Spring is for Planting

Luke 8: 9-15: The Purpose of the Parables And when his disciples asked him what this
parable meant,  he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.  And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.  As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

This parable describes the Kingdom in its present aspect. It shows us the reality of how we “hear” the Word of God and believe. When we “hear” we become more responsible than we were before we had knowledge. This parable was spoken to a multitude then explained to the disciples. When we hear the Word of God we must be careful to receive it. The Word of God must fall onto good ground to bear good fruit. What kind of soil is our souls? When we are willing to trust and obey, the Holy Spirit will give us the ability to understand the teachings of the Bible. There are 4 kinds of seeds or souls of people around us that we encounter:

1. Wayside Souls: trampled by men and devoured by birds – in Bible times these were the religious leaders who refused to believe God’s message. Seeing and hearing Christ do teach and perform miracles, these people did not actually see and hear TRUTH. They could not understand the meanings of the illustrations of Christ' parables. Today, people see and hear what God is doing in the lives of people around the world, but do not understand the deeper meanings or explanations of how things are happening. These people have hard hearts. The heard in a shallow, superficial way. Only surface level learning. Satan could easily come and snatch it away.

2. Rock Hard Souls: withered away from lack of moisture/living water – crowds who followed Jesus, but believed His message but never got around to doing anything about it. These people also heard the words but like the 1st group did not let it soak in or break into their soul. They remained unrepentant. They had no encouragement (or moisture) for their rock-hard soil of their souls. They withered away and died. They may even make a big, bright profession of faith at 1st, but it ends up being very superficial and emotional with no real change or commitment long-term to go with it. It seemed real, but there are zero roots to dig down into the soil to sustain life when it gets hard. When trouble comes, they quickly abandon faith for the easier, worldly life. It will always be easier to walk in the ways of the world than in the ways of God. Being set apart is what we are called to be. It is called the straight and narrow path for a reason.

3. Thorns / Thorny Souls: growth is chocked out by thorns – those overcome by materialism, no room in their lives for God. This group gets along well for a season, but eventually there is no genuine faith as proved by their lack of steadfastness. They are not sustainable. The cares of this world; pleasures, riches, and fun of life take back control and the Word is snuffed out to just what they do when there is nothing better to do. The seeds eventually get smothered out and die.

4. Good Ground: yielded 100 grains for each seed – they followed no matter the cost, true Christ-following believers with pure intentions who are filled with the Holy Spirit. They received the Word and Abide in it. They pray and meditate over scripture and live for God daily. They allow the Word to mold their lives forevermore. They are teachable and obedient and practice progressive sanctification. They produce the good Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

a. GOD is the FARMER
b. Believers planting seeds are the Seed Sowers
c. Seed are the Word of God
d. SOIL IS THE HEART OF THE PEOPLE WE ARE SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH

Our witnessing efforts may only yield good fruit 25% of the time. We may never get to see our seeds grow to fruition. This should not discourage us. It is not our responsibility to produce the fruit, however it is our job to plant the seeds. It is not the fault of the farmer or the seed when no fruit or bad fruit is produced, or if it quits producing; that is due to the condition of the soil. I remember when we used to have a garden. Kevin would do soil samples to see if we needed to add lime or other things to the soil to make it good, fertile soil for our garden. While we could change the soil in our garden, we CANNOT change the soil of the soul in those we are witnessing to. We are commanded to GO MAKE DISCIPLES, not go be soil scientists. 

Are we doing our best to plant seeds where we are today? 

Do we let the 75% of seeds that fall on by the wayside, rocks, and thorns get us down so that we forget about the 25% that grow in good fertile soil producing 100 fold? Hey, 25% adds up over a lifetime to lots of souls in heaven causing angels to rejoice! Get out there and plant some seeds today…its Spring and Spring is for Planting!

