Category: Month

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Did I Say That?

A new day – a clean slate! What we write on it will impact the people we love and even those that we have a casual association with.

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

As a mother and as a kid, I heard and said “Watch what you say!” An admonishment I didn’t always follow and so my mother made sure that there were consequences for those improprieties. We learn to discern what are the right and wrong things to say and when to say them. But as important as the words we speak are the meditations of the heart.

What do we dwell on? The word meditate paints a picture of a cow chewing her cud; in the same way we meditate by going over and over things in our minds. So if we want to say the right things we need to be thinking on right things. That’s what Jesus told his followers.

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

Our thoughts and our meditations will direct our lives and can bring us to a successful place or a place of turmoil. Think on what is good today.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9

When we keep our thoughts focused on the Lord we won’t have any trouble with our words.

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Motherless Child

This morning I woke up feeling heavy hearted. To be truthful, it can be a hard calling to walk in.

I’ve been sitting here in the dark for the better part of an hour praying. Praying for those who feel helpless and alone. Praying for friends that I know battle with depression, as I once did. Praying for those who realize that their marriage is over and the family they have fought for so many years is crumbling.

Praying for those who have heard that a loved one is dying and their passing is eminent. Some went to bed hungry last night, others faced the destruction of war and some feel that no one cares, no one even knows who they are.

“Sometime I feel
Like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel
Like a motherless child
And sometimes I feel
Like a motherless child
A long…long way…from home” sung by John Legend

My heart breaks!

Maybe as you have read the last few paragraphs the names and faces of family, friends and acquaintances have come to mind. May I encourage you to stop right now and pray. The Father wants us to be ready to be used.

Years ago, I got up in the middle of the night crying. I was crying for a friend’s daughter, I didn’t know why but I knew I needed to keep praying until the Lord gave me a release that things would be okay. Later I found out she had stolen a car, was involved in an accident and had tried to take her life.

Another time I was driving a piece of farm equipment and just started praying, out loud, for a friend and her family. I didn’t know why. I didn’t have phone service and neither did she but when we saw each other again I told her what had happened. It was at the precise time that they were rushing her three-year-old son to the hospital in ambulance with an unknown life-threatening illness.

And probably the most unique call to prayer was when I woke from a dream. There was a little girl from India in my dream, in the dirt streets with no food, no parents, no one to care. I prayed for her for the next hour. I honestly believe that one day I will see her in heaven.

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” Matthew 25:37-40 NLT

Never take your heart’s cry to pray as trivial. The Father wants to use you to reach out and touch the world with His love and power.

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Falling In Love

Last night in moments of nostalgia, Dave and I discussed old friends and acquaintances, wondering where they were and how their lives had turned out. We talked of childhood friends and wondered if they remembered us with the same kindnesses as we remember them.

Dave asked me if I had any regrets for things I had done or dreams I didn’t pursue. Although there are a few, I really wouldn’t want to go back and do them over. I would be concerned that I might make the wrong choices again or even worse ones.

I am so thankful for God’s grace! His grace is truly one where He forgives, removes our shame and then forgets our past, never holding us in bondage to a guilty conscience.

“And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:21-22 NLT

There is one thing I would do again; it was a favorite time for me. Times of faith building and relying on the Father’s goodness for every need.

It was a time when we brought ranchers and farmers together on a Friday night or Sunday morning or even those weekend long gatherings. We would worship, study and grow together in the love of Jesus.

A song we use to sing in Cowboy Church was “I keep falling in love with Him over and over and over and over again. He gets sweeter and sweeter as the days so by – oh, what a love between my Lord and I; I keep falling in love with Him over and over and over and over again.”

This has been my daily ambition. Falling in love with Him and getting to know the depth of His love for me. That’s what the Apostle Paul prayed for Christians nearly 2000 years ago when He wrote these verses. It is my prayer for you today.

“ I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:16-19 NLT

May you experience the depth of the love of Christ and the complete fullness and power of life in God.

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A Perpetual Harvest

I made mention yesterday that I don’t know how many bales of hay Dave and I produced while we were farming those few years in AZ. I kind of wish we had kept count. It was a staggering amount.

It was all about the good river loam soil and the type of alfalfa seed that was used.

Our specific alfalfa fields were planted by air. The seed was broadcast and then watered. When the growing season was just getting started, we would water twice and cut right before the alfalfa bloomed. This took about 28 days but when the weather got hotter, and the crop grew quicker we would cut every 21 days. We didn’t stop until we got the first frost which was normally the end of December or first part of January and would start again in March.

