Mustard Seed Prayer - Part I

I’ve been mediating and pondering on faith the last few weeks…faith, in my estimation, functions on many levels.  Faith exists both purposefully and subconsciously. But for this post, I’m not referring to what I call our “expectation faith.”

Not the kind of faith you exercise when you turn your ignition key – you automatically expect the car to zoom to life.

Not the kind of faith when you pre-set your oven temperature to 350*  - you expect it to be pretty close to the selected number when the bell “dings” to let you know it is preheated.

Not the kind of faith it requires one to fly by airplane or travel via automobile to another destination. We typically expect to arrive safely.

The mustard seed…have you ever held one? Almost every grocery store in my area has them in the spice/baking section. I encourage you to hold a bottle above your eye level – look at it. Study the bottle.  Let your senses absorb the gold tiny little seeds on the inside. How many are in the bottle - 150? 900? 2300? I’m not sure, but it takes A LOT of seeds to fill the bottle. But we just need ONE!

A Mustard Seed of Faith

They say if you have streadfast faith

The size of one mere mustard seed

That you can move to that mountain high

And place it where you see the need.

They say having faith is the way

To manifest the d reams you dare,

But faith is far, far more than that –

It’s knowing you’re already there

                            ~~~ Author Unknown

I’ll write more on faith soon, but for this purpose, let’s close with this simple prayer…

Heavenly Father,

Give me big faith, Lord.  I have goliaths in my life from time to time, and I do not want to give up! Help me to have faith to see beyond my uncomfortable circumstances. Faith to remind me that ALL things are possible and ALL people stand in need of your salvation. Show me how to practice my faith when people, situations, and the adversary seem to be against me.  I understand that in order to grow, our roots of faith must be planted deep in your Word and your grace. Help me to truly BELIEVE the mustard seed amount that pleases you. 

Help me in daily necessity; daily counsel – because you’re the Great Counselor.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Let’s look UP friends!

Fall Blessings!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV)  To every thing there is a season...

Some of us REALLY enjoy the season of fall…hot cocoa, sweaters, crisp but not freezing air, pumpkins, snuggling in a blanket, homemade soups, boots, bonfires, and wool shawls. What’s NOT to love?

I think it’s important if you’re one of those people who aren’t so fond of the fall – quite possibly because it says g’bye to summer and hello to winter – then try to purpose in your mind and your heart to enjoy this fleeting season. Make the most of the time BEFORE inclement weather arrives.  God grants us some beautiful sunny, good weather days, and it’s important to take note of those times!

Commercialism at its best – fall decorations are sold by the time July 4^th rolls around. Christmas decorations get tucked onto the same shelves with Halloween material at the drugstore - or maybe even sooner! I love a good bargain myself, but you get the idea. It’s a RUSH of hurry, hurry, hurry, and be quick about it mindset in a lot of cases!

I encourage you to take a moment – look for the changing of leaves if you live in an area of the country that has seasonal transition. Notice the cool breezes. Take an opportunity to open a window for breezes of fresh air, go for a country car ride, sit on the porch with a cup of coffee or hot tea.

Noticing SMALL things in our lives is a healthy practice. It deepens our internal joy and it helps keep us in perspective.

TAke Note of Fall Blessings

·     God has brought you through 10 months of the year already! There may have been hard times. Challenges. Down-swings. Up-swings. But you made it!

·     A new year quickly approaches. Next year may be the BEST year of your life up until this point!

·     As seasons change, our life too may change.  As some chapters close in our lives, others will burst forth and bring new life.  It’s just around the corner! Be expectant. Hopeful.

·     Fall is a good time to reflect on seeds you’ve sewn.  Love that you’ve invested in. Prayers that have been answered. A true time to count your blessings, NOT your obstacles.

Let’s look UP friends!

My Prayer Journal

John 15:7 (KJV) - If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

 

I started journaling prayer requests, both my own and from others, a long time ago. Some days I jot down many things according to life’s encounters, other times I may go several days without adding or updating my list. (It simply helps me to be able to look at the names and/or situations when I call them out to God. It’s sort of like homework. I can find myself feeling lazy at times, but I strive to push through and stay committed. Admittedly, there are moments when I say, “Lord, you know every name and every situation in this book. I ask your blessing and strength for your glory in every situation.”

 

Life Moment ~ I have found that it is HIGHLY important to note answered prayer of all outcomes. It’ll remind you moving forward that God DOES answer prayer.

Just a few days ago I realized that I’m on my THIRD prayer journal book of 2015. Let that be indicative of some of the goliaths and challenges faced this year. Now there’s a good chance that you pray as much as I do, and vice versa. I’m not claiming to be anything special. Yet, I believe a healthy and consistent prayer life is ultimately what keeps us spiritually healthy and connected to God. You’ve probably read the maxim, “One week without praying, makes one weak!”

I don’t want to be an ask, ask, ask type of person. The one who doesn’t recognize the little things. The person who takes blessings for granted. You probably already understand that it’s important to thank God for His benefits every day!

