A few years ago, while travelling with a friend in Central Turkey, I saw something that caused me to stop in my tracks. We had just left the ancient Hittite capital of Hattusa, an amazing UNESCO World Heritage listed site covered in ruins from around 2000 to 1000 years BC—possibly from before the time of Moses. As we walked back to the village where we were staying, we noticed a farmer in a nearby field doing something that seemed to come straight from the pages of the Bible. He was walking slowly across his ploughed ground, scattering seeds by hand from a large bag he wore across his body, just as his ancestors had no doubt done for centuries.
I thought of that Turkish man as I planted some seeds of my own a few days ago. My seeds came from a friend’s pretty, flowering plants called ‘four o’clocks’ which I was assured will grow anywhere. This sounded good to me. After all, anything would be better than the weeds currently thriving in my garden! So with great hope and optimism, I took my bag of seeds, cleared out those weeds and poked in one seed after another wherever there was a spare spot. I had no idea how deep I should plant them—but in they went anyway. Surely with so many, at least a few will make it?
Alas, I suspect some of my seeds at least will meet a similar fate to the ones Jesus talks about in Luke 8. I suspect in my awkward scrambles around our garden, a few were dropped and trodden on—maybe even to be eaten by the birds that feast on the grevilleas nearby. I also suspect some were planted too near or even on top of the rocks that line the terraces in our backyard, so will never germinate. As for some falling among thorns and weeds that will choke the life out of them—well, that’s the most likely fate of all in my garden. But … but just maybe some will land on good soil and produce a myriad of pretty bright red and yellow flowers in the cooler, late afternoon air around four o’clock each day. Then as their seed forms and drops, even more flowers will spring up and fill my garden. And I will be so delighted!
I wonder how God feels as he watches how the precious seeds of his very own words fare in our lives (Lk 8:11)? I wonder if God grieves when so many fall by the wayside and disappear or bounce off our hard hearts like some of my round seeds did off those rocks in my garden? I wonder if God longs for the weeds and mess in our lives to be cleared out so his words can take root and flourish? And I wonder if God claps his hands in delight when he sees those first small green shoots appear and flourish in our lives, to be followed by beautiful blossoms or sweet fruits that give joy to others and sustain them along the way?
How patient our God the perfect gardener is, always planting those precious seeds in our hearts, faithfully speaking to us, never giving up on us, loving us to the end!
[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Cor 13:7-8
Wonderful message Jo-Anne and so True, good seeds planted in a solid foundation of God’s Truth as The Holy Spirit empowers us, will always bring an abundance of good fruit – Galatians5:22-25
God knows those who are His and we are never alone unless we choose to be and until we have come to heart repentance, our flesh is put to death and we are perfected in Love, in the image of Jesus, He may need to rescue us too but He tells us He will be with us His redeemed Children through all the Storms that life brings and that they are not by His hand ( see below) and yes as you shared, His plans for us are very good.
Isaiah 43:1-3 – Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.”
Jeremiah 29 :11-12 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Lamentations 3: 33 For He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
Christian Love – Anne.
Hi Anne
Thanks for your lovely encouraging comments once again. I particularly love those words from both Isaiah 43 and Jeremiah 29 you have quoted–I speak on them quite a bit. We have a wonderful God, don’t we? God bless.
I would value your prayers Jo-Anne my Mum phoned to let me know my Brother is in hospital fighting for his life, his kidneys are failing and our little furry friend Monty is also very sick and in a animal hospital, all in one day, I commented a few times but it is hard to focus, I should do a Post and ask for prayer but I’m feeling a bit lost, please pray I’m very worried, Alfred is not a Christian but I hope he remembers what we have shared with him over the years even if he rejected it at the time.
My little Monty was so scared when we left him with the Vet, he is so gentle and loving, he just did not understand.
Thanks, I have asked some others to pray too – Christian Love Anne
That’s all really hard for you, Anne. I will certainly pray for your brother, that he will remember the words you have spoken to him and that God will touch his heart and even heal him. And I understand how important pets are as well, so I will be remembering you with your Monty so sick as well. God comfort and bless.
Thank you so much for your prayers Jo – Anne, wonderful news as you can see from the link below, Ron will share more about Monty tomorrow… Our God is an Awesome God indeed.
Blog Post – http://freedomborn.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/thank-you-for-your-prayers/
Christian Love from both of us – Anne
We really appreciated your prayers Jo – Anne and it’s wonderful news as you can see from the link below, Ron will share more about Monty tomorrow… Our God is an Awesome God indeed.
Blog Post – http://freedomborn.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/thank-you-for-your-prayers/
Thank you again – Christian Love from both of us – Anne
P.S I would like to include you on my Blogroll with your permission Jo-Anne
Hi Anne
So good to hear the very positive news about both Alfred and Monty! That’s wonderful! Prayer sure is a very powerful weapon. And of course I’m happy for you to include me on your blogroll, Anne–I’m honoured! I could also do that for you on my blog, if you’re happy with that, as soon as I get a moment to do it. I have lots of speaking engagements at the moment, but I’ll make a note about it. God bless!
Hi Jo – Anne I would also feel blessed to be on your Blogroll and I’m very pleased I can include yours on mine.
I think I was not using the reply to your comment before, so perhaps that is why I have not been receiving them, I will do so in future.
I will be in touch soon – Christian Love – Anne
You’re on my blog roll now, Anne, at the side of my blog! God bless