3 Steps to Move A Mountain

Need GREAT faith in your life? Jesus tells us in Mathew 17:10, "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".

I remember a few years back when my baby was ill and his army of doctors were unable to keep him healthy. Thousands of dollars in testing and long lonely nights haunted me as the medical experts tried to figure out the cause of illness. I needed a mountain to move and it did...with 3 steps.

1. Envision the Outcome--The truth is that everyone has faith. Unfortunately, we often have faith in the worst possible scenario or negative outcome. During my son's time of illness, I had faith and believed he would be ill, because that is what I saw and nobody was giving me answers that were helping him. As long as I believed he would be ill, he remained ill. Finally it occurred to me that he could be well, despite the circumstances, I was able to believe he had the possibility of becoming a healthy, happy child that would play like a normal kid with the rest of the kids (he was significantly delayed in development too). Though Jesus was not around to heal my son (I would have traveled on foot many miles with a sick kid for this miracle), I remembered that Jesus left us the church with elders who anoint the sick with oil (James 5:14). We drove to Chicago to meet with the elders (the Bible said elders so I requested at least 2). Soon there after we met with a doctor who had a reasonable theory and immediately prescribed an easy but rare treatment. Within days my toddler son became healthy by taking an over-the-counter body building supplement 3 times a day. Who would have known his body does not produce enough of a specific amino acid essential for muscle development? I believe faith opened the door to find the answer.

2. Follow Through--Actions reveal our faith and desires. Wanting and finally believing my son could be better wasn't enough, I had to follow through on giving him his medication. Because of the illnesses, he did have other medications at the time. Being in the emotional state I was and having to take care of 3 other children as well as myself, house, husband and more, it was difficult for me to be compliant with the new medical routine. As a healthcare worker experienced in teaching people methods of compliance for a medical routine, this was embarrassing to me. I humbled out and got a home health nurse. She helped me develop a routine to dispense the meds ahead of time with a chart for the family. Yes I knew how to do all of this, yes I was too paralyzed to do it, yes I got help and yes it was worth it! Whatever your desired outcome, align your actions accordingly and this sometime takes sacrifice and a bit of humility.

3. Give Thanks--Most of the time results don't occur in a moment. Though my son's response to his new treatment was immediate with better health, it has taken several years to see him develop into a normal child. He is now 6 and runs around the playground, makes jokes and pulls pranks like any other boy. It's always a miracle to see him thrive and I give thanks! He still takes his medicine 3 times daily, fatigues quicker and requires a lot speech therapy to be understood. His doctor count has reduced from 5 to 3. He's still developing and the mountain is still moving in his life and mine. Giving thanks through the process allows me to enjoy the journey.

In fitness I frequently deal with people who want to change their health bodies. Often this task appears to be an unmovable mountain. The mountain can of course move but will not move overnight. Having the maturity and patience to envision a desired outcome, follow through, and give thanks through the process, will creat faith and move a mountain.

What's Your Business in Faith?

Running a business for the past couple of years has given me new respect for entrepreneurs.  It takes a lot of time and persistence to develop a business idea into a viable product.  Once the product is ready to formally present, it's not a guarantee the world will embrace it.  Rejection bites.  I feel vulnerable.

It's been two years since I released my first Christian Yoga DVD "Perfect Peace".  It seems like a lifetime ago.  I am still selling DVDs one at a time out of my trunk and gym bag, at craft shows and through the internet.  Knowing many successful startups started peddling their products out of their trunk as well, I sell whenever, wherever and however. Quite frankly I don't have a lot of time to invest in my business as I stay busy with my four young children whose ages range from 4-10.  Nevertheless, God provides opportunities and my network of Yogacaans (Christian Yoga Instructors).  This helps me rememberI have been called to this work.

"Faith" is often thrown around as some feel-good virtue, or at least I threw it around as one.  Faith is also misconceived as sticking it out through misery.  I've learned during my short-time in business that faith is truly believing.  Yes, I know the Bible says this in Hebrews 11, though it certainly hits home when your family assets and career are on the line.  Faith takes risks that look ridiculous from the outside, nevertheless, the call is strong so you joyfully continue in the work knowing it will flourish in it's own time.  My business in faith is to joyfully continue with the work and blessings I have been given.  So what's your business in faith?

Faith 2014 is Going To Be AWESOME!!!

You can only achieve what the mind believes you can do with God:  aka faith.   Emphasis added on the "do" and "with God" parts here.  God counts us righteous, heals, blesses, and even saves us according to faith.  Jesus got frustrated with lack of faith.  Now let's get something straight here, faith is different than hope.  Hope is sentiment, faith is doing.  I believe the faithful person is too busy creating life to whine about circumstances.  Take for example the person who IS committed to one's workouts and diet to lose 40 pounds versus the person who  hopes to lose 40 pounds.  Faith is a daily thing and God isn't going to do all the work here...remember "do with God"?

 

 Faith can't be objectively measured though it can be seen through its results:

And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.”  Luke 18:42

When the apostles realized they needed more faith, they were resourceful and asked Jesus:

 The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.”  Luke 17:5

Jesus answers:

The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it would obey you!  

Luke 17:6

I've never uprooted a mulberry tree.  There's always more to the story...

  

The request for instruction on how to increase faith came after a lesson on forgiveness:

 Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”  Luke 17:4

Jesus seals the discussion with teaching them how to simply do their duty and obey.  That mulberry tree is suppose to obey us too.  Wouldn't life be easier if people just did what they are suppose to?  Let's not talk about kids now...  My synopsis of this is that faith involves forgiving and moving on.

This year God has called me into my business full time.  Getting to this point has taken an incredible amount of faith, working and preparing  products and services that people may or may not buy.  Doesn't matter, I'm obeying the calling and am too busy "doing" to worry about it.   On the journey, I've had the blessing of letting go of my past to make room to create my future.  I'm learning how to live in the now, besides, now is the only time I can have faith or do anything about anything.   I have faith 2014 is going to be AWESOME and I can't wait to share the results with you!

Happy New Year!