God's Natural World: What kind of soil are you?

God's Natural World: What kind of soil are you?: I'd like to retell a story that Jesus told his followers. In Matthew Chapter 13 vss 3-9 Jesus tells the story about a farmer sowing seed. It...

What kind of soil are you?

I'd like to retell a story that Jesus told his followers. In Matthew Chapter 13 vss 3-9 Jesus tells the story about a farmer sowing seed. It goes like this:
Now a farmer went out to sow some seed. As he was scattering the seed some fell along the path. Now a path is kinda hard dirt. Its worn by many years by many feet walking on it and the wheels of charriots on it too. So its no surprise that the seed that fell on the path didn't take root at all and was quickly eatten up by some birds even before any rain could hit it and give it the least bit of a chance to grow.
Now some of this seed happen to fall along rocky places. I don't know about you but rocky areas may collect a little dirt but you can't count on it to grow much but weeds! The seed did grow some but since the roots couldn't go very deep the plants that grew withered when the sun beat down on them. You see, they needed moisture and deep roots to withstand the weather and rocky places just aren't very good for that.
Some of this seed did grow in one area, but unfortunately there were weeds and thorns that grew up right along with it and they choked the plants from getting a chance to thrive. You see, plants need room to grow and they can't become what they were meant to be if they are restricted from their potential.
Finally!!! Some seed fell on good soil that had been plowed up and fertilized and had good watering!!! These seed grew up and then do you know what they did? These plants produced seed and lots of it! Now it might have been corn or it might have been wheat. What kind we really don't know and to be truthful it really doesn't matter.

Many times I've heard sermons about this and the focus is always on the seed producing fruit or not. I'd like to change the focus a bit this time around on the type of soil the seed fell on. Are you living your life in such a way that nothing positive can work its way in and do any good?
Or maybe you are rocky and maybe God's word can't go very deep because you don't give it much of a chance. You might hear it and you might even pay attention and agree with it but religion is best left at church and on Sundays and it just can't be expected to be applied to every day living.
Maybe you are the kind of person who tryies so hard to live right and really wants to be a Christian but you are trying to do it in your own strength. Oh you might offer up a prayer or two when things get tough but its just not for every day living and when things do get rough you give up on God and fall out of going to church and reading the Bible. The troubles of this life are like thorns and weeds that choke out the truth of God's love.
Then there are those few (yes few for the road is narrow and few there are that find it) who accept Christ and all He offers willingly. They pray often and search the Bible for what God would have to say to them. They look to God daily for guidance and have a deep, abiding relationship with Him. No, their life isn't perfect and sometimes they don't do everything the way they shojld. But their lives are spent trusting Jesus to guide them and provide for them. They know they can depend on God, not to judge them for every misstep, but to love them when even they don't deserve it.
As they thrive in God's grace daily there are many whose lives are affected in a positive way and it is obvious that God is working in their lives consitently to make them more like Him!
So I ask you, which kind of soil are you? Today I challenge you to trust Him fully for everything you need. He made you and designed you for a purpose and wants to bless you not for your own glory or recognition but for His!!!

God's Natural World: Language and Cheap Imitations

God's Natural World: Language and Cheap Imitations: Over the past few years our language has changed. Oh, I'm not speaking about some foreign tongue but the words we use seem to me to define o...

Language and Cheap Immitations

Over the past few years our language has changed. Oh, I'm not speaking about some foreign tongue but the words we use seem to me to define our thought pattern and perhaps even our World View.
We used to use words like "attractive" or "handsome" to describe someone who looks nice.  Now it seems we have traded in those words for "sexy."  We live in a world obsessed with sex.  Its in almost every TV program being produced these days; in most clothing stores in the mall; in lots of magazines; and in the movies we watch.  So why can't we seem to use words which adequately compliment the other person without bringing "sex" into the subject?  I believe it is totally of Satan.  Satan decieves and not by some blatant attempt usually but subtlely.  If he can get us to treat what God made as Holy as trivial and common place then he has succeeded in getting us to settle for less than God's best.  Cheap substitutes don't satisfy.  I know we all have adapted to cheap substitutes and have learned to live with things that once were made to last but now may not even last past the manufacturers warranty.  Needless to say, the cheap immitation isn't what its advertised to be and isn't the "real mccoy."
Relationships as they are portrayed on TV are shallow and seem to center around sexual pleasure rather than building a good, solid foundation and saving sex for marriage with only one partner.  Satan has substituted a cheap immitation of intimacy for the real thing and we've swallowed it hook, line, and sinker!  We are in a society that can't wait for things at all and certainly patience is no longer a virtue.  We want things and so we charge them on credit cards.  Sometimes that's a necessity but many times it is not.  What ever happened to saving our money and setting aside some for our goals in life?
Now you may think that I've digressed from my point of this blog but I assure you I do have a point.
Since we have been conditioned to not wait for things that "satisfy," we also don't learn to build relationships and wait for sex until we are married.  We go for what feels good and besides "everybody is doing it!"  But God does not call us to do what everyone else is doing.
In Ephesians 5 we are called to "Live as children of light...."  We are to "find out what pleases the Lord" and "have nothing to do wiht the fruitless deeds of darkness."

