Planting Seeds

March 22, 2017

I am on vacation, so the posts for the next two weeks are going to be a bit sporadic.  Sorry for anyone who may be reading, but I am off having adventures with my family.

Day 79: A Message From A Dead Woman:
"The promise is received by faith.  It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it...if we have faith like Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who believe...because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing."
—Romans 4:16-17

Incredible story Anderson shared today!  There was a woman named Eunice that suffered a heart attack while visiting Dr. Anderson. He had to have her rushed to Nashville to see a cardiologist. The Nashville doctors told Dr. Anderson that Eunice had died, but "an hour in to running code....and two hours from the time she flatlined, her heart kicked in and started beating by itself."  When she came out of the coma (three days later—sound familiar?) she wanted to speak to Dr. Anderson specifically. When he went to visit her, she told him that she had seen "Jesus and her family in the most beautiful place one could imagine" and that Jesus said He wanted [her] to come back to encourage Dr. Anderson to stay the course. Though she didn't know what that meant, Dr. Anderson did and he began to tear up.  He and his family "had been thinking about moving," but Eunice's story helped him realize that "God wanted [them] to stay right where [they] were."

Day 80: He Healed Everyone:
"After leaving the synagogue that day, Jesus went to Simon's home, where he found Simon's mother-in-law very sick with a high fever. ' Please heal her,' everyone begged. Standing at her bedside, he rebuked the fever, and it left her.  And she got up at once and prepared a meal for them. As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family member to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one." —Luke 4:38-40

I can imagine how in awe Anderson is of Jesus and his power to heal, especially as a medical man. How could one not be? I have often wished that I could have been alive when Jesus walked the earth. I wish I could have walked with Him. I would not have wanted to witness His crucifixion, but I would have liked to have had a face to face conversation with Him, or even just had a dinner with Him. Whenever I watch films about Jesus, I am in awe of Him. I feel inspired to keep fighting the proverbial good fight and my heart aches to met Him.

Day 81: A Withering Weed Blossom
"Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come."
—Jeremiah 33:3

Anderson begins his lesson today by sharing a story of a young woman named Cindy. When Dr. Anderson first met Cindy, she was a mess. She was addicted to drugs and alcohol and had caused an accident in which she had lost her leg and "her self-respect." As she was on the streets searching for her next fix to escape the pain of her life, she remembered how Anderson encouraged her 'to look to God when everything seemed lost." After five years, she came back to Dr. Anderson's office, only this time she had her life together and had given her heart to God. She said, "So many people were praying for me and encouraging me. Those were all seeds that took root, and now the Holy Spirit has helped them sprout and grow."

In his concluding comments Dr. Anderson reminds us to "pray for and encourage those in need, even in the worst circumstances. You never know when those seeds, planted deep in the human soul, will sprout and grow."

I agree with Anderson that we never know. I think it is rather easy for us to feel as if we are having little to no effect, especially when there seems to be no outward indication that we are. I know that as a teacher I have felt that way, like nothing I say or do is getting through and having a lasting effect. However, that was not necessarily the case. I still frequently receive messages from former students who want to share with me the effect that I had on them, whether it was a particular lesson or skill that I taught, or just something I had shared or said. I am often amazed by what they tell me. I just never knew how, when, or if the seeds I had planted would grow. Truth is, I didn't need to know. Though it is nice to hear that someone values your efforts, there is no credit to be had.

One plants, another waters, and God makes it grow (1 Corinthians 3).