The Small Is Where You'll Find Your Greatness!

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." James 3:13 (NIV)

What seems small in your world? That place where your vision is grand but your reality isn't. Your influence? Your opportunity? Your business? Your career? Your ability to give? Your ministry?

Look at that small place and tell me what you see.

Now, might I be so bold as to slip a little note into your world to tell you what I see?

I see the strings of a gift that when appreciated will spill forth as wisdom and understanding you can't get any other way. I see the possibility of James 3:13 churning to break free in your life, "deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom."

I see the place from which humility is birthed. That glorious rare quality that doesn't take too much credit. That knows real success is laced with upward glances, bent knees and whispered praises to the One. The only One.

He who gives.

And He who withholds. Not out of spite, not out of ignorance, not out of deafness, and certainly not out of comparisons where others are found to be more deserving.

No. He withholds out of protection. With more urgent restraint than we'll ever possess, He presses back the big to protect the workings of the small.

The small we should not despise.

The quiet nurturing taking place, the unfolding, the stir beneath where none can see.

Soon, a fork in the soul's path must be chosen. One way to haughtiness. One way to humility.

If that soul has never tasted small, it will detest the humble pallet. And crave big, only big, until it is so full of big that being big inflates and distorts and eventually bursts. All things haughty will eventually be made microscopic.

But for the soul that has tasted small, humility becomes their richest fare. The taste that fits. The thing most desired to be consumed. All things humble will eventually be made great.

Oh the beautiful gift of small.

The delight of knowing what small really is.

Small isn't a belittling of one's calling nor an indication of one's future.

It's a place. A grand unnoticed place. A place to be protected and remembered. A place that keeps all things big in good and right perspective.

Small isn't what keeps us from that grand vision.

Small is what keeps us for that grand vision.

So my prayer is,

Dear Lord, help me to embrace the small. I want to see with Your eyes what You have planned for me because of this small. Give me the ability to understand the beautiful gift of small. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

BRIDGES...

Sometimes, I’m not too fond of bridges. I understand their purpose and necessity. I know that I have to cross one to get to the other side. But some bridges can be too long. Others don’t look too steady or secure. Some bridges look strong and unbreakable. Yet, underneath them lie corrosion and faulty design that will one day lead to a collapse.

We are supposed to be a bridge; a pathway over obstacles so that others can make it to the other side. A bridge for the younger generation to cross. But somewhere along the way, the bridge has failed. And there remains a generation who does not know the Lord. Even worse, a generation that doesn’t want to know the Lord.

How would you describe this generation?

As disobedient, proud, unloving and unforgiving? Or as violent, hateful, sexually promiscuous, and wicked? Maybe as envious, selfish, and deceived? Seem a bit harsh? Well, that’s how Romans 1:29-32 describes what happens when people refuse to acknowledge God. This is what we become when God turns us over to ourselves.

But before we shake our heads in self-righteous indignation, I think we need to ask ourselves a question.

How would this generation describe us?

As backbiters, haters, proud, or untrustworthy? Or as immoral, greedy, egocentric, and out-of-touch?

Does that also seem harsh? Well, those same attributes can be found in Romans 1 as well. Somewhere along the way our bridge became faulty. Rather than deal with those faults, we just covered them with more work and service and less prayer and transparency. Judges 2:10 warns of what happens when bridges are faulty.

“When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done…”

Behind us, there’s a generation who does not know the Lord. They’re not just behind us. They’re right next to you. Kids in your neighborhood and your extended family. And some of them are even closer. They’re in your homes. At your dinner table. In the other room watching television.

Wherever they are, too many of them are detached, removed, and disinterested. And some of the faults in the bridge belong to us. We cannot expect the youth to fix what they didn’t break. To repair what they never quite got a chance to experience or to willingly connect with us. That duty falls on us. And until we do that, we’ll just continue to shake our heads in self-righteous condemnation as a generation drifts further from the Lord. Today, let us all do our part. Be an example to the younger generation in word, deed, and conduct.

After all, we may be the only bridge they have.

Scripture Of The Day: "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." - Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV)

Use Your Light!!!

Lately I had been going thru a few "storms," but today I thought I could see the light at the end of the tunnel ... then I realized the light wasn't at the end of the tunnel at all. It had been in my hand the whole time ... I just hadn't turned it on.

