I’ve been thinking about small things lately. Little things like responding in a timely manner to those who ask me to do something. Answering emails promptly. Returning phone calls.
Last Thursday, I returned from a very good few days in Veenendaal, Netherlands. We went there to do big things. We went there to help the growing internet ministry to develop more fully.
And we did have very successful times.
As we flew back, I read the following
“Great services reveal our possibilities, but small services reveal our consecration.” (George H. Morrison)
We flew to the Netherlands to help plan and train for internet ministry in Europe.
We had some great opportunities to serve. I was able to volunteer our WebEx internet web meeting solution to allow someone from Canada and someone from Spain to participate in part of the conference.
It met a specific need for this meeting, and it revealed the possibilities of a distributed web meeting.
Now, the directors in Europe have decided to join the consortium of Campus Crusade ministries that share the cost of WebEx and share the benefits.
We had an opportunity to serve big and it revealed the possibilities.
We also had many opportunities to serve “small.”
One staff member asked Rob and me how we personalize our email that we send to our donors. He’s on our lists. Rob explained that we use Lyris, later I was able to set up a list for him to begin adding his donors.
We helped Stéphane from Switzerland a create a Global ConneXion community. He has begun what may be our first French community for his donors.
After the meetings ended Wednesday night, Roger (internet ministry director for Europe) asked Rob for some help with Outlook Express. As Rob helped him, they decided to create a GCX community for the Jesus Internet Ministry Agape Europe (the internet ministry in Europe).
“Great services reveal our possibilities, but small services reveal our consecration.”
This morning, I read that
we ought not be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed. (The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence)
I also read
all things are possible to him who believes; they are less difficult to him who hopes; they are more easy to him who loves and still more easy to him who perseveres in the practice of these three virtues.
Go beyond expectations and help in little ways. It’s an act of consecration. It’s a demonstration of faith, hope, and love.
Small services reveal our consecration. It’s not the greatness of the service, but the love with which it is performed.
“He who is faithful in little things is faithful in great things.”
Great thoughts, Dad! Mere and I were just talking about the challenge it is to remain diligent and faithful in the daily grind before God. It is easy to try and only live off of the “high” of change and the excitement and freshness that change it creates. It is a great reminder that “small services reveal our consecration”
I was deeply affected by Brother Lawrence’s comment, “it’s not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.” This is not a “paradigm shift” but a paradigm transformation.