Johnny Appleseed

One day I want to have a garden.  I want to walk into my backyard and get sweet potatoes, blueberries, bananas, peppers, spinach, and all kinds of other fruits and veggies.  To reap that harvest is going to be a grueling process... not one for the faint of heart.  Its going to involve digging the soil, making sure the soil has the proper nutrients, making sure the seeds are planted correctly, getting the plants the proper balance of sunlight and water, keeping pests and weeds out... and probably a lot of other things I don't even know about.  There will probably be points when it doesn't seem worth it.  The harvest will seem so far away... so distant and the current work will be tedious and tiring.  We have to push on.  We can't lose heart or became lazy.  I admittedly have done this.  In God's garden sometimes you don't know if you are digging new soil, planting, watering, etc.  Oftentimes we aren't patient.  We want results fast.  God has a higher plan and perfect timing.  We need to be obedient... just keep digging, planting, watering.  No time for complaining.  

Monday afternoon I received this email and it undoubtedly made my day...


Alex,


How are you buddy. Haven't spoke to you in ages bro. Just wanted to see how you were doing and give you a little update on my life.

Upon graduating in 2009, I has the opportunity to play professional soccer for about 2-3 years as you probably already knew. The last team I played for was The Charlotte Eagles, which is a professional team owned by Missionary Athletes in Action. This organization has a mission focusing on Christianity through the sport of soccer.

Well, this was one of the first ways the Lord revealed himself to me and playing on the team helped create a base for what it meant for me to be Christian.

Today, I'm proud to say that I am a true believer of the Lord and my life has changed a complete 180 degrees. I gave up all areas of my life which meant I gave up soccer for HIM. God presented a job opportunity in a Flower Company. I was hired with a team to help expand the company in a project we're developing for a new clients. I have now been working here for about 3 months, and really enjoying it.

Honestly, I remember our talks a lot during our workouts and I never had the eyes or the mind to understand how God was using you to talk to me. I am thankful and blessed that God has hand-chose me to do His will. I thank you anyway because the words God spoke through you still impacted my life. 

Hope to hear back from you man, let me know how you've been. God Bless you.




Tuesday morning I received this email...



Alex

On march 18 I realized through all of this that I have been going through that Jesus is all that I need in this life and that His presence my heart has brought me a comfort and joy that has changed my life.... Thanks so much Alex.


I was overwhelmed.  God is so good.  It is so awesome to have people that you love come to know Christ.  And to see it happen or I guess in this case read about it happening was so awesome.  I've had times in my life where I thought people were going to make a change but they didn't.  I prayed for them and talked to them but it didn't happen and I gave up, threw in the towel, quit... but God didn't.  I am thankful for that.  God changed my life and He is still changing lives.  Maybe those people were/are changing, it was just slower than I wanted... like the growth of the plant.  Little by little but I didn't stick around to do the hard work and thus I didn't get to see the harvest.  Maybe I planted seeds that someone else watered and cared for.  It was so refreshing and encouraging to be reminded that God is still / always working, but I can't become complacent because His work isn't done yet.  I have to stay Kingdom minded!  I have to stay digging, planting, watering.  Its hard work but its more than worth it and my Savior gives me the strength to do it.


"Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few."
- Matthew 9:37

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

- Galatians 6:9