He Planted a Seed

Jeremiah 31:3 "The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love..."

Psalm 139:13 "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb."

When I was yet a Christian, I vividly remember moments in my life where I felt God's unconditional, everlasting love.  Little did I know at the time, that he had always been there for me loving me from the minute I was formed in my mother's womb.

My favorite distinct memory takes me back to when I was in my late teens.  It was late one night, I was high and feeling ashamed and broken due to the bad choices I had made up to that point.  Why do we all have to do wild and foolish things in our youth?! (Praise Jesus he's forgiven me for these sins - phew!)  Anyway...I remember feeling low, down and out, upset of who I was and where I was headed in life; no where - fast!  I knew about God and had already asked Jesus to come into my heart, but I certainly was NOT living a Christian life.

Feeling broken, I searched the FM stations (no satellite back then!) for a song on the radio.  Nothing was on except Christian music.  I stopped at a station and listened for a bit, feeling embarrassed that I liked it, I quickly changed the station.  I remember thinking "I wouldn't want anyone to hear me listening to Godly music, they would all think I was strange!" Trying to find something else on the radio to no avail, I went back to the Christian song.  Intrigued, I listened.  I deeply and intently listened.  I let the music poor over me like waves from the ocean.  I cannot tell you what the words were, but I can tell you how I felt - comforted, loved, and welcomed.  This one specific occurrence, stayed with me for a very long time.  That one Christian song led to two, then three, He planted a seed in my heart!  How cool is that?!

God's presence is all around us.  The world is his canvas.  Just look around you, he created it all!  Whenever I find myself walking in His woods, creek, meadow, field, or anywhere really, I soak up the sounds of the birds, crickets, water, the wind.  I am aware of his creations and thank him for everything that fills my senses.  It's remarkable how close I feel to our Creator when I am aware and grateful of all he has made.

Revelation 4:11 "Worthy are you, our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

I am so happy that I changed the FM station back to the Christian song and really listened to what God was trying to tell me.  He planted a seed in me that night.  It's amazing to me, looking back on my life and seeing him take me - a girl who thought she wouldn't make it to see her 21st birthday due to her poor choices; to a woman following Jesus, where my only desire is to fulfill His purpose in my life.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."

I've come a long way from that foolish teenager who made really bad choices.  Now I'm an adult, and although I don't make the same kind of bad choices, I still make poor decisions; don't we all?!  Aren't we all human?!  But now that I'm a Christian, not only are my sins forgiven, but I am no longer that person anymore!  We don't have to feel bad, upset, broken, beaten up, condemned, ashamed, none of it - all because of Jesus!  Because of Jesus, we can have a relationship with our creator!  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, 1000 times THANK YOU, JESUS!!

Thank you Jesus, for planting a seed in my heart; and, for dying on the cross so we can have eternal life!

John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the word, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the word to condemn the word, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

God's Plan and Timing

Psalm 27:14 "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"

Do you ever find yourself waiting for God to show you what direction He wants you to take?  Waiting for the perfect sign that you're on the right path?  Asking God - is this your plan and timing? 

We give our troubles to the Lord, be thankful, and know that He is going to make everything turn out for good.  But what do we do during the long lengths of time waiting?  I find this to be extremely challenging at times.  Maybe you're in a difficult situation right now and you're wondering when things will change, or if you're making right choices.  Lots of time may go by and you keep waiting, hoping something will change.  But maybe through the waiting you're being taught something.

When I go through these waiting periods, I drench myself in prayer.  Simple things, like - do I take a shower, or do I eat breakfast first?  Do I grocery shop on Wednesday night, or on Saturday morning?  I get right down to the simple choices in life and it always makes me feel so much better.  God even tells us to pray without ceasing in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  What great advice he gives us!

  

Even though God's timing is not our timing, it is perfect timing, even if we don't realize it or like it at the time.  Looking back we can always see just how perfect it is.  The Bible says in Isaiah 40:31 "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

The other day, I had to travel about 70 miles away from my house for work.  I am not a fan of driving at all, so I was not looking forward to going; but it was God's path and timing.  While I was planning my trip I prayed about every choice I had to make and I let him dictate my steps.  It wasn't the day I wanted to go, it wasn't how I wanted to get there, but I just kept believing in His plan and timing for me. 

The morning I got ready for my journey, I received several flash flood warnings on my phone due to torrential downpours in the area.  Frightened, I immediately starting praying about it and letting God know I trusted his plan and timing.  I finished getting ready with pure confidence in Him.  I left the house, it was raining slightly but I wasn't scared knowing he was directing my steps.  I had my destination all set in the GPS, even though I knew exactly what way "I" wanted to drive.  I was driving along and the GPS told me to go right.  I thought, "That's odd, I've never gone that way, why would I go that way?"  I ignored the directions it wanted me to go and kept driving straight.   

As I got to another cross road the GPS again wanted me to go right!  By now I was getting rather aggravated as I did NOT want to go that way and honestly, sadly forgot about God's plan and timing for me - I am human!  I had also realized I needed money for tolls and of course I had to use the bathroom!  So why would I go right?  Plus I knew there was a rest stop just ahead.  Why would I go into the unknown countryside and risk having no cash and no way to relieve myself?!  So, I kept going straight. 

As I drove, the GPS AGAIN wanted me to go right!  I said out loud, "Are you kidding me?  I have no idea where you're taking me, I need money and I HAVE to pee!"  Like a disobedient little child realizing their parent was correct I said, "Alright, I will trust you.  I will trust that you have a plan and this is your timing, but PLEASE provide me with a restroom and an ATM!"  So off I went - turning right.  Not knowing where I was; reluctant, yet comforted in the path laid out before me. 

As I drove along, praying He would give me my two requests, low and behold, there in front of me was a convenient store!  "Praise Jesus!" I yelled!  God  provided me with a public bathroom, an ATM, and I was able to get a scrumptious banana - SCORE!

As I got onto the major highway, I looked in my rear-view mirror glancing at the path that "I" wanted to travel, before listening to God and turning right.  All I could see were dark, black, storm clouds behind me - it was storming so hard!  I looked in front of me and there was nothing but beautiful blue skies and the bright yellow sun.  Praise God that He kept me from that storm!  He had me go right, even though I didn't want to!  I finally listened to Him and He got me out of that awful storm!  You see, that is what our Heavenly Father does for us.  The Bible says in Psalm 25 4:5 "Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long."

My trip was a huge success!  I was able to complete my work with ease.  Although the entire trip was going out of my comfort zone, it helped me in my journey with my Creator even more - what a huge blessing!  Now when I am waiting, wondering if I am on his path I can look back on that moment, yet small and simple, and know His plan and timing is always perfect!  It's up to me to be patient in Him and His perfect, wonderful plan and timing!

Dear Heavenly Father, please guide us on our journey.  Please help us to be patient when we wait for your plan and timing.  Help us trust in your plan and timing even though it may feel like a very long wait.  Help us remember that a thousand days are like one day to you and one day to you is a thousand years to us.  We thank you for your continuous love as you guide us along our path.  Please protect us and watch over us in our journey.  In Jesus's precious name, Amen!

2 Peter 3:8 "But do not forget this one thing, dear friend: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like a day."