Alfalfa can continue to grow like that for seven years without being replanted. We would have a perpetual harvest. Rain or shine, it just kept growing and producing a crop.

“Jesus also said, ‘The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. 28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. 29 And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.’” Mark 4:26-29 NLT

I could physically watch the alfalfa grow. It was fascinating. Day after day the crop increased. It was a living example of the way God’s word will grow and produce in my life.

“The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.” Mark 4:14 NLT

God’s word has been planted in my heart. His word about peace and not worry has produced an abundant crop. Seeds of grace, kindness, goodness, generosity, faith, hope, forgiveness and joy are producing.

All of these verses that were planted through teaching, preaching and individual study keep growing and making an impact.

“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 12 I praise you, O Lord;
teach me your decrees.” Psalm 119:11-12 NLT

Each day as I share these moments with you, I know I am planting seed and I pray that it is falling on good ground.

“ The rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there without giving water to the earth. This makes plants grow on the earth, and gives seeds to the planter and bread to the eater. 11 So My Word which goes from My mouth will not return to Me empty. It will do what I want it to do, and will carry out My plan well. ” Isaiah 55:10-11 NLV

I pray that you will always have a perpetual harvest of God’s word in your life.

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The Seed and The Soil

I’d like to end the teachings on the seed and the soil this morning with a couple more thoughts.

All of Scripture and the teachings of Jesus can be summed up as seed. Every one’s reaction to God’s word is soil and the seed being planted comes from hearing and what we do with what we hear.

“So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” Romans 10:17 NLT

Not being affected by what we hear is seed falling on hard ground; quick growth with no long-lasting results is seed falling on rocky ground; getting offended by the Word that is heard and distracted by riches and worries is a result of seed falling on thorny ground but seed that brings a harvest comes when we embrace the Word of God and put it into practice.

At one time or another my heart has been like every kind of soil. Ample seed and good soil result in a bumper crop.

I want to go back to two of our examples of good soil from yesterday. They are found in Luke 8, the woman with the bleeding condition and the father with the sick daughter. The woman had been weakened by her condition for 12 years. She had spent all she had and gotten no better, hope was all but gone and then she heard of Jesus, a man who did miracles.

She heard and she planted those seeds of the message of healing deep in her heart. She heard and she ventured out to find and touch Jesus. She knew if she could just get to Him, if she could just touch Him, she would be healed. The seed planted, grew and produced a harvest.

“…The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed.” Luke 8:47b NLT

Jairus, the father, was in the same crowd as the woman. In fact, Jesus was on the way to his house when the woman stopped them. Now, as Jairus waited for Jesus to minister to the woman servants came from his house to say his daughter had died. Jesus was quick to counter their report.

“But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.” Luke 8:50 NLT

Jesus pulled out the thorns of worry that were ready to choke the seed of faith and stop the harvest of healing that Jairus needed for his daughter. Thorns were removed and harvest came.

“…’Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.’ 53 But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. 54 Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, ‘My child, get up!’ 55 And at that moment her life returned,” Luke 8:52-55 NLT

Daily I plant the seeds of God’s word in my heart and daily I’m confronted with opportunities to let it lay dormant, make a momentary impact, be stolen by worry and life’s busyness or to allow it to grow.

God’s word never fails but my application of it can. I ask you to join me in making a renewed commitment to let the seed of God’s word grow in the soil of our hearts and produce a great harvest.

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Bumper Crop

I hope you will bear with me as we continue with the teaching on good soil. You see that’s something that Dave and I know a lot about.

In the early 1980’s we farmed 900+ acres of alfalfa on the Gila River west of Phoenix. The ranch had perfect conditions for growing a bumper crop. Rich river loam soil, plenty of water and the warm AZ sunshine. That plus hard work, long hours all covered with prayer produced a crop that was hard to believe.

That’s when I learned first-hand the practicality of the principle Jesus was teaching His disciples on planting God’s word in good soil.

God’s word is called an incorruptible seed, our hearts are the soil and Jesus provides the “Son-shine” and rivers of living water to make the seed grow.

“And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.” Luke 8:15 NLT

“You have been given a new birth. It was from a seed that cannot die. This new life is from the Word of God which lives forever.” I Peter 1:23 NLV

“The Holy Writings say that rivers of living water will flow from the heart of the one who puts his trust in Me.” John 7:38 NLV

Jesus worked continually to bring seed to the hearts of the people who followed Him. He would teach for hours and days to see that the seed of the Good News of the Gospel was planted in soil (hearts) that had been prepared to receive.

He encountered hard, stony and even thorny ground among his closest disciples but the longer he tended the soil of their hearts the more productive it became. The harvest in the life of the disciples was so productive that the seed sown is being used to produce a crop of faith in our lives.

