Good Morning, I love the early morning. The quiet... the promise of the new day... time to spend time alone with our Father... reading words of life that stretch us, challenge us, encourage us, and heal us as the Holy Spirit does His work inside us. I pray that today you will find a place of quiet reflection and that our Father speaks life to you in exactly the way you need. In the parable of the sower Jesus spends a lot of time describing the areas where the seed fell that did not flourish. These are warnings to us that, if recognized and heeded, will enable us to become fruitful ground. Recognizing a hard heart and choosing to be open to God and others, identifying and turning away from sin and turning to God, identifying and removing the distractions, time-wasters, and life drainers from our life and committing ourselves to living fully in Him. Another term for fruitful ground is ABUNDANT LIFE. In John 10:10 Jesus tells us that He came that we might have a full, abundant life. This full life is found in our abiding relationship with Him. Matthew 13:23 The seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown. At work yesterday I shared my story with a number of people. Most listened with rapt attention. I could tell that it made a few uncomfortable. There was one dear friend, a cancer survivor, that I could tell the story deeply touched. As we encouraged one another I recognized that the more we shared our health journey and how Jesus was walking with us through them, the more we were mutually encouraged. I could sense the plants growing as we allowed the seeds to grow in the soil of our lives. My life is fuller today than it was a week ago. So many friends have been lifting me up in prayer. Jesus words are almost constantly in my mind giving me hope and encouragement. Even when my heart flutters, which it did about 4 times in the morning meeting yesterday, I take a deep breath and remember His promise, I will never leave you or forsake you. Jeremiah 29:11 says I know the plans I have for you. declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. A few years ago my job was eliminated. The entire week that occurred God brought this verse to mind over and over again. He was faithful then. I know He is faithful now. Faithful He will always be. Blessed is the name of the Lord! Have a wonderful day my friend.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 10:15:03 +0000