GOD is a GOD of details

What seeds of faith am I planting?

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Recently, I became a co-admin of a seed library and found out that I would be planting seeds in order to have plants to sell as a fund-raising plant sale. My prayer for this started last year.

I was told that the seed library was receiving only 1/4 of the money raised at the plant sell and I became somewhat righteously angry. I started praying that if it be GOD’s will, that I would be able to donate plants towards the sell so that they would get 100% of the money raised. I was just thinking about a couple of dozen plants.

In March I was talking to the seed library lead and she was telling me that many of the plants that were started earlier in the year had been tossed around by the wind and were not going to make it for the sale. So I was given the “go-ahead” to grow some seeds for the sale. Reminder, I was only thinking a couple dozen plants. However, GOD’s plans are not our plans. I’d been given some Amazon gift cards for a class I took, so found myself looking at gardening supplies….and bought a 40 pack of twelve 1″x1″ square (40*12=480) peat planters. Plus I already had about 60 peat cups. So, I started planted seeds in 540 peat cups! Now mind you, just because you plant a seed doesn’t mean it will sprout or become a plant.

However, GOD’s plans are not our plans. I’d been given some Amazon gift cards for a class I took, so found myself looking at gardening supplies….and bought a 40 pack of twelve 1″x1″ square (40*12=480) peat planters.

Have you ever asked GOD to use something you are doing in the physical for the spiritual good?

As I was planting the physical seeds, I started praying that God would use the seeds that I was planting to bear spiritual fruit. 

 “ABBA FATHER LORD JESUS HOLY SPIRIT thank You that You are able to use what we do in the physical in spiritual ways. Physical seeds can be spiritual seeds planted! LORD remind us of this and empower us to sow generously in all we do.”

PLANT GENEROUSLY 

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (TPT) “Here’s my point. A stingy sower  will reap a meager harvest, but the one who sows from a generous spirit will reap an abundant harvest. Let giving flow from your heart, not from a sense of religious duty. Let it spring up freely from the joy of giving—all because God loves hilarious generosity!”

The Aramaic can be translated “the one who sows with a storehouse of seed” (remaining). This describes a farmer who is stingy with his sowing since he has a storehouse of seed he can afford to sow liberally.

All throughout scriptures, we see both natural and spiritual implications of this cycle. 

NATURAL: if you plant a few seeds, you will reap a small harvest. If you plant hundreds or thousands of seeds, you will reap a large harvest.

SPIRITUAL: When we “plant” our time, money, talent, and energy into the Kingdom of GOD we are investing in Him and His plan – and He can certainly multiply our efforts.

Some of the seeds just did not come up, they composted (become soil again) or were no longer viable. Which surprised me, because I soaked all the seeds before I planted them (and they passed the viability test).

Some of the seeds became seedlings but either got too cold, too hot or munched by bugs.

And some seeds were slow in coming up because we had an unseasonably cold spring this year. These were brand new seedlings for the sale, so few were sold. 

A lot of the seeds became seedlings and thrived to become plants ready to be sold. 

Because of all the variables above (becoming compost, dying plants, slow germination), if I would have been stingy in sowing, I wouldn’t have had near as many plants I ended up with.

We shouldn’t give to get though, we are to sow with the right heart. I was not growing plants for me to receive money or acknowledgement, I was growing plants because I desired to see the seed library succeed in their plant sale, so they could succeed in their mission…and praying that GOD would use it to plant spiritual seeds in the community.

Proverbs 11:18 (BSB)  The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.

Hosea 10:12 (HCSB) Sow righteousness for yourselves and reap faithful love; break up your unplowed ground. It is time to seek the Lord until He comes  and sends righteousness on you like the rain.

I read this verse several days before the plant sale. I prayed that GOD would break up the unplowed land of our hardened hearts and to plant righteousness and faithful love. Before that, we had A LOT of rain and no more was expected for the season. In fact, it was unseasonably warm, in the upper 80’s and 90’s.

