By Tammy Phillips
July 1, 2024
Recently, we were blessed to spend two weeks in Italy. I studied art in college and was so excited to see the art, architecture, and landscapes of the masters. From houses hung off the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast to the remains of Pompeii and its multitude of mosaics from 100’s of thousands to a million little, tiny pieces to Rome: St. Peters Basilica, the Colosseum,
and the Pantheon, I was in awe. I actually cried inside the Pantheon. Only God could have inspired someone to build the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome in 126 AD. and bring it to completion. It stretches across 142 feet and rises 71 feet. It is an awe-inspiring piece of architecture. I know its purpose may not have been to honor God, but I know it could not have been built without His wisdom. Michelangelo once said that the Pantheon was “built by angels, not by men.”
When talking of Michelangelo, one has to mention one of the greatest works of art, the Sistine Chapel. Did you know it took him four years, 1508-1512, to finish painting the over 300 characters on the 12,000 square foot, curved ceiling? Did you realize he did not see himself as a painter, but as a sculptor? He had never painted frescoes before. He learned as he went and there was no you tube in the 1500’s.
Then we experienced Florence with the opulence of the Medici’s palaces, chapels, their extensive collection of statuary at the Uffizi Gallery, and then Michelangelo’s seventeen-foot David carved from one block of stone. AND colossal David was originally commissioned to adorn the roofline of the Dome of the Cathedral of Florence. Remember, this was before power tools or cranes. David was carved one chisel at a time.
My take-away from the trip is we think and believe way too small. I am talking on the miniscule level. I thought I believed and thought big. WRONG. I came to realize that “cannot” should not be in our vocabulary when it comes to working, achieving, and accomplishing what we are called to do.
The Bible says:
1. I can do any and all things with Christ.
“I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me and nothing without Him.” (Phil. 4:13, John 15:5)
2. Each person has his own gifting.
“…each person has his own gift from God, one of this kind and one of that. (1 Corinthians 7:7 AMP) and
3. We each have something to do because God’s gift and call are irrevocable.
“For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]” (Romans 11:29 AMPC)
4. We received the gift and need to use it to serve others.
So… “Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].” 1 Peter 4:10 (AMP
5. It is all God’s idea, and He makes it happen, anyways.
And there are [distinctive] ways of working [to accomplish things], but it is the same God who produces all things in all believers [inspiring, energizing, and empowering them]. 1 Corinthians 12:6 (AMP)
I enCOURAGE you to think big. Believe big. If you are called and gifted to do it by God, BY GOD you can do all things.
Complete in Him 