Planting and watering... Maddie's minsitry continues...

3/28/11 (continued)

This afternoon in my devotions I was reading out of 1 Corinthians. I read chapter 2 and 3, and it was in chapter three, that something spoke to me.

I read verse 6 which is as follows.

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Then I read on...

1Cr 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

I love this passage of scripture and I love what it means.

I LOVE how God works.

As I was struggling on this day and searching out the heart of God, this was the passage He lead me too.

When I first read it, I thought, I really have a job to do.

I want to plant, I want to help water. I want to see God give the increase. This is what I live for. I want to be a part of the ministry of the Lord. And as the verses go on and talk about how we are laborers together with God, I got encouraged. I'm working with and for the Lord.

He is doing a great work, and I'm helping. I love the thought of that.

It only takes one person to plant the seed.
It takes one person to lay the foundation.

And from that, something beautiful can grow.
Something beautiful can start building up.

I got encouraged as I read, but it was what happened later in the day that really got to me.

I received a message from a sweet friend of Rick and mine. She wrote to me and told me some really amazing news. (It's wonderful how God gives you exactly what you need when you need it. =)

Her sweet husband and her came to Maddie Grace's funeral back on 1/11. She said that since, God has really been working and convicting her husbands heart. Yesterday,(Sunday morning) she said that her Husband went to the altar and got saved. He got SAVED! =)

These were some of the words she typed me, and I just had to share...

"God laid it on my heart to share this with you as one more precious soul will be able to see Maddie once again in Heaven. Praise the Lord!! I truly believe that your sweet baby girl played a huge part in him (her husband) coming to know the Lord. I believe that God used that night to plant the first seed and has been working in my Husband's life ever since."

(CHILLS)

My daughter... the missionary.... And the gardener... =)

Isn't it amazing that she used the words, "plant the first seed."

Wow, I can see God's hand in that! I was just reading about it from His Word earlier on this day.

He is so good!

I'm in tears as I type.

I know that Maddie's little life will continue to work like this.

I know that Maddie's ministry will continue for years to come. God has such a great plan. Heaven is gaining more soul's for eternity. We have such a job to do.

I will just keep on planting and watering, and telling Maddie's story.

And we will watch as God gives the increase... What a beautiful work.

Praise the Lord!!!