What Kinds of Seeds Are You Planting?

Are the seeds you're planting producing a beneficial crop?

I was speaking with some friends recently and we were talking about God's mercy, grace and provision. We marvelled at how God would set the stage to give us what we needed. We talked about the events leading up to the blessing and we realized something.

In most, if not all cases, the blessing came in part because of the choices we had made.

For example, when I was the department chair of the guidance department at a charter school, a parent of one of our students told me that at the Christian school at which she worked, a high school program was going to be instituted. She asked for some advice concerning how she could help the students. I gave her advice as well as free resources she could use to enhance the high school guidance program. Whenever she had a question, I was happy to help her. I did those things just to help, without considering getting anything in return.

God had a different plan. A few years after that, I retired for three years. Then I realized that even though we could pay all our bills on our social security, we had little money for extras. I decided that I would like to return to work. My criteria was that I could use my skills, get paid, and have no stress. People laughed because who gets a job with no stress? After a couple of weeks of praying with my friends for that job, the woman I had helped years earlier called.

She was getting ready to switch jobs. The principal had someone who could do her secretarial work, but no one for guidance. She suggested that perhaps I would be interested. I went for the interview and started work immediately, with all my criteria met. I worked there for six years, until I retired again. As with all things that God does for us, in us, and through us, it was a win-win situation. I was blessed and I was able to use my gifts to help the school and the students.

I am sure that as you look back on your life, you will discover similar situations in which you planted good seeds in other people's lives and then you were blessed in a mighty way.

Here is an excellent quote from Mother Theresa of Calcutta that, I believe, relates to this post.

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good. anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."

As we put God first in our lives and allow His love to flow through us to others, it is as if we are planting seeds of possibility and blessings that eventually come back to us as a fruitful crop in our own lives. May God bless you beyond measure.

Help for the Hopeless

Have you ever been in a situation that seemed overwhelming? One in which there seemed to be no way of escape? Where you were like a young David fighting a giant Goliath? I have. When I was going through my divorce, I felt as if my husband, soon to be ex, was all knowing and all powerful. In contrast, I felt totally helpless and filled with fear about the future.

It was then that Christians began reaching out to me in a loving manner to encourage me to trust God to help me out. At the time, I couldn't handle getting too much information about God all at once, so God would send someone with one sentence or Scripture to see me through until I was ready for the next word. One of the first encouragements I received was from a friend who came to work for me for two months. She would come and play her Christian music. Her word for me was that there was no power greater than God's and If my heart was right (teachable and no hate), God's will would prevail in my life.

I was desperate for help and believed what she said. So, whenever I would begin to get fearful, I would repeat the sentence, "There's no power greater than God's" until I received God's peace. Also, as I have said before, music ministers to me. There were and continue to be two songs that touched my heart and reassure me.

CHILD IN THE DARK by Kristin Taylor

Like a child in the dark, I was so afraid,

Looking over a void in the life that I'd made.

But the Lord saw my fears, and He heard my faint plea,

And He held out His hand to me.

Who am I that His love could be shown so free?

Who am I that a king would hold His hand out to me?

But the Lord saw my fears, and He heard my faint plea,

And He held out His hand to me.

I was in great need of a helping hand,

When my worries seemed too hard to bear.

So I called on the Lord and He came right then,

And now He's the Lord of my life.

The other song is O' Lord by Lauren Daigle. Click on the link to listen.

You can trust the Lord. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

I can tell you from experience, no matter how dark your season is, God is there with you. He will see you through, He will turn your mourning into dancing, He will restore you to better than you can imagine. Trust Him, put Him first in your life, rest in Him as he works out all the details for your good. Remember, Jeremiah 29:11 "The Lord says, I have a plan for you that is for good and not for evil, to give you a hope and a future."

If you find yourself in a challenging situation, and are feeling hopeless, I hope that this post has been an encouragement to you that as you put your trust in God, He will give you the strength to persevere and make it through. God bless you.

Are You Tired of Trying to Control Everything Yet?

Let God give you a helping hand.

Have you ever been in a situation where you tried everything and nothing was working out? I have. Often.

Looking back on my life, I realized something. I was often frustrated when I tried to force things to happen according to my own agenda, but during the times that I gave the situation up to the Lord, incredible things happened.

Here are two examples:

1.     After my divorce, I had been single for a few years. I wasn’t really looking for a man friend or husband. Instead, I was seeking the Lord at every opportunity. On one occasion, I was at a Christian meeting in Orlando and during a session I realized that if I would strive to be the bride of Christ, I would always be okay. If I was single, I would be happy and if I was married, I would make an excellent wife because I would reflect the characteristics of the bride of Christ. I decided that one of my goals would be to endeavor to be the bride of Christ. When I returned home, I didn’t give the idea much thought, but not long after, I met my future husband, who was the Godliest man I had ever met. God blessed me above and beyond any expectations.

2.     More recently, a few years after my husband died, I began to feel extremely lonely. I thought that I would get a dog to keep me company. I knew what kind of dog I wanted and tried to get one from several organizations. Unfortunately, I was unable to get one. After being frustrated, I resigned myself to not getting a dog and stopped my efforts in that regard., but God knew my heart's desire. A couple of months later, a friend posted a picture of two puppies looking for a home. They had been running wild in the country and despite all attempts to find their owner, no one would claim them. They were the exact kind of dogs I was looking for! I could hardly believe it! I went to see them with the intention of getting one of them, but after hearing their story, I decided to keep them both. They have brought joy and companionship to my life – more than I could imagine. They are the most loving dogs I have ever met.

In each of these cases and so many more, I am reminded of two scriptures. Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness., and all these things will be added to you." and Ephesians 3:20 “God is able to do far more than we could ever ask for or imagine. He does everything by His power that is working in us.” His power in us is the Holy Spirit, Who leads us and guides us in all the truth. He’s our counselor, our comforter, and our helper. He gives us wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

God is always willing and more than able to help us. We just have to trust Him enough to allow Him to do so.

God bless!