Harvest Time

Have you ever planted a garden?
I remember as a child having my first garden. I had to prepare the soil by tilling the ground. At the time it seemed an impossible task until I realized I was not alone or left with just some instructions. A close friend of the family, Mr. Langhorn guided me through the steps of tilling the ground and removing the weeds. I learned later that the soil had to be properly prepared to receive the seed so that it might have the best chance of producing fruit. As we began that day, I quickly realized I needed some help and my family gladly joined in. We worked all day to ready the soil for the seed and at the end of the day it was time. I was carefully instructed on how to plant each seed with attention given to its proper depth and spacing. I was so thankful that my friend took the time to mentor me by not only telling me what to do but also showing me and allowed me to work under his watchful care. At the end of the day I was very tired but extremely satisfied with all the work that had been accomplished. The next day I could not wait to see my new garden and its wonderful produce but much to my disappointment there was no change. I learned that I had to be patient and wait for my plants to begin to grow. Every day I would quickly run to the window and check to see if any of the seeds had begun to grow. Little did I know they were growing under the soil little by little. I will never forget the joy I felt when it seemed like all at once the ground was filled with little spouts. I was so encouraged by this and started paying more attention to the weeds that had began to sneak in unnoticed. As my plants grew so did the weeds and in an effort to keep them out I would remove the whole plant, remove all the weeds and place the plant back in its place. My mom saw me doing this and explained this was not a good practice as I could kill the plant in the processes. I also remember watering the plants and being given careful instructions on the proper amount. Little did I know how important this was because too much or too little water could also kill the plants. The plants seemed to grow very quickly as I continued to wait for the first signs of fruit. One day as I rose early to check my new garden much to my surprise I say the first signs of fruit. I was so happy and ran back in the house expecting everyone to come help pick my new found fruit. I was told I must be patient again and wait until the fruit ripens before I could pick it. As I waited I learned there are many enemies of the garden. I noticed littbugs, birds, and other animals had taken notice of the new found fruit and the weeds seemed to pop up every day. I was instructed on ways to protect new plants. Then the day came when it was “Harvest Time”. I was thrilled to finally reap the harvest of my labor and thanking God for His rich blessing.
When was the last time you planted a garden?
I am not talking about an earthly garden but a heavenly one. Are you planting seed? You can never expect to reap a harvest if you are not laboring in the field. Jesus said in Matthew 9:37-38 “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Are you in the fields? Are you reaping the harvest? I know the work is hard and we seem to have so little time. Jesus is looking for workers. Will you volunteer or will you mentor another? Today listen to the words of Jesus our Lord “Do you not say, there are yet four months, and [then] comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.” (John 4:35)
Father, my prayer is that we would labor for You and Your kingdom and for Your glory. Give us the wisdom and strength to accomplish Your divine mission and callings for our lives. Amen.

What is most important in your life?

What is most important in your life? Have you ever given consideration as to what you feel is the most important thing in your life? Often in our hurry to do life, we don’t take time to sit and ponder over such issues. I am sure if we did, we would have many of the same answers such as our spouse, family, church, job, and of course, God. Often it depends on the circumstances to which we ask the question or the location where we are asked as to the answer that we would give. If we are in church we would state God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, etc. If we were at a family reunion we might hear answers like mom, dad, children, relatives, especially the one asking the question. If we were at work we could hear answers about the importance of performance recognition, striving for excellence, or the next Friday. As we think on these things it is easy to see we have many areas competing for prominence in our life. As difficult as it may seem to give an honest answer, we can easily expose the truth by looking at what motivates us in our day to day activity. We live in a nation where if you do not like your job you can go and get another. If you don’t like the meal you’re served, you just throw it away and get something else. If you’re not happy in your marriage, you simply give up and try again with someone else. The same is true in every area of our lives. If the truth be known, the most important thing in our lives is our selves. We have become consumers. Life has become about pleasing our self no matter what the causality. This is even taking place in the church. In a recent survey of 1,000 church attendees, respondents were asked, “Why does the church exist?” According to 89 percent, the church’s purpose was “to take care of my families’ and my spiritual needs.” Only 11 percent said the purpose of the church is “to win the world for Jesus Christ.” Our goal is the pursuit of happiness at all cost and it cost plenty. Yet what does God say should be most important in our lives. We often look to God and His Word as a last resort rather than as a guide for our daily lives. Jesus states in Mark’s Gospel that we are to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”(Mark 12:29) With every ounce of our being we are to make Him number one in our life. Our life in not about pleasing ourselves but about pleasing God and learning about what He desires. “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.” (2Tim 2:4) God has gone to great trouble to plan out your every day. Surely, His plans are good. “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) It’s time to put God in the center of our lives “twenty-four seven” and trust His plans not just for our future but for our present as well. It is my prayer that we will all desire to love our God with our whole heart. May the Lord give you the desires of your heart as we seek to fulfill His great desires in our daily lives.