Turn it up a notch

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20 NIV).

Faith and obedience will remove mountains, mountains of evil, mountains of difficulty. But they (FAITH AND OBEDIENCE) must go hand in hand. God Calling – March 28

What mountains loom before you? How intense is the storm raging around you? Do you feel helpless and alone? "Lift your eyes unto the hills for that is where your help comes from, your help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth." (casting crowns - Lifesong)

What an experience it would be to say to a mountain of evil, “Move it! You are blocking my path to Jesus!” and instantly that mountain would be removed and Jesus would be standing on the other side in all His glory – so bright, so pure, so perfect. Can you imagine that?

Why would Jesus begin his sentence with, “I tell you the truth,” if the remainder of His sentence wasn’t factual? Does He really mean what He said in Matthew 17:20? The next part of the sentence is the kicker…”if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,” there’s that word again…if. In order for the rest of the sentence to actually be experienced that small two letter word means everything. “If you have this you can do this.” If represents conditions – it is conditional in that something is required in order to receive the “impossible”. Oh…how I want to turn up my level of faith a notch. How about you? In Mark chapter 9 Jesus heals a demon possessed boy. The boy’s father says to Jesus, (v. 22) “if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Jesus repeats back to the boy’s father his own statement in third person in the form of a question “if you can?”. I can hear Jesus saying within that repeated question, “You really don’t know who I am, do you? I am the I AM. I am the maker of heaven and earth. I possess all power and grace. If I can? Son, I can do anything!! But first, I require that you believe.”

At this very moment in your life where are you in your level of faith/belief/trust in God? Obedience will naturally follow an intense faith in the One who is all things, at all times, for all people. I do believe that FAITH AND OBEDIENCE hand in hand truly can move any mountain that blocks your path to Jesus. I believe that FAITH AND OBEDIENCE to the Maker of heaven and earth will calm any storm. Lift your eyes unto the hills child of God, for your help comes from the One who created you.

Abba, turn up our faith a notch we pray in Jesus' name – Amen.

A rare moment - Mommy and her baby girl.

Below the surface

What lies deep down inside the recesses of our hearts, our minds, our souls? Oswald Chambers writes (referencing Psalm 139), "The psalmist implies - " But, my God my soul has horizons further away than those early mornings, deeper darkness than the nights of earth, higher peaks than any mountain peaks, greater depths than any sea in nature." I love the reference to the horizons of our souls, but it was the reference to the "greater depths than any sea in nature" that has drawn me in. The image of an abyss (a chasm or gorge so deep that its extent is not visible) entered my mind. There are depths in the sea that are not visible, and caverns in the earth that are so deep that they are not reachable. Our souls have deep, dark places - depths that are greater than any sea. As I continue to process this amazing truth, I find myself begging God to enter into the deep, dark depths of my soul. It is in the deep, dark abyss of our souls that our true nature is found. Over the course of our lives our experiences have shaped the way in which we process life - our experiences have influenced our concept of God and His character. Our relationships have created patterns that color the way we see life and how we interact with one other. Only God knows what lies in the darkness. Only by His light of truth and grace can we be healed and freed of the things of life that tie us up and blind us. I find amazing stillness in my spirit when I ask God to enter into the deep, dark places of my soul. I see His holy light of truth exposing things unseen - His holy light bringing new life - His holy light leading and guiding - His holy light healing the deep cuts of life that influence our daily lives. We will remain wounded children of the King if we don't allow Him to enter into our darkness. It is by His Holy light, light that contains all things good and pure, that we may live this life on earth in victory and in the joy that comes from total surrender to the One who is limitless - total dependence upon the One who can handle what He will find in the deep, dark places of our souls.

Abba, please enter the deep recesses of my soul with your light of truth and grace.