One step at a time

The Chinese philosopher Lao-Tse once said, "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." 

I find that inspiring. If you keep on stepping you'll eventually get to a thousand miles. 

In Genesis 21, Hagar was sent into the desert with her son. They wandered the desert of Beersheban and when the water skin was empty she was overwhelmed and terrified. She couldn’t bear to watch her son die. She gave up all hope for her life and the life of her son.

But God had a plan for their lives. God said to Hagar: 

“Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

“Lift the boy up and take him by the hand.” What mother hasn’t done that hundreds of times for her son? It didn’t sound particularly difficult, but that is where God asked her to begin. The first step was just getting up and doing a little thing, something familiar. 

“Lift the boy up and take him by the hand…”

Many people accomplish great things in our world, but they all start small. 

God wants to do something great in our lives but we have to start by taking a small step in the right direction.

You may have a goal in mind but it might look overwhelming. You may not see how you could possibly reach your goal because the way seems too long or the process too difficult. 

The answer is to take the first step. Even though the path may not seem clear at the moment, you can be sure that if you don't begin, you'll never finish.

Trust God to provide whatever you need along the way. As you step out in faith, expect God to step in with power. 

The first step is always the hardest, but take it and see where God will take you!

Are you a hen or a pig?

A pig and a hen sharing the same barnyard heard about a church’s program to feed the hungry. The pig and the hen discussed how they could help. 

The hen said, “I’ve got it! We’ll provide bacon and eggs for the church to feed the hungry.”

The pig, very mindful of what this implied, said, “That’s fine, but while you’re making a contribution, I’m making a real commitment!”

No turning back for the pig!

Is that not what we are called to as faithful believers? We are called to be fully committed! We are called to love, sacrifice and commit in ways the world finds odd.

Speaking of odd, on Sunday we looked at the story of Elisha. I have read this story so many times, (if you have a chance take a read). The verse that always gets me is this:  He burned the plow.

Elijah was a great prophet who did many miracles, but the time had come to pass the torch on to a younger man. God chose Elisha.

Elijah found Elisha out plowing his fields. Elijah walked up to him and threw his cloak over him, which was a sign that he was passing his prophetical anointing to the younger man.

After Elijah threw his cloak over him,Elisha responded immediately to God’s call,and went back to kiss his mother and father goodbye. But here is the other thing he did. The odd part. He burned all his farming equipment and hada giant barbecuewith his fellow workers.  He was so sure and committed that he didn’t keep any of the farming equipment just in case this prophet gig didn’t work out.

He burned the plow. He burned the symbol of his former life. He burned the source of his former livelihood.

There was no turning back. There was no plan B. There was no safety net.

He burned the plow.

Every time I time read this it makes me think of my own commitment. Have I burned the plow? Am I as committed as the hen or the pig?

And then I wonder: Is Godcalling us, as Amberlea church or as individuals, to make a change that requires burning the plow?

Here’s the thing. Just as Elijah placed his cloak of blessing on Elisha, so to has God placed His blessing on you! It is the Holy Spirit who lives in you and works through you.

You have been anointed and appointed (1 John 2:20). 

You have been chosen and handpicked to do work which He has planned in advance for you to do (Ephesians 1:4, 2:10).

Elisha did twice as many miracles as his predecessor. And here’s what Jesus says about you: 

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12 NIV).

God calls and equips. When we commit to God we will do even greater things. And in our faithfulness, be prepared to be blessed beyond anything we can hope, think or imagine!

So, two questions to you AND to me:  

·      Are you a hen or a pig? 

·      Will you burn the plow?

Making change

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13

  I read a story about a 19 year old girl who lifted a burning vehicle off her father.

It was the craziest story. Her father was working on his GMC truck when the truck slipped off the jack and pinned him to the ground. As the truck fell, gasoline spilled and a fire was ignited.  Along comes 19 year old Charlotte who, by the way was not a body builder, lifted the truck just enough so that her father to could get out.  She then got into the burning truck and drove it out of the garage away from the house - saving not only her father but her family inside.

 Sounds like a scene from a movie, but newspaper articles don’t lie ;)

 The point is, in the face of crisis we can do some extraordinary things.  In the face of crisis what we thought we could never do, we somehow do, because we have to.

We are capable of making change when we have to.  

We have been talking over the past several weeks about change. In our current sermon series, 2020 Vision: You in Five Years  we are talking about the choices, decisions and changes we want to make in our lives so that five years from now we can look back and say, “Yes! Well done!” 

 The words “choices” and “changes” are daunting, but if we don’t like what we are getting or where we are going, with God’s help we can change.

 And God says,

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10

If God is our strength…

If God is the source of our power to change…

How do we find that strength and power?

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  Matthew 7:7

 …Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Matthew 6:33