Friday, October 21:Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30, Matthew 15:29-31, Mark 7:31-37, Matthew 15:32-39, Mark 8:1-10, Matthew 16:1-4, Mark 8:11-13, Matthew 16:5-12, Mark 8:14-26, Matthew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30, Luke 9:18-21, Matthew 16:21-28, Mark 8:31-9:1, Luke 9:22-27 ~ Pamela

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is

Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30, Matthew 15:29-31, Mark 7:31-37, Matthew 15:32-39, Mark 8:1-10, Matthew 16:1-4, Mark 8:11-13, Matthew 16:5-12, Mark 8:14-26, Matthew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30, Luke 9:18-21, Matthew 16:21-28, Mark 8:31-9:1, Luke 9:22-27

Do I have the kind of faith that believes that mountains can be moved?

Sometimes I don't think so.

Today's passage starts off with demonstrations of great faith. A persistent Gentile woman is granted healing for her possessed daughter because she believed Jesus could heal. Many sick, lame, blind, crippled, and mute were healed by their faith.A deaf man was given his hearing and his ability to speak. The disciples took baskets in faith and distributed food to 4000+ people after watching Jesus bless 7 loaves and a few fish. God is the God of the impossible.

So often we are like the Pharisees and the Sadducees and we demand a sign to give us faith...even with signs all around... but God desires us to have a faith in the things unseen. 

Peter knew who Jesus was. We know who Jesus is. We know what he did and what he can do. Our faith is tested but we need to know that we serve a God that can, and will, do the impossible.

Yesterday, I did a devotion with my "family group" (each teacher has a group made up of a few students from each class) and I shared this lesson with my group about God doing the impossible.

I asked my students if they thought I could take a sheet of paper and cut a hole with scissors that was big enough for me to step through. This appears impossible. Lots of situations in our life may seem that way. Of course, the all agreed that it would be impossible for me to cut a hole big enough for me to step through. I then showed them the plan at the back of the page and how God already has a plan all worked out and if we follow it the way God designed it then God would make the impossible possible. As I cut out the lines, it became clear that I would not only be able to step into it, but I could pass my whole body into the hole that was created through my cutting along the plan. 

Nothing is impossible with God. The sick can be healed, the blind can see, the lame can walk, the demons can be cast out, the deaf can hear, the hungry can be fed, and the Son of God can be made human and die for us. We can live in heaven forever even if we are sinners because we have been bought by Christ. Seems impossible, but it's true. We serve an amazing God!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:28-36, Matthew 17:14-20, Mark 9:14-29, Luke 9:37-45, Matthew 17:22-23, Mark 9:30-32, Matthew 17:24-27, Matthew 18:1-5, Mark 9:33-37, Luke 9:46-48, Mark 9:38-41, Luke 9:49-50, Matthew 18:6-10, Mark 9:42-50, Matthew 18:12-35, John 7:1-9

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