Lessons I was reminded of in my latest prayer journal…

1)      Nothing is too small to take before God.

2)      Prayer is just plain ole’ important – and it’s a wise investment of our time.

3)      When people ask you to pray on their behalf, it’s a special gift. Unwrap the present carefully and with love.

4)      God DOES answer prayer! He is faithful.

5)      When you become sad or feel down, it’s uplifting to go back through your prayer journal and be reminded of God’s goodness. His answered prayers.

6)      God’s blessings outweigh any negative(s) in our lives.

7)      Make note that not everyone can handle your situation or understand your trials. But God does! Be reminded of the lyrics of this hymn, “but grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace twill lead me home!”

Let’s look UP friends!

Boiling Frog Syndrome

“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”      
  King James Version (KJV)

Am I the only person who wasn’t familiar with the term, “boiling frog,” until now? My readers are often more intelligent than I am, so I realize I could be in this pond of unawareness by myself. But, let’s be clear. I don’t mean boiling frogs for culinary purposes – although not my preference, I understand that frog legs are considered a delicacy or diet staple in some regions around the world.

Yet, I was intrigued, and found myself digging a little deeper into the frying pan, forgive the pun, and researched this topic via the internet. I specifically wanted to know what “The Boiled Frog Syndrome” was.

Read this definition…WARNING – it is a little grotesque!

The boiling frog is an anecdote describing a frog slowly being boiled alive. The premise is that if a frog is placed in boiling water, it will jump out, but if it is placed in cold water that is slowly heated, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death. The story is often used as a metaphor for the inability or unwillingness of people to react to threats that occur gradually, such as creeping state surveillance. – Wikipedia

Now read the next definition…

If you drop a frog in a pot of boiling water, it will of course frantically try to clamber out. But if you place it gently in a pot of tepid water and turn the heat on low, it will float there quite placidly. As the water gradually heats up, the frog will sink into a tranquil stupor, exactly like one of us in a hot bath, and before long, with a smile on its face, it will unresistingly allow itself to be boiled to death.                                Version of the story from Daniel Quinn's The Story of B

Wow. My mind automatically connects the dots to our Christian journey. The metaphor or analogy is disturbing, but it seems a fitting way to describe the state of some of our congregations and/or ourselves.

 It begs the question, “Are we sinking into a “tranquil stupor” as described above? Are we so accustomed to being a passer-by, a non-participant, a passive onlooker, an unaffected individual, that we lose our God-focused priorities? Do we even notice SUBTLE changes that draw us AWAY from God?

Let’s make an effort to be self-aware and cautious… Let’s NOT to find ourselves guilty of The Boiled Frog Syndrome!

Everyone enjoys COMFORT, but…

When we get TOO comfortable with sin – we’re too comfortable.

When we get TOO comfortable blending in – we’re too comfortable.

When we get TOO comfortable being passive within our church membership – we’re too comfortable.

When we get TOO accustomed to absenteeism from God’s House – we’re too comfortable.

When we get TOO relaxed assuming someone else will do it – we’re too comfortable.

When we get TOO tranquil with not reading our Bibles or opening ourselves in prayer from one week to the next – we’re too comfortable.

When we’re TOO careless in praying consistently for our Pastors, Associate Pastors, Teachers, Deacons, and other leaders – we’re too comfortable.

When we’re TOO nice or embarrassed to speak out for the Lord during awkward moments – then we’re too comfortable.

When we’re TOO familiar with justifying our actions or someone else’s poor decisions – then we’re too comfortable.

Let’s be healthy spiritually – recognize subtle changes that impact your life! The enemy is coy, stealthy, and sly. Things can get out of control and lead us down the wrong path before we realize it.

Don’t get too comfortable. Get out of the “sneaky increase of heat” and the boiling snares of the enemy by DAILY jumping into God’s pond of protection!

 

Let’s look UP friends!

Greatest Christian Ever Known - 6 Quotes

2 Corinthians 13:4 |KJV

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Who’s the greatest Christian you’ve personally EVER known? I hope someone immediately came to mind!

I shared with my church family just how powerful a pastor’s recent description of his wife was to me. He said she is/was the greatest Christian he’d ever known. It feels awkward to use the past tense phrase, as they’re still happily married some 35 - 40 years later. But you see, she battles advanced memory loss at an early age, so many pieces of “who she is” has been enveloped in the fog and murkiness of dementia. In many ways, her life has now transitioned into “who she was.” But, it hit me the next day when I was making notes about his sermon – her life still has meaning. Her effectiveness for the Kingdom of God remains ongoing. She’s still fulfilling her purpose of Christian living.

So who IS the greatest Christian you’ve ever known? A praying grandma? A parent? Your Sunday school teacher? Your spouse?!

Allow me to share six Scriptures and/or quotes that you might meditate on for what Christian living – what the Believer’s life - truly means.

