Hoover Dam, photo courtesy of Photobucket
I’m obsessed with the Hoover Dam.
This engineering marvel is one of the greatest manmade structures in the world. It took five years to complete at a cost of $49 million Depression-era dollars. Over 5,000 men worked on its construction, 96 of whom died in industrial accidents during construction.
The dam itself contains enough concrete to pour a four-foot wide sidewalk around the earth at the Equator. At a whopping 726 feet, it stands almost 200 feet taller than the Washington Monument.
The water and electricity supplied by the dam services hundreds of thousands of people in Nevada, Arizona and California. In fact, when you sip from a water fountain at Disneyland, that water has traveled hundreds of miles from Lake Mead.
Isn’t that amazing? Hospitals, churches, businesses, homes, ball parks… all have power because of the 17 generators in the Hoover Dam.
Now imagine the dam’s generators were powered down.
Hoover Dam Generators, photo courtesy of Photobucket
No water, no electricity, nothing. Thousands of people depending on those resources are suddenly in the dark. Literally and figuratively.
The dam was designed to serve the southwestern US. It can provide water and electricity for three states. When it sits idle, those resources are wasted and people suffer.
We are designed to serve in God’s kingdom. We’ve been gifted to work in specific areas. When we sit idle, His resources (and our talents) are wasted and people suffer.
One of my blogger friends shared something last week that still rings in my ears:
There is someone on the other side of your obedience.
Care to tweet?
Think about that: there is somebody somewhere who’s waiting for us to obey God. Whether they’re on the other side of the street or the other side of the world, somebody is waiting.
God knows who that somebody is, and He’s waiting for us to power up our generators because
By His mighty POWER at work WITHIN US,
He is able to accomplish infinitely more
than we would ever dare to ask or hope.
~Eph 3:20 (NLT)
His mighty power dwarfs the Hoover Dam. If it shouldn’t sit idle, should we?
Susan, what a terrific comparison you’ve made to remind me of the impact our obedience has when God applies His wonderous plans to it. Someone being on the other side of my obedience is a fresh perspective. This is one to share with my kiddos. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it, Jeanette. Visual messages like this one always stuck with my kids. All those years of thinking through analogies for them has paid off
I love this sentiment that there is someone waiting for us to be obedient. It really puts a face on putting our gifts and talents to best use! Thanks for that whack on the side of the head!
Thanks, Kim! Putting a face out there — that really makes a difference, doesn’t it?
I love analogies…and this one is beautiful! I’ve never seen the Hoover Dam and now you make me want to travel! ;-D
I love analogies too, Kate. Makes things easy to grasp, doesn’t it? Thanks for stopping by today
What a powerful statement, Susan! God is waiting for my obedience in order to set in motion actions and results that will affect other people. My lack of obedience can mean the difference between God’s plan coming to fruition through my actions…or the actions of someone else.
Powerful thought for today.
So glad you took time to stop by today, Vonda. How many times have we been in positions like Esther “for such a time as this”? And like Uncle Mordie told her, “If you don’t, somebody else will!”
I want to be faithful with my part!
Very good analogy! I have visited the Hoover Dam. After all, I live in Arizona and it’s not too far away. But thinking about God’s infinite power. Now that’s something! And yes, someone is waiting for my obedience. I don’t want to miss out either. Good food for thought and …action.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Thanks for stopping by, Debbie. I didn’t realize you were in Arizona too! I’ve got lots of buddies out there
I can’t fathom the kind of power the Hoover Dam generates, and to think it’s a drop in the bucket compared to God’s power. Heck, it’s not even a drop in the ocean!
Hugs from VA
The thing that encourages me to serve is watching that Power in Action doing what I cannot do or even dream! Love this lesson – Good job!
Thanks, Di. You know I can dream pretty big so it excites me to know He surpasses all that!
What an awesome analogy Susan! What encourages me to serve? It’s the satisfaction that I get knowing I’m doing what God has asked. It’s the smile on someone’s face when they know that God has blessed them. It’s my hope that through me (whether they know it’s me or not), they understand how much God loves them!
That’s sweet, Mindy! Yes, it’s fun to see the person we bless. And the people we don’t see? It’ll be fun to meet them in Heaven and see all the ways God’s power moved in our lives
Susan,
Ditto’s to all of the above. I’ve never seen the Hoover dam either, nor considered the power it generates for the lives of so many people. A great analogy and challenge….To use the gifts and abilities God has given us to touch the lives of others is a great privilege and responsibility.
Thank you for using your God-given gifts that are empowered and anointed by the Spirit of God. Dunamous–power…God’s power flowing through vessels of clay, touching and blessing the world He calls us to.
Love you!
Thank you, Glenda! To think of me possessing God’s Dunamous?? ME? The happy gal in the mountains? AWESOME
To think that the power in us (Christ!) is far greater than that generated by the dam — staggering, isn’t it? And it was meant to be shared. Thanks, Susan!
