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I don‘t believe in Fairies.

If you are familiar with the story of Peter Pan you will know what happens when you say the words “I don't believe in fairies”. What happens? Peter Pan tells us that a fairy somewhere drops to the ground dead.

All one has to do is say “I don't believe in fairies” and a fairy will die.

There was a moment in the last Peter Pan movie (spoilers ahead) when Tinkerbell is poisoned and dies. It is a sad moment but as all hope seems to be gone the lost boys begin to say “I do believe in fairies, I do I do, I do believe in fairies, I do I do.” Then Wendy and her brothers begin to shout “I do believe in fairies, I do I do. Even the Pirates join in “I do believe in fairies I do...” And guess what happens? She comes back to life!!!

And I am SO thankful that my God is nothing like that!

A person could stand all day long shouting “I don't believe in God, I don't I don't”, he could say it over and over again. He could shout it from the mountain tops from morning till night. He could find a thousand friends who would do the same. They could all stand on the mountain from morning till night shouting “I don't believe in God, I don't I don't” and guess what? God would still be alive.

What you and I think about God doesn't change who God is!

If you haven't read Job chapter 38 recently it may be worth your time. God speaks to Job out of the storm and has some pretty sobering words. To quote but one verse 38:4 “Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?” NIV It is easy to realize how small we really are when compared to a God who created the earth.

God is alive whether you believe it or not. God is alive whether you like it or not. God is.

I always desired super powers. After watching Star Wars for the very first time I remember going to my room, eyes closed, hand out-stretched, mentally trying to move stuffed animals (which I called stuffed de animals) from one side of the bedroom to the other. It didn't work! I was devastated.

I remember the day I read:

Matthew 17:20 “He replied, Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, 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." NIV

“YES! I can have super powers! Wait until my brothers see this!” I stretched out my hand and thought faithful thoughts but those stuffed animals still didn't move. I didn't understand but I chalked it up to a lack of faith.

How often in the Bible do we see a promise from God that says if you believe in Me, I will give you super powers so that you can glorify yourself? Doesn't God seem to prefer it when we are giving Him the glory?

I really think I misunderstood the verse. I don't think the point is if we have enough faith we can have super powers and glorify ourselves. The point seems to be that our God is a God who can move mountains. The question we have to ask ourselves is, do we believe it? Do you believe God is alive? Do you believe that our God can move mountains? If you do believe this, then understand that you have faith (no matter how small it may be) in a God that can move mountains. The power is not so much in your faith but in the One in whom you have faith.

I choose not to put faith in myself but in a powerful, loving God, Who can move mountains.

If you would like to listen to the sermon before reading this post click HERE

How would you like to have been among the disciples in Matthew 17:14-20?

They've just tried to heal a demon possessed boy but have been unsuccessful. When the disciples approach Jesus and ask Him why they could not cast out the demon Jesus says: “Because you have SO LITTLE FAITH.” He then explains if they even had faith the size of a mustard seed they would be able to move mountains. Not a great day for the disciples.

What would Jesus tell you about your faith?

This lack of faith becomes even more amazing when we realize where the disciples had been earlier in that chapter.

Jesus brought a few of the disciples up with Him on the mountain. While on the mountain Jesus begins to GLOW. His clothes become WHITE like light. Moses and Elijah appear. A voice from the cloud that envelopes them declares: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him”.

Shouldn't these events have built faith? Wouldn't you think any one of these events could build a lifetime of faith? Instead, the disciples come down from the mountain and the next thing we hear is that they are trying to cast a demon out of a boy and failing because of their lack of faith.

I hope that we can remember all of the amazing things God has done. I hope we can look at God's creation and always see, with wonder, a God who is alive and have faith that He can move mountains in our lives.

We all remember the thrill of those first moments, waiting in anticipation. The day you got up the courage to make the call. It was nerve-racking. What would she say? Finally the response came as you waited with breath held tight.

Mr. Wiist? You have been approved for a $1,500 credit limit.

I loved that card and all of the possibilities it offered. I remember walking through the electronics store, thinking I could buy just about any computer I wanted.

Those were the good times. I remember when I turned platinum. A proud moment in our relationship. My limit was high enough to buy a new car. Good times. We were in love and inseparable.

Then the rocky point of our relationship hit. The limit had been raised, and I met that limit. $18,000 of credit card debt. But what was this? Hundreds of dollars owed in monthly minimum balances? It was safe to say that things weren't the same between us anymore. I just didn't feel the love, the freedom, the bliss. We were drifting apart. We didn't have the same interests any longer. I still wanted to travel and buy electronics but my platinum card just wanted me for my money. Is that all I was? A paycheck? An account number?

I had to make a different kind of call this time, the break-up call. It was awkward. “I just don't think this is going to work out” Visa seemed confused. “I'm going to have to break this off! I just don't FEEL the way I used to.” Visa's response: “I'm sorry you feel that way, if you'd like to pay off your balance the total is 18,000. Would you like to take care of this over the phone?”

“Let's not make this any harder than it has to be” I replied. “its over! I just don't feel like I owe you anything any longer. We had some good times, but I think we can agree, things just aren't the way they used to be. Let's both just walk away, make a fresh start.”

It was sad really. The inability for Visa to accept the break-up and move on, I still get letters, I never respond. It's always about money. Visa just can't seem to move past it. Not like I did. I walked away, but this debt, this debt just won't leave me alone!!!!

CAN YOU IMAGINE? I think we all understand that credit cards don't work that way but how many times have we treated PEOPLE like this? Spouses? Friends? Even enemies?

Romans 13:8 “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow-man has fulfilled the law.” NIV

As Christians we owe a debt of love to our fellow man. That means our spouse. That means our enemies. We have a debt that will NEVER be paid off. Are you ready to pay up?

You will never fall!

Have you ever asked yourself the question,

“Will I ever turn away from Christ and give into the world?”

I remember one afternoon, flying thousands of feet above Texas soil, asking myself that question. “Would there ever be a time in my life when I would become unfaithful to Jesus?” The thought terrified me. I prayed immediately that if a time like that was coming he would just take down the plane and kill me in that moment. Then, of course, I realized that a lot of innocent people would probably die if that were to happen so I prayed a prayer which was a little less destructive to those around me.

Have you ever asked yourself a question like this?

Well there is good news! God tells us that we can be confident. If we add to our faith certain attributes we can be sure that we will never fall!

2 Peter 1: 5-10

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. - NIV

Did you catch that? If you follow the Lord’s instruction you will NEVER FALL! You will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom.

Good news, you don’t have to pray that the Lord would take you now for fear you will become unfaithful later. We just need to continue adding to our faith.

How does 2 Peter 1:5-10 make you feel?

Early Warning Detection System!!!

How important is it to set up an early warning detection system for our spiritual lives?

Times are difficult, jobs are scarce, life always has its struggles. It is important to have a plan of action in place to protect our spiritual lives in those moments when worldly pressures surge in and threaten to take over. Over the next few posts we will look at some specific ways to guard ourselves from the pressures of the world.

The words of Jesus in his sermon on the mount are so precious and important for daily living. As the world

pushes, it would benefit us all to remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:25 -34:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

New International Version

Are you bold enough to look in the face of the world and all of its trials and proclaim:

“I'm not going to worry about my life today! Today I'm going to live by faith!”