I was getting some signs printed for the plant sale at a store. I was talking with one employee and when she briefly walked away, I started fanning my face and another employee (who was busy with another customer, leaned over to me and said, “you know it’s going to rain next week!?!”

I laughed! I had not prayed the rest of the verse! “LORD, please send Your righteousness upon us like rain!” It not only rained one day, but on and off for a week!

WHAT ARE YOU CULTIVATING IN YOUR LIFE?

What am I cultivating in my life? Am I cultivating weeds of worldliness or a relationship with GOD? Cultivating a relationship with GOD will bear the fruit of the SPIRIT . 

Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The Sunday before the plant sale, I was writing my prayer request for the plant sale “Please pray that GOD will use the seeds I have planted physically for a spiritual harvest.” As I wrote, the person speaking just happened to read from First Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 36-9 (GNT)  I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow. The one who plants and the one who waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow. There is no difference between the one who plants and the one who waters; God will reward each one according to the work each has done. For we are partners working together for God, and you are God’s field.

It gave me great joy, belief and hope that He indeed was hearing my prayers and was already answering them.

I had well over 500 plants by the time the plant sale came. We raised over $700 and somehow I had well over 200 plants left. I know GOD was the One Who brought the success of the plant sale. And I believe that He is growing the spiritual seeds planted into a harvest for His Kingdom purposes.

Ask yourself, “How am I sowing spiritual seeds in my life and the lives of others? What types of seeds am I planting? Am I trusting God will multiply my efforts when I have harvested in his kingdom with the right heart?

Take some time today to reflect on what you’re planting and reaping and ask God to direct your steps.

Please let me know what GOD shows you, what you are sowing into His Kingdom as well as what harvest you see Him bring in through your planting and watering

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How is GOD using the fire and storms in your life?

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I’m not exactly sure when it was, but for a period of time, I kept finding myself reading verses in the Bible about being in the fire or storm. Daniel 3:9-30, Isaiah 43:1-5, Matthew 8:23-27, the book of Job and others. I’m not sure what I thought at the time, but looking back, I can see that GOD wanted to prepare me that I would be going into the fire…a hot 🥵🔥 one!

Since October 22, 2015 I feel like I have been in the fire. That is on-going pain from surgery with no answers to why, spinal pain which was in the 7-8/10 pain levels for several years (as well as occasionally now, but regularly around 4-6/10 pain levels), for several years inability to get regular sleep, doctors unwilling to help, insurance denials, workplace falsely accusing me of theft, loss of beloved animals, mental breakdown, weakness in my legs taking my freedom to drive, autoimmune disease, noise/light/smell sensitivities, depression, migraine headaches…

; BUT GOD has been faithful throughout. Majority of the verses I continued to see over and over were about being in a fire or storm, BUT most importantly the verses were about WHO IS WITH US WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE FIRE OR THE STORM!

Isaiah 43:1-5 -But now thus says the LORD, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your GOD, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.

Remember Shadrach Meshach and Abednego;  GOD didn’t put out the fire, in fact, the fire was stoked seven times hotter! ;BUT GOD was in the fire with them. It’s not about GOD putting out the fires, it’s about who is in the fire with you.

In Matthew 8:23-27, the One who controls all things, including the weather, was in the boat with the disciples. JESUS calmed the storm with a Word.

For just over six and a half years, I have been in what feels like a fire that’s gotten a little bit hotter over time. I’ve learned that the key to not fearing is to know that GOD is with us through it.

I have also started to see that going through the fire is about healing and restoration. This happens when we surrender every aspect of the fires and storms to GOD and allow Him to use it for our good.

Today it occurred to me that maybe GOD wants to use the fires in our lives to give others life. I was reading a devotional about “heaping coals on the heads of our enemies” and remembered that in the past it was a blessing to give someone a hot coal. It meant they would be able to warm their house, cook food, warm water for drinks and baths, etc.

I’m not quite sure what it would look like to use the fire I am in to give life to others. Maybe instead of just existing in the fires we are in, we can look outside of our fires to encourage others who are going through it and we can pray for others asking GOD to show Himself in their fire.

