What Will You Do With Your Small Opportunity?

Most of us have some sort of dream or desire to do something in life. We travel through life reading others' quotes, seeing posters, watching them on TV, or seeing them in movies and we may want to be like them in some way. I would guess that your list is longer than 10 if you started compiling one. As you think of different parameters to determine your desires, your list will grow.

Maybe it is fame - you'd have a certain list. Maybe it is money - another list. Maybe it is a specific talent - another list. Maybe it is appearance - another list. Adding them all together would likely create a decent sized list.

There are only so many people in this world that will be known for something "great" they did. However, there are billions of people who will not be known for the small things they did to make someone's life that much better. That brings us to this week's quote...

Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day. ~ Sally Koch

When I started my job at the hospital I went through orientation. One of the things I remember our CEO emphasizing was helping others out, with an unwritten emphasis on "no matter the cost." In other words, we could be late to a meeting to make sure customers were helped out.

Last week I was at the hospital and a lady was noticably lost. She was at the elevator and trying to get back to a classroom she was having a training at. When asked, she said she was looking for the classroom. She had taken a "wrong turn" and was opposite where she should have been. I told her that I would take her to the classroom (another suggestion by our CEO - don't just tell directions, show them). We had a brief but pleasant conversation and connected on several levels. I explained that I was relatively new, so I understood her being lost, as I am still learning the layout.

I like the philosophy of our CEO by showing them where to go, rather than just telling them directions. I like the fact that I doubt I will ever run into that lady again (as she was also from out of town), but I would like to think that if she were asked her impression of that portion of our hospital would be favorable.

Was that a "great" opportunity. By my definition, no it wasn't. To the woman who was lost, it may have been. So it definitely was a small opportunity. I think all people's lives are going to be filled with small opportunities. However, small opportunities can make great differences in the lives of people.

As you go through life, look for the opportunities to make the small differences in people's lives...as it may make a great difference to the people you meet.

Now it's your turn...what small opportunities have you taken advantage of to make a difference in someone's life?

The People You Meet

You really can meet some interesting people when you are traveling and have to take public transportation to the airport.

The day has come that I am finally coming home from Atlanta. I have missed my family tremendously. Their little-big hugs are being yearned for by my neck.

As I am leaving the hotel I must take a shuttle to the subway (MARTA) stop. Our party is combined with another group from our conference and I am placed next to a lady from Green Bay (WI). We exchanged backgrounds and touched on the information from the conference.

After I was on the MARTA I started a discussion with a grad student from the Atlanta area. We had a good visit as he was interested in hearing about our team's work. He stayed on for about half of the trip, then exited at his stop.

Right before the young man had exited, a man got on the MARTA, sat down in front of me and opened his Bible and started reading. I couldn't help but notice being a minister. He was reading from the book of John. I asked him if he was reading for fun or otherwise. He said for fun, as his Bible class was studying John and he had already read the required reading. I told him I was a minister and we had a short visit about church and faith.

Since boarding the MARTA I had noticed a retired couple sitting across the aisle from me with luggage. Naturally, I presume they are going on a trip. After inquiring I find out they live in Atlanta and they are flying to Baltimore to visit family. Grandparents take every chance they can to visit grandkids!

They shared about their kids and asked about where I was from. After telling them, the husband said he had been to my town before the interstate was completed, which was pre-1970. The MARTA made it to the airport stop and hundreds of people rushed off.

After arriving at the airport, I eventually made it to the security line. If you haven't flown ever or since "9/11" this can be a long line. Today, in "one-of-America's-busiest-airports" the line was long and slow.
During that long line I met a lady going to Michigan who, after mentioning that fact, was picked up in conversation by the man in front of her.

So, after a few minutes of deciding whether or not to inquire about the gentleman behind me, I "went for it." Turns out he was a chemist of German descent, working for a Swiss company, traveling with an Indian colleague from Atlanta to Tampa. Travel is a natural part of his week. We had a good conversation. When I took out my 17" laptop for security check he "whoa'd" about how big it was, for his was a 10-12". After security we said "goodbye" and parted ways.

Then I eventually met up with my team and boarded the plane home, sitting by my colleague and the window.

My flight is not over, but this portion of describing my adventures in talking to people have come to a close.

I don't know if I will ever cross paths with these individuals again. However, what I do know is that I made it a point to bring something positive to them and that is a way I can share my faith and have fun doing it.

People, get to know people, it can be very interesting.

False Peeps

Friends are there to encourage and support you as you go through life. Occasionally, you will experience the tragedy of a person of whom you thought was your friend, turn their back on you. It is full of heartbreak. One might argue you were a bit delusional in your trust, depending on how deep or solid the friendship was at the time.

Maybe you've been the friend who has "pulled the wool over their eyes" and caused someone else to be delusional in your friendship.

