Honey Bee and Apple Trees

Our apple trees have been in full bloom for the last couple of weeks. The air is filled with their perfume  and the buzz of honey bees. I began to think about all the work honey bees do to provide food for themselves and us. Time is short. A worker bee is only able to work a few weeks. She literally works herself to death.

Worker bees gather nectar and pollen to provide food for the hive. The type of nectar collected determines the color and flavor of the honey. When a worker finds a good nectar source, she does a little dance on the platform of the hive to let the other bees know where the source is located. With all the apple and peach orchards in our area, I'm glad a few workers found our 2 trees. You see, the bees are also necessary for an optimum apple crop. I want lots of apples for pies and cider, jam and dried fruit this fall.

As I enjoyed the apple trees in our backyard and in the surrounding community, I was reminded of what Jesus told His disciples.

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. John 4:35

The trees in our yard and surrounding community were so completely white, it looked as if another snow had fallen. By September the apple harvest will begin. But now, a harvest is already going on with nectar and pollen gathered by the bees for honey.

If we know the Lord, we are already suppose to be workers in His field, harvesting souls for the Great Harvest at His coming. Like worker bees, we should be letting others know we need help in gathering souls. Just like the nectar and pollen helps feed the hive, so do new Christians feed and strengthen the church.

Our time is short. An old song says "Work for the night is coming, when man works no more." Will we have work to show the Lord, crowns to cast at His feet, or do we sit idly by while the fields of this world wait and ruin.

Father, help me/us observe what you are showing us in Your creation and be busy harvesting the fields of souls in need of harvesting. In Christ Jesus name we pray. Amen

Blessings, 
Gail

Look Up or Look Out?

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When the branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Matthew 24:32,33

The spring seemed so warm. We all rushed to plant our beans and put out tomatoes. We hung flowering baskets on our porches. But just when everything seemed to be well on its way, the cold snap hit.  We scurried to cover tomatoes and blooming plants. We threw covers over rows of beans, but lots of things turned brown. We misinterpreted the signs of spring. It cost us time and money. My fig tree is just now putting out the first leaves. Yes it’s late for fig trees but, now I know summer is near.

Are we treating scripture the same way? I taught in a private school in the mid ‘90s. It was very difficult to motivate the students because of all the buzz that Jesus would be back by 2000. Jesus is definitely coming back, but are we misinterpreting the signs? Are we putting emphasis in the wrong place? Check out what Jesus had to say in John 4:35.

 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say  unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

I hope we don’t let the harvest ruin in the field while we are watching for storm clouds to gather.