Reflection 1: Seed of an idea

Jeremiah 33.14-16 (NIV)

14 “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfil the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.

15 “‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety.This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Saviour.’

Isaiah 11.1-2 (NIV)

1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.

Centuries before Jesus was born in a dirty stable in Bethlehem, God promised that He was on His way.

Through different prophets in different places at different times, little seeds were planted that shared tiny bits of the plan, here and there, offering snippets of information. God didn’t explain every detail but gave just enough to reassure His people that something would happen and He was in control.

We read these Bible passages (and others like them throughout the Old Testament) knowing the outcome. We know that the Branch has sprouted, the Righteous Saviour has been born, and He lived and died and did all that was needed to ensure our rescue and restoration is possible.

But what if all we had were these few promises, not yet fulfilled. What if there was just a tiny seed and we’re still waiting and wondering about the Branch?

Everything we do in life begins with a thought. In small ways and big ways, a moment of realisation or an experience of something gets us thinking and the seed of an idea is planted. Perhaps these seeds come out of our own imagination, or perhaps they are given to us by God (or perhaps a bit of the two combined). Either way, if we let it, the idea takes root and begins to grow until, at some point, it becomes a reality in our life.

Maybe our little thoughts and moments of inspiration will lead us to book a holiday, apply for a new job, go back to university, or do something for somebody else. Or maybe – just maybe – the seed of an idea will start you on a journey that will completely change your life forever.

This advent we want to encourage you to reflect on the seeds that have been planted in your heart over this year (or perhaps one that is being planted right now).

Maybe you were inspired by a story, shocked by a statistic or motivated by a talk you heard. Were you moved by one of our videos or challenged by one of our articles? Perhaps a Bible verse has come up time and again, or you just can’t forget a conversation you had, even though it was months ago. Or it could be this, right now, that is planting the seed of an idea.

Whatever it is, could it be the beginning of your journey?

Thousands of children across the UK are desperately in need of a home for good, and by that we don’t just mean homes that are permanent (although that is part of it for some children), but homes that are good and safe and loving – whether that’s for a few nights or for the rest of their lives. Could you begin a journey towards fostering or adoption?

It may well be that you already foster or you have adopted your children, could God be prompting you to share your story to inspire others, or to seek better support for you and others, or maybe even to grow your family once more?

Micah 5.2 (NLT)

2 But you, O Bethlehem, are only a small village among all the people of Judah.Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.

Once again, we read this knowing why Bethlehem is so important, but when this promise was made Bethlehem was just a tiny speck on a vast landscape, very easily overlooked given that it was only a few miles outside the significant city of Jerusalem. Yet this is where God chose for Jesus to be born.

So often we see ourselves in the same way. We disregard the prompting and don’t allow the seed to be planted because we struggle to believe that we might be the ones that God is calling – because we’re just a tiny speck. Just one person. Just one family. Just Bethlehem.

And yet God is choosing you, just as He chose Bethlehem.

For each individual and each family this will look different. For some it is fostering, for some it is adoption, for some it is supporting others. Could this advent be the beginning of your journey?

Home for Good is always happy to hear from you, whatever stage of the journey you are on. Call our enquiry line on 0300 001 0995 if you would like to talk or pray with someone about fostering, adoption or support.