The 300

And the Lord said to Gideon, “I will deliver you with the 300 . . .” Judges 7:7

It was the mid-fifth century when a small army made up of only 300 Spartan warriors led by King Leonidas valiantly held off 100,000 Persian invaders. In a slender canyon one ominous day, the Spartans waged war and claimed a staggering victory against the Persians who were under the command of King Xerxes. Centuries later, the idea of so few soldiers holding their own against a vast, military kingdom captured the attention of Hollywood. The result was a multi-million dollar visual extravaganza that had moviegoers glued to the screen. My own husband saw it twice, dubbed the300 one of his all time favorite films, and requested the DVD for Christmas that year.

That means . . . he liked it.

I’ll readily admit that my idea of a good time at the movies doesn’t include swords, shields and blood, so I’ve yet to take it in. Yet, I’ve marveled at the millions who have. It seems that we’re captivated when the seemingly impossible breaks open into a sweeping possibility—when the underdog takes the cake and comes out on top. Somehow, when we learn of their stories, we take on a bit of their strength and own some of their courage. We gird ourselves in their armor and their bow and arrow, and a bit of their victory seems to become our own. If they could do it, so can we.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There was another 300, you know?

The originals.

Hollywood hasn’t come knocking for their story, so maybe we can’t visualize it, but it is brilliantly recorded in the book of Judges. Gideon, the commander-in-chief, had a vast army of Israel’s leading men. They numbered more than 30,000 and were chomping at the bit to slay the Midianites. That’s when God dwindled his army down—not once, but twice. Not by a small amount but by thousands.

First, from more than thirty thousand to ten, then from ten thousand until there were just a few hundred left—three to be exact.

See Gideon’s eyes widen with surprise. Imagine the beads of sweat formulating on his brow. Hear his loud heartbeat quicken and pound in his chest. Envision the barrage of questions swimming around in his head.

This was Gideon going into a war with the 300.

God’s 300.

And with so few, Gideon led . . . and the victory was claimed.

Who knew that so much could be accomplished with so little?

Are you running on empty? Tired? Did 2009 dwindle down your resources not in small increments or miniscule unnoticed amounts but in heaps and vats spilling over with all the things you were certain you needed? Are you looking at the decrease in artillery you have and wondering how you are going to do so much with so little?

Hear the words of our Lord to you, valiant warrior: “I will deliver you with the 300 . . .”

Seems like so little doesn’t it? Especially when you are facing what you are facing and climbing the mountainous circumstances that you are climbing. But you are better off with God’s 300 than your own 30,000 because His deliverance is only guaranteed to come through His 300.

Bigger isn’t always better.

More is vastly overrated.

Believe it or not, you have exactly what you need in time, gifts, talents and spiritual resources. In fact, He has graciously “granted to you everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 peter 1:3).

Everything.

So, onward soldier.

The new year awaits.

It’s the 300.

It’s God’s 300.

And it’s enough

~ Priscilla Shirer

A normal day...

Normal day,

let me be aware of the treasure you are.

Let me learn from you,

love you,

bless you before you depart.

Let me not pass you by

in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.

Let me hold you while I may,

for it may not always be so.

One day I shall dig my nails into the earth,

or bury my face in the pillow,

or stretch myself taut,

or raise my hands to the sky and want,

more than all the world, your return.

~Mary Jean Iron

A Mess In the Hands of a Master

Then the Lord commanded the fish and it vomited Jonah up on dry land. – Jonah 2:10 Pearl Fryar is a legend in Bishopville, South Carolina. In a small declining town where there aren’t many tourist attractions or thriving fortune 500 companies, Pearl has given this place significance. For years, he’s worked 12 hours a day at his regular 8-5 job and then comes home to tend his garden into the wee hours of the morning. His efforts have produced 3 ½ acres of lush, manicured award winning plants and flowers that are not merely exemplary; they are breathtaking. When Pearl, an African-American man, first moved to Bishopville, he tried to buy a house in a neighborhood where he was shunned because of his race. They said they didn’t think he would keep up his yard. He was determined to prove them wrong. He went to one of the cities nurseries and asked the manager if he could go through a pile of discarded seedlings that he saw behind the facility. Under his supervision and special care those "useless" plants - the very ones that had been thrown out - have been made into masterpieces; works of artistry that are a marvel to behold. Without any training in the field of horticulture, Pearl has produced a landscape that experts are amazed to view. They say that what he has accomplished would be considered impossible—except for the fact that he has already done it. Pearl’s sanctuary of topiaries, boasting a myriad of diverse sizes and shapes, draw admirers and even students from around the country who come to study what Pearl has accomplished. Plants that shouldn’t be thriving in the climate and environment indigenous to Bishopville are doing just that. His spectacular lawn is the talk of the neighborhood and the entire town. He has taken nothing and has made something. That’s what happens when you put a mess into the hands of a master. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Your life is in the hands of a master you know? Not just the parts you are proud of but even the parts you are not. I’m certain that you think, as do I, that there are portions of your journey that should be thrown out if you are ever going to be of any good use to God. Could it be that the parts of your life that you are most ashamed to admit or most discouraged to remember are the very ones that God wants to gather and, under His special care, cause to flourish? He’s in the business of making the spectacular out of the spoiled. Jonah saw it happen. He’d been a rebellious soul who’d run from God: His voice, His will, and His clear instructions. The prophet’s disobedience had cost him greatly. He suffered consequences from which He’d most likely thought he’d never recover. And yet, the merciful Master, determined otherwise and commanded that the reluctant missionary be given another chance. Released from the belly of the whale, Jonah ran to Nineveh to tell them the message that God had given him to share. He didn’t arrive in a limo, dressed in a tuxedo and walk down a red carpet rolled out through the city gates. On the contrary, his entrance would have been a disastrous sight to behold. The mess of the past three days mostly likely still clung to him. Evidence of the rebellion he’d chosen and the consequences that followed would have been apparent. The stench of gastric fluid and the rotting foods that had shared his three day stay lingered. Loss of hair and discolored skin were further proof that this man had a story to tell. No doubt, he’d have wanted to discard that record of his history like any of us would. And yet, God called him to stand in front of a group vulnerable and exposed and allow it to be his message. Jonah’s mess in the hands of a Master worked a miracle. For when the pagan Ninevites saw the preacher and heard His message: “Then the people of Nineveh believed in God. . .” – Jonah 3:4 What a revival. What a harvest. What a miracle. I guess that’s what happens when we put our mess in the hands of a master. “Gardening books will tell you that some of these things in my garden can’t be done, but I had never read them when I got started. Not knowing ahead of time that something is supposed to be impossible often makes it possible to achieve. I didn’t have any limitations because I really didn’t know anything about horticulture. I just figured I could do whatever I wanted with any plant I had.” Pearl Fryar Bishopville, S. Carolina http://www.fryarstopiaries.com Priscilla Shirer www.goingbeyond.com/jewelry-box

Today:

What I do you cannot do; but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful. Habakkuk 3:19 (The Message) Though the cherry trees don't blossom and the strawberries don't ripen, Though the apples are worm-eaten ... and the wheat fields stunted, Though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty, I'm singing joyful praise to God. I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God's Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I'm king of the mountain! "God, if I become tense or fearful this day, step in and quiet my heart, clear my mind, and flood me with Your power and peace. Amen" It's impossible." said pride. "It's risky." said experience. "It's pointless." said reason. "Give it a try." whispered the heart.