Hello All,
After my last post, I began to really think about how God uses each of us to accomplish His will. I began to ponder the statement made by Paul to the Corinthian believers in I Corinthians 3:10. There are people who are called by God to build us up on the foundation of Christ. I have had many such people in my life. As I remarked in my last post, Pastor Marco Alvarez was a major influence in my life, especially early on in our decision to go to Spain. He came into my life and the Lord used him for a season to propel me forward in this life-changing decision. Others have been just as influential, whether it was Darrel Lutrull, Kim Hutchcroft or the various other brothers who helped shape my mindset and helped to direct me as I walked along the path of life. (I would be derelict if I did not mention Jason Dean, Jeff Reynolds, Mike Karnosack, Ty Schenzel, Armando Garcia, Sam Khoury, Greg Opean, Dave Villarete and Jim Scheer in the same way. These were my most influential youth group leaders when I was 13 through 18.)
I comment along this way for two reasons. The first is on the part of the one who sows, the person who is the encourager, the one who is the exhorter. You will never know the impact that you have on another's life. It might be a word, or a sentence that stays with someone forever, that changes their mindset and life. As a sower, don't be discouraged when you don't see immediate results; seeds take time and good care to flower. When you sow into another person's life, you might be altering or unveiling a destiny that has eternal ramifications. It's worth it just for that to continue to faithfully water with patience and love.
The second reason I comment on this, is for the ones who might be more inclined to isolation. The "It's just me and Jesus" crowd. For sure, our relationships with the Lord are lifelines that can never be underestimated or neglected. However, if you are not letting anyone speak into your life, giving them permission to minister to you, then you are truly missing out on a tremendous avenue which God has intended to bring spiritual vitality through.
The truth is, we cannot be reapers until we have been sowers. We cannot expect a spiritual harvest in our lives until someone has come, in the wisdom of Christ's Spirit, and sown into our lives. I for one, am thankful for having been on both sides, but especially thankful for those who have mentored, discipled and encouraged me along the way. If not for them, it's quite possible that I never would have considered the life I am chasing after right now. Thank you Lord for them.
Blessings To The Friends Of Spain,
Frank Sanchez
After my last post, I began to really think about how God uses each of us to accomplish His will. I began to ponder the statement made by Paul to the Corinthian believers in I Corinthians 3:10. There are people who are called by God to build us up on the foundation of Christ. I have had many such people in my life. As I remarked in my last post, Pastor Marco Alvarez was a major influence in my life, especially early on in our decision to go to Spain. He came into my life and the Lord used him for a season to propel me forward in this life-changing decision. Others have been just as influential, whether it was Darrel Lutrull, Kim Hutchcroft or the various other brothers who helped shape my mindset and helped to direct me as I walked along the path of life. (I would be derelict if I did not mention Jason Dean, Jeff Reynolds, Mike Karnosack, Ty Schenzel, Armando Garcia, Sam Khoury, Greg Opean, Dave Villarete and Jim Scheer in the same way. These were my most influential youth group leaders when I was 13 through 18.)
I comment along this way for two reasons. The first is on the part of the one who sows, the person who is the encourager, the one who is the exhorter. You will never know the impact that you have on another's life. It might be a word, or a sentence that stays with someone forever, that changes their mindset and life. As a sower, don't be discouraged when you don't see immediate results; seeds take time and good care to flower. When you sow into another person's life, you might be altering or unveiling a destiny that has eternal ramifications. It's worth it just for that to continue to faithfully water with patience and love.
The second reason I comment on this, is for the ones who might be more inclined to isolation. The "It's just me and Jesus" crowd. For sure, our relationships with the Lord are lifelines that can never be underestimated or neglected. However, if you are not letting anyone speak into your life, giving them permission to minister to you, then you are truly missing out on a tremendous avenue which God has intended to bring spiritual vitality through.
The truth is, we cannot be reapers until we have been sowers. We cannot expect a spiritual harvest in our lives until someone has come, in the wisdom of Christ's Spirit, and sown into our lives. I for one, am thankful for having been on both sides, but especially thankful for those who have mentored, discipled and encouraged me along the way. If not for them, it's quite possible that I never would have considered the life I am chasing after right now. Thank you Lord for them.
Blessings To The Friends Of Spain,
Frank Sanchez
2 comments:
Wow, thank you! The Lord brought me back here a second time -- for this: "It might be a word, or a sentence that stays with someone forever, that changes their mindset and life. As a sower, don't be discouraged when you don't see immediate results; seeds take time and good care to flower." I'm encouraged. Again, thank you!
Brandy,
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. I am so glad you were encouraged. That is a blessing to me.
I often have to remind myself of this, especially in our "get it now" world. Also, I am thoughtful of a new dynamic to this sentence. The necessity of relationship and commitment. The seed does do most of the work within the heart, but generally the sower still has to come back and continue to water and check out the area that the seed will grow into. As sowers, these qualities are a must if we would see fruit, and then that that fruit would remain.
Thanks again for taking the time.
Blessings,
F.S.
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