Mustard Seed Moments Archives | Postcards Magazine

Come and See

Postcards — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 15:25:11 +0000

Postcards
April 29, 2024
Postcards

“Come and see,” and “Come, see a man…”

These words are found in John 1:46 and John 4:29. The first reference was an invitation from Philip to Nathanael, and the second was an invitation from a Samaritan woman to her townspeople.

These simple words had such an impact on the lives of so many. Just look at the responses of Nathanael, “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God” (John 1:49) and “…and many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, ‘Come see a man that told me all that I ever did.’” John 4:39.

Notice, Philip and the woman at the well had just met this Jesus. They had no formal training, and they did not present a plan of salvation…they just said, “Come and see.”

We can extend an invitation to anyone at anytime, by simply saying, “Come and see what God is doing.” We do not have to profess to know it all or to understand the mysteries of God.

When we say, “Come and see,” we loose the Holy Spirit to work his mighty work.

Who can you invite to “Come and see” today?

The post Come and See appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

Are We Dishwasher Safe?

Ruth Fields — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 14:21:36 +0000

Postcards
April 1, 2024
Postcards

When my husband retired in 2023, he offered to help me with some of the many household tasks I had been doing alone. Because I hate to unload the dishwasher, I suggested he might want to take over this task. I congratulated myself for being so clever. What I soon discovered, however, is that hubs didn’t know where everything in the kitchen was supposed to go. When in doubt, he put items in whatever spots seemed handy. After he unloaded the dishwasher, I often had to go on Easter egg hunts to find things in the kitchen. Clearly, we needed to talk. My intent is not to bash my brave, hard-working, smart, funny, loyal spouse; however, his dishwasher-unloading technique reminds me of a much greater issue. We humans like to do things our own way. We take matters into our own hands, sometimes bending God’s laws to our own benefit. We make excuses, forgetting that God’s rules do not shift with time. (“I the Lord do not change.” – Malachi 3:6.) Once I started digging, I found many verses that warn us to stay true to God’s Word. For example, Deuteronomy 5:32 says, “So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left.” I love the way the Bible, with its poetic language, often compares our Christian experience to a walk. The Bible tells us that Noah “walked with God,” and we all know the rest of the story. King Solomon, considered the wisest person in the world during his lifetime on earth, used a similar analogy in Proverbs 4:26-27: “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” This is (of course) easier said than done, but I believe we should all strive to maintain a straight path. I’m sure my husband will agree (as long as I don’t ask him to change the way he unloads the dishwasher). Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6

The post Are We Dishwasher Safe? appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

The Prime Factor

Wes Altom — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 15:20:32 +0000

Postcards
March 1, 2024
Postcards

I saw a meme the other day that really resonated. It said,

“I’ll never forget how my father told me, ‘When God put a calling on your life, He already factored in your stupidity.’ That’s the most reassuring thing I’ve ever heard.”

This is something that could be said by a lot of fathers—and, assuredly—an accurate sentiment from the Father of us all. Whether ignorance, stubbornness, pride, fear—or just plain gravity and inertia that work to keep us held down and not moving forward—the obstacles before us are much less powerful than the power of God, who came to live in us and through us. So don’t let “stupid is” keep you from working toward “stupid does.”

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:8-10

The post The Prime Factor appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

Have You Ever Been to Egypt?

Wes Altom — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 20:30:39 +0000

Postcards
February 1, 2024
Postcards

Perhaps a better question is: Are You There Now?

The Israelites spent over 400 years in Egyptian captivity, culminated by a rescue which included ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea as they fled. More than one author has noted that, in spite of these miracles involved, it was probably much easier for God to get the Israelites out of Egypt than it was for Him to get Egypt out of the Israelites. Four centuries of being treated like and told their only value as a slave was in how many bricks they could produce certainly took a toll on their self-image. God sought to repair this partly through Sabbath, which reminded them to rest periodically and remember who they are, and through handing down the creation story found in the first chapter of Genesis, which tells and reminds that mankind is the crowning jewel of His GOOD creation. Many of us may be seemingly trapped in an Egyptian-like culture today—one all wound up in production. It’s all wound up in whether or not I’m skinny enough, I’m smart enough, I have enough possessions, I can impress the right people, I’ve got the right degree, I’ve made it in the right career. We’re slaves to a system of brick-making that we don’t even understand. We need to embrace the assurance from Genesis 1; also, we should each find time to be still and reflect…so we can remember who (and whose) we are. One ticket out of Egypt, please. God saw all that He had made and it was VERY GOOD, and there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (from Genesis 1, immediately after the creation of mankind)

