"HOLY FEAR" Batman,.

"Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom"--Psalms 111:10

What is "Fear"? Have you ever felt fear, of course you have. We have all been afraid. Webster has two different definitions that I really like: the first is: : "to be afraid of : expect with alarm " This is what we usually think of when we hear the word "Fear". But the second definition is what Psalms 111:10 is telling us is the foundation of true wisdom. It is:
-"to have a reverential awe of ". To have respect, reverence, awe, love, ..............of.

When I was young, I really got confused about the "Fear" of the Lord we were supposed to have. I heard preachers shout at me about this fear,and yes it scared me, them shouting that is, I heard older adult Christians talk about the "Fear of the Lord." To me "Fear" was something I did not like. It was not being able to sleep because of the "Monsters" that were in my closet or under my bed. How could this fear be associated with a loving God?
The only "FEAR" that does not have the power to cripple us, is the Fear of the Lord. I have read stories about people who literately died of fear. Those who were so afraid of others breaking in to their home and doing terrible things to them and their property. These people "Worried themselves, literately to death." How in the world can a Fear like this, be good for us? God only wants us to have the best, the best things for us, right? And right here in Psalms 111;10 He tells us, through David His servant, that we are to FEAR the Lord, and that THIS is the foundation of Wisdom"?
I am so confused.

"....Wisdom is the ordering of Life according to God's will. Appropriate fear of God is the only thing that gives us the right perspective of, and puts us in the right relationship with the things around us. Holy reverence is therefore the right basis for coping with life's problems."--Michael Frost/Alan Hirsch from " The Faith of Leap".

It is easy to think of Fear as shaking, agonizing, running away from some hidden evil. But from a Biblical point of view there is nothing neurotic about fearing God. The neurotic thing would be to NOT fear God, or to be afraid of the many other wrong things we fear. To sum this up, the Fear of God helps us to have a gateway to the heavenly. This "Fear" or "Reverence' or 'Knowledge of who God really is, becomes the beginning of wisdom. It is not fearing that God in His anger will stomp us if we mess up, it is Respect, and reverence for WHO HE is, and how much He loves us.

Ever been pulled over by a Cop? Most of us have. What happens? You see the flashing lights, and you get a little nervous, frightened, mad because you realize you were speeding? If your like me, you are very polite to the officer, hoping all the time he gives you a "warning ticket" but if not, take your "Medicine" and start worrying about how your going to pay this fine, and how much it will make your car insurance go up.

Now take that same Police Officer in a different circumstance. Your sitting at a outdoor restaurant eating lunch and a man comes running through knocking over tables. Then that cop comes running yelling "Stop or I will shoot". His gun is drawn, he tells everyone to take cover and he shoots the assailant. Would you fear the cop in this situation? No, you would fear the situation, but the cop represented authority, he was there to stop the bad guy and keep you safe while doing it.

See the difference in the two stories? In both we had some fear, BUT in the first it was the fear of the cop's authority, while in the second it was fear of the situation. We were not afraid of the cop, but what action he had to take to keep us safe and stop the bad guy from escaping and causing more harm to others.

We have fear of being pulled over by a cop, especially if were "trying to make good time" and speeding. That is fear of getting caught in our sin. That is not the Fear of the Lord. To fear the Lord is to respect, acknowledge, accept His authority over us. To know that HE knows what is best for us, and turn our life's over to Him.

Do you think it is a sin, NOT to fear the Lord? I do, when you do this your PRIDE is showing. If we do not fear the Lord, we are saying that His authority is not there. We are trying to put ourselves on the same level with God. God loves us, each and everyone of us. There is NOTHING we can do to change that. We sin, He still loves us. We doubt, He still loves us, We shake our fist at Him and blame Him for life's problems, and He still loves us. We tell Him our sins, confess them all to Him and He not only loves us, but He puts His arms around us and tells us of things we don't know.

Do you,like me, want wisdom? Wisdom only God can give us? Then we need to FEAR the Lord more. Not for what He can do to us, but What He can do FOR us.To fear in this instance, is to Love. I still don't understand it completely, I just know it works. It's kinda like being married, yes there is Love, but there is also a little bit of fear there to. Fear is a good emotion, if it is for the right thing.

