Just a Little Farming for Those Who Worry or Wait

These words and stories have lifted me up and I would like to share them with you in hopes that they may bring you PEACE in the midst of your storms. I've come to learn the hard way that WORRY will choke any seed "Sown in My Heart."
Jesus was such a wonderful story teller so I'll let him explain. . .

Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed
Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.

He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:

‘When they see what I do,
they will learn nothing.
When they hear what I say,
they will not understand.
Otherwise, they will turn to me
and be forgiven.”

Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?  The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.  The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
~Mark 4 1-20

"If the enemy can't get you with destruction he'll settle for distraction!"
~Beth Moore

And Oh what a distraction worry can be. I know it kept me busy most of the summer.

HE who began a good work in you WILL CARRY IT ON TO COMPLETION until the day of Christ Jesus.
~Philippians 1:6

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I TRUST."
~Psalm 91:1-2

Commit everything you do to the Lord. TRUST HIM, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the Lord,and WAIT PATIENTLY for him to act.
~Psalm 37:5-7

For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper not harm you, plans to give you a future and a HOPE.
~Jeremiah 29:11

Now FAITH is being sure of what we HOPE for and certain of what we do not see.
~Hebrews 11:1

TRUST in the Lord WITH ALL YOUR HEART and mind. Lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Be not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
~Proverbs 3:5-8

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. CAST ALL YOUR ANXIETY on him because HE CARES for you.
~1 Peter 5:6-7

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today
~Matthew 6:34

I Just Love how Jesus puts it:

Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to WORRY about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

“Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little FAITH?

 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. DON'T WORRY about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom."
“Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
~Luke 12:22-34

"Don't worry! Worry is a thief it steals your peace, it steals your joy, and more than anything it steals your today." ~ Joyce Meyer

"This is the day the LORD has made Let us REJOICE and be glad in it"
~Psalm 118:24
 

Do any of us know when will be our last day? We can't guarantee we're going to get another one. I don't want to waste my days worrying and longer.
 
"Leave the past and the future in God's hands and ENJOY the PRESENT moment "~Joyce Meyer


Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: REJOICE! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the PEACE of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of PEACE will be with you.
~Phil 4:4-9

Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground do all the crisis demands and stand firmly in your place.
~Ephesians 6:13

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
~Phil 4:13

My Prayer:
Lord I trust you. Help me to lean and rely on you. I am not smart enough to solve my problems on my own. I believe that you are in control and I trust that this will all work out in the end. Give me the grace to remain stable in this storm. In Jesus name.
Amen


Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
~Hebrews 10:24

I would love to hear from you. Do you have any verse or bible story that speaks to your heart in times of worry. Please leave your "seeds" in the comments below.

So There's This rEVOLution

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

~ Hebrews 10:24

So I've been reading, watching, and learning more and more about this new rEVOLution.

What Revolution you ask?

LOVE

The Love rEVOLution. LOVE is not just an emotion. It's a call to action.


And no I didn't get the memo either. Yes, our purpose in this life is NOT to please ourselves but to . . . .

"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." ~John 13:34

Yes folks we're supposed to LOVE. The kind that can start a rEVOLution.

The LOVE rEVOLution is a worldwide movement of people intentionally spreading the love of God through simple acts of kindness EVERY day.

“Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

…And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

–Colossians 3:12-14

It starts with you and me… in our homes, our communities, workplaces, churches...getting out of our comfort zone to help others in need every day and on purpose! It could be something as simple as holding the door open for a stranger, buying someone coffee, or more involved like literally giving the shirt off your back.



The point is to do something!

Something with meaning.

Something with LOVE.

Dare I say a LOVE that will change you.

LOVE that will FORCE you out of the boat in the midst of a storm.

You know that cRaZy LoVe. A LOVE that will change who you are forever?

Love that will . . . .

Teach you

Heal you

Fill you

Make you want to DO MORE!

It's time for change
and God's love is the weapon. It's contagious. Spread hope. Lend a hand. Stamp out selfishness. Get creative. Do something!

Go get out of your "comfort zone" and
LOVE

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

~Matthew 25: 34-40

Easter. . .

~ Isaiah 53
2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.




"What is the real good?"
I asked in musing mood.

Order, said the law court;
Knowledge, said the school;
Truth, said the wise man;
Pleasure, said the fool;
Love, said the maiden;
Beauty, said the page;
Freedom, said the dreamer;
Home, said the sage;
Fame, said the soldier;
Equity, said the seer;

Spake my heart full sadly:
"The answer is not here."

Then within my bosom
Softly this I heard:
"Each heart holds the secret:
Kindness is the word."

~Mark 16

1And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
4And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
5And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
6And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

 Easter is the greatest proof God loves you.