It’s Planting Time

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. I Cor. 3:6 KJV

On Saturday afternoon, I carried two hanging baskets from a downtown garden center to my little red SUV. As I set the baskets down behind it to open the lid, a lady approached and began telling me her money problems. She had been locked out of her motel room where she and her children were staying. She had to call someone to come get her children and she still needed $20 to get back in the room to get her things. I truthfully told her I didn’t have any cash. She turned and looked across the parking lot, then vanished among the cars.

         

I smugly sat down in my nice newly paid off vehicle and thought, “That was a smart answer. She couldn’t be mad. She couldn’t rob me and she didn’t get drug money. I handled that just right.”

Then the still small voice said, “Why didn’t you direct her to a church for help?” That’s all it took for me to see I had missed the mark again. If I had told her where to get help, a seed would have been planted whether she took advantage of it now or later. Who knew when it may have been watered by another and sprouted into spiritual fruit? Who was I to judge that she didn’t really need more than drug money?  Who knew if a church with counseling could have helped an addict? God knew and He had put her in my path. I had failed miserably.  

Before I cranked my fashionable little red SUV, I bowed my head and prayed, “Lord, forgive me and please don’t let me miss another opportunity like that again. Help me to plant the seeds you have given me, so others may water and You may give the increase. In Jesus name. Amen.”

We’d love for you to share opportunities to plant the seeds of grace. Please leave us a comment.

Blessings

If the Shoe Fits

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

What’s your favorite fairy tale? As in all good stories there is an underdog. Americans love to cheer for the underdog, the one who is least likely to win. Cinderella is an underdog story. Poor motherless child has to work and slave for her step mother and three wicked step sisters. Her sisters have fancy clothes and new hairdos for the ball. The prince has invited everyone to attend. Everyone has an invitation but no one is concerned that Cinderella doesn’t have the clothes to go. Everyone is keeping Cinderella busy cleaning the house and ironing their dresses and making sure they are ready to meet the prince. Off the sisters go to the ball leaving poor Cinderella home alone, ragged, dirty and heart-broken. At just the right moment, her fairy god-mother appears and provides all she needs. The pumpkin carriage with its mice horses sweep her away to the ball where she makes a grand entrance and captures the attention of everyone, especially the prince. What a dream come true night!

But the clock strikes midnight and the dream ends with Cinderella running down the steps where she loses a glass slipper. Seems now the prince is heart-broken. He searches the kingdom for the one whose foot fits the glass slipper. Cinderella’s house is the last one. The step sisters know the shoe does not belong to any of them but they try to force it on anyway. They want to marry the prince. At last Cinderella appears. The shoe fits! They ride away on the white horse and live happily ever after. This is every girl’s dream or is it?

As girls we seem to need a boyfriend. We want to get married as soon as possible. So, we buy clothes to attract a prince. We fix our hair to attract a prince. We try to fit whatever “shoe” the prince offers. We do not want to be an underdog.

Let’s take a step back and examine Cinderella. She serves others. She never seems to be angry but is most often disappointed. That doesn’t stop her from doing her job. Disappointment doesn’t make her bitter. She acts in a kind and considerate manner. Her heart is pure. She suffers much and waits patiently until her prince arrives. When HER prince arrives they ride off to live happily EVER AFTER.

The happily may be the fairy tale part. My guess is she and the prince probably had a few differences but “ever after” is the point. The prince waited for the right girl, searched for the right girl and finally married the right girl. Cinderella maintains her innocent heart, patiently waiting for the right prince to arrive. She did not settle for the first guy to come along. She didn’t try to attract boys.  Neither did the prince settle for the first pretty dress. The prince waited until the shoe “fit”.

Though time drags and it seems the prince will never arrive, wait until the shoe fits. The marriage will be “ever after” with a few rough spots along the way.  

Hearts

…for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.  I Samuel 16:7

I thought surely Eric Carle had lost his mind. Here was a book titled Hello, Red Fox with a green fox on the cover, all written and illustrated by Eric Carle. When I turned to the first page I saw a giant red heart with a tiny black dot. There was a caption at the bottom labeled Important. I thought I should read it. The instructions said stare at the black dot and count to 10 then look at the black dot on the next page. Okay, so I tried it. A faint green image of the heart appeared on the opposite white page. Then the story of a little green frog’s birthday party began. Each animal invited was not the color it appeared if you took the time to stare 10 seconds at the black dot on the animal then, look at the opposite white page. I thought, this is really cool, Eric. Maybe you are on to something!

Life is a lot like Eric Carle’s story. We think we see people. They make a first impression. How often we look at people and make a judgment based on what they appear to be; happy, kind, sad, mean, tough, etc. without taking the time to look a little deeper. We don’t know the real person on first glance. Jesus took the time to see the real person. He had compassion on the people even when they were cruel and unloving. He healed the untouchable lepers. He  brought the message of salvation to the Samaritan woman. He healed the crippled hand on the Sabbath, though it was "against the law". Jesus put others first. He cared about people.

Father, help me to look at the heart as you do and not the outward appearance. Help me to demonstrate a caring, compassionate spirit. Lord, show me how to make a difference in the hearts and lives of others. In Jesus name. Amen.

Today

A pair of hungry house finches searched

 the wreath on the door this morning.

A wren sang a song from the dogwood tree at noon.

Three herons flew in form, white against the evening sky.

What did I do today?

Was I hungry for God’s Word this morning?

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Did I search for the Truth I need to hear?

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Did I sing a song of rejoicing at noon?

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Did I work in unity with the brethren?

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

What did I do today?

References: Matt.5:6; John 8:32; Psalms 100:1; John 17:21

April is Poetry month. I wrote a little free verse. Hope it inspires you to write a little too. Let me know how it turns out.