Are the Seeds You Plant Discordant

Or Life-giving?

We are well into harvest season!  What a great time to enjoy nature’s fall bounty of pumpkin, squash and many other delectable treats.  As you enjoy the fruit of the season take some time to consider the journey from seed time to harvest.

Just as you can observe the seed to harvest process outwardly in nature so a similar process takes place in you throughout your life.  Seeds are planted through words, thoughts and actions.  Over time whatever is nurtured will grow and produce a harvest of like activity or fruit in your life.  Some seeds are planted by others and some you plant yourself through your thought life.

Just as others plant seeds in your heart (and it is always a heart issue) you are also planting seeds in the hearts of others through your words and actions toward them.  What kind of seeds are you planting?  What kind of seeds are you watering?  What does your harvest look like today?  What might your harvest look like in the future?

A Seed Planted Produces Fruit

Over the years I fondly remembered a pastor I met on a cruise now some thirty plus years ago.  He was ordained only a short time but he carried the humility and compassion of Christ.  He shared his testimony about how the Lord had called him from a productive career and a party lifestyle to serve Him.  Much to everyone’s surprise he cleaned out his desk one Friday and said he was going into the seminary.

We spent a lot of time on that cruise talking about God and His call on each life.  Those talks profoundly affected my spiritual journey.  What I never forgot was his humble, non-judgmental persona.

Over the years I would search the net to see if he was still in ministry but did not find him until a few weeks ago.  He is now in a leadership position and when I read his acceptance quote when he was given his current job I knew immediately it was that same pastor!  His humility and compassion had only grown over the years.  I found a picture of him and it brought back a wonderful memory of a true servant of Jesus who forever touched my heart and planted seeds that continue to produce fruit so many years later.

You Sow, Others Sow, We all Sow

I could not help but think that what you may perceive to be a simple conversation may in fact be pivotal to a person’s destiny in the Lord.  As a believer you have a ministry.  It may be within your home as a spouse or parent; it may be at the office; it may be in the streets.  Wherever God has placed you, that is your place of ministry.  Through your words and actions you are planting seeds in others.  Through your thoughts you plant seeds in your own heart.  Really be observant this week about what seeds you are planting.  Do you speak life giving words or are you planting disruption?  What part of your life do you share with others?

Just as important is the fact that others plant seeds in your heart.  If they are life giving do you receive them and nurture them to fruition to then seed into the lives of others?  If they are acrimonious do you take them in and nurture them to grow into bitterness and resentment which you then share with others?  What you give attention to will grow.

Choose to tend to the things that are positive and weed out immediately those things that are hurtful. 

Surely your harvest will then be plentiful in the fruit of the Spirit and others will surely be blessed as well!

Look back this week over your own walk and remember those who have had an impact on who you are today.  If you think of those who may have been negative, forgive them, bless them and move on.  For those the Lord used to positively direct or redirect your walk with Him be thankful and pray for them.  We are all in this together.  We are here to serve and help each other.  Really think about what you are planting!  Be ever watchful about what you nurture!

Quotes to Ponder This Week

 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”  Jesus, Luke 6:27-28

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” Jesus, John 13:35

“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest…shall not cease.”  Genesis 8:22

 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”  Galatians 5:22-23

“…This thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”  Philippians 3:13

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever thins are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.”  “Philippians 4:8

A Prayer Request

Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray.  Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety.  They are our front-line on the battlefield, let us be their front-line in the spirit.  Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives.

God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families.  May the Lord keep them safe.  Pray for all throughout the world for hedges of protection against radical Muslim extremists and all forms of terrorism.   We have long prayed for spiritual victory over radical Islam in Esther’s Warriors Ministry. We now see the reality of this threat come to the forefront in this time in world history.

Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi and for safety in Israel.  May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe.  May we may arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history.

We continue to pray for truth to prevail as we saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America and for all of us who call ourselves American.  These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk.  Fail not in this hour.

Please Join Me In Prayer

Father we thank You that You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ to earth to save us and teach us humility and compassion.  Grace us to diligently seek You and Your ways.  Use us to plant seeds of life in hearts.  Teach us to nurture what is good and bring it to fruition.  Lead us to a mighty harvest for Your Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.  We pray this in Jesus’ mighty name.  Amen and amen.