Small Things

A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Proverbs 25:11

As I was getting dressed this morning I was musing over an email I received from a friend in England this week.  She commented on my last Daydrops "Pushing Through" saying that she had laughed out loud when she read it because she thought I could be writing about her.  At 80 she still goes to the gym twice a week and pushes through on the cycle.  This made me smile and then I realised that I don't get to stop my workouts for a few more years yet!!  But what am I saying?  Didn't I recently write about staying in for the long haul?!!

Anyway, today I was also thinking about the small things of life.  I hate it when people find out that I don't go out to work because then they ask me what I do all day.  It's very hard to define really but this morning I realised that a good part of my day can be taken up with communication.  It seems such a small insignificant thing really yet it is an important part of my life.  I love to keep in touch with friends near and far and it all takes time.

As the years have passed I find that friends become more precious.  Often a word of encouragement is needed, or assurance of prayer support for those going through difficult times.  To spend an afternoon with a friend is not wasting time, it's building relationship and making memories. 

A word here and there can be reassuring and encouraging, even to people we don't know.  I was out shopping this afternoon, and where we wait to turn onto the freeway there have been extensive roadworks underway for some weeks now to improve the traffic flow.  Two workmen where heaving a road barrier into place and as I turned to drive past them I wound the window down and smiled at them shouting, "Thanks for making a difference."  It was great to see them laugh back.  It was a small thing but I hope it made their day better.

Such a small thing as a word can make such a difference to someone. The little bee in our picture is one of millions, yet his little contribution is so important in the whole scheme of things. His honey may be on my toast one day! Don't underestimate the many small things you do each day.  Hopefully they are making someone's life better.  Look for opportunities to 'make a little honey' along the way.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank you for the reminder that I don't have to rich and famous to be a world-changer.  I can change someone's life with just a small encouraging word or act of love. Help me to look for opportunities to do so.  Amen

Pushing Through

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13b-14

When I got 2 minutes into my 20 minute workout on the cardiogym this morning I wondered how I could ever get to 20 minutes today.  My energy level was not as good as usual and this was going to be a challenge.  What am I saying?  Exercise is always a challenge for me!  I might like it more if I could see that it was making a difference to my shape, but I can't.  However, I know that it has to be making a difference to me inside; heart, lungs and vascular system.  Shame we can't see that, it would certainly be an inducement to keep it up in the hard times!  I just have to trust that it's doing me good even though the result is invisible.

It's like the Christian life really.  We all come to times when we think, "What's the use of these prayers and reading the Bible, I can't see it making any difference at all."  Sometimes we just feel like we are not making any progress, but rather we are going through some useless motions.  Is it really worth it? ( Sometimes I wonder that when I'm writing, especially when I see how few people read this blog,  yet I know that even if one person is touched by each devotion I write, then it has been worth it. My part is to be faithful and push on.)

Yes, it is, and you are just going to have to take my word for it..... and the Bible's.  In writing to the Philippians Paul spoke about forgetting the past (our failures) and pressing on to gain the prize that is promised us.  That's the secret.  We do fail, we have times where our spiritual fervour dims, there are days when we just want to jump into our day and not take time to give Jesus any attention, let alone read His word.  Those are the times to push through our lethargy and allow God's word to seep into our soul and set us up for the day.  We need to have fresh 'bread' every day to feed our spirit and allow us to refresh any weary or needy ones we'll meet in our day.  It really is worth it and it does do something even though we can't feel it or see it.

To gain our salvation Christ had to push through many barriers and obstacles including His own lack of strength in those final hours.  Yet, for the joy that was set before Him he endured the cross... Heb 12:2.  His joy was freeing us from Satan's grip.  Our joy is in being free to live for him in loving obedience to His admonition to Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly....Colossians 3:16.

My strategy for pushing through on the workout (and especially this morning) is to become mindful of and thankful for the health and strength I have to actually do it.  Then I begin to pray for all those who I know are sick or not able physically to use their bodies in the way I can.  This brings energy to me as I do my workout in the strength that He gives me day by day... and soon I'm done and feeling pleased with myself.