Father God, I know you are the Ultimate, Most High, Master Gardner, help me to never get discouraged when I don’t see immediate results of the cultivating we are doing in ministry. Help me to remember my job is to be the obedient seed sower who sows in faith. Help me to remember to pray for the soil of the souls that I am planting in, so that one day there may be an abundant harvest. Help me to trust in You always. Help me to pray for all the seeds planted all over the world by all your faithful seed sowers. Help me to see each face before me every day as one of your loved children who need you. Help me to be more aware of my surroundings so that I don’t miss opportunities to sow seeds. Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for sending your only Son to die for a sinner such as me. I love you. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

I do not own rights to Seed Sower with vocals

Who is Jesus to You?

• 
  John 7:4-5: For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him.
• John 7:12-13: And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.
• John 7:20: The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?”
• John 7:26: And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?
• John 7:40-41: When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 

At the time of this passage Jesus was still in Galilee, but there is probably several months between chapters 6 and 7 of the book of John.  Jesus didn't wan't to stay in Judea because it was the headquarters of the Jews where the Pharisees sought to kill Jesus. The Feast of Tabernacles was a harvest festival that was a very joyous time of celebration. It was to remind them of leaving Egypt when the Israelites lived in booths or tents, temporary shelters. It was to make them think of the coming of the Messiah who would reign forever and save them eternally. In verse 4, Jesus’ brothers did not believe he was the Messiah yet, so they sarcastically mocked him, or possibly wanted fame from being kin to him when he performed his miracles, or maybe even were jealous enough of his fame to want him killed. You gotta love some sibling rivalry! His brothers didn't really know what to think of him, nor did the religious leaders of the day. The common everyday people were confused too. Opinions of Jesus were all over the place...so I am asking you - WHO IS JESUS TO YOU? Is it just a story. The Messiah. Your Redeemer. Your Get Out of Hell Free Card. Your Lord and Savior. No One (it actually makes my anxious to type that one). We will ALL stand before Him as a perfect and righteous Judge to give an account of our lives one day. How will you respond to My Jesus?

In this life we are often mocked or made fun of for being “bible-thumpers”,  “goodie-goodies”,  that are too churchy and we can’t have any real fun. Well, don’t let those opinions bother you, they don't really matter---true joy and happiness comes from following Christ and living a Godly life. All of the things in this world that we think are so important will all fade away and souls are the only things that will last eternally. We must be about the business of make disciples.  We need to go about this with the right attitudes and approach it the right way. How sad it must have been for Jesus to be mocked by his own family. While He was alive, they didn’t believe in Him as the One True Messiah. The people mocked Him. Some said Jesus was a fraud, of Satan, that He was good, demon-possessed, the Christ, and the Prophet. Opinions were all over the place about Him. This is how people will think of us too. Most importantly, We must make up our minds about WHAT WE THINK ABOUT JESUS. Whatever we decide WILL have eternal consequences. Lots of people are talking ABOUT Jesus, but are talking TO JESUS? We can wear all the religious t-shirts, read our bibles, go to church, check all the boxes, but if we are not talking TO Jesus, as in, HAVE A REAL REALATIONSHIP with Him that CHANGES how we live every day, then it is meaningless. He called us to GO MAKE DISCIPLES (Matthew 28:18-20) but when it comes time to speak up about Him in public do we? Are we like his brothers? Are we like Nicodemus who took a while to come out of the dark? We have to privilege to teach, preach, and worship without persecution, unlike many of our brothers and sisters around the world, but do we take it for granted? Do we do it without passion or less than we should? Are we thankful to go into the House of the Lord and worship, study, pray, learn, be held accountable and share with other believers? Don’t let fear stifle our boldness to proclaim the Gospel around the world. We have a command to spread it, and we should do so BOLDLY with passion and enthusiasm, without being embarrassed. If my Jesus is already your Jesus then go tell someone else about Him today! If you don't have a TRUE live changing relationship with him then ask me how, so you can start a NEW LIFE today!

