Tag: obedience to God

Reach Out

The other day I was feeling it all. Overwhelmed that Christmas is quickly barreling down and I have so much to do. So sick of sickness raging through the house. Frustrated that Andrew still doesn’t have a job. Yet, upset that he’s been working with a friend and not home all day anymore. And just feeling sad.

You know what, it’s ok to have those days.

As I got out of depression years ago, I remember being afraid of days like that. I’d worry I was slipping back into it and would have to climb that steep, rocky slope back out all over again. Thankfully it’s never gripped me again like that and I pray it never again does.

I learned a lot of good coping techniques during that time and they have become habit when I do have a bad day, but this week, for some reason, it just wasn’t working.

But God.

I don’t know how many times I’ve whispered those words in my life. If it weren’t for Him I don’t know where I’d be.

And that day, He reminded me how much he loves me. You know how He did it? Through sweet friends who listen to the Lord when he speaks to them! I hope you all have friends like that. They are precious.

I had 4 very timely texts that day. Friends texted saying “I was thinking about you today and just wanted to see how you are.” One was from a friend, hundreds of miles away who didn’t even know the kids had been sick. But God prompted her to reach out.

Another typed out her prayer for me so I could see how she lifted me up to our loving Father.

That evening a friend came with a gift for me. I wish I would have taken a photo of it! It was so beautifully wrapped and huge. It reminded me of those life size dolls girls always want.

She bought me a vacuum! Like an amazing stick vacuum! I hadn’t even known these existed until we were talking about them one day. Yes, homeschool mamas talk about vacuums and they are exhilarating conversations, ok?!

First it was an amazing gift. Second, she didn’t know what kind of a day I’d had emotionally. She said, “I was praying for you and God told me to buy you this.” She said she had often not believed when someone would say they heard from God to buy something for someone else, but she knew, clearly, that God wanted her to do it. And she obeyed.

Just like the friends who were asked by God to reach out and to pray for me. They listened and obeyed.

How often do we slow down enough to listen and obey our good good God? How many more times could we bless others if we just slowed and asked and waited for Him to tell us?

I was awed and humbled that day. Often in this trial, I’ve asked the Lord “are you there?, do you even hear me? Are you listening? Will you answer?” He is truly there and does listen. As he says in Isaiah 60:22, “I am the Lord; in its time I will hasten it.” I have to keep trusting He knows exactly when He will resolve all the things. And He keeps reminding me that He is working in the waiting.

Not only did I go to bed that night light in Spirit and heart, but with a lesson deeply impressed upon me. When someone is laid on your heart, reach out. If God tells you to do something, do it, even if it seems weird. You never know how you might change the trajectory of another person’s day.

Merry Christmas! May you be blessed and bless others!

Thank you, God

I haven’t said much this summer. It’s been a weird season, where God has asked me to be quiet and listen. And I honestly haven’t heard much from Him yet, but I can trust He’s working.

We were so excited this spring when it warmed up early and the ground was ready to plant in April. That hasn’t happened since we moved here! We were eager to get our crops in and get to growing and serving.

We spent hours and hours hoeing, planting and marking our rows. Everything looked pretty good.

Then it started to rain. And rain. And rain.

From the beginning of May to now, mid July, we’ve had over 53 inches of rain. That’s almost four and a half feet of rain! It came in torrents. Three inches in an hour. Seven inches in an evening. Five inches in a weekend.

Early June

It’s hard to watch your garden sit underwater, all your time and effort literally being washed away. After every flooding, we’d replant, sure this time it would grow. It couldn’t possibly keep raining, could it?

Yes it could. And it has.

Last week we finally made the difficult decision to shut down our CSA for the summer. We just have nothing to give out. Even the lettuce that was looking good quit growing and just started wilting away. The leaves on all the plants are turning yellow. Tomato and pepper plants are still the same height as when we planted them.

Then yesterday, as if to confirm our decision, our property got hit with hail and over 3″ of rain. Any plant that was desperately struggling to survive, was shredded AND flooded.

Dying, wilting plants early July

I don’t know if I’ve ever asked God more often “What are you doing?” than I have this summer. I still have no idea.

I’ve stood in the garden and cried. I’ve stood there and yelled at God. I’ve walked out there in silence just wondering.

The Lord has told me this week repeatedly to be obedient to Him. He keeps reminding me, I don’t need to know the end result, I just need to know He is good. He loves me. He knows the result He is working out. He is still on His throne.

This morning in church we learned about the parable of the sower and the four soils. One thing the pastor pointed out was that while this parable is about four different people, it’s also about the different seasons our heart can be in. When Jesus explains the seed that falls on rocky soil he says, “and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.”

The pastor had us all say, “when, not if”. When, not it. Tribulation and persecution will happen. The Bible tells us that numerous times.

Our response is what matters and is our responsibility. I can’t control all the rain. I can’t stop the flooding.

But I can control my response.

What should our response be in times of trouble, devastation, and sadness?

July 14th, 7th time flooding, with hail


Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2     Serve the Lord with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;[a]
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5 For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100

We are to be thankful. Say thank you to our good good God, who loves us more than we could ask or imagine.

It might seem contrary to our nature. And it is. But we have to learn to fight against our nature everyday because it’s sinful. We’d rather complain and groan and say, but God, give me the answer now.

We can still say thank you for all God has done for us, for who he is, for his steadfast love and faithfulness.

So, though I have no idea what He’s doing or why, I will still say…

Thank you, God, for loving me well, for refining me in this trial, for walking beside me and guiding me, for cleansing my heart of selfishness, and for turning my eyes to you. Thank you for never leaving me nor forsaking me, thank you for dying on the cross for me, and defeating death to give me a place in heaven. Thank you for providing for my every need, even in the midst of flooding and devastation.