Faith + Works = Success/Happiness/Blessings/Joy/Rewards!!!

The Bible tells us in James 2:20 that faith without works is dead. There are two ways to interpret this, but both ways come to the same answer.

1.) Believing but not actually doing or working wont get you anywhere.
2.) Works with no faith will not lead to the true rewards & success!

I recently learned this lesson through an amazing experience.

Two years ago I had started asking God where I should go to college and the answer that I got back was Bethel University. A rush of emotions and thoughts bombarded me right then. I'm like "God Bethel is a GREAT! school but it's like $36,000 a year to go there (tuition is actually $24,000) - there is no way that I can afford to go there!" His reply "So you don't trust Me to provide for you?" Oh Eliana, how could you underestimate the Power and Might and Awesomeness of God?!!! So I changed my mind and heart and believed that God would provide for me...probably one of the best choices I've made in my life.

Shortly after this I was reading a book about drawing close to God and I came along this cool little quote, "Where God guides He also provides." So for a year and a half I prayed that every night, truly believing it. But in the mean time I spent my days working very hard at school. I knew that if I could get good enough grades I would get a great scholarship (a little foreshadowing here).

So it was this last April that my mom was driving me to a softball game when she threw a question at me, "What would you think about me getting a job at Bethel?" My reply "YES! - scream!" So my mom went through the entire process and she got a call back saying they would love to interview her for this amazing job in the Seminary at Bethel.

Two days leading up to her interview I had to really believe that this was what God wanted for her and for me. I fasted and prayed for two days.

May 9, 2009 - My mom came to pick me up from school, had a large Caribou coffee in the car, handed me a folded piece of paper. I opened it up to the words "Congratulations!!!" - I went hysterical! Lol!

So in October I sent in my application to Bethel. Got my acceptance two days before Thanksgiving!

Christmas Eve I received another letter from Bethel...basically said "Congratulations! We're giving you $9,500 scholarship! Your academics were wonderful and we just wanted to help you out."

God blessed me! Since my mom works at Bethel I'll get tuition break my second year there plus the $9,500 that is renewable every year!

Now I'm not sharing all this to brag about my success and my blessings and make it all about me. But I want this to show others that they need to have faith and work hard because that will reap the greatest harvest. But not just academically; you also need to do it spiritually. You need to walk your talk! You can't believe in what the Bible says and not walk it yourself - it just wont work. People will think you're a hypocrite and that there's no point to having a relationship with Jesus. Go out there and walk your talk! Remember, faith without works is dead! So keep it alive with faith & works. Blessings!