Father God, Your Word tells me in Matthew10:32, that Christ will confess me to You when I confess Him to others. Help me to BOLDLY proclaim your Word, your miracles, your goodness, and your salvation to all the nations. Help me to not be hindered by fear, emotions, embarrassment, or any other obstacles that Satan or this world may throw at me. Help me to realize your convicting power for what it is and not try to make excuses or avoid it. Help me to realize and confess my sins so that you can mold me and make me into what you have designed me to be. Lord be the Master of my life and remove all pride from me. Help me to be able to reason in a rational way and see things through your eyes and recognize my own sinful flesh. Help me to live by what is good and right and the ways of Your Word always. Help me to soak up your Word and understand it the way it is written. Help me to never twist it or try to take it out of context. Help me to be a better disciple. Thank you for all the blessing you give me everyday that I take for granted. Thank you for my freedom to worship You. Thank you for our missionaries proclaiming your love and salvation around the world today; be with each of their families and their ministries. Help their words to fall on receptive ears. Thank you for giving your Only Son for a sinner like me. I ask these things in Jesus’ Precious Name, Amen.

My Jesus - Anne Wilson 

Cost of Discipleship

Discipleship comes at a "high cost", are you willing to pay it? 

Jesus talked about the differences in the easy way that most of the world wants to take and the hard pathway of following Him. Accepting Jesus and the salvation He provides is easy, but actively growing and following Jesus will impact every part of our lives and takes time and effort.

The choice to follow Jesus may cost us a high price in earthly terms, but when we are determined to follow Him, the Lord will change our desires. Discipleship is a lifelong process! We will never learn all we can about our Precious Jesus! Becoming a disciple is free; there is nothing we can do to buy our salvation. There is nothing we can do to earn it, but we WILL have to make sacrifices in order to follow Jesus. The cost of being a disciple comes from those sacrifices. We may have to stop doing some activities because we know they are not pleasing to God. 

We need to live differently than the world around us. This will not always be easy, but it will always be worth it. Jesus paid the ultimate price for us, and we can honor Him by listening to His Word and following Him.

Is there anything you or your family needs to give up for Christ?
I can promise you, if you totally give up everything for Jesus, you will never regret it.

Make sure HE is in the #1 place in your life and in your kid's lives today. Let HIM be in control of all that your family does! 

 (Today's blog is paraphrased from Elements Kids Worship Discipleship Lesson 2)

 

ZEAL FOR THE LORD

His disciples remembered that it was written “Zeal for your house will consume me. John 2:17

What is zeal: ardently passionate (literally "boiling" with interest or desire); "to be deeply committed to something, with the implication of accompanying desire – 'to be earnest, to set one's heart on, to be completely intent upon' ", very fervent(zēlos). To seethe or bubble,' and is therefore used figuratively of mental states and emotions. 

Jesus is speaking to the Jewish, educated leaders – they KNEW scripture – yet they were so blinded to the TRUE LIGHT. Psalm 69:9 says: “For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.” The leaders would have known this verse, yet they still could not accept who Christ really was when he cleansed the temple. People were wrapped up in worldly business and using the temple/church for personal gain. Christ put a stop to this by cleansing the temple, which showed his rightful authority. Christ wants the church to be used for pure, authentic worship and prayer. Matthew 21:13 says: “He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

Have we every truly been “ZEALOUS” over anything, according to the definition? If so, are we about the WRONG things? Would God and Christ approve of our use and worship in His house? When we gather together are we here with deep, boiling desire; to offer prayer and intense worship to the Lord; or do we enter into His House half-heartedly? If we are not here to zealously worship and pray then we are just as bad as the Jewish leaders of the days of old.

Father God, thank you for the splendor and glory you show us every day. You alone are mighty to save and worthy of our praise. Help me to be more ZEALOUS for You and not for things in this world. Help me to be 100% committed to serving You alone. Guide my mind to have clear thoughts and intentions when I enter into your House of Worship and Prayer. Help me to not get distracted by worldly things that Satan can use to derail me during our precious times of being able to assemble together. Lord, help us not take these times for granted as, as many around the world are not able to have a time of worship, prayer and studying Your Word without persecution. Forgive me for the times I have entered your house with the wrong frame of mind. Thank you for all blessings you grant me every day, even without my realizing them. Thank you for sending Jesus to die and rise again for everyone. Thank you for your inspired word that you sent to us through faithful men who taught others so that we could learn about You. Be with the missionaries around the world who are continuing to zealously share your salvation message and disciple those they encounter. Help me to disciple those you put in my path. I ask these things in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

God's 911 Part 3

"For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday."  Psalm 91:3-6

Verse 3 tells us God will protect us from the temptation traps that try to get us into sin and He will protect us from things sent to physically hurt us.  It’s up to us to believe God’s promise.  God made His protection available to us; we just have to run to Him.  How is your speech? Every word we speak is a spiritual weapon—either for good or for evil.  Choose how you use your words, carefully!

