FROM THE DOUBT SPACE TO THE FAITH SPACE

Good day dear friends.

Yesterday I sent, or tried to send, the daily ConCafe via my phone but alas it is wandering somewhere in CyberSpace. Yahoogroups is hot on its trail but I am making no promises of its finding its way to you. I apologize for that.

Our theme for Sunday, yesterday (take my word for it!) and today was CNN, the Cranky Negative Naysayers that we sometimes find ourselves being. Sometimes that involves our doubt and for today we use this study guide:
Let’s remind ourselves why Thomas was called “the doubter.” You’ll find this in John 20:19-31.

Read that slowly and carefully.

Here is that text:

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, {Or [the Christ]} the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Would you have reacted differently? Thank history it was Thomas who was known as Doubting Thomas and not Doubting Eradio or Doubting Nellie or (fill in your name). The truth is that sometimes we do find ourselves doubting. It may not be a major crisis of faith but we ask, "How am I going to pay that bill?" or "Will this spot on the exam turn out to be cancer?" And it's quite normal to have those questions until we turn back to the Lord who promised to see us through all that we face.

PRAYER: Loving God lift me from the doubting space to the faith space. Let my faith help others today. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.