The Faith Process
Chat Held October 14th, 2003
Instructor: Karon Thackston

11:01:32 [marniep] Karon is the author of "The Faith Process" and when I think of Faith I usually think of Karon!

11:01:52 [Karon] Oh <blush>... thanks!

11:02:02 [marniep] She's got the sweetest most amazing faith and trust in our Heavenly Father of anyone I know.

11:02:22 [Karon] OK, now I'm going to cry.

11:02:22 [marniep] So we couldn't have anybody better to teach us today!

11:02:38 [marniep] well it's true

11:02:52 [marniep] So Karon, without further adeau...

11:03:06 AmyLN enters this room

11:03:17 [Karon] Thank you, thank you. I want to start out by asking if you have questions about faith.

11:03:20 [Karon] Hi Amy!

11:04:26 [Karon] One thing that many people ask is "what is faith" and how to I get it. So while you're thinking about your questions, I'll start with some definitions.

11:04:27 [AmyLN] Hello! Just catching up!!

11:05:00 [Karon] According to scripture, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen." This is in Hebrews 11.

11:05:22 [Karon] (If you have questions, just type them on in and I'll answer as I go.)

11:05:41 [Karon] I wanted to take some time to disect that verse a bit.

11:06:09 [Karon] Faith is the "substance" of things hoped for... how exactly is that?

11:06:33 [marniep] it's what they're made of

11:06:36 [Karon] Faith - basically speaking - is what Father uses to create with.

11:06:48 [Karon] Right, Marnie!

11:07:10 [Karon] Think about that for a minute. Father called everything that we know on this earth into being through faith.

11:08:09 [Karon] He created the air, the water, the land, the animals... US... everything because He knew what He wanted and knew He had the power to create.

11:08:38 sparrow enters this room

11:08:49 [Karon] It's the same with us. Our faith comes by knowing that God's Word is true, that He has the power to create/restore/heal/work wonders and that He will do it.

11:09:29 [Karon] How do you get faith? That's one of the best parts! You already have it! We ALL have "the same measure of faith" according to the Word.

11:10:05 [Karon] So why are others more able to use their faith? Why are some stronger and others are weaker? That's where the title of this chat comes in. Because some of built their faith muscles and others have not.

11:10:27 [Karon] I'm doing all the "talking" here... let me hear from some of you for a moment? Comments? Thoughts? Questions?

11:11:08 [AmyLN] I' m just anxiously to learn how to make my faith stronger!

11:11:20 [Karon] OK, great! Thanks Amy.

11:11:24 cindy enters this room

11:11:25 [Karon] Anyone else?

11:11:26 [sparrow] Same here.

11:11:29 [Karon] Hi Cindy!

11:12:00 [Karon] OK... we'll tackle that question and if others have comments/questions, feel free to chime in : )

11:12:18 [cindy] also catching up

11:12:31 [Karon] Again... according to scripture, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. So one way to build your faith is to read the Bible.

11:12:47 [Karon] Another way is to listen to the spoken Word (preaching/sermons).

11:13:04 [Karon] Still another is to be in the fellowship of those who have faith that is stronger than yours.

11:13:19 [Karon] But... the best way to strengthen your faith muscles is to practice!

11:13:21 [marniep] Music helps build my faith! 

11:13:42 [Karon] Oh YES! That's a wonderful way!

11:13:54 [Karon] Think of a body builder for a moment...

11:14:18 [Karon] Every body builder on earth was born with the same set of muscles.

11:14:48 [Karon] Yet, some are stronger and more able to lift heavy weights than others. Could they do that the day they decided to become a body builder?

11:15:07 [marniep] nope

11:15:27 [Karon] Did "Governor Arnold" immediately become able to lift hundreds of pounds the instant he decided to challenge for the Mr. Universe contest?

11:15:46 [Karon] The same applies to your faith muscles. You have the same measure of faith as every other Christian.

11:16:00 [AmyLN] very interesting analogy ...

11:16:01 [Karon] However, you have to USE those faith muscles in order to make them stronger.

11:16:17 [Karon] Some people laugh when I say this, but I used to practice building my faith with parking spaces ; )

11:16:31 [marniep] so that's why he allows us to have trials... so that we can work our faith muscles?

11:16:51 [Karon] That's one reason, yes.

11:17:14 [Karon] When I left for the store, I'd pray for Father to give me a parking space right smack in front of the door at the store.

