PLEASANT WORDS FOR THE SOUL:  "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you sow."  -  Robert Louis Stevenson

IS YOUR HARVEST PLANTED?

"....for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."     Galations 6:7-9

Most often when we think of  Galations 6:7 we think of the man or woman who lives in sin and disobedience to God and eventually ends up reaping heartache and sorrow.  The person who drinks can reap being enslaved to a substance and perhaps loosing his family and fortune.  The person who lives in immorality can reap disease and shame.  And certainly that is one side of the coin.  " ..For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.  Galations 6:8."  But sowing and reaping can also apply to the good and godly seeds that we sow in our lives.  "But he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Galations 6;8."  I heard someone say recently, "many people are frustrated awaiting a harvest they did not plant." How true that is.  If we want to reap a harvest of a life that is used of God we must plant seeds of discipline, faithfulness, Bible study and prayer.  If we want to reap a harvest of a happy home  we must plant seeds of love. kindness, selflessness and  loyalty.   We will never reap a harvest that we did not plant.  God encourages us not to be weary in planting seeds of righteousness because in due season we WILL reap a harvest.

Dear Lord,  help me to be planting seeds of righteousness in my life so that I can reap a harvest that will bring honor and glory to you.  And please help me not to grow weary in well doing.  In Jesus name.   Amen

  

PLEASANT WORDS FOR THE SOUL:  A good character is the best tombstone.  Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered.  Carve your name on hearts, not on marble."  - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

KNOWING HIM

"....shew me thy ways,  that I may know you..."  Ezekiel 33:3 

"But let him that glorieth glory in this, he understandeth and knoweth me... Jeremiah 9:24

"But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."  II Peter 3:18

The Bible is our "know" book.  It tells us how to know we are saved and it gives us promises that we can know and claim to help us live a victorious Christian life.   But more than that it helps us to get to know our God in an intimate way.  Often we read our Bible in a perfunctory way with little enthusiasm or expectation.  Recently I was challenged to ask when reading scripture, 'what does this scripture tell me about God?'  What does it tell me about His character, what does it tell me about His love, His providence, His holiness.  I want to know Him more intimately through His Word.

"The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts."   - A.W. Tozer

Dear Lord,  thank you for your Word.  It is your love letter to me.  Help me to read it with expectation.  Help me to know you more deeply and intimately through your Word.  In Jesus name.  Amen

PLEASANT WORDS FOR THE SOUL:  I held a moment in my hand.  Brilliant as a star, fragile as a flower, a shiny sliver out of one hour.  I dropped it carelessly.  Oh God!  I knew not I held opportunity.    - Hazel Lee

DO NOT DISTURB

"A man's heart deviseth his way:  but the Lord directeth his steps."    Proverbs 16:9

Have you ever wished you could have a 'do not disturb' sign around your neck?  When I get engrossed in a project I have to confess that sometimes I do wish I had that 'do not disturb' sign.  Please don't bother me!  I am busy!  God convicted me about this several years ago.  It was a busy Saturday afternoon and I was in a tremendous time crunch trying to get my junior Sunday school classroom decorated for the new fall quarter so I could get home for more preparations for Sunday.   A little head popped in the door.  "Do you need any help Mrs. Lancaster?"  It was one of my Sunday school students.  My first impulse was to say, "Thank you honey, but I don't believe I do."  But the look on that little face, along with the nudging of the Holy Spirit caused me to say, "Well sure, I could use some help.  Come on in."  There is no doubt in my mind that I could have finished quicker had I worked alone, but I would have missed the opportunity to get to know my student better, to talk with her about spiritual things and to make some sweet memories for both her and her teacher.  I was reminded that day of Proverbs 16:9.  "Man deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps."  We can carefully plan and organize our days, but ultimately it is God who directs our steps....even our interruptions.  God is teaching me to not treat  interruptions as a source of frustration and irritation, but to consider whether the interuption could be an opportunity from Him.

