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	<title>Comments on: Eyes of Faith</title>
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		<title>By: Birgit</title>
		<link>http://birgitwhelan.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2538</link>
		<dc:creator>Birgit</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:02:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://birgitwhelan.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2538</guid>
		<description>I really know what you mean, Rain. It is something that seems so foundational to our faith, that God is completely in control, that He is good, and that we can trust Him - no matter what - and yet, so often I find myself responding with worry or doubt when it comes to hard situations. I agree with you, that the more we grow in our knowledge and experience of His faithfulness as our Father (and in my case - remind myself of this! :)) the more likely it is we will feel confident and peaceful when the storms come. Lots of love to you.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I really know what you mean, Rain. It is something that seems so foundational to our faith, that God is completely in control, that He is good, and that we can trust Him &#8211; no matter what &#8211; and yet, so often I find myself responding with worry or doubt when it comes to hard situations. I agree with you, that the more we grow in our knowledge and experience of His faithfulness as our Father (and in my case &#8211; remind myself of this! <img src='http://s.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> ) the more likely it is we will feel confident and peaceful when the storms come. Lots of love to you.</p>
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		<title>By: Rain</title>
		<link>http://birgitwhelan.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2518</link>
		<dc:creator>Rain</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:53:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://birgitwhelan.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2518</guid>
		<description>I&#039;ve been thinking about this the whole week Birgit. I couldn&#039;t stop thinking that this is how God wants us to think of Him, not in unbelief and terror of our lives, but with a quiet knowledge and faith that everthing is going to be ok. Knowing that He is control. It has challenged me so much this week with how I look at things and if I cry out to God, is it in faith or fear? And I think that the more we get to know Him as a father, a faithful father who cares for His children, but also as an Almighty God who holds the whole world in His hand and knows every hair on our head, and believe this, then we will be able to rest confidently in Him in every situation and bring glory to His name. Thank you Birgit:)</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;ve been thinking about this the whole week Birgit. I couldn&#8217;t stop thinking that this is how God wants us to think of Him, not in unbelief and terror of our lives, but with a quiet knowledge and faith that everthing is going to be ok. Knowing that He is control. It has challenged me so much this week with how I look at things and if I cry out to God, is it in faith or fear? And I think that the more we get to know Him as a father, a faithful father who cares for His children, but also as an Almighty God who holds the whole world in His hand and knows every hair on our head, and believe this, then we will be able to rest confidently in Him in every situation and bring glory to His name. Thank you Birgit:)</p>
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		<title>By: Birgit</title>
		<link>http://birgitwhelan.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2502</link>
		<dc:creator>Birgit</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:25:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://birgitwhelan.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2502</guid>
		<description>Hi Mike, great to hear from you. I&#039;ll follow up with you about Thursday :) Lots of blessings to you.

***

Hi @ngie, thanks for your reply with all these excellent points! That so often it is a case of taking action &lt;em&gt;in&lt;/em&gt; faith and seeing God at work, very true and very encouraging. I must admit, that what I had in mind as I wrote this were the circumstances which God alone is able to change - conversions of the human heart or circumstances where all practical solutions are exhausted and all hope seems lost - it fills me with awe in those time when I hear stories of how God has done the seemingly impossible! :D In both cases, I find it so inspiring to see the way that God is at work in situations when we are unmoved in our trust in Him :) 

Great question about whether Christ would have preferred the disciples to have taken authority over the storm. Our minister expressed the same question in a talk I heard recently, and likewise, whether Jesus would have preferred the disciples to feed the five thousand, because initially He said to them &quot;You give them something to eat&quot; Matt.16:14. Amazing what God can do through us as we act with faith in these ways, thank you for this great point! Love and blessings. 

***

Wow, Hope, what an awesome Word from God. I&#039;ve just been sitting here re-reading that verse. That it is the will of God for us to be &lt;em&gt;always&lt;/em&gt; rejoicing, &lt;em&gt;always&lt;/em&gt; praying, and &lt;em&gt;always&lt;/em&gt; expressing our gratitude to Him. So often I can wonder at God about His will in my life, and right there is one key part of it! I think I&#039;ll have my hands quite full working on that one just there, ha, ha ;) What an inspiring verse God has given you, and it&#039;s really helped me today too! Thank you, and love to you.  

