The Small Things

One question has weaved its way, through the pine trees of a rehab house in Honduras, to the small cabin of the flight to Costa Rica, among the dirty walls of a ramshackle community center in a slum, to the school walls of The Refuge, to cabins of Renacer—"Do you really see me, your God, as Almighty?" I look at the mountains, and it is easy to say God is Almighty; I love the mountains. Yet, it is often harder for me to believe that God is almighty in the daily things, the little mundane things, and in human hearts. The answer is a resounding yes; God is almighty in the small things. Yet, I realize it is a choice—we have to choose to believe.

Small things I do to help...I spent a few days in a rehab house just outside of Tegucigalpa, Honduras with Jericho Ministries. It is a beautiful place that is home to 10 kids, who have been victims of abuse, exploitation, or are there for other reasons. They have an intense schedule—waking up at 4:40 am to have devotions. I'm there for five days, trying to learn their schedule, their life….it feels like I can do so little. But I have to trust that Almighty God will take the little things I can offer and use. I can plant, but it is only God who makes things grow. I was able to teach the girls a lot of different friendship bracelet designs, and they were bracelet-making machines!!!! It is a little thing I could do…..but Almighty God can weave it into a bigger plan.

Small things with lots of energy…KIDS! These past couple of weeks have been filled with kids—I am always amazed at how much energy they can pack in their little bodies. Especially as I had caught the gripe (cold/flu) from the rehab house, and was feeling miserable and very un-energetic. After flying to Costa Rica, I spent Tuesday with Transformation Ministries with Christ for the City. A small, dingy community center is filled with kids—you can feel the wooden walls vibrating with energy and song and music! The kids club meets twice daily (one group of children attends school in the mornings, and then another group in the afternoons, so it alternates to reach all the children), and I tried to drum up energy to sing and dance and love these kids. Being there for only one day, it is easy to get discouraged…what can I really do? Is there really a point in my being there? But I was reminded again and again that Almighty God has a purpose. I was there for a reason.

The LORD Almighty has sworn, 'Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.' Is. 14:24

Small reminders…Almighty God did show himself Almighty in the little things, time and time again. He planted so many little reminders throughout my stay….Hugo, the leader of Transformation Ministries, reminded me again and again that God has a plan, and that I was there for a purpose. I don't know why that was his tune, truly a God thing. And through a word here, a verse there, something casually mentioned in conversation, I was reminded constantly that God is working in our daily lives and that each day has a part in God's bigger plan which will prevail.

O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you. Ps. 89:8

Small things in daily transformation ….It is often most difficult to see God sovereign in people's lives. After all, we are such a stubborn lot. Of all the things that are hardest to change, it is a human heart. I know that nothing I do will ever change a person….it is only Almighty God. And I have seen living testimonies of how he changes hearts and lives, in small things, through daily things. On Wednesday, I served at La Carpio, another ministry with Christ for the City. After a two hour bus ride to the outskirts of San Jose, Costa Rica, I arrived at The Refuge, near a landfill and ripe with prostitution, gangs, etc. Here, teen girls who have dropped out of school find a safe place to earn their "GED equivalent." Without education, you don't have a chance. A little late from the two hour bus ride, I entered while they were doing devotions. They were sharing about gang life and their dreams for the future—and their fears that they don't have a future. We were able to encourage them that Christ is in them and God has a plan for their lives, and to pray for their protection. I also heard stories of transformation…how they had been on the streets, but were here wanting to serve God, wanting to work for a future. Almighty God can change hearts.

I was also reminded of this on Thursday, when I was able to meet with someone from Fundacion Rahab. They help prostitutes leave the streets and find a job, education, and a new life in Christ. She also had stories of the challenges and successes of women who changed their life, step by step, day by day.

Restore us, O God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved. Ps. 80:7

The small things of daily surrender….I was reminded that it is not about me….That it is about God, to whom be the glory. It is not about my finding satisfaction, my fulfillment—it is about his glory. Each day, I have the choice to glorify him, or to glorify myself. I will be the product of my choices—and I choose, today, to make it all about Him.

Who is he, this King of Glory? The LORD Almighty—he is the King of Glory. Ps. 24:10