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God’s Word

Our Heart-Soil: Planting Seed

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Have you ever thought of your heart as a bed of soil for the seed of God’s Word to grow? When better than spring—a time known for new growth—to consider the soil of our hearts? How well does it allow the word of the Lord to grow? Won’t you join me this week as we search for answers? You might be as surprised by what we discover!

Planting Seed

“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.”

Mark 4:13-14 NLT

Soil isn’t the only thing important for effective seed growth. The planting of the seed is just as vital because, without proper planting, no seed will grow.

Friday_Day_Five_Pic_#1-Onion_PlanterYears ago, I wanted to help my mother grow vegetables in our backyard garden. One day she asked me to plant the row of onions while she went inside to take care of something. “No problem, Mother, I can do that!” However, it seemed to take them a long while to come up. After no sight of onions for some time, my mother asked me if I’d ever even planted them. I assured her I had.

“Then why aren’t they showing,” she queried? Finally, she went out to check them herself and discovered that I’d placed each bulb in the ground pointy-side down. No wonder they weren’t growing. I’d planted them upside down. They’d never grow that way. Turns out I didn’t have any idea of how to plant the onions because I’d never actually seen her do it nor did I bother to ask. I mean, how hard could it be, right? You’ve got a bulb, you’ve got the ground, and you shove it in there, voila! I thought I knew. Had I simply asked, wouldn’t she have told me? Of course she would.

The same principle applies with spreading God’s Word. Read today’s Dose verse. God commands us to spread the Good News of salvation to others. But, if our hearts are not receptive to the Holy Spirit and God’s word, like those of the religious leaders Jesus spoke to in parables, we won’t be equipped to plant His seed to anyone.

Friday_Day_Five_Pic_#2-Hands_on_BibleWhen our hearts are right toward the Lord, the Holy Spirit works in and through us to plant the seed of God’s word into the hearts and lives of others. We need only be willing and ask Him to do so.

There are so many people around us who don’t know the hope of salvation and new life in Christ Jesus. Maybe you’re saying today that this is you, Dear Lady. Do you want Him to change you? He’s waiting to, just ask.

If you’re already a believer, have you asked the Master Planter how He wants to use you to effectively sew the seed of His Word into the lives of people within your sphere of influence today? He is faithful and will provide you with the answer.

Planting the seed,

Rita

NANA’S MEMORIES: GRANNY’S FRIED CHICKEN

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I’m in a new season of life now. Gone are the days wrestling with three little boys. Almost gone are the days of wrestling with six fantastic little grandkids. How sad. However, the memories of stories and time spent – and the lessons learned – will last a lifetime. Join me this week as I share meaningful lessons learned from the children in my life…one of those children was even me.

 

GRANNY’S FRIED CHICKEN

GRANNY_S_KITCHENThe kitchen was long and narrow, the farmhouse ceiling low compared to most houses today.  Sunbeams cast a glow over my white-haired Granny as she stood at the sink washing the dinner dishes.  In those days, dinner was our mid-day meal and supper was the evening meal. Her cocker spaniel, Sydney, jumped up on me, licking me in the face. Calling my name as he stepped into the kitchen, Papa snatched me off the floor and into his arms. Immediately I announced, “I’m hungry.”

Nothing unusual there; the munchies always hit as soon as I walked through Granny’s kitchen door. That woman was one more good country cook. She offered me a leftover chicken leg, mashed potatoes and gravy, and my Papa’s mouth-watering tomatoes from the garden.

I asked for a cold biscuit instead.

“Whaaat?”, she screeched. She knew chicken legs, mashed potatoes with gravy and Papa’s tomatoes were my favorites. Using the nickname she had given me at birth she said, “What in the world is wrong with you Dinkie?” My Mama nearly fainted at my answer. “I don’t want the good stuff today” I quipped. “Just a cold biscuit”

How often we are like that in our spiritual lives. We have the fullness of the Word of God readily available every day. We can choose to be nourished with the meat of the Word, the richness of His wisdom, and freshness of His grace.  Instead, we often choose the cold biscuits this world throws us to satisfy our hunger for a rich and satisfying life, leaving us starved for answers to the struggles of life.

 Psalm 119:104-105 (Amplified) says:

Through your precepts, I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. 

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Do you see the jewel in that verse? The writer tells us the reason he hates every false way is that it robs him of understanding that gives him light to maneuver through the tough times.

Hummm…no more cold biscuits for me.

Until tomorrow,

Your Traveling Companion,

Brenda