Little things sometimes mean so much more to us then we realize at the time. This note is going to focused on a few small things that happened a few years ago. Over time these things have really grown to mean a lot and helped to form the basis for a lot of what I work at in the Kingdom of God today.
Several years ago, Team Swap received a email from a site visitor. That in itself was rare at the time as we were just getting going. At the time it seemed that it took a month worth of visits to get a email from one person. Times have change now, mainly due to our blog, but that is enough about that. Anyway, the email said they had visited the site, they liked it and that they would visit again. All of that is encouraging obviously. Always nice to know someone likes or appreciates the labor of your hands, and the fact they plan to return is a encouragement as well. What really sealed the deal though was who signed it. The name on the email was that of a cyclist that I had looked up to while growing up in the mid to late 80's, and no it was not Greg Lemond. This person did ride in the Olympics though and even rode professionally in Europe for several seasons. To maintain the privacy of the individual that is all I will say.
At first, I was not sure if it was the same person that I was thinking of so I quickly sent a email back, thanking him for the visit and encouragement. I also ask if he was the man I was thinking of. He was kind enough to respond in just a few minutes and confirm he was who I had hope it was. WOW what a day.
What made this email even better was that I knew that the man was a professed Christian due to some things I had read and seen elsewhere. I also know that his conversion to living for Christ had been dramatic enough that it had impacted how others viewed him within the peloton / professional cycling world. Wow, sounds like the average church attendee could learn from this guy.
Anyway, via his web site (which is now gone) and the emails at the time I learned that he had a few rough years (recent divorce, lost part of two fingers in a accident ,etc). I have to admit that though I have not heard from him in a few years now, and his web presence is gone, I still pray for him regularly. I do this not because of what he did professionally, but because he inspired and encouraged me.
His email came to me when I really needed encouragement about this web stuff. I also know that there were a lot of time in high school that his story and life kept me on the bike everyday. I guess what I am saying is that he encouraged and inspired me in the past, so I pray for him to be inspired and encouraged as well today. That habit, praying for those that encourage and inspire me, I think is one of the greatest tools God has given me within the body. Understand I do pray for others, but I pray diligently and regularly for those that encourage me. It is the idea that if you help those that help you it helps you as well in the process.
At the time of the original email, I joking told my old friend Greg that the only emails I ever seem to get are from people I really admire (this cyclist, Ted K from Tourniquet - who at the time had recently sent me a email thanking me for linking to their site). So understand, I am not complaining. I am very willing to only get a few emails and comments in exchange for thousands of visits when the comments and emails are from people that encourage and challenge me. Agree or disagree I always am encouraged when people choose to participate and share their views. That makes me think more, and also makes me want to continue working. So, you never know that what a little note, a email, a call, a comment, or a card could mean to another person. That person may be someone that looks to you for encouragement and inspiration.
Moving one, another encouragement came only a few days after the email from the former pro cyclist. A person sent me a email saying that they had been unable to sign up for the Team Swap newsletter and would like some help. WOW...two encouraging emails within a week (hey a few years ago that was BIG around here)....anyway, WOW!!! God was on fire at Team Swap, and to make it even more amazing it was about the weekly newsletter option on the main page. That option had been on the site for over six months at that point and no one had ever signed up - it turns out it may have been malfunctioning for a large part of that time so I can not say that no one tried, but anyway this was my first official SIGN UP. I corrected the problem by going to another newsletter list provider, and sent them back a sign up verification. At the time they were the only recipient of the newsletter, though we never told them that. Due to the Lord’s blessings, today we have a next number of recipients. The important thing though was that even with just one person on the list each week we sent out a newsletter from the site with current site news, updates, prayer requests, etc. That person signing up encouraged us tremendously, it made us stick with the newsletter and not give up, and that weekly update letter is one of the biggest sources of prayer support we have today.
It is amazing that today we have people that we have never meet face to face praying for us, this ministry and it’s continued impact on the world. Small steps, lead to giant leaps. That is a real encouragement to me. The fact that people are also watching the site has made us aware of site issues in a more immediate fashion, it has made us more diligent in resolving site problems, and also lead to us to add features / links as we are always getting feedback from those that receive the weekly update letter.
Lastly, but certainly not least, about that same time there was a college aged woman at our church that encouraged us. She barely knew me then, in fact she had only known me less then a month when this happened. Anyway, she had a YOKE talk coming up. YOKE is middle school outreach ministry, most of you probably know that so no insult intended just wanted to be sure everyone knew the situation. Anyway, it was going to be her first time speaking, and she was suppose to go for about three minutes. She ask me if I could look at some of my books at home, and find her something to say. WOW!!! I had only known her for two weeks, and she is already asking me to help her with her ministry. What a encouragement.
At the time I was wondering if God even really wanted me involved with the college and career ministry at the church. Well, He answered that prayer QUICKLY!!! Now for the problem, I have never taught middle school students in my life. To make it tougher she only has three minutes. Come on I could do three minutes and not even be done reading the scripture yet. Anyway off too the library o Frank (el biblotecha Pancho for our Spanish friends) I headed.
The great news is that before I got home to my books, God gave me a better idea. Why give her a copy of a lesson from someone else? I know her, she ask me, why not write her a custom lesson for her talents and skills. So I did, and I gave it too her later that week. She called me the following Monday and told me it was perfect for her kids, her abilities and skills. WOW!!!! God was really blessing me like a fiend at the time. He showed me that He was moving in my world, He was keeping me encouraged, He was allowing things to happening, and I that got me excited.
The point in me sharing a few small things that happened a few years ago, was to say that those are the things that laid the ground work to what I am involved with today. Hopefully, and from what I have seen, God is probably giving you some sort of encouragement today as well. Sure, you may have to look a bit to find it, but it is there. When you find it, cling to it and rejoice in how the Lord is working in your world.
Romans 5:1-5 - 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
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James 1:2-4 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Have a great day, know that God is moving and blessing all around you. His blessings are being poured out to overflowing. Rejoice because today is the day of salvation and blessing. Know that those blessings today lead to even greater things in the future. He is working today to make you the person that you need to be tomorrow.
