Priceless

Proverbs 12:10 NIV

A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

God loves animals and truly cares about them and He wants us to look after and care for their needs. The needs of animals are not very complicated but they are time consuming and can be very costly, but the joy and unconditional love we receive from an animal is priceless. 

I'm linking up with Barbie, Fresh Brewed Sunday.

Blessings,

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Bree Needs Prayer

Please pray for Bree

Psalm 27: 3, 5 13-14 ESV

Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Need prayer warriors
Hey everyone this is Jen. Bree took a very unexpected turn for the worse wed night after having a long day of delirium thinking that something she can see that we cannot was going to get her. She became unresponsive and was having horrible seizure episodes. Local hospice was called for an emergency admission that evening and began pain and seizure management meds. We got Zayla out of the house and she has been with my mom and children since then. When she saw Bree going into seizures she asked her gramma if her sissy was going to die.. This was heartbreaking for all of them to have to answer to a 5 year old or anyone for that matter. Zayla and my girls seem to be coping together the best way little girls can, it seems to be therapeutic for them to talk to each other in their innocent way about it. Yesterday bree was having worse seizures with her tongue rolling into the back of her throat. They finally got the medicine regulated to the right ones and times to ease it off. Her pain has been in her head and now back. She has major symptoms of cranial pressure that is causing her to not want to be around light or outside. Her vomiting is Now under control after it being projectile at the first episode. She had a very long night of being awake uncomfortable but they had given all the meds possible so Susan and Kristin cuddled her in bed through it. I've been staying to help in being an extra set of hands and shoulder to cry on. Bree is so scared that she does not want me or anyone but kris or Susan so I just do what I can to help now. The doctors do think this is disease progression and end of life, they just do not know how long she has its is obviously not months as said before. Kristins main goal is to keep bree comfortable and out of pain so she does not suffer anymore than she already has been. Tomorrow there will be a table set up at Walgreens in boiling springs at 10 am during their easteregg hunt for baked goods for bree and bree shirts including the new tie-dyed. Also palmetto baptist church will have bree shirts at their community wide Easter egg hunt from 2-4 tomorrow. Thank you everyone who is and has been helping. It means so much to the girls club. Bree needs your prayers so much. Please tell everyone you know. Gramma and Mom has memories she wants to post when she is able to and says thank you everyone as well. God bless. Peace. Love. Bree. Always .. Pray. Hope. Believe.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.


Praying and praying for you sweet Bree!!

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Love The One

God is taking me deeper into Him and He is teaching me about love.

I want to love Jesus, my God. 

I want Him to be first in my life always. 

I want to shed the dirt and darkness from inside of me and I want His light and love to shine through me. 

I want to reach the lost with His love and to show them they are loved. Deeply loved by the Father, my Daddy. 

Listening to: Heidi Baker

I am being rocked by the fact that God wants to love us and have us love Him. 

WOW!!

Love the one.

Stop for the one. 

Luke 10:25-37 NIV
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
   “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
    “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
  Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Stop for the one.

Love the one.

Loving HIM,
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Revelation Song

Jesus Culture Revelation Song




Isaiah 6:2-3 NIV

Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

   “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; 

   the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Revelation 4:8 NIV

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy

 is the Lord God Almighty,’

who was, and is, and is to come.”

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, our Lord God almighty. God deserves and should be put as number one in our lives. If you have something that is more important that God you need to set this right. Jesus tells us the commandments can be summed up into two. Matthew 22:37-40, love God with all of your heart, mind and soul and then love your neighbour as yourself. 

Knock down the high places in your life and put God there, then He will bless you richly. 

In Him,

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Forgive

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Psalm 55:12-14 NIV

 If an enemy were insulting me, 

   I could endure it; 

if a foe were rising against me, 

   I could hide. 

But it is you, a man like myself, 

   my companion, my close friend, 

with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship 

   at the house of God, 

as we walked about 

   among the worshipers.

Forgive

I am working on this one, although it is hard God promises it is worth it. When David experienced this with one of his close aides, he poured out his heart to God. He spoke and confided in God and he didn't lash out but in turn forgave him who betrayed him. Jesus can relate to us here after all one of his close disciples betrayed Him to death. He forgave him because He knows the bigger plan of God. 

Im' linking up with Barbie My Fresh Brewed Sunday.

Blessings,

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Prayer Chain For Kelcee

Kelcee

Please gather together with me and pray for Kelcee, Summer's daughter. Please visit Summer's blog to get the full details.

The short of the story is that as you know Summer has JDM and it resent tests have come back showing that Kelcee may have it too. Please pray against this as this is early and the tests could be wrong.

Summer has a whole lot on her plate right now and the last thing she needs to be worrying about is Kelcee coming down with this. Tomorrow, Friday March 23 2012, Summer is scheduled for a port and next week she is having another chemo infusion.

