MOATs - Mother of All Trials (maybe 2 or 3 in a lifetime for most people)
3. The Question
   1. Hardships come because we live in a fallen world.
   2. Hardships come because God is trying to break us, because God is trying to save us.
   3. Hardships come because God wants us to grow up.(Hebrews 12:5-11)
   4. Hardships come because God, as God, wants to use us to help others. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
   5. Hardships come because sometimes we're stupid.(Proverbs 10:13; 17:10)
   6. Hardship come because God's goal and your goal are not the same. (Ephesians 4:13-15)
   7. Hardships come because God wants to reveal us to us.
   8. Hardships come because it's the only way God can get our attention.
   9. Hardships come so we can join Christ in His suffering.
   10. Hardships come for some reasons I hope we find out later.
4. The Point
5. The Process- - How He speaks to us:
   1. From His Word
   2. Through His spirit (Isaiah 30:21)
   3. Through God's people
6. Stuff that has helped me...
   1. Remember the Relationship: God is after me!
   2. Remember the Real Issue: the collision of my will with God's will for me.
   3. Remember the Big Picture:This is a fallen world but His Kingdom has come

Psalm 119:92 - If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.