When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him.  “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.  I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”  Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:14-20

     Father, please, increase our faith so that we may be better servants unto you.  We are so inadequate, but you know how inside we long to have the faith that our Lord Jesus spoke of.  The faith to carry out your will.  We know that our brothers and sisters who scoff in public weep in private to have the faith you bless us with. Yet, our faith must become stronger, shine brighter, be a beacon in the night of people's lives to guide them home to you, Father.  As I write this Father, please, let this be an inspiration from you to those walking blindly through life to look toward you and have the courage to bow to you and ask you to fill them with Your holy spirit and love.  We pray this in our most loved, divine, and holy savior Jesus Christ's name to you our most loving Father.  Amen

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     Death approached.  All turned to one another, knelt, and began to pray.  No sooner had they prayed than an angel of the Lord Almighty appeared and swept away the agonizing fear of death saying in a soft reassuring voice, fear not, for ,through your faith, the Lord your God is with you, and what sword is mightier than His love.  The darkness turned to light, the sun shone brightly over them, until they realized it was not the sun but the radiance from the glory of the Lord that shone all about.  And they sank to their knees and gave praise and thanks to their Lord, and He was pleased for his children.