Sprouting Seeds

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. ~I Corinthians 3:7

What will you do with the leaves you rake this fall? Last year our neighbors came across the street and asked to rake a pile of leaves in our lower yard so their children would have a pile to jump in. They only had a few small trees and not many leaves yet. For several hours the children enjoyed raking, running, and jumping. Then, the pile lay there partially flattened until spring. 

When spring came I carried the partially decomposed leaves to the garden for mulch. Funny thing about mulch. It's called by several names: mulch, compost, and rotten vegetation. Maybe you can name a few more. Invariably there are seeds of one type and another in any pile of compost. Even if it is completely decomposed there are likely thousands of tiny seeds that are transferred to the garden or flower beds along with the rotten vegetation you intend to keep down weeds and add to the fertility of your soil. 

In a few weeks seeds of all kinds will begin to rise up through the mulch. Why? Didn't they rot along with the vegetation? Surprisingly, NO. The only things that will decompose are dead matter: leaves, dead plants, dead animals, and yes dead people. 

Seeds will not decompose. Just think about it. Seeds contain all that is necessary to reproduce life. Inside the cover of the seed is the pollinated beginnings of life. It will lay there for a long time until it is given the water it needs. Give the seed water and it will sprout. It will then need water and soil. The seeds of the Judean date palm thought to be extinct were found in caves. Though they had lain in dry caves for about 2000 years when given water, they sprouted. With the care of gardeners who gave them soil and light we now have the ancient Judean date palm once again. 

That brings us back to the verse. As Christians, it is our job to plant the seeds of the gospel. We can't make people accept the gift of eternal life. It is simply our job to plant the seed and with kindness give it the water it needs to grow. It may lay dormant for many years. We may never see the fruits of our witness on this side of heaven. If we give the gospel to others and demonstrate a changed life then there will be a time when God will give the increase with the salvation of another soul.

Heavenly Father, thank you for using me to present the gospel to others. Thank you others come behind me adding encouraging words to those seeds already planted.Thank you we are not responsible for the increase but understand that in time you will give the increase. Thank you Lord for the opportunity to be farmers in your field. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Hey Kids:

• Now is the time to save a few seeds for a flower bed or garden next year. 
• Collect a few seeds, allow them to fully dry, then place them in a jar or bag in the fridge until spring. 
• Allow a few others to drop to the ground. Place a marker at the spot(s) you want to watch next spring for sprouts.
• Watch how God gives the increase.

 

A Tree Planted by the Water

 

 

Psalms 1

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night

.3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

We love hiking to waterfalls and walking along the tree-lined rivers. Though I didn't take this photo we saw something similar just a short distance up the trail from the nature center at Table Rock State Park in SC.  Walking along trails is a good place to contemplate the words of scripture. It's where we can better understand the word pictures the Lord is using to help us see our relationship with Him and others.

Take a look at Psalms 1. Verse 3 speaks of the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord. He is like a tree planted by the water. Now look back at the picture. What can we notice?

• There is a constant flow of water to sustain the trees
•  Some of the trees are along the edge and some are farther back.
• Those along the edge are constantly drinking from the flowing water.

Like trees, if we draw close to the Living Water, we can constantly be refreshed and grow. 

What does a growing tree do? Our verse says it bears fruit and its leaf doesn't wither. 

• Fruit from a well-watered tree is plump and juicy, delectable.
• Juicy fruit makes it desirable to be picked.
• There is no dry spell for the leaves to wither. It's always appealing.
• An appealing tree draws people to it for the shade and the fruit.

How are we as Christians providing a place of rest for the weary, sin-sick world? Are our actions showing the fruits of kindness, peace, and joy?

 

The tree by the water prospers.

• It grows, bears fruit. 
• It's noticed. 
• It's desirable.

 As the saying goes, Apples don't fall far from the tree. The fruit we bear will desire to be planted by the Water as well. Our testimony to the world can fill the whole earth with the knowledge of the Lord (Habbakuk 2:14)

Heavenly Father, Help us stay close to your word, to thrive on it, bearing spiritual fruit that makes the gospel desirable. Help us make a difference. Give us the vision of revival to fill the whole earth with the knowledge of the Lord. In Jesus's name. Amen

Hey Kids:

Have you thought about how to thrive on the Living Water of God's word?

Do you have a plan to memorize God's word?

Here's an idea to help you hide God's word in your heart.

• Ask mom or dad for post it notes or index cards
• Copy down your favorite verse or passage
• Place the note or card in a place you'll see it every day - on a mirror on the front of your notebook
• Read the verse at least 3 times each day. 

How much of the verse can you say without looking? In a few days or at the end of the week add another verse. Psalms 1 might be a good place to start. 

Experiencing Eden

 

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1

... we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

II Peter 3:13

You know the feeling that you just need to get out and away, just forget about everything and have a day of refreshing? Yeah, we all know that feeling. We decided to take a day trip just to get away. My husband and I  rambled around buying fall flowers and discovering a little new territory but after lunch, we ended up heading toward Cataloochee. 

