CHECK YOUR BRAKES

I had my car serviced a few weeks ago and thankfully despite having around 120,000 miles on the clock, it didn't need anything major. My friendly mechanic (who is part of our church) did warn me that next time he checks it over for me it will need brakes. I'm glad he picked up on that, because you really don't know how your brakes are until you need them.

When I'm driving along the Long Island Expressway, cruising at 70 and watching for cops, I'm not wondering how my brakes are doing. It's when some idiot cuts me off, the person in front of me slows down for no apparent reason or any of 1001 other unexpected events arise that I hit the pedal and am very relieved that there is something there.

Faith's a bit like that. When we're cruising through life, it's there and it's important, but we're not necessarily aware of it. It's when our path takes an unexpected twist and more is required of us than we had expected that faith really comes into its own.

Faith isn't a feeling or a persuasion, it doesn't exist in a vacuum. It is the heart's response to things God has said.

I've been thinking about some of the things that I am convinced about, based on what I have come to know of God ...

1. I am totally convinced of the goodness of God.

2. I believe that God has a unique plan for every person's life.

3. I believe that God looks after those who are his and that nothing can cause them harm.

4. I believe that God works everything in our lives for our ultimate and eternal good.

5. I believe that the God of heaven loves me immeasurably - and that takes more faith to grasp than most of us can muster, even on the best of days!

These truths mean more to us at some times than others - but they are always there.