One of the things I enjoy doing when I go to the beach is searching for seashells.

I went out the other day looking for this [large shell]. This is what I found [tiny shell].

As I was scanning the tons of broken shell pieces for signs of a large shell hidden somewhere in the pile, I happened to spit this little thing. At first I thought it very insignificant. Then upon looking closer, I found that this little shell, though very small, was perfect.

As I looked closer still, I discovered that there were dozens of similar shells easily within my reach. Dozens of tiny, but perfect, seashells.

And I realized, if you're willing to look beyond size, you may find vast treasures awaiting you out there.

The inference here is that we should not despise small beginnings - nor small things.

For God has said -

We're always looking for the big things, the grandiose things. We're looking for the great miracles, the BIG revival, THE meeting, the big crowd, the great outpouring - and so often we miss the things happening all around us - miraculous, but small, so that we often don't even notice.

You will often find the treasures of life in the mundane - the everyday things.

We're all looking for the big Zap! Lord, change me - strike me with heavenly lightning - Zap me with some fantastic sign and wonder. Knock me out Lord, or at least down. Knock me unconscious and change me while I'm out.

Boy, is that the easy way or what?! We want the benefits with no effort. We want the grandiose.

I went to the beach looking for signs and wonders - a voice from the sky - a revelation or vision or something while in deep prayer. And God speaks to me while I'm looking for seashells. Of all times and places. It wasn't even spiritual.

Some of the greatest lessons, some of the greatest works, the greatest times of spiritual growth happen while we're doing something else - something everydayish.

Look at the disciples - little people - unimportant people - unimpressive people. How many of us would have picked these twelve as world changers?

David was small - a boy in the face of a giant - the least in his family.

The cloud Elijah saw was small - but from it came a great rainstorm.

Gideon's army was small - only 300 men - but each one handpicked by God. What's important?

The small boy with the small lunch fed 5000 with Jesus' help.

Remember, it was the still small voice where Elijah heard God speak.

At the seashore, the little waves sweep in the little treasures from the sea and all I had to do was pick them up. Very little effort was required. The ocean did all the work.

If you are willing to wait on God, He will bring it to you.

Lesson One - Do not despise small things!

Mother Theresa was considered one of the greatest women of this century. But how did she get there? By doing something great - something important? No! She did something small. She cared for the small, the poor, the unimpressive, the insignificant. And she did it one day at a time. And she did it under hard circumstances, in hard places, at hear times. She wasn't searching for greatness. She just did some very small, but great things - she possessed a great spirit, a giving spirit. She did not despise small things. She put her hands to the plow, and she was faithful.

Lesson Two - Do not be satisfied with small things!

Now, do not forget lesson number one. Small things are vital. But don't get complacent.

Remember the spirit that was in Caleb -

Caleb was please to be in the Promised Land which the Lord had given to the Israelites. But he was not satisfied just to settle with that. He wanted the mountain of Hebron - the walled city inhabited by the giants. He could have settled for what he already had, but Caleb knew what God could do, and he wanted more.

Do you want more? Don't despise the small things, but don't stop there. Desire on for the great things of God.

I still want the big shells - the big score. But to get those, I'll have to go out into the deep water. I'll have to get in where it's dark and cold - where it's sometimes dangerous. There may be sharks. Sometimes it'll be so dark I'll have to go by faith and feel my way through. Sometimes it'll be deeper than I want to go - I may be uncomfortable. But that's the price to pay if you want the big score. You have to get in over your head.

I'm thankful for the little shells. They are beautiful - they are perfect. And they are important. But I still want the big score - the big catch. Like Caleb, I want that mountain.

Do you want the mountain? Do you have what it takes to go get the mountain?

Pick up the little things around you, but keep reaching for the mountain.