The Great Tomato Escapade!

Last Saturday started out like any other. We had a list of things to do in the morning, but the afternoon was free to simply do whatever suited our fancy. My husband, Chris, saw a sign on his way home from work Friday that said "Tomatoes. $5 bushel. You pick." That was like gold to Chris for many reasons: (1) tomatoes - the tomato season is practically over, and we never got to make the salsa we planned to do this year, (2) $5 for a bushel is almost unheard of, and he loves a bargain, and (3) the idea of picking his own tomatoes was almost too much for him to bear - he loves hard work, especially the kind that results in a great reward! So, I offered to ride along on this mini-adventure. Not to mention the fact - the whole salsa idea came from me when I announced one day that I wasn't going to eat anymore of that yucky store bought salsa.

So, off we went. We traveled just a few miles down the road and followed the "you pick tomotoes" signs that he first spotted on Friday. After awhile, however, the signs ran out. That didn't stop my husband. He kept driving along the "no trespassing" private roads look for that glorious tomato farm. By this time, I'm beginning to think we really ought to abandon the entire operation. Not Chris. He was full steam ahead. Finally - in our line of sight, we came across the remains of a tomato field. But...where was the person to take our $5? Were we perhaps at the wrong farm? The posted, no trespassing, keep off signs were everywhere. I begged, "Please honey...I don't have a good feeling about this. I don't need salsa that badly." I simply wanted this mission aborted and soon!

Then...all of sudden...what did we see? People! Yes, a small group of workers were out in the middle of this tomato field picking up sticks (or something that looked like sticks). Chris decided he would get out of the truck and go see if he could find out how to get some tomatoes. Oh my goodness. I was mortified. After asking him to lock me in the truck, as I was feeling very unsafe, he trotted off. It seemed like he was gone forever, and the angle in which we were parked didn't allow me to see him very well. I knew it...I just knew this was not a good idea. Suddenly, I heard the tap, tap, tap of fingers on the window. He was back and waiting on me to unlock the door for him. Excitedly, he couldn't wait to tell me the news. "They said I can have all I can pick if I can just find something to put them in." Seriously? I couldn't believe. Then, my doubts set in. "Are you sure that's okay? Where do we pay for them?" It was then I knew that I must not have totally understood what he was saying, so he told me in a different way. "The tomatoes are almost gone, but they said I can take whatever I can pick. No charge." No charge? Did I hear that correctly? WOW! This is a huge blessing! Oh I started to smell salsa in the air already! But wait...

Who was this woman that I was turning into? Moments before, doubt was in charge...leading me into that vicious cycle of negative thinking that I frequent so often. The type of thinking that keeps me from doing half the things that I really want to do, because I'm constantly questioning myself. But...not Chris. Because, he was willing to step into the unknown a little bit and take a little risk, we were blessed with a bag full of beautiful tomatoes that probably would have cost $40-50 in the grocery store.

As I was sitting there waiting on him to return to the truck with the newly picked tomatoes, God pricked my spirit, and I instantly new this was a blog in the making. He, in His very gentle way, reminded me that this was just a small example of what I do constantly. He's ready to bless me and pour out favor upon me, but I have to be willing to step outside of my comfort zone and take a few risks. I have to be willing to possibly even suffer a little embarrassment along the way. If I'm ever going to live in full victory, with God at the head of everything, then a little discomfort and a lot of trust is going to be required. How about you? Are you willing to take a risk that might lead to a bigger blessing than you can imagine?

Each time I taste that yummy salsa now, I remember our Great Tomato Escapade. More importantly, I remember the lesson God taught me that day, and I am learning to welcome the risks...and the blessings!

Missed Blessing...

Often when I'm studying God's Word, I'll have an "aha moment" over a passage that I've read several times in the past. I love the fact that I'm constantly gleaning new wisdom, revelation, insight, knowledge and depth into God's Word each time I seek to know Him more. Just yesterday, I was studying in chapter 20 of the book of Numbers. This happens to be the passage where Moses disobeys God, thereby causing him to lose the blessing of being able to lead the Israelites into the promised land. One simple act of disobedience led to Moses missing one of God's greatest blessings. WOW! How many blessings have I already missed from disobeying God? I shutter to think of the multitude. God WILL fulfill His purpose with or without me, just like He fulfilled His promise using Joshua to eventually lead the Israelites into the land of milk and honey rather than Moses. However, I would rather be one that God uses to fulfill his purpose.

Lord God, please forgive my acts of disobedience. Please help me to walk daily in your will. Allow me to receive ALL of the blessings you have ready to pour down upon me. I love you Lord!

Blessing Box...

Several years ago, I went through a painful separation and divorce. While it was, without a doubt, the hardest thing I had to go through to date, it was also the most liberating in terms of my walk with the Lord. Prior to that time, my relationship with the Lord was convenient - for me, that is. Sure, I would go to church each Sunday, and I would pray occasionally when I needed something or on behalf of someone else. I had what I heard someone once describe as "accessory faith". Kind of like an earring, I would put it on when I needed to, but it was also very easy to remove. However, the end of my marriage changed that accessory faith to what this person called "necessity faith". It was no longer something that I would lean on once in while - this kind of faith became my lifeline. I couldn't function with God...I was totally helpless in my own skin. I cried out to Him about everything. I also found it difficult to think about anything good going on my life, because the darkness was too thick. But...then came the Blessing Box. It really started out as a Blessing Envelope. Whenever I received a kind card or note - it went in the blessing envelope. If someone sent me money or gift cards to help during these difficult financial days, I would record the blessing on an index card and put it in the envelope. ANYTHING that was "blessing oriented" went into the envelope. Eventually, the envelope was too small, and I moved the contents into a box. I decided to return to the box (or envelope, initially) whenever I would fall into a slump or start feeling sorry for myself. The reminders that I had saved always pulled me out of that temporary turmoil. Now, many years later, I still have the box. I still put records of blessings into it, and I still use it as a pick-me-up whenever life gets tough, and I need encouragement. So, if you are drowning in hopelessness or are simply down and can't see light, I challenge you to begin a Blessing Box of your own. Start recording those blessings - no matter how small - and watch them multiply! You might find life is amazingly better and far more blessed than you could ever believe!