Before you were born,
And were still too tiny for
The human eye to see,
You won the race for life
From among 250 million competitors.
And yet,
How fast you have forgotten
Your strength,
When your very existence
Is proof of your greatness.
You were born a winner,
A warrior,
One who defied the odds
By surviving the most gruesome
Battle of them all.
And now that you are a giant,
Why do you even doubt victory
Against smaller numbers,
And wider margins?
The only walls that exist,
Are those you have placed in your mind.
And whatever obstacles you conceive,
Exist only because you have forgotten
What you have already
Achieved.
― Suzy Kassem
Before you were born,
And were still too tiny for
The human eye to see,
You won the race for life
From among 250 million competitors.
And yet,
How fast you have forgotten
Your strength,
When your very existence
Is proof of your greatness.
You were born a winner,
A warrior,
One who defied the odds
By surviving the most gruesome
Battle of them all.
And now that you are a giant,
Why do you even doubt victory
Against smaller numbers,
And wider margins?
The only walls that exist,
Are those you have placed in your mind.
And whatever obstacles you conceive,
Exist only because you have forgotten
What you have already
Achieved.
― Suzy Kassem
And were still too tiny for
The human eye to see,
You won the race for life
From among 250 million competitors.
And yet,
How fast you have forgotten
Your strength,
When your very existence
Is proof of your greatness.
You were born a winner,
A warrior,
One who defied the odds
By surviving the most gruesome
Battle of them all.
And now that you are a giant,
Why do you even doubt victory
Against smaller numbers,
And wider margins?
The only walls that exist,
Are those you have placed in your mind.
And whatever obstacles you conceive,
Exist only because you have forgotten
What you have already
Achieved.
― Suzy Kassem
NUMBERS 7
89When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant law. In this way the Lord spoke to him.(7:89)
89When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant law. In this way the Lord spoke to him.(7:89)
MARK 4:21-41
30Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
JOURNAL
Years ago while in Gatlinburg, our family was walking around on the strip when my brother-in-law handed me a pretzel stick with a minuscule drop of red substance on the tip. He told me to try it...within 5 seconds my eyes were watering and I was roaming the streets like a madman searching for anything that would calm the fire that had erupted in my mouth. After planting a soft serve ice cream cone squarely on my tongue...the heat finally began to subside. It was a funny moment but it also made a strong impression that something that small and seemingly insignificant could completely incapacitate me.
When reading the Bible...and really reading it...not the skim job that I have at times done, there are things that stick out that can be confusing. Why does Jesus use all of these examples to describe the "kingdom of God"? To me...it's because he wants to put it in terms that are personable and applicable. So with that being said what's the point of this parable involving the mustard seed?
I think it is because that's how God works, he most often works in the small, discarded and overlooked. He works in the rejected, cast out, dismissed. Yet when he begins working the small and insignificant don't stay that way. The outcome may not be immediate, or it actually may but ultimately God's power and grace transform. When God works he turns the small into something miraculous and life-giving. Just like the hot sauce...what seemed insignificant can have great power.
The same power that created the universe, the stars, sun, planets, oceans animals and all of humanity is the same power that lives within those that are his children, his followers. The smallest drops of faith can turn lives that seem insignificant into mountains of courage, hope, joy and love.
11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Years ago while in Gatlinburg, our family was walking around on the strip when my brother-in-law handed me a pretzel stick with a minuscule drop of red substance on the tip. He told me to try it...within 5 seconds my eyes were watering and I was roaming the streets like a madman searching for anything that would calm the fire that had erupted in my mouth. After planting a soft serve ice cream cone squarely on my tongue...the heat finally began to subside. It was a funny moment but it also made a strong impression that something that small and seemingly insignificant could completely incapacitate me.
When reading the Bible...and really reading it...not the skim job that I have at times done, there are things that stick out that can be confusing. Why does Jesus use all of these examples to describe the "kingdom of God"? To me...it's because he wants to put it in terms that are personable and applicable. So with that being said what's the point of this parable involving the mustard seed?
I think it is because that's how God works, he most often works in the small, discarded and overlooked. He works in the rejected, cast out, dismissed. Yet when he begins working the small and insignificant don't stay that way. The outcome may not be immediate, or it actually may but ultimately God's power and grace transform. When God works he turns the small into something miraculous and life-giving. Just like the hot sauce...what seemed insignificant can have great power.
The same power that created the universe, the stars, sun, planets, oceans animals and all of humanity is the same power that lives within those that are his children, his followers. The smallest drops of faith can turn lives that seem insignificant into mountains of courage, hope, joy and love.
11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
JEREMIAH 29:11
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