Words to Live By

I have been struck by some things I have read recently and wanted to share them. Maybe these words will strike you, too.

Faith is Obedience to God

"Faith is obedience to God, even if we don't understand why. It is choosing to act upon His command against our own reasoning, logic, or fleshly desires." ~ unknown

Know Who God Made You to Be

I've struggled with being someone I wasn't for much of my life. I kept trying to please everyone around me. I tried to be who they thought I should be. It wasn't until I found my worth in Christ that I stopped struggling and tried to rest in who God made me to be.

If you are like I was, stop trying to be someone else. Read and study and learn who God created you to be and be YOU!

Faith IN God

Resurrection Day!

Profession of Faith

Faith

He Was Faithful

Daniel 6:3-5 KJV 

3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

I was led to read the story of Daniel and the lion's den this morning. When I opened my Bible, I wasn't expecting much as I have read and studied this story many times before, but as always, God surprised me. I shouldn't be surprised-

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ~ Hebrews 4:12

His Word became alive to me this morning and I was able to see something that I am sure I saw before, but it went deep in my soul this morning.

Daniel was a success. As I am sure many people know, there are those who get jealous of those whom experience success and instead of trying to become successful themselves, they try to tear down those who are. That is the case here.

Daniel was lifted to a position of authority in the kingdom and those under him didn't appreciate having to answer to an Israelite. They took it upon themselves to find a fault in him in which to use against him. But guess what? They couldn't find anything!

Oh, how I wish I could say the same thing! This is what bothers me the most about my life. People will look at my life and say that I'm a hypocrite because of such and such. Now, what they see may be a one time mistake in my life, or something that was true in the past but isn't anymore, or it may be something that I struggle with and am learning to have victory over, but that doesn't stop them from using it as a fault against me.

How I wish I could be like Daniel! Those men tried hard to find fault against him and had to make something up to catch him in a fault and even when they did that, it wasn't really a fault--He was faithful to God no matter what! That is as far from a fault that you can get.

My prayer is that I can live a life without fault before my God. I pray that even if others find fault within me that it be a "fault" like Daniel's and not really a fault at all. I pray that I am always faithful to my God and that no fault may be found in me.

The Cost of Faith

Acts 19:18-20 KJV 

18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

As I was reading about Paul, I was struck not only at the amount of suffering he, himself, endured, but also what others did as well.

While in Ephesus, Paul preached Christ and many came to know Him. When those who were into "curious arts" (some translations say strange arts) came to faith, they were convicted to rid themselves of their old practices. They burned books that together were valued at 50,000 pieces of silver!

Could they have turned around and sold them to others? Sure, but then their influence would have still been around. They took a financial loss for their faith.

This brings to mind ways we may endure financial loss due to our faith. Maybe it is throwing something away instead of selling it. Maybe it is spending more to purchase something so we aren't supporting a business that uses their profits for things that go against God's commands. Or, maybe, it is by not making as much money on something because we refuse to participate in practices that bring harm to others. There are many ways that our faith may cost us.

My prayer is that my faith is always stronger than the financial cost.

Has your faith cost you financially? How did you deal with it? I would love for you to share. Sharing may encourage someone else who is dealing with the possibility of financial loss because of their faith.

Hold Fast to Faith

Fitting the Puzzle Pieces

Luke 19:1-10 KJV 

1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Today I turned to the story of Zacchaeus when I opened my Bible. It is a familiar Bible story and I sing the song with my children often; however, as I was reading it today, I remembered something I had seen once. It was a facebook meme that said that long before Zacchaeus wanted to see Christ, God had already planted and grew the tree he climbed.

What comfort it is to know that long before we have a need, God has already taken care of it!  He has already orchestrated what needed to be done for all the puzzle pieces to be put together. He has taken care of all the details. How silly it seems to me now to think of all the worrying I do about situations I have no control over. Just as Zacchaeus couldn't help that he was small, I can't help some aspects of my life. But . . .it doesn't matter! God has already taken care of it!