Let us go with "Fear and not so much trembling"

From Cats to Ferrari's

I was having a conversation with my cat the other day, something I do quite frequently. I was asking her why she knocked over the kitchen trash can and made a mess all over the floor, and she was asking me why I did not give her more treats. "I mean," she said," I know where you keep them, and I also know that since you shop at "Sam's" there by buying in bulk, that there are at least 6 packages up there where I cannot get to them. So why do you hand them out like they are precious medals are something?" "I give them to you," I answered, " according to how much of your regular food you have eaten." "The better you have eaten of the food that is good for you, the more treats I think you deserve." "YOU THINK?", She responded. "Who made you boss over what I eat?" "Well, left to your own devices, you would eat out of the kitchen trash, and have", I came back. I know what your thinking at this point, Why do I have a cat instead of a dog? Well it is a little matter of a "Pet Deposit" here at the apartment I live. $350 for a Dog and free for a cat. You may also be wondering why a CAT would waste time talking to a human like myself, but my cat, Taters, is quite friendly to us low life humans, especially when she wants a treat.


Have you ever talked to God like this? "Father, I sure would like a Ferrari. Be so cool to drive around have all the women look at me going down the Interstate at 125 MPH>" God says: "Son, I have provided a very piratical car for you, you have no need for anything better. IF you got a Ferrari, who would you serve? The Car or Me? Which is better for you? "But God," I answer, " There is a a Porsche dealership right around the corner from my Dad's house, and they are just sitting there, perhaps a 911 Turbo in red?

Where are our priorities? I know, I know, it is easy to see something we would really like, a Bigger size TV, a sports car, more money, (If I could just win the Publishers Clearing House drawing, I would be sit for life. God can you work on that for me?)

You see, God knows what is best for me, just as I know treats for my Cat all the time would just spoil her, and she would not eat what is good for her. "God, if I just had a rich uncle, who I don't remember, leave me millions in his will, then that would be so awesome. I could do anything I wanted to, and lack for nothing." "Yeah, and how would you know I can supply your needs, if you had none?" answers God.

Don't get me wrong, God wants nothing more then to have us, His children, have everything we would like to have. But what happens to many that win the lottery? Within a very short time the money is gone, they blow it. Why? Because they think they are invincible, rich for the rest of their lives. They buy , buy, buy. The "Hope" comes from money, not God.

1 Timothy 6:9
But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

We all would like not to have to struggle from one paycheck to the next. Some have been blessed by God, some are just so good with handling their finances, paying to God what is God's (Tithing) and giving above and beyond what He requires (offerings), that God has blessed them. I am terrible at my finances. That is why God has not blessed me with abundance, I would go out and blow it on me.

Taters my cat, doesn't need treats, she needs good nutrition and a balanced diet. I don't need that Ferrari or Porsche, I need a dependable car that gets me from point A to point B. Sometimes, though, just as I will give Taters an extra treat or two, just because she looks SO SAD,, God will bless us with something special just because He loves us.


Gotta Go, Taters is asking to go out on the Patio and sit in the chair. "Taters, just a minute, I am doing something important right now........, OK OK I am coming, you are so spoiled."

Legacy

I recently read where two reporters were talking on a TV news show about Obama's Legacy. Don't worry I am not going to get political here, you don't want that. BUT this got me thinking about the "Legacy" we will all leave behind.

I never really knew my Grandpa, my Mom's Dad. My Mom told me about him, about how much I reminded her of him. She told me that he gave his life to the Lord as an adult, but when he did, he really did. She said her father was the reason she became saved. Then there is my Mom. What a testimony, what a life she lead for Christ!! Then there is my Sister and her husband and their family, testimony to God's love, grace, and blessing. There are me and my kids, and their will be more generations if Jesus doesn't come back before I finish writing this:) (That is OK with me, if He does:))
All this is the Legacy of my Grandpa. He gave his heart to the Lord Jesus Christ years ago, and generations have known HIM because of it.

What is your legacy? It seems all Presidents worry about it, do we worry about it? What will our friends and family say at our funeral? Will they speak of love, respect, knowledge of God, sharing Him wherever we went? Will they miss our friendship, our love, our bold witness? Where is our legacy?


In Philippians 1:20, Paul says:
For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.

Can we say this, honestly? Paul was saying that he would never be ashamed of Christ, and in fact Bold for Him. Those words were tested in Paul's life many times, and he never failed to stand on them. Paul did die, and look at what a Legacy he left. He is not remembered for being a "killer of Christians" that he had a part in, he is not remembered for holding the coats of those that stoned Stephen, which he did. He is remembered for bringing Jesus to the Gentiles, showing us that Jesus Christ did not die for just the Jews, but for all mankind. What a legacy.

