breaking for mozambique..

I was reading through Hebrews the other night, and came to it again tonight. It reminds and challenges me.. and most definitely encourages me.

First in Chapter 10, verses 22 and 23, "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

Then to go on and travel somewhat through Chapter 11.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see..." 'By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what is visible... We learned faith from Cain and Abel through their opposing sacrifices.. We learned faith from Enoch as he spent time earnestly seeking Christ.. We learned faith from Noah as he spent years building.. We learned faith from Abraham as he left for a place he knew nothing about.. We learned faith from Abraham as he and Sarah prayed for a child..'

verse 13: "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers in earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country- a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." 'We learned faith from Abraham as he gave Issac as a sacrifice.. We learned faith as Isaac blessed Jacob.. We learned faith as Jacob blessed Joseph's sons.. We learned faith as Joseph spoke to the Israelites.. We learned faith as Moses' parents hid him.. We learned faith as Moses protected the firstborn.. We learned faith as people passed through the Red Sea.. We learned faith as the walls of Jericho fell.. We learned faith as the prostitute, Rahab, was not killed..'

"These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God ad planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."

Faith is so prominent in our every day lives.. Isn't it?
Faith is not only hope, but is assurance and belief. To trust.
I know that Faith is something so important that I often find to be one of those things that is not thought about very much, almost more like a "given" for me.
But I am really beginning to understand the utmost importance of faith lately.
Radical Faith.
Faith, not as in, I'll figure out my back-up plan first, and then hope that God comes through for me. Rather, I wholeheartedly believe and trust that this is in your hands. It's funny how simple it sounds to leave the control in the hands of the controller, but we find it so easy sometimes to desire the control. I have prayed during this whole journey to find myself "uncomfortable" - in a way that I would find depth and growth in my faith. And let me tell you, God answers prayer. I have definitely been uncomfortable in a sense, to the point where some things have been overwhelming, and have found myself in the midst of issues that I have had to really lay before God in days of prayer. I am learning that this is an every day thing. Some people (in many parts of Africa for example) live uncomfortably every single day- whether it is because of economics or social standards, they are forced to rely on God because he is the only one who is able. However, I don't necessarily wake up every morning wondering if I will eat breakfast, or be safe on my way here or there. I need to pray for faith. Life altering, mind blowing, forever changing faith. I hunger for that... and I know I am beginning to be fed. GOD IS GOOD.