Acres of Diamonds

I heard Jentezen Franklin share a true story from the 1800s when diamonds were discovered all over Africa. An African farmer heard those tales about other farmers making millions by discovering diamonds. He was so excited that he sold his farm to go prospecting for diamonds himself. He spent the rest of his life wandering through Africa searching but not finding the diamonds that brought such high prices on the markets of the world. Finally, in total despondency and disappointment, he threw himself into a river and drowned.

Meanwhile, the man who bought his farm was crossing a small stream on the property, when suddenly there was a bright flash of blue and red light from the stream bottom. He bent down and picked up the good-sized stone. He brought it home and placed it on his fireplace mantel to admire it. Several weeks later, a visitor stopped by and saw the stone. He asked the farmer if he knew what he’d found, but the farmer simply thought it was a piece of crystal. The visitor told him he had found one of the largest diamonds ever discovered. The farmer told the man that his creek was full of such stones.

The first farmer sold his farm so that he might find a diamond mine. It turned out to be one of the most productive diamond mines on the entire African continent. He had owned acres of diamonds, but he sold them for practically nothing, in order to look for them elsewhere. The moral is clear: If the first farmer had only taken the time to study and prepare himself to learn what diamonds looked like in their rough state, and to thoroughly explore the property he had before looking elsewhere, all of his wildest dreams would have come true.

My eyes opened when I heard that story. At this very moment, we could be standing in the middle of our very own acres of diamonds in creative ideas, innovations -- the eye-openers to the treasures that might be inside us or around us.

Wherever you are or whatever you're doing right now -- in a world of worry, concern and anxiety -- just may be where the diamonds are. Yes, times have been tough and your hope seems to have vanished with the weight of your concerns that have become two-ton weights. I just don't believe we are in an isolated incident in the midst of this isolation we are living through. I believe God is up to something so grandiose and is on our side. It starts with HOPE. Our "hope" glasses will open our eyes to see the diamonds!

My husband's favorite motivational topic was hope. He would say: "Hope is the great expectation that something good is about to happen!" I'm so glad I caught hold of that hope. It has served me well. I know the alternative. When there is no hope -- life is over. That's why we hear about so many people who are living in depression, hopelessness and even taking their lives. "Hope deferred does make the heart sick." Proverbs 13:12. I cringe when I hear someone say "Don't get your hope up!" Why don't we get our hope up and believe that this day can be a day of ahas, wonders, miracles and surprises?

I'm telling you not hoping is not believing in our God with Whom all things are impossible “May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in Him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13) Whoohoo! Bring on that overflowing hope! Could you be sitting on a diamond mine? Could your mind be the diamond mine of innovation, creativity, ideas, and witty inventions? Let's get our HOPE up!

Wheat is More Than a Grain

Donna Wheat. Donna Buckwheat. Donna Oats & Wheat. Donna Corn Wheat. Donna Wheaties. Those were names I was called back-in-my-school-days. Having the last name “Wheat” made for much entertainment for my friends. At least no one ever asked, “How do you spell it?” But, then came my forever boyfriend who had the last name “Wuerch” and to this day I hear “How do you pronounce that? How do you spell that?”

The name, “Wheat” has so much more meaning than it simply being my maiden name. It contains legacy and promise and hope. Not only was I blessed to be born into the Wheat Family which carries a legacy of honorable, faith-filled and devoted followers of Christ, but the name continues to impact this world. In particular, my three nephews, the sons of my brother and his wife who carry the Gospel message as pastors/ministers here in Texas. The “Wheat” crop is top quality and it keeps pollinating and producing other faithful and devoted followers of Christ.

God sincerely amuses me with His subtle way of giving me daily inspiration for my posts. As I was scrolling through my timeline yesterday, I was taken with this beautiful photo of a wheat field. The story that accompanied it was this:

“There was a farmer who grew excellent quality wheat and every season he won the award for the best grown in his county. One year a reporter from the local newspaper interviewed the farmer and learned that each Spring the man shared his seed with his neighbors so that they too could plant it in their fields.

The reporter asked: “How can you afford to share your best wheat seed with your neighbors when they are entering their crops in the competition with yours?"

“That's very simple,” the farmer explained. "The wind picks up pollen from the developing wheat and carries it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior wheat, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of all the wheat, including mine. If I am to grow good wheat, I must help my neighbors grow good wheat.”

The reporter realized how the farmer's explanation also applied to peoples' lives in the most fundamental way. Those who want to live meaningfully and well must help enrich the lives of others, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others find happiness, for the welfare of each, is bound up with the welfare of all.”

And, I wholeheartedly agree. We are blessed to be a blessing. When we share our lives, our hearts, our encouragement, our sensitivity, our honesty and integrity with others, their lives WILL be enriched and their “crops” will help heal the lives that they encounter.

2 Corinthians 9:10 “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”