What is Your Spiritual Soil?

     

     “And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”  Matthew 13:23

     Of all of Jesus’s teachings, His parable of the sower could not be more straightforward and words that need to be taken to heart.  Sadly, it is sorely ignored.  Society, in general, has stopped caring about what their spiritual soil is, stopping at the “Well, I believe in God, so I am a Christian” line.  Saying it and living by it are two totally different things.  It’s not enough if we don’t choose to live by God’s word, and I don’t mean just the parts that individuals choose to agree with.  We need to live by all of it.
     Let’s look back at the types of spiritual soils that Jesus speaks about in this parable (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8).  First, you have the seeds falling on the path only to be picked clean by the birds.  Hearing and believing the word and yet Satan, in the form of people around us, takes it away, showing desires instead.  At this point, Jesus’s teaching is totally ignored.  All that the person cares about are worldly desires and pleasures.  They worry about sounding “judgmental” when they are just following God’s rulebook.  They worry more about offending their friends, not caring that they are offending God in the process.  The word of God takes a dangerous second place.
     Second, there is the rocky terrain…and a very popular situation.  The word is read and received, even practiced.  However, it is short lived.  People revert back to their old, unwise habits.  After that, the word withers away from the heart and dies.  Being all gung-ho at the beginning, only to take a noncommitting standpoint, won’t win any popularity points in the divine realm.  God asks for our commitment.  He expects it, if we choose to follow Him and want to enter the kingdom. 
     Next, the seed that falls among the thorns.  People allow the worries of the world to overcome.  If they aren’t worried about financial situations, then they worry about their jobs.  If not the jobs, then they worry about family.  If not family, they are worried about fitting in with society.  Some of this leads to stress, others just lead to lack of making God a priority.  The older I get, I realize that life works a lot better when I stop trying to take control over my life, rather than allowing God to control it.  I think a majority of us can say the same thing. 
     Finally, you have the good soil.  The word is read and received.  It is not cast aside over time.  A Christian understands the need for ongoing study.  The thirst for knowledge and wisdom that the bible gives us.  A holy hunger to feed our spirits, which need constant sustenance.  To make a commitment for life.  At the point that we stumble, we pick ourselves up and try that much harder. 
     So, what is the solution?  Will our good soil get thorns now and then?  Sure, so we clear them away, immediately.  Will our soil have birds that try to steal the seed?  They will try.  It is up to us to drive the birds away, that want to divert our attention away from God’s word.  What about the rocks?  Toss those away.  Anything that will not allow God’s word to grow strong, deep roots, need to be cleared away.  It can be done.  For those around us, trying to influence us away from reading the message in the bible, why not try to influence them WITH the word?  If they mean that much to you, shouldn’t their soul be even more important?
     What spiritual soil are you living in right now?  If it’s not the good soil, what are you going to do to improve it?
     Think about it.

Life Lessons from a Chunk of Wood

     “The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, ‘Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you.’  Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel.  But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.  Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?’ declares the Lord. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.”  Jeremiah 18:1-6

     I remember when I was working a special woodcraft project, back when I was working with my pyrography (wood-burning) art and everything was looking great...until I began the shading portion of this wood burning art.  The shade was coming out all wrong, hoping it would look more as it did in my previous project, but different type of wood reacts differently and the damage was done. I could have trashed that piece and started over.  Why?  The wood is still good!  I can still use it!  After a great effort with my palm sander, I managed to erase the work and start anew, differently.  After all, I want this to look perfect and now I know what not to do.
     The fact of the matter was that I couldn't quite remove all of what was done to it.  There were still remnants now permanently part of the wood. It would be part of my reworked art.  Maybe not so much noticeable to those who will see the completed work, but I will see it.  Those imperfections will remain part of the completed work.
      You see, in our lives, we make mistakes that are permanently part of us.  You can't say, "that's past and forgotten."  It stays with us.  It becomes a permanent part of us.  Now, God could toss us aside and start over, but why??  Aren't we able to be reworked?  So, He guides us, cleanses us from what has stained our lives (through repentance of the heart).  We may look more presentable to those that we may tend to hide those imperfections from, but they are still there...part of who and what we are now.  You can take those flaws and turn them into your strengths or, simply say, "it's in the past, so what," and fall into those same traps again.  
     What should the Woodcrafter do then?  Toss you aside, since you don't seek the potential of what's still inside of you?  Or should you show Him that you still have something to work with?  Something that can be turned into a beautiful piece of divine art...?