Dear Lord,  please help me to look at interruptions with discernment, knowing that some interruptions may be a golden opportunity from you.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Pleasant Words For the Soul:
If my attitude be one of fear, not faith, about one who had disappointed me; "Just what I expected", if a fall occurs, then I know nothing of Calvary's love.
- Amy Carmichael

What Is On Your Dream List?

For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.  Proverbs 8:11

What is on your dream list?   I have dreamed for years of visiting the New England states in the fall when the leaves are resplendent.  Another dream has been to take our entire family on a cruise to "somewhere".  Those are just dreams--one is perhaps more feasible than the other, but it is fun to dream.  What do you dream of  -- a new house, a dream vacation, a beautiful new wardrobe?  Or maybe you dream of perfect health for you and your family, or a large bank account.  Do you ever dream of being a wise woman?  Proverbs 8:11 tells us that "... wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it."   Whatever those things are on our dream list they cannot compare to the value and importance of wisdom in our lives.  We certainly need wisdom on a daily basis, don't we?  Each of us wear many different hats:  wife, mother, sister, colleague, friend.   And with those many hats we are called on to make many decisions every single day - many times a day.  We need wisdom!  How do we get wisdom?  First of all we must desire it.   In II Chronicles 1:7-10 God asks Solomon the fairy tale question, "what shall I give thee?"  Solomon's answer was --   wisdom and understanding.   He desired wisdom above all things and then he took the next step and asked for it.  James 1:5 says, "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally.....and it shall be given to him."   There have been caotic, defeated, discouraging days in my life that would have gone so much better had I taken the time at the beginning of the day to ask for wisdom.  And of course all wisdom comes from God's Word.   We will never be women of wisdom if we are not women of the Word.  May wisdom be at the top of our dream list.

Dear Lord, help me to be a woman of the Word so that I can be a woman of wisdom.   Help me to desire wisdom above all things.  In Jesus name.  Amen

PLEASANT WORDS FOR THE SOUL:
Heaven above is softer blue,  Earth around is sweeter green;
Something lives in every hue that Christless eyes have never seen:
Birds with gladder songs o'erflow,  Flow'rs with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know,  I am His and He is mine.
- George W. Robinson

SEEING GOD IN EVERYTHING

Blessed are the pure in heart:  for they shall see God.  Matthew 5:8

Years ago in a special college chapel service my husband presented a beautiful monologue entitled, "Can Any Man See God?",  The story of the monologue was of a young boy who was fishing with his grandfather and as they sat on the bank with their poles in the water he asks this question, "Grandfather, can any man see God?".   After a long silence the grandfather replies to the boy, "Son, it is getting where I can't see anything but God.".  That is where I want to be.  I want to be able to see God in everything.  It is easy to see Him in the beautiful sunset, or the smile of a baby, or in the victories and triumphs when everything is going well.  It is easy to sing 'How great Thou art' in those times.  But do we see God when the clouds gather, our health fails or we face financial difficulties?  He is still there!  I recently experienced some clouds of heartache and uncertainty.  My heart was, and is, breaking for a loved one who has strayed.  I faced some health issues that were concerning.  Satan tried so hard to try to keep me focused on the clouds.  It is difficult to see God when you are focused on the clouds,isn't it?   As I began to thank and praise God for the situations that I did not understand and as I sang Him my song of thankfulness,  then the clouds dispersed and I could see His hand more clearly- - even through the clouds.

God wants to hear you sing when the waves are crashing round you,

When the fiery darts surround you, when despair is all you see.

God wants to hear your voice when the wisest man has spoken and says

your circumstance is as hopeless as can be.

That's when God wants to hear you sing.

Dear Father,  please help me to see you in everything - - the good,  the bad. the happy, the sad. You have told me that it all works together for my good.  Help me to be able to sing you my song of thankfulness ...even in the night.  In Jesus name.  Amen.