Happy Mother’s Day weekend HIM! 14 HIM posted at Aegis for a M.O.T.H.E.R. of a Beatdown!
Warm-O Rama
20 SSH IC
20 Cherry Pickers IC
20 Goofballs IC
20 Windmills IC
Patriot Run to Woodstock’s Building (long route)
The Thang
Merkins (50 IC)
Overhead Press (50 OYO)
Toy Soldier Set (50 LBC, 25 E2K each side, 15 Big Boys)
Hip Slappers (20 OYO – 10 each side)
E2K (25 each side OYO)
Rock-Paper-Scissors (Pair up 10 Rounds-Low Plank winner does number of round of Merkins loser does number of round of Burpees tie both do 5 Merkins)
Mosey to Park by Presbyterian Church
Merkins (15 OYO)
Overhead Clap (15 OYO)
Toy Soldier Mini Set (15 LBC, 10 E2K each side, 5 Big Boys OYO)
Hip Circles (10 each direction OYO) side note, these are still gay!
E2K (15 each side OYO)
Rock-Paper-Scissors (Round 10 Only)
Mosey back to Circle for a round of Mary
Third F
Happy day before Mother’s Day! Ephesians 6:2-3 says 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” God does not tell us to honor our mothers when they are right, He says to honor our mothers, period. That means no matter what! Some of us have good mothers, some of us have not so good mothers. Regardless, we are to honor our mothers.
20 Arm Circles forward, 20 backwards, 20 seal claps, 20 overhead claps
Cherry Pickers 20 IC
Imperial Squat Walker 20 IC
Mountain Man Poopers 20 IC
Hairy Rockets 15 IC
Slow lateral stretch 10 IC
The Thang:
Mosey to Alley
Lt. Dan to stop sign
Mosey across street, jailbreak to corner
Mike Tysons 25 OYO
The People’s chair with overhead clap 25 OYO
The American Hammer 25 IC
Mosey to grassy park
Decline Merkins 25 OYO
Balance Lunges 15 each leg
Marionettes 30 total 10 each direction
Mosey to playground
Dips 50 OYO
Pendulum Squats 10 each leg IC
Toy Soldier Set
50 crunches
15 Pretzel Sticks each side
10 Big Boys
F3 Message Mark Munoz –
With determination and faith, you will eventually rise above, succeeding despite the odds. For God gives us life; the rest is up to us to accept His challenge. God created us to serve others with passion and presence.
Through wrestling, I learned the true meaning of life. My father said “If you join, you will wrestle the first day, the last day, and every day. You will not quit.” I lasted one practice, so after getting taken down, pummeled by cross faces, and turned in half nelsons and wings, I was ready to give up. Dad found me sitting at home the next day instead of at practice. I told him: “I don’t want to wrestle anymore.” Stoically, he reminded me of the commitment I had made. Leading me by the arm, he returned me to a place I would learn to love. Wrestling fostered a mentality of excellence whereby I was on honor roll all four years and made the National Honor Society. Although I rose to the second ranked MMA fighter in the world, I never forgot that God created us to serve and to love others more than ourselves. My Reign youth wrestling club is rooted in the belief that as God reigns, we must learn how to reign over our competition.
Champions are not defined by wins, but by how many times you pick yourself up after a loss. Rise above adversity. Embrace the grind. Love what you do and do what you love.
As a society, we must learn to love with one another with love and compassion. Truly listen to and know each other’s story. Hear how they grew up and what they had to overcome. Share with them that none of us is perfect; all we can do is live the best life. Live, learn, and get better. The process of learning is a lifelong journey. If you learn how to handle adversity, how to rise like a Phoenix from the ashes, you will succeed in getting through the most difficult moments in your life, with your heart full and your mind ready to confidently take on whatever life confronts you with next
Mosey to Masonic Building
Plyo Merkins 25 OYO
Iron Mikes 10 IC
Flutter Kicks 25 IC
Easter Day Prayer
Dear God,
We come before you on this special day, celebrating the resurrection of your son, Jesus Christ. We give thanks for the sacrifice that he made for us, and for the love that you have shown us through him. As we gather with friends and family, may we be reminded of the hope and joy that Easter brings.
We pray for those who are suffering or in need, that they may find comfort and peace in your love. May your blessings be upon us all as we go forth in faith, hope, and love.
Warm-a-Rama Side shuffle around circle, switch directions halfway 15 seal jacks i/c 10 screaming lunges per leg oyo 15 seal waves i/c 10 mountain man pooper i/c High knees around circle, switch to butt kickers halfway
3rd F Play The Man • Devotional
Will Power!
