Faith Without Works

This one is for me just as much as for anyone reading this. And, *****DISCLAIMER***** this won't be easy to read.

Yes, Faith Without Works... Is dead!!!!!

Remember Jesus saying this? That's right, He said it. And He meant it.

Now, why aren't we listening and FOLLOWING this teaching? Perhaps it's because we each define works as something different. Ok, then. Let's look at a perfect example of the works of Jesus. THERE'S where we can find our standard of works.

When Jesus was allowed to start telling the world the truth of Who He is, He immediately began walking and bringing up under Him. DISCIPLES! What does "The Great Commission" say? Go out into ALL the world and make disciples. THIS DOESN'T MEAN GO OUT AND FIND SOME PEW WARMERS! He said to make disciples out of all the world!!!!! No exceptions.

Ok, Anna. What have you made? What kind of people have you brought in? Are they pew warmers? Or are they true disciples? Do they have a BURNING within them to go out and make disciples just like they were made? Do they want to continue the legacy begun by Christ Himself then perpetuated by you?

Well... To be completely honest, there have been more pew warmers made than actual disciples. Why is that? I haven't continued with them. I showed them the truth and lived the life of a Godly woman in front of them.... But I didn't turn them into disciples. Why?!?!?! I thought, 'That's all I needed to do. I just needed to show them the way. God will do the rest.'

Yes, my God is an awesome, AMAZING God. But He needs US to be His hands, His feet, His mouth to his people. And not just for a one time experience, but for a lifetime of discipleship!!!!! This isn't a "program" where we are enlisted to sign up 5 different people and then have them sign up 5 more people... etc. This is a LIFESTYLE! This is a life totally different from selling magazine subscriptions or Mary Kay. Get this! This is a way of life! Not to be taken lightly, I'll add.

Y'all are thinkin, 'Ok, what's gotten into her britches!?!?' I went to Harp and Bowl last night, our prayer time at church, and had to get up and leave the room because I was so frustrated. And the frustration was with myself as well as with those in the room. I know I wasn't the only one who felt this way either.

I was 'righteously indignant' about how our city, county, and region has been praying for hope to come for GENERATIONS! I'm not talking about praying for a revival of this area with praying for a few weeks. What I'm saying is this; since this area was populated, we've been praying for hope to come here. We've wanted hope for the indians, hope for the "wayward" laggard or drunk, hope for our government, and now hope for EVERYONE not saved and living a life of sin.

Why hasn't this "GREAT HOPE" come?

DUH!!!!!!!!

Because we've been praying for it inside of our churches and in our homes. WE HAVEN'T BEEN OUT GIVING THE VERY HOPE WE ARE PRAYING FOR FOR OTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How can we expect God to work a miracle of hope if we are terrified of getting out of our home churches or plain ole homes? WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD! And where there is light, there is hope. 'Light at the end of then tunnel. A light in dark times.' We are light, we are hope, AND we are the only thing keeping us from finding that great revival we've all so desperately wanted to come to our area. Heck, our country!

Sure, I've been prideful and full of myself and said, "Nobody else can say that they are actually living for God like I can. I'm living in the intern house, afterall." God, forgive me!!!!! I haven't been living. I've been HIDING! I've been hiding in the intern house, behind programs for God, and forgot all about the WORK for God.

I have faith and have been called a woman of faith. But if my works aren't there, and the fruit certainly isn't, then my faith is DEAD! Do you guys get this? DEAD!!!!! As in not LIVING!

What can I do, God? Yes, ask your forgiveness. Ok, then. God, PLEASE forgive me for being so stuck in what I thought was living for You. Change my ideas, change my heart so that I might have YOUR heart. And now? MAKE ME BOLD!!!!!! Show me the ways You want me to work for You. And don't just show me. SHOW THEM!!!!! Show whoever is reading this. BURN their hearts, burn with correction and with passion. Burn me, God. BURN ME!!!!!!!