Small things can become big things. We often think the “good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” are only the big things like leading people to Jesus, being part of the worship team or teaching a Bible Study. Where does this thought come from? Yes, they can be. But what about the “little” good works He is asking us to do each day? The following story illustrations this point.
A cashier turns off the light above her register as she is about to end her shift for the night after she finishes with her last customer. In this case, it was a young couple in their early 20’s with a small child.
As she was scanning this couple’s items, a gentleman walks up with a few items asking her if she is closed. She could have said yes, but for some reason didn’t. As the gentleman puts his items on the counter, one credit card after another that the young couple puts forth to pay for their groceries is denied. Realizing they don’t have enough cash to pay for their groceries, they start pulling items out of their grocery bags in hopes of lowering the total to match their cash.
Noticing their dilemma, the gentleman, without the couple’s knowledge, swipes his credit card for them. As the cashier hands them their receipt, the young wife tears up and thanks the kind man for his generosity while her husband can’t stop shaking his hand.
Question, who did the “good work” that God prepared for them to do at that moment? We often think it was only the gentleman who paid for the groceries. But if the cashier hadn’t let him in line, though she had every right not to do so, he would have never been in position to pay for those groceries.
This is the essence of listening to and following Jesus everyday everywhere. We can do the good works, which He prepared for us to do, at the exact moment they are needed only as we use our biblical tools to hear His voice throughout our day. It seemed like a little thing at the time, but it was huge in the end. Five people saw Jesus in the flesh that day because of her act. Tiny things when done in response to Jesus can indeed become huge!
“Set Free Nowww”

Recently a terrible motorcycle accident took place in our city. People at the scene thought they saw an additional rider on the back of the bike. The local sheriff brought in a helicopter to search the surrounding area for this “missing” person. The pilots would definitely be able to see something from the air that the those on the ground couldn’t. Praise God, this “missing” person was not real. It was simply bad info by those who “saw” the accident.
It’s interesting how many believers try to live each day in the presence of their God all by themselves. How arrogant! Can they really see everything? Know everything? No, they can’t. They are on like the first responders on the ground who couldn’t find this “missing” person, who was never even there. You can only make your decisions to follow Jesus or yourself based on the information you currently have. Yet, what if your information is inaccurate?
We can’t walk alone or need accountability partners. We need fellow believers who are processing each day through the Word of God for themselves and are willing to tell us the truth in love by pointing out the lies in our thinking. They are like the helicopter. They will be able to hear and repeat back to us what we’re so used to saying to ourselves that we don’t even realize is wrong. Who’s your helicopter? I encourage you to ask the Spirit to bring you a Bible Impact partner, one who will practice walking in the presence of God with you.
Set Free Noww“W”

The “house” we lived in during our vacation is quite rustic. It has no running water, no electricity and no indoor plumbing. It has none of the creature comforts we’ve come to expect in the West. But it’s a great house! It provides shelter, a place to put our stuff, and is base camp, home, for the activities we do while on vacation, like hiking, fishing, exploring, and simply hanging out with each other and Jesus.
This year, on our last night, my wife and I sat on the porch all bundled up with a hot drink in our hands looking up at the light show above our heads. It was so beautiful to see so many of the stars that make up the Milky Way galaxy. It was quite relaxing. As we gazed upwards, we began talking about wouldn’t it be nice to stay up here longer. Then reality hit. It snows at this elevation! And it snows a lot. What’s the big deal? We both greatly dislike the cold. Wearing extra layers of clothing to keep warm is not something we look forward to at home where it doesn’t snow, let alone up here where it does.
This cabin is nice. But it’s not home. This world might be nice, but it’s not home. This is an important lesson we can take from the Feast of Tabernacles (aka Sukkot). Our bodies? Temporary. Our homes? Temporary. Our stuff? Very temporary. Our challenges? Temporary. Our defeats and failures? Temporary. Our pain and sorrow? Again, temporary.
We must praise Jesus for the victories, but don’t get too high on them. Complete victory is coming. Don’t beat yourself up over the defeats, which can lead to taking your drug of choice, you’re heading to a place where you’ll never lose again. One day this temporary sin-stained world will be replaced with permanent perfection. Stay focused on Jesus as this world is not our home, we’re just passing through.
S“E”t Free Nowww

“What are you guys looking at?” This was what the angel asked the 11 Apostles. They were standing on the Mt. of Olives looking up at the sky where Jesus had just disappeared beyond a cloud after being taken home. The angel followed up with an interesting statement, “This same Jesus will come back to earth the same exact way He left … from the sky.”
Jesus is coming back via the sky, both for His bride and then again to reign as King on this planet from Jerusalem. I find it interesting that during this Sukkot season (i.e. Tabernacles) Israeli’s are living in tents with holes in their roofs. Tradition gives us a few reasons for this skylight. It’s to enable them to see the stars and remember they wandered in the desert under those stars before they came home. It’s also to remember that they live each day under God’s provision.
I’d like to add another reason. Our Messiah (i.e. Christ) is coming from the direction of those stars. The first time Jesus came to earth humbly and vulnerably through the virgin birth. The next time He’ll come from the sky regally and with great power.
We must never forget that no matter how our daily battles go, we’re on the victorious side. Look up. As we face daily choices to keep listening to and following Jesus, look up. The Spirit will enable you to make the truthful choices. As life gets discouraging, look up. You’ve got someone smiling down on you. This world, which is full of disappointments, is not the final destination. Look up. Home is around the corner. Ultimate victory is already gained. Look up.
We become what we focus on and what we focus on only gets bigger. Focus on what’s above, not on what’s going on here (Col. 3:2). Look up. You’re not only looking at where your help comes from, but you’re also looking in the direction of home.
S“E”t Free Nowww