Planting Seeds of Faith
Day 211 of Photo Inspirations — Planting Seeds of Faith
My daughter went home yesterday, but left behind my sweet package of love, Alexia Wallace. I love these “Nana & Lexi” alone times together.
Reflecting on a sweet encounter we had Saturday, I knew this should be today’s photo inspiration. Lexi asked to go to the ORU Campus.and have photos taken at the Praying Hands. While we were there, a man and woman drove up to look for a clue in a treasure hunt they were on. We asked if he’d take our photo and he graciously did. He asked if we were vision casting, and we told him we always plant “faith” seeds in prayer and visions for “what could be” into our children. He proceeded to tell us that he and his wife had been pastors in Las Cruces, New Mexico for many years and had just recently moved here to be near their daughters. All three girls had attended ORU, met their husbands there, and now, their youngest is going to be teaching there this year. We loved his story.
We drove on through the campus and, Lexi saw some geese and wanted to get out and take photos of them. So we sat in in the car while she pursued the “geese” for her photos. The man and woman, from our earlier photo opt at the Praying Hands, drove through the campus to find us. The wife wanted to tell us more. She felt strongly about what we were doing with Lexi. She proceeded to tell us how much they believed in prayer and believing and trusting God for what seems impossible. Being pastors with a limited income, they needed funds to send all three girls to ORU and they had cast vision for them when they were very young. So much so, that they brought them to the Praying Hands and, as a family, joined together, held hands, and prayed that they would ALL be able to attend there. This precious woman was in tears as she shared her story with us. While two of their daughters attended ORU, the 3rd daughter had a “miracle” faith story. A man who didn’t even know this family spoke to these parents when their 3rd daughter was only 12-years old and told them not to be concerned — that she WOULD ALSO attend and they would not have to pay a cent for it themselves. A few days later, the family attended an event at ORU. At the concert everyone was invited to write their names on offering envelopes if they were interested in attending ORU. A drawing would take place for a scholarship. The young 12-year old daughter put her name on the envelope, and, yes, it was her name that was drawn. Later, not only was she able to attend ORU because of that unlimited, full-ride scholarship, she met her future husband there, they graduated and married, and is now returning to ORU to teach this year.
Was it just a coincidence that we arrived at the Praying Hands the same time that this couple did? Or was it a divine appointment that they were there — on assignment, as voices from heaven to encourage us with Lexi’s future? I love the scripture on the base of the Praying Hands: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52. I pray that prayer over all of my grandchildren.
This post isn’t about attending ORU, but I like to think that I’m passing along this story today for some of you who may have what seems to be some impossible dreams for yourselves and/or your children. As this family cast vision and prayed in absolute faith for their children, and those prayers were answered exceedingly abundantly far above all they could have asked or thought, don’t we have the same favor of God? Do we trust in His unlimited resources and live a life that is so focused on Him — that we can also say “NOTHING is impossible with God”? Why NOT us? Why NOT our family and our kids? It’s simply a matter of PLANTING those seeds…..and watching for the harvest to come up some day!