A few days ago, I was caught red-handed by my 11-year-old daughter. Saving myself a few steps and a blast of sub-zero air, I opted to throw my empty Diet Coke can in the kitchen garbage instead of placing it in the designated recycling bag in the garage. What could I say? I had no good defense. Therefore, I chose to comply with my determined daughter and make the trek out into the garage. The can was thus given the opportunity to be deemed valuable instead of worthless.

God is a relentless recycler. He looks at those He has created and sees potential. He knows our value and always chooses to go the distance to offer every opportunity for our redemption. Doubtful and desperate Abram was recycled into committed patriarch Abraham. Arrogant, selfish Saul was recycled into selfless, passionate Paul, and the woman at the well was a prostitute recycled into a preacher. God did not have to take those who were ineffective, used, and damaged and miraculously mold them into devoted disciples, but He did. He still does.

This month, make a plan with your small group to begin individually collecting aluminum cans, glass, cardboard, paper, plastic bags, and other plastic products. Set aside a few hours on a Saturday to gather these items. Also go door to door in the neighborhoods of your group members to ask for recyclable donations. Take what you have collected to your local recycling center. As a group, choose a recipient for the money you have earned (Habitat for Humanity, a homeless shelter, a crisis pregnancy center, etc.) and donate it that day, if possible. Take some time to pray for those who will be helped by your donation, remembering that no one is unfit to be recycled by God's love. Consider making recycling a habit of your small group and continue to donate the proceeds.

• Challenge your small group members in the coming week to spend as much time praying for someone in need of God's salvation as they spend watching television.
  
  
• Ask your group members to consider emailing an encouraging message this week to five people they know (co-worker, family member, friend, pen-pal, etc.).
  
  
• Encourage those in your group to put their loose change to good use in the coming week by filling parking meters, leaving an extra tip, creating a credit on a soda machine, increasing a child's allowance, etc.
  
  

Originally published online at SmallGroups.com, February 9, 2005.

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