11:17:30 [Karon] Then, I'd hold my faith as I pulled into the parking lot.

11:17:48 [Karon] No spaces up front? Not to worry! I'd still hold my faith that my space would open up just any second.

11:17:52 [Karon] And it did!!

11:18:19 [Karon] Now, granted, praying for parking spaces is pretty silly (unless you're having an emergency), but Father knew that I was pracitcing and He didn't seem to mind.

11:18:25 [Karon] After all, I got the spaces ; )

11:19:08 [Karon] Start small. Just like Arnold couldn't have lifted 1,000 pounds on the first try, you won't be able to heal someone terminally ill with cancer if you're just starting out.

11:19:21 [Karon] (Unless Father decides to use you in a miracle!)

11:20:08 [Karon] Does that help? Need more info?

11:20:09 mamzel enters this room

11:20:26 [Karon] Hi Mamzel! Welcome!

11:21:10 [marniep] do you have another example maybe?

11:21:30 [mamzel] hi!

11:21:35 [Karon] I was just typing one : ) It happened just yesterday to my sister.

11:21:46 [Karon] My sister has been struggling with a career change.

11:21:51 [marniep] cool

11:22:03 [Karon] She just HATES her job and is treated pretty poorly.

11:22:15 [Karon] Even though she's been there over 10-years, she has very few benefits.

11:22:35 [Karon] She prayed and prayed and finally was led in the direction of medical coding.

11:22:54 [Karon] So, she checked into what was needed (education wise) and found a program at a technical college here.

11:23:22 [Karon] She ordered her transcripts from the university she attended about 20-years ago and setup an appointment with an advisor.

11:23:31 [Karon] The appointment was yesterday morning.

11:23:41 [Karon] About 8:30am I got a frantic phone call from her!

11:23:53 [Karon] She was about to panic because she couldn't find her transcripts.

11:24:04 [Karon] She HAD to have them in order to go to see the advisor.

11:24:30 [Karon] Monday was her only day off (she's a bank manager) for a long while so she had to make this appointment. There was no postponing.

11:24:47 [Karon] She was in the car on the way to the university when she realized this is the week of fall break.

11:25:15 [Karon] We prayed that the faculty would still be working and that she would be able to get copies of what she needed right then.

11:25:56 [Karon] As she pulled up to the office, she noticed she only had $ .25 in change. That was only enough "meter money" for 30-minutes. Hardly enough time to get copies of transcripts.

11:26:44 [Karon] She began confirming her faith. "Father, this is the direction YOU are leading me in. I'm putting this in your hands. I don't know if this place is even open and I only have enough change for 30-minutes. I trust You to make it all work out OK."

11:27:06 [Karon] About 5-minutes after she pulled in the parking lot and hung up from our cell phone call, she rang me back.

11:27:20 [Karon] SHE GOT THEM!!!

11:27:30 [Karon] She walked up to the 1st floor door and it was locked.

11:27:47 [Karon] She was trying to panic, but decided to just keep repeating, "God is good, all the time."

11:27:55 [Karon] Walked up to the 2nd floor... locked.

11:28:03 [Karon] Walked up to the 3rd floor door... OPEN!

11:28:18 [Karon] There was nobody inside. She looked around and found one lady working that day.

11:28:40 [Karon] She asked if she could get a copy of her transcript today and the woman cheerfully said, "Sure... will just take me a minute."

11:28:56 [Karon] And the lady was right. It only took about 60-seconds to pull it up and print it off.

11:29:09 [Karon] Needless-to-say, a quarter in "meter money" was more than enough : )

11:29:20 [marniep] Cool!
11:29:29 [Karon] She made her 10 o'clock appointment and got everything she needed to join the program!!

11:29:38 [Karon] As my sister said, "God is good... all the time."

11:29:54 [sparrow] It seems like a waste of time to even worry about things when you know the Lord there with you.

11:30:04 [mamzel] wow

11:30:29 [Karon] It does "seem" that way. But that's logical thinking. Unfortunately, we are humans and our emotions and hearts get in the way a lot of time ; )

11:30:43 [Karon] Yeah... "wow!" I was just screaming with excitement at how Father worked it all out.

11:30:57 [sparrow] I've been there many times.

11:31:19 [Karon] Me, too! Tell us about something you've been through, Sparrow.

11:32:04 [sparrow] My mother had called me the other night to tell me that my grandmother was given up to two weeks to live - she has cancer.

