Do not despise these small
beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. Zechariah 4:10a
The fan clicked softly as it swirled away the stifling heat
and humidity that had settled into little backwoods church. There was a strange
familiarity in this place I’d never set foot before. Strings pulling me back to
a time I’d never really known but yet my heart felt an instant connection.
We moved around so much when I was kid I never really felt
like I had any roots. How can roots get a chance to go deep when they’re never
allowed time to get past the surface?
How strange it was to feel roots coming up from this little
rock walled church pulling me into a heritage I was still trying to figure out.
I sat trying not to move for fear of the pew creaking and
giving away my giddiness over something I couldn’t truly explain.
The old familiar gospel music wafted me into a comfort I’d
been missing for a while. Hearing my father’s soft, familiar voice at the
pulpit of his childhood was the highlight of a trip to a home I’d never known.
As I sat listening intently to the message about God, not man
or the world, defining our identity it hit me like a ton of bricks. Soft,
gentle bricks though!
Never despise small beginnings!
My dad had spent so many of his formative years in this tiny
building that brimmed with larger than life people. What the building lacked in
sized it more than made up for in faith.
These people threw a pebble of faith into my dad and God
multiplied the ripples more than anyone could have ever expected.
How could they have known? Could they see the generations to
come that would be affected by their decision to arm my family with the knowledge
of the saving grace of Jesus?
No. The simple answer is no. But, nothing is small to our BIG
God.
Those small beginnings don’t identify who I am as my identity
is IN Christ but I never want to despise or look past those beginnings.
Your true identity is secure in your Heavenly Father,
not your
earthly father.
We must keep our eyes on Jesus and not let the enemy fill us
with lies about our identity. We’re more than conquerors and already victorious
through Christ. Operate from that
victory, not towards it. Live out who and whose you are each day.
I’m so grateful for the people who invested their time and
faith into my dad. They paved a way for generations to come!
I’m reminded today of how our earthly roots are nice to know
but they will never define who you are as only God can do that! His Word tells
us all we need to know about our true identity. Our roots can run deep and
really settle in Him.
Let’s dig deep into His word this week and really come to know
who God says we are and thank Him for that truth!
I'm sharing this post with several other blogger's at these Faith Linkups. I encourage you to check them out. If this post resonates with you and feel it would help others please feel free to share. Easy to share buttons below. ~Laura~
