Tag Archives: step out in faith

Living at Home Temporarily

Posted on July 17, 2023 by expressyourself4him

According to the Oxford Living Dictionary, a millennial is “a person reaching young adulthood in the early 21st century.” As Podcasts have become the new outlet for modern day talk shows, millennials have become one of the target audiences. Unfortunately, millennials also tend to be a punchline for the end of jokes with a growing number living at home with parents temporarily.

And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 And he commanded them, Say this to my lord Esau: Your servant Jacob says this: I have been living temporarily with Laban and have stayed there till now, Genesis 32:3-4.

Perhaps, this makes one Old Testament mama’s boy the first millennial of the Bible. According to Moses, Jacob lived with his father-in-law for more than two decades. Rather than sitting at home streaming shows and surfing the internet, Jacob made himself useful. Moses describes Jacob’s current lot in life as a herdsman and shepherd, Genesis 31:40.

 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside, 1 Corinthians 13:11.

While I’m sure Rachel and Leah enjoyed sharing their grandchildren with Laban, the 10th change in Jacob’s wages served as the last straw. This one event pushed Jacob over the edge, realizing that it was time to leave home. Since human beings mature at different rates, the ultimate sign of growing up is putting aside childish ways. May the story of Jacob help millennials step out in faith by beginning a new life out on their own.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Stand Back

Posted on March 30, 2023 by expressyourself4him

As an employee of Amazon the past decade; safety has been ingrained within me. Whether it’s using the freight elevator, a ladder or unclogging jams on a conveyor, each act requires specific training before you are permitted to perform this task. One of the expressions you might here is stand back and let someone who is qualified perform this duty.

But they said, Stand back! And they said, This fellow came in to live here temporarily, and now he presumes to be [our] judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them. So they rushed at and pressed violently against Lot and came close to breaking down the door, Genesis 19:9.

On the other hand, stand back may be a precursor to an altercation breaking out. The context of the passage above is that Lot is trying to diffuse a potential conflict. Unfortunately doing the right thing as a peacemaker isn’t easy. Once a mob of people make up their mind to act, providing an alternative is tough to sell. When Lot’s plan B is rejected, an angel intervenes.

For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and [d]pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and [e]seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit. 6 Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that [f]comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever]. 7 [That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot, Romans 8:5-7.

The last episode of Seinfeld was set up by Jerry’s friends filming a robbery instead of acting like a concerned citizen. This form of stand back by not getting involved is now considered normal with cell phones videotaping crimes daily. As long as human beings continue to feed their sinful nature, this trend will continue. May the passage above serve as a warning to step out in faith by following the convictions of the Holy Spirit.

By Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

A Purpose to Press On

Posted on January 29, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Today was one of those hard days at work that makes you reconsider if you are where God wants you to be in life. The youngest child in the Parable of the Prodigal Son experienced a famine before he came to his senses in Luke 15:14-17. After being desperate enough to work at a pig farm, this rebellious son was so hungry that he longed to eat the slop that he fed the pigs under his care. Whatever crossroad that you’re facing, step out in faith with a purpose to press on.

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you, Philippians 1:6.

The context of the passage above is referring to the Church at Philippi. This young church under the spiritual leadership of Lydia, who opened her home like modern day home churches, was in its infancy stage. Subsequently, Paul writes this letter to cast a positive vision for their future as this body of Christ. Other letters like the one written to a teenage pastor provides direction on how to grow a church, 2 Timothy 1:5-7, by fanning into flame your spiritual gifts and talents for the Lord.

Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. 13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward, Philippians 3:12-14.

According to Paul’s letter to the Church at Corinth, churches function their best, like a well-oiled machine, when every believer plays their part, 1 Corinthians 12:1-12. However, in order for this to become a reality, Christians need to first discover and develop their spiritual gift or gifts. As iron sharpens iron, Proverbs 27:17, mature Christians need to turn their attention toward God’s will for their lives, Romans 12:1-2. Pursuing spiritual gifts and God’s will provide a purpose to press on even when your current situation is extremely cloudy or dark. Whatever your circumstance, may Paul’s words above spur you to press on.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

When the Timing is Right

Posted on November 3, 2017 by expressyourself4him

If you watched the 2017 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros, you were not disappointed unless your team lost.  Nonetheless, winning this title in baseball is the pinnacle for major league ball players.  However, for one member of the winning Houston Astros, this wasn’t enough.  Similar to the final scene of the 1999 film For the Love of the Game, sometimes relationships are more important.  Thus, getting down on a knee, Carlos Correa proposed to his girl friend during the postgame festivities.  In his mind, the timing was right.

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” – Matthew 16:15

During the first century, Jesus arrived in Caesarea Philippi with his disciples.  Led by the Holy Spirit, Jesus felt it was time to have a serious conversation with his ministry team.  After discussing what others believed about him, Jesus wanted to know, “what about you?”  This question set the stage for Passion Week, Jesus’ final week on earth before his crucifixion.  Following Peter’s confession that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah, Jesus tried to prepare his disciples for the events of the future.  This information didn’t sit too well with Peter, who was unable to grasp the fact that Jesus was a heavenly king, not the earthly king of the Jews.

