By Shewanda Riley Steps of Faith · The first step of faith is hard, but I’ve learned the next...

1
The Chronicle 2B - January 22, 2020 www.charlestonchronicle.net The City of North Charleston continues to fulll a com- mitment to provide after school programs to selected public elementary schools within city limits. One compo- nent of these programs is arts enrichment classes under the instruction of a multi-disciplined roster of artists. Individual visual, literary, and/or performing artists and arts groups are invited to oer instruction for the 2019/20 school year. Rate of pay: $30/hr individuals $40/hr for groups More info and application form available online. Call Krystal Yeadon at 843-740-5851 for details. Applications accepted on an ongoing basis ANNOUNCEMENTS You can be a part of educating the Lowcountry at TTC! If you are an experienced professional with a passion for sharing your knowledge with others, consider joining TTC. Instructor, full-time and part-time stapositions are available. If interested, visit our website at www.tridenttech.edu/ttcjobs.htm or call 843.574.6201. It is the policy of Trident Technical College that no discrimination on the grounds of race, color, disability, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, gender identity, pregnancy, or national or ethnic origin will exist in any area of the college. EOE/AA PRESERVED BY PURPOSE By Shewanda Riley Shewanda Riley I’ve always considered myself a woman of great faith. But this year, I’ve been challenged more than ever to not just call myself woman of great faith. The challenge this year has been whether I’ll be able to keep taking those steps of faith. Ask yourself this question - which has the biggest impact on your life? The fear of follow- ing God, the fear of not follow- ing God or the fear comes once you start following God? Recently, I’ve been dealing with each one of those fears and stating things like, “My life won’t really change if I don’t do what God wants me to. I mean, I’ve been obedient in other areas so what’s so wrong with me not doing this one thing?” I realized this as I struggled being completely obedient and as I prayed for God to show me His will for my life. The more I prayed, the more I saw the signs and felt the spir- itual nudging to go in one spe- cific direction. In the past, I’d been more willing to go where I felt God’s spirit was leading me. This time, however, I did- n’t want to do it. In fact, I’d been resisting the nudging of God’s spirit for at least 9 years. Not believing I had enough faith to do it was part of the rea- son I struggled. Now that my faith has increased to a level where I believe I can complete the goal; I find myself with a new struggle. The first step of faith is hard, but I’ve learned the next step of faith is sometimes the hardest. Why? Sometimes you are so glad to have taken the first step. Also, you have the option of not going any further. You also have the option of going for- ward and completing your faith walk. James 2:14, 17 says that we have to do something when we say we have faith because “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?... Thus also faith by it- self, if it does not have works, is dead.” Lately, I’ve been working on and walking out my faith. It’s taken me nearly 9 years to go from being a woman of faith who boldly says “I can do it” to being a “walker of faith” who takes one faith filled step after the other. Psalm 37:23-24 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.” It says “steps” and not “step” which makes me think that we fulfill our God-given purpose when we trust God and keep walking in faith. Shewanda Riley is a Dallas, Texas based author of “Love Hangover: Moving From Pain to Purpose After a Relation- ship Ends” and “Writing to the Beat of God’s Heart: A Book of Prayers for Writers.” Email her at: preservedbypurpose@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter @she- wanda. Steps of Faith ADULT AND CHILDREN DENTAL OFFICE Extractions, Cleaning and Gum Treatment, Fillings, Root Canals, Dentures, Par- tials, Bridges and Crowns • New Patients and Emergencies Welcome • Nitrous Oxide • Financing Available • Insurance and Medicaid Accepted Phone: (843) 763-3257 1605 Ashley River Rd. Charleston, SC (West Ashley) Hours of Operation Monday-Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Saturday 8am- 3pm Dr. Stewart Middleton Anxiety Free Dentistry” Larry J. Fergus on, D.M.D • Relaxed, comfortable environment • Skilled dental care • Safe, comfortable, “one-hour” in-office whitening • Nitrous oxide gas • One pill conscious sedation • Same day emergency care • Dental care credit financing available • Free Initial Consultation Appointment Exceptional Service Since 1980 • Graduate of MUSC School of Dental Medicine Larry J. Ferguson, DMD 1812 Wallace Rd. - Ste. 400 Charleston, SC 29407 (843-) 571-4411 www.dentistcharleston.com 50% off in office whitening with Crown and Bridge work (located West Ashley- directly behind Harris Teeter & Barnes & Noble Bookstore) SMILEOLOGY DENTAL Graduate Howard University (Historical Black University) 6518 Dorchester Rd STE #A North Charleston, SC 29418 (843) 767-8555 Dr. Tracy Page DDS General Dentist “let us help to brush your dental fears away!” Looking for a r ewarding c ar ee r? For c urr e nt op e nings vi sit www.charlestonwater.com Excellent Comprehensive Benefits. EOE. PLACE YOUR AD IN PLACE YOUR AD IN 97 S.C. NEWSPAPERS 97 S.C. NEWSPAPERS and reach more than 2.1 million readers and reach more than 2.1 million readers using our small space display ad network using our small space display ad network South Carolina Newspaper Network Randall Savely 888.727.7377 Randall Savely 888.727.7377 scnewspapernetwork.com scnewspapernetwork.com Statewide or regional buys available Statewide or regional buys available Donate A Boat sponsored by boat angel outreach centers STOP CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN www.boatangel.com “2-Night Free Vacation!” or Car Today! 800 700 BOAT - - (2628) ( ' + # ' $ # ' $ ( ' + ' $ & ( ' & ) $ + # $ ' " # & ) & ) $ + # $ ' " # ( & # $ ( " & $ # ' ( # ( & $ % " $ ' & ' & # * $ # ! ( $ ( ! + $ & ( ' # ( # $ ( ' ! & # $ ! ! ' ! & $ & ' ( & ( - - - - & $ + ( # ) $ # $ ( ' O RESE T Y B ME CO RCH A O RESE & ! ! ! ' ! & & ! ! ! & ! ! ! ' + ( # ) $ # $ ( ' ' $ & ( '

