Thank you, Virgie. Glad you liked that devotional. I collect these 
gems and pass them along to The Electronic Church whenever I deem 
them appropriate, instead of sending forward after forward like I was 
doing some time ago.

Thanks for the prayers for Mari and me, too. We need them.


LOVE IN CHRIST,

Reeva Parry.

Legend has it that on Friday 11/16/2007 06:49 AM, VIRGIE UNDERWOOD said:

>Hi Reeva,
>A powerful message that all of us need to take to heart.  Sometimes 
>I forget to remember how important the small things are.  Thank you 
>for reminding me. I am praying for you and Mari.
>
>Love in Christ,
>
>Virgie and Lady Hoshi



>From: "Reeva Parry" <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>>The Value of Small
>>
>>
>>Is it possible that we have misunderstood, or ignored, the value of 
>>small? Jesus saw something in smallness that we may overlook.
>>
>>Consider these statements:
>>
>>   "'When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
>>
>>   "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for
>>
>>   one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'." 
>> (Matthew 25:39-40. NIV).
>>
>>   "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or 
>> thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and 
>> did not help you?'
>>"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for 
>>one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' "Then they will 
>>go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." 
>>(Matthew 25:44-46).
>>
>>Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him 
>>stand beside him. Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this 
>>little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me 
>>welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all--he 
>>is the greatest." (Luke 9:47-49).
>>
>>"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything 
>>you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For 
>>where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." 
>>(Matthew 18:19-20).
>>
>>
>>Jesus saw the value of small.
>>
>>We tend to focus on big. Big cars. Big houses. Big churches. Big 
>>budgets. Big signs. Big events. Big bank accounts. Big projects. 
>>Big attendance. Big numbers. Big buildings. From the outside 
>>looking in, would it appear that we believe that big equals better?
>>
>>Pay attention to the small stuff.
>>
>>Jesus did not seem to be implying that big is necessarily bad. He also
>>encouraged us to have enough faith to do big things. He emphasized
>>
>>having a faith that will move mountains, faith to walk on water, and
>>that the disciple's faith would enable them to do even greater 
>>things than they had seen Him do.
>>
>>However, we must not forget that those big things begin with 
>>something small:  faith the size of a mustard seed, taking one step 
>>outside of the boat, serving one another, and washing feet. Jesus 
>>pointed to children as our example of what "the kingdom is like." 
>>He spoke of being the least in the kingdom. He reminds of the 
>>importance of simply offering someone a cup of water.
>>
>>Perhaps we should consider our plans and reevaluate our approach to
>>life and to ministry. We would do well not to allow ourselves to be so
>>enamored by the big that we miss the value of the small. It may very
>>well be that the greatest impact you will have this week in the 
>>life of another human being will come from doing something small. 
>>One conversation. A word of gratitude. A kind comment. A one-on-one 
>>conversation. A moment of listening. A small group study. Two or 
>>three gathered to pray. A single thoughtful act. A good application 
>>of the Scripture. A phone call. A text message. An email. A gentle 
>>touch. A note of encouragement. A small gift. An hour of your time.
>>
>>Just this week, pay attention to small. Let God turn it into something
>>big ... but only if He wants it to be big.