The past 3 weeks, we've had a guest speaker at church that has preached on the parable of the sower. It's a very well known parable-one even my kids recognize, but I've learned a few new things this time around and even experienced some of what I've learned in the past few days.
This week, we learned about the thorny soil--the soil that chokes out growth with the thorn of "worry" and the thorn "seeking after riches." This was the first time I'd ever really paid attention to what the two thorns actually were.
Worry--something we all deal with from time to time. On the worry scale, I'd say I've drifted down a few notches over the years--maybe a 2 or 3 depending on the situation. Our adoptions especially have shown me over and over that worry has no place in following God. We've seen time and again that when we do what He asks of us, He takes care of the details and really, it's just so much easier to trust the Lord's plans than to worry about our own.
Don't get me wrong, sometimes worry rears it's ugly head, but then I'm reminded of the three, going on four, little children in our home that are miraculously here because of God's provisions--even when it looked impossible.
We've had friends email out of now where to see if we could use a couple extra car seats and a crib mattress--yes and yes (we gave away all of our baby stuff after Colton out grew it). We've already been given bottles and pacifiers, diaper bags and baby boy clothes--all just given to us, without our asking or the givers even knowing we needed them. God is preparing our home for our baby just as Philippians 4:19 says:
Nick's parents have blessed us with their gifts of carpentry and organization. His dad has built pretty much everything that is wood at our house (the playground, the girls' beds, the boys' toy box and dresser, our school room shelves a storage building--yes, we are spoiled). He is currently working on our pool deck. His mom has offered to come down and organize/weed out toys and kid stuff when she comes again for a visit (we have a zillion legos and choking hazards that we need to get stored properly before we have a baby again).
Just this weekend, we experienced God's grace through my parents. We stopped by after church and my mom made us lunch and then they offered to take us all to the movies. Talk about provision--God provided not only for our basic need of food, but also for a special trip to the movies (definitely few and far between with a family of 8 and an adoption in process). Maybe that doesn't sound like a big deal, but to have just heard a message about not worrying and trusting God to provide, it stood out to me.
This week, we learned about the thorny soil--the soil that chokes out growth with the thorn of "worry" and the thorn "seeking after riches." This was the first time I'd ever really paid attention to what the two thorns actually were.
Worry--something we all deal with from time to time. On the worry scale, I'd say I've drifted down a few notches over the years--maybe a 2 or 3 depending on the situation. Our adoptions especially have shown me over and over that worry has no place in following God. We've seen time and again that when we do what He asks of us, He takes care of the details and really, it's just so much easier to trust the Lord's plans than to worry about our own.
Don't get me wrong, sometimes worry rears it's ugly head, but then I'm reminded of the three, going on four, little children in our home that are miraculously here because of God's provisions--even when it looked impossible.
We've had friends email out of now where to see if we could use a couple extra car seats and a crib mattress--yes and yes (we gave away all of our baby stuff after Colton out grew it). We've already been given bottles and pacifiers, diaper bags and baby boy clothes--all just given to us, without our asking or the givers even knowing we needed them. God is preparing our home for our baby just as Philippians 4:19 says:
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Nick's parents have blessed us with their gifts of carpentry and organization. His dad has built pretty much everything that is wood at our house (the playground, the girls' beds, the boys' toy box and dresser, our school room shelves a storage building--yes, we are spoiled). He is currently working on our pool deck. His mom has offered to come down and organize/weed out toys and kid stuff when she comes again for a visit (we have a zillion legos and choking hazards that we need to get stored properly before we have a baby again).
Just this weekend, we experienced God's grace through my parents. We stopped by after church and my mom made us lunch and then they offered to take us all to the movies. Talk about provision--God provided not only for our basic need of food, but also for a special trip to the movies (definitely few and far between with a family of 8 and an adoption in process). Maybe that doesn't sound like a big deal, but to have just heard a message about not worrying and trusting God to provide, it stood out to me.
Then, this morning, we had a $213 donations on our fundraising site http://www.acharityproject.com/f/7forour7th from an anonymous donor! Anonymous people--someone who doesn't even know us and was prompted to give so our baby can come home. We've now raised almost $7400 on that site and I haven't even advertised it in over a month!
God just keeps providing.
And so, with my whole heart I believe this verse below:
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:31-33
May I never forget God's faithfulness and may we always strive to seek first the kingdom of God.
So true Jessica. Thank you for the examples and reminders of God's faithfulness.
ReplyDeleteAmen! Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteI love the impact this is going to make on your children's lives. They will look back and remember the stories and have that confidence that it doesn't do any good to worry. God's got it covered!
ReplyDelete