Transcript of By Shewanda Riley Steps of Faith · The first step of faith is hard, but I’ve learned the next...

Page 1: By Shewanda Riley Steps of Faith · The first step of faith is hard, but I’ve learned the next step of faith is sometimes the hardest. Why? Sometimes you are so glad to have taken

The Chronicle2B - January 22, 2020 www.charlestonchronicle.net

The City of North Charleston continues to fulfill a com-mitment to provide after school programs to selectedpublic elementary schools within city limits. One compo-nent of these programs is arts enrichment classes under theinstruction of a multi-disciplined roster of artists. Individualvisual, literary, and/or performing artists and arts groups areinvited to offer instruction for the 2019/20 school year. Rate of pay:$30/hr individuals$40/hr for groupsMore info and application form available online. Call KrystalYeadon at 843-740-5851 for details.Applications accepted on an ongoing basis

ANNOUNCEMENTS

You can be a part of educating the Lowcountry at TTC! If you are an experienced professional with a passion for sharing your knowledge with

others, consider joining TTC. Instructor, full-time and part-time staff positions are available. If interested, visit our website at

www.tridenttech.edu/ttcjobs.htm or call 843.574.6201.

It is the policy of Trident Technical College that no discrimination on the grounds of race, color, disability, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, gender identity, pregnancy, or national or ethnic origin will exist in any area of the college. EOE/AA

PRESERVED BY PURPOSEBy Shewanda Riley

Shewanda Riley

I’ve always considered myselfa woman of great faith. Butthis year, I’ve been challengedmore than ever to not just callmyself woman of great faith.The challenge this year hasbeen whether I’ll be able tokeep taking those steps of faith.

Ask yourself this question -which has the biggest impacton your life? The fear of follow-ing God, the fear of not follow-ing God or the fear comes onceyou start following God?Recently, I’ve been dealingwith each one of those fearsand stating things like, “My lifewon’t really change if I don’t dowhat God wants me to. Imean, I’ve been obedient inother areas so what’s so wrongwith me not doing this onething?” I realized this as Istruggled being completelyobedient and as I prayed forGod to show me His will formy life.

