Faith Alone Isn't Enough

Now that I posted my Red Carpet entry our rector preached yesterday (based on the book of James) that faith alone is not enough. We have to take action too. He said that the two go hand in hand, that if you have faith it will lead you to do good things to help others. And if you do good things to help others it will strengthen your faith. I have to agree. I can see how that works. However, Greg's sermon was a timely reminder for me that I must be active in my faith. That red carpet is there for me because it takes me through places where I can use my hands and feet to help others. I must not ignore those opportunities. When I think I am too small to make a difference, I need to trust that I am there for a reason and that is to serve others in need. God's got my back when I think I'm not strong enough or when I don't know how to help or don't think I have the time. That red carpet isn't there because I deserve it or because I've earned it; that is certainly not the case. It's there simply because God loves me. That's powerful love and I hope and pray I will do my part by sharing it with others through acts of faith.

The Red Carpet

I have recently been telling people my red carpet metaphor (or analogy?) for how blessed and loved by God I have been feeling lately. I feel like I'm walking on a red carpet laid out especially for me. I can see ahead in the distance that the carpet is not completely unrolled, letting me know that there is plenty more carpet on my path ahead. It sometimes curves to one side or the other ahead of me, sometimes goes straight ahead. Although I am not certain where my red carpet path is going, I am certain that the pathway is being laid out especially for me and that I can trust the carpet will never run out as long as I believe in it and not step off.

Some examples of this are:

James is still working at Nortel, providing us with benefits and monthly income.

We are still able to honor our pledge at church and find ways to give financially to some other organizations that we feel led to support.

I have had two part-time jobs practically laid in my lap in the past nine months or so.

During my work with these jobs, every day of needed childcare has been provided. And I have had the money to pay for the childcare.

I have been able to go back to work as a speech therapist which I feel is a ministry opportunity for me.

Through working in a home-health position, I have been able to enter some intimate spaces in people's homes and lives. I have seen and felt God's presence in my encounters with these people.


I sometimes don't want to tell people about all of these blessings, because I know not everyone experiences life as richly as I do. So many people's lives are filled with problems and despair. I am not trying to brag here. Rather, I am stepping out in faith everyday, trusting that things will work out. And lately they really have. I know I am not immune to troubles and am aware that they can come at any time. That is why I am spending time counting my blessings and sharing with others what having a solid faith feels like. It feels like walking on a red carpet laid out especially for me by God. I trust that as I walk on this path and give Him the glory for all of my blessings, that my carpet will never end.

"I Wish I Had That"

Yesterday I was talking to a friend about child-raising struggles. In the midst of our conversation, I said the way I cope with the struggles the most is by praying a lot. She said, "I wish I had that." I asked her what she meant, and she said "that faith-part". She went on to say something like, "I ask the universe for good things to happen, but I'm not sure that the universe really cares about me or can do anything about it." (This is what I remember her saying, but it's probably not the words she used exactly. It is definitely the message I heard her saying, however.) I found myself with an incredible opportunity to witness to her about how my faith carries me through, but I stopped short of saying anything more than "wow" or something like that. As I write this now, though, I think the witnessing moment had come before she said what she wished she had. And I'm grateful to have been able to have shared that with her without even trying. I'm also happy to have the insight I just got when writing this entry that I didn't really miss out on an opportunity to share God's love afterall.

Mark 2:1-12

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

2When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. ²So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. ³Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. ⁴And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. ⁵When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ ⁶Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ⁷‘Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ ⁸At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? ⁹Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and take your mat and walk”? ¹⁰But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the paralytic— ¹¹‘I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ ¹²And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’

Here is the NRSV Gospel-Based Discipleship passage for today. Here is what I get out of it (of course when I say "you" I am talking to myself here). Be determined in your faith. Don't hesitate to ask for what you know God can do. Don't be afraid of the crowd's reaction to your faith-based actions. You may have to get creative like going through the roof, but go for it. God is there if you can just make it through the "crowd" of your daily worries and stresses and distractions and make your way to Him.