The Power

 

 

  "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7

     Imagine what you will, and you can have it.

 

      What if you were given the power to have whatever you want, and it's yours? All you had to do was THINK it.  Sounds exciting, right? One of my favorite novels, and movie, Sphere looks at just such an opportunity. What this novel shows us is that it isn’t as simple, or as glorious as it sounds.  We imagine a lot, more than what we’d desire.          

     Most of what we imagine is horrific because our subconscious mind takes over, constantly. Our fears enter our minds via words or suggestions; and it overrules our thoughts. Instead of manifesting something good, we create something terrifying.  We are consumed by fear.  

     No doubt, at this point in reading, you have received an image or thought, of something that frightens you.  Just my mentioning it has caused it. It could have been brief but, you thought of it.  Do you see how simple it is to manifest a fear?   If you had the before mentioned power, you would have created it, just now. Scary to think about? It scares me.  Let’s face it, most people would LOVE to find that genie in a bottle; if you are not careful, you will regret what you ask for.    

     We are missing a power that God knows we can control but, often reject. Acts 1:8 tells us that we will "receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you..."  Trouble is: people don't seek that power. The power of self-control. The power to make good of every situation God gives you. Why don't they? It's easier than receiving a power to manifest your thoughts because, it's the power to make the right choices. We can't hide the fact that a certain dark, nightmarish lingers in parts of our brain that we consciously try to ignore. We can, however, have the power to let the light within us prevail.  Instead of allowing our own feeling of inadequacies to pull us down, we allow God to hold us up and support us in everything.  Does the phrase “we are more than conquerors” ring a bell?

      You have the best power that can be given.  Start using it!

 

 

The Lord is my Compass

     “Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.  Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”  Matthew 9:35-38


     “Like sheep without a shepherd…”  Sheep are not the brightest of animals…not by a long shot.  Have you ever observed them?  I have.  Mostly, they stay close to the rest of the herd.  You’ll still find those that easily wander away from the rest and have to be coaxed back in.  Do you remember the parable of the lost sheep? (Luke 15).  Yes, they are prone to getting lost, easily.  I look at them and they just appear to be mindless creatures, to be nudged along and driven.  They would truly be in trouble without a shepherd nearby.  They need someone that is being mindful.  Someone that is paying attention to everything.  Someone who can account for every single one of them and knows when one has strayed away from the herd. 
     While we are not as mindless as sheep, do you wonder why we are compared to them?  Same reason.  No matter how intelligent or focused we are, without our Shepherd, we are just wandering around, with no sense of direction.  No purpose of belonging.  For that, I am thankful that “The Lord is my Shepherd” and I am truly without want, when He is near.  Though I am a very deep-minded person, grounded with maintaining a sense of purpose, I am just lost and walking without a path to follow.  I am like a bird that has lost its ability to navigate via the earth’s magnetic field.  I would be no better than a bad that could no longer use echolocation, or “sonar”, for sense of direction.  The Lord is my very own, personal GPS!  I need Him to navigate!  Plain and simple.
     Now, I still like the “old school GPS”.  You know, that thing called a compass.  I utilize one every time I am out on a hiking trip.  I’m not a natural with it, I admit; however, I like the practice that I get from using it.  The more that I use it, the better I get with it.  The same is said of the “compass” that God gives to us.  We just need to open it up, read it, utilize it, and we can become more proficient with it.  Only then will it be easier to stay on course, to keep from getting lost, like a sheep.
     Let God be your Shepherd.  He will search for you, should you get lost, and bring you back in His arms.  Use the compass that is His Word, to guide you and keep you on the pathway that God has set before you.

