I Corinthians 12:15 - If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
Have you ever felt like you weren't needed? valueless? unappreciated? Consider with me the difference between a dime and a thousand dollar bill. The dime seems almost useless in today's economy. And who wouldn't like to have a few thousand dollar bills lying around?
The major difference between a dime and a thousand dollar bill is the insertion of a few zeros at the end. The zeros may not have any value on their own but they make a big difference once attached to another number. The role of the zeroes is of utmost importance.You may feel like that zero. Let me encourage you. The thousand dollar bill could not exist without three zeroes behind the one. If even one was not present, it would not be a thousand.
No man ever built a multimillion dollar corporation on his own. The finest chefs in the finest restaurants must have servers and dishwashers. The highest paid CEO needs a janitor to keep the office clean. In fact, the janitor is the first one missed if he doesn't show up for work.
God has given all of us something to do. It may not seem like the most important job but it is necessary. You may think no one would notice if you weren't doing your job, but they would. If the young man pulling the trash would work like he owned the building, one day he may own it. If the young lady waiting tables would greet her customers as if she owned the restaurant, one day she may.
Do you feel like a zero? Keep working as if you were the thousand dollar bill. I promise you, God sees all, and other people do too. People are usually observing us the most when we think no one is watching. Give it your all and one day you'll see you weren't such a zero after all.
Thoughtfully,
Sullivan Jones
4/29/13
Quiet Time
Quiet time! That is not something we get much of in the world in which we live. Everywhere we go there is noise and distraction. From TVs in every lobby and waiting room to the constant presence of a cell phone, our time is full of bustling energy. Some would call it chaos. I'm sure the mother caring for small children and the corporate executive alike would love some quiet time now and then.
I read one time about a man who got up two hours early in the morning just to practice quiet time. It was a time where he could read, pray or just sit and meditate. I decided to try it. On the days that I make myself get out of bed early enough, it is well worth it. I find that things are much clearer in the quiet of the early mornings. I sit, clear my mind and talk quietly to God. Whatever comes to mind, that is what I pray about.Sometimes God reminds me of things I have long forgotten about - sometimes there is even understanding that I didn't have before. On some days God brings people to mind and I pray for them. More than anything it is a time to let God refresh me before the chaotic bustle of the day begins.
Many of us are not comfortable with quiet time. It reminds of things we do not want to think on. It is much easier to fill the mind with entertainment or than to search the soul. I am a Pentecostal and come from a church tradition that stresses jubilant, noisy worship. We are taught to pray loud and hard. Indeed some do not even think they are praying if they are not saying something. But prayer is two-way communication with God. Naturally we need the times of "crying aloud" to God. We need the joyful foot stomping, handclapping praise that we love so much. But we also need the quiet times when we allow God to do the speaking.
For God does indeed speak. How? He speaks in a myriad of ways, depending on the situation. One way that he speaks to me is through my thoughts. When I have been praying about something and suddenly I know what to do, he is speaking. When I have been puzzled over a problem and the answer comes unbidden to mind, he is speaking. I find these "sudden knowings" come most often in the quiet of early morning when I clear my mind and allow God to speak.
If you are needing some answers I challenge you to try some quiet time this week! It will be well worth it.
I read one time about a man who got up two hours early in the morning just to practice quiet time. It was a time where he could read, pray or just sit and meditate. I decided to try it. On the days that I make myself get out of bed early enough, it is well worth it. I find that things are much clearer in the quiet of the early mornings. I sit, clear my mind and talk quietly to God. Whatever comes to mind, that is what I pray about.Sometimes God reminds me of things I have long forgotten about - sometimes there is even understanding that I didn't have before. On some days God brings people to mind and I pray for them. More than anything it is a time to let God refresh me before the chaotic bustle of the day begins.
Many of us are not comfortable with quiet time. It reminds of things we do not want to think on. It is much easier to fill the mind with entertainment or than to search the soul. I am a Pentecostal and come from a church tradition that stresses jubilant, noisy worship. We are taught to pray loud and hard. Indeed some do not even think they are praying if they are not saying something. But prayer is two-way communication with God. Naturally we need the times of "crying aloud" to God. We need the joyful foot stomping, handclapping praise that we love so much. But we also need the quiet times when we allow God to do the speaking.
For God does indeed speak. How? He speaks in a myriad of ways, depending on the situation. One way that he speaks to me is through my thoughts. When I have been praying about something and suddenly I know what to do, he is speaking. When I have been puzzled over a problem and the answer comes unbidden to mind, he is speaking. I find these "sudden knowings" come most often in the quiet of early morning when I clear my mind and allow God to speak.
If you are needing some answers I challenge you to try some quiet time this week! It will be well worth it.
What is Faith?
Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Faith is knowing that God will come through for me even when I don't understand what is going on around me. Faith is trusting him to supply my needs even when my emotions or telling me to be afraid. Faith is having the confidence to know God can even if I don't understand how he does it. I don't have to know how, I just know He will.
When I take my car to the mechanic I leave it in good faith knowing he will fix it. I don't tell him what is wrong. I tell him it is making a funny noise and expect him to find out why. When he says, it's fixed I pay the bill and trust him. That is faith. It is when I can ask God to fix it, leave it with him, and trust him when he says it is fixed.
Lord let me trust you more than I trust my mechanic. Amen!
Faith is knowing that God will come through for me even when I don't understand what is going on around me. Faith is trusting him to supply my needs even when my emotions or telling me to be afraid. Faith is having the confidence to know God can even if I don't understand how he does it. I don't have to know how, I just know He will.
When I take my car to the mechanic I leave it in good faith knowing he will fix it. I don't tell him what is wrong. I tell him it is making a funny noise and expect him to find out why. When he says, it's fixed I pay the bill and trust him. That is faith. It is when I can ask God to fix it, leave it with him, and trust him when he says it is fixed.
Lord let me trust you more than I trust my mechanic. Amen!
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