Thank you, Kirsten. Something else that’s staggering to me — that God puts those marvelous ideas in the minds of the likes of US. Seriously — who could conceive of such a thing outside of God’s creatively majestic mind?? More proof of HIM, imo
I remember you telling me about your love for the Hoover Dam!!! Those are some awesome facts that just “gushed forth” from you…….(yes, it was a bad pun)
But your statement, ” There is someone on the other side of your obedience.”…..WOW….that is POWERFUL!!! I never saw obedience in that way…thank you for those forceful words!! (ok, there are SOO many puns that I could have used here, but … I did not. You’re welcome.)
Ohh my… yes. THANK YOU for keeping the bad puns buried in the deep
Next time I’m in Phoenix, I think we should have a Thelma & Louise experience. I’ll rent a convertible and drive up to Flagstaff to see the southern rim. Then we’ll drive up to Boulder City and see the dam.
I don’t care to go to Las Vegas, even though what happens there, stays there. Whatever. Unless we take Anita with us…
Susan, after my hubby and I moved to AZ, we visited the Hoover Dam a number of times and had the opportunity to tour the massive underground power portion of the facility that was available for public touring before 9/11. I wouldn’t say we are obsessed by the Hoover Dam but we always enjoy reading about it and have watched probably all the TV shows that document the construction of it. In fact, I too wrote a devotional about it several years ago.
I LOVE your comparison of this immense structure sitting unused, and therefore wasting its valuable resources, to the way God has planned for His kingdom to work.
May the Lord bless you as much as you have blessed me with this one!
~Anna
Thank you so much, Anna! Your sweet comments always bless me, and you’re such a great encourager.
Yes, that dam is UH-MAZING to me. It’s staggering that somebody could conceive such an amazing thing, and then actually design it to DO everything it does!
Engineers are SO SMART. I know that firsthand – my dad is one, and a really GOOD one
I forgot to say that one of the main reasons I am so impressed with the Hoover Dam is that it was built with none of the big construction equipment we have these days. When I think of that… well, it is hard to think of all the work that was done BY HAND to create such a beautiful engineering marvel.
(Oh, by the way, my father-in-law and first husband were both engineers, so I know how smart engineers are too!)
I love your ananlogy here. Hoover Dam is a must see!! you can stand in the middle of State of NV & AZ with a different time zones. I have been down those massive hydraulic machines.
Mark and I are doing something this week that is out of the box… and I am sure God will bless us. 
I just unpacked & now packing for another trip. Woohoo! I miss ya my friend!!
Too fun, Anita! Read my comment to Sandi — Let’s make a run up there next time I’m out for a visit
Have fun with TK & Ron!
Wow, what a powerful analogy, Susan…it always comes down to obedience, and relationships with God, and the person or people, He calls us to serve…great post…Thank you!
So true, Dolly! When we walk with Him, we learn that He doesn’t call us to anything He doesn’t empower us to do. Thanks for stopping by today!
Great post Susan. Love the analogy of the Hoover Dam. It is an amazing place!
Thanks, Celeste — so glad to see you today. Happy HEALTH day to you!
So, no sitting idle for me, huh. Guess He’s never sat idle for me…I can strive to do the same!
Love your analogy. hoping to see that man-made marvel someday!
Thanks, Nikki. The great thing is that there are ways to serve even when we rest. I’m thinking specifically of intercession.
I know He’s calling you to rest for a time, and other opportunities will come when you’re refreshed. Lifting you up today
Your thoughts tie in nicely with our readings at church lately- from James: “Faith without works is dead.” Thank you for giving us this powerful metaphor.
Funny coincidence, Julia. This post is actually a refurb of one I did several years ago for my church. The scripture text they assigned me? James 2:20 — Faith without works is dead
This is great, Susan. Someone IS waiting for us to be obedient–in a way that only we can because of God’s unique plan for each of us. Your analogy of the dam makes our impact so clear. Thanks for this!
Thanks, Mandy! I always love a good analogy, and the Hoover Dam has a LOT of applications!
Great post, Susan!
As a structural engineer, I too am fascinated by the Hoover Dam. It is truly an amazing structure! The horizontal arch structure anchored into the bedrock of the canyon walls makes it extremely efficient in holding back the weight of all that water.
I love the parallels you’ve drawn here to the power of God being distributed through us…when we’re doing what we are called to do…
Thanks, Joe! Is that thing not one of the most AMAZING things ever? I have so many applications in my head.
I’m glad you stopped by today, and I’m glad to find somebody else who “gets” my fascination with the dam!
Great word picture Susan and such a good connection for the body to BE the body. 1 Corinthians 12 rings loudly to me – Our pastor’s sermon on Sunday talked about being the body and if one part isn’t fulfilling it’s part the rest of the body suffers.
God bless you dear,
Hester,
I like the 1 Cor 12 application, Hester! Yes, so many parts are necessary for the Body to function properly. I don’t want to get slack on my end!