Mosey to field by the church
Ultimate frisbee 3 bombjacks for team with dropped disc Scored exercises were; Screaming lunges Diamond merkins Merkins Frog burpees Burpees Flutter kicks
Mosey back to the circle 25 gas pumpers i/c, slowed tempo from 15-20
YHC jumped in to fill the gap as requested by Bunt who was out of town. 23 PAX won #thatfirstbattle and posted for yet another multi-station workout, which YHC confesses may have had too many moving parts. Nonetheless, those who did the work got “gassed”–says Quattro. Several PAX dressed in red to honor Cardinal from F3Knoxville, who actually collapsed and died during his VQ just yesterday, 1/11. (Forgive Streudel’s laughter in Name-O-Rama, he wasn’t aware why the PAX next to him announced “Cardinal!“) Cardinal leaves behind his M, Andrea, and 2 young children, Clay and Evie. Our hearts go out to the family and F3 PAX who were with him when he died. There are no guarantees that we’ll have our next breath…let’s live like it! And let’s be prepared for eternity!
As mentioned, there may have been too many moving parts. Still, here’s how it all went down…
WARM-O-RAMA:
SSH – 51 IC
Imperial Squat Walker – 15 IC
Tempo Merkins – 10 IC
Italian Night Club – 51 IC
Cherry Pickers – 15 IC
>>>>>>Mosey to H.O.B.
THE THANGITY THANG: (WORKOUT RULES below)
PAIR UP for Stations: Run counter-clockwise aroun stations, stopping to do the workour (if bags are available)
CONE #1 • 40lb sandbags – 40 OH Presses, then go to next station; if there’s no sandbag, keep running all the way around…
CONE #2 • 40lb sandbags – 40 Sandbag Curls, go to next…
CONE #3 • Long Sit/Cross Legs – 30 reps, Single Count (Grab a card, do exercise, before moving on. KEEP YOUR CARDS!)
CONE #4 • 40lb GORUCK BAGS – 10 Sandbag Burpees (clean & toss), go to next…
CONE #5 • 20lb Medicine Balls – 10 OH Squat Thrust & Catch or Slams, go to next.
CONE #6 • X’s & O’s – 25 Single count (Grab a card, do exercise, before moving on. KEEP YOUR CARDS!)
CLOSING GAME OF WAR: 2 lines/2 teams: I. De. Clare. War! Winners: No exercise Losers: Exercise on winning card.
OVERALL WORKOUT RULES:
Move in Pairs
Spread out among 6 stations/directions are in chalk at each CONE.
GOAL: Keep moving! Rule: If you see a PAX walking you may Grab a card from the deck, charge them with it (they do exercise) AND you get to exchange it with and keep the highest card from their hand (no exercise charged to you!)
If there’s no bags at a station, rock on! (Keep running till you’re able come around and complete all stations.)
After each time at the ab stations (3&6), grab card from deck, do the exercise, but keep your cards to the end. Try to get 3 cards.
Once you’ve done a station you’ve completed that station. By-pass it if already done. DO NOT throw down actual sandbags!
Bonus: RETURN TO AO WITH ALL THE COUPONS, AND WITH WATER IN MOUTH (Spit it out/Swallow it no Burpees!) Due to time no Burpees were rewarded, however, several PAX did them after BOM. Growing success—most of the PAX succeeded at this crazy exercise invented by the Apache Indians (who ran great distances while holding water in their mouths)
3rdF shared prior to the round of I Declare War:
Navy Seal, Admiral McRaven, told this training story during a commencement address:
He said, “Every day during training you were challenged with multiple physical events. Long runs. Long swims. Obstacles courses. Hours of calisthenics, something designed to test your mettle. Every event had standards, times you had to meet. If you failed to meet those times, those standards, your name was posted on a list. And at the end if the day those on the list were invited to a circus.
A circus was 2 hours of additional calisthenics, designed to wear you down, to break your spirit, and to force you to quit. No one wanted a circus. A circus meant for that day that you didn’t measure up. A circus meant more fatigue, and more fatigue meant that the following day would be more difficult, and more circuses were likely. But at some time during training everyone, everyone, made the circus list.
An interesting thing happened to those who were constantly on the list: Over time those students who did 2 hrs. of extra calisthenics got stronger and stronger; the pain of the circuses built inner strength and physical resiliency.
