The Lord has something today for those who have dreams of a future in ministry. They have vision and they know that God has laid a burden upon their heart, but they are stuck in the here and now.
Sometimes we are so visionary that we don't know how to live in the reality of the moment and we forfeit ministry right now for a ministry that never materializes. I'll come back to this subject but first let me share with you some interesting facts about a great man who started out with everything against him.
George Washington Carver was born into slavery in Missouri in 1864. This man was destined to be an educator, scientist, farmer, and one of the South's greatest inventors and innovators.
As an infant, his mother was sold and shipped away, and Carver, after being abducted, was ransomed by his master in exchange for a race horse. Given his freedom, Carver worked as a farm hand and still managed to receive a high school education. He went on to attend college, receiving a degree in agricultural science in 1894. More educational achievements followed.
The path to 'success' in what God has for us is determined by a number of things. But two of the most important qualities are determination and faith. The Lord Jesus said, "Be faithful in small things and I will make you ruler over much". This is not a principle to be ignored.
Carver, who had a deep, abiding faith in Christ, asked the Lord, "Lord, teach me the secrets of the Universe". God replied, "George that is too big a subject for you. I want you to take a peanut...that is more your size...and work on it."
Today it is a matter of record that Carver discovered 325 uses for the peanut and more than 100 uses for the sweet potato. He revolutionized farming and technology in the south. He was the innovator of crop rotation, which restores nutrients to the soil. From peanuts he gave us cooking oil, printers ink and of course, peanut butter. And from sweet potatoes he developed synthetic rubber, paving material, flour and starch, just to name a few. He also developed 75 products from pecans and extracted blue, purple and red paint pigments from the Alabama clay soil. Along with Henry Ford he developed synthetic rubber from the goldenrood weed.
Sometimes we think God wants to reveal to us the secrets of the universe, when He really wants us to start with a peanut. Sometimes He wants us to be persistent and filled with faith and simply serve where we are with all our heart, doing the best that we can for His glory in all that we do. If we do, he will open doors and enlarge our territory.
Carver accepted God's plan for him...the lowly peanut. And following that pathway, Carver was led by God into much greater things than he ever dreamed. Today, why not use the giftings that God has given you and serve in the lowly place where he has you? Give Him all that you are and all that you have and leave the 'secrets of the universe' to Him. He will reveal them in His time.
Be faithful and be persistent and God will reward you greatly.
Here's a little video on George Washington Carver. There are others that are better quality on youtube, but
this is the only one I found that focused on his faith as well as his achievements.
