Last week was Saint Davids Day! Saint David said to be joyful, keep the faith and do the little things you have heard and see me do. 'Do the little things in life' (or 'Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd' in Welsh) became a Welsh saying.

The little things we do, can have ripple effects. You may feel like you can't change the world but you can do small things to help those around you.

Never underestimate what God can use you for. Revivals started when a few started praying. One person can share the gospel with an evangelist that can go on to save many. A small charity can grow to feed a country. There is no limit to God's creative ways of using our gifts and talents to bless others if we let him.

So I felt to encourage us in doing great acts for God in our day to day. A smile, a kind act, a thoughtful gift or a telephone call can change someone's day, week or life! Let's listen to the Holy Spirit and act on his promptings.

I am telling you the truth: those who believe in me will do what I do—yes, they will do even greater things, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12

Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and the most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ Matthew 22:37‭-‬39

I’ve been contemplating/asking God what to say in this message for the last few days and there are two themes that keep coming up:

1) How utterly dependent on Jesus I am.

2) How hugely grateful I am for his abundant provision.

Currently and over the past two months I have poured every waking moment, blood, sweat and tears into turning our new house into a home. I have given it everything I’ve got, and more at times, but even with all my hardest effort there have been many, many points on the journey that I would not have met critical deadlines, and would have become overwhelmed and tempted to give up if it wasn’t for the grace and provision of God in His perfect timing.

I can’t say “thank you” enough to each and every one of you who has given of your time and energy to support Lydia & I on this journey. We genuinely would not have been able to do it without your practical help, encouragement and prayers and have been completely blown away by your generosity.

So in a round about way, my encouragement to you all this week, is to wholeheartedly give of yourselves to whatever it is that God has called you to in this season, because you will be a blessing and your impact can be life changing, and know that at the same time that you are giving all you’ve got, Jesus is upholding you and will make up for our shortfalls!

Here are two scriptures I’d like to leave with you:

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

And

Colossians 3:23-24

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

In the busyness of life, it can sometimes become all too easy to put spiritual disciplines like personal prayer or reading of the Word to the side. Time passes so quickly that other things can creep in as seemingly higher priorities and, before we know it, sadly days or even weeks can pass without giving intentional time in His presence.

If I’m honest, I haven’t spent much focussed time with God recently BUT I was blown away that the moment I stepped into the Church gathering yesterday, He met with me as I was. I was overwhelmed by His presence and I sensed His joy that I had chosen to come and meet Him despite all I have going on. I sensed His arms were wide open and His grace in abundance. I am so thankful for the cross and that His grace and mercy follows us all the days of our lives (Psalm 23:6).

This verse in particular is speaking to me at the moment - I hope it encourages you too:

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV)

Be blessed!

I recently shared an experience of getting stuck in the snow on a Scottish road trip. What was remarkable was how suddenly the circumstances changed. From there being no snow forecast with clear roads just a few miles from our destination, to the snow falling, the wind picking up and creating a drift that became unpassable within minutes.

Finding ourselves well and truly stuck going up a hill and anticipating a night in the car waiting to be rescued, I attempted to push the car up the hill (what was I thinking??) and going nowhere fast. But suddenly 4 or 5 men joined me from vehicles that had arrived behind us and we all pushed the car half a mile over the brow of the hill, and suddenly we were on our way again (thanks to the men of Turriff!).

Life can be like this, circumstances change so quickly when we are merrily going on our way. Trouble can suddenly come upon us and it’s easy to panic and think the worst. But as suddenly as trouble comes, so can deliverance… you just have to position yourself and be ready. It may delay… but don’t ever give up.

There’s a little more to this experience. In pushing the car up the hill with the help of the men of Turriff, I exerted myself more in those few minutes than I had done in a long long time, my heart was thumping at an alarming rate and with the cold air and snow, I could hardly draw breath.

As I got back in the car with thoughts of imminently meeting my maker, I coughed and coughed for nearly 20 minutes. I won’t try and describe the phlegm, but something certainly cleared from my lungs that night, because the next day I went to do some press ups and found to my surprise a greater capacity to exercise than I had for many months. The exertion had actually dealt with something hidden that I had just got used to.

God has an amazing way of taking the troubles of life, things that can alarm and pressure us, and then use them to deal with hidden issues and then expand and increase our capacity. I read the first chapters of Exodus this morning and it is a prime example of this. God took 70 people and multiplied them into a Nation, taking every trouble and pressure thrown at them, weaving his purpose throughout them all, culminating in the sudden arrival of a deliverer, Moses, who despite his own pressures, weaknesses and doubts achieved amazing things because he was willing to listen to, trust and obey the voice of the Lord above all the troubles and pressures he faced. (Exodus chapters 1-3)

I encourage you to keep reading the Word, listening for his voice and being willing to obey what he says. Do not be alarmed and discouraged by the sudden arrival of trouble for we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28

Have a great day.