Praise the Lord for he is good!

I've been busy with school, family, friends, and... the birth of my daughter. Sorry I haven't had time to blog, but I now have found some time. Let me set the scene: Piper's asleep next to me; Rachel's asleep in the bedroom; twenty or so kids are playing on the front deck of the house next door, which I now have a great view of because of the feng shui we performed on the living room; I have read through half of The Gospel According to Mark, a sunday tradition; I have been sick for the past few days, but I feel better today, though... (well Piper was asleep; now she's with Rachel) ... I missed pot luck dinner with the Body here @ North Hinds; I'm listening to some good hymn music (come thou fount, currently); the Lord has indeed blessed me life, breath, and everything else (i.e. Piper, Rachel, family, friends, his word).

So I've been studying faith (I know... I was studying that over a month ago) and I've found a lot of cool stuff that shows me how to live my life concerning faith, or pistis as the Greeks would say.

3 Practical Applications that I have seen:

1 Our love for man should not be held in partiality (James 2:1&8-9), meaning that I should not any man above another, save the Lord Christ. I am not to hold different levels of love for different people.

2 By faith I am to abide in Christ (1 John 2:28 & 1 Peter 1:7), meaning that I am to read his word daily (Deuteronomy 17:19-20 & John 14:23), Rejoice Always, pray continually, give thanks in ALL things (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19), and anything else that the Lord brings to my attention in his word.

3 I am to be sober and resist the devil's temptations by faith (1 Peter 5:8-9). Other verses that I am reminded of are 1 Peter 1:13 and Ephesians 6:16.

I was also reminded today, while reading Mark 4:26-29. Those in the kingdom are called to plant seeds. Food for thought: What is a seed? What is the kingdom?