Living Your Faith

Know His Faithfulness

James 1:5-8

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

I find it funny that the scripture says, "If we lack wisdom". I would think we all do, but we just don't like admitting it. our pride gets in the way of truly seeking wisdom.

If we ask God, He will give us wisdom. He doesn't desire us to be unwise, but desires us to seek Him.

When we do ask, we need to ask knowing He will be faithful in granting our request. If we doubt, how can we truly receive all that God has for us?

There will be times that God uses trials and temptations to grant us wisdom. Sometimes we have to experience something before we fully understand.

Let us be firm in the resolution that God will grant us wisdom.

Enduring Trials

James 1:2-4

 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;"

fall-Greek-peripipto=to fall into something that is all around

Temptations are all around us. We are going to fall. The question isn't if, it is when.

John 16:33

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

The important thing to remember is: it is through trials that our faith grows.

Romans 5:3

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Our faith causes us to have hopeful patience through the trial, which in turns helps us grow more mature in faith.

Also, when we endure the trials, we know we are in good company. Even Christ endured trials.

1 Peter 4 

 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy

 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

So, let us not grow weary for we know rewards come to those who endure.

If God Be For Us

Numbers 13-14 (see below for full text)

The Israelites were told they would be blessed with land flowing with milk and honey. The Lord was ready to give it all into their hands. Unfortunately, when they sent the spies into the land, most of the spies came back focused on the difficulties that may arise. Fear was causing them to miss the blessing of the Lord.

Are we often like the Israelites? How many times do we miss out on blessings because of fear? Too often, I am sure.

For instance, take the issue of leaving family size up to God. Do we focus on the finances, the size of our home or vehicle, etc. or do we trust God when He says He will provide?

The topic can be any number of issues (not just family size). Do we focus on our fear or trust?

Numbers 13
 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
 2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.
 3 And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.
 4 And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.
 5 Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.
 6 Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
 7 Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.
 8 Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun. {Oshea: also called, Joshua}
 9 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.
 10 Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.
 11 Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.
 12 Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.
 13 Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.
 14 Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.
 15 Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.
 16 These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua. {Oshea: also called Joshua} {Jehoshua: or, Joshua}
 17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:
 18 And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;
 19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;
 20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.
 21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.
 22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
 23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. {brook: or, valley}
 24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. {brook: or, valley} {Eshcol: that is, A cluster of grapes}
 25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.
 26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.
 27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.
 30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
 31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
 32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. {men...: Heb. men of statures}
 33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Numbers 14
 1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
 3 And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
 4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
 6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
 7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
 8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
 9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. {defence: Heb. shadow}
 10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
 11 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?
 12 I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.
 13 And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;)
 14 And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.
 15 Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,
 16 Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.
 17 And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,
 18 The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
 19 Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. {until...: or, hitherto}
 20 And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:
 21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
 22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
 23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: {Surely...: Heb. If they see the land}
 24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
 25 (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.
 26 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
 27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
 28 Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
 29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,
 30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. {sware: Heb. lifted up my hand}
 31 But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.
 32 But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.
 33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. {wander: or, feed}
 34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. {breach...: or, altering of my purpose}
 35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.
 36 And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
 37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.
 38 But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.
 39 And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.
 40 And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned.
 41 And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper.
 42 Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.
 43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you.
 44 But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.
 45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.
 (KJV)

Evidence of Things Not Seen

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I am a member of a Christian forum that discusses a number of topics. One topic lately has been the debate between evolutionary creationism and biblical creation. There are many of us who strong believe in the biblical creation; however, there are some who believe in evolutionary creation.

Those who believe that both evolution and creation can co-exist say it is because "evolution has been proven to be true." While I don't agree with that statement to begin with (I believe there are numerous instances of creation being proven), I also come back to this scripture.

"evidence of things not seen."

Even if the biblical account of creation wasn't proven by what we see, I would still believe it because of my faith in the Word of God. My faith is my shield that is able to quench the fiery darts that the wicked (those who oppose God's Word) try to throw at me.