The post Have You Ever Been to Egypt? appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

Epiphany: God’s Wake-up Call

Linda W. Perkins — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 16:44:10 +0000

Postcards
January 1, 2024
Postcards

Epiphany. In church tradition, that’s the name of the feast celebrated on January 6 to remember the day the Three Wise Men (also known as the Magi) visited the Christ child. It officially marks the end of the Christmas season and begins Carnival season in New Orleans. But why the name “epiphany”?

The epiphany I am most familiar with is an “ah-ha” moment, or a sudden revelation or insight, as in, “I just had an epiphany!”

I can only imagine the surprise of the Magi when–after looking at biblical prophesy, current events, and the unique astronomical configuration of the stars–they concluded the Jewish Messiah had been born. Wow, what an epiphany that was!

I like to think of an epiphany as God’s wake-up call that spurs us to action. It’s almost as if we are asleep with our eyes closed, then something happens and pop! We jolt out of our slumber, sit straight up with eyes wide open, and see what it is He is calling us to do.

When Esther became queen and Haman plotted against the Jews, she had an epiphany that she was in the unique position to save them. Centuries later, fishermen and tax collectors would suddenly realize that Jesus of Nazareth was more than just a carpenter, and they would drop what they were doing to follow Him. Even those who scoffed at Jesus during his earthly lifetime would have encounters with the risen Christ and become changed forever.

Over my lifetime, I have had a number of wake-up calls leading me to a deeper trust in God and to a life of greater obedience. In some cases, I was called to take action; in others, I was called to be patient and still, and to know He was in control of the situation I was facing.

God is not silent. He speaks to us in many ways. The question is, are we listening? What epiphany have you had recently that is calling you to go deeper with God? If you have unanswered questions about your life, pray for your eyes to be opened to the truth of what God is trying to tell you. According to Scripture (James 1:5) He will always grant us wisdom when that is our prayer.

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?’” – Esther 4:14 (NIV)

“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. They their eyes were opened and they recognized him… – Luke 24: 30-31 (NIV)

The post Epiphany: God’s Wake-up Call appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

Blooms in the Desert

Linda W. Perkins — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 17:23:01 +0000

Postcards
November 30, 2023
Postcards

This year, the intense summer heat scorched many delicate plants, especially the flowering ones. You can imagine my surprise when I noticed the Spanish dagger plant in my backyard had a big, beautiful bloom on it!

Out of curiosity, I began researching desert plants. What makes them be able to survive – and even boom – in an environment that would kill many others? I learned some plants have shallow roots that are spread out wide, so they catch even the smallest amount of moisture from dew or occasional rainfall. Others, like mesquite trees, have roots that go down deep, where they are not as vulnerable to changing surface temperatures and evaporation.

Our lives can sometimes feel like a desert. How do we become refreshed so that we can bloom again?

The answer is found in the secrets of the desert plants. When we reach out to others, we find a support system that will carry us through the hard times and give us more opportunities to experience joy. And when we are rooted in God’s word and our relationship with Jesus, God gives us the strength to keep going under any circumstance, because we find our soul’s nourishment in Him. We can stand strong, not only surviving, but thriving in even the harshest climate.

How healthy is your root system today? Is it up to the task of supporting you in what you may be facing in life?

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

“The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.” – Isaiah 35:1-2a

The post Blooms in the Desert appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

For Every Action…

Wes Altom — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 17:54:23 +0000

Postcards
October 31, 2023
Postcards

One of the flaws in human nature, at least in our culture and time, seems to be a tendency to be more reactive than proactive. I consider this a flaw–because we are created in His image, we too often fail to take action as His hands and feet; we don’t effectively embrace the example He so often sets by actively pursuing and proactively showering us with blessings.