Please head over to Summer's blog and let her know you are praying for Kelcee. Summer is putting up a link for a prayer chain. Please, please take the time and link to Summer's blog and put a post up about the need of prayer for this very sweet little girl, Kelcee.


Please, Please do this for Kelcee, for me, for the hubs, our family!   I know I have asked so much already, but this is our baby!  We need this to be o.k.!  I can't wrap my brain around all of this!  I am just asking for prayers!  From everyone!  Please, help me!  I am crying as I type this, I am in frantic mode!  

Thank you in advance for all your help!  I will set up a link tonight! 

I love you guys and please know if it was you or your children I would be the first on that prayer chain!

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Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Psalm 9:9 NIV

The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Thanks!!

Praying and praying!
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Light Dissolves Darkness

Mark 5:1-5 NIV

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They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

Our society does not regard Satan as a real being. Even in some churches the members will ignore this. But Scripture tells us otherwise. There is a real evil being and he does a lot of under cover work in the area of mental illness, divorce, physical & sexual abuse, self degrading, insecurities and so on.

When we read Mark 5:1-5 we see that Satan likes to isolate, shame and torture the people he controls. His power is inhumanely strong and he uses this to hold people in fear and bondage. When the evil one achieves a hold in our lives he will lead us into self-destructive behaviour.

Satan is around and he is roaming and wanting to destroy as many lives as he can before the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. As his time grows short, he is becoming fiercer and if he notices that he can have a chance with you in pulling you away from Jesus or stop you doing the work God has for you, he will. He will tempt and deceive you. He is a seducer and will stop at no means to take you down.

Focus your thoughts on Jesus Christ and His word. He will fill you up and defeat the tactics of Satan. When Jesus brings to mind a sin you have done, just repent of it and ask for His forgiveness, this closes up the hole that Satan can get a foothold on, Ephesians 4:26-27. Get involved in a church and have people praying for you. Remember Satan wants to isolate you and bring you into darkness. Where there is light the darkness must flee. And when you see someone under distress, pray for them. Have compassion on them and realize that this is a spiritual war and they are under attack and are in need of prayer and maybe need leading into repentance for a sin they have committed, like anger, hatred or just pure frustration.

1 John 1:5-7 NIV
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Praise Jesus, He has overcome the darkness and through Him we can too.








Blessings,
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Whatever

Philippians 4:8 NIV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

What we focus our thoughts on, this is what we will become. What we feed our mind with, is what will feed our spirit. Christians, are told we have the mind of Christ, 1 Corinthians 2:16, so then we should put good things into our mind and subject ourselves as students of the Most High King by pondering on what would honour and glorify Him.

I'm linking up with Barbie for Fresh Brewed Sundays.

Blessings,
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Christians Have The Spirit of God

Ephesians 1:17-23 NIV

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

This prayer from Paul is one that we should be praying for each other, that God will give us His Spirit of wisdom and revelation to the children of God. What a powerful prayer indeed, that we would know the power in Jesus that is available to His followers. What blows me away is we are told that this power is the same as that which raised Jesus from the dead and placed Him at the Father's right hand. This power is far above the rule and authority that Satan has here on earth. What did Jesus do with this power? He forgave the sinner who was willing to change their ways and healed them from sickness and demonic possession. How do we go about using this inheritance that is available to us? First, I believe that we need to be not living in sin but repenting and changing our ways. Second, I believe we need to have the concerns of those which belong to our Father; lost souls. Third, we need to preach the Gospel and lead people into repentance and rebuking past sins. Then fourth we pray for physical healing which should come about by faith in Jesus and His healing sacrifice on the cross.

The church is the body of Jesus Christ and we are the completeness of Jesus who seals all. When the body of believers work together under the instructions of Jesus Christ then we are His hands and His feet working to bring lost souls into the family of God by leading them into repentance of the old way of life and into putting on the new way.

1 Corinthians 2:12-14 NIV
What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

Paul tells us here that Christians have the Spirit of the Living God inside of them, not the spirit of the world which is Satan. We are able to understand what God has given us because of His Spirit living in us. Those who are not believers cannot grasp this at all. To them it is just foolish stories and fairy tales. And so they should think this because God's wisdom is not of the worldly wisdom at all but of a heavenly wisdom, a mystery to those who have not Jesus.

Children of God, you are very special and our Father has gifted each of you with a specific purpose from Him alone. Seek what these gifts are and then use them to glorify His name. I pray Ephesians 1:17-23 along with Paul for you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, that you will understand the power that is available to you in Jesus Christ. I still struggle with this as I cannot wrap my mind around it. But with His help I know He will open it up and revelation will come.