Life is filled with circuses. You will fail. You will likely fail often. It will be painful. It will be discouraging. At times it will test you to your very core. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR WORLD—don’t be afraid of the circuses!”
In 1 Cor. 9:24-27 Paul used this kind of physical training as an illustration to tell of something of greater importance—living for Christ.
“Don’t you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (More important.) Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I beat my body [discipline] and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.”
The Bible gives this allegory to tell us that to cross the finish line effectively it’s going to take work. Not to earn it, but it just takes work AND because, like any athlete or any man, there will be times when we just don’t feel like putting in the work [out]. T.D. Jakes reminds us, “Your feelings will never cooperate with your dreams. Beat your feelings into captivity. Because when you beat your feelings into captivity, that is what discipline is!”
This sounds like Admiral McRaven, except that it stretches across the spectrum from physical training to the things we face in our everyday world… “Life is filled with circuses. You will fail. You will likely fail often. It will be painful. It will be discouraging. At times it will test you to your very core.” IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR HOME, YOUR WORKPLACE, YOUR COMMUNITY, AND YOUR WORLD—IF YOU WANT TO BE A H.I.M., don’t be afraid of the circuses!” [Anticipate and expect to do the extra work]
COT:
Name-O-RAMA – 23 PAX
Announcements: SLT Meeting tonight @ Tequila Real, 6:30 pm; Roving RuckF3st Friday stepping off at Georgetown Circle in the Gloom; Quattro need girls clothing and school supplies for trip to girls orphanage
Prayers: Quattro as he’s preparing for mission trip to El Salvador; Cardinal’s M and children and the PAX with Cardinal when he died during the workout.
Honored to stand in for Bunt in his absence, thankful for the opportunity to Q
Bolt 45’s IC (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down. 15 squats halfway to full down. 15 full squats.
Cherry Pickers – 15 IC
Hydraulic Squats – 10 (6 Count)
The Thang
Round #1 – Karaoke around the circle switching directions at halfway and complete 10 hand release merkins. Round #2 – Nur around the circle and complete 20 LBC’’s. Round #3 – ass kickers around the circle and complete Aiken legs – 10 squats, 10 box jumps, 10 lunges (5 each Leg), 10 Mike Tyson’s (5 each Leg). Round #4 – high knees around the circle and complete ATM’s – 10 alternating “merkin” shoulder taps, 10 tempo merkins, and 10 fast merkins. Round # 5 – Lieutenant Dan around the circle and complete 10 four count mountain climbers. Round #6 – Toy Soldier march around the circle and complete a set of 11’s. 1 big boy to 1 merkin, two big boys to 2 merkins ascending to 11 of each. Round #7 – mosey 10 laps around the circle and complete ascending Burp & Merks up to 10 merkins. The twist is we are going to repeat each of the previous exercises before starting the next lap around the circle.
F3 Message – 01/07/23
Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust. Please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.
Warm-a-Rama 13 seal jacks i/c 20 mountain man pooper i/c 23 Moroccan night club i/c 13 seal waves i/c 10 hip circles oyo each direction 23 Windmill i/c
The Thang Every PAX grab 1 large coupon and 2 small coupons
Tabada 20 second on, 10 second off = 1 round 10 rounds of 6 excercises Curls – palms up, hammer Flys (shoulders on large coupon) – palms up, palms in Squats – 6″, wide Bench press (shoulders on large coupon) – elbows in, palms together Holding chair chest squeeze – extended, close Abs – gas pumpers, lbcs
3rd F
2023 is about discipline Decide what you want Write that down Make a plan Work on it EVERY SINGLE DAY Your competition isn’t other people Its YOUR PROCRASTINATION It’s the knowledge you neglect Compete against that Conquer yourself Master the universe within
Round 1 at each station: 40 reps each exercise (lap and glow stick swap)
Round 2: repeat with 30 reps (lap and stick)
Round 3: repeat with 20 reps(lap and stick)
Round 4: repeat with 30 reps (lap and stick)
3rd F:
While in Church last week, some guy talking up front made a profound statement that honestly made me feel a lot better about the Christmas season, and my thoughts concerning the gift of Jesus all together. He said something to the tune of… “Jesus is the light during this season, and throughout every other season.” Id been thinking about that same thought a lot leading up to Christmas and Id been making that connection a lot ever since our family committed ourselves to following Jesus during our baptism in August. To be honest, leading up to the baptism I had this sense of complacent calm that after we publicly pronounced our faith as a family… the commitment was openly made and the path with Jesus would just appear naturally, easily, and fluidly. While some of what I thought would happen was true, what took me by surprise was the overwhelming challenge that would hit me soon after. This path was going to be rewarding in so many ways, but it would not be without it’s hurdles, because the road bumps that