We spent about thirty minutes winding back through the mountains on a dirt road finally topping out the ridge and making that final left turn. The road led us to scenic vistas, trails, old barns, and a settlement with a church, a school, and an old house. The road to the house was washed out so it was only open to foot traffic. We walked maybe a quarter of a mile along the road passing grassy pastures and signs to old graveyards before we came to a huge barn and a footbridge on the left across the creek to an early 20th Century house. An older lady sat on the bridge picking grasses and platting a crown like we used to do as kids. Her husband was walking back from the house. We spoke as we passed and ambled on through the yard and the house, taking pictures of butterflies on wildflowers and listening to goldfinches twitter about the thistle seeds. 

Now, the gentleman sat on the bridge and pointed with a stick, talking with his wife about the birds. "I've never seen a yellow bird like that." There was also a cedar waxwing, a bird I'd rarely seen, joining the goldfinches in the flowers draping over the water. We enjoyed a neighborly talk. I just wanted to cook a pone of cornbread and get some cold buttermilk from the spring house for our supper, but that wasn't to be in this 21st century.

The walk back to the truck was hot but pleasant. As we passed a field near the creek, I saw her. "Bear!" That's not my usual reaction to a bear but the unexpected sighting had startled me and apparently, I startled her too. She raised up on her hind legs and looked in our direction while I fumbled with my camera. She must have decided she and her cub might need to head toward the creek.

Now, in the road near the creek stood a big bull elk. The trail signs say to stay fifty yards away. Well now what, with a mama bear to our left and a bull elk to our right? He noticed we needed to pass so he kindly wandered off into the woods out of our path. 

When I got back to the truck I noticed a type of euphoria. Actually, I had been experiencing it most of the afternoon. There was joy and peace there on the mountain. There was excitement in the birds and bears and elk. Maybe it was because I'm part of the older folks my thoughts drifted to the future when God places me in the new heavens and new earth, a re-creation of the Garden of Eden. I feel I got to experience just a little bit of that garden this week. The Lord surely knew I needed it on a hot summer afternoon. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for preserving just a tiny bit of your Garden of Eden for us to experience. It was an amazing walk to see the animals, respecting each other's territory, and without fear for either of us. Thank you for your promise that one day You will once again restore a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness will prevail, a place to enjoy others, the plants, and the animals. I wonder if in the cool of the day You will walk among us so we can experience that fellowship with You, our Creator as Adam and Eve once did. I'm certainly looking forward to that day but until then I am thankful for a quiet walk in the forest. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Hey Kids:

Do you have a favorite quiet spot?

Our lives are filled with hurry and noise. It tends to busy our lives and distract our minds. 

This week take a few minutes to walk in the quiet of a park or forest. Sit beside a stream and listen. Watch the insects, birds, and animals. 

Maybe you'll want to take along a camera or a sketch pad or paper to write a short poem or story. 

Maybe you'll just want to whisper a prayer of thanks that this is not the end but a moment to take a glimpse into our future. 

Back To the Future

 

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.

Numbers 14:21

"Grandma, do you think we'll ever have time travel? I'd like to go back to the Civil War just to see what life was like." 

"Well, everything we touched would affect and change the future. I'm not sure that's a good idea but I've always wanted to be an interpreter at a national park."

This was the beginning of a conversation with my teenage grandson on the way back from the gym. Our family loves history. We've lived in Spartanburg county since before the Revolutionary War. We are surrounded by family history and when we vacation we visit historic sites. Our conversation ended by concluding that God placed us here in this time and place for a specific reason — "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14). So do our lives affect the future? 

In Numbers 13 the Lord had Moses send twelve men into the land of Canaan to spy out the land. Ten of the men brought back a bad report — bad news. They wouldn't be able to take the good land because there were walled cities and giants. Only Joshua and Caleb were ready to go into the land and take it believing God's promise. The people chose to follow the ten spies who gave the bad report because those spies were the majority. Their choice affected their future. God was ready to destroy the people and start over but Moses' talk with God affected the future.

God agreed to let the people live but those over twenty years old would die without seeing the promised land. They would wander in the wilderness until the younger generation grew up and the faithless died off except Joshua and Caleb. We live in a troubling time. Our thoughts and actions affect the future. God sent revivals in the past. The Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th Centuries were victorious times for God's people. Then several things happened to affect the future of God's people. 

Do you think God could send revival again? Do you think He will? Our thoughts and attitudes toward God's purposes affect our future. God's purpose in leading the Israelites into the promised land was to bring the gospel to the whole world. They were to be the people used by God to bring the Messiah. Their fear and disobedience delayed God's plan. How is our obedience or lack thereof affecting God's plan for our future? 

Take the time to look back at the preaching of the Great Awakenings. Google search should bring up the preachers and their doctrines without too much trouble. Look back at Christmas carols like "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear". Think about how people thought about the future. What was their vision? Life wasn't easy but they had a hope. 

We can't and shouldn't go back to the past, but we do need God's vision for the future — that all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord.

Heavenly Father, Open our eyes to the things we do each day that affect our future. Help us Lord to not be afraid to move forward. Show us how to be strong and of good courage (Joshua 1:6) knowing you go before us. Help us make choices that will bring a great awakening in our time.  In Jesus's name. Amen.