Who do you remember as having a great Legacy? Many presidents of the United States come to mind, men and women of God, The Apostles, maybe your pastor, your Grandmother or Grandfather. But what legacy are we leaving behind?

If you want to be remembered as a Christian, a God Fearing man, a Man of God, a REAL person who loved and cherished life, and friends and family, then you have to start now.

I want to leave a legacy behind that is positive, Godly, to be remembered as a caring, fun, loving, man of God. How about you? Let's all leave legacies behind for our children grandchildren and future generations that are positive and reflect our love for God.

Obama's legacy? Please, let's NOT go there.

That's What We Do

I was at a baseball game a few weeks back, and I noticed a couple of Round Rock Police Officers standing and talking. I approached them and started up a conversation. I admire Cops, and first responders of any kind. I asked one of the officers how long he had been a cop, "18 Years",, he said with pride. The other officer replied he had been in the Army for 12 years and a cop for 6. "What is it in you, that makes you want to be a police officer?", I said. "I was in the Navy for four years, and would have put my life on the line to save our country, if needed, but I never wanted to be a cop". The senior officer responded quickly, "It's what we do" He said. "It's a calling, you want to help others, to get the bad guys off the street, to be worth something, to be able to go to sleep at night and know you made a difference today". "Wow". I said, "That is the best description I ever heard, thank you. I respect you guys very much and thank you for your service to our community".

I think we all: "Want to help others, to a certain extent, we all don't want the bad guys to get away, we all want to be worth something, and be able to sleep knowing we made a difference, but this does not mean we all want to wear a badge and a gun and be a target for some weirdo out there just wanting to kill us.

Do you consider yourself a Christian? Do you attend church, go to Sunday School class, maybe meet with others throughout the week at homes or coffee shops throughout your city, people who, like you profess Christianity? Is this a Calling? Did you know this is the way you wanted to live your life since you where say 5 years old?

My Daughter is a school teacher. She started telling her Mother at about the age of 7 she wanted to be a school teacher. She is a very good teacher , she cares, yes really cares for her students. For her teaching is a calling. Is serving the Lord our God, a calling for us? Are we passionate about it?

I am passionate about sports, my teams, my players, the teams I have a bond with. I am passionate about watching baseball in person, just something about being there, and enjoying the surroundings, taking it all in, which is how I got the idea to write this in the first place. BUT, as Christians, we are to be THERE for others, we are to LOVE others more then ourselves, we are to SACRIFICE if needed for others, we are to tell others of our PASSION for Jesus Christ, God's Son.

This is what we do. We are CALLED when we accept Jesus into our hearts to TELL EVERYONE we meet about our God and HIS LOVE for us.


Mark 16:15
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

This is the last thing Jesus told us to do before He went back to be with His Father in Heaven. Don't you think it was important? He did not say: "If you feel the urge, Go..........., or If you don't have anything else to do Go,,,,,,,,,,,,or If there is a pretty girl, and you would like to start up a conversation with her, then Go." NO< the Lord Jesus Christ told us to "GO, into ALL the World, and preach the gospel. to EVERYONE. The word preach here gets me thinking that we have to set up Pulpits, alters, pianos, organs, and especially the offering plates, sing three hymns and take an offering and then PREACH, I mean open with a joke, share a scripture and talk about it for 30 minutes, right? No, in this case "Preaching the Gospel" means to share Jesus, because He IS the GOSPEL, to others. Share Him through our experiences, our struggles, our triumphs our failures, our sin, yes I said SIN> with others. How can someone tell you know what they are facing , I mean REALLY know, unless they know you have been where they are, in Sin? AND then you can share with them how Jesus Christ helped you overcome that sin and live a life for Him, with His love, His forgiveness, His passion for others.

We, as Christians, are to be "First Responders". When there is a need, someone loses their job, spouse leaves them, has a death in the family, or feels so bad because they had a problem and sinned, or just don't feel they are living their lives with purpose, or they are feeling like something's missing. First responders go into a situation not knowing the full details, they risk their lives, so that the innocent can be freed. As Christians, we don't always know the situation, we don't know the details, we don't know the depth of the pain, or hurt. All we know is that someone is hurting, and in need of God's love for them, Yes, there could be REAL danger BUT we should go anyway. Why? God told us to, and......


THAT IS WHAT WE DO.