Being habitually reactive can lead to being reaction-ary. Look no further than social media for your daily overdose of examples. By their nature, social media posts are designed to gain a “reaction,” and this inevitably and quickly seems to deteriorate into reactionary bickering of some form or another. Some seem to be eagerly awaiting an opportunity to pounce on another with the extremity of their response.

This brought to my mind the words of Proverbs 29:18: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” It makes sense to my logical brain that having vision would be a prerequisite to being proactive in following the example set for us.

Here are some additional translations of this verse to digest and mediate on:

If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. MSG

Where there is no message from God, people don’t control themselves. But blessed is the one who obeys wisdom’s instruction. NIRV

Where there is no vision from God, the people run wild, but those who adhere to God’s instruction know genuine happiness. VOICE

God, bring us to realize the only actions and reactions we control are our own. Help us to embrace a vision that compels us to act in positive ways, rather than react in negative ones.

The post For Every Action… appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

Home Sweet Home

Linda W. Perkins — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 17:03:00 +0000

Postcards
September 1, 2023
Postcards

Most of us have heard the story of the prodigal son, told by Jesus to illustrate the depths of God’s love for us. Told from the father’s point of view, it is a story of grace and forgiveness–a story that promises a “welcome home” celebration for repentant sinners, even the worst among us.

What if the story were told from the perspective of the prodigal? For those who think you can’t relate, let’s compare his journey to summer vacation. When we head out, all we can think about is our imagined destination. Depending on where we’re going, it may be the cool island breezes, the quaint stores and restaurants, or the bright city lights calling out to us.

What we don’t think about are traffic jams, long lines at the airport or amusement park, and strange tastes and smells. We wonder how locals manage to drive up and down steep mountain roads that don’t seem wide enough for two-way travel. We find ourselves frustrated when there is no air conditioning, stores close early, and cab drivers don’t speak English. Perhaps it’s raining at the beach or the nearby forests are on fire. Suddenly, in the middle of our dream vacation, we begin to sound like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. “There’s no place like home,” we realize.

In many ways, we are all like the prodigal. If we knew all the obstacles we would face in life, we might never take a step forward! As youths, we step out of the comfort of our parents’ homes and are excited to take on the world. We know there will be unexpected things we don’t like, but we don’t want to hear it. We just go. But somewhere along the way, we get tired…and the very place we longed to leave – home – is the one place we really want to be.

The good news is with God, we always have a loving home to return to. We may leave Him, but He never leaves us. He gives us a place of peace we can return to every day. And if we find ourselves wandering away, we don’t have to worry. All we have to do is turn around and He will show us the path back to Him, back to home sweet home.

“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” – Isaiah 32:18

“Come all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

The post Home Sweet Home appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

Sounds from the Seaside

Postcards — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 17:05:00 +0000

Postcards
August 1, 2023
Postcards

…Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Mark 1:17

The words of Jesus above were spoken to some fishermen. They were spoken as Jesus walked by the sea. Ever notice how many things in the life of Jesus happened by the sea?

These men had a trade; they were fishermen, something they perhaps had learned from their fathers. It was the way they made a living. It was how they put food on the table. They knew their job well. Why would they want to trade a way of life they knew so well for something they didn’t know?

“Come after me!” Was this a request or a demand? Or was it an invitation? Let’s call it an invitational challenge He empowered them to take. What would they get? At this point, all they were receiving were His words, “I will make you.” They left on His words. They left on His promise. They followed, and what an adventurous journey they took. They spent three years with their creator and were re-created into fishers of men. Their life with Jesus was an adventure they would cherish for eternity.

For us today, we get to share in that journey and adventure, reliving them every time we read the Gospels. I find something new and exciting every time. Start a count on the seaside happenings in the life of Jesus (if for nothing else, just to see how many you can find). Then listen to the wind and pounding waves…above the roar, you just might hear the voice of Jesus say, “Come after me.”

The post Sounds from the Seaside appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

Sounds from the Seaside

Postcards — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 17:40:57 +0000

…Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Mark 1:17

The words of Jesus above were spoken to some fishermen. They were spoken as Jesus walked by the sea. Ever notice how many things in the life of Jesus happened by the sea?

The post Sounds from the Seaside appeared first on Postcards Magazine.