Let’s look at what happened after Jesus preached this message. Luke 8:22-25 the thorny hearts of the disciples thought they were going to drown at sea. Luke 8:26-38 the good soil of the demoniac received his deliverance, but the hard heart of the pig farmers told Jesus to leave their area.

Luke 8:40-56 the seed of hope and healing was sown into the hearts of a woman who had a bleeding condition for 12 years and also in a father whose daughter was so sick she died. Both hearts reaped a harvest of healing and restoration.

Luke 9:1-6 the disciples’ hearts received the seed of God’s power and they went to the neighboring towns and cities preaching and healing.

Luke 9:10-17 Jesus was sowing seed in the lives of 5000 men and their families. Their hearts were prepared however, the hearts of the disciples were thorny and they let the size of the crowd steal the word, the seed, that Jesus gave them. But there was one boy whose heart was open and he shared his lunch with Jesus. Jesus prayed, the disciples served and a miraculous harvest took place.

Jesus was, and still is, the sower who sows the seeds of faith into the fields of our hearts. As we prepared our hearts, His seed will produce a bumper crop!

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Watch Out for Thorns

We’ll continue on with our study from Luke 8. I hope you were able to read the verses I mentioned yesterday. Luke 8:1-15.

Each time I’ve planted a garden there have always been conditions with the soil. My first garden was in soil that was hard and unforgiving. It had to be soaked constantly so the seeds could grow.

Then there was the garden in Idaho. It was a big, beautiful garden and Dave used a rototiller to prepare the soil, but he had to do it carefully because there were so many rocks under the surface. (That’s when I learned why some homes are called fieldstones.)

The Montana garden also had poor soil, but it had another problem too. Varmits! I think I would have rather had thorns in my garden than the rodents.

My last garden in southern AZ was the best but the ground had to be worked the most. It was a sticky, clay type soil with rocks. I screened all the dirt to get out the rocks, small and large. Once that was done, I mixed bags and bags of processed garden soil mix in with it. My plants loved it and they thrived.

Soil prep is key to a good harvest. Jesus knew that!

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.” Luke 8:11-15 NLT

Shortly after Jesus had finished this teaching, He told the disciples to get in the boat and go to the other side of the lake. Jesus laid down to take a nap. A storm came up and they thought they were going to drown. They woke Jesus!

“When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” Luke 8:23-24 NLT

Jesus had just told them that the Word of God was the seed He was sowing and the devil would come immediately try to steal it. God’s word to the disciples had been “let’s go to the other side”, not let’s go halfway across and drown.

Jesus’ question regarding their faith was legitimate – he could have asked why the seed fell on thorny ground. Why did they let the cares of life choke out the Word?

Many times, I have had to recognize the thorny cares of life I have allowed to grow and pull them out so God’s word could take root. How about you?

It’s important that we protect the seed!

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Preparing the Soil

I have always enjoyed gardening and for the first time in a large number of years I live where I don’t have a garden plot.

For many of you, thinking of gardening is still several months away. I know when we lived in Montana I was advised to not put any plants outdoors until after Memorial Day. In Idaho it was a little sooner than that but not much, end of April. You see the ground was snow covered until then. But here in southern Arizona I started preparing the soil in February, however, this morning it was 33* when I got up.

There are so many stories in the Bible, parables they’re called, that teach us about our life in Christ through farming.

This morning I saw a correlation that I never noticed before and I have taught on the verses in Luke 8 many times. I love how God’s word is living, growing, always able to show us something new.

“After this Jesus went to all the cities and towns preaching and telling the Good News about the holy nation of God. The twelve followers were with Him…Many people came together from every town to Jesus. He told them a picture-story. 5 “A man went out to plant seed…”Luke 8:1-5 NLV

A man went out to plant some seed – that man was Jesus. You notice the first verse, “Jesus went to all the cities and towns preaching the Good News”?

Sharing the Good News of God’s kingdom is what Jesus did. He was the man sowing the seed. He was the one preparing the ground of men’s hearts. Some of the ground was hard as concrete, some was rocky, some was filled with thorns and some ground was prepared and ready to plant.

Now I know most of you are familiar with this parable but I’m going to take the next few days to show you examples of what Jesus taught, examples that occurred in the life of his followers just hours and days after He preached this message.

I would like you to take time today to read at least the first fifteen verses of Luke 8. When you do pray and ask the Lord to open your heart to the meaning of the message of the parable. For the next few days we will be looking at different soil and how it affects our growth.

