Wednesday Words

Faithful obedience or obedient faith?

Hebrews 11:8-11 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 
 ⁹ By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 
 ¹⁰ for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
¹¹ By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.

This was one of my bible readings this morning.  I'd never noticed the progression of faith before...

By faith  we...

obey... dwell/wait... receive.

Interesting!!


And on a sort of related subject...

I have been attending the Seventh-day Adventist church and the Mennonite church for the last 10(?)
months.  Marnie and Denver were attending the SDA church so I went along.  I've had some contact with the SDA church over the years, but thought I would give myself 12 months to decide whether I would attend there long term.

While at the same time....

attending the Mennonite church to try and come to some decison about them also.  I have had contact with the Mennonites/anabaptists for about 8 years now and when I first moved to this area I fellowshipped with them for 6 months.  This was when the church was just starting up here (in 2013?) and they only had about 15 folk attending, and most of those where the family that had come from Canada to start the church.  Now they have around 80 members and also some Australian families have joined.

But I wasn't ready to take the final step, even though I could have continued fellowshipping with them and not actually join the church, I felt if I wasn't going to commit completely, perhaps I should not stay, so attended the Uniting church until it closed down earlier this year.  Interestingly the Mennonites are now using the Uniting church building for their meetings.

I have come to the conclusion that I will not go with the SDA church.  I do not agree with some of their theology/bible interpretations/beliefs, and due to some issues in the local church here recently and the way they have been handled in a very unbiblical manner, I have made my decision sooner rather than later.

So ...here I am...back with the Mennonites :).  I must say, having attended a vast number of churches/denominations over the years, that they are the most godly, humble Christians I have met.  My heart has probably always been with them, it's my stubborn will that God needs to work on :)).

I feel much more ready at this time to make a decision/commitment, but will give myself 12 months.

to be continued...


And to finish on a lighter note, these are the beanies I have been knitting recently to take to Bec's shop...

She wants some fingerless gloves now, so will start on those today.  It's raining, so good knitting weather.




And some of the books I have on the go...

They are from the Plainspoken series (true stories, not fiction).  I'm reading Simple Pleasures at the moment.  It's a lovely book...

Surely it's coffee time now...I'm all talked out :))

 

xx