How is GOD using the fires and/or storms in your life?  What is He teaching you? Please let me know in the comment section.

Despite the fires in my life, I desire to see the Church, the Bride of Christ, united together in love. I desire to see the Bay Area to become the Valley of GOD’s Heart’s Delight. I’m not sure how I can be part of this, other than prayer, but I am at least asking GOD to use me.

I pray that GOD will show Himself faithful to you. I pray that GOD will show you, that even though your fire might be getting hotter or that your boat is about to be overtaken by waves, He is with you, He is for you and He is in control of the fires and storms. I pray that GOD will empower you to stop crying out to be saved from the fire and the storm to see that you are safe in the fire and the storm BECAUSE HE IS WITH YOU. I pray that GOD will encourage you, strengthen you and show you purpose inside the fire and storm. I pray that GOD will remove all hopelessness, anxiety, fear, dejectedness, etc and give you His peace that surpasses all understanding to guard your heart and mind. I pray that GOD will soften any part of your heart and mind that has become hardened because of the fire and storm. And I pray that GOD will renew your love for Him, allow a fire to burn inside your heart and that He will show you new purpose. May He build something beautiful from the ashes, bringing healing and restoration in and through your life because of what you are going through.

Humble Valley Ranch..it is a real place…at least from a heavenly perspective for now

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Okay, okay! Enough people have asked, “Where is Humble Valley Ranch?” and “What is Humble Valley Ranch?” So, let me tell you what I know. But be prepared, there are lots of details.

In approximately 2003, I had my second ever recurring dream. (First one is here) It was the type of recurring dream where it continues from night to night without starting over from the beginning.

The first night I dreamed I was in a vehicle that was driving towards what looked like a cliff. But before the turn in the road towards the left to keep us from going over the cliff, there was a sudden right turn. This road hugged a wall to the right and then led into a valley with white barked trees.

Upon entering the valley, I could see what looked like a Holiday Inn style hotel building with a very humongous barn just passed it. On the left was a large home with a covered wagon style wagon in the front.

The vehicle came to a stop in front what looked like a two-story log-style home. As I said before, it was very large. In the front yard was a wagon that was filled with dirt and covered with strawberry plants. There were pots here and there hanging from poles filled with herb and spice plants as well as other types of berries. It seemed like every species of plant in the yard was edible or grew something that could be eaten.

The front of the house had a screened in porch that ran the length of the building. This had chairs and sofas looking out towards the front yard. It looked very comforting and inviting.

Inside the house, there was a entryway that led to the stairs (or possibly elevator??). To the right of this was a large sitting room without a TV. This room also looked very inviting.

Upstairs, there were 6-8 rooms each with a theme from the Bible. One was David and Goliath. I don’t remember the rest. Each had their own bathroom. Upstairs there was also a sitting room. And there was a door that led out to a very large deck that had a barbeque grill built into it and there were a lot of tables and chairs. From this deck, there was a bridge that went over a stream that ran behind the house. This bridge led to a grassy knoll. There was also a stairway that led back downstairs to the kitchen/dining room door on the back of the house.

Not only did the stairway lead down to the kitchen/dining room door, but just past it was a gate of a very huge garden that was being watered by the stream. The garden also had a place where people could sit and fish, and a sort of sink-like setup with counter for cleaning the fish.

Going into the door of the house, there was a dining room with a very long picnic style table. To the left was a restaurant sized kitchen with restaurant sized stove, oven, refrigerator and dishwasher. Then past that was a door that led to an office and bedroom and sitting room of the “house parents” or the people who were in charge of the home.

In the basement of this house had theater type setup with seating and big screen. But I don’t recall where the stairs to this were. It would make sense to me that they were part of the stairs (elevator??) leading upstairs. (Hmmm🤔 I don’t recall a laundry room but there must have been one somewhere).

One last thing was that when you went out the dining room/kitchen door to the left, you would go under the deck and then there was a white bark tree lined path that led down the stream to the base of the cliff. There was a cave in the side of the cliff. The bank of the stream was wide enough at this place that there was a fire pit with downed trees surrounding it for people to sit on. I could imagine worship nights there.