Making the Impossible Possible

Luke 18:27 

And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

People often look at our family and say that we are crazy. They don't understand how we provide for so many children and on one income (well, one person working 2 jobs) at that. What they don't understand is that it isn't us providing--it is God!

Back 12 years ago when we decided I would quit teaching to be a stay-at-home mom, we weren't sure how it would work either. We wrote out our budget and discovered we were $600/month short every month with just the necessities. Praise God, we were never late with a payment, we always had food to eat and clothes to wear! He always provided in some way from providing clothes from someone or selling something when we needed the money or providing a side job at just the right time. We didn't/don't just sit back and say God will supply; we work where He asks us to work.

Through all our financial struggles, we never stopped tithing (in fact, we never truly tithed 10% until I quit my job). If we were $600 short a month, why did we continue to give 10%? We gave the 10% (and often more) because God commands us to give. He made the impossible possible and I believe it was because we were faithful even when the world told us it was crazy.

God's ways are incomprehensible to us, but He has shown us time and time again that His ways work. We have received many comments about our family size (and I'm sure they will never stop) and we have lost relationships because of people disagreeing with us, but we know God makes it possible for us to love and take care of all our children. Sometimes we do mess up, but God always has our backs and redeems our mistakes.

How has God made the impossible possible in your life?

Following God's Command

Judges 20:18-48

 18 And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first. 19 And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah. 20 And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah. 21 And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men. 22 And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day. 23 (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.) 24 And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day. 25 And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword. 26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 27 And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 28 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand. 29 And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah. 30 And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times. 31 And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.  32 And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways. 33 And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar: and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah. 34 And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore: but they knew not that evil was near them. 35 And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword. 36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah. 37 And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.  38 Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city.  39 And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.  40 But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.  41 And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.  42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them. 43 Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.  44 And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour. 45 And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them. 46 So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour. 47 But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months. 48 And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.

The Israelites asked wisdom of God before going to battle and followed God's command to go and still they were defeated. They wept, asked counsel again, and again followed God's command to go and again were defeated. They asked a third time and followed God's command.

Even though they were not successful in their own (the world's) eyes, they continued to follow God. Their faith was not shaken and God gave them the victory!

We should take comfort in knowing just because things don't always turn out the way we want, it doesn't mean it was against God's command. Keep the faith and God will give you victory!

The Lord is my Shepherd

 Psalm 23 

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 

God provides for my every need. He heals my hurting soul. He guides and comforts me with His presence, strength and love. I can not go wrong as long as I follow Him!

Planting Potatoes

The following story was in one of our church bulletins and it was so good that I wanted to share it.

When I was a boy growing up we had several gardens around our old house. The largest one of all was used just for growing otatoes. I can still remember those potato planting days. The whole family helped. After my Dad had tilled the soil, my Mom, brothers, and I went to work. It was my job to drop the little seed potatoes in the rows while my Mom dropped handfuls of fertilizer beside them. My brothers then covered them all with the freshly turned earth.

For months afterward I would glance over at the garden while I played outside and wonder what was going on underneath the ground. When the harvest time came I was amazed at the huge size of the potatoes my Dad pulled out of the soil. Those little seedlings had grown into bushels and bushels of sweet sustenance. They would be turned into meal after meal of baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, fried potatoes, and my personal favorite: potatoes slow cooked in spaghetti sauce. They would keep the entire family well fed throughout the whole year. It truly was a miracle to behold.

Thinking back on those special times makes me wonder how many other seeds I have planted in this life that have grown unseen in the hearts and minds ofothers. How many times has God used some little thing that I said or did to  grow something beautiful? How many times has Heaven used these little seedlings to provide another's souls with sweet sustenance.

Every single day of our lives we step out into the garden of this world. Every single day we plant seeds that can grow into something wonderful. We may never see the growth that comes from the kinds words or loving acts we share but God does. I hope then that you always tend the garden around you with care. I hope that you plant only goodness, peace, and compassion in the lives of everyone you meet. I hope that everyday you hell miracles to grow.