Tilling of the Dirt

I think my posts are getting farther and farther apart.

Most of you know that I had an eating disorder and spent most of my life enslaved to it. Two years ago I went through treatment and through God's divine grace and intervention, I have been on the road to health for the last year or so.

Through this experience and through God's teaching, I have discovered that God has called me to speak out on Value Identity Esteem and Worth. I also feel led to teach about eating disorders and be a resource or help to those in need. Because of that God has called me to volunteer at the helpline for the National Eating Disorder Association, create a non profit What Is Beautiful, and reach out to those in need.

I wanted to jump right in there and start...on my own timing. But God has lately been showing me who He desires for me to help. Today I was able to speak to 3 eighth grade health classes here in Stanwood. Before I left my car in the parking lot, I felt myself getting emotional and teary eyed just knowing the journey God has brought me through over the years in my life. And here I was getting ready to educate and speak out.

Over the last few months I have seen an extreme need for girls who are in the age group of 12-25. Middle school is such a critical time to help girls (and boys) figure out how to accept themselves for who God created them to be and to give them new and manageable coping skills.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless and see that they get justice." Proverbs 31:8-9

God is so faithful.

Let's never forget that.

On Sunday when I was driving to church, I passed a few fields of corn that was just popping up out of the ground. We live in the country so this is very common. But as I looked over, I saw beautifully tilled dirt...free of weeds...straight hills made just for planting, and precisely spaced out corn starts poking out of this dirt. This dirt was plowed and plowed before the seeds were planted. Months prior to planting the farmer breaks the dirt. He does it again and again before it is ready for planting. He rakes it over and smooths it out. The big rocks have to be removed. Then it is tilled again. There is preparation and time and a plan.

Just as God prepares us...he comes in and breaks up the dirt and sin...he wants us to have tilled dirt that can produce the fruit of the planting. He works with us over and over...until we are clean and fresh. He takes all of the big boulders and clears the way for planting. He smooths out the rough places. It takes time. He has a plan.

The preparation of His plan for us is a series of tilling. It is a series of raking and re raking.

I see it as I prepare to walk out what God is calling me. I wanted to jump right in, but God needed to clear out the rocks and really get in there and work through the dirt. He put one thing in place at a time. He taught me a lesson. Had me meet a certain person. Had me volunteer for a time and learn. Read a book. Understand more. Heal.

Today as I left the middle school I saw the dirt getting smoothed out for planting. I saw the seed being planted and ready for growing.

The little sprouts just peeking out will take time to be stalks ready to hold its ears of corn. And them more time to produce this vegetable to be ready to eat.

Time.

Tilling.

Rock removal.

Fruit.

Harvest.

Blessings, Teresa