Man, That Mustard Seed is HUGE!!!!!!

Man, I keep trying to move this thing to my house, but it just won't budge!!

Matthew 17:20
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

My Friends,

    I wanted to start this week by thanking all of you that read my blog and took the time to comment last week.  Your thoughts make my writing mean something.  It feels good as a writer to know that my writing can help people to think.  As I mentioned in other blogs, I encourage you to write, just as I do.  Now that doesn't mean that you have to start a blog, but get that journal I mentioned earlier.
    This week's topic came from meeting with a couple of parents to talk about goals for their kids.  The ironic thing is that during my quiet time, God brought to my mind the parable of the mustard seed.
    Now, I learned this parable as a young Christian many years ago.  For the life of me I was so confused by it, because as hard as I might try I could not get the local mountain to move.  But as I have matured I have come to understand it better.  I can say that I have moved a few mountains in my life.  Well maybe not mountains, but I did move a 60,000 pound caboose onto our property and turned it into a guest house.  I also graduated from college, which was definitely a mountain unto itself.  With that said have you ever seen a real mustard seed?  It is the tiniest of seeds, but yet it grows into a big beautiful plant that supplies greens and more seeds to make mustard.  Anyway, I am not trying to give you a botanical lesson.  I am just trying to point out that out of tiny things, big things can come.
   What I have really learned about this parable is that as Christians it is important to plant those mustard seeds and then tend them with prayer.  You see, I didn't just tell the Caboose to fly over to my property and set itself where I wanted it.  I planted the seed of the idea in prayer and then nurtured it over and over with more prayer for many weeks.
  I was reading recently in one of my favorite books called, The Master Key System.  It is written by a man named Charles Haanel.  In the book, he states in

Yummy, Mustard Greens!!!

I told you I could move it.  The crane did help.

layman's terms the idea of planting the mustard seed.  His statement is that whatever goal we set, the ability for it to come to fruition is directly proportional to how strongly we believe.  So, plant that mustard seed and believe with every atom in your body that it will come true.
    I believe it is important for us to have goals in our adult lives, just like we had dreams and goals as kids.  Not only does it make life more interesting, but it is a good example for kids and young adults that we come in contact with.  I will be the first to admit that I still have crazy dreams.  The one that I have been nurturing for sometime is to play on The Senior PGA Tour.  Now, you might think that this is a no brainer for me, but the goal isn't just to make it.  My dream gets crazier.  Not only do I want to make it on the tour, I want to be the professional that plays in the group with one of my daughters if they are chosen to play in The Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.  How awesome would that be?!!!!!!
    The one thing to remember before I finish for this week is this.  Even though we can have goals and dreams, remember they have to go along with God's plan for us as well.  Sometimes the goals I have made do not come true.  I planted the seed a few years ago to retire from teaching when I turned 50.  Well, that happened while I was in China last year and I am still teaching.  I could get upset about it and be depressed, but God has given me a new excitement for teaching and my daughter is going to be coming to the high school next year.  I guess he is just not done with me yet.
    So, go out  this weekend and get some mustard seeds.  Plant them in some soil in your garden, but identify each one as a dream or goal.  Then spend the next few months tending them with prayer and water and see what happens.  If nothing really comes from it, at least you have some really nice mustard greens.  They are very nice sauteed with garlic and lots of butter, Yum!!!!!!!