Prayer:  Thank you Lord for health and strength to do a physical workout even when it's the last thing I want to do.  Thank you that it is making a difference in my body even though I can't see it.  Help me to be faithful in my spiritual 'workout' each morning as I study your word and pray, knowing that it too is achieving eternal results.  Amen

Carried

Praise the Lord, God our Saviour, who carries us in His arms. Psalm 68:19 (NLT)

Having recently flown for over 30 hours to and from Vancouver, Canada , this verse caused me to connect the thought of God carrying us in his arms with flying in those big jets.  Once I step inside that aircraft I put my life into the hands of the crew.  I put my faith in them and trust them to bring me safely to my destination.  I stow my belongings in the crowded overhead lockers, (I can never believe the size of the bags that are allowed on board), then settle down with my water bottle, iPad, earphones and blanket for the journey. (It used to be books and notebooks but my iPad has it all! Thank you dear husband for my wonderful birthday gift.)  I am set for the journey. I read a little, watch a movie or two, I even sleep.  I relax and am carried along.

That is the way we should view our journey with God; the one who carries us in His arms.  We do not get in the aircraft and expect to have to somehow help get that machine off the ground and stay up there.  When we came to Christ we put our trust in Him and were thrilled at the difference our faith made to our lives.  Sadly later, as we 'grow up', we seem to think that so much depends upon us. 

Now we have to be careful with my analogy here, because the Christian life does depend upon a certain amount of energy on our part, e.g. reading the Bible, talking to God, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us etc.  BUT remember Paul's words, "That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me."(Coloss 1:29 NLT).  We do have to press on and press through to make progress in our journey but we should always remember that it is HIS energy and HIS grace that we are working with that enables us to change and grow.

In the times when difficulties come and we feel we can't go on, we need to remember that he carries us in His arms and our friends lift us up with their prayers.  What a great thought!  Don't try to do it alone.

Prayer:  Precious Lord, thank you for your everlasting arms which are underneath me in those tough times and thank you for the faithful prayers of friends who lift me up.  Help me to rest in your love and power.  Amen

Changed

This same Good News.......is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God's wonderful grace.  Colossians 1:6

There is a great market in today's world for motivational speakers; people who are gifted in speech and have the ability to inspire and motivate people to change their lives in significant ways.  To attend one of their conferences usually costs hundreds of dollars for just a day or two of teaching. When people leave those meetings they are armed with a manual that will guide them into making the changes they want in their lives and businesses, but their motivator is gone, moving onto his next meetings.

Believers have a manual for changing lives and it's called the Bible; Paul refers to it as the Good News, and good news it certainly is.  It is the word of God's wonderful grace and it has the power to change our life as we read and digest what it says, so long as we make the appropriate changes in our lives.  However, there is a great difference between the motivator's manual and the Bible.  The Bible is the word of the One who created us, the One who knows how we are wired for life.  Not only that, our manual comes with the best Motivator in the world, the Holy Spirit.  He stays, he never moves onto another meeting.  He's around to guide, teach and encourage us every step of the way.

Colossians 1:6 speaks of hearing and understanding the truth.  Sometimes we don't fully grasp with understanding all that we have when we come to Christ.  The great gift of grace is available freely but often we think that we have to go home and do it all ourselves.  We forget to call on the grace of God which is available for all our needs.  It is the grace of God which changes us, not our own trying.  We don't need to 'get it all together'.  The best thing we can learn is to daily come to God's throne of grace where we can find gace and mercy for every need. Let's do life with His help, it takes all the stress away as we lean into Him and stop trying to 'go it alone'.  He loves us to be dependant on Him.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for your mercy and grace and thank you for the Holy Spirit who guides me into all truth and understanding.  Help me to lean more on Him and rely less on my own ability to change.  Amen

Process

Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, "This is the way you should go," whether to the right or to the left. Isiaiah 30:21

I often quote a phrase that I saw on a T shirt many years ago. It said, "Be patient with me, God isn't finished with me yet.". How true that is. But as we request patience of others towards our imperfections, faults and failings, we also need to extend the same grace towards others.

Recently I was thinking about the process my friend was going through to find a property to buy. She was not even sure where she wanted to live but was in the process and we had looked in various areas but had not found 'her place'. I was thanking God for the process because when we live in faith, we know for sure that God will show her the right place at the perfect time. In the meantime, our part is to learn to enjoy the journey. Sometimes that can be hard.

