Providence at Work
Welcome to the first article of the Red River Farm! I’m so happy you’re here! Here at Red River Farm, we want nothing more than to share, in a meaningful way, some of the blessings and miracles we experience here every day. We hope to do this by periodically publishing articles that will seek to provide valuable information for anyone interested in outpost work and agriculture. We will cover several areas, such as current farm updates, practical gardening tips, lessons from the book of nature, and shared resources you can explore for your gardening needs! We are also always open to visitors coming to taste and see what is happening here on the farm, but until you can schedule a visit, we will keep you posted on each noteworthy event on our farm.
So to start, I’d like to give a brief introduction to our farm. So far, this year has been quite eventful and somewhat challenging as we begin all the different projects for the first-year farm plan. Most of our staff have had some experience with gardening in some capacity, but starting and operating a sustainable market garden is new territory for everyone. Under the guidance of the farm manager and ultimately under the guidance of God, we have begun to chip away at each project on our farm, praying each step of the way that our efforts might be productive for food and for eternity.
The excitement continues to grow here on the farm as the team participates in and sees all the progress taking place! It’s been such a joy to work with a team that is fully committed to the current projects of the farm, eagerly anticipating the tasty harvest that is yet to come! As we started tilling up fields for our vegetable gardens, digging holes for our fruits, and preparing our hoop house for tomatoes, everyone has seen God’s hand of providence moving in such amazing ways.
GOD PROVIDENCE AND FRUIT TREES
To share just one of the ways we have been seeing providence in our labor recently, a few weeks ago, part of our team was planning out what we wanted to do for our small fruit section of the garden. As we planned where each section of fruits would go and chose what varieties of grapes, blueberries, strawberries, and other fruits we should plant, as well as how many of each kind and we wanted to start with, our list of needs was growing quick. We all knew that we needed to get the small fruits in before it got too late in the season, but we didn’t have the resources to make purchases. Nonetheless we still went forward making plans for our unplanted fields, trusting that somehow God would provide. Just as we began to really feel the pressure to get things in the ground, I reached out to our director and sent him the spreadsheet detailing our needs and costs for the fruits we had planned to plant this year. During our call, I expressed the need to plant the fruits before it got too late, but I wasn’t sure how it would all be paid for.
As we spoke, I sensed that he had an underlying tone of happiness and excitement as I shared that we needed to place orders very soon if we planned to have fruits this year. He then asked me if I had spoken with a certain individual about our pressing need for the small fruits, and I told him that I hadn’t. He proceeded to inform me that a very kind, generous man, just the day prior, had pledged to make a donation specifically for fruit trees well over the cost of our current small fruit budget! I almost couldn’t believe it as our director told me in full confidence that we can start placing all of our orders for each item that very day! So right away, we started purchasing all of our first year small fruits, and as of now, we have planted over 70 grave vines, 30 blackberries and raspberries, 50 blueberries and over 500 strawberries! In His perfect timing, He abundantly provided everything we needed to kick-start our small fruits project on our little farm! Though we want to plant much more and will have more needs in the future, God demonstrated how He knows each one of our needs and desires even before we ask.
TAKE NO ANXIOUS THOUGHT
This experience vividly reminds me of the text found in Matthew 6:31-33, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Jesus longs to provide for our needs! If we simply ask in faith, according to His will and seeking God’s Kingdom, He will always come through and abundantly provide for our needs. He will always give His children the things He knows will help us minister to others and grow closer to Him! Will you trust God today, pray for His will, claim His promises, and move forward in faith believing He will do for you what He has already promised? Trust in God, and He will NOT disappoint you.
by Steven Conine
I praise the Lord for His providence and the way He works for us. Even before we recognize a need, God already has the solution!