A 40-Day Faith Challenge
Jesus tells us in Matthew 17:20, that faith the size of a tiny mustard seed is powerful. So, let's plant those seeds and reap the harvest.
The Seed: God's Word
Cleansing Rain: A Reflection on God's Word
Things Jesus did NOT say would identify you as a disciple:
Money
Position, power, or titles
Number of friends
Judgment of others
The only thing that He wants His disciples to be known for is our love for one another. Not a passive love either, but an active love, rooted in our faith so that it produces good works. Our faith and love as Christians is a commitment of doing for others. It is not something we do when we feel like it or for those we deem loveable. We actively seek opportunities to love our neighbors no matter our feelings about them.
Surprisingly, oftentimes we will find our opinions of those we are serving change. We become more empathetic and less critical. As Mother Teresa observed, “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”
Taking Root: Questions to Help You Dig Deeper
SonShine: Shining the Light of Jesus
Daily Sprinkle: A Prayer to Say Throughout the Day
I will leave you with a quote and a poem of Mother Teresa's.
"A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, and must empty ourselves. Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your weakness."
"Anyway"
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
It is in loving others we make a life for ourselves.
In Christ,
Stacey Faubion