God really uses mysterious things to speak and get at my heart. The story I shared in the previous blog is very real and close to me. He has been speaking interestingly enough through nature. I guess it has helped that we are on a farm and have planted corn, beans, potatoes, groundnuts and other vegetables. We are also raising chickens and have a goat! So, a lot of the time God uses what is around me to speak to me because there was a time not very long ago where I felt that He was very distant. A time when He had given a specific instruction and then all seemed quiet for a while after that. At that time, I was desperately drawing close to Him asking for clarity and direction. He did just that.
Like I said, we planted sweet corn in our yard and were hoping for a wonderful harvest. We grew the corn as organinc as we could manage. It was growing beautifully and then after some time, it decided to get dry. No matter how many times it rained, it was dry and many stalks were falling to the ground. The children and I went out a few times after school to try and fix the fallen stalks. We would pick them up and then pound dirt around it so they could stay standing. This went on for a couple of weeks and then we noticed that it was time to try to harvest the corn because we may lose the little bit that was left. I really had no hopes in this crop, as far as it was concerned I knew we had nothing to pick really. However, we went out and picked as much as we could. One massive bowl, two, three and then four!! Ok, I forgot to take a picture but I hope you understand the kind of bowls I'm referring to. These are not big mixing bowls that we keep in our kitchen to make a big salad or even put some fruit in. No, these are BIG African bowls. Go ahead, do something with me, get both arms out in a circle as if you're hugging an imaginary person and fingers are barely touching. Got it? Yep, that big! Not one, but four of those full of corn from my fallen, dry and torn up corn field. That was more than incredible, it was amazing!!
When I took the first three bowls inside to try and figure out what to do with it, God spoke to me and said, "Vicky, there more fruit in you than you realize. You think I am so far away and you are dry and torn inside but get ready because the harvest that I will reap from your life is plenty. and not just you but Warren and the children" I just stood there amazed. He actually wasn't finished with me yet! In fact, it seems as if He is just getting started!
In the midst of this trial, God spoke to a couple of my friends to call one day. I cannot explain to you how timely that was. It was like me and the kids going out to pick up the corn and sure the stalks up with more dirt so they would remain standing a bit longer. That is what these friends did. The held us up in prayer and made sure we were standing for a bit longer. There was another friend who out of nowhere emailed and said that our family had popped up in their prayer meeting. Coincedence? Don't think so. God is working even when we don't see Him at work.
The past couple of months, Warren was invited to share at the local christian radio station twice. Around the same time, we met some new friends who invited him to sing at the American Embassy. He lifted the name of Jesus at both places. God whispered to me, "There is fruit, Vicky" I really am not saying this to be proud but because God is working and I know it's not just for us. He is working for you too and in you too! Are you like us, and have felt dry and torn and like there is nothing left to give and surely there is nothing left to take from you. You are beyond empty. Dry, bruised and broken. God is there and He will see you through and you have fruit.
It is very rare that my husband gets to preach but this past Sunday, He was invited to speak at a local church. He blew me away because the message was about being God's workmanship created for Him for a specific purpose. We are God's masterpiece, He will finish what He started in us. He who began a good work in you, will finish it! There is fruit!
No comments:
Post a Comment