Small Things

"I long to accomplish a great and noble task but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble."

Helen Keller

Spring is slowly coming to life, and it won't be long until these lovely geraniums bloom in my garden in Maryland will announce that Spring is definitely here!

Small things. The majority of us are here to accomplish small things. And what a difference small things make.

A small thing changed my life. A little note with a few words written on it changed my thinking and attitude. It brought me out of despair and into a purpose.

"Great works do not always lie in our way, but every moment we may do little ones excellently,

that is, with great love."

Saint Francis of Sales (1567-1622)

I love Magnolia blooms and remember stopping on our way to Lancaster when I saw a lovely tree full of blooms to get this snap.

I liked Helen Keller's quote because the things that I do are small things. It may be baking your special treat and taking it to someone. It may be writing a note to send God's love to a hurting heart.

A small thing is thanking your Sunday School teacher who studies each week to bring an interesting lesson each Sunday morning.

It's listening to someone and hearing their heart. It's saying thank you when someone puts forth effort to accomplish a task that no one but you may know about.

It's dialing a number and saying hello to a friend. Sharing your heart to help another. Offering support for one who is lost. It's sitting in the nursery to care for a baby. It's teaching small children God's way.

"Is your place a small place? Tend it with care!--He set you there.

Is your place a large place? Guard it with care!--He set you there.

Whate'er your place, it is not yours alone, but His who set you there."

John Oxenham (1861-1941)

There's many "mothers-in-waiting" and remember snapping this picture, along with many more of lamb already born in a barn in Maryland.

It's thanking your pastor for standing tall for Christ and never wavering in his allegiance to the gospel. It's praying for him every day so he has courage and strength to speak out the truth of the Bible.

It's telling someone you're praying for them and the situation at hand. And then really doing it. A very small thing that reaches the heart of God.

I think God wants more small things done than big things. He's gifted a few to be giants along life's way. But it's the small things that people do everyday that can change a heart.

I'm thankful for those who have been called to fulfill big things in this life. I'm drawn to them, appreciate them and stand with them. We learn a lot from those called to do big things. And I'm thankful for those called to do small things.

Whether you are called to do great things or small things, faithfully do your part. There will always be someone who catches your vision and finds hope because of you. And hope goes a long way in living this life.

"If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way."

James Freeman Clarke (1810-1888)

I was at a retreat in Hershey and found this family while walking around the grounds of the hotel.

Reinforcement

 

"Words. Do you fully understand their power? Can any of us really grasp the mighty force behind the things we say? Do we stop and think before we speak, considering the potency of the phrases we utter?

Joni Eareckson Tada 

Most of us have been taught since a child to speak nicely. Saying bad words and calling people names are not nice things to do. And once we're adults we have a better understanding of why speaking badly is wrong. It hurts people.

For a Christian, and those who attend church, we've heard sermons on the tongue. Scripture verses familiar are: "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech." 1 Peter 3:10 and in James 3:5, "Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small park."


This morning reading in Charles Stanley book "Wisdom from Above" he shared another aspect that may be overlooked: "[Paul] understood that testimonies of Christ's power reinforced his faith."

Stanley was talking about Paul and "the power of positive confession." Discussing words Paul said while in prison showed how positive words affect your outlook. "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" helped Paul while in prison, and another time he "sang hymns of praise to the Lord" Philippians 4:13 while waiting for God's deliverance.

"A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over."

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) 

This was a reminder to me, that in speaking positive words and words of encouragement to help others, I too can be affected with my words. A little thing, perhaps, but God makes much of little things.

"The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit." 

Proverbs 15:4 

I need all the help I can get, so being mindful of my words will affect every facet of my life. And I want my life to be joyful! I need positive reinforcement, and I have the ability to obtain it by speaking good from my mouth. Let's not forget to tame our tongue.

"Your words don't just influence those who listen to you; they also have an impact on your own well-being ..."

 Charles Stanley

Standing

 I like this snap. I took it at one of my favorite places to snap sheep and lamb. Snow was falling and all was undercover for protection. It just made me feel at rest.

I'm the one who is called to encourage and inspire others through God's Word, His Love and His Hope. So posting something as difficult as the following is very hard for me to do. But my heart was touched by the words, and reminded me of the choices I have made in my life. This is one of the hardest.

My pastor posted on Facebook words that I believe true, but difficult to live. We all at some point in our life must make difficult choices involving people we love and care about. I lost a relationship with my daughter, my only child, because of my stand with Christ. It was a very difficult thing to do, which daily brings me heartbreak, even after 30 years. Pastor Jim puts it in perspective with the following words. 

Romans 12:18 says "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."

"Sometimes that is a tall order to accomplish. I believe that Christians should do everything that we possibly can to live peaceably with others. Sometimes we have to dig deep, sometimes we have to bend over backwards, sometimes we have to turn the other cheek. But, there are also times that after we have peaceably done all that we can that we have to draw lines in the sand and stand our ground. I will peaceably engage others who have differing beliefs and convictions than I do, I will even search for possible avenues of compromise on matters, but I can't compromise my beliefs and convictions. I cannot find compromise with others that believe it is ok to let a baby die, I can't compromise on traditional biblical marriage, I cannot compromise on what I believe is right. My difference with others is done respectfully, but I expect the same respect in return. I will live peaceably as best as I can, but I cannot and will not compromise on my discernment of the word of God, because what has happened in our culture is that in our compromising has and most generally turned into capitulation when it's said and done. Be respectful, say and do everything with Grace, live peaceably, but if you've done all that you can to live peaceably then retreat no more. Stand your ground when you must and if you draw a line in the Sand you better mean it!"

A Scripture verse I don't like is very plain: "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, a man's enemies will be the members of his own household."

If I could change one verse in Scripture this would be it. Losing a member of your family because of your belief in God and His Word is a very heavy burden. But as weak as I am, my faith is strong. I hope in God's Word.

"Remember the word unto thy servant, on which thou hast caused me to hope." 

Charles Spurgeon

This is an old snap I enjoyed taking. The barn doesn't look like it's going to make it much longer. The cows are resting on the hay, enjoying the sunshine.  Peaceful for me.

We must stand for what we believe, if we believe it to be the truth. God is truth. I believe it. Although it may bring heartbreak and tears, standing for truth is the strong and only thing I can do. 

If you're heart breaks because of standing for Christ, be encouraged in your heart that though your heart breaks, your soul is secure in Jesus. He is the only one who redeems your soul, and He understands your pain.

And when my life is through, if what I believe is false, I have lost nothing. But if what I believe is true, many will lose everything. 

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Hebrews 10:23-25