John Bennet Lawes, an English entrepreneur, began to experiment on the effects of various manures on plants in 1837. He had the vision to take waste from an animal and use it to enhance the growth of plants. What is known as fertilizer today, it is packed with macro-nutrients that serve as catalysts for growth.
Missed Opportunity |
A few years ago I was getting to know a 10th grader who I was helping with schoolwork. I was taken back when he shared his journey with me. He said for his first 10 years of his life he thought his name was “What the Hell”. You see his uncle would call him everything but his given name Jamaal. He was often called “Stupid”, “Dummy” and “What the hell”. In his uncle’s eyes, he was a failure, a waste, and never did anything right. Those hurts slowly healed over time but with a thick layer of scar tissue that I’m sure has affected the course of his life. What a shame I first thought but I am reminded that God is bigger than our tongues.
Do you need a reset today?
Joel 2:25 says;
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm
my great army that I sent among you.”
Restoration |
Do you believe that God can restore your “wasted” years? A bad business deal where you lost your home? Trading stocks got out of control and you lost you retirement savings? Down-sized and after 17 months still looking for your next opportunity? Verbal or physical abuse? My hope is that you will begin seeing your situation differently through the lense of God. A God who loves you deeply and knew you before you were born. He is a God who heals and is ready to take your hurt today.
Question |
Can you tell me your What the Hell story and how God has repaid what the Locusts have eaten?
I think sometimes even when we use names in a joking manner it can manifest into something it was never meant to be. Words and names have meaning that take on a new life within each of us. We need to also be careful that we are not unintentionally tearing others down and planting a seed of doubt and destruction under the banner of fun.
My “what the hell” names were “birdbrain” and “knucklehead” – I heard over and over, & it definitely had it’s effect on my confidence and relationships. However, after coming into relationship with my Father in Heaven, and receiving His grace and healing, and other mentor men in my life. I have been able to forgive and heal in many ways the relationship with my earthly father- it still isn’t a close relationship, and all it could be, but I have actually heard from him (in writing) that he loves me and is proud of me, so I am very grateful for how God has restored what the Locusts have eaten