Lately, I’ve been thinking about all the spiritual conversations I could’ve had but didn’t, and therefore, all of the potential life change I could’ve witnessed, but didn’t. The hurts that may never have occurred and the healing that could have, once Jesus got a hold of a person, and then a family, and then a community …
As you can imagine, I found today’s post, sent to me by my friend LoRee Peery, timely. In it, she asks a vital question. In essence, what are we doing with this precious gift of life we’ve been entrusted with?
How Tenaciously Are You Sowing Seeds
by LoRee Peery
I opened the email with today’s post attached. Have you ever asked yourself if you are tenacious in spreading God’s words? Are you familiar with the Parable of the Sower? Those who grew up in the church most likely heard this tale of Jesus told in Sunday school. One of His famous, this parable regards planting seeds and is recorded in Matthew 13:18-23, Mark 4:13-20, and Luke 8:5-15.
The farmer/sower planted seeds in various types of soil: on the road where it was trampled or eaten by birds, on a rock where it withered due to lack of moisture, among thorns where it was choked out. And of course, the seed that thrived in good soil where it produced a hundredfold.
I have a patch of four-foot-tall hybrid tiger lilies that bloom in late July. The gorgeous clusters of drooping orange petals dotted with black spots and fragile middle parts, which I can’t name, are captivating to a creative eye. The original bulbs were planted in rich loamy garden soil, fertilized many years ago by the cattle that grazed where our acreage is now. But the stalk of the plant produces seeds that have dropped and thrived abundantly, sometimes in unbelievable places.
To prevent more lilies from taking root, one year I deadheaded them by plucking off the dark seeds before the floral petals started to fall. Some of the larger seeds had already split and rooted.
Quite a few of the obstinate tiger lily seeds dropped amongst the bigger rocks of a neighboring garden and took root where I don’t want them to grow. Unbelievably, I found them under rocks, on top of the ground cover, sideways, hidden in the dark, without soil. And they grew!!
I discovered piles of seeds anywhere they rolled to the lower contours of the earth, especially under the heaviest rocks. When I saw the sideways, flattened bulbs, with twisted roots spreading and seeking nourishment, I couldn’t help but think of the original black seeds. Those seeds were bound and determined to grow despite opposing forces.
Other biblical seed phrases also came to mind:
Seedtime and harvest, kingdom of heaven like a mustard seed, the seed is the Word of God.
And then I considered seeds I’ve encountered mentally, followed up with cultivating and watering. I’ve had seeds of doubt, seeds of faith, seeds of ideas, and seeds of sins.
By that time, I was more than ready to quit digging the itsy lily bulbs (seeds that had taken root) for the day. Grandma on her knees atop rocks is not a pleasant sight. (It didn’t feel too terrific either.)
I carried the seed of a plan with me as I put away my tools. The remaining orange petals would be done and/or dropped a couple days later. I strategized to cut the stalks so I could get around easier in the tiger lily garden spot. That would enable me to hunker down and pick up black seeds from on top of the soil before they began to bury themselves and take root, and also would give me clear access to bulbs in the fence line.
The thought of seeds wouldn’t leave me. I’m still old-school and have a dictionary tome on one corner of my desk. I dare you to check the various meanings of seeds. Then consider the kinds of word and/or action seeds you’ve dropped, and to whom.
I dare you to pray about those words and actions. There’s a chance bad word seeds need to be dug up long before they can sprout. Also, follow up on the good word seeds (telling others the Good News of Jesus) to full reproduction.
“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones” (1 Thess. 3:12-13, NIV*).
Love Grows
Love is motivation
God so loved,
He created all life
The Lord loves
His love grows
In His people
His love flows
One to another
Love grows Christ-like
God’s love strengthens,
The heart muscle
Becomes more holy
Blameless is the goal
To be Holy in God’s eyes
Motivates life with Jesus.
~~ LoRee Peery
*Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Get to Know LoRee:
Nebraska country girl LoRee Peery writes fiction that hopefully appeals to adult readers who enjoy stories written from a Christian perspective, focusing on the romance. These include novels and novellas for women and men in the Contemporary, Romance, Historical, Time Travel, and Mystery/Suspense categories. She writes of redeeming grace with a sense of place. Her Frivolities Series launched her releases, and the book based on her father’s unsolved homicide, Touches of Time, was a personal relief. She is who she is by the grace of God: Christian, country girl, wife, mother, grandmother and great-, sister, friend, and author. Connect with LoRee at www.loreepeery.com, find her on Facebook, and check out the rest of her titles at Pelican and Amazon.
Check Out Her Highlighted Book:
Talia Ashby is a perfectionistic data analyst who, on occasion, sees her “fat” self when she looks in the mirror. As a svelte former obese girl, she reunites with her secret teen crush, now a pastor in the church she attends.
Cooper Valiant is dazzled upon meeting a high school friend he doesn’t immediately recognize due to her drastic weight loss. Since his sister had an eating disorder, he’d often felt empathy toward Talia as classmates teased and bullied her. In his pastorate position, he asks her to help girls in the youth group come to grips with body-image.
While working with the girls, Talia’s recollections of youthful hurts stir up past insecurities. She must reassess her spiritual journey, and what bothers her in the present.
Added to the mix are her reawakened emotions toward the man who once came to her rescue. Will their joint journey include a personal relationship?
Buy it HERE.
And before you go, make sure to check out the latest Your Daily Bible Verse podcast episode.
Jennifer, your site is food for a hungry soul. Thank you. As a side note, Repurposed is not a new release, but it is new to those who haven’t read the story.
So glad to have you here, LoRee! And thanks for the encouragement! And the mention. I’ll get that fixed now. 🙂 Blessings, friend!
Jennifer, this book speaks to my heart. As a former obese child/teen myself, I often see the fat me when I look in the mirror. The bullying suffered when younger, the insecurities I harbored, never seem to fully fade away. Your words give me enlightenment, hope, and help renew my faith. God bless!
Oh, friend, that must have been so hard. Those wounds can sink so deep. I’m so glad God spoke to you and encouraged you through this content. May He bring increased and continual soul deep healing.
I absolutely agree with Jennifer, dear betwix. I pray the Lord continues to let you know that He made you fearfully and wonderfully. Psalm 139 is a beautiful picture of how He is the only One who knows every cell of our bodies. Cherish His words to you.
What an interesting analogy and what an important topic for us today in your new book. Congratulations!
Gail, thanks so much for your comment. I pray there is a message in Repurposed for just the right listening soul.
Thank you for sharing, LoRee. You have a great reminder to watch what grows in our heart. is it God’s garden? I enjoyed your novel.
Barbara, thank you for reading my story!
Great post LoRee and lovely reminder
Thanks for sharing
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
Hey, Pam. I always smile when I see your smiling face.
LoRee,
What a great thought-filled post. I like the idea of “seeds”. Both the ones we sow whether intentionally or not and the harvest we reap from them. I’ll be picking up a copy of your book!
~Elizabeth
Izzy, thanks so much for your comments. I love how the Lord brings things to mind. We shouldn’t ignore those promptings.
What a beautiful post, and a great reminder we are always sowing seeds.
Loree, what a beautiful post, and a great reminder that we are always sowing seeds.