| Baby Steps Nov. 30, 2005 |
Mark 4:30-32 NLT 30 Jesus asked, "How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? 31 It is like a tiny mustard seed. Though this is one of the smallest of seeds, 32it grows to become one of the largest of plants, with long branches where birds can come and find shelter." Don't despise small beginnings! God has a tendency to take something small and cause it to grow into something amazing! Plants grow in stages. Children grow in stages. Money grows in stages. So does faith, knowledge and praise. Don't get discouraged over the proportions. As we begin to apply the little that we have been given, God will take it and turn it into more than we could ever imagine. We have to understand that we won't always start at the top. Sometimes we have to work our way up. When we are disappointed, we have to start with a baby step of praise and eventually it will grow. When we are fearful, we have to start with a baby step of faith, and it will grow. When we are confused, we have to start with a baby step of knowledge, and it will grow. When we are overwhelmed, we have to start with a baby step of prayer, and it will grow. God prefers us to take baby steps so that we can grow to our maximum potential. So many of us want to rush through the process so that we can reap from the end result, but God wants us to slow down and watch Him work. Walk, don't run. God wants to show us so much. Our blessings are in the baby steps. God Bless, Min. Tommy & Sis. Shatika Gray Additional Scripture Reference 1 Kings 17:10-16 NKJV 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 So she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.’” 15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah. |