We were on an old country road with nothing but green pastures on either side of us heading to College Station, TX to watch our daughter play for a State title.  Ryan leaned in and said, “I really don’t know how I’m going to handle all of this pressure.” I was so glad  he said it because I didn’t know how I was going to handle it either. We had watched countless tennis matches in our day, but none of them seemed to measure up to this.

Earlier that very morning I had studied a passage of scripture I had not ever focused on before, and I could feel God’s intimate whispers encouraging me to BELIEVE. I felt the nudge to share it with Ryan on our drive.

“Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. ‘Where did this man get these things? they asked. ‘What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them, ‘Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.’ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was AMAZED at their lack of faith.” Mark 6:1-6

I love how my study bible breaks down these verses.

“Jesus was teaching effectively and wisely, but the people of his hometown saw him as only a carpenter. “He’s no better than we are – he’s just a common laborer,” they said. They were offended that others could be impressed by Jesus and follow him.”

“Jesus could have done greater miracles in Nazareth, but he chose not to because of the people’s pride and unbelief. The miracles he did had little effect on the people because they did not accept his message or believe that he was from God. Therefore, Jesus looked elsewhere, seeking those who would respond to his miracles and message.”

After I read these words to my Ryan, I looked at him with tears in my eyes and said, “I don’t want our Jesus to not perform a miracle because of our unbelief.”

Listen guys, our Lord is not equal to who we are. He is so much bigger! We cannot confine him to our space and likeness. I knew that in order for our baby girl to walk away with a State Medal it was going to take a miracle because she would have to rely on HIS STRENGTH to be hers. I had to believe that He would do that for her. He is able to do ALL things, and I witnessed it with my own eyes this very week.

In the semi-finals match Catherine had come to the end of herself. She even verbalized to us on the turn over that she couldn’t do it. They were losing. They were tired. The heat index on the courts was 115 degrees. They had been playing in the heat all day. I could see that she needed Jesus’s help. I silently prayed for HIM to be her strength. “Give her wisdom Lord, help her to see the play. Help her to BELIEVE!” Right after that prayer our girl hit an alley shot winner that began to turn the match around. Every point gained momentum. Her energy began to come alive and she and her partner were amazing to watch. They truly were shining, and He had given them the strength to do it.

They won that match in a 3rd set tie break. The victory was sweet. You can see the tears in her eyes after the win in this picture. They had made it to the finals after an amazing come back from behind WIN! All of us were starting to BELIEVE! Our FAITH was moving the heart of our God to perform a miracle that only He could do. Have you ever had faith to move God’s heart? When we BELIEVE in HIM and HIS abilities to do the impossible, we stir HIS heart to move on our behalf.

What’s stopping you from BELIEVING today? I’m not sure what miracle you are in need of…some of you are in need of something so much bigger than a state medal. Some of you are needing healing from a terminal disease. Some of you are needing healing from a broken relationship. Some of you are in bondage of addiction that has held you in chains for too long and you think that you will never be set free. Let me encourage you today to pray to him for help with your unbelief. Our JESUS is not just a carpenter. He is our SAVIOR and LORD who reigns on high.  Nothing is too difficult for him. He came to set the captives FREE! BELIEVE!

2018 AAAA Girls Doubles State Champions – Georgia Rice and Catherine Coe #gloryup