No, I am not referring to a flashlight … but to the Word of God. Wait. This is for EVERYONE. Sometimes we get so caught up and bent out of shape in what we see in the natural, that we forget who is really in control. God never promised us that our lives would be smooth sailing all the time, but He did promise us that He would never leave us or forsake us. So when we find ourselves in distress, we need to stop focusing on the storm and turn our attention back to the one who commands the storms to rage or to be still.

There is nothing happening in our lives that surprises God. He isn’t looking at us wondering, “oh my, how did this happen or how are we going to handle this?” There is nothing, absolutely nothing that is impossible for God. I have SEEN miracles. I have experienced, first hand, God talking to me in my spirit and through other people where I KNEW it was Him. I don't need to convince you if you don't have faith, but I promise you that the principles of faith work. Like most people, we have all tried different things, yet the power of God that is displayed when employing the principles of faith found in my Bible are beyond compare. That's why I sold out to it. I have come to believe and my belief evidences itself more and more as I study, seek, and challenge God to be God in my life.

Our greatest storms don’t affect Him and we don’t have to let them affect us either if we would utilize the tool (the light of wisdom) that God has provided us through His Word. The Book of Proverbs is like a play by play rule book for Life, Relationships, Business, and Love. The Psalms lead us into wisdom, peace, and comfort. The Gospels teach us about the greatest man, spirit, God, and power, to ever walk on earth, and leave us knowing that Jesus is the summary of everything spoken by the prophets over thousands of years.

While stress and worry were building up within me about the situations around me, God’s Word was instructing me to have faith.

“Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Ephesians 6: 16

While I was panicking about the doctor’s report on a health issue, God’s word was saying that by His stripes I was healed.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

While I was confused about what the next steps were in my life, God’s word was saying He would direct my paths.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

While I was ready to give someone a serious piece of my mind, God’s word reminded me to guard my tongue.

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” James 3:6

While I was devastated at the current state of a relationship, a work situation, or my life in general, God’s word reminded me that all things work together for my good.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

So stop fumbling around in the dark in the midst of your storm, whatever your storm is, and turn on your light … the Word and wisdom of God.

Scripture of the day: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” - Psalm 119:105 (NKJV)

FALSE SATISFACTION

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 (NIV)

Temptation of any kind is Satan's invitation to get our needs met outside the will of God.

One of the subtle ways he does this is to plant the hesitant thought in our mind that God will not meet our needs — that God is not enough. Satan wants us to feel alone and abandoned, so that we turn to his offerings instead. It's the seduction of satisfaction.

Often the script that plays in our head is, "I need __________ so I can be satisfied."

It's what sends the wife on a budget off on a spending spree. She feels the thrill of the sale in the moment. But as she's hiding the bags from her husband, shame creeps in.

It's what pulls at the business man to work harder and longer and refuse to build boundaries in his schedule. Always chasing that next accomplishment or that next compliment but it's never enough.

It's what sends some on many eating sprees. The kids are loud, the house is messy, the demands feel beyond control. So with great justification overaters indulge only to have a bloated stomach and a deflated heart.

This subtle message sold to us by Satan can be exposed when we break it down to understanding the difference between a need and a want.

All of the examples above were wants — not needs. I won't patronize you with the definition of each of these words, we know them. But oh how Satan wants to make them one in the same.

When the difference between these two words starts getting skewed, we start compromising. We start justifying. And it sets us up to start getting our needs met outside the will of God. The abyss of discontentment invites us in and threatens to darken and distort everything in our world.

Listen, Satan is a liar. The more we fill ourselves with His distorted desires, the more empty we'll feel. That's true with each of the desires mentioned above. The more we overspend, overwork, or overeat — the more empty we feel.

Remember, Satan wants to separate you from God's best plans. He wants to separate you from God's proper provision. He wants to separate you from God's peace.

God's provision sustains life. Satan's temptation drains life.

God's provision in the short term will reap blessings in the long term. Satan's temptation in the short term will reap heartache in the long term.

God's provision satisfies the soul. Satan's temptation gratifies the flesh.

Consider these realities when making choices today. God says, I will meet all your needs according to the riches of My Glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19). Trust God. Embrace truth. Live His promise.

Dear Lord, help me to focus only on Your provision in my life today. I don't want to be separated from You, Your best plans for me or Your peace. Help me to notice when the enemy is trying to entice me with false desires, because they only lead to emptiness. In Jesus' Name, Amen.