Advent(Dec. 12): The Little Things

December 12, 2015

When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.

Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.”

Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud.

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

Ruth 1:6-9, 16

"Ruth left the land of idols she had grown up with and went back to Naomi's land - Bethlehem.

At first, it didn't look like any miracles were happening in the story of Naomi and Ruth - death, loss, hunger, relocating to a foreign land - but then little things began to happen.

Ruth just happened to meet Boaz, due to hunger that led her to gathering the left-over wheat in his field
...and she just happened to tell him her story
...and Boaz just happened to offer her help.
Boaz just happened to take Ruth as his wife and buy back her family land.
Boaz's mother just happened to be Rahab...and the family linage continued when Ruth and Boaz had a son, Obed....and the family grew...until many, many, many great-grandsons later, Jesus was born one day in Bethlehem."

Nothing really "just happens" - God's plan is slowly, but surely unveiled and the Savior of the world would be born through these events!

Another great example:

As we also look at the Christmas story of when Gabriel told the teenage Mary of God's plans for her, he had to strengthen her faith. He said, "For with God nothing will be impossible." (Luke 1:37)

We all need that reminder from time to time.

Zechariah 4:10 says, "Who has despised the day of small things?

"There is never a night, never a darkness when gifts and miracles and joy aren't coming - coming right to you."

And remember this:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."(Romans 8:28)

God often allows the path to be difficult because He intends on refining us and preparing us for our place of promise. He is intent on extracting from us, that which our enemy would love to leverage against us.
If you’re in a season of refining, lean in. Trust the loving hand of your precious Savior and know that He will lead you to the other side. Refuse a sense of entitlement and don’t demand to be understood.
Instead, humble yourself and seek to understand what the Lord is doing around you.
He will faithfully lead you and you will be strengthened as you go.(source)

God loves to use small things. The thrust of what follows, however, is the implication of that for us. Mark it down in big letters and underscore it!

The fact that God delights in using the small things means a great deal to his children.
What small things have you seen God use in your life? Think of things you may have overlooked. Someday they may make perfect sense! (source)

Come back again, as I share Day 12 of the Advent Calender...in the book, "Unwrapping the Greatest Gift".(All quotes listed are from the book, unless indicated.)

From December 1st to December 25th

I will be sharing each story in this beautiful book, as well as some of the breathtaking pictures. Won't you join me? Stop by each day to see the stories shared. If you would prefer I email you each days post, please leave your email in the comments section or send me an email at apop12341@hotmail.com
and let me know. I will make sure each post is sent to you.

To view the whole series on one page, go HERE