I think all of the above was from the first night of the dream. But I don’t remember. What seemed to be another night was what felt like a tour of the hotel style structure and barn area.

The hotel style structure had two-stories and eight hotel style rooms, four on the first floor and four on the second floor. Each of the rooms had a bed, bathroom and a small microwave. These rooms would be for those who are working the land and working with the animals.

The barn had a door on the side from the hotel style structure. As you entered, on the left was a coffee pot and small refrigerator and kitchen style sink with cups and glasses on the open shelves.

The barn also had two big doors on the front of the building facing the house. Inside the barn, there were horse stalls on the wall just past the small door. There was a stairway that went up through the middle of the barn There were also separate indoor pens/coops with animal appropriate sized doors leading out for goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys. (Questioning to myself if there were cows in the mix…I don’t remember.)

The second story of the barn had a hay loft. I think there might have been more up there, but I don’t remember. This seemed to be the end of the dream for another night. As far as I was concerned, that could have been the end.

But it wasn’t. The next night I was back at this same place. I found myself being led from the mostly empty parking lot between the house and the barn heading opposite of the cliff. There were white barked trees on either side of a path big enough for two horses to walk next to one another. Every once in awhile there would be a bench here and there along the path.

This seemed to be at least one-half to three-quarters of a mile. At the end of this path was an A-frame log-style chapel. It was beautiful. There was an intricate stained glass window in the triangle between the door and the frame of the roof.

Indoor, at the back of the chapel was a small-ish sitting area. Then past it there were what looked like hand-crafted redwood benches (like church pews) with hand-sewn cushions made in the same colors of the stained-glass window. The front of the chapel and podium were also what seem to be hand-crafted in redwood as well. It was quaint and comfortable. And the presence of HOLY SPIRIT was very sweet. I wanted to stay there but I was encouraged to move on because there was something else that needed to be seen.

I was again at the parking lot between the house and the barn. I was led as if going back to the chapel but before I got to the tree lined path, I turned right, past animal pens and coops. I saw machines that were used for large crop planting and harvest. As I was lead past them, I saw that the land above was also part of this property. And it had at least two types of crops. Each had to be 5 or so acres worth. I also seem to recall a helipad, but don’t remember if it was near the parking lot or somewhere else.

After having this dream for three or four nights, I started asking GOD questions. Is this place real. I asked Him that if it was real, then to please give me a name for it. I heard, “Humble Valley Ranch”. I asked Him if it was supposed to be a place that I helped bring into existence that He would protect this name from other people using it. I thought it was going to be a retreat home for pastors and elders.

For awhile I thought that there was no way that a person could be given such a great number of details about a place or a even a building. But I have read the multiple times throughout the Bible that GOD gave even details down to the measurements of the walls or materials. So, now I know He is able to do this. He is a GOD of details.

I have not understood why He would give this dream to me. I did live on something like a ranch when I was a child. I loved the animals. But I know it would take much more knowledge and strength than I have.

Even though it has not come from heaven to earth in the natural, GOD has protected the name. And more and more, I believe that it is real and GOD will bring it to pass when He is ready. Where will it be? I don’t know.

As I said before, I thought that it would be a retreat center for pastors and elders. But through experiences of my own as well as some very dear friends of mine, I am coming to understand that this will be a resting place for pastors and missionaries who have had emotional or mental breakdowns or who have experienced trauma in such a way that they need help beyond what they can get while continuing to work. Not only will the “house parents” be able to counsel them but so will the ranch hands. It will be a working ranch where they are required to get up and help with part of the chores but will be able to find time to find healing. Also, there will be no charge for them to be there and no limit in the amount of time they are able to stay. They will be encouraged and challenged to grow and get back to the work GOD has called them to do.

So, there you have it. Now you know as much as I do about Humble Valley Ranch. If GOD leads you to this valley, please let me know where it is. I look forward to seeing how GOD will bring it to pass!