It is natural to want to make a difference in your church. You don’t have to be more musical or make more money or even change diapers. Put this simple quote to work.

One day I saw a magnet that said,

“Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.’ -Theodore Roosevelt”

I purchased it immediately and placed it on my refrigerator. It is still there today. It inspires me. When I start to think “if only” I remember that quote. When I first started with the ARC they didn’t supply employees computers like they do today.  Lucky for me I had a little HP laptop. It was great for traveling but terrible for desk work. Because the screen was tiny. At the end of the day, I would have a headache from reading the tiny lines. Later my computer crashed.  It was the blue screen of death.  When Michael, my boss, heard about the problem. He said, “We can’t have our web guy using sub-standard equipment. I have been thinking you need a new computer for quite awhile.”  We drove to the Apple store. Within twenty minutes I had a brand new mac book pro. Talk about employee moral. I was stoked.  When you do what you can, with what you have you may not always get a new Mac Book Pro. But you will make a difference.

3 Ways to Make a Difference

1. Do what you can
We all have different talents and abilities. The goal is to find how to use these to benefit your church and others. It is important to remember that this changes over time. You will grow and the churches needs will change. It is up to you to hit the moving target. But YOU CAN DO IT!

2. Do it where you are
It is easy to feel like you could do more if you were pastor or ministry leader. The bible says “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.” Luke 16:10 NLT Make a difference where you are. People will notice. Even if they don’t God will. He make things done in secret known in public.

3. Do it with what you have
Opportunity, a poem by Edward Rowland Sill,  tells of a craven (cowardly person) who felt as if his sword wasn’t sharp enough. “‘This Blunt thing–!’ he snapped and flung it from his hand, And lowering crept away and left the field.” Then came a kings son. Wounded and weaponless, he snatched it up and saved the day. (1)  What one sees as an opportunity for failure another sees as an opportunity for success.

Don’t let the difficulties discourage you. Take what you have and make a difference.

Question: Have you ever had a quote stick out to you the way this one did to me?  Leave a comment below.

Source: (1) Edward Rowland Sill, “Opportunity”, Poetry-Archive.com. 2002. (accessed on 03-09-2013). http://www.poetry-archive.com/s/opportunity.html