The more I prayed, the moreI saw the signs and felt the spir-itual nudging to go in one spe-cific direction. In the past, I’dbeen more willing to go whereI felt God’s spirit was leadingme. This time, however, I did-n’t want to do it. In fact, I’dbeen resisting the nudging ofGod’s spirit for at least 9 years.Not believing I had enoughfaith to do it was part of the rea-son I struggled. Now that myfaith has increased to a levelwhere I believe I can completethe goal; I find myself with anew struggle.

The first step of faith is hard,but I’ve learned the next step of

faith is sometimes the hardest.Why? Sometimes you are soglad to have taken the first step.Also, you have the option of notgoing any further. You alsohave the option of going for-ward and completing your faithwalk. James 2:14, 17 says thatwe have to do something whenwe say we have faith because“What does it profit, mybrethren, if someone says hehas faith but does not haveworks?... Thus also faith by it-self, if it does not have works, isdead.”

Lately, I’ve been working onand walking out my faith. It’staken me nearly 9 years to gofrom being a woman of faithwho boldly says “I can do it” tobeing a “walker of faith” whotakes one faith filled step afterthe other. Psalm 37:23-24 says,“The steps of a good man areordered by the LORD, AndHe delights in his way.Though he fall, he shall not beutterly cast down;  For theLORD upholds him with Hishand.” It says “steps” and not

“step” which makes me thinkthat we fulfill our God-givenpurpose when we trust Godand keep walking in faith.Shewanda Riley is a Dallas,Texas based author of “LoveHangover: Moving From Painto Purpose After a Relation-ship Ends” and “Writing to theBeat of God’s Heart: A Bookof Prayers for Writers.” Emailher at:[email protected] follow her on Twitter @she-wanda.

Steps of Faith

ADULT AND CHILDRENDENTAL OFFICE

Extractions, Cleaning andGum Treatment, Fillings,

Root Canals, Dentures, Par-tials, Bridges and Crowns

• New Patients and Emergencies Welcome

• Nitrous Oxide• Financing Available

• Insurance and Medicaid Accepted

Phone: (843) 763-32571605 Ashley River Rd.

Charleston, SC (West Ashley)

Hours of OperationMonday-Thursday8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Saturday 8am- 3pm

Dr. Stewart Middleton

“Anxiety Free

Dentistry”

Larry J. Ferguson, D.M.D

• Relaxed, comfortable environment

• Skilled dental care• Safe, comfortable, “one-hour”

in-office whitening• Nitrous oxide gas• One pill conscious sedation• Same day emergency care• Dental care credit financing

available• Free Initial Consultation Appointment

• Exceptional Service Since 1980

• Graduate of MUSC School of Dental Medicine

Larry J. Ferguson, DMD1812 Wallace Rd. - Ste. 400

Charleston, SC 29407(843-) 571-4411

www.dentistcharleston.com50% off in office whitening

with Crown and Bridge work(located West Ashley-

directly behind Harris Teeter & Barnes & Noble Bookstore)

SMILEOLOGY DENTALGraduate Howard University(Historical Black University)6518 Dorchester Rd STE #ANorth Charleston, SC 29418

(843) 767-8555

Dr. Tracy Page DDSGeneral Dentist

“let us help to brush your

dental fears away!”

Looking for a rewarding career?

For current openings visit www.charlestonwater.com

Excellent Comprehensive Benefits. EOE.

PLACE YOUR AD INPLACE YOUR AD IN 97 S.C. NEWSPAPERS97 S.C. NEWSPAPERS

and reach more than 2.1 million readersand reach more than 2.1 million readers using our small space display ad networkusing our small space display ad network

South CarolinaNewspaper Network

Randall Savely 888.727.7377Randall Savely 888.727.7377scnewspapernetwork.comscnewspapernetwork.com

Statewide or regional buys availableStatewide or regional buys available

Donate A Boat

sponsored by boat angel outreach centers STOP CRIMES AGAINST CHILDRENwww.boatangel.com

“2-Night Free Vacation!”

or Car Today!

800 700 BOAT--(2628)(2628)

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