R&R

 

Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 
Mark 4:18-19 NKJV

During winter, when the weather warms up even for just a day or two, people want to be outside for a little R&R. No, not rest and relaxation. I'm talking about reduction and reproduction. It's a good time to cut the deadwood and parasitic weeds and stalks from the fence and surrounding areas. If we don't do it every year, it's twice as much work.

Our Christian walk can be just like that. We've got the deadwood and old roots from the winters of our lives, and instead of plucking them out and preparing the soil of our hearts, we leave them... and nothing new grows, except weeds that choke out whatever the good seed might have produced. 

And I can't find one Scripture that tells me that God wants us to be unfruitful. It's not in His plan. Everything was created to produce and reproduce after its own kind. We are to reproduce in others what God has produced in us - be it peace, love, joy, deliverance from anger, longsuffering, compassion, mercy, grace, forgiveness... 

Do not let the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word. The Truth is unless we find the time - MAKE the time - to tend to the seed, we will be reduced to being unfruitful. Our choice...reduction or reproduction?

Prayer:

Father,
            Forgive us for not being good stewards of what You have produced in us. Teach us, Lord, to plant better seed and tend to it faithfully in order to bring You a better harvest. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - After Its Own Kind

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!
Genesis 1:31 NLT

How many of us have heard our mothers say (in reference to our having children), "I don't wish you any harm, just one child exactly like yourself!" For some of us, that could be a very scary thought and experience!

I've been reading in Genesis, about everything God did when He began Creation. Specifically, how He created everything to produce after its own kind. Plants, birds, wildlife, people. I see this more and more clearly with my youngest grandchild. There are days she is SO my son and other days when I see my daughter-in-love's face or actions. It's then I'm reminded most of this portion of Scripture, after its own kind. 

What if there was someone terrible in our ancestral lineage? What if the story is full of spiritual blight? Does this mean we're destined to have that bad seed sown and harvested in our life? No, and I'll tell you why. In Genesis, God decided to make man in HIS own image and breathed HIS breath of Life into us - everything to produce after its own kind... Think about that for a moment.

Then think about this. When people look at us, do they see our Father? Do we act just like Him? Are we producing after His kind?

Prayer:

Father,
         Thank You for the Breath of Life and Your mercy and Grace. Thank You for making us in Your image and likeness. Be reproduced in us so strongly, Father, that people would see You in us no matter what! Help us to keep sowing the best seeds of You for You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Reduce or Reproduce

Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Mark 4:18-19 NKJV

During winter, when the weather warms up even for just a day or two, I want to be outside. Recently, I got out and cut the dead wood and parasitic weeds and stalks from the fence and surrounding areas. I didn't do it last year, so this year was twice as much work.

Our Christian walk can be just like that. We've got the dead wood and old roots from the winters of our lives, and instead of plucking them out and preparing the soil of our hearts, we leave them... and nothing new grows, except weeds that choke out whatever good seed might have produced.

And I can't find one Scripture that tells me that God wants us to be unfruitful. It's not in His plan. Everything was created to produce and reproduce after its own kind. We are to reproduce in others, what God has produced in us - be it peace, love, joy, deliverance from anger, longsuffering, compassion, mercy, grace, forgiveness...

Do not let the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word. The Truth is unless we find the time - MAKE the time - to tend to the seed, we will be reduced to being unfruitful. Our choice...reduce or reproduce?

Prayer:

Father,
            Forgive us for not being good stewards of what You have produced in us. Teach us, Lord, to plant better seed in order to bring You a better harvest. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen