When one little thing makes big trouble...

It has been an interesting week in our house.  I was excited to spend time with Susie and Grace when Doug went back to work.  Wednesday was a great day. I had so much fun with Grace (and Susie).

 I was looking forward to spending Thursday with them.  Gwen and the kids were also visiting on that day.   But, alas, it was not to be.

On Wednesday morning Ken started a new medication.  We had labored long and hard to get this medicine since it was a fight with the insurance company.  And the only reason that Ken had even changed to this new medicine was because the insurance company would no longer pay for a different medicine that he had been taking for 4 months.  That old medicine was working really well for Ken.  His numbers were improved and he felt great.  But then Wednesday came......

He took one pill of that new medicine on Wednesday morning.  By 7:30pm on Wednesday, he was not feeling right.  And just a short time later, he got very, very sick.  At first we thought, well, he might just have a stomach virus.  But as the hours progressed, it became clear that he was having a reaction to this drug.  Needless to say, I did not go to Susie's to spend time with Grace!  I sure didn't want to expose her to anything - just in case!  In searching for information on this drug, we found that the exact symptoms that Ken had could be a reaction to this medicine.  Just to be on the safe side, Ken visited the doctors on Friday and all of his tests were normal.  But, boy did that one little pill make some big trouble! It was so good to see Ken returned to normal yesterday.  He got to participate in a long awaited photography conference and the weather was spectacular!  At one point it was 72 degrees (according to my car) on February 18!  And today is just as wonderful.

Yes, one small thing can cause lots of trouble.  But I love the reminder that even something little and seemingly insignificant can have a big effect.  All through out the Bible we see reminders that God uses small things to solve big problems.  He used a little boy named David with a very small weapon, to slay a very big giant who was against God's people.  David was just a small shepherd boy at that time.  God used the boy king Josiah at eight years old, to bring his people back to God by restoring the law.  Most of the disciples were just regular, ordinary men - not people of influence - until they met Jesus.  And through those first disciples the entire world learned about Jesus.  Not because of who they were, but because of who Jesus is!

One of my very favorite Bible stories is the widow's mite, found in Mark 12:41-44.  I clearly remember hearing this story in Sunday School and marking it in my first Bible.  The message I heard that day was that God would use even a very little amount, when it was given to Him.

I love this from Zechariah 4:10 NLT -  "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin."  

 It doesn't matter if you are really young, very poor or unknown.  With Jesus, anything is possible! So this is my encouragement to you today.  If you have an idea, go for it!  Feel like there is something that you are supposed to create, build or discover?  Take that first step.  Is there some issue that is really bothering you, but you don't think you can really make a difference.... well just try!  You will never know what you can accomplish unless you go for it.  I know that I am speaking this message to myself also!  Imagine the things that could happen if we all didn't keep listening to the excuses in our head, telling us why we can't succeed.

Yes, your one little thing (idea, thought, invention, book, message, issue) could make some big trouble with Jesus on your side!  And that would be a very good thing for Jesus and the world!  Let's be trouble makers!

Jesus, thank you for the reminder that you make small things very BIG just as you make all those BIG things very small.  Thank you for taking away the BIG mountains of problems from before us. Holy Spirit, give us courage and boldness to take that first step and quiet the voice of the enemy that would keep us from believing in ourselves and knowing that when we are weak and small, you are strong!  Thank you Jesus for using us.  Amen