***

Laura, I love that thought - God - our ever present help in trouble. I am so comforted by the knowledge of His sovereignty, and that He holds each of us in the palm of His hand, and loves us so, so much. May He continue to fill you with all hope and grace, and continue to pour out more of His Spirit on you and Ray, lots of love xo

***

Oh yay! Hi Roxx! I was thinking of you recently, hope you&#039;re well xo

***

This is so true Michelle. Although I don&#039;t know the circumstances you&#039;re facing, I do relate to the feelings of worry, fear and anxiety that can creep in when we wonder at how certain things might turn out. And it&#039;s such a great principle from Scripture that you mention here, that Jesus guides us to keep our focus on the day at hand trusting Him with the rest, love that :), what great encouragement! Lots of love to you xo</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hi Mike, great to hear from you. I&#8217;ll follow up with you about Thursday <img src='http://s.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' />  Lots of blessings to you.</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>Hi @ngie, thanks for your reply with all these excellent points! That so often it is a case of taking action <em>in</em> faith and seeing God at work, very true and very encouraging. I must admit, that what I had in mind as I wrote this were the circumstances which God alone is able to change &#8211; conversions of the human heart or circumstances where all practical solutions are exhausted and all hope seems lost &#8211; it fills me with awe in those time when I hear stories of how God has done the seemingly impossible! <img src='http://s.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif' alt=':D' class='wp-smiley' />  In both cases, I find it so inspiring to see the way that God is at work in situations when we are unmoved in our trust in Him <img src='http://s.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' />  </p>
<p>Great question about whether Christ would have preferred the disciples to have taken authority over the storm. Our minister expressed the same question in a talk I heard recently, and likewise, whether Jesus would have preferred the disciples to feed the five thousand, because initially He said to them &#8220;You give them something to eat&#8221; Matt.16:14. Amazing what God can do through us as we act with faith in these ways, thank you for this great point! Love and blessings. </p>
<p>***</p>
<p>Wow, Hope, what an awesome Word from God. I&#8217;ve just been sitting here re-reading that verse. That it is the will of God for us to be <em>always</em> rejoicing, <em>always</em> praying, and <em>always</em> expressing our gratitude to Him. So often I can wonder at God about His will in my life, and right there is one key part of it! I think I&#8217;ll have my hands quite full working on that one just there, ha, ha <img src='http://s.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' />  What an inspiring verse God has given you, and it&#8217;s really helped me today too! Thank you, and love to you.  </p>
<p>***</p>
<p>Laura, I love that thought &#8211; God &#8211; our ever present help in trouble. I am so comforted by the knowledge of His sovereignty, and that He holds each of us in the palm of His hand, and loves us so, so much. May He continue to fill you with all hope and grace, and continue to pour out more of His Spirit on you and Ray, lots of love xo</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>Oh yay! Hi Roxx! I was thinking of you recently, hope you&#8217;re well xo</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>This is so true Michelle. Although I don&#8217;t know the circumstances you&#8217;re facing, I do relate to the feelings of worry, fear and anxiety that can creep in when we wonder at how certain things might turn out. And it&#8217;s such a great principle from Scripture that you mention here, that Jesus guides us to keep our focus on the day at hand trusting Him with the rest, love that <img src='http://s.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> , what great encouragement! Lots of love to you xo</p>
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		<title>By: Michelle</title>
		<link>http://birgitwhelan.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2501</link>
		<dc:creator>Michelle</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:30:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://birgitwhelan.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2501</guid>
		<description>I keep exhorting myself, &quot;Stay in the moment.&quot;  When I start thinking of tomorrow, next week or ten years from now...I get scared.  The circumstances at this moment are calm enough that I can stop and write a comment, read some blogs, drink a glass of water.  I find when I live in the moment I don&#039;t get so fearful.

