Planting seeds…

 I am an asparagus LOVER! I already have a beautiful asparagus plant, but it isn’t enough to satisfy my hunger, so this year, I did my research and planted more. To my surprise, I found that it takes two years for this yummy plant to develop into a vegetable that is ready for harvest. Curiousity piqued, I discovered that during those two years, the root system of the plant is developing, growing, and stretching beneath the surface and establishing itself so that it can grow into a plant that can be harvested and better yet – consumed. 

Recently, my mind was drawn to this process as I reflected on a conversation with a friend. Nearly four years ago, my friend and I had a conversation about God. In that conversation, I witnessed to the ability for my friend to have a personal experience with God, one in which could never be explained by anyone and could never be topped by anything. I left that conversation expecting an awe inspiring experience, an immediate conversion that would leave them speechless, instead, what I got was laughter and an awkward change of subject. I felt discouraged, but committed to praying for them, and have off and on over the course of time. A few days ago they came to me and asked about the experience we spoke of 4 years prior. It was at that moment that God showed me the truth in Galatians 6:9 

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

4 years – 4 YEARS ago, we spoke about God’s word, and we spoke of His promise. FOUR YEARS AGO, that seed was planted and has been growing as my friend has sought a deeper relationship with God, they have sought this on their own, and come to a point where they are ready to hear more of what God has for them. All of this happening inward, unnoticed like the seeds of my asparagus plant. Slowly growing and becoming established to a point where it is ready to be seen outwardly. Simply incredible to step back and see God’s hand at work.

Witnessing is hard, frustrating work. Don’t get me wrong I love to talk of the saving grace of Jesus Christ, I could talk all day long of the mercies he has showed over and over, and the truth found in His word. That isn’t the frustrating part, the frustrating part is the telling of ones own life altering experience with the God of the universe and feeling as though the words fell on deaf ears or the power in which was experienced wasn’t communicated as strong as it should have been. It’s frustrating, but God tells us in

Mark 16:15

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

He tells us to go and proclaim…He doesn’t tell us to go and convince or persuade or force…only to go and proclaim. And He doesn’t say we will see immediate results, or that things are going to happen the way we imagine, what He says is:

Isaiah 55:11

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; 

It shall not return to Me void, 

But it shall accomplish what I please, 

And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

His word accomplishes what HE pleases, not what WE please, and it shall prosper in the thing which He sent it…not necessarily the thing for which WE think He sent it. 

Never in a thousand years would I have dreamed of the conversation I was blessed to have with my friend. My way would have been good, but God’s way, and seeing how far He has brought my friend has been sweeter, and far better than anything I could ever have imagined. 

My encouragement to you today…share your story, share the work of God in your life, share your testimony, we have NO idea of the seeds God is planting through us. Remember Matthew 9:37:

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

And as you think on those words and go through your day…Choose Him.