Where Is YOUR Faith?

I am an avid follower of some pretty AWESOME blogs!  Over the last several months one blog in particular became very special to me.  You see in September 2010 my Best Friend SaraBeth found out she was pregnant and of course I was beyond ecstatic for her!!  Little did I know how difficult the journey I was about to embark on with my BESStie was going to be.  To say that my “FAITH” has been strengthened over the past several months would be a complete understatement! 

On Monday, November 15, 2010, SaraBeth and Rob received a fatal diagnosis for their sweet baby.  The doctor only gave them one option which was to terminate.  Of course this was not even considered as an option for SaraBeth and Rob.  From the VERY beginning SaraBeth and Rob put their FAITH and trust in the Lord – that His plan IS ALWAYS PERFECT!! 

The next several months were filled with MANY ups and downs … many changes in the diagnosis … many sleepless nights … many tears … MANY prayers … HOWEVER God’s grace and unfailing love were there EVERY SINGLE DAY!!

May 19, 2011, Faith Mackenzie Vaughn was scheduled to be born via c-section … May 19, 2011, 11:13 am Faith Mackenzie Vaughn was born … May 19, 2011 11:55 am Faith Mackenzie Vaughn passed away.

God chose Rob, SaraBeth and Faith to tell an AMAZING story.  God handpicked them to be a testimony to EVERYONE – A testimony of FAITHfulness, A testimony of Love, A testimony of Peace, A testimony of Endurance, A testimony of His Plan!  I can’t even begin to tell you the thousands of people who have been impacted by Rob and SaraBeth’s dedication to the Lord and I know that their testimony and Faith’s Mission will live on for years to come!

When I was younger my most favorite Bible story was when Jesus calmed the sea.  This is the bedtime story I chose almost every night.  Recently I heard a sermon, from our AWESOME preacher I might add, that included comments on Luke’s account of Jesus calming the sea … comments that I had never thought of before.

Luke 8:22-25

22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out.

23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

 24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”  He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.

25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.  In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

Notice in verse 25 what Jesus asks His disciples after he calmed the sea – “Where is your faith?”  Understandably the disciples were scared because of the storm HOWEVER if you look at verse 22 Jesus said to His disciples “Let us go over to the other side of the lake”.  Jesus TOLD His disciples they were going to the other side and that is what He meant!!  Jesus didn’t tell them they were going to have smooth sailing while going to the other side!

So let’s apply this to OUR lives …

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.   John 3:16

God promised us Eternal Life HOWEVER He NEVER promised us a perfect, happy-go-lucky all the time life.  We certainly are going to face trials and tribulations in this life.  Unfortunately it is during those trials and tribulations when MANY people pull away from God and lose their Faith – kind of like the disciples – when in all actuality during those trials and tribulations we should be drawing closer to God to strengthen and renew our Faith!!

So if you want to read an AMAZING blog documenting a difficult journey BUT a journey of a Renewed Faith, go here here; go to the blog archive on the right, click on 2010, click on October, begin reading with the first blog entry on October 4, 2010, entitled “4 to 5”.  I will prepare you to have some tissues handy while you read.  Rob and SaraBeth have very well demonstrated where their Faith is AND they KNOW where their Baby Faith is!!!!