put armies to flight...and were sawn in two

My "making space" time this Lent has been challenging my socks off (if I ever wore socks) in the Word.  Hebrews 11 a few nights ago is still resounding in my spirit as it reality checks my life.  

Make a space today, pull out Hebrews 11 and see what He brings to your heart and mind...you can read what He's bringing to mine below.

Hebrews 11

BY FAITH (the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen)...

     men of old : gained approval

     Abel offered better than Cain

     Abel still speaks : though he is dead

     Enoch : taken up

     Noah prepared : not seeing

     Abraham went : not knowing

     Abraham was an alien

     Sarah received : the ability to conceive

     Abraham offered his only son

     Isaac blessed

     Jacob blessed and worshipped

     Joseph gave orders concerning his bones

     Moses : hidden

     Moses : chose to be mistreated

     Moses left : without fear

     Moses kept the Passover

     Jericho : fell

     Rahab : lived

     prophets :

          conquered kingdoms

          performed acts of righteousness

          obtained promises

          shut the mouths of lions

          quenched the power of fire

          escaped the edge of the sword

          became mighty in war

          put foreign armies to flight

          received back their dead

          were tortured

          were mocked and scourged

          were chained and imprisoned

          were stoned

          were sawn in two

          were put to death by the sword

          were destitute, afflicted, ill treated

          wandered in deserts, caves and holes

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having SEEN them from a distance, and having confessed they were strangers and exiles on this earth.  

They made it clear, by their faith, that they were seeking a country of their own.  A better country, a heavenly one.

Therefore, God was not ashamed to be called their God.

Without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He IS, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

As I continue to work through this passage, here's some of what's running through my heart:

All I ever want to talk about is the power to shut the mouths of lions.  To quench the power of fire.  To obtain promises.  I want to have faith in Him to do those great things, to manifest those great victories through me.  

But what about the rest?  By faith, do I rejoice in the Lord to be killed with the sword?  Destitute?  Ill treated?  Stoned?  Exiled?  Why do we think following Christ (and HE, crucified) should only offer "good" and easy things?

Do I come to God believing that HE IS?  Or do I come to God with my wish list?  Do I come to God with my set of requirements and demands for what I believe I need and want for my lovely little life, or do I come to God seeking HIM?  Just Him?  The Him that can give me back my dead...The Him that can be my God while I'm TORTURED.  

From those who shut the mouths of lions to those who were stoned, not one of them received their promises.  They didn't live in the promises.  They lived in faith that HE IS, trusting Him, and therefore they SAW what truly mattered from a distance.

Those who put armies to flight AND those who were sawn in two made it clear to everyone that they didn't care about their own heads.  That they didn't care about their own homes.  That they didn't care about their lives!  They didn't care about their lives!

They had their eyes set on a different kingdom than their own...Had their eyes set on HIS kingdom.  Which they never received on earth.  But they saw it, and lived for it.  

And He was not ashamed to be called their God.

Stacey, Stacey.  

"By Faith, Stacey...."  WHAT.  What?  

Is it obvious to everyone, to anyone, that I do not care about my own life?  Is it TRUE?  Where are you set, Stacey?  Where are you set?  Are you seeking HIS promises, or the promises of the world?

Am I a foreigner...not just in Haiti, but on this earth? Am I ready to become mighty in war?  And to offer my children?  Ready to conquer kingdoms and to be be chained and imprisoned?

MORE, am I ready to NOT CARE which or what?  

As with everything, it comes down to this:  Who is my life about?

Is it about me?  Or is it about Him?  Because if all I am is HIS, and if all I want is what HE wants, and if all I'm about is HIS glory, well...there's my faith.  Faith that whatever comes, HE IS.  Faith that whether I hold the promises, live the promises or just see them from a distance, that HE IS.  

That He not be ashamed to be called MY GOD.

By faith, _______________________(your name)....  What??