I once ignored and dodged, or solved by taking the easy solution, now presented them selves as an obstacle that I had to handle in a way that He would be proud of. Take for example us… we’re all members of a society in which we’re trying to do the best we can. And with that, we have a huge responsibility to be a faithful role model. And to piggy back off whirlybird… your kids (and everybody else around you both old and young) do watch you. When you cuss when you smash a finger, when you lose your temper in traffic, when you tell your wife you love her and make her tea in the morning, when you own up to a mistake, and even when you think their eyes are closed with you during prayer… They’re always watching to see what they can learn from you. The big questions is, what are you showing them? From that knowledge I think it’s important that we own, accept, and embrace the challenge of not only knowing about the Lord, but truly walking so instep with Him so that anybody who’s watching knows exactly where you stand, and the sense of security and resolve that a Christ centered life gives you. Coupled with that incredible challenge is understanding and admitting that things aren’t always easy, we screw up… and we aren’t perfect. There’s an amazing path laid out in front of all of us that leads to forgiveness and salvation. That being said, the path that is laid out will lead you to challenges, tests worse than those in a 7th grade science class, and even some rejection and sadness that will test everything you stand for. The guidance and comfort that Jesus provides can give you what you need to conquer all of that. If it’s being a leader…. His words teach about that. If it’s guiding your children…. His lessons are perfect for that. If it’s being a better husband, there’s many important lessons to learn in the Bible, and if it’s commitment to a healthier life that serves as an example to our friends, family, and community (and possibly leads to a sweet patch) there’s wisdom about that too. So what stands in our way??? A commitment to taking that next step, embracing the challenge as one that YOU need to tackle, and walking with Him in order to meet your goal. Accept the challenge, own the challenge, embrace all of life’s hardships as a chance to learn and be blessed. Romans 8:18 reads “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” A new year is upon us, and if you happen to stumble on your path or fall into darkness in 2023, Get back up into the light and move forward even faster, because He’s got your back, and those who are watching you will follow.
Workout Continued…
Finish up as many reps at last station as possible with lap and stick swap in between.
19 PAX won that first battle and posted at CHOP to take part in YHC’s 200th Post celebration with a good old fashioned stations workout. Truth be told YHC’s been working on this one for weeks, brainstorming and adding items to the 3×5 card on his desk as his Q crept closer. Here’s the 411, the skinny, the low-down…
WARM-O-RAMA:
SSH – 25 IC
Seal Jack – 21 IC (or, something like that; got rep-jacked by PAX who wets himself every time SSH’s are called)
Swartzjack – 18 IC
Crab Flippers – 16 IC
THE THANG:
YHC took a brief to explain the stations
Partner Up – Work through stations at each cone.
The WHOLE Idea: KEEP MOVING! thru the 10 STATIONS: (not necessarily in this order, follow instructions on paper at each cone)
20 Abyss Merkins
Firehose Pulls (partner resist, cone to cone) Safety brief: Resisting… DO NOT faceplant partner!!
20 Partner Big Boys (interlock/hold ankles)
Chairman Lap: 0.27 miles
10 Swerkins
40 Curls for the Girls (w/Cindy)
10 Compass Squats (THE crowd pleaser of the day)
20 Patty Cake Merkins
Sandbag Steps (single leg over parking blocks – down & back)
10 Sandbag Burpees
CHANGE IT UP! Big Dice, 3 Options…
+ ROLL SNAKE EYES: No Burpees/No run
+ ANYTHING but SNAKE EYES = 18 Burpees/Long Run (a 0.50 mile mosey around the block)
+ NO ROLL, JUST RUN: Choose the hard thing & do it. No gambles, no negotiations. Just a choice.
3rdF Shared Near End of Workout
TRex asked on Saturday how we did over the past year in achieving our goals. Not many of us responded. Unfortunately that’s probably more often the case than not. In fact, many won’t set goals because they know they’re not likely to keep them, and, therefore, won’t even take the time to seriously think through setting goals.
I can’t say that Ruxpin’s goal was to post for 200 workouts this year. Personally, it was in the back of my mind and perhaps a small’ish goal, but YHC’s real goal was simply to be consistent. Consistency meant working out after being all night helping 2.0’s with issues and dead tired, working out with a head full of snot, working out in the rain, the snow, the hot, the cold, or working out when I just didn’t feel like getting out of the Fartsack. I said it before, and I’ll say it again, I post because I know you guys will be here. I honestly wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for knowing you’re all going to be here. The patch for 100 workouts or 200 workouts isn’t the real reward, CONSISTENCY itself is the reward! I love that F3 is a community of consistency! I heard the quote recently that, “Commitment gets you started, but consistency takes you to the finish.”
