3 Reasons Small Acts of Service Matter

His piece wasn’t as big as the others Fred realized. Watching the other bugs carry heavier pieces home, Fred dropped his. Why couldn’t he carry something bigger?

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Have you ever felt that way? Watching others serve in the big ways you’d like to but can’t. Or have you put a “price tag” on your service, more valuable versus less valuable? (I gotta stop doing it myself.)

Sometimes how I can serve seems so small, while others around me are pulling more weight. But we’ve all been there at one point. It could be age or financial status, but whatever you feel keeps you from serving in “better” ways — replace that idea right now with this:

Serve where you can, with what you have.

My Mom keeps reminding me of this, and it’s really the heart of service, and the key to serving well. Weed out the things you know you can’t do and do what you can.

The trouble is my adventure filled, story driven mind keeps telling me everything I can do is so small in comparison, so why even bother?

It’s a valid question, but one that usually begins the comparison game. Have you ever noticed how comparisons are like potato chips, you can’t make just one? Eventually all you’re left with is a skewed and depressing view of yourself.

But there is an answer to why we bother with the small things.In fact I believe there are 3 main reasons we need to do small acts of service and why we should think better of small acts. (If you’ve got any extra speak your mind below.)

1. God’s interested in my heart, in how I serve, not the size of the service.

It should be obvious to me that God gave all sizes of service, but my mind gets stuck on the big ones. Maybe you can relate, and if you’re in that boat let’s remember…

2. It could be small to you, but big to someone else.

I can’t measure my effect by my opinion. That’s just what’s going on between my two ears.

Telling someone you’re praying for them can make a difference in their life. A difference you might not realize until you’re on the other end of the stick.

3. The only way I’ll be faithful in big things, is to be faithful in small things. (Luke 16:10)

There’s no short cut to being faithful in service to others. You work from the bottom up.

So: Serve where you can, with what you have. Consider every act of service important.

Then your attitude can be a little more like this:

His piece wasn’t as big as the others and Fred was tempted to toss it aside and find a bigger, better one. Instead Fred smiled and hurried on with his tiny piece, it still made a difference.

fred-2b

I’d love to know, how do you serve others in small ways?

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The Grudge Keeper Book Review

It was one of those days, I felt grumpy at the world. As a generally easy going person I don’t like those days. The ones where everything someone says seems to be in THAT TONE, the one that sets my teeth on edge and I feel like I have to do what’s right even though my heart isn’t in it. Let me repeat, I do not like those days.

The fact that it’s hard sometimes doesn’t wipe away my responsibility to love others and be kind.

But:

  • What if every time you felt THAT way you could take THAT complaint to someone who would keep a record of it?
  • What if every time someone hurt you it went on file?
  • Would you feel better?

I don’t know about you, but knowing Jesus’ sacrifice has wiped my slate clean is one of the most comforting thoughts to me. Because I am by NO means perfect.

This idea is the whole premise of the book The Grudge Keeper.

I feel like I should say it in a deep announcer voice. “THE GRUDGE KEEPER, by Mara Rockliff and Eliza Wheeler.”

To me it’s the perfect visual for little kids (and big kids like me too).

People in Bonnyripple bring every offense, big or small, to the grudge keeper. A little old man who fills his house with all the complaints, and wrongs, done in the town. Got a problem? Bring it to the grudge keeper.

It’s amazing to watch the papers build up. And — I will not tell you what happens — but when everything comes to a head and people realize they need to forgive, well, there’s a very satisfactory ending. (Resist, ruining the book…)

I think it would be a perfect lead in to talking about grace and how God will wipe our slates clean and get rid of our record of wrongs when we follow him.

That’s why I’m recommending it for the perfect library find, and giving this book a rating of: Buy (do not pass go and do not collect $200 until you do).  Just kidding… I’m rating it as one that I will get one day for my bookshelves.

Is there a book you’ve used to teach a lesson to someone younger then you? I’d love to hear about it!

 

Hebrews 8:12 ESV “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

The Amazon link is an affiliate link.

 

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Big Doings – New Computer

That might officially be the dumbest title yet, but I’m so excited this week I don’t care! (Which is why I commented on it, go figure.)

No, I haven’t published a new story, though I’ll admit one is in the works. Can I just take a second and say: watching animal videos to see how to draw the main character in my next picture book is the best? It really is so much fun, and inspiring.

Bunny trail.

hurdlejump


Photo Credit: Foxtongue via Compfight cc

The real reason I’m excited is the hurdle of an old computer is out of the way. That’s right I’m clacking away on not just a new keyboard, but a whole new machine. I feel so special and blessed at the same time (been saving for a while). The reason I’m calling this a hurdle, instead of an excuse, is people tend to look down on the “I can’t do such and such, until I ______”. You fill in the blank.

Seems some can’t stand that type of talk, and I understand. Really most people come up with fearful or lazy excuses (guilty), but quite frankly sometimes you can’t do something without that little blank that’s driving you crazy. That was my computer, and I can’t tell you how glad I am to have that hurdle out of the way.

