Faith Mustard Seed

Many people would agree that without faith, the world would be in chaos. The book Christian Foundation by Kathleen Fischer and Thomas Hart gives an interpretation on faith in our time. Many people would question the definition of faith. Faith is a gift, which is given by God to have trust in him and belief in him. This book is a great entry in anyone's life that has speculation on his or her own faith. The book has many ways into understanding ones own religion. It discusses the Bible, Jesus, Church, God's existence and Images of God. All of these chapters helped me get a better interpretation of what my religion entailed.

Faith is my bedrock, my passion, my belief structure. I grew up under the tutelage of a God-fearing (loving) mother who emphasized the need to “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 English Standard Version). I never let go of my belief structure, even when I joined the United States Marine Corps (USMC) straight out of high school. It is this faith and the above-mentioned Proverb that guides me throughout my professional career.

Faith in a "higher power" is often used as a crutch by many in times of struggle. However, when that crutch is removed, the hardships that need to be overcome seem to increase as hope diminishes. This is true

I am a true believer in faith and prayers because my life is spent on faith. Each time I wake up or lay down, I pray and ask the Lord to watch over my kids and all my loved ones. Anytime something happens bad, the outcome is good. This is the work of God because he calls the shots of my life. He is in total control of life.

Part of having faith is that you are able to believe in God without doubt, even when others do not. Although there is skepticism and disbelief by strangers, close friends, or even your own family, this belief must be strong enough that you can follow Him without needing the approval of other people.

One of the most important characteristics of faith that Kallistos Ware highlights is the idea that much, if not all, of one’s relationship with God, is based off of instinctive feelings as opposed to other feasible elements. As Ware states, “Faith is not the supposition that something might be true, but the assurance that someone is there.” Faith in God, as Ware explains in this quotation, is not merely believing in God due to elements of scripture or teaching, but is instead something that occurs after personal experiences that provide a basis for the presence of God in one’s life. Additionally, these personal experiences not only need to occur, but also need to be interpreted and attributed to God. However, this can be difficult for many,

Faith can ebb and flow through a lifetime, and it is rare for it to remain constant. This was one of the main points in Christian Wiman’s My Bright Abyss. He discusses that just as we grow as individuals; we must also grow in our faith. At this point in my senior year I was going through a particularly hard time, and was having trouble trusting in God and believing everything would be okay. In hindsight this may have been a good thing in the long run, as I was more receptive to the messages I received at NCYC, particularly with respect to what prayer is, and how to pray.

Faith in Christ has given me a unique life filled with optimism and purpose. From a young age, I have been raised in a home where I was taught about the love of Christ. Not only at home did I learn about Christ, but at school and at church. Thus, my life has been filled with experiences that have amplified my faith. For example, when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, I found that my relationship with Christ grew. Through all of the difficult circumstances that I have faced, faith in Christ has given me the encouragement that I need to persevere through any situation. Additionally, faith has influenced my decision making, which is why I strive to make all my decisions and live my life according to faith-based principles. This means

The topic of faith is very controversial. Many believe it is merely an idea of fiction, while others hold on to miracles. For me, faith has provided comfort and strength. There is so much more to learn in my Christianity.

Adolescents and adults face difficult challenges. Family, sports, illness, and even death can question our faith time to time. Faith can give a person courage. “Let your faith be bigger than your fears.” Courage is a feeling inspired by faith. Courage is a spark of hope and belief to challenge what to overcome. “A leap of faith” is a term used when presented a challenge. To embrace faith can give evidence and trust that they received what they asked for. Real faith is more than just believing in something. Real faith includes acting on that faith. To have faith in yourself and challenge yourself takes real faith. Faith comes into play when we lose a loved one. Death challenges our faith in many ways. Faith can believe the loved one is now in a better place. One may question faith after a death. A sudden death can cause loss of faith. Why was he or she taken? Why were prayers unanswered? Why is the world so cruel? Why did he or she get sick? Faith can be loss when we may have wished for a different outcome. Faith restores when we have a prayer answered. For many people it is natural to blame someone when questioning faith. Courage to have faith again is hard for some

My faith has always been a big part of my life. When I was little I wondered how God did inhuman actions. After my several years at Holy Family I’ve learned that God is almighty as such, I don’t question God and his powers. I still don’t know how God did it, but I will have faith and just follow the path

Throughout my entire school career I was always an average, energized, active student who loved playing many sports including basketball, football and track. At the begging of my junior year I had an argument with my coach about not starting for my junior year and I became livid and immediately quit. After I quit basketball I started skipping school, I would skip Monday’s, Wednesday’s, and Friday’s because I didn’t think there was a point to going to school anymore. I made friends with some older kids who didn’t share my same interests and had already dropped out of high school. I began getting into multiple screaming matches with my mother and felt unwanted. I started partying for my first time, and began to not go back home and

I was raised going to a catholic school until high school, and there in catholic school they taught me what it meant to believe, love, and accept. I learned to believe when things cannot even be seen. I studied many things and went to church two times a week, once on wednesday and once on sunday. I was surrounded with people who were able to find hope even when it seemed like there was no way out, people who were able to believe when many couldn’t, and I was able to find that motivation too.

My faith journey has been challenged throughout my life. I have had many ups and downs, and many times when I questioned my faith. Although those times were rough, I found comfort in God and knowing that He is always there for me. One of my favorite quotes is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13. This quote got me through tough times when my faith was shaking.

My mom once told me when I was young and ignorant, “Faith is the foundation of a beautiful friendship with the one person who will always remain by your side”. These words were expressed even more profoundly every Sunday in the echoing corridors of a small church by a priest I had yet to know or even care about. Preaching with his perplexing words in which I could only muster barely a fourth of my full attention span listening to. Thus, the term faith did not exactly resonate with me until many years later. My early years were filled with the teachings of the bible in Sunday school and later on as well in middle school during Friday night sessions. Unfortunately, my mom was an extremely strong enforcer of our faith for she was also raised Catholic from birth, but my dad on the other hand has a more scientific approach to how the world came to be. The years I spent in Sunday school blurred into an everlasting line of bleak nothingness just a ticking clock waiting till an end. Even today I do not remember anything that occurred within those taxing sixty minuets of constant bible studies it’s as though I lost the key to the inner workings of my childhood. Nonetheless, there have always been unbelievably great role models in my faith such as my mom, youth ministers, and friends who encourage me to be open to my faith. However, it’s always been my own restrictions that prevent me from furthering my relationship with God. So when my sister suffered her first severe