All in Faith

What Your Prayers Reveal About Your Faith

What Your Prayers Reveal About Your Faith

Tiffanie Butts
Faith

Last month I had the privilege of traveling to Sydney, Australia to attend Hillsong Conference. One of the guest speakers was Erwin McManus, pastor of Mosaic (church) in Los Angeles, California. He gave a challenging sermon about prayers and I want to share my insights with you.

He preached from Matthew 20:29-34 –

As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Erwin raised the question as to why Jesus would ask ‘What do you want me to do for you?”.  Why didn’t he just heal them?

When it Seems Like God is Silent

When it Seems Like God is Silent

Tiffanie Butts
Faith

Have you ever expected an answer from God or prayed for Him to show up in your situation, but instead of a clear response or sign all you felt was silence? As if your words were bouncing off of the ceiling instead of making their way to God.

I’ve been there.

Often when we seek God’s guidance we look for response our human ears can validate or hearts can easily feel. We expect answers and signs that line up with our way of thinking. Sometimes we get that, but often we don’t.

When You Don’t Feel Like Worshipping

When You Don’t Feel Like Worshipping

Tiffanie Butts
Faith

I know I’m not the only one who’s felt this way. It’s not a popular thing to admit but I know it’s a very real struggle for many (if not most) Christians.  I felt this way a couple of weeks ago.

Typically, my morning routine consists of me listening to worship music as I get ready for work, reading my bible for 5-15 minute before making breakfast, then praying during my morning commute. But that day I wasn’t feeling it.  I simply had no desire to open my bible or spend any time with God.

Doesn’t that sound terrible?

For Our Good, Not Our Comfort

For Our Good, Not Our Comfort

Tiffanie Butts
Faith

Most (if not all) of us have been in a situation that seemed hopeless. We’ve prayed to God and sought after his guidance. We asked Him for answers, pleaded for His intervention, but didn’t see the results we hoped for.

God is sovereign and knows everything that has happened and will happen to us. More than that He loves us. We won’t always understand His methods and plan, but the book Romans does tell us that for the believer in Christ, God works all things for our good according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Are You Starving Yourself Spiritually?

Are You Starving Yourself Spiritually?

Tiffanie Butts
Faith, Relationships, Identity

Starvation can be defined as suffering severely from hunger.

We recognize physical hunger by physical symptoms such as a growling stomach or headache, and emotional signs such as anger and irritability. We can recognize spiritual hunger in the same way.

I was talking with a friend the other day at small group. We were discussing how our week was going and sharing our prayer requests. She began telling me that she needed prayer for discipline

Gaining and Maintaining a Godly Perspective

Gaining and Maintaining a Godly Perspective

Tiffanie Butts
Faith

I absolutely love working with children, but lately it’s been hard. I’ve felt more dread than joy on the days I’m scheduled to serve in my church's nursery. Before each shift I try to press into God’s strength and not rely on my own, but still (at times) I feel overwhelmed.  This past Sunday was no exception.

After a short break between shifts, I arrived back early and decided to listen to worship music. I was singing Here Now by Hillsong United:

The Struggle: Battling Unbelief

The Struggle: Battling Unbelief

Tiffanie Butts
Faith, Spiritual Warfare

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. - Psalm 42:11

As I sat in my car reading this verse, my eyes filled with tears. "I don’t understand why I feel this way", I thought to myself. How is that I can have so much faith in God’s plan for my life and still struggle with a great amount of fear, doubt and worry? My spirit believes, but there are doubts in mind and fear in heart trying to convince me that this won't work out, it's not going happen for me, it's my fault, and I'm not good enough.

5 Years In: Life In Christ

5 Years In: Life In Christ

Tiffanie Butts
Faith

5 years ago today I made the best decision and most important decision of my life, I became a Christian. The time hasn't flown by, it's actually been equally slow, sweet, frustrating and tumultuous.

I was not raised in church but growing up my parents taught me about God. It wasn't until my junior of college that I finally stopped running from God, and surrendered to His love. As I look over the last 5 years, I cannot believe how much my life has changed, how much I’ve changed.

Trusting God's Timing: 4 Things I've Learned

Trusting God's Timing: 4 Things I've Learned

Tiffanie Butts
Faith

I am by nature the plan-my-whole-life-before-breakfast type. I trust God and want to follow His plan and timeline for my life. But if I can be honest with you, really honest… some days it’s just plain hard. It’s not until now that I relate to Galatians 6:9 -

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. “

Seasons Are For Change

Seasons Are For Change

Tiffanie Butts
Faith

’m a few days late, but it’s finally spring and I couldn’t be more excited! Spring is the season of new beginnings. Days are longer, nights are warmer, and things that were once dormant and dead bloom back to life in vibrant color.

Like nature we too experience seasons. There are times in our lives that are filled with warmth, comfort and fun much like summers and times that feel cold like winters due to the loss of a relationship, loved one, or job, or a feeling of loneliness and isolation. For me spring represents a much needed time of joyful change