July 25th, 2022
by Tyler Curtis
by Tyler Curtis
Jesus says our faith is like a mustard seed – given the right conditions, it can grow so large that it uproots trees and moves mountains.

by Seth Botts
Fitness has been a lifelong struggle for me. My whole life I have wanted to be a fit person. Not only have I wished that I would value my health more, I have honestly vainly wanted to look a certain way. The problem is, I have never really been willing to take the action to achieve those goals.
Before the pandemic I had made the decision to be more intentional with the way that I ate and had even started consistently using a gym membership for the first time in my life. When the pandemic led to my gym shutting down, I decided to take a “no excuses” approach and took up running. Although I couldn’t initially run a mile without stopping for a breather, I made a commitment to myself to stick to it. I talked to friends who I knew were runners (and actually listened to their advice). I dedicated myself to running at least a mile every day for a year; a task that didn’t come easy with the rough winter of 2020-2021. I even followed a training plan and eventually was able to run two marathons and two ultra marathons.
Before the pandemic I had made the decision to be more intentional with the way that I ate and had even started consistently using a gym membership for the first time in my life. When the pandemic led to my gym shutting down, I decided to take a “no excuses” approach and took up running. Although I couldn’t initially run a mile without stopping for a breather, I made a commitment to myself to stick to it. I talked to friends who I knew were runners (and actually listened to their advice). I dedicated myself to running at least a mile every day for a year; a task that didn’t come easy with the rough winter of 2020-2021. I even followed a training plan and eventually was able to run two marathons and two ultra marathons.
What does growing through faith look like?
Clearly my growth wasn’t linear, and there were countless days that I simply didn’t want to do it anymore – but I persisted. I had faith that if I showed up for myself, I could achieve my goals and ambitions. But let me tell you, when I couldn’t even finish a mile without walking, that faith was shaky at best. I had seen others do it, and I was determined to do something that I had previously thought was impossible, even if it seemed pretty impractical at the time.
One of my favorite things about the Bible is that it is so darn relevant to almost any situation in my life. Jesus talks about the faith of a mustard seed five different times in the Bible (Matthew 13:31-32, Mathew 17:20, mark 4:30-32, Luke 17:5-6 and Luke 13-18-19). In these passages he refers to faith that starts out as the tiniest of seeds, but given the right conditions our faith can grow to a point where it uproots mulberry trees and moves mountains. For me it is so easy to stop there and wait around for God to do all the work.
One of my favorite things about the Bible is that it is so darn relevant to almost any situation in my life. Jesus talks about the faith of a mustard seed five different times in the Bible (Matthew 13:31-32, Mathew 17:20, mark 4:30-32, Luke 17:5-6 and Luke 13-18-19). In these passages he refers to faith that starts out as the tiniest of seeds, but given the right conditions our faith can grow to a point where it uproots mulberry trees and moves mountains. For me it is so easy to stop there and wait around for God to do all the work.
Expanding the answer -- we have to act on the solution
Here is the thing about faith: faith alone is often horribly insufficient. In James 2:14-26 Jesus’s brother James expands on the thought of faith alone with his famous statement “Faith without works is dead.” James tells us that faith is “made complete with faithful actions.” I can sit around and pray and believe that I have a future as the world's premier fitness guru, but until I show up for myself, I will only continue to regress on my fitness journey. God is the architect of my life, but I have to be the builder and put in the work. My 33 years of failed attempts at fitness is evidence of this. If I am not willing to put in the work, God’s best laid plans go to waste.
Sadly, there are a lot of things that I can have faith in that I am just not ready or willing to take action on. Until then, I will take them to God in prayer. “God grant me the willingness to…” has been a frequent first step of action. Asking for the willingness relieves my burden of negative self-talk and doubt, and invites God to work in and through me to fully achieve the vision for growth that God has for me.
Sadly, there are a lot of things that I can have faith in that I am just not ready or willing to take action on. Until then, I will take them to God in prayer. “God grant me the willingness to…” has been a frequent first step of action. Asking for the willingness relieves my burden of negative self-talk and doubt, and invites God to work in and through me to fully achieve the vision for growth that God has for me.
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Archive
2025
January
Happy New Year // M-Note 1.4.2025Cancel the Noise // M-Note 1.11.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 1The Beloved Community // M-Note 01.18.2025Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 2What A Coincidence // M-Note 1.25.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 3Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 4The Original Influencer // M-Note 2.1.25
February
The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 1Exploring New Sites…And You’re Invited // M-Note 2.8.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 2Uncovering Implicit Bias // M-Note 2.15.2025A "Flurry" of Activity // M-Note 2.22.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 3The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 4
March
Beloved Community Action Steps // M-Note 3.1.25Vulnerability & Wilderness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 1Trusting the Spirit's Lead | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 2Courageous Connection | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 3What's Your Emotional IQ? // M-Note 3.8.25The Spaces Between Us | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 4Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 1Jesus Weeps With You | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 5When Sadness Lingers | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 6Lurking in the Shadows | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 7Cycles of Life and Death | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 8Inked in Memory | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 9The Void of Grief | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 10Sending Forth // M-Note 3.15.25Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 2Journey Not Alone | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 11Friends Along the Way | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 12The Loneliness of Fear | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 13Not Through With You Yet | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 14Clinging to Hope | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 15Bring It To The King | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 16Pray When Unsteady | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 17Courage to Stand for Faith | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 18Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 3A Holy Rage | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 19Focus on What is Holy | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 20Fast for Justice and Kindness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 21The World is Harsh and Beautiful | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 22I Feel Sorry for Jesus | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 23Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 4i flipped a table once | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 24Ain’t Got Nothin’ | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 25Spring Forward in Faith // M-Note 3.29.25Visio Divina | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 26Everlasting Joy Sealed in Your Heart | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 27
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
May
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24My (Hypothetical) Commencement Address // M-Note 5.18.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 4
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