Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 2nd Corinthians 9:10
We have crossed the threshold into the year 2020, and we are seeing the blessings from faithfulness. In 2019 you overwhelmed us with your faithful support, of volunteering on campus, monetary gifts, donating to our Renew Stores. Each act of love you revealed to our families informed them that their lives could truly change by the love of God. Behind the scenes of your generosity a harvest has been growing.
When families arrive the soil of their hearts must be tilled. For many their hearts are hardened by living in survival mode for far too long. Softening the soil of their heart by offering a stable home, caring staff, volunteers, and community, allows them to know they are no longer alone. The guards begin to come down and the soil of their heart softens. In this soft soil, new seeds of hope can be planted. Dreams of what they can be and accomplish. For many it may be the first time they can dream of a life outside of dysfunction or homelessness.
When the soil of their hearts have been softened, and the seeds of hope have been planted, it is time to water and bring light to their lives. We must encourage, strengthen, and challenge to take the risks of living in a way they have never known. Finishing their education, clearing up records, applying for and getting their first job. Each new goal is ventured into with the ability to look back and see they are not forging their way alone. Watering.
The light shines in and produces growth where along the path the hurdles arise. Where perhaps a mother or child fears succeeding. Maybe they want to try to sabotage the plan because they now have success, but fear the hurt that could come if they lost such joy once again in their lives. At Acres of Hope we must shine a light right on those fears, those lies of the past, that seek to trap our residents in places of fear over victory. You see transformation happens from the inside out. Rather than setting up a mother by allowing them to race into the world and just start accomplishing tasks, we seek to dive deep into renewal by changing the way they think about themselves, and what they can accomplish. For the woman or child who has only known dysfunction and failure, they need to know that they can and are succeeding at what they have set out to do. They can stay on track, walking confidently out into the world. We must shine the light of truth so they can see who they really are, and what they can accomplish.
Then after all the tilling, watering, and shining a light into the dark places, we see the harvest. The harvest is the season at Acres of Hope where the mothers and children are committed to changing. The wrestling is over, true life change is the goal. It is a place in our families lives where the growth of fruit in their lives is now seen externally. We see it today in the little girl who came in as a wide eyed infant, cautious, and vigilant. Today she is a toddler filled with joy and freedom. We see it in the mother who sees the difference between the childhood she was raised in and the healthy one her son is experiencing. We even see it in the mother who thought she would never be able to gain employment because of her past, who recently was offered two jobs.
The year of the harvest has arrived here at Acres of Hope. 2020 will be a year where the fruit will be evident that God is transforming lives from the inside out.
To join us in the year of the harvest,
Visit: acresofhopeonline.org or Call: 530-878-8030