So maybe last year you committed to some goals, but came up short because you lacked the consistency to follow through. Keep in mind we have to live out consistency exactly where God has placed us. Maybe things got changed up in the past year. Doesn’t matter, live it out where God placed you. That may mean sacrifice, serving others, or stepping in somewhere to make a difference. (Somewhere uncomfortable and unfamiliar, but nonetheless where you’re called to make a difference.)
Consistency isn’t a once-and-done thing; not once a month, not once a week, but everyday…and sometimes even hourly or moment by moment, depending on the curveball life throws at you. I’ve talked about consistency in posting for workouts, and while consistency here is great and you will benefit by it in Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith—you become stronger, gain endurance, and lose weight; you build deeper and lasting camaraderie; and your belief system/faith is shored-up on a firmer foundation—all of these are only a microcosm of what’s going on in the real world. So consistency, as we’re heading into a 2023 may require making some changes or taking some new steps. Maybe not New Year’s resolutions per se, but commitment to more attainable goals. Goals which are not “possible”, but are better labeled instead as “probable.”
Make changes and take steps that’ll help you live consistently for the Lord, your family, your workplace and for the communities in which you live and serve. That way when crisis comes, your consistency will trump its challenges, there will be no need to panic. You’ll stay committed to family, job, friends, to achieving your goals…especially if you’re first commitment is to the Lord and consistency in your daily walk with Him. Start 2023 by intentionally renewing your commitment to Him. But don’t forget: Commitment only gets you started, consistency takes you to the finish! Be HIM and be consistent.
Each group finished up their last station(s) and YHC called it a wrap: (All made it through the stations at least once)
COT:
Number-Rama – 19 PAX said, “There’s a heatwave; it’s back up to 24 degrees so I’m posting!”
Name-O-Rama
Announcements: SLT (Shared Leadership Team meeting scheduled for Thu. evening Jan. 12, 2023 for strategic planning, etc. Details/Location/Agenda TBD). YHC honored to be among the 2 @f3firstState PAX to earn the 200 Posts patch. #earnednevergiven
Prayer: No specific personal; requests offered up besides prayer for those in our Armed Forces away from home over the Holidays and for our first responders.
Always love Q’ing. Thanx to all the men who stuck around to help put gear away.
22 HIM beat the fartsack and braved the crisp air this morning! Quattro, Sink-O, Whirlybird, Pick, Lunchable, Bolt, Splinter, Singlet, Wood, Biddie, Hoss, Woodstock, Bunt, Semi, TRex, Ruxpin, Chattahoochee, Chaufer, Chappie, Probe, FirePlex, and Yukon.
Warm-O-Rama
25 Side Straddle Hops (in cadence)
15 Windmill (in cadence)
20 Mountain Climbers (in cadence)
15 Cherry Pickers (in cadence)
15 Dancing Bears (in cadence)
15 Side Straddle Hops (in cadence)-to please a late arrival
Twin Patriot Run to St. Michael’s Catholic Church
The Thang (Trees Galore)
Set #1 – 25 Merkins then Bear Crawl to 2nd tree. 20 Merkins then Bear Crawl to 3rd tree. 15 Merkins then Bear Crawl to 4th tree. 10 Merkins then Bear Crawl to 5th tree. 5 Merkins then plank for the 6.
Set #2 – Toy Soldier Set (50/25/15) then Jail Break to end tree. Toy Soldier Set (40/20/12) then Jail Break to opposite end tree. Toy Soldier Set (30/10/9) then hold 6″ for 6.
Set #3 – 25 Squats then Walking Lunges to 2nd tree. 20 Squats then Walking Lunges to 3rd tree. 15 Squats then Walking Lunges to 4th tree. 10 Squats then Walking Lunges to 5th tree. 5 Squats then Al Gore for 6.
Sharing of the Third F
Set #4 – 10 Burpees then Nur to middle tree. 8 Burpees then Nur to end tree. 6 Burpees then Nur to middle tree. 4 Burpees then Nur to end tree. 2 Burpees then plank for 6.