From dirty feet to toenails.

The other day, as I was leaving my Dads, I said: "Anything I can do for you, before I go home, Dad?" He hesitantly said , "Well,I hate to even ask, but I really need my toenails trimmed and I just can't seem to lean over that far anymore." I had no problem trimming my Dad's toenails. He is my Dad,I love him, and will do anything I can to help him. As I was on my way home after doing this deed, the picture of Jesus washing the feet of the Disciples, came to mind. I did not hesitate to trim my Dad's toenails, because of who he was to me. Jesus did not hesitate to wash the disciples feet because of who they were to Him, His friends. These were the guys that had helped Jesus in His everyday life, they had more then likely cooked for him, and all the guys, they had found food when needed, they had taken care of the finances, (Although Judas was the treasurer) Jesus had given them what they needed spiritually, mentally, emotionally, but they had helped Him in the day to day needs of life here on Earth. They were close, brothers, friends. They shared moments that only they could laugh about, times when funny things happen. You know, THOSE TIMES that you remember you whole life, but others who weren't there don't understand.

6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” John 13:6-9 NLT

I love reading about Peter. He was known as the "hot head" of the group , he had a burning desire to protect Jesus and all the "Guys". He loved them especially Jesus, because of His loyalty He let his emotions show, he would attack anyone or anything that came against this group. He said whatever he thought, regardless of what anyone thought. So here is Jesus washing the feet of His friends, and He comes to Peter and we all know what Peter thinks about this. Peter and the rest of this group were starting to realize just who this Jesus really was, and here He was offering to belittle himself and do what servants usually did? "The King of the Universe wants to wash my feet, No this cannot happen". You see, to Peter this was to much, over the top, Way past the line. Peter was in his thinking way down here, and Jesus was WAY UP THERE. Peter was just a servant, not someone to have THIS Person was his feet.

But Jesus did not just want to wash Peter's feet, He wanted to send these future giants of the Bible a message, to show how true leaders are the lowest of the low, the humblest of the humble, the meekest of the meek. A true leader, one that you will follow to your death, is one who willingly gets on his knees and serves the least among you.

Jesus humbled Himself and came to this Earth as a Human, just as any other person here, He willingly stripped off who He really was, and became what He had created.IN EVERY way He was human. And yet here He was again, humbling Himself even further by washing his "Followers" Feet.

Peter was thinking wrong about what Jesus was offering to do. When Jesus explained that He was going to wash His feet or Peter would not belong to Him, Peter was ready to have a bath. I love Peter's response: "Then wash my hands and my head as well, Lord, not just my feet!"

Ever been to a "Foot Washing" service? It has been years, but I remember a small group from our church we used to attend, had one. Our Senior Pastor and his wife attended this small group, and we took turns washing one another feet. Pastor did not wash my feet, but he washed my wife's (ex wife now). On the way home she told me how having our Senior Pastor, a person we both had high respect and love for, to wash her feet. She said it was a very humbling feeling.

You don't hear a Easter message about Jesus washing feet much. This all happened not long at all before Jesus was lead away in the Garden. One of the last act's Jesus did before going to the cross was to wash his friends feet. How important do you think this was for Him? What kind of message did He want to leave with His Disciples? To wash someone's feet is to put yourself on a plain lower then them. To show that your not better then they are. To show in a way they can see, that you love them. But most of all to show that they are your friend, your brother or sister, and you would do anything for them.

If your boss at work washed your feet, wouldn't you have a lot more respect for them?

Yeah I trimmed my Dad's toes the other day, so what? He needed it, and I love him. He's my Dad. Would I have done the same for your Dad, if he needed it and I was the only one around? How about the homeless guy on the corner, the one who REALLY needs a bath, his toes trimmed, a haircut, and some new clothes? Would we trim his toes, wash his feet, take him to Walmart and buy him some new clothes, get him something to eat, or even bring him home and let him get a good night of sleep in YOUR bed? This is what Jesus was trying to show us. NOT tell us, but SHOW us. That WE are no better then anyone else, regardless of what we think, regardless of our differences, our backgrounds, our lifestyle, our political opinions, our differences in the Sports team we may root for, we are ALL creations of God, and He loves us. If God loves you, then I need to also. What makes me more worthy of His love then anyone else.

