Don't let your kernels remain unpopped.

1 Peter 1:7  (ESV)

So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Have you ever popped a bag of microwave popcorn and notice that less than half of the bag popped and wondered what you could learn from it?

Imagine you hear God say "Don't let your kernels remain unpopped."

Let’s take a minute and imagine that God was really talking to us about the popcorn... "You are the bag and each kernel represents a piece to fulfill... You have great potential to fulfill in the earth because I have given it to you. Your responsibility is to act on it, not doubt it or ask others what they think."

Then He said something that may cause great concern...

"When you don't fulfill your destiny, many of the promises I've lined up for you don't come to pass and you wonder where they went.

Will you follow Me? When you turn left when I said turn right, you're out of My will. When I allow prophecy to come forth for your life and you do not follow the path, many blessings that could have been, never show up.

It takes heat to make those kernels pop just like it takes you being in the heat to bring out that golden potential hidden and untapped. It is for My Glory! Stop trying to escape the heat. Call on Me! Use My Word to get you through. If you come out to soon you won't be where you need to be and you'll have to go through that heated trial possibly longer to get refined. Those kernels in this bag are wasted. They can never be used again. They had a purpose but left the heat too soon. Now they're no good to anybody.

These kernels represent unused potential, talents and gifts that I have bestowed upon you. Waste not! Use them. Use them to further My kingdom. I have put a certain amount of blessing, gifting, anointing, potential... on your path just for you.

Stay on it. Stay on the path.

Who would have ever thought that God would speak through a bag of popcorn.

The next time you find yourself eating some good ole' popcorn check to see if all of the kernels popped and ask yourself, "Am I living out the potential to tap everything God has given me to do?" If you haven't, it's time to get popping!

Dear God, thank You for the heat that You bring us through so that we may meet the potential that You have for us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What might God want to accomplish through your life?

Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

What might God want to accomplish through you in your lifetime? As a workplace believer, you may yet have your greatest contribution to society. Such was the case of Cyrus McCormick, born in 1809. Raised on a farm by an inventor father, Cyrus McCormick sought to invent a mechanical reaper to harvest wheat. His father's attempts at inventing a successful machine had failed until Cyrus, at 22, created one that worked. McCormick had to overcome many setbacks including the loss of his patent 14 years after his first invention. This opened up competition. Then, in 1837 he went bankrupt due to the bank panic of 1837. However, these setbacks did not prevent McCormick from achieving his goals.

He expanded his market by trying to sell his machine to European farmers in 1851. A long series of honors compensated for the lack of recognition and praise from his American compatriots. By 1856, he was not only a world figure but his factory produced more than 4,000 reapers a year.

McCormick was a committed believer. He lived during the time of D.L. Moody and gave $10,000 to Moody to start the Chicago YMCA in 1869. That building burned along with his Chicago factory in 1871. By this time, McCormick was over 60 and wealthy enough to retire. Before his death in 1884, he had given $100,000 to help open Moody Bible Institute. His son, Cyrus Jr., was to become the first chairman of the school's board. Cyrus McCormick was a devoted Christian who passed his faith on to his son who later met up with J. Pierpoint Morgan to become the first president of a combined reaper firm, the famed International Harvester Corporation. [John Woodbridge, ed., More Than Conquerors (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1992), 328-331.]

What might God want to accomplish through your life?

Dear Lord, thank You that we can surely do all things through You who strengthens us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.