MSS On Point: How Mustard Seed Sentinel Got its Name
It Only Take a Mustard Seed to Make a Dream Grow
by Joanne Troppello

I started my magazine, Pandora’s Box Gazette in 2016 and changed the name to Mustard Seed Sentinel in 2019. I changed the name because I felt God leading me to go back to the Mustard Seed reference from my marketing company, Mustard Seed Marketing Group, LLC.

The Mustard Seed Reference

The mustard seed is as small as a kernel of corn or a grain of wheat. Yet that one seed—of the black seed variety—can grow into a shrub or small tree that is 12 feet tall. This variety is found in Israel.

Faith as a Mustard Seed

I’ve read those scriptures in the Bible where Jesus told a parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.” (Matt. 13:31) The other scripture is found in Matt. 17:20, “He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as a small mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’”

The first scripture references the kingdom of God which starts out small but grows very large. From 12 disciples, Jesus reached a world with the message of the Gospel. The message that He died to bridge the gap between us and God and gave us eternal salvation.

The second scripture utilizes the image of the mustard seed and its small size. Then the immense growth of the mustard seed into a shrub or tree shows us that even if we only have a little bit of faith, our belief in God can move mountains in our lives.

My History with the Mustard Seed

After learning about mustard seeds and how they relate to the message of faith—and that such a tiny seed could grow to great height—that was how the name for my marketing company was born, Mustard Seed Marketing Group, LLC. Our tag line is It Only Takes a Mustard Seed to Make a Dream Grow.

With a child-like faith, we need to trust in God and know that He does hear all our prayers and will answer. The answer may not be what we’d like to hear, but He will respond. He has the best in mind for us. His plans for us are for our good. He will make a way when there is no way.

Why I Chose Sentinel

I had to be careful when choosing the new name of the magazine because there already is a blog called Mustard Seed Blog and Gazette was used for another blog. The word sentinel came to mind. As a noun, it means a sentry or guard standing watch. As a verb, it means to keep watch.

I want Mustard Seed Sentinel to be like a soldier keeping watch as we wait for the Lord to return in His Second Coming.

“But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. – Jude 20-22 (NKJV)

My focus is spiritual, not necessarily physical. Our content is focused on sharing family-friendly, faith-based content with the intent of encouraging others in the faith journey with the Lord.

My focus in life is that I am only passing through this world and my real home is in Heaven.

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” – Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV)

If you are interested in such faith-based content from me and our regular monthly columnists, and guest writers—feel free to subscribe to our email mailing list to receive the daily posting.

Are you a sentinel, keeping watch, waiting for the Lord’s return?