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Ephesians 2:8-9<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n

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By Grace Through Faith<\/h5>\n8\u00a0For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9\u00a0not a result of works, so that no one may boast.\n\n<\/div>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”SCRIPTURE #4″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||5px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

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Hebrews 11<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n

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By Faith<\/h5>\n1\u00a0Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2\u00a0For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3\u00a0By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. 4\u00a0By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5\u00a0By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6\u00a0And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7\u00a0By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 8\u00a0By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9\u00a0By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10\u00a0For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11\u00a0By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12\u00a0Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. 13\u00a0These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14\u00a0For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15\u00a0If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16\u00a0But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. 17\u00a0By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18\u00a0of whom it was said, \u201cThrough Isaac shall your offspring be named.\u201d 19\u00a0He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20\u00a0By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21\u00a0By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22\u00a0By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. 23\u00a0By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king\u2019s edict. 24\u00a0By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh\u2019s daughter, 25\u00a0choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26\u00a0He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27\u00a0By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28\u00a0By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. 29\u00a0By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30\u00a0By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31\u00a0By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. 32\u00a0And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets\u2014 33\u00a0who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34\u00a0quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35\u00a0Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36\u00a0Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37\u00a0They were stoned, they were sawn in two,[1] they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated\u2014 38\u00a0of whom the world was not worthy\u2014wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39\u00a0And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40\u00a0since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.\n\n<\/div>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”SCRIPTURE #5″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||5px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

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1 Corinthians 10:12<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n

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Warning Against Idolatry<\/h5>\n12\u00a0Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.\n\n<\/div>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Don’t step on the crack. Worldly stress can cause stress in your life. Jump over these cracks with faith and placing your trust in God.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2393,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\n

Leap Over The Cracks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t step on the crack or you\u2019ll break your mother\u2019s back. Did you play that game when you were young? I know I did. I also must admit it still crosses my mind once in a while when I walk down the sidewalk, looking at the cracks. I\u2019m not sure where that game originated, but from what I recall it had nothing to do with believing it actually hurt your mother. Did the crack represent something bad? If you stepped on a crack, did you lose the game? Or was it just a good excuse to jump over a crack? Regardless, it was an innocent way to recognize a make-believe danger to hop over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cracks In My life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Typically, cracks are not good. Whether it\u2019s in your windshield, foundation, or yes even the sidewalk. Cracks often show up in our lives as well. New Year\u2019s resolutions are beginning to crack. Various worldly events or circumstances are creating cracks. It might be losing a job, stressed finances, health problems, or a number of other things. If I could, I would leap right over all of those cracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crack Repair\/Trust in God<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Well, the Apostle Paul tells me I can, \u201cFor we walk by faith, not by sight.\u201d<\/em> (1 Corinthians 5:7<\/a>). I often see just the cracks; by faith I must see an opportunity to trust God. Even though I may not see God working in and through the cracks in my life\u2026 it is by faith I know that God is in control and I gain the assurance that He is protecting me and looking out for me. I also know that with faith I can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13<\/a>). Through faith, I know I have the gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9<\/a>). By faith I know I can place my trust in the Lord (Hebrews 11<\/a>). Nourishing faith with scripture I can learn many ways He is looking out for me and how to place my trust only in Him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It Takes Work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But I need to continually work on strengthening my faith, \u201cSo, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don\u2019t fall!\u201d<\/em> (1 Corinthians 10:12<\/a>). As soon as I think the armor of God will protect me from all the forces of the evil one, the end of my toe catches one of those cracks. Have you done that before? Stumbling down the walk, wondering \u201cwhy did I not see that coming?\u201d If only I would have leaped over that crack. I must never assume that I am beyond sinning, that temptation could not touch me, that I could not stumble in some way. For surely, I can and will. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My sinfulness lets doubt and fear catch my toe on that crack. That\u2019s why it is so important to daily seek His Word. Continually strengthening our faith. The method will vary according to your routine, but take the time to make God\u2019s Word part of your routine. A sure way to help you jump over the crack so you don\u2019t break your\u2026faith. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Lord, help me to place all my trust in you through faith. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phil Bamesberger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daily Devotions<\/a><\/p>\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[188],"tags":[82,83],"class_list":["post-1875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-by-the-well","tag-bamesbergerfarms-com-dont-step-on-the-crack","tag-dont-step-on-the-crack"],"yoast_head":"\n