Blessings,
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If Only...

Hebrews 11:1-2 NIV

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Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

If only I could see a sign, or a miracle then I'd believe in God, I'd get my life straight and follow Him. Are you one who does this? This is a deadly thought, just look at the plagues in Egypt. How did the Egyptians and Pharaoh react? Their hearts only became harder. And what about the miracles Jesus performed? The people's hearts only became harder still. Miracles do not make a person believe in God they only reveal the condition of one's heart. Either the heart is hard or there is a trace of faith found.

Are you waiting for a sign or a miracle to strengthen or give you faith? Well, one thing I do know and that is the burst of confidence that is found in the witnessing of a miracle will fade away just as quickly as the event appears. When tomorrow comes and there is no miracle to witness doubt will seep in once again.

The evidence of God's existence is everywhere you look, what you need to decide is if you are willing to be open minded enough to see Him and change your mind and believe. Just look at the Hubble and what it found when it was pointed towards a black spot in space.

Hebrews 11:3 NIV
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Psalm 19:1-6 NIV

The heavens declare the glory of God; 

   the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

   night after night they reveal knowledge. 

They have no speech, they use no words; 

   no sound is heard from them. 

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, 

   their words to the ends of the world. 

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 

 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, 

   like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 

It rises at one end of the heavens 

   and makes its circuit to the other; 

   nothing is deprived of its warmth.

If you have a little more than 4 minutes please watch the video below on the Hubble and stand in awe of God and His Creation. 

Endless heavens! God is Great! from illianfamily on GodTube.

Blessings,

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Birthing Spirit

John 3:5-6 NIV
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit."

Deny the flesh. Fast and pray growing the Spirit of God in you.

I'm linking up with Barbie, Fresh Brewed Sunday

Resting in His promises,

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Some Updates

Exodus 34:5-7 NIV

Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.... 

I have some updates to share. Italics and green means copied directly from the web page of the person being written about.

Sam had scans and blood work this week and the news is good! His scans are stable and the blood work perfect! Praise God!! This is the second set of scans that have come back stable. Continue to pray for no evidence of disease and for one healthy boy.

Ansley had her second set of scans too and they came back NED!! No evidence of disease! Praise God. She is also really happy as her hair is long enough for piggy tails. :) Once again, God has blessed us with great news today. Our baby girl's scans were clear of all cancer!
It was a wonderful day in many ways. It is sweet to have so many people praying for Ansley at once, it is beautiful when the medical people working with her are patient and loving, and it is AMAZING when you get a phone call saying everything looks clear. Praise be to God and God alone for the blessing of this good news.

Katie Cancer free and going back to work!! Hello beautiful people!  Steve the lonely eyelash is no longer alone.  My hair is growing back and my eyebrows and eyelashes have sprouted.  This is Katie writing.  I wanted to just tell you how much I appreciate your support, your encouragement and prayers.  Without you, this journey would have been much more difficult.  I can’t describe the amazing feeling of being surrounded by people from around the globe who are rallying with me and carrying me through this.  I know that you will all continue to BELIEVE with me and fight with me that this will go down in my storybook as the one and ONLY time cancer and I took it to the ring.  My grateful heart shouts out daily THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR LIFE!  Each day, every breath, truly is a gift.  And I will never take it for granted.  I can’t tell you enough how much your encouragement and support has meant, and continues to mean to me.  I will be grateful for the rest of my life! 

Phoebe's immune system has kicked in and she is on the mend. It was a very scary time for her last week as she was quite ill with sepsis and a terrible reaction to the chemo medicine that is being used on her. Please pray that the doctors will know how best to treat this very aggressive cancer. Advanced Neutrophil Count, 18,000!! She looked into my eyes! She has been rather awake at intervals all throughout the day and she looked into my eyes with recognition. It was the best feeling in the world to see her seeing me. She is of course irritated at the breathing tube down her throat and greatly displeased that her arms are tethered to the bed so she can't pull it out, but she is waking up.

Quinn 3%!! That seems pretty low but that is what is happening in the new skin growth for Quinn and this is very encouraging for her parents and the doctors. She has 3% engraftment IN HER SKIN!  And, we saw some pretty new pictures too!  And, guess what they show????  That's right, IT'S WORKING!  She has even more of the missing proteins in her skin and doing what they are supposed to do!  There it is again, this thing called HOPE! It's means that when Quinn overcomes the other struggles she is facing that she can look forward to continued healing, continued growth and a lifetime filled with smiles!