So I challenge you to change your language and use words that uplift the other person.  We can choose to compliment in ways that don't imply we are thinking of that person as a sex object.
Change the way you talk and you will change the way you think.
Be aware of content to which you watch and listen.  You will find it is indeed a "slow fade" to a sinful life and you will not be honoring God with your life but instead you will be a witness for Satan and you will be giving your approval to the "cheap" substitute which does not satisfy in the long run.

God's Natural World: Peace

God's Natural World: Peace: Peace. What is it? We all long for "World" peace, for wars to cease, for troubles to end. But what about peace within? What can you do to b...

Peace

Peace. What is it? We all long for "World" peace, for wars to cease, for troubles to end. But what about peace within?  What can you do to bring your soul peace when all around you is in turmoil and strife?
It seems there is always some crisis with one of my family members.  One needs a hot water heater, one needs car repairs, another needs bills paid and it goes on and on it seems!!!  I'm sure many of you have experienced that and much worse.  I can't imagine what it would be like to have a real calamity touch my life such as losing my home to a storm like some have experienced recently in Alabama. 
The Bible tells us a story of a time when Jesus was out on the Sea of Gallilee with his disciples. Jesus was quite tired from ministering to so many that he fell asleep as the boat went its way. Even when a violent storm came up and threatened to sink the fishing boat, Jesus still slept soundly.  How exhausted he must have been!  Just the sound of thunder wakes me up!!!  His disciples were concerned.  No!  More than concerned.  Even though they were experienced fishermen (some at least) and had experienced storms, this one really frightened them.  They woke up their teacher (Jesus) and begged him to save them as they felt as if they were going to drown.  Calm as a cucumber Jesus rebuked the winds and the waves and all was calm, all was at peace. (Matthew 8:23-27)  I think this action must have frightened the disciples almost as much as the storm they had experienced.  By doing this, Jesus showed that He is Lord over their cimcumstances (whatever they may be.)
Today some of you feel as if you are going to drown because of the circumstances you face. You may feel as if no one cares and perhaps as if there is no way out.  I want to remind you that Jesus does care.  He knows exactly what you are experiencing and is ready to see you through it even if you are not delivered from it fully. 
Isaiah, the great prophet wrote (ch 26:3) "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."
Perhaps God is allowing you to experience the storm so that you will find perfect peace in the midst of it by gazing on Him. 
There is an old hymn I dearly love to sing called "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus".
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
look full in his wonderful face,
and the things of this world
will grow strangely dim
in the light of his glory and grace."

My friend if you are in a storm of strife, calamity, or unrest in your soul I hope you will look to the ony one who can provide you with perfect peace.

Shipwrecked

Recently in the news there has been a sad story about a cruise ship that wrecked.  Even now, a week after the incident, rescue workers are trying to locate all the missing passengers.  What caused the ship to wreck?  Did the rocks just grow there over night?  Was it the fault of the map maker not to include the rocks on the map (something the captain suggested?) Was the ship not built tough enough?
No!  It was none of these things.  The captain veered off the usual route that ships travel and decided to come close to an island where he could show off to a friend who lives there. 
What seemed like a pleasurable vacation for many turned into a tradgedy. 

I suspect many who read about this shipwreck just shook their heads and said to themselves something like "what an idiot to have done something so stupid and irresponsible as that!"
Such an obvious act of irresponsibility is easy for us to condemn, yet how many of us do the same thing spiritually?  The Bible tells us plainly what is the right way to live and yet we blatantly deny what God has told us and go our own way.  Sadly, we too will shipwreck our lives by doing this. And sadly as well we tend to put the blame on something else besides ourselves.  "The devil made me do it." or "Everyone is doing it so it must be ok." We veer off course and into dangerous waters thinking no harm will come to us. 

In the book of Joshua we see how Joshua, a man of valor, courage, and leadership was reminded by God to not veer to the right nor to the left and that if he did and if the people of Israel did, then there would be severe consequences.(Joshua 1:7-8)  God was faithful to keep His promises to Joshua just as long as they were faithful to keep true to Him.

Do not think you will be the exception here.  God will not be mocked. Be faithful to follow Him and you will get to your destination safely.