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life, Matthew 16:21.

In life, the future is like a blank tapestry waiting to be painted.  Yet, some times you don’t have the materials necessary to start.  On other occasions, you have the tools, but you lack the vision necessary to complete this portrait.  As for me, I was attending a retreat in southern Indiana.  I had recently resigned from my youth ministry position and was unsure of what to do next.  Following a moving presentation, God impressed upon the need to ask my girl friend Leanne to marry me.  The next day, I drove to Chicago, took a twist tie that she gave me as part of a care package and proposed.  When the timing is right, step out in faith while you have the opportunity to act.  By doing this, you fulfill the words of Galatians 5:25.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

A Vessel of Healing

Posted on July 27, 2017 by expressyourself4him

When the term vessel comes up in a conversation, I immediately visualize a cruise ship, sail boat or the SS Minnow from Gilligan’s Island reruns.  While I have never experienced the amenities of a luxurious cruise, this vessel takes you where you want to go.  Sure, the weather may not always cooperate, but the goal is to arrive at each selected destination.

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work, 2 Timothy 2:21.

When it comes to healing, the Bible refers to vessels as a vehicle for change.  Thus, spiritual vessels must avoid the popular stops and distractions the majority tend to visit.  Jesus uses the analogy of a broad road that attracts a large crowd of people.  However, in the end, this place is empty, void of any permanent satisfaction.

For thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the pillars, the sea, the stands, and the rest of the vessels that are left in this city, Jeremiah 27:19.

Unfortunately, if you want to be a vessel of healing, you must accept the fact that this will be a lonely journey.  Jeremiah is nicknamed the weeping prophet as many of the messages he received from God to convey to Israel were negative.  The truth hurts as Jack Nicholson famously states as Colonel Jessup, “you can’t handle the truth.”  Vessels of healing must ignore the temptation to be popular by faithfully obeying the Holy Spirit.  In a world desperate for leadership, healing and truth, step out in faith as the Lord is waiting for A Few Good Men, to become vessels of healing.

by Jay Mankus

1 Comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Are You Sure About That God?

Posted on February 25, 2017 by expressyourself4him

From time to time, God will call his followers to step out in faith.  While this is expected to a certain extent, some requests go beyond logic.  Noah was asked to build an ark before rain existed.  A man plagued with stuttering, Moses, was urged to confront Pharaoh to let Israel go.  Meanwhile Joshua was encouraged to go into battle with a marching band of trumpets.  At some point I’m sure all three of these men likely pondered, “are you sure about that God?”

Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, Genesis 2:5.

The book of Hebrews emphasizes that its impossible to please God without faith, Hebrews 11:6.  James, the earthly brother of Jesus states that faith is dead without accompanied by action, James 2:26.  Perhaps, the reason why individuals are forced to step out in faith is that many people spend most of their lives dwelling within personal comfort zones.  Thus, God has to nudge and prod people to live by faith, not by sight.

For we live by faith, not by sight, 2 Corinthians 5:7.

Prior to the fall of Jericho, Joshua led his army to march around the walls of the city for six consecutive days.  At some point during this week, there must have been murmurs by soldiers, “when am I going to get my weapon?”  Although its not mentioned in the Bible, human nature causes individuals to doubt.  While not vocalized, Joshua needed to unite the troops on the final day, with something like “stop talking and march.”  Though you and I will have many more “are you sure about that” moments, may you fight through the urge to doubt by trusting God, step by step in faith.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Hurry Up and Wait

Posted on January 23, 2017 by expressyourself4him

Sometimes parents have a bad sense of timing.  Whether its getting a child out of bed for school, making it in time for church or an event, our sense of time doesn’t always match with the actual time.  Subsequently, there are days where quick reactions from children result in hurry up and wait for parents to get into their vehicle.

Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river, Joshua 3:8.

There are moments in time when God uses a similar strategy.  During the Passover, the Lord instructed Israel through Moses to leave Egypt in haste.  This was the hurry up part of the equation.  The waiting part involved entering a promised land which the hearts and minds of Israel were not ready for yet.  However, when God’s followers step out in faith like the passage above, the only thing remaining is to wait for a miracle.

And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap, Joshua 3:13.

The hardest part of trusting an invisible God involves risking embarrassment and failure.  What makes matters worse is that the Lord does not honor a lukewarm spirit.  To step out in faith requires a full commitment, yielding to the God above.  If the priests did not enter the Jordan River with the ark, the promised land would merely be a dream today.  Nonetheless, this simple act of obedience set the stage for divine intervention.  If this blog finds you becoming impatient with God and the road He has chosen for you, may this hurry up and wait example from history give you hope that the Lord hasn’t run out of miracles.

by Jay Mankus

1 Comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.