The Bible says, “Shamgar…killed six hundred…Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.” Shamgar was just a farmer who owned a field, but he was willing to fight for it. His odds weren’t good: six hundred to one. But he beat the odds, saved his field, and delivered Israel. So you can start out small and end up blessing others greatly. The Bible says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” (Zec 4:10 NLT). Every oak tree started as an acorn. Tom Monaghan started Domino’s Pizza in 1960 with one little shop. He struggled for eight years. When his shop burned to the ground, the insurance company paid him only one cent on the dollar to cover his losses. All he knew was pizza, so he started another shop. He worked a hundred hours a week. Up to this point he had only taken a one-week-long vacation—for his honeymoon. By 1971 he was 1.5 million dollars in debt. But he stayed in his field, which was the pizza business, and tried something new. He limited his menu to pizza only, and decided to deliver it hot and fresh to customers at no extra charge. It worked. By 2007, Domino’s Pizza had grown to 6,100 stores across the United States and other countries. Today he’s one of the richest men in the nation, and he gives most of his profits to charity. What was his secret? He started where he was. He fought for what he believed to be his God-given purpose. And when he got knocked down he got back up.�

It’s easy to complain about the things you don’t have, and overlook or take for granted the things you do—simple things that enrich your life! Maybe this story by Dr. James Dobson will help change your perspective.

����������� “Some time ago a friend of mine punished his three-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became upset when she tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, ‘This is for you, Daddy.’ He was embarrassed by his earlier over-reaction. But his anger flared again when he opened the box and found it empty. He shouted at her, ‘Don’t you know that when you give someone a present there’s supposed to be something inside?’ The little girl looked up at him in tears and said, ‘Oh, Daddy, it’s not empty. I blew kisses into it. I filled it with my love and I wrapped it up just for you.’ He was crushed. Quickly he put his arms around her, hugged her and asked for her forgiveness. My friend told me that he kept that gold box by his bed for years, and whenever he got discouraged he’d take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it in there. In a very real sense, each of us parents have been given a gold container filled with the unconditional love of our children. There’s not a more precious possession anyone could hold.”

By the time she was sixteen, Romana Bañuelos had been deserted by her husband and left to raise her two children alone. Living in Mexico, she was poverty-stricken, untrained in any profession and unable to speak English. But that didn’t stop her. She had a dream—one she refused to let go of. With only a few dollars in her pocket she headed for Los Angeles, where she used her last seven dollars to take a taxi to the home of a distant relative. Romana refused to live on the charity of others. Immediately she found a job washing dishes, followed by a second job making tortillas from midnight until 6 a.m. From her two jobs she was able to save five hundred dollars, which she used to invest in her own tortilla machine. Over time, and with a great deal of hard work and study, she became the owner of Ramona’s Mexican Food Products, the largest Mexican food products business in the world. And that’s not all. She was hand-picked by President Dwight Eisenhower to become the thirty-seventh United States Treasurer. Romana Bañuelos exemplified what Eisenhower had to say about dreams and discipline propelling our future: “We succeed only as we identify in life, or in war, or in anything else, a single overriding objective, and make all other considerations bend to that one objective.” Whether you flip burgers or trade futures, remember these words: “Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.” God will only add His blessing to your best effort, so today, give it all you’ve got!

What if you’re single, looking for a mate and haven’t found one yet? God created Eve specifically for Adam. Then, “He brought her to the man. And Adam said: ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh’” (Ge 2:22-23 NKJV). When God brings you the right person, a spiritual and emotional bonding will take place. When you try to get ahead of Him you end up with regrets and recriminations. Peter de Vries explained it this way: “The difficulty with marriage is that we fall in love with a personality, but must live with a character.” So, wait on God!

����������� When God looked across eternity He saw you. He gave you certain traits and abilities that make you unique. He knew exactly who you would need to help fulfill His purposes and develop the gifts He’s given you. Until that happens, remember, He is your spiritual partner! He’s been caring for you all along: protecting you, providing for you and directing your steps, right? So be careful how you treat Him. If you can’t keep your vow to the Lord, it’s doubtful you’ll keep it to anybody else. Speaking to those who are single, Paul writes, “Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called…Do not be concerned about it…rather use it” (1Co 7:20-21 NKJV). Stop wrestling with your singleness and use this time to develop your relationship with God. Never forget that one of the greatest visitations of the Holy Spirit happened to a single, small-town girl named Mary, proving that when you trust God’s timing He always sends you the best!

Men and women often speak a different language. Men tend to be physical while women tend to be more verbal. Sometimes a wife’s memory for details can make her husband wonder if he’s losing his mind. And when you don’t understand each other it can feel like you’re living in the Tower of Babel. That’s the place in the Old Testament where families were divided because they couldn’t understand each other’s language, all progress stopped and confusion reigned. Before that happens, here are a few basics you need to weave into your daily communication:

����������� (1) Start by asking your partner to share why they do what they do, and say what they say. Study their methods of communication, and try to explain yours. In many instances you’ll be surprised, if not shocked. You may be saying one thing while your mate is hearing something entirely different. (2) Men tend to avoid confrontation, so cornering and interrogating your husband may bring you the opposite result to what you want. Solomon said, “It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than in a house shared with a contentious woman” (Pr 25:24 NKJV). The goal is to win your mate over, not win the argument. (3) The Bible says, “God…brings into existence what did not exist before“ (See Ro 4:17 NLT). The love you planned to show once your partner has changed, show it now, be patient, and watch things improve. Grace can transform your Tower of Babel into a home of love and unity. Ask God, He’ll show you how!

You say, “My mate is a terrible housekeeper. What can I do?” Although keeping house is historically seen as a woman’s responsibility, today roles have changed. Financial necessity may dictate that you both work outside the home. In many instances the husband helps run the house. It’s not a “right or wrong” issue; what’s important is that you make sure you’re both singing from the same song sheet concerning your expectations. When you expect one thing and your mate expects another, there’s trouble ahead! So, here are a few suggestions to help you:

����������� (1) Pick the right time. Don’t discuss difficult issues when you’re upset, wait till you both feel better. The Bible says, “Be willing to listen and slow to speak…anger will not help” (Jas 1:19-20 NCV). When emotions run high, instead of solving problems you just end up making things worse. (2) Try to compromise. Look for middle ground. Recognize that what seems important to you may not be important to your mate. Maybe it wasn’t important to you either in the early days, so you let it slide. (3) Learn to negotiate or you’ll always be frustrated. Aim for a “win-win” solution. This may mean washing the dishes or helping put the kids to bed so you can have more time together. It involves giving on both sides. (4) Pray with and for one another. Ninety percent of couples today don’t do this, yet it’s the most important thing you can do, because Jesus said, “If two of you agree…concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (Mt. 18:19 NKJV).