Category: God’s Promises

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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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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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Prayer Works

This morning I want to continue on with yesterday’s teaching on prayer. I have had people tell me, “Kristi I pray but you just never know what God is going to do”.

If that’s your attitude on prayer let me share some Scriptures that will give you a greater confidence in your prayer life.

“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.” I John 5:14-15 NLT

Here is the biggest key to answered prayer. Asking for those things that we know please the Father. I can hear you asking, “Ok, so how do I know what pleases Him?”.

When we ask for things that He has already promised us in His word we know that those requests will be answered in the affirmative.

“ If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.” James 1:5-8 NLT

Do you need wisdom? Ask for it and be assured that God will give it to you. Do you need strength? Then ask for it because He has promised that we can do all things through Him who gives us strength.

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 NLT

Jesus gave his disciples specific instructions on prayer. “Our Father”.

“Our Father in heaven,
    may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
    as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,
12 and forgive us our sins,
    as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,
    but rescue us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13 NLT

The Father has promised to provide and we can trust Him to do just that. He provides forgiveness, He promises our need for food, clothing and shelter. He promises to give us protection from the works of Satan.

Jesus went on to say in this teaching:

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33 NLT

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 NLT

The Father doesn’t want us asking prompted by selfish ambition but when our eyes are focused on Him and His word He says ask and you will receive.

Yes, prayer works!

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Prayer Warriors

This is one of those rainy nights when I find myself up praying. Praying for those specific needs I know and praying by the Spirit for needs that are beyond my understanding.

First of all, I prayed for myself that I would know God’s will for my life in the day that will break in the next few hours. I prayed that I would be able to minister to you and to others I’ve not yet met.

“‘Be sure you watch. Pray all the time so that you may be able to keep from going through all these things that will happen and be able to stand before the Son of Man.’

37 Everyday Jesus taught in the house of God. At night He went to the Mount of Olives and stayed there. 38 Early in the morning all the people came to the house of God to hear Him.” Luke 21:36-38 NLV

We all face difficulties. None of us experience the troubles, defamation, and persecution that Jesus did. He is our example of a prayer warrior. Notice the verse above says he went to the Mount of Olives at night – everyone else went home but He went to the mountain top to pray. He lived what the Apostle Paul wrote.

“Never stop praying. 18 In everything give thanks. This is what God wants you to do because of Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:17-18 NLV

The role of a prayer warrior isn’t glamorous. Every follower of Christ is commissioned to it, it’s our calling.

“You must pray at all times as the Holy Spirit leads you to pray. Pray for the things that are needed. You must watch and keep on praying. Remember to pray for all Christians.” Ephesians 6:18 NLV

The Old Testament prophet Elijah was a man of prayer. He prayed and the dead were raised. He prayed and the Lord sent him to a widow woman and her son during time of drought and he saw their provisions miraculously sustained. He prayed and God held back the rain for 3 1/2 years. He prayed and God sent fire from heaven to consume a sacrifice, proving to the unbelievers that our God was the only true God. Then he prayed again and the rain returned.

These instances weren’t the work of a super saint, but they were the outpouring of God on behalf of a man, a man like us, who believed God and prayed.

“The prayer given in faith will heal the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Tell your sins to each other. And pray for each other so you may be healed. The prayer from the heart of a man right with God has much power. 17 Elijah was a man as we are. He prayed that it might not rain. It did not rain on the earth for three and one-half years. 18 Then he prayed again that it would rain. It rained much and the fields of the earth gave fruit.” James 5:15-18 NLV

Never think your prayers don’t mean much. When you are praying for others and for your own needs, much power is released.

Thank you to all who have accepted the calling of the prayer warrior!

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Delighted

A few days back the morning blog was about being a light of hope and encouragement to the world. That’s what Jesus wants us to be.

Be delightful. That word was fresh in my mind this morning.

You see yesterday I had some much-needed dental work done. I had a tooth that required a crown. The appointment had been scheduled and rescheduled several times for the last four months. I was not looking forward to it but the dental technician, Lisa, was a delight.

She was cheery, genuine, concerned about my wellbeing and her focus was completely on me and meeting my needs. I would love to say I talked to her about the Lord but since her fingers were in my mouth the majority of the three hours I was there, I did very little talking.

As I said, she was a delight. That’s what I was thinking about this morning, how to be delightful. Her demeanor put me at ease. It made me smile.

By definition, delight means: a high degree of gratification: JOY; also: extreme satisfaction: something that gives great pleasure.

According to the book of Psalms I am to delight in the Lord. He becomes my joy – He brings me a high degree of gratification and gives me great pleasure. And, when I delight in Him I can bring that pleasure to those around me. I like that.

“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” Psalm 1:1-3 NLT

We should fill our days being delightful. We do that by focusing on the promises of God’s word. Do you remember a time when you were promised something special? You focused on that promise, and it made you happy – you were delighted.

That’s a crude example but our heavenly Father wants us to keep our focus on the promises of His word. His promises never fail because He never lies. We can trust Him – we can delight in Him.

“Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. 5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” Psalm 37:3-5 NLT

When we delight in the Lord we find great satisfaction and joy in being with Him. When we delight in the Lord we bring His light and joy to the world.

“ Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” Romans 12:10 NLT

Be delightful!

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I’m Hungry!

Those of you who have small children or grandchildren know those words all too well. They can be annoying sometimes because it seems all we are doing is finding another snack or making another meal. But those words come naturally to a growing child.

We just had the littles here and it seemed they were always hungry!

They ate good breakfast, lunch and dinner but in less than an hour it seemed they were hungry again. They didn’t want sugary snacks. No, they asked for cheese, crackers, oranges, yogurt (I didn’t have any) and other good foods. These are growing children and they need nutrients to make their bodies strong.

I kind of felt like a mother bird bringing in nourishment to the nest only to immediately fly away and find more. That’s the picture that comes to mind when I read this verse from the book of Matthew.

“Those who are hungry and thirsty to be right with God are happy, because they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 NLV

Being hungry for God! What do those words mean to you? These words are part of the “Sermon on the Mount”. It was one of Jesus’ major teachings – the Beatitudes, the Lord’s Prayer, the Light of the World -are all teachings from that day.

We sit down several times a day to feed our physical bodies but how often do we feed our spirits? It’s vitally important that we have a hunger for God’s word.

Look what Proverbs says:

“Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. 11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you on the right paths. 12 When you walk, your steps will not be stopped. If you run, you will not trip. 13 Take hold of teaching. Do not let go. Watch over her, for she is your life.” Proverbs 4:10-13 NLV

When we devour God’s word He promises to guard our step. Wisdom from His word gives us direction and we find our life, real life, in the pages of His word.

Studying God’s word is like being invited to a banquet. The Word of God is the life source for those of us who follow Christ.

“The Lord says, “If you love me and truly know who I am, I will rescue you and keep you safe.
15 When you are in trouble, call out to me. I will answer and be there to protect and honor you. 16 You will live a long life and see my saving power.” Psalm 91:14-16 CEV

To truly know who God is, we have to spend time listening to Him and He speaks to us through His word. His word is filled with the promises of all the good things He desires for us to have.

He’s a loving Father and has so many good things prepared for us. He’s just waiting for us come and say, “I’m hungry”. When we do, we have His promise that we will be filled!

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Are We Satisfied?

Who was it that decided we should have new year resolutions? Why did the first week of the year become a time of evaluating our level of satisfaction with our personal status quo?

I’m not sure who it was or how it came about but I do know that this is something the Father has designed for us. When we find that we are unsatisfied it’s time for a change, no point in waiting until the first of the year.

What we’re looking at here isn’t a change in careers, lifestyle, locations or social activities. No, it’s a new focus and dependence on the Father and His word. It seems that all of my systematic reading through both the Old & New Testaments this morning brought to the source of true satisfaction.

Read these verses and let them speak for themselves.

“He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”” Psalm 91:15-16 NKJV

“Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. 15 Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. 16 Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory.” Psalm 90:14-16 NLT

“The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. 14 The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. 15 The eyes of all look to you in hope;
you give them their food as they need it. 16 When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. 17 The Lord is righteous in everything he does;
he is filled with kindness.” Psalm 145:13-17 NLT

God’s desire is that we be satisfied with Him and in Him. When we place our trust in the Father, letting Him lead and direct the course of our lives we will be satisfied because His will and purpose is for our good.

He is gracious, kind, ready to restore and give hope.

“God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.” Matthew 5: 6 NLT

“I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. ” Luke 6:47-48 NLT

It seems that our world is in the midst of a pandemic – no, not COVID but an outbreak of discontentment and dissatisfaction. It can be as destructive as a tidal wave. But when we have our lives built securely on God’s word we rest on a secure foundation.

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10 NLT

We all need to identify those issues that rob our satisfaction, search God’s word for the solutions and trust Him to bring us to a place of a long and satisfying life.

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As We Begin

In the beginning…a New Year, a blank slate, a clean page, a new horizon, a fresh start. How many more clichés can I come up with? You get the point.

Does this year start any differently than those in the past? High expectations are easily replaced by disappointment unless the beginning has a solid foundation.

God is the master of beginnings.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 KJV

“In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God.” John 1:1 CEV

The best way to start this new year is to have God in your beginning! God the Father and His creative power is here to fill your beginning. And God the Son, Jesus, the Word, is here as our example of what life is like when we depend upon the Father.

Oh and one more verse.

“But the Holy Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you.

27 I give you peace, the kind of peace only I can give. It isn’t like the peace this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid.” John 14:26-27 CEV

The Holy Spirit comes to remind us of what the Jesus taught us about our relationship with the Father. That relationship will bring us peace and freedom from worry. Our heavenly Father desires for us to be worry free. The angels who announced the birth of Jesus said, “Fear not”. The angel who came to both Mary and Joseph first said, “don’t be afraid”. When the storm came up on the sea and the disciples thought they would drown Jesus said, “fear not”.

When God works in our lives He brings peace, not fear.

What a great way to begin this year and it’s a great way to walk through each day. In the beginning is God and He promises to bring us peace.

Happy New Year!

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