Luke 17:
6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
From this verse we have heard many times that if we just had a little faith we could do great things. And when a great thing for which we are praying does not come in the way we hoped, we think our faith was too small. No so!
I was taught many years ago and I still believe today that this verse has nothing to do with the SIZE of our faith but rather is there LIFE in our faith. It is my understanding that this mustard seed to which our Lord was referring is not the mustard seed that grows the herb from which we get our condiments for our hot dogs and hamburgers. (But even if it is the analogy still works – LIFE is the key to understanding this passage)
I lifted the following information from the web page located at this link: http://kenanderson.net/bible/html/mustard_seed.html
Let me say that I have not read all the information at the link and I cannot vouch for its content. But this lifted information does match what I was taught long ago so I am offering it to you.

The tree known in Palestine as a mustard tree has minute seeds and yellow flowers, and grows widely in the Mediterranean. Most Bible scholars believe that the plant is the black mustard, grown for the production of the condiment, but in New Testament times, it may have been grown for its oil content. The plants, when not crowded too closely with other plants, can grow to be fifteen feet or higher, and have a thick main stem, with branches strong enough to bear the weight of a bird.

I believe Jesus is telling us here that it is not the SIZE of our faith that matters. What matters, is there LIFE in our faith? Have we taken the gift of faith given to us and have we placed that seed of faith in the GOD-MAN (Romans 12: 3 …according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.) in WHOM is LIFE? If we have; given time, the proper soil, the Water of the Word and the nutrient of prayer, our faith will grow (from that tiny baby faith we had at salvation) into something larger than we could ever imagine!
So what does that say about those times when those of us who have read the Word and we have prayed and we have believed and our faith has grown and yet still we pray for someone we love to be healed and we believe they will be but that healing does not come here on planet earth. Did our faith fail? Was our faith too small? Did we fail? No. No. No.
We will not find our answer to such questions in the parable of the mustard seed but rather in the GOD-MAN who told the parable of the mustard seed. We must be careful about faith and prayer formulas. Often we hear people quote Matthew 18: 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. And so we gather two or three or bunches and bunches of us and we pray and we agree and still what we prayed does not happen the way we prayed. Why? I think the answer is still found in LIFE, not size of faith, nor the number of people praying in faith.
The HOLY SPIRIT of God breathed LIFE into the first Adam and he became a living soul. And just as The Creator has added the spark of LIFE to a mustard seed, if the HOLY SPIRIT of God adds His Spark of LIFE to our prayer EXACTLY as we have prayed, it will be just as we have asked. (You see I believe He has to be One of the two in agreement, for Matthew 18:19 to be done here on earth.) When He adds His Spark of Life to our prayer but tweaks it just a little bit from what we are praying, our prayers are still a blessing and growth and faith and wonderful things are still manifested while we pray and while He readies us to receive The Answer which is not exactly what we wanted. So do not be discouraged when the answer is not what you wanted. Do not allow the evil one to tell you that you have small faith. Do not allow him to cause you to believe that you have failed. NO. Keep praying. Prayers that the HOLY SPIRIT tweaks and answers another way than we prayed, brings an even GREATER HARVEST. A HARVEST we will see one day. But until then keep planting those mustard seeds – if a bush grows, great; if a tree grows, great. Of this we can be CERTAIN, if we plant (pray) nothing – nothing will grow!
To HIM BE THE GLORY!!
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
We are adding Patsy B.to our prayer list today. I cannot tell you much other than she is 56 and having a bout with depression right now and her son is concerned for her.
Bobbie writes: Hey! Just wanted to let you know that my nephew is back Stateside from his extended duty in Iraq. Thanks for all the support/prayers but please now keep his family in your prayers as he makes this transition.
And Roy writes: Thanks for all the I.D.O.K.S prayers as Krystee was released from the hospital today and is going to Macon Ga. For a few days to rest her lung is still weak but the Dr. claims she will improve with exercise, One month in the hospital seems a lot as she was only dehydrated when she went in, will not say much more about but THANKS,THANKS, and GLORY TO GOD, roye
Father, thank You for this. Thank You for putting LIFE into the gift of faith that You have given us. Help us keep on praying, especially when the answers we see are not what we thought was best and in our own minds thought would bring You the most glory. Thank You that You always answer Right. And Holy Spirit thank You for the tweaking of our prayers that You do. And now we bring Patsy. It’s a serious condition, maybe not so much medically but still serious and we can identify with her Lord and we ask that You bless her, that You intervene and send Your Counselor to her and we pray she will find rest and healing for her soul and help her son and family seek You too and find their rest in You. Thank You for the good news with Krystee and we entrust her complete recovery to You. Thank You that Shaun is home and we continue to pray for You to work in hearts and bring about Your Will for this family. We pray for all our IDOK Troops, those still on foreign soil, those serving Stateside, those resting and re-adjusting, those healing from wounds and injuries – protect them all Lord from every harm and grow them into Soldiers of the Cross we pray. And for these listed we pray for their various needs, medical conditions, financial conditions, employment needs, housing needs, emotional healings, comfort in grief, purpose and dreams, conviction of sin, discipline and correction and whatever else that You see is needed Lord; all this we ask for these and we ask in Your Name Lord Jesus.
The Peace of Israel Patsy B. Joey and Kathy and family. Kim T. Krystee. Sybal W. Brenda D. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’ s Mother. Janie B. W.C. The Ellis Family. Ed Litton and family. Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. Kathy. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Katelyn. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Martha F and Bob. Rev and Mrs. Carpenter. Allyson and Glen and family and Kaitlyn. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Frankie and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa and Brad and family. Cindy K and family. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Jenny. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam. Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
Revival in America.

