Found It!

First Published May 31, 2013



Deuteronomy 4:29

But from there you will seek the Lord your God,

and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.



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Recently my husband Jeff and I were cleaning a portion of the garage. We spent several hours pulling out old boxes, sorting old papers, and filling up the trash cans. I noticed that Jeff had set aside an envelope, very faded, but otherwise in good condition. Curious, I opened it and discovered that it contained an important document that I thought I had lost 15 years ago. I was overwhelmed.

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I Chronicles 28:9

…If you seek Him, He will let you find Him…



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A few Sundays ago my pastor told about baptizing his seventy-year-old brother. The brother had been seeking for many years and after much preparation, was baptized in the Mississippi River. His picture on the screen displayed abundant joy.



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Proverbs 8:17

“I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.”



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Why is this theme prevalent throughout Bible history? Because it rings true. God is always going to be there. He is patiently waiting for us to look for Him.



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Matthew 7:7

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you..”



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Lord, these are hard times for many of us. And our own efforts are not working. We need to seek you, because your word promises that we will find you. Open our eyes, Lord so that we may indeed find you. Amen.

Copyright 2013, Karen Vaughn

Planted Seeds

                                                                            

First Published May 15, 2013

I Corinthians 3:6-8

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.  So neither the one who plants nor the one who water is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.

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A few years ago I came across a piano book full of short technique studies such as velocity, arpeggio, chord, and pedal works.  In the measures of one of the last pieces, I faintly penciled in some lyrics. My daughter Rebecca helped me decipher my writing:

 

Come find in this serious site

In the stillness of the night

In the sky there is a star

Of perfection beams its light

How can such a baby little?

 

I know that I was about 13 or 14 years old when I wrote down those words, and I had not yet declared Jesus as Lord.  And though my writing skills were very weak and it’s clear that the lyrics were unfinished, they remind me that someone planted and watered the seeds of Christ’s Love early in my life.  My parents, my teachers, my friends, even strangers took part in influencing the development of my spiritual being.  And most of all, God caused me to grow.

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It’s officially Spring and it’s time to plant all sorts of seeds: peppers, beans, tomatoes, herbs, berries, sunflowers, zinnias, melons, cucumbers, eggplant, squash, corn, and more! The ground is thawing and the rains are watering.  The bounty will not come if seeds are not planted.  Today let’s consider the opportunities we have to “plant or water” someone’s faith.  Talk to, encourage, or pray for that person to respond so that his or her faith will grow. 

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Dear Father God, thank you for the many people who planted and watered in my life.  Today help me to likewise be an instrument of the harvest, your children who call your Son, Lord.  Amen.

 

Copyright 2013, Karen Vaughn