Either way, it hits home about what Jesus is saying in Matthew 7:21-23 about saying "Lord, Lord" to Jesus. As we reflect on that, here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

• Peep Show ~ Is your life in Christ just something for "show?" Are you doing the various actions for others (spouse, family member, parent, public) to see what you do? If it is for show consider the end result possibility "I never knew you...away from me you evildoer." Kind of frightening!
• A Name is Just a Name ~ As I am a parent there are times when I ask my son to reply "Yes, sir" when it comes to responding to something I've instructed him to do. Partly because he has said "Yes" in a snotty way. He will respond with the words "Yes, sir!" in an emphatic and snotty way. You could easily read that as simply emphatic, but that isn't the way he is responding. There are different ways to emphasize a word or words. And by that emphasis would convey various things.May we acknowledge Jesus as our Lord, but do it in a way that brings honor to Him, not belittling.
• Reflect Your View ~ Is Jesus "Lord" of your life? It should be reflected in that way, so much you don't even need to say anything - people should see Him in you. I have my moments when I try to tell a joke or funny story, but it doesn't come out well, so I have to explain it. May our life properly reflect Christ in a way we don't have to tell people - they will just see Him.

Our following of Christ must stem from the heart. The heart is vital to the rest of the body. When God has our heart, he will have the rest of us too.

Does God have your heart?

Making Room

Inventions are coming out all the time. Just when you thought about everything that could be invented had been…a few months later, something else is out on the market. Sometimes when I see a new and clever product, that seems very logical, I think, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

As I observe a newly released product I will either be attracted to it, repelled by it, or want to investigate it. Sometimes it is just a short time before I realize that this product does not serve much purpose with me. However, for much of the world, they are buying the product “left and right.”

Do you fall into one of those categories? Do you like to buy it, refrain from buying it, or look more into the features? When it comes to the product, it may lead to a boom in sales over a short period of time. It seems that no matter what is invented; there is always more for more inventions. This thought brings us to this week’s quote…

The world has the habit of making room for the man whose words and actions show that he knows where he is going.  ~ Napoleon Hill

Similar to inventions, people who are confident in where they are going in life seem to be attractive. Also, similar to inventions, there is always room for another confident person who makes a positive difference to people in life.

It can be interesting how “attractive” people are that display a knowledge of confidence. I can speak from experience that I have followed someone with this trait; also I have had people follow me based on this trait.

As you are going about life, develop that positive attitude, show it with your words and actions, and lead someone to a great place…there’s always room for more!

“IF”…I Have Great Faith But Not Love

I remember when I was thinking about getting into preaching (which was the furthest from my career-intended mind) I was a bit naïve and ignorant. I didn’t have a clue what all was really involved, and the depth of that involvement. I knew that a preacher preached, worked in an office, married and buried people, visited people, taught classes, and counseled people.

These were many of the descriptions of what a preacher would do. They each took up varied amounts of his week. Many ministers are good at most of the properties and challenged by the rest.

There is a common ingredient that must be interlaced throughout it all, love. If a preacher has an ability to do all of these with great success, but not love, then it does him no good.

Sure, he may be able to externally perform them, but without much love for those who he is ministering to, the tasks are unimportant. That concept works with everyone and how they view love versus the various abilities they possess.

Sunday we looked at how faith without love does not profit us anything. Here are some applications to choose from to use this week…

• “Things” are not important ~ Most of us would like to have more “things” in life. Whether they were material things or abilities/talents. Having all the “things” in the world, but not love is meaningless and we should weigh it as that.
• Worthless is not Worthwhile ~ Though there are good things about having very little as it can humble us. Here being “nothing” is literally that. Being nothing is not of any aim for us. However, that is our destination if we do not have love.

Being able to love can be a tricky process. Taking the “softness” out and keeping it practical in all circles can take some time to understand what love actually entails. What is very important to recognize that no matter what we have or can do, if we don’t have love, it is worthless.

Monday Mentionings: Probing the Possibilities - Nehemiah 2:17-18

It was a lot of fun to get together for a fellowship dinner! All the food I had was delicious!!!

Nehemiah is getting ready to start building, and he has rallied the people to be ready to build their portion of the wall. Are you ready to start “building”? As we looked today at a preparatory time before the building process begins, here are some other applications to take with you this week…

1. Taking some time before you begin a project/make a decision is good to allow your mind to be focused on the task ahead. Before we begin “building” what did you SEE today? What did you see that needed to have you and God team up to make a difference?
2. Take these few days before the building begins to pray. What did you get inspired to pray about to want to see changed in your community/neighborhood/circle of influence?
3. You may choose to keep these “plans” between you and God before you become assured that this is what God wants you to be involved in. As Nehemiah looked around the city – you may choose to drive around the city until you find an area that you feel God is calling you to be involved in.
4. A song that was sung when I was a teen (which I am sure many of you know or have heard) was “It Only Takes a Spark”. The point of the song is that it doesn’t take much to get a fire going. As our church would be amazing if everyone took the responsibility, each day, to try to “spark” someone else. If we limit being enthusiastic to Sundays, then we will probably forget from one week to the next. So, if we are doing it each day, Sunday will just be another day to “spark” someone. What will you do to “spark” someone today?
5. Remember, as we get ready to build, you are not expected to “build a wall, but to raise something more than that. We are called by God to go and search amongst the rubble of a fallen world to find precious stones that shall be polished by God into the smooth stones they once were.” (quote from outside source). Have you moved into the circle to say, “God, here I am, use me”. I HOPE SO!!! (If you are struggling with this concept, feel free to let me know how I can get you there.)

What an amazing book! I have really enjoyed Nehemiah! It inspires me to see what God and I can do when we team up to help connect people to His Son!

Have a super week!!!

Wondering who I can connect to Him next ~