Bethany’s Garden- published 10/12/07
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Father, You are AWESOME fun and joy and pleasure. You are our God and Father and we love You. Thank You!

We have a new request this morning:
Kathie, There’s a couple at our church who are on an emotional roller coaster right now. Joey and Kathy are waiting for the final day of his mother, Dorothy, here on earth. Hospice has already been helping and the doctors have told them that it could be days or weeks before her body finally gives up. They thought she’d had a stroke when they took her to the hospital but after tests they determined that there had been bleeding in the brain. She had been at our Sunday night service the day before. The family has gathered and have been with their dad for support at this time, but it’s taking a toll on all of them. Pray for the entire family. Thanks. Carmen

And so Father, even as we prayed last night we pray this morning for this dear family; for Dorothy, Father, I am reminded of that beautiful story of the woman telling her three year old that You wanted her to be well but being well here on planet earth appeared to be not the best way for her to be well so she was going to live with You so she could be well. Father, if here on earth is not the best place for Dorothy to be well, take her to be with You just as soon as You can get the family ready for her to leave and in the meantime give them all peace and comfort, especially Dorothy. Thank You for Carmen and her love for people. And we pray for Sybal and her husband for strength for them today and for restoration of health. And Kim and Krystee, Jacob, Rachel and the family — all these listed here Lord. You know each need and each desire of their hearts so we ask You to bless each today as only You can. And we pray for our IDOK Troops, please keep them safe and sound in mind and body and spirit; protect them from harm and bring them home to us safe and sound at the appointed time and Holy Spirit woo them to loving You Father more and more each day. Revive us Lord, revive America and give us the vision of being grateful. And Lord, particularly intervene for Sharron. Thank You for her and what she means to me and to Your Kingdom – bless her today. And all these things we ask because we are washed in the Blood of Jesus.
The Peace of Israel Joey and Kathy and family. Kim T. Krystee. Sybal W. Brenda D. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’ s Mother. Janie B. W.C. The Ellis Family. Ed Litton and family. Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. Kathy. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Katelyn. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Martha F and Bob. Rev and Mrs. Carpenter. Allyson and Glen and family and Kaitlyn. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Frankie and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa and Brad and family. Cindy K and family. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Jenny. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam.

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1: 7
And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. I John 2:25

New Card: CB5 – published 10/9/07
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