August 2014
Reflections of God's Goodness
I am always amazed at how fast summer goes by! August in this part of the country is usually considered the lazy, hazy days of summer, but it is also now the beginning of school with all its accompanying excitement and reunions.
Many of us first learned how to be a friend at school. School provided us with the opportunity for friendships outside the sphere of family. What an adventure friendship is. The getting to know and love another person is like a treasure hunt! Since God made each of us unique, and made us to be in relationship with Him and with each other, this journey of friendship holds surprises, challenges, gifts and struggles.
In friendship, we commit to believing in another person’s words and actions. When we are attracted to another in friendship, we begin by exploring what we have in common. The sharing between friends is an act of faith. We choose to believe the truth another tells about themselves. And when we believe in their possibilities, we provide the energy to help them believe in themselves.
In much the same way, we choose to believe the truths our God has shared with us as we begin or continue our journey of friendship with Him.
Many times over, Jesus calls us to ‘believe’ in Him — believe in the Father and believe in His Word.
His purpose was to tell us and show us the possibilities in belief. What can happen? Water into wine, blind people see, storms calmed and much more.
God believes in us! When we believe in God and in each other, we can “move mountains,” Scripture says. What kind of mountains do you need to move today? Fear? Anger? Hurt? Broken relationship? It doesn’t matter; we are reassured over and over that God has us covered if only we can believe—have faith.
What an amazing thought! It is not our power that makes all things possible, but God knows that His power and grace, coupled with our faith can move any mountain we may encounter. A little faith focused in the right direction, that is! God is the mover of mountains; we can only supply the mustard seed of faith and cry out like the father of the paralytic child,“Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.”
May the God of possibilities grace your life with the mustard seed of faith, to move mountains, strengthen faith and grow closer to Him.
Blessings,
Sister Mary Ann Barnhorn
Director of Development
He said to them, "Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size
of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain,
'Move from here to there,' and it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you.
