"Your physical senses are incapable of judging whether a seed is alive or not. You cannot see, feel, hear, smell, or taste the life in a seed. There is only one way to prove a seed is alive -- plant it.
The words above speak so much truth, but as human beings we often times get in the way. How do you know the power of the seed you plant? You don't. You might not ever know in your lifetime....but that doesn't mean you don't plant it. I have a myriad of thoughts from Sunday's Prayer Vigil that was held for the Iowa National Guard troops and their families. Foremost, though, is this. We heard God Ask....We Obeyed.....and We Planted Seeds. And those seeds will multiply. I think of the thousands who heard and saw the radio and television reports of the event. And then I think of the outreach we can have in placing parts of the vigil on You Tube. That's where we're feeling directed. Yes, our seeds can have far reaching effects. But it takes us to act on those promptings.
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| Our Nations Colors Provided The Foundation of the Prayer Vigil |
Case in point, this morning, I'm coming home from picking up my son, Jonathan. We pull in the driveway and get out of the car as our neighbors are leaving their house. "Saw you on TV last night", wow, that was great", the husband said. I could say I was taken aback by his comments, but that would not even begin to put the proper wordage to it. I was blown away. For over two years now, we've lived next door to these people. They hardly ever say anything to us...or any other neighbor for that matter. When they come home, it's in the garage and down with the door, immediately. We've tried to connect with them despite some outbursts....like our dog venturing into their yard, one of our cats killing a bird near their bird feeder and our teenage kids noise and cars. Not once have they mentioned the yellow ribbon around the tree in our front yard, around the mailbox or on a post at the front door. Not once, since our son deployed to Afghanistan in July of 2010. Not once.
And then there was this. On top of that, neighbor man, says, "my son here (helping dad and mom this morning), flys for a commercial airlines and he takes soldiers back and forth to Kuwait. When will your son get back?". And the dialogue was off and running. Coincidence? not hardly!!!
There have been others and I know there will be more. That's the neat thing.
I had a reporter ask me after the event if I thought it was a success. "It's not up to me to say that", I said. I know the people that God wanted to be there, were". Maybe I can put it into an even better perspective. Sunday, May 15th we invited people to come to a session...kind of like a recording session. People sang, they spoke, they prayed. I do know the ones that attended the vigil were moved deeply. I had more than one of the performers mention the "longing" expression of comfort many in the crowd displayed. Yes, the Holy Spirit was there front and center.
Now, the message is being taken forward through those that experienced the day firsthand, those that heard and saw it on the radio and television news and then the ones that will see it on YouTube and on Facebook and through My Father's Voice.
Back to a comment I made at the head of this post. There is only one way to prove a seed is alive -- plant it. So what's next?
The seed of the word is planted in our heart, then the water of the word keeps it alive. In the Bible, 1Corinthians 3:6 says "I planted, Apollos watered, and God's life makes it grow. For our soldiers, know that people are loving on you big time. You are in their thoughts and prayers. Just know that there are more today than yesterday and they'll be more tomorrow than today. Rest in that".
Those thoughts were from one year ago....and as you can see, there is still a need for our continued prayer.
I would especially like to uplift the women that are serving in our armed forces today on this Mother's Day. You are indeed something special.
YGG,
John
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