Bree is in need of a miracle from God On Friday, we had an unexpected meeting with our team of doctors. We heard the heartbreaking news of how her tumor is so aggresive and is not growing like typical desmoplastic medulloblastoma. we were told she needs full brain/spine radiation but she is too young. Age five or older is best but she must be at least three to receive a lower than needed dose of radiation. Even that would leave her with mental/emotional challanges and physical disabilities. Every child is different and devastating effects vary. All are unacceptable to a precious child still growing. Bree is so very smart. It is difficult to not wonder what she would have been like had she not already endured such harmful treatment to save her precious life. So unfair !! Chemotherapy would also be needed again at very high doses. the nephrologist expressed his concern at the toll it would have on her already damaged kidneys. He explained that some children require dialysis and/or kidney transplants after chemo damages them, Though Bree is no where near needing one now, the future damage of high dose chemo could quickly change her kidney functions. All of the doctors agree that chemotherapy alone without radiation will not stop the cancer. They also all agree that she even if she were to receive radiation,she would also need the chemo to "kill any flotaing cells". The bottom line of the meeting is her only chance for survival is "a miracle". To say we are devastated is an understatement. Heart broken really doesnt describe the pain we feel. I cant even begin to know what her mommy feels. Watching her heart break and thinking of Zay and Bree is almost more than this Gramma can take. I love all of them with all of my heart and feel so helpless.I will not stop believing and hoping for the miracle it will take to save Bree.


Romans 5:5 NIV
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

2 Corinthians 1:10-11 NIV
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Thank you for praying. Please continue to pray for those that are in need. Remember Summer also as she is half way through a regime to put DM into remission. Pray for strength to make it through with her eyes on Jesus and a smile on her pretty face.







Blessings,
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Gleaning Nuggets of Gold

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own

understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make

your paths straight.

The above verse is fairly easy to do when your life is smooth sailing. If the trials you face are only involving you then this can be doable, hard, but doable. But, bring other people into the equation like your loved ones and this can be very difficult especially if there is a life threatening situation at hand. 

God asks us to trust Him and His wisdom even when we can't see the rationale behind it. He wants us to recognize Him in every situation that we come across, not just the easy stuff but the really hard, tough stuff, like the sickness or death of a dear loved one.

When we trust and acknowledge His presence and divine, perfect ways, then we realize that our paths are straighter and our destination one of peace, joy and pure bliss even when the outcome is not favourable.

Jeremiah 17:7 NIV
But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.


Blessed in Dictionary.com

1. consecrated; sacred; holy; sanctified: the Blessed Sacrament.
2. worthy of adoration, reverence, or worship: the Blessed Trinity.
3. divinely or supremely favoured; fortunate: to be blessed with a strong, healthy body; blessed with an ability to find friends.
4. blissfully happy or contented.

If we trust in the Lord we are considered by Him consecrated, scantified, supremely favoured, sacred and holy. When we trust in the Lord we are sanctified with Jesus Christ and become one with Him. Jesus is holy and through His sacrifice we too are holy.

Painful trials like the loss and sickness of a loved one are very hard to go through, but if we go through it trusting in God and His ways then we will come out on the plus side. We may not understand the reasons why this side of life but He does assure us that we will understand. Then we will see His plan and all things will fall into perfect perspective.

Psalm 125:1 NIV
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

Although sometimes very painful, God's ways are always perfect and right. Trust in Him, He will provide the explanation eventually. The lessons and gold nuggets we gain through the trials of life are precious and worth the pain we go through, but only if we keep our eyes on Jesus and look through His window and not ours.

Father,
What I intend for good can be flawed and lack wholeness. Please help me to trust in You and Your perfect ways even when it looks like my whole world is falling apart. Even when I am in amongst pain and suffering, help me to keep my eyes on You and trust that You do indeed know what is right and good will come out of any situation that I give fully into Your capable hands. I trust You Lord, help me in this I pray. In Jesus name, amen.





Blessings,
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Thinking on Faith

Faith, what is it? 

Faith is an inward operation of that divine power which dwells in the contrite heart, and which has power to lay hold of the things not seen. Faith is divine act, faith is God in the soul. God operates by His Son, and transforms the natural into the supernatural. Faith is active, never dormant; faith lays hold, faith is the hand of God, faith is the power of God, faith never fears, faith lives amid the greatest conflict, faith is always active, faith moves even things that cannot be moved. God fills us with His divine power, and sin is dethroned. 

"The just shall live by faith"  Habakkuk 2:4 NKJ

Habakkuk 2:4 NIV

“See, the enemy is puffed up; 

   his desires are not upright— 

   but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness   

Galatians 3:11 NIV
Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”

Hebrews 10:38 NIV

And,

 “But my righteous one will live by faith. 

  And I take no pleasure 

  in the one who shrinks back.”

You cannot live by faith until you are righteous. 

You cannot live by faith if you are unholy, or dishonest. 

Taken from: Smith Wigglesworth, The complete Collection of his life teachings, pg. 713.

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