Fair Winds and Following Seas

     “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John 1:14

 

     “And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.” – excerpt from John Masefield’s poem Sea Fever

 
     Yes, I wonder what it must have been like to traverse the expansive oceans with nothing more than the winds to power my vessel and the stars guiding my way.  No steam or other powered engines.  No fancy GPS to figure out where I am.  Nothing more than what the earth gives me to use.  Through the hardship of the work, also comes the tranquil moments; the smell of the fresh, salty air and seeing millions of stars on a clear night.  Skills and faith to get me to where I’m going.  Does that sound good to you?  It does to me!
     We have been given the North Star, by way of God’s Word, given through His Son.  Our spiritual compass to guide us through the stormy and calm seas of life.  He instructs us on what to do when the waves become overbearing and the tempest stirs.  He shows us how to make the most of each crosswinds, taking advantage of it to push us forward on our voyage.  He trains us on how to handle each possible situation that comes along, so that we will not waver when moments of potential disaster strike. 
     As those maritime sailors of long ago, we can set sail upon the waters of life; continuing to hone and perfect our skills, so that we may be stronger after weathering the stormy seas.  With God being our guide, there are no oceans that we cannot traverse.  There is no gale that can cause us to panic.  We are in control of our emotions, and we will sail our vessels with confidence and faith in our divine Master and Commander.

The No-Sweat Plan

   “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will take care of itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Matthew 6:33-34

     Is anyone thinking of the lyrics of Bobby McFerrin’s rendition of Don’t Worry, Be Happy, right about now?  In my case, that would be the lyrics of the country band Alabama singing, “We don’t sweat the small stuff.”  It continues to be easier to SAY not to worry, than it is to actually DO it.  I don’t think that we could really call ourselves decent, loving family people if we didn’t have are share of worries.  I don’t have any children of my own yet, I worry about my friends’ children and what kind of world that they will be forced to fill our shoes in, with paths of corruption being accepted, basic morals no longer practiced, and leaving our kids’ spiritual growth to others. 

     I have plenty on my mind to worry about.  I worry about my medical condition.  I worry about finances.  There is plenty to keep me on the “worry train”.  However, I keep hearing God’s voice, telling me, “Hey, don’t sweat the small stuff.  I’ve got this under control.”  So, while I work to find solutions, as God very much expects me to do, I don’t allow myself to wallow around the “pity pool”.  It isn’t healthy, for one thing.  Second, worrying simply means that I am not giving myself and my problems completely over to God, to manage.  All I need is a faith the size of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20, Luke 17:6).  Just enough to fill that tiniest of seeds.  A seed which flourishes into an enormous tree. 
     Does that mean that I am to sit idle and do nothing?  Of course not!  Even though I see people doing this on a regular basis, God will not drop that million-dollar lottery ticket into your hands.  You didn’t work for it, nor did you earn it; therefore, you don’t deserve it.  Many just squander it to the point that they become bankrupt.  Others, they just give it to charities so the money is in the hands of those that truly need it.  Yet, day after day, people hope to become overnight millionaires.  Where does their faith lie?  In money!  Money cures all things right?
     As Matthew 6:24 states, “You cannot serve God and wealth.”  God will not answer our financial problems with a quick-fix.  However, having that small amount of unwavering faith, God WILL NOT let us be in need.  He wants us to put forth the effort and good will come of it. The apostle Paul warns us, in his letter to the church of Thessalonica, to not be idle (2 Thessalonians 3:6-12).  The bottom line is:  God expects us to give everything our best effort and let him take care of the rest.

     Don’t sweat the small stuff.  God can handle our burdens much better than we can!

A Mountainside Lesson

     “When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.  He opened His mouth and began to teach them…”  Matthew 5:1-2

     If I were able to travel in time, I would want to be sitting on the Mount of Olives as Jesus began to teach what came to be known as His Sermon on the Mount.  A lover of nature, I would relish being out in that setting, hearing a lesson from the Teacher, to top it off!  I couldn’t think of a better way to start the day.  I would be glued to every word, like an eager child, begging to hear more and more.  Every time I read those passages, I picture myself sitting there, actually hearing Jesus’s voice as He began speaking, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth….”  (Matthew 5:3-5)

     This was the One that had just recently spent forty days fasting and then was tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11).  The Son that had John baptize Him, when He did not need to have this act performed (Matt. 3:13-17), to show how important it was for people to follow this commandment.  The same that had come across some fisherman and told them to leave their boats, nets, and livelihood behind to follow Him (Matt. 4:18-23).  Don’t you think that someone like that deserves to be heard?  I’d think so!

     Jesus covered a lot of ground, in the following two chapters.  He speaks of being disciples that are not afraid to be heard, standing up for their Father (5:13-20).  He tells us how to handle our relationships with others (5:21-48), and teaching us the importance of prayer and giving (chapter 6).  I could go on and on but, take some time to read these chapters, for yourself.  Let Jesus’s message fill your hearts today and spread those words to others.