I tend to pray for things I already expect to come true. What kind of faith is that? I want to have Great Expectations and therefore pray for big powerful things to a big powerful God. Was he not the one who said “let there be light” and there was light? Why then do I pray to get to work on time instead of an end to world hunger, with a focus on how I, myself, can make a difference. Sure I give my $10 a month to feed starving children in Africa... but what does that mean?
Do you know how big a mustard seed is? About 1-2mm! Yeah, it’s like one of the tiniest seeds. If I have faith the size of one of the tiniest seed available “I can say to that mountain, move, and it will move” (Matthew 17). Really! Move a mountain? Wow, how can I have that kind of faith?!?
I also read a wonderful explanation this week about this parable. Beth Moore in "Believing God", told it this way, before Jesus told his disciples that they could move that mountain, they all climbed up the mountain to see Him transfigured. So it is also for us who put our faith in Him; if we ask God to move the mountain and it won’t move, assume that Christ wants you to climb that mountain instead and see Him transfigured. I don’t know which is more amazing! To see a mountain move or to see Christ transfigured!
Reflection Question: Are you prepared for mountains to be moved?
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Horse and Buggy
There I was speeding along a back road trying to get where I was going when WHAM out of nowhere I have to slam on my brakes for an Amish family trotting along on my road with their horse and buggy going just as slow as you can imagine. As soon as it's safe, I speed past, a little annoyed I might add, just to have to do the same thing at least 10 more times along this road. Each time about a minute or two apart and each time I think that I MUST have passed the last one. Good gosh how many Amish people could live in this area? And are ALL of them out right now?!?
I was learning about Mary and Martha this week also and the two seemed so tied together. Here Martha is preparing a meal for Jesus and His disciples, whom She invited over I might add, and her sister Mary, of all people, is just sitting there doing nothing but listening to the conversation. Not helping at all. And Martha gets fed up, and says (paraphrased) "Jesus, can't you make Mary come help me?" and Jesus in his infinite wisdom says (also paraphrased) "Martha, Mary has figured out how to slow down and enjoy this life I've given her and she's enjoying time with the Word of God (aka me, Jesus) and I'm not going to make her start hurrying up and just do do doing all the time." ~at least... that's how I read it ;) Check out Luke 10:28-42 for reference.
So hmmm, maybe the Amish people had it right in some ways. Maybe they were not annoyed as I was trying to just get where I was going. Maybe they were just enjoying where they were while they were there. And who says it was my road anyway? I wanted them to get out of my way, but all my rushing about probably threw up some dust and rocks at them. How selfish of me.
How often do the busy things of life become the "important things" just because they're the most urgent, not because they are truly the most important? And how often do we ignore the truly important things just because they're not screaming at us with urgency?
Reflection Question: What is important in your life that has been pushed aside by the urgent things in your life? What are you going to do to change that?
I was learning about Mary and Martha this week also and the two seemed so tied together. Here Martha is preparing a meal for Jesus and His disciples, whom She invited over I might add, and her sister Mary, of all people, is just sitting there doing nothing but listening to the conversation. Not helping at all. And Martha gets fed up, and says (paraphrased) "Jesus, can't you make Mary come help me?" and Jesus in his infinite wisdom says (also paraphrased) "Martha, Mary has figured out how to slow down and enjoy this life I've given her and she's enjoying time with the Word of God (aka me, Jesus) and I'm not going to make her start hurrying up and just do do doing all the time." ~at least... that's how I read it ;) Check out Luke 10:28-42 for reference.
So hmmm, maybe the Amish people had it right in some ways. Maybe they were not annoyed as I was trying to just get where I was going. Maybe they were just enjoying where they were while they were there. And who says it was my road anyway? I wanted them to get out of my way, but all my rushing about probably threw up some dust and rocks at them. How selfish of me.
How often do the busy things of life become the "important things" just because they're the most urgent, not because they are truly the most important? And how often do we ignore the truly important things just because they're not screaming at us with urgency?
Reflection Question: What is important in your life that has been pushed aside by the urgent things in your life? What are you going to do to change that?
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