A few good men . . .
. . . came down from the mountain after being alone with Jesus. He stood before them in His Godness, where human eye beheld a transfiguration. That wasn’t enough, but remarkably two Old Testament greats appear, Elijah and Moses, and talk with the transformed Jesus. Peter, James, and John saw huge things, not only on the day described in the seventeenth chapter of Matthew, but from the first day He called them to be followers.
But, they had to come back down to level ground. Uh-oh, the crowds were there.
A man brings his son tormented by lunacy. He tells Jesus, the disciples couldn’t cure him. The disciples come to Jesus privately and ask,” Why couldn’t we cast it out?”
Because of the littleness of your faith speaks the voice of humanity and deity. It’s interesting Jesus rebukes them for having little faith before He even rebukes the demon out of the boy.
He goes on to tell them if they (and we) have faith as small as a mustard seed, they (and we) can move mountains, for nothing is impossible. While the disciples ask why they couldn’t cast it out, the father humbly bows and gives a meager confession, like mine . .
“I believe. Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)
A mountain is a situation in our life that seems impossible and permanent. Our mountains can be named relationship, health, financial or _____.
The David against the Goliath. The overpowering impossible. But, very possible.
All it takes to behold a miracle is seeing God do something only He can do.
Look at these two mighty and miniscule dots : the size of TWO mustard seeds! Double the measure to see past our mountain.
And . . . every circumstance grows the seed.
The secret to having faith of any measure is surrender and the simple faith that moves us to pray to a huge God. It’s not about our faith, but about God’s greatness.
The mustard seed is a reminder to walk to the base of every mountain hand in hand with the God Father of limitless power. Look up and say . . . “Move, I can’t see you, I’m looking at the One holding my hand.”
I have a few mountains to face this week. I’ll need to focus on what I’ve seen on the hilltop instead of what I see on the ground. How about you?
For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move, and nothing shall be impossible to you. Matthew 17:20
Verna
Vonda Skelton says
March 10, 2012 at 8:47 am“I’ll need to focus on what I’ve seen on the hilltop instead of what I see on the ground.” So true! I tend to focus so much on what I have to do instead of trusting the God who can do it all!
Thank you, Verna!
vernabowman says
March 10, 2012 at 11:57 amWe need to encourage each other, Vonda!
jeannedoyon says
March 10, 2012 at 8:59 amVerna,
I love your writing!! Thanks for sharing this and encouraging me to see the possible.
vernabowman says
March 10, 2012 at 11:58 amThank you, Jeanne for your faithful visits and encouragement!
Joanie Troester says
March 10, 2012 at 10:45 amThanks for the reminder, Verna, that it not the size of our faith but of God’s greatness! I love your blog!
vernabowman says
March 10, 2012 at 11:58 amThank you, Joanie – so glad God brought us together to encourage one another . . . can’t wait for your blog!
Tracey says
March 10, 2012 at 12:30 pmAnother beautifully written piece. Your writing “speaks”. Thank you for your continued faithfulness and dedication! You speak truth. His truth. I always look forward to reading your Saturday morning posts! Highlights my day….
vernabowman says
March 12, 2012 at 7:37 amI love that, Tracey . . . Saturday morning posts . . . I’ll have to stay on course. Thank you for your continued encouragement and faithfulness.
Jane Consiglio says
March 10, 2012 at 1:01 pmThank you, Verna. A great reminder to bring our “mountain” to our Great and faithful God.
vernabowman says
March 12, 2012 at 7:38 am. . . and we will together, right Jane?
Glenda Mills says
March 10, 2012 at 6:57 pmVerna, words of a song came to mind just now…sung by Lynda Randle…seems to fit your well written post…The God on the mountain is still God in the valley. Thanks for sharing.
vernabowman says
March 12, 2012 at 7:40 amI’d love to hear it . . . you know so many more songs than me. . . thank you, dear friend!
lizfurman says
March 11, 2012 at 5:05 pmLove it Verna!
Especially “I’ll need to focus on what I’ve seen on the hilltop instead of what I see on the ground.” I have a friend in the military and he always says, “Boots on the pavement.” That is what I say to my boys to get them up of a morning.
Thinking if I can focus on the hilltop while my boots are on the pavement I will have it made! Thanks for this great reminder. I also love it that even tho His disciples saw His miracles live, in person and repeatedly they still didn’t get it.
Gives me hope somehow!
vernabowman says
March 12, 2012 at 7:39 amGives me hope, also! And I’ll keep my “boots to the pavement” with His help . . . thank you, Liz!
Laura Kilmer says
March 12, 2012 at 11:31 amThank you for declaring that nothing is impossible for our God; He will always be bigger than any situation we face; including the mountains you will be facing this week, dear Verna. You are in my prayers-just believe! He is faithful!
vernabowman says
March 13, 2012 at 2:15 pmI’m holding on to that! Thank you, Laura. . . .
Diana Leagh Matthews says
March 12, 2012 at 9:26 pmThanks for the reminder to keep holding on, Verna. Sometimes I wonder if God hears me but I keep holding onto that muster seed, assured he’ll come through.
vernabowman says
March 13, 2012 at 2:16 pmThat’s what we need to do, Lee . . . keep holding onto our portion He so graciously gives . . .
Janeen Ippolito says
March 23, 2012 at 9:57 pmI’m on the other side of this, weary after a week of leaping mountain after mountain–realizing with every day how desperately I needed Jesus to even have a prayer of the end. Praying with a feeling that “God, no idea why You’re still helping a mess like me, but thank You so much, and please grant me the grace to make it another day, for Your glory!”
And now, in my little place of quiet on a Friday night, free from the demands of teaching and sundry other “must-dos”. it is GOOD to be reminded that my frail faithfulness and weakness somehow glorified God as I surrendered the mustard seed to Him every day.
Thanks so much for the encouragement!
vernabowman says
March 24, 2012 at 11:31 amI love your honesty and insight, Janeen . . . a good testimony to God’s goodness and your surrender.