Mosey back to Circle
Set #5 – 25 Flutter Kicks (in cadence). 20 Gas Pumpers (in cadence). 15 Hello Dollys (in cadence). 15 4 Count Freddies (in cadence)
Number-Rama, Name-O-Rama, COT
Third F – Character
Everyone has Character. Everyone is a Character. We can be a character and still have a good character. Character is not necessarily what we think of ourselves but what others think of us. What kind of character do we have? What are we doing to contribute positively in society, our houses, our jobs, etc? What do people think of when they hear our names or see us walk in a room? I have watched Lunchable from birth for 16 plus years and I know his good character. I grew up with Quattro, yes he is a character, but he has a great character. I don’t know everyone in this group as well as I know Quattro, but what I see of this group of men is that character runs deep in each of us! We have kids (ours and others) looking at us for an example, men in this group see what we do, folks outside this group are definitely watching us, folks in our workplaces and places of worship, family members. How are we living our lives and what do people see when they see us? Woodstock contributed: Character is what do you do when no one is watching. What kinds of websites do we visit when we are alone? Good points, Woodstock! I appreciate the help brother.
Bolt 45’s – 15 squats full up to halfway down, 15 squats halfway down to full down, & 15 squats full motion. All completed IC as a 4 count.
Hydraulic Squats – 17 IC (6 Count)
Mosey @.5 miles to Holy Hill and took a brief break for the F3Message…see below
The Thang
1st & 10 Routine per the Exicon…Well sort of….:)…..Perform 10 merkins and 1 burpee. Nur up the hill and run down. Perform 9 merkins and 2 burpees. Nur up the hill and run down. Perform 8 merkins and 3 burpees. Nur up the hill and run down. You recognize a pattern developing here. Rinse and Repeat until you complete 1 merkin and 10 burpees followed by your final Nur up the hill and a run back down.
Mosey @.5 miles back to CHOP.
Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust. Prayers were offered for multiple needs within the attending PAX, but please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.
The Ozark Mountains of Arkansas and Missouri are known for their rocks. They make for some hard farming, some beautiful views, and some challenging road building. Like this one stretch of highway from Branson, Missouri, to Springfield, Missouri, that they widened. As you slowed down through those construction zones, there were some pretty impressive changes that were taking place. Some places were nothing but solid-rock mountain, but somehow they managed to blast away at those mountains and they literally made a road where a mountain used to be!
I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Removing a Mountain, Making a Road.”
Now if human engineers can do that, don’t you think God can? In fact, God’s mountain-moving ability may be your only hope right now.
Let’s remember the miracle Jesus promised to us, as recorded in our word for today from the Word of God. In Mark 11:23, He says, “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Obviously, it’s not the power of your word that removes mountains; it’s the power of God. The words immediately preceding these dramatic promises are these: “Have faith in God.”
But we have a God who does remove mountains that appear as if they could never be moved – in answer to the faith-believing prayers of His children. This might be one of those times when the only way there’s going to be a road for you is if God blows away the mountain that stands in the way. But you can ask Him, you can trust Him to do just that, within the boundaries of His perfect will of course.
Our mountains don’t usually come in the form of some huge rock formations. For you, what blocks the way might be a person whose heart is hard; whose heart needs a miraculous change. God does those. According to Proverbs 21:1, “The heart of the king is in His hand.” Maybe your mountain is seemingly impossible financial obstacles.
That’s the kind our ministry has faced a number of times, and we were facing that as it became clear that God wanted us to build our own headquarters to better carry out His orders. We didn’t have one dollar in a building fund. We had no reserves and no clear idea of where an amount like that would come from. But in less than a year, there was the headquarters, totally debt-free. There was this mountain, and then by God’s power and grace, there was a road.
Maybe it’s going to take a change of leadership in order for there to be a way, a miraculous recovery, or seemingly impossible breakthroughs. But God does all of those. God’s allowed you to run up against this mountain so you would run to the end of you. All our lives, we underestimate and under trust the God we have. There’s way too much of us and way too little of God. And then there it is – that massive mountain looming in the way, so huge there’s nothing you can do to move it. There’s nothing any human solution can do to move it.
Well, praise God! You what? Yeah, praise God! You’ve just reached the end of you and possibly you are at the beginning of unleashing your Lord as never before. I love the promise in Ephesians 3:20, “He is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine according to the power that works in us.” I call that a 320 in Ephesians 3:20.
Looking at that mountain, you’d have to say, “No way.” But looking at your all-powerful God, don’t you ever say, “No way.” He blows away mountains and makes a road where you could have never dreamed there would be one, and then you know what? He gets all the glory!