I had to learn how to adapt the soil in each of the areas where we lived so that I would get a good harvest. Gardening takes work. If the soil isn’t prepared properly crops won’t grow, there will be no harvest.

“I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’” Hosea 10:12 NLT

Being a fruitful Christian also requires good ground. Each year I ask the Lord to show me what obstacles might thwart my growth. It’s time to prepare the soil!

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Surprised by God

Remember a few days back I told you of Elijah, a man like us, who prayed it wouldn’t rain and it didn’t for 3 1/2 years (James 5:17-18). Well today, I’m going to give you some more of his story.

After Elijah told King Ahab that it wouldn’t rain, he hid in the desert. The Lord led him to a brook. There he had plenty of water and ravens would come morning and evening bringing him food to eat.

Elijah wasn’t surprised by God sending ravens with groceries or that He was led to a place where there was still fresh water while the rest of the nation was in drought.

But after a while the brook dried up. The Lord told him to go to a town called Zarephath and there would be a widow who would feed him. When he got to the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks.

This surprised him!

“So he arose and went to Zarephath. Now when he came to the town gate, to his surprise, a widow was there gathering sticks. So he called her and said, ‘Please bring a little water in a jar that I may drink.’ 11 As she was going to fetch it, he called her and said, ‘Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.’” I Kings 17:10-11 TLV

Elijah was a prophet of God. He had seen and done miracles but here when he encountered a woman, whom God told him he would meet, he was surprised. I find that so encouraging!

There have been times in our life that Dave and I have known that God was leading us to a place and when we got “there” we were surprised. Surprised by God’s favor and provision. It was better than we could have imagined.

“Now to Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us, 21 to Him be the glory in the community of believers and in Messiah Yeshua throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 TLV

The “far beyond all that we ask or imagine” is referring to the previous verses that tell us we can know the width, the depth, the length and the height of God’s love.

It was God’s love that sent Elijah to the woman in Zarephath. His love for the widow, her son and for the prophet. His sustaining love.

“…’Now look, I am gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go in and prepare it for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.’ 13 Elijah said to her, ‘Fear not! Go and do as you said, but first make me a little cake from what you have there. Bring it out to me and afterwards, make some for you and for your son.'” verses 12-13 TLV

Once again, we have a story where God steps in and says, “fear not”. God’s plan is one of provision and not lack or fear.  The woman thought she only had enough for one more small meal. But God…

This widow was surprised by the prophet’s words and God’s supply.

“So she went and did according to the word of Elijah—and she and he, and her household ate for many days.” verse 15

Follow the Lord’s leading today – you just may be in for a surprise!

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Bitter Fruit

We have a beautiful orange tree at the back of our lot. The fruit grows large and has a beautiful color but we warn everyone not to pick or eat the fruit.

It’s full of thorns and bitter as medicine.

They are called an ornamental orange, many of them have been planted throughout the Phoenix valley because they look beautiful all year round. But to give you an idea of how bitter the fruit really is even the javelina won’t eat them. Personal experience tells me to leave them alone.

This morning I was focused again on prayer. I remember a time when I was bitterly complaining to the Lord about a situation that just wasn’t right. I may have even used a swear word or too when I was talking to Him.

What a sharp contrast to the words of one of our verses yesterday, “Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done”. There is no room in our relationship with the Lord for bitterness and complaining. He wants us to rid ourselves of this destructive behavior and focus on His goodness and provision.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT

That doesn’t mean that we can’t or don’t come to the Lord when we are upset, angry, heartbroken or even complaining bitterly but what it does mean is that when we leave our prayer time we leave the bitterness and murmuring there. The Father knows our heartaches and disappointments so we can be honest with Him, asking for His help. Taking on an attitude of joy and thanksgiving because we know He has heard us and will intervene in our situation.

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and sing praises to Your name, O Most High. 2 It is good to tell of Your loving-kindness in the morning, and of how faithful You are at night, 3 with harps, and with music of praise. 4 For You have made me glad by what You have done, O Lord. I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands. 5 How great are Your works, O Lord! How deep are Your thoughts!” Psalm 92:1-5 NLV

Murmuring is a lot like that ornamental orange tree. We can disguise it as concern or our desire to correct a wrong, making our complaining and criticism look good on the outside but inwardly there is bitterness.

“The Lord is right and good in all His ways, and kind in all His works. 18 The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. 19 He will fill the desire of those who fear Him. He will also hear their cry and will save them. ” Psalm 145:17-19 NLV

When we pray about the things that bother us or are unjust He hears us and will save us. Our job is to let Him do it in His own way and with His best timing.

Let’s not be like that bitter orange but instead be a sweet fruit of joy.

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