Now I’ll have to figure out how to accomplish everything I’ve wanted to do when I got — Ward. That is my sister’s idea for a name for the machine, which is a step above her high class suggestion of… *ahem* Herman. Which is an “Uhh… no. Absolutely not”.

Anyhow (spell check doesn’t seem to care for the attitudinal “Any-hew”), that’s what I’m up to this week.

Have you overcome any hurdles in your life lately, or is your hurdle really an excuse in disguise?  Whisper your confession below.

(Warning: whispers on the internet are a ton louder, just so you know.)

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My First Picture Book – Harold Hark – Release Party!

I don’t think I can describe how it feels to write this. A huge part of me is psyched, yet it feels unreal.

About a year ago a silly question popped in my head. “We have Hark the Herald Angels Sing, but what if there was an angel named Harold Hark who couldn’t sing?” Usually I get stuck in the idea phase, but this one refused to stay there and it’s the picture book that I’m releasing today!

My Mom is wonderful. On top of everything else she encourages me to reach for my dreams. So when the idea for Harold Hark popped into my brain, and out of my mouth, she loved it and reminded me from time to time that I should really turn it into a book.

I’ve always wanted to be a writer, and illustrating had seriously caught my interest last year, but even though I agreed I probably should turn it into a book I had no idea what to write.

Most of my ideas don’t come as a complete package and filling in the blanks isn’t always easy. So I put it on the back burner.

To be honest, without Mom’s prodding it might have stayed there, but her gentle encouragement came to mind when I was trying to decide what to get her for Christmas last year.

I thought it would be cool to give her the completed book as a present. I could imagine Mom’s face lighting up when she opened the box so my creativity kicked in.

And so with no story, no idea what Harold would look like, only an iPad to do my digital drawings on, and a 4 day deadline — I set to work.

 Can you say pressure?

You’re probably thinking I’m crazy right now, but where I can get something done for others on time I tend to be a procrastinator when it comes to my own ideas. Knowing I had a locked amount of time I looked for an idea and sat down to write.

I wrote the story in a few hours and spent the rest of the day sketching ideas until Harold’s face appeared on the page.

Then with the help of my sister the book was edited and we decided 16 simple images would work best. I sketched into the wee hours and for the next day and a half I turned them into digital images with my iPad. And when every image was complete I uploaded my book. The next day I found out the “deadline” was a misunderstanding on my part, but looking back I’m glad because it gave me that push to complete it.

Harold Hark was carefully wrapped and under the tree well before Christmas, and on Christmas morning it was so special to watch my Mom’s face when she opened the box and saw it sitting there. She had no idea I’d actually made it.

It was an amazing moment to hear her read it out loud for the first time.

And now Harold Hark is published! (Click to Tweet)

 Click Here to buy a copy of Harold Hark at Amazon.com.

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I’m so happy and blessed to have my first picture book out, and I hope that the story will mean as much to you as it does to me.

 “Harold can’t sing. Which would be okay except he’s an angel, and angels sing… right?

Instead of doing the best job in heaven Harold’s stuck with a little job. But then an idea strikes — why not try more important jobs? Walk with him as he tries building the golden cities and picking up a sword to join the warrior angels. It isn’t until everything seems hopeless that you’ll both learn a secret to serving God. And how a change in attitude makes all the difference.”

And those of you who buy a copy, from 10/7-10/14/13, can email me a copy of your receipt I’ll send you a small thank you PDF package! One you can print as many times as you want . (Just can’t sell them.) ;)

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Please tweet, post on Facebook or your blog, and pin about this! Harold Hark’s success depends on you!

I’d like to see how many people we could tell, who knows maybe we’ll reach the #1 position in Children’s Books at Amazon (wouldn’t that be so cool?!).

 Want to have some extra fun?

Check out the Harold Hark Pinterest Board and come back Monday for links to cool projects you can do with your kids!

Have a question? Drop me a line, tweet, or comment on this post and I’ll get back to you.

*The amazon link in this post is an affiliate link.

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5 Unknown Facts About Little Red Riding Hood

In every story about me people seem to leave some things out – important stuff.  You’d think since I’m such a well known character they wouldn’t, but there you’d be mistaken.

5 Things that weren’t in the story.

  1. 1. My name is not exactly Red. My name is Poppy. Yes, Poppy means red, but writers didn’t think Poppy Riding Hood had the same ring. I don’t think so – Poppy Riding Hood… sounds quite nice.
  2. My grandmother wasn’t sick.  She loves to say, “I’ve never been sick a day in my life!”. And scary thing is she’s right.
  3. If she wasn’t sick what happened? Come closer, that’s right get you ear against the screen. She twisted her ankle chasing a rabbit. They’d been getting into her garden and chasing one she missed one of it’s holes and wrenched her foot something awful. Grandmother isn’t one to sit still so I was sent to make sure her foot stood up.
  4. The wolf never swallowed me. That would just be disgusting. (People believed it?) But he was about to turn us into a nice dinner over the fire.
  5. This is what I really look like:

littlered-websm

 

Hope you enjoyed this post. This sketch of Red Poppy Hood was done digitally on my new tablet. Still getting used to everything, but I had fun making up this post. What do you think?

 

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