The process of becoming like Jesus is one for which we need much patience. So often we feel like we let Him and ourselves down along the way, but if we will just look into the word we can find many imperfect, 'in process' people:  God still used them. The time in process is not wasted. As we look back, we call it 'experience' and God uses our experiences along the way. Paul even managed to say that he took pleasure in infirmities, reproaches and persecutions and distress because through them he exchanged his weakness for Christ's strength. (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Out of our experience we can help others to find meaning in their difficulties; they can draw comfort from our stories of God's faithfulness. Our challenges are not meant to discourage or destroy us, they are meant to develop our character, grace and obedience. The word tells us that even Jesus learned obedience through the things that he suffered. (Hebrews 5:8) Embrace the process and be thankful for it. Something's happening!

Update:  My friend has chosen her new home and will soon move in...... the best part is that it is 5 minutes walk from my home!

Prayer:  Faithful Father, thank you that even in the difficulties, when I am impatient to be through them, you are doing something in me.  Help me to enjoy the process.  Amen

Friendship

After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them..... 1 Samuel 18:1

Have you ever thought about your friends and recognized that some of your friendships may be truly God- ordained for his greater purpose? That is what struck me as I read these verses about David and Jonathan. This was a totally God-ordained friendship, absolutely designed for the greater purposes of God.

When you read further into the story of David & Jonathan's friendship it becomes more obvious that God had planned this with the future in mind. I wondered even if Jonathan, the son of King Saul and therefore natural heir to the throne, knew that he would not become king, for later in this chapter we read of Jonathan making a solemn pact of friendship with David by giving him his robe, tunic, sword, belt and bow. This was an unusual act. It was like Jonathan was symbolically giving up his position to David who was God's chosen replacement for disobedient Saul.

 Jonathan’s friendship saved David’s life when Saul wanted to kill him. It cost him his father’s anger when he covered for David and later warned him of the danger of returning to the palace (1 Sam 19). His friendship made way for David to move into his destiny. David’s friendship for David caused him to continue to honour the king and refuse to usurp his authority. He later honoured Jonathan by caring for his son Mephibosheth (2 Sam 9:6) who had only been 5 years old when his father died in battle. Mephibosheth had a place at King David’s table for the rest of his life.

Jesus said there was no greater love than laying down one's life for his friend. (John 15:13) Jesus, our greatest friend, proved his love for us when he died for us on the cross. To be a true friend costs us sometimes. One of the acts of love that we can do for our friends is to pray for them. Another is to forgive them when they hurt us. To sacrifice time when they need help. My mother used to say "A friend (when you're) in need, is a friend indeed."

Friendships will always go through ups and downs but there is nothing quite as good as an 'old' friend. They are the ones who have stood with us over the years and so know us at our best and at our worst. Friends are God's gift to us so let us value them accordingly. They have come into our lives for a reason.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for my friends, both old and new. Help me to love them and value them for the treasure they are. Make me a blessing in their lives, a true and faithful friend. Amen

Focus

.....greet no one along the way. Luke 10:4

These days I am finding that I need to be more and more mindful and intentional about tasks that I do. Speaking to friends of similar 'vintage', I am encouraged to find that I am not alone in this;it is too easy to get distracted along the way. Example: yesterday I put my porridge on to cook, (it only takes 5 minutes), then I went off and started cleaning the bathroom before my Bible study ladies arrived. Aagh! Suddenly, as I was about to move to yet another task, I remembered my porridge....just in the nick of time.

As I read Luke 10 today I was interested that when Jesus sent out the disciples in pairs to minister, he told them not to greet anyone along the way. I would have thought that they may have met 'the harvest' along the way!  Instead, he sent them to towns. They were not to stop and get distracted along the way. I also noticed that when Elisha's servant Gehazi, was sent to minister life to the widow's son, he also was told not to greet anyone along the way. In fact he was told not even to answer anyone who greeted him along the way.

When God assigns a task to us, he also gives us an anointing for the task.....his power and ability to carry it out. (We are never meant to operate in our own strength doing his work.) If we get distracted along the way, we may lose our focus. We can even get talked out of completing  our task, or at the very least, our distraction will certainly delaying it. The enemy will always plant 'good ideas' into our minds, or even put 'urgent needs' in front of us to distract us from our assignment. If we allow the distractions we may miss 'the moment', God's time.

The secret is to stay with what God has given us to do until the task is done. He has others assigned to meet other needs. Let's not rob them of their chance to serve by thinking we have to meet every need that comes before us.

Prayer: Father God, please help me to listen for my tasks today and do them without distraction. Help me to recognize distractions when they come and to resist the urge to 'greet them along the way'. Amen