Now...just remembering to do it moment by moment by moment...sheesh!

And it&#039;s biblical...don&#039;t think about tomorrow, each day has enough trouble of its own...

Thanks, Birg!</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I keep exhorting myself, &#8220;Stay in the moment.&#8221;  When I start thinking of tomorrow, next week or ten years from now&#8230;I get scared.  The circumstances at this moment are calm enough that I can stop and write a comment, read some blogs, drink a glass of water.  I find when I live in the moment I don&#8217;t get so fearful.</p>
<p>Now&#8230;just remembering to do it moment by moment by moment&#8230;sheesh!</p>
<p>And it&#8217;s biblical&#8230;don&#8217;t think about tomorrow, each day has enough trouble of its own&#8230;</p>
<p>Thanks, Birg!</p>
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		<title>By: Roxx</title>
		<link>http://birgitwhelan.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2500</link>
		<dc:creator>Roxx</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:36:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://birgitwhelan.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2500</guid>
		<description>Thank you. Wonderful!</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Thank you. Wonderful!</p>
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		<title>By: Laura</title>
		<link>http://birgitwhelan.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2499</link>
		<dc:creator>Laura</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:24:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://birgitwhelan.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2499</guid>
		<description>Thanks Birgit, timely reminder! God is good, an ever present help in our times of trouble. Learning to live by faith, wow! Blessings</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Thanks Birgit, timely reminder! God is good, an ever present help in our times of trouble. Learning to live by faith, wow! Blessings</p>
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		<title>By: Hope</title>
		<link>http://birgitwhelan.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2498</link>
		<dc:creator>Hope</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:15:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://birgitwhelan.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2498</guid>
		<description>Funny you should ask that particular question. &quot;Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God,&quot; 1 Thess. 5:16-18. It just dawned on me yesterday - more clearly than ever - that we are to do all three simultaneously. :)</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Funny you should ask that particular question. &#8220;Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God,&#8221; 1 Thess. 5:16-18. It just dawned on me yesterday &#8211; more clearly than ever &#8211; that we are to do all three simultaneously. <img src='http://s.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
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		<title>By: @ngie</title>
		<link>http://birgitwhelan.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2496</link>
		<dc:creator>@ngie</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:40:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://birgitwhelan.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2496</guid>
		<description>Herein lies the skill we are to be ever perfecting with the aid of the Lord. He didn&#039;t rebuke the fact that they took action. He rebuked their choice of action. God designed us to be thinking, reasoning and figuring things out. So we mustn&#039;t fall prey to the temptation to be passive and &quot;just let God handle it all&quot;. Rather we must press in confidently to seek help at His throne of grace that we might take action the way that He wants us to. Yes, in faith. Yes, trusting His. Yes, relying on His power. But at the same time not sitting on our lollies resigned and frozen. I often wonder about this verse. Would Christ have preferred that the disciples taken authority over the storm? To answer your question at the end of the post I think that Lord is asking me to be strategic and purposeful in my prayers and actions.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Herein lies the skill we are to be ever perfecting with the aid of the Lord. He didn&#8217;t rebuke the fact that they took action. He rebuked their choice of action. God designed us to be thinking, reasoning and figuring things out. So we mustn&#8217;t fall prey to the temptation to be passive and &#8220;just let God handle it all&#8221;. Rather we must press in confidently to seek help at His throne of grace that we might take action the way that He wants us to. Yes, in faith. Yes, trusting His. Yes, relying on His power. But at the same time not sitting on our lollies resigned and frozen. I often wonder about this verse. Would Christ have preferred that the disciples taken authority over the storm? To answer your question at the end of the post I think that Lord is asking me to be strategic and purposeful in my prayers and actions.</p>
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		<title>By: mike curran</title>
		<link>http://birgitwhelan.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2495</link>
		<dc:creator>mike curran</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:43:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://birgitwhelan.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/eyes-of-faith/#comment-2495</guid>
		<description>This is great birgit, any chance of you being around on thursday to share?</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is great birgit, any chance of you being around on thursday to share?</p>
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