SIX  INSPIRATIONAL  QUOTES

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” ~ David, King of Judah (Psalms 23:6, The Holy Bible, KJV)

“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” ~ Ruth of Moab (Ruth 1:16-17, The Holy Bible, KJV)

Faith is a living and unshakable confidence. A belief in God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake. — Martin Luther

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”   - Martin Luther King Jr.

The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.’  – Dr. Billy Graham

“We never grow closer to God when we just live life. It takes deliberate pursuit and attentiveness.”― Francis Chan

I ended with Francis Chan’s quote on purpose. Take time to re-read it! “We never grow closer to God when we just live life! It takes deliberate pursuit and attentiveness.”

Wow! May we all purposefully choose to live in deliberate pursuit and attentiveness of increasing our faith and sharing the Gospel. Let’s not be so busy “just living” that we lose our heavenly influence.

 

Life Moment: Be careful in your prayer life. Don’t limit God with human small-minded thinking and assumptions! God has a big purpose for you! Do NOT forget that the adversary is ALWAYS seeking to steal, rob, and destroy (John 10:10). Sometimes it is what we CANNOT see that takes up our time and faith.

Let’s Look UP friends!

3 Things We Lie About

Luke 6:37 (KJV)  Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not...

Everyone judges! It’s a simple reality of life. Yep, we ALL have our judgments. The best sports team in the NFL, the best Cola to drink, the best model of car, the best or worst restaurant, the worst or best vacation spot, the best player in the NBA, the list could continue indefinitely. We have strong opinions on most things, and those opinions form our daily judgments.

This post isn’t about the judgment seat of Christ, our daily opinions and judgments, or even the Bible’s teachings on separating the wheat from the chaff. It’s focused on the lies and falsehoods that Believers tend to perpetuate in our daily lives.

First, let me state that true Believers don’t typically tell lies and deceive people. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but the character of a true Christian is to make wrong things right, to walk in a way that’s honest and above reproach. I think MOST Believers walk uprightly, but as always, you’ve possibly encountered the exception to the rule.

3 Things Believers Lie About!

1 – In effort not to discourage someone else, we often extend that our life is grand and things couldn’t be better. Frankly, I don’t know anyone who truly enjoys the valley. The obstacles. The testing of our Faith. The lesson process that God permits or chooses for us. Painful times are real. For everyone. I don’t know ANYONE who hasn’t or doesn’t struggle at times. Life isn’t fair – a simple reality you’ve heard or experienced many times.  We have to choose our words wisely – but it’s my personal opinion that it is okay to say, “Thank you for asking. I’m going through a trial right now. Please pray that I’ll please the Lord during this journey,” or something of that nature.  

2 – We deny judging others. Believer or not, we all formulate our opinions and therefore judge. Unfortunately, it is VERY easy to jump to conclusions. Beware fellow Christian!! Do you listen to the news and form an opinion?  As the presidential debates come to fruition, you’ll judge your ideal candidate and vote accordingly. Do you “hear” things and assume it’s factual?

I saw a homeless looking man on the street corner a couple of weeks ago. I saw him turn away a fast food meal.  In witnessing the exchange, it looked like someone had purchased a hot meal for their lunch, but felt compelled to offer it to him. It angered me for a moment. I thought, “Well, he doesn’t want a hot meal. He must want alcohol or drugs.” Now in truth, I have no idea why the man turned the meal down. Maybe he needed money more. Maybe he had a greater need at that moment, maybe he had just eaten and didn’t want to take advantage, but I judged him based on what I witnessed and my past experiences working with that population in my career. Was it fair? Probably not. But, I’m honest about it.

How many people do you know, who have had a negative experience at church, so now they haven’t stepped foot into one for months or years? Based on those one or two singular experiences – the cause of Christ was injured and that person has in a broad manner judged that ALL churches are bad. Or investing in church attendance is a bad choice, etc. Yes, we DO judge.

3 – It’s not good when Believers try to explain the unexplainable using our opinions. I don’t’ think we do it to cause harm, but the contrary - trying to help someone else stay motivated. To stay focused on our future in heaven. How DO you explain the death of a child? Cancer? Spiritual attacks? The loss of relationships? How can we possibly explain an omnipotent and sovereign God? Maybe it’s better if we just say, “I can’t possibly understand or explain this situation. God’s ways are so far above mine, my tiny mind cannot comprehend. But I’m here for you. I care about you and I’ll pray together with you.”

Let’s leave the answers up to God. Be cautious not to “explain away” bad events in someone’s life because you think they’re being punished! That’s dangerous ground! Try not to assume that what you’ve heard is concrete fact. Let’s try this…ask the person directly if you are truly concerned and care. (Said in respect). Be careful who you condemn! 

I strive to share my Faith with others in my family, my community, and around the world. I have found that keeping things simple, honest, and humble enable real discussions about a REAL God and a REAL life here on earth!

Let’s look UP my friends!