In God's Time

While Paul was cutting up potatoes for breakfast, Jeremiah stood reaching up crying. Jeremiah could not understood why Daddy did not share. How many times are we like that with the Lord. Holding our hands out towards what it is that we want, it looks so good to us. But, The Father is saying, "No, Dear One, it is not the time yet." Paul did not scold Jeremiah for asking for food or for crying about it. Likewise, your Father knows you have needs too. You may keep asking. And, when the time is right, He will hand you what you need.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? ²⁷ And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? ²⁸ And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, ²⁹ yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! ³¹ Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ ³² For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
³⁴ “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt 6:25-34 NASB

By: Bethany Woods
Author at Seeds of Promise, Harvest of Hope blog; (Originally written April 2010)

Encouragement - Keep Dreaming! Keep Hoping!

There are moments when you have far-fetched ideas of what you could do with your life. What if some of these thoughts are seeds of great faith sown by a loving God who gives more than you can ask or imagine? What if, instead of shutting the valve of hope and creativity, you pray, "Lord, if this is from You bring it about in your timing." Then wait. God will bring it about in His way and His time. Or, He might lead you another direction. But, just because an idea seems impossible is not a reason to ignore it. Our God does the impossible! 

It may be a broken relationship. It may be a new career. It may be a desire to reach the world for Jesus or save as many orphans that you can. If your idea is not against anything written in His Word, then keep praying. He hears you. The answer might not be what you expected. But God is better than our expectation. We see through a glass dimly. Keep hoping. Keep praying. Keep seeking. Keep listening. Don't give up on the seemingly outrageous ideas in your head. 

One word of caution- Neither let these hopes become an idol. God does not generally operate in the box we try to place Him in. He is God. He is good. We worship Him for who He is and what He has done for us through Jesus. Withdrawing your intimacy from the Lord when He does not provide as you expected Him to, could be a sign that you are seeking the gift over the Giver. That would be idolatry. 

Keep that seed of faith alive. Water it by reading the Bible and by praying. Do not underestimate the possible fruit that could come from one little seed of faith sown in well-prepared ground.

By: Bethany Woods
Author at Seeds of Promise, Harvest of Hope blog; (Originally written May 2013)

Analogy -- Storms

Did you know that thunder storms actually make grass (and such) grow faster? Grass really *is* greener after a storm. It has something to do with the electrical currents in the air/ground. 

Spiritually speaking, storms of life will make us stronger. We will shine brighter after the trial has passed. The storms can be scary and uncomfortable, but in the end they will cause us to grow. The main thing is to find a shelter during the storm. Remain hidden in Christ. Hide in the cleft of the Rock. Let the Lord -who is a Strong Tower- take the hits of the lightning for you.

You are not alone in your storms! God will never leave you or forsake you. Praising God for His protection during the storm, and looking ahead to a day without storms, is probably the best way to endure your present trial.

May God bless and keep you through the storms you face today. May His face shine upon you like a Lighthouse that guides your way through rough passages.

(I originally wrote this on March 25, 2014 on my Facebook page)

Analogy -- Christians As Pioneers

When the first pioneers crossed mountains and deserts to go farther west, they sometimes had to leave treasures behind, halfway up the mountain. Grandmother's fine china, maybe a wardrobe, a crate of books. Hearts would be broken to leave behind the treasures of the past.

In a similar way, we Christians are called forward to press on after Christ. We are called to forget the past and press on to an upward calling. Relationships may change... Or end. Old habits may need to end. Some are called to literally leave it all and become missionaries in a far away land.

BUT, as with the pioneers, it is NOT all about the losses and what we had to leave behind. There is joy unspeakable just over the mountains! There are treasures beyond compare both in this life and the life to come. Struggles? Absolutely! Is it worth it? Absolutely!

The trials we face now are not worthy to be compared to the joy, the glory of God, that awaits us.
Press on, Christian! Press on!



(I originally published this on Facebook on March 30th, 2014. Edited for spelling and format.)