Verses 5-6 tells us the 4 groups of EVIL that Satan uses to attack:

1. Terrors = dangers of the night that cause fear.
2. Arrows = try to pierce us physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
3. Pestilence = sickness, disease or illness that causes fear.
4. Destruction = natural disasters  

Our words are powerful, use them to fight Satan.  He tries to attack where it will hurt us most.  Don’t let him rob you of your joy.  Prayer is a powerful spiritual weapon and it can change impossible situations.  Jesus gave us the perfect example of how to fight attacks from the devil.  Jesus fought against the temptation of Satan in the wilderness by quoting Bible verses to Satan.  We need to have a “bag of spiritual weapons” we can pull out when Satan attacks.  The only way we will be ready for battle is if we practice and learn to use God’s Word ahead of time! Do you read, meditate on and memorize scripture on a regular basis? Faith is not a feeling; it is choosing to believe what God says in His Word and refusing to doubt. We can't do this if we do not know what The Word says. It’s easy to panic when things get out of control, but those are the times when it is more important than ever to call on God.  Call out to God; He always answers your call!  

The verses from Psalm 91:3-6 remind me that: 

1. God saves me / delivers me from my enemies & their schemes. 
2. God covers me with His wings & shields me with His faithfulness. 
3. I will find refuge in Him if I seek it.
4. Because of this, I will not be afraid. 

   

   
   

God's 911 Part 2

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.”
God is called by 4 names is this chapter. His names tell us about His charter & what He will do for us.
1. Most High – highest being that exists.
2. Almighty – all-might. Most powerful.
3. My Lord – we belong to Him, He is the boss.
4. My God – our personal Savior.

Satan sets physical and spiritual traps for us, but God promises to save us from these traps if we abide in Him. Our Heavenly Father will always do what is best for us. God will protect us from the temptation traps that try to get us into sin and He will protect us from things sent to physically hurt us. It’s up to us to believe God’s promise and choose to live according to His Word and calling on our life! God made His protection available to us; we just have to run to Him. Every word we speak is a spiritual weapon—either for good or for evil. Choose how you use your words, carefully!

I am choosing to believe God and His Word. It is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword...(Heb. 4:12) With that being said, He also knows our thoughts, intentions, and what motivates our actions! Be authentic in all that you do. God is my refuge! God is my fortress! I will trust God, when I'm in danger, for He is with me. I will trust God when I am fearful because He is my fortress. I will live daily within God's will for my life and enjoy His protection. I thrive best when I am abiding in the shadow (inseparable companion) of the Almighty and I can imagine you will too!

God’s 911

God says that He is the place of real safety from any bad thing you can imagine--if you will run to Him with all your heart!  Tell God you trust Him! God's Word is true, and He is faithful to do what He promises if we put our complete trust in Him. 

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1 ESV) 

Dwell: means to continues in a place.  Shelter is a refuge/protection from danger or trouble. To Abide means to remain. A shadow is an Inseparable Companion —I ❤️that definition. 

When we add those definitions into the verse this is what we get: He who (continues in the place of) (the refuge) of the Most High will (remain) the (Inseparable companion) of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1 ESV).

Don't you want to remain the Inseparable Companion of the ALMIGHTY, THE MOST HIGH! I want to dwell and continue in the place of His refuge and protection!  Satan may try, or fleshly desires may set physical traps, but God promises to save us! Father God will always do what is best for us! God will protect us. We need to run to Him for shelter and safety. My words are weapons. They can be weapons either for good or for evil depending on how I use them. Are your words doing more good or bad?

God is our refuge. I trust Him above all when I am in danger. I am so thankful He is always with me. Remember to trust Him when you are afraid and remember HE is your fortress.  Live for HIM daily in HIS protection and in HIS will!