Thanks for stopping by today!
I just had to look this up — so amazing! 49 million to build in 2010 it would cost $770,104,351.20 in 2010 to build. Inflation! Crazy.
I love the take on obedience. That is powerful! Fascinating post
Have a great day!
Hi Kathleen! So glad you stopped by today. WOW — that figure is staggering, isn’t it?
Glad you enjoyed the application to obedience. When we think of a living breathing person somewhere waiting for us to step out — there’s a strong sense of urgency, isn’t there?
WOW! My husband is obsessed with the HD too, and you make an incredible analogy! WOW!
Glad you liked it, and glad to find other people who think the HD is a whole big bunch of AWESOMENESS! Thanks for stopping by today
Awesome, post! The information painted a perfect picture for the word illustration! Thanks for linking up to WFW today!
So glad you stopped by and took time to comment, Lisa!
By His mighty POWER at work WITHIN US,
He is able to accomplish infinitely more
than we would ever dare to ask or hope.
~Eph 3:20 (NLT)
WOW! I love this translation! We all have opportunities to serve in some way or another throughout our day. I used to get down on myself for not serving as much as I would like. So what if, at the time, I had 4 kids ages 8 and under. I wanted to do more. MORE than *just* stay at home and raise my kids…but God had other plans. Better ones at the time. I lost the sight of the truth I WAS serving…through my family. I guess I believed the lie that says I should DO IT ALL. I am thankful to have been a SAHM for 21 years! NOW is the time for external service :0). i am waiting for God to show me where…but at least I finally have the “feelers” out…step one…DONE!
What you said is SO true…we never know who is waiting on the other side!
A great post!
I hear you, Donna. I think all SAHMs feel that way. I know I did. All those things we think are insignificant are actually GREAT in God’s eyes. I share this verse any time I’m speaking to a group where young moms are in the audience:
[The shepherd] gently leads those that have young. ~Is 40:11
You’re so right – there will be plenty of time later on. So glad you stopped by today
Hi Susan,
I’m totally fascinated by the Hoover Dam as well, and would love to visit it one day. It’s just amazing. And fascinating.
I love your analogy and appreciate your spiritual application here. What a great reminder to use our talents!
Blessings to you!
Thanks so much, Julie – I’m excited about sharing a little of your talent soon!
Wonderful post, Susan! I love your analogy… how much more should we rely on the power of our Almighty God than that of the Hoover Dam?! The dam is an amazing phenomenon isn’t it? Our Smart Car association here in Nevada has organized an outing: Smart Cars from all around are going to meet at the Hoover Dam (Jam at the Dam) next Saturday. We will get our pictures taken and eat lunch together. I will think about this post as I’m “jammin’” and as I marvel at the awesome man-made wonder of the dam, I will be reminded of how great my need is for my God and His power to sustain me… thank-you, Susan!!
What a FUN idea! Jam at the Dam — I love it! And this post is well-timed. Maybe you can share a testimony with somebody there!
Please take a pic and write about it on your blog. I’d love to hear about it!
I’ve mentioned before that the biggest takeaway for me from this summer’s She Speaks conference was to minister out of a lens of compassion, rather than a lens of position. Taking that to heart, I turned down some opportunities to move “ahead” in “building my platform” in order to stick it out with those I am already ministering to. This week I experienced one “payoff” of such choices: a Chinese friend came to bible study and we all could tell she was not herself…we were able to allow her to unload on us. We cast the study discussion aside for a discussion of God’s truth about issues she was struggling with, then we prayed over her.
I might not be making any income from using my gifts at this time, but I know God has promised us something far greater in His kingdom. It’s little moments like these that give us a glimpse of how glorious our future treasure will be. Great illustration, Susan. We serve a generous God who wants us to be generous toward all whom He loves.
I love your takeaway from She Speaks. Mine was similar in 2010 — I write because I’m called. Period.
How great that you were able to help this lady unload and release some of her fears, and I’ll bet you had a powerful time praying over her. That’s what it’s all about. And in God’s economy, that act of compassion and obedience might just be more far-reaching than a best-selling book.
I’m at that place in my journey, and I’m quite content. In fact, I’m not submitting many articles or guest posts because I am almost pressed flat with Proverbs 23:12, “Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to the words of knowledge.” That’s where I’m headed now!
Thanks so much taking time to stop by and comment. I appreciate our bloggy friendship
haha, me too–have a bloggy free weekend : )
I felt that way when I saw the Grand Canyon. I’m inspired to serve when I know I’m pleasing and obeying the Holy Spirit’s.
Thanks for stopping by, Pamela. Yes, the thought of pleasing God should spur us ALL on!
I loved your post. I need to be obedient to God in all things, because someone out there could be waiting for me. I’ve never thought of obedience to God like this before. Thank you for opening my eyes! Thank you also for linking up at Leaving A Legacy.
Blessings~
Shari
So glad you stopped by today, Shari. Blessings to you!