11:32:24 [sparrow] And to be honest I lost it and cried myself sick.

11:33:05 [Karon] I would have, too! I know that had to spark some feelings of fear (which is the exact opposite of faith). That would have hit home with me, too. How are you feeling now?

11:33:11 [sparrow] My husband and I prayed about the situation. And I know He has been watching over her. We live 800 miles away from home.

11:33:38 [Karon] Oh, I hate that distance factor! That just makes things so much worse.

11:33:51 [Karon] Can I offer you some tips?

11:34:17 [sparrow] I didn't get much sleep that night - so in the a.m. when my father calls (and he doesn't call me at all) he was worried and wanted me to fly me up to help him take care of her.

11:35:24 [Karon] Are you able to go?

11:35:35 [sparrow] So after hanging up with him I let myself go and just gave it over to the Lord - asking him to just make her happy and comfortable and later on last night I found out my parents had taken her to a hospice house and she was so much happier and it took such a load off of my mind.

11:35:46 [sparrow] I hope to leave next week.

11:36:21 [sparrow] We just praised God that He was able to put a smile back on grandma's face.

11:36:39 [Karon] Oh... see? There's a prayer answered through faith already.

11:37:30 rhoda enters this room

11:37:46 [sparrow] Yep!

11:38:06 [Karon] When you pray, hold fast, Sparrow... and everyone. "A man who is tossed about like the see in his faith will receive nothing from the Lord." Pray, give it to Father, and stand firm that - since what you've prayed for is in God's will - it will come to pass.

11:38:22 rhoda exits from this room

11:38:22 [Karon] Marnie... how are we doing on time?

11:38:53 [marniep] you've got 5 minutes or really you can have 15-20 if you want it.

11:39:06 [marniep] Karon, do you have any tips for the "waiting period" between when you get a confirmation from the Lord and when it becomes a reality?

11:39:23 [Karon] Yes... two good one actually that have helped me a lot.

11:39:29 [mamzel] oh yes, that's a good one

11:39:38 [Karon] The first is found in Hab. 2:3...

11:39:51 [Karon] Let me turn there so I can type it accurately for you.
11:40:35 [Karon] For the vision is yet for an appointed time...

11:40:55 [Karon] though it may seem to tarry, wait for it.

11:41:14 [Karon] For it will surely come to pass and will not be one day too late.
11:41:55 [Karon] This has made a world of difference in my faith. When Father gives us a "vision," a hint or prompting of what to pray for, then we have His assurance that it WILL SURELY come to pass and won't be late.
11:42:12 [Karon] The Bible also tells us that - having done all we know to do, stand firm.
11:42:31 [Karon] Once we've done everything Father prompts us to do, we rest in Him and wait for His timing.
11:42:51 [Karon] Another thing that I love is a quote from Rev. Charles Capps.
11:43:14 [Karon] Someone asked him, "How long will it take for my prayer to be answered?"
11:43:37 [Karon] Rev. Capps: When you've stood long enough.
11:43:51 [Karon] Person: Well... when will I know when I've stood long enough?

11:44:01 [Karon] Rev. Capps: When your prayer is answered!

11:44:12 [Karon] Not to make light of the situation, but I've never found a chart in the Bible that says...

11:44:18 [mamzel] lol

11:44:23 [marniep] <LOL>

11:44:31 [Karon] A new job takes 3 weeks of standing in faith, a new car takes 2 months of standing in faith...
11:44:51 [sparrow] lol

11:44:59 [marniep] I could use one of those charts!

11:45:06 [Karon] It's Father's timing. And we, as human beings, have to understand that Father's timing is perfect.

11:45:20 [Karon] Yeah.. me, too! I *wish* I could find a chart 

11:45:43 [Karon] Waiting is the hardest part. But it is also an extreme exercise in faith building.

11:45:58 [marniep] Too bad we don't have something like the sprouting times on the back of seed packets for the seeds we plant in our lives!
11:46:41 [sparrow] that's a good one!

11:46:46 [Karon] Hee Hee Hee... I know! That would be cool. Pray for safety on your summer vacation during early spring and it will take 6-8 weeks to sprout.

11:46:57 [mamzel] o i'd love to have at least a guesstimate!

11:46:59 [Karon] Or - like TV infomercials... 6-8 weeks for delivery 

11:47:05 [marniep] LOL

11:47:23 [sparrow] lol

11:47:42 [Karon] Are there other questions before we wrap up?

