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