The last night at Beautiful Gate, in Lesotho Africa, I handed each team member a package of seeds-there were sunflowers, zinnias and even corn and red peppers! From day one as a group we had been echoing the prayer of Jesus on the cross:

Father, I place my life in Your hands (Lk. 24:46 MSG).

After 10 days of praying this prayer the seeds were a tangible reminder to continue to allow the Father to plant His Kingdom seeds into each of our hearts as we returned to the familiarity of US soil. The challenge was to live our lives to bring Him honor and glory in whatever soil He brought us to.

The team had been exposed to powerful displays of His Kingdom as we cared for abandoned babies at Beautiful Gate, played soccer with high school students at a youth prison, ate pizza with high school orphans and teen moms from Bountiful Hope, were part of an impromptu prayer meeting with a group of young men looking for work, handed out talking Bibles in remote villages to whomever we felt God placed on our heart, danced and worshiped with a powerful freedom at the Christian Revival Church, and a whole lot more. The Holy Spirit used a variety of experiences to show us the Father’s Heart and organic Kingdom Discipleship.

After the seeds were handed out we ended our time spiritually eating and drinking the body and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. Once again reminded at the LORD’s Table that abundant life begins with dying with Christ Jesus on the cross to our sinful selfish ways and placing our lives in the Father’s hands to be resurrected into the glorious image of His Son. The tears flowed freely as we released our lives and wills over to the Father. We wanted Him to be the one that planted our seeds in the places where He could raise us up for His glory. We desired the seeds to be planted in fertile soil where His Kingdom would break forth and His love could be displayed.

Seeds, such a small and yet powerful picture of what our Father can do with “faith like a mustard seed” placed in His hands. This picture was taken in Israel while walking through the Mount of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane. The guide pulled down a pod from a mustard plant and placed the seeds in my hand. What a reminder of what our Father can do when we do just as Jesus did and surrender our lives over to the Father’s. When you and I “die to self” it means we are surrendering our will so that we can live and grow in His Kingdom.

Why not pick up a package of seeds place them in your Bible and let them be a reminder to keep praying the words of Jesus:

Father, I place my life in Your hands (Lk. 24:46 MSG).

And watch His Kingdom explode in and through you!

The words below are written by Lori Kroll who along with her husband Keith organized this trip with graduating high school seniors from Zeeland East High School in Michigan to Lesotho Africa. The trip is in memory of their dear son Zach who went to be with Jesus way to soon. Zach loved serving with his family in Lesotho and this trip is a fitting way to honor his memory. As a team our theme for our time here is from the words of Jesus on the Cross: Father into your hands we give our lives.

 Meditate on these beautiful words below from a mom who had to let go of her son and handed him over into the arms of her faithful Father whom she has had to trust.

On Saturday, our team journeyed to Semonkong, Lesotho to see the world’s longest freestanding waterfall. As we started our ascent up the mountain, I knew that the long, sometimes challenging hike would be worth it in the end. We would be able to enjoy God’s amazing creation along the way and at the end of the hike we could sit and take in the beauty of the waterfall. Well, I was right . . . the waterfall did not disappoint.

As I sat there taking in the beauty of the falls, I reflected on our day’s journey. The road to Semonkong was winding and uphill most of the way. As we drove around the corner at one point in the journey, we had to avoid a pile of fallen rocks on the road. Women were washing their clothes in the river or in pools of water on the side of the mountain. Cows were grazing by the river as their shepherd boy watched nearby. Many people were pushing wheelbarrows to a source of water so that they could fill their containers. Off in the distance there was a waterfall frozen in place as it cascaded down the mountain. At times, the clouds covered the sun and cast a shadow on the side of the mountain.

Isn’t this much like our journey in life? Just because our life gets bumpy and there are hurts and pains that get in the way, it doesn’t mean we are off course. Level paths do not lead us to the mountaintop. Actually, the right road is going to have highs and lows, smooth spots and obstacles, all which make the journey both broken and beautiful at the same time. God can turn our toughest hardships into our greatest purpose.

Earlier in the day, my Bible app alerted me to the verse of the day, “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; the leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Water is an important commodity and a source of life. As we graze by the streams of living water, our Shepherd lovingly watches over us. One a regular basis, we need to push our empty souls to the true source of life for a much needed refill of His grace, mercy and love. At times, it may feel as if our source of life is frozen and distant and not available for us to draw from, but it is then that we need to wait and be still for God’s timing. And when the dark clouds of despair cast shadows on our souls, may we cling to God’s promise that our troubles our only temporary and that the warmth of His love will shine again in our hearts.

Let us be like trees planted by the water. Trusting in our faithful God to supply exactly what we need in good and bad times so that we may never fail to bear fruit. I pray that you may enjoy God’s amazing goodness and find life’s journey worth it on the way to our eternal home. And, as our Abba Father promises . . . heaven, the home he created especially for us, will not disappoint!

Father into your hands we give our lives!