11:48:38 [marniep] You do a lot of praying and holding people in faith for healing.. how do you deal with the fact that it may not be God's will for them to be healed. How do you know how to pray in such circumstances

11:48:56 [mamzel] anyone have a time where they were asking, and had to wait to see if God was actually working on it, or had not "approved"

11:49:11 [mamzel] that is another waiting period=)

11:49:27 [sparrow] in the case of my grandmother I just learned to accept it and let go and let God deal with it.

11:49:41 [mamzel] you feel almost sure, but nothing confirms

11:50:23 [Karon] I go by the Word. It says that it is appointed ONCE for a man to die. That means every other time we are granted healing. I have no clue that *this* time is the time they *won't* get healing, so I stand firm on the scripture that Jesus took 39 stripes and by His stripes they ARE HEALED.

11:50:47 [Karon] I don't focus on the 1% chance that this may be the "once."

11:50:58 [Karon] Mamzel... yes, I have been there.

11:51:15 [Karon] I keep plugging along. In the example of my sister...
11:51:46 [AmyLN] If everything that happens is in God's wil, how do we have the audacity to 'ask' Him for anything? SHouldn't we just accept everything that happens?

11:51:55 [Karon] if she'd have taken her losing the transcripts as a "sign from God" that she was going in the wrong direction, satan (whose name I refuse to dignify with capitalization) would have kept her from following God's plan.

11:52:29 [Karon] Everything that happens is NOT in God's Will? Who said that?

11:52:37 [mamzel] i see, to act as if we have the request, not to be easily discouraged, but go toward that...

11:52:41 [Karon] I have a shocker for you, AmyLN...

11:53:01 [mamzel] uh oh

11:53:04 [Karon] We are living on an earth that temporarily belongs to satan!

11:53:19 [AmyLN] Isn't it a Calvinist belief?

11:53:29 [mamzel] <hides under the desk>

11:53:36 [Karon] It's a Biblical belief.

11:53:41 [AmyLN] Well I have alot of questions ..

11:54:09 [Karon] The Bible tells us in no uncertain terms that satan is in control of this awful place 

11:54:25 [Karon] Father owns it, but with the Garden's fall came the fall of man and the fall of earth.

11:54:36 [Karon] I have lots of questions, too, Amy 

11:54:50 [mamzel] seeking whom he May devour (with permission, which is lack of faith, prayer, obedience, etc)

11:55:09 [Karon] Mamzel... as long as you've prayed about it and it's in God's Word, I can promise you that it's in His will.

11:55:28 [Karon] Yes ma'am... roaming the earth.

11:56:05 [Karon] Don't worry... Father will win the war, redeem the earth and we'll even live here when He "expands" heaven and the "new" earth.

11:56:15 [marniep] we have power over Satan.. he can't do anything to us but what we ALLOW him to do. We are free to choose, and unfortunately many choose to follow Satan's path.

11:56:20 [Karon] But right now we're stuck with satan and all his tricks.

11:57:00 [mamzel] He gives us the desires of our heart - actually builds in us the desire for happiness, so that we state his will when we follow our true desires, not the ones we think we have when we let go of Gods presence in our life

11:57:10 [Karon] Yes... YES Marnie! He has no power except what we allow him to have. There is no reason to fear. (The opposite of faith.) Stand firm knowing that you have the full protection of God is you choose to use it.

11:57:19 [mamzel] seems to trump the adversary

11:57:24 [mamzel] nothing else does

11:57:34 [Karon] Yes ma'am... it DOES trump the adversary!

11:57:41 [Karon] The blood of Jesus.. that's it.

11:58:06 [Karon] Well, ladies... it's time for me to head out. This has been GREAT!

11:58:12 [Karon] I appreciate your participation.

11:58:29 [mamzel] thanks for the good class, and conversation all!

11:58:36 [AmyLN] Thank you for some great concepts to dwell on and practice!

11:58:54 [Karon] You are so welcome!

11:59:06 [sparrow] yes thank you

11:59:08 [marniep] in Revelation they fought and overcame him "by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony" Rev 12:11

11:59:28 [marniep] Thanks Karon!

11:59:33 [Karon] Yep... you are right.

11:59:44 [Karon] Thank you! Have a blessed week!

11:59:52 [terresa] I have really enjoyed these chats today Thanks so much I really needed them this week

12:00:12 [marniep] Thanks for coming everyone!