Who hath despised the day of small things, (Zechariah 4:10)?

Updated: the devotional journal eBook Living the Daily Things is on sale today for $1.99. Tomorrow the price increases.

The greatest physicist, musician, pastor, nurse, or football player in human history had a day of small things. We certainly did.

I’m thankful for the small group in Vidalia, Louisiana (USA), who allowed us to become their pastor. Norma and I were of unproven quality in pastoral ministry. If anybody had told us there was such a thing, the church would have been on Home Missions status, as it was only a few months old.

People like the Cottons, Etheridges, Ellises, Thorntons, Parkers, and Cupstids were tools Jesus used to shape us. In Vidalia, we made and discipled our first convert. He serves the Lord today over 35 years later.

God turned Curtis’ life around. The time the two of us spent setting up fireworks stands in freezing weather, delivering mid-week lunches, and barbecue chicken helped make both of us.

Vidalia allowed me to be involved first as a member of the Board of Adjustments and later as the first president of the reconstituted Vidalia Chamber of Commerce. We thought Vidalia was our final destination. With only one family coming to our church because of relocating from Winnsboro, Louisiana, the Vidalia Revival Center had healthy growth - converts, disciple the converts, and involve the disciples, developing some of them into leaders.

Norma and I learned so much. We experimented with new things - these kind people were part of the trial and error. There were no failures, only things we proved would not work for us.

These people let me grow as a pastor. Vidalia is where I became comfortable in my own skin and stopped trying to be someone else. It was where the comparing myself with others ended.

When driving through Central-east Louisiana, I find myself recalling teaching a What the Bible Says . . . Home Bible Study in one home and then another, doing a follow-up visit to the house over there, or on Sunday morning picking up children in the church van.

Norma worked so hard.

• Saturday morning, she walked through neighborhoods seeking children to ride the van to Sunday School.
• Sunday morning, she taught a class that was like a one-room school. It had children of every age.
• Sunday evening, she’d be at the keyboard leading praise and worship.
• Mid-week, Norma led a cadre of ladies who prepared a lunch plate that several of us then delivered.
• She led those same ladies to bring together the fixings for barbecue chicken dinners monthly. (To this day, I do not enjoy Barbecue Chicken. Surely, barbecue chicken will not be the main course at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.)
• Monday evening – prayer
• Wednesday – pre-service prayer, then leading praise.
• Seven days a week, dealing with a very imperfect husband who has a Type A personality.
• Daily being mom to two little boys, who both inherited much of my personality type.

She was a leader in her own right. We complimented each other. I'm thankful for Norma Terrell Coon.

Norma nor I have much tolerance for lazy people or those who complain about how hard things are.

This email started out as an expression of appreciation for what we were allowed to be part of in Vidalia. It evolved into an expression of appreciation for Norma. She deserves it.

Now, let me call you to action—think about your day of small things. What setting shaped you? What people did Jesus use? Perhaps today would be the time to send those people a note of appreciation or to call them.

Precious memories, how they linger. It was a simpler time.

The questions in Elder, Tell Me Your Stories capture these things. I've hit this nail until you may be weary of it, but time is running out to order this legacy hardbound book with over 350 questions that prompt stories. If you want this as a gift for someone or to preserve your stories, order it today. The printer emailed today letting me know that November 20 was the latest day to order Elder, Tell Me Your Stories and receive it before Christmas.

Don't miss out—this will be a highly appreciated gift that will continue to make an impact for generations to come.

Carlton L. Coon Sr.

Pastor/Author

P.S. Don't forget to send that card or make a call. Be watching for some incredible discounts over Thanksgiving week and weekend.

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