In my opinion, Jesus washing His friends feet, was one of the most significant things Jesus did while here on this Earth. There is such a message in that act. Peter didn't understand it, at first, but when he realized what Jesus was showing in this simple act, he was ready for a "double even triple Washing" Are you ready to have the King of the Universe wash your feet? But more importantly are you ready to wash anyone elses feet? Or maybe trim their toes, or wash their hair, or give them some clothes, or bring them a hot meal, or give them a ride to church, or.......................

Yes, what Jesus did on the Cross is the Greatest thing any person has ever done for me, I do not mean to belittle that wonderful sacrifice. But what He did by washing His followers feet, means so much to me, I don't have to die on a cross, He did that for EVERYONE, But I do have to be willing to wash anyone's feet, if they need it. Servants to all, follower of One. Happy Easter.

The faith the size of a Mustard Seed can stop a Tornado?

I was watching the news last night and saw videos of the tornado's in the Dallas Fort Worth area. There was one that made my jaw drop. Tractor trailers and Tractors of the trucking company "Schneider" (you know those orange colored trucks you see on the highway everywhere, it seems?) were being thrown around like they were toys. Someone had taken videos of one being thrown what looked like 100 feet into the air and then came crashing down. This was a TRACTOR TRAILER, you know a 18-Wheeler, a Diesel Truck AND trailer, being thrown through the air like it weighed nothing. Reminded me of the movie "Twister", but with no cows.

This is natures power in action. Mankind thinks we have done so much, accomplished such greatness, but nature can cause our jaw to drop. I am very sorry for loss of property and "things" from these storms in the D/FW area of Texas, but I hope loss of life and serious injuries were kept to a minimum. When we see something like this, it shows us that God is, indeed powerful. He made everything including everything in nature, so this is His creation in action. God did not cause this to happen, a long time ago He started the wheels of the stars, the planets, Heavens, earth, weather.............in motion and has left it alone. He can and has interfered with weather from time to time when someone asks Him to and has faith that He can do anything, But for the most part, He let's nature run it's course.

Have you every been in a storm so terrible it scared you? Sure most of us have. A thunderstorm, a nearby Tornado, A snow blizzard, a hurricane, a flood..................When weather is this bad and we are caught in the middle of it, it is scarey. There is nothing we can do but pray. Who do we pray to? The God who made weather, so why cannot He take care of this weather, and save us? He can, He does, He will, but we just have to ask.

Luke 8:22-25: "One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.

The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”

The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”

Jesus who was God's Son, "rebuked the winds and the waves" AND they obeyed Him. Why? Because He was the Son of the living God? Because He had extra powers then anyone else? Because He was holding a .357 Magnum? No, only because HE spoke with authority and believed. He had FAITH> He told His friends, the disciples, that they basically could have done the same thing,"Where is your faith", He asked them. He may have been a little upset with them because the woke Him up from a good nap, and He didn't get to many chances to get a little sleep. He more then likely couldn't even sleep after watching the Football game on Sunday afternoon, like ALL men do.

These storms in North Texas yesterday were very powerful, destructive, scarey, but not surprising. It is, of course, springtime, and Tornado time in Tornado Alley. But this does not make it safe, or not scarey, or less dangerous. God IS POWERFUL!!!!!!!!!! He can do anything He wants, ANYTHING. Remember the "Faith as small as a mustard seed, and this mountain is gone" verse? Matthew 17:20
“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.

You see Jesus was disappointed His friends had to wake Him up to perform a miracle that they could have just as easily have done themselves. "Where is your Faith"? Does this mean you and I could tell a tornado to go away? If WE have faith, yes. Just the faith the size of a little bitty seed, is all it takes to move a mountain, then that is all it takes to stop a storm also.

Yes there will be tornado's, hurricanes, floods, hail, disaster..........in this world, but if we have Faith in our God, the maker of well everything, we can move mountains. What kinds of mountains? Any kind, our own personal mountains, relationships, income, illness, death, depression, addictions, actual mountains, anything, there is NO limit to God's power, there is however a limit to our faith, because we limit it ourselves with unbelief.

I have prayed and will continue to pray for the people in North Texas, that were devastated by these storms, I pray that loss of life was zero, but I have not heard yet. Remember God has unlimited power He is able and willing to do "whatever we ask or think" but we have to have faith IN HIM, that He can.

Faith, the size of WHAT?

Mark 5:34

He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you.
Go in peace, free from your affliction.'

