Friday Writings in WFM.....3/18/16

Good Morning Readers

Today we have two versions of the "faith as small as a mustard seed" scripture verses...NIV and MSG. It is always interesting to take a look at the Message Version. This version is written in more simple and modern language, If you ever feel puzzled about a verse reading it in the message bible can be very illuminating!

He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed,
 you can say to this mulberry tree,
‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Luke 17:6NIV

But the Master said, “You don’t need more faith. There is no ‘more’ or ‘less’ in faith. If you have a bare kernel of faith, say the size of a poppy seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it would do it.

Luke 17:6

The Message (MSG)

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Friday's Devotional

THE GIFT OF FAITH

Faith 

is being sure of what you hope for 

and certain o what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

There are things about our beliefs that we must take on faith. The first one I learned about as a child in my parochial school was the fact of the Trinity.  We were told that it is not possible to understand how God  is one but has three separate and different persons in His being. We were given the example of a clover which is one but has three separate parts in the three leaves on the same stem. Our teachers said that this was not a perfect illustration but that it could give us an idea of the Trinity...the triune God.

As i grew up and learned more, I found many instances where things that were unique about our beliefs must be taken by faith. I have always been thankful that faith has never been a problem for me. I accept the things that I have learned with faith even when they are hard to accept. I have no problem with this. Other people find the blessing of faith not as strong as mine is. They wrestle with understanding and pure and simple faith is a challenge to them.

That is why, when we do have proof of something unseen, it is so exciting. There is a book called "Heaven is for Real" written by the family of a little boy who was dead for a short time and came back. Now I don't think that most people who are Christian doubt that there is a heaven to go to. However, when the boy, Colton, returned from his near death experience he talked about meeting Jesus and his grandfather. When his parents showed him a pictures he kept saying that was not who  he had seen. Then one day he was looking at a family photo album and saw a picture of a young man. "That's my grandfather!" he exclaimed. After his discussion about it he told his parents that he had, in fact, met him, and his grandfather had said that was who he was.

Another interesting thing happened. Colton told his parents that none of the pictures of Jesus looked like He really looks. He was always disappointed at the pictures of Jesus that he saw until one day. He was looking at the paintings of Akiane, a talented young painter...a child actually...who had visions of heaven, the scenery of heaven, the angels and much more. In one collection

 Colton saw one she had painted. He became very excited and told his parents that this was what Jesus looked like. This is the painting by Akiane had painted. Here is another "proof," if you want to call it proof, of the appearance of Jesus. No one has ever seen Him in this way, and I suppose that this requires faith as well to accept. I do accept it because of the way it was found by Colton, I invite you to try to work on developing a deeper faith in the wonders of our beliefs. It is an amazing blessing and gift.

"Faith
sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable

and reaches the impossible."

Corrie Ten Boom

Written by 

Corinne Mustafa 

                            

                                     

                                                                           

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What Is Butt Dust??

This is not as vulgar as it sounds...

Quite funny and cute...sayings from little kids.

Out of the mouths of Babes....

 What Is Butt Dust??

 What, you ask, is 'Butt dust'? What do you do or say, when an innocent child asks you something so innocent and they are so serious? Read on and you'll discover the joy in it! These have to be original and genuine. No adult is this creative!!

 JACK (age 3) was watching his Mom breast-feeding his new baby sister... After a while he asked: 'Mom why have you got two? Is one for hot and one for cold milk?'

 MELANIE (age 5) asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she was so old she didn't remember any more. Melanie said, 'If you don't remember you must look in the back of your panties. Mine say five to six.'

 STEVEN (age 3) hugged and kissed his Mom good night. 'I love you so much that when you die I'm going to bury you outside my bedroom window.'

 BRITTANY (age 4) had an ear ache and wanted a pain killer. She tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mom explained it was a child-proof cap and she'd have to open it for her. Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked: 'How does it know it's me?'

 SUSAN (age 4) was drinking juice when she got the hiccups. 'Please don't give me this juice again,' she said, 'It makes my teeth cough.'

 DJ (age 4) stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: 'How much do I cost?'

 CLINTON (age 5) was in his bedroom looking worried When his Mom asked what was troubling him, he replied, 'I don't know what'll happen with this bed when I get married. How will my wife fit in it?'

 MARC (age 4) was engrossed in a young couple that were hugging and kissing in a restaurant. Without taking his eyes off them, he asked his dad: 'Why is he whispering in her mouth?'

 TAMMY (age 4) was with her mother when they met an elderly, rather wrinkled woman her Mom knew. Tammy looked at her for a while and then asked, 'Why doesn't your skin fit your face?'

 JAMES (age 4) was listening to a Bible story. His dad read: 'The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his wife looked back and was turned to salt.' Concerned, James asked: 'What happened to the flea?'

 The Sermon I think this Mom will never forget....

 This particular Sunday sermon... 'Dear Lord,' the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. 'Without you, we are but dust....' He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little four-year-old girl voice, 'Mom, what is butt dust?'

Sent to me by my College Roommate, Alice Whalen.

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Wishing Everyone a happy and blessed weekend.

Prayers lifted up for you

by

The Writing Staff

of

Women's Focus Ministries

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