GOD DOES BIG THINGS WITH SMALL DEEDS - "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin" - Begin. Just begin! What seems small to you might be huge to someone else. Just ask Bohn Fawkes. During World War II, he piloted a B-17. On one mission he sustained flak from Nazi antiaircraft guns. Even though his gas tanks were hit, the plane did not explode, and Fawkes was able to land the plane. Fawkes asked his crew chief for the German shell. He wanted to keep a souvenir of his incredible good fortune. The crew chief explained that eleven shells had been found in the gas tanks, none of which had exploded. Technicians opened the missiles and found them void of explosive charge. They were clean and harmless and with one exception, empty. The exception contained a carefully rolled piece of paper. On it a message had been scrawled in the Czech language. Translated, the note read: "This is all we can do for you now." A courageous assembly-line worker scribbled the note. He couldn't end the war, but he could save one plane. He couldn't do everything, but he could do something. So, he did it. God does big things with small deeds. And in contrast with sophisticated priests and powerful Roman rulers, a cross-suspended carpenter seemed nothing but a waste of life. Power to change history. In the hands of God, small seeds grow into sheltering trees. Tiny leaven expands into nourishing loaves. Small deeds can change the world.

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God Does Big Things with Small Deeds 
by Max Lucado

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin" (Zechariah 4:10 NLT).

Begin. Just begin!

What seems small to you might be huge to someone else.

Just ask Bohn Fawkes. During World War II, he piloted a B-17.

On one mission he sustained flak from Nazi antiaircraft guns. Even though his gas tanks were hit, the plane did not explode, and Fawkes was able to land the plane.

On the morning following the raid, Fawkes asked his crew chief for the German shell. He wanted to keep a souvenir of his incredible good fortune.

The crew chief explained that not just one but eleven shells had been found in the gas tanks, none of which had exploded.

Technicians opened the missiles and found them void of explosive charge. They were clean and harmless and with one exception, empty.

The exception contained a carefully rolled piece of paper. On it a message had been scrawled in the Czech language.

Translated, the note read: "This is all we can do for you now."

A courageous assembly-line worker was disarming bombs and scribbled the note.

He couldn't end the war, but he could save one plane. He couldn't do everything, but he could do something. So, he did it.

God does big things with small deeds.

Against a towering giant, a brook pebble seems futile. But God used it to topple Goliath.

Compared to the tithes of the wealthy, a widow's coins seem puny. But Jesus used them to inspire us.

And in contrast with sophisticated priests and powerful Roman rulers, a cross-suspended carpenter seemed nothing but a waste of life.

Few Jewish leaders mourned his death. Only a handful of friends buried his body. The people turned their attention back to the temple. Why not?

What power does a buried rabbi have? We know the answer.

Mustard-seed and leaven-lump power. Power to tear away death rags and push away death rocks.

Power to change history. In the hands of God, small seeds grow into sheltering trees. Tiny leaven expands into nourishing loaves.

Small deeds can change the world.

Sow the mustard seed. Bury the leaven lump. Make the call. Write the check. Organize the committee.

Moses had a staff.
David had a sling.
Samson had a jawbone.
Rahab had a string.
Mary had some ointment.
Aaron had a rod.
Dorcas had a needle.
All were used by God.
What do you have?

God inhabits the tiny seed, empowers the tiny deed.

He cures the common life by giving no common life, by offering no common gifts.

Don't discount the smallness of your deeds.

Max Lucado says he “writes books for people who don’t read books.’ Even so, his best-selling books have sold over 100 million copies across 54 languages worldwide. Perhaps Lucado is converting non-readers with his poetic storytelling and homespun humor. Perhaps readers can sense that his encouraging words flow from the heart of a pastor.

Every trade book Max Lucado has written during the last 30 years began as a sermon series for his home church Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. Max presses every word of his sermons through this sieve: Why would this matter on Monday morning? How can I relate the promises of God to every person, wherever they are, regardless of the burdens they carry?

https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/upwords/upwords-week-of-december-4-10-11623130.html

THE WATCHMAKER’S FAITH - Corrie Ten Boom believed what God says over what her eye could see - The Ten Booms lived in the Netherlands. Theirs was a family who loved Christ and offered their lives to His service, whatever the cost. As World War II raged on, Corrie Ten Boom and her family could not put their faith in what their eyes could see. They had to look beyond what surrounded them in their little watch shop, to their faith in the God they loved and served. During those dark times, Corrie and her family, along with those who were hiding behind walls in their home, must have wondered each day how long the war would rage on. But the family had surrendered the outcome of their deeds of love to their loving God. Corrie and her sister Betsie were taken by force to the infamous concentration camp in Germany known as Ravensbruck. Betsie would die there, but Corrie would be liberated and go on to become a writer, sharing her love of God and her faith in Him.

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The Watchmaker’s Faith

Corrie Ten Boom believed what God says over what her eye could see

Lisa

Telling HIStory

“Faith is like radar that sees through the fog — to the reality of things at a distance that the human eye cannot see.”  Corrie Ten Boom

As World War II raged on throughout Europe, Corrie Ten Boom and her family could not put their faith in what their eyes could see.

They had to look beyond what surrounded them in their little watch shop, to their faith in the God they loved and served.

The Ten Booms lived in the Netherlands, creating watches in their shop where they also lived. 

Theirs was a family who loved Christ and offered their lives to His service, whatever the cost.

Corrie’s father was a man of great courage, reaching out to Jewish people in their suffering and mistreatment under German rule.

It would later cost him his life in a concentration camp.

During those dark times, Corrie and her family, along with those they sought to protect who were hiding behind walls in their home, must have wondered each day how long the war would rage on, while the watches displayed in their shop ticked away the minutes.

But the family had surrendered the outcome of their deeds of love to their loving God.

On a bleak winter’s day in February of 1944, the Ten Boom family was arrested after being betrayed.

Corrie and her sister Betsie were taken by force to the infamous concentration camp in Germany known as Ravensbruck.

Betsie would die there, but Corrie would be liberated and go on to become a writer, sharing her love of God and her faith in Him on the written page and in the actions of her long life until she died on her 91st birthday.

Corrie’s heart was full of gratitude and love for God and the life that He had blessed her with, despite her years of heartache and fear, grief and loneliness.

Today, her words of faith still resound, often quoted by others.

How was she able to enjoy her life and forgive those who had abused her and caused the death of her beloved sister and brave father? 

Corrie Ten Boom believed what God says over what her eye could see, fixing her gaze on Him:

“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our inner strength in the Lord is growing every day.

“These troubles and sufferings of ours are, after all, quite small and won’t last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God’s richest blessing upon us forever and ever! 

“So, we do not look at what we can see right now, the troubles all around us, but we look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

We still need faith like the watchmaker’s today. Though we face different adversities than Corrie and her family faced, having faith in God is more valuable than gold.

When you feel as though a fog of the unknown surrounds you, put your faith in the one Who waits beyond what you see to comfort, strengthen, and bless you, too.

About Lisa

My husband Dan and I have three children and three grandchildren. We live in central Illinois. I am a graduate of The Institute of Children's Literature, a member of faithwriters.com, and a member of SCBWI. My writings have been published at chirstiandevotions.us, in DevotionMagazine, the PrairieWind Newsletter, and here at thebottomline.co.

https://www.tblfaithnews.com/telling-history/the-watchmakers-faith