REB

I have read this verse many times in my life, not really realizing what it was saying other then this lady was healed. "....Daughter, YOUR faith has healed you." I thought it was through the power of the cross, the power of God Jehovah and His Son Jesus Christ that healed us, but here it says "....Your FAITH has healed you"> I am confused. Who has the power to heal>? Is it God or our faith? Well, I think it is both. You see God's healing power is like a radio or TV or whatever wave, always present always in the air moving around waiting for someone to tap into it. You cannot hear a radio station unless you dial into the correct frequency. Our FAITH is the radio receiver, we have to dial into the correct frequency to receive what God wants to give us.

Have you, like me, ever prayed for something, but deep down in your heart, you really didn't believe the answer would be there? Years ago I had a VERY painful back problem. It hurt so bad, I could hardly do anything else. My ex-wife and I were working at the church at the time, cleaning after the morning service, picking up trash, spot vacuuming and cleaning the bathrooms......in preparation for the night service we had at that time. ( We now have "Cell Groups" at peoples home all over Austin on Sunday evenings.) I was trying to organize the hymn books on a row of pews and the pain was so sharp I just sit down and started to cry. Mary, my ex-wife noticed a few of the pastors lingering in the Sanctuary and asked them to come and "lay hands on me". (Not suddenly, that would have hurt:)) Our then Choir Director, Ms. Kathy Stewart told Mary later, that as she prayed she felt that I would have to have surgery for this, that God was going to heal me that way. I went to the Doctor the next day and had surgery a few days later. I have not had a problem with my back since, and this was about 1998 or so. Why did God not heal me right there on the spot? I don't know God has His ways, But what if I did not have enough Faith for Him to complete the healing instantly? What if God was ready to heal me right there right then, but I could not, or would not believe Him for it? He, being the all knowing God He is, figured out another way for these prayers to be answered. Through surgery and a Doctors hands.

OUR faith is powerful, just as our lack of it is also powerful.

Matthew 17:20
“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. ”

Look at what this scripture is saying. It does not say: "If God was powerful enough He could move this mountain., It doesn't say "you could ask for the army to use explosives and blow this mountain to kingdom come, if you had connections' It SAYS "IF YOU had FAITH even the size of a little bitty seed, YOU COULD SAY to this mountain...............and IT WOULD BE DONE"
God can and will do anything we ask for, BUT WE have to have the faith.

Why aren't our prayers always answered? Maybe it is because of OUR lack of faith. Many times, I think, God has to work around our lack of faith, and use other methods to answer our prayers, like with me and my "Bulging Disc" back problem of years ago. I believe there are two meanings to the Word "Mountain" in Matthew 17:20. It refers to our problems we face in this world, the Mountains that we must face, the problems, the disappointments , the depressions, the results of our sin...........But why can it not represent a REAL Mountain? I think it can, if that is in our way, then a Real Mountain is a mountain. Have you ever seen a real mountain just kinda move by itself? Of course not. Why not? Well, Have you ever prayed for it to happen? Of course not, that is ridiculous. Our God stopped the Sun from going down, He stopped a mighty river from flowing, He with the help of Moses' faith, made water flow from a rock. He lead the Children of Israel with a cloud by day and a long fire at night out of bondage. He can move a mountain if WE have the faith. The Power of God is there, more then we can imagine, but WE have to tap into it.

How do you vacuum your carpet? Well, with a vacuum cleaner of course, But what happens if you turn it on and nothing happens? Is it plugged in? It is an electric motor, it needs A/C Electricity. If you don't tap into the current that is in the plugs of your house, the Vacuum will NEVER work. We know that, don't we? An electric appliance needs to be plugged into the Source. Have you ever wondered if the lights were going to come on if you flicked the switch? Maybe if you haven't paid the "Light Bill" but other then that, we have FAITH that if we turn on something around the house, it will work. WHY? Because it has worked before, many, many times.

How many times has God NOT answered our prayers? What is His record? No, maybe He did not answer that prayer the way we thought He should of, but He did answer. The only prayers God has not answered are the ones He has not answered YET. GOD can and is willing to do anything for us, BUT He cannot unless we believe He will and is able.

Faith is powerful, strong, unlimited, and God wants us to have more of it. As our faith is rewarded by His miracles, we get more of it, just as exercising builds muscle, exercising our faith yields more faith. Our faith grows stronger because "He answered last time, why wouldn't He this time?"

God is willing, do we doubt HIM? OUR FAITH is what it is all about. Because of who God is, the rest is taken care of already, just have faith.