Guided thoughts, III

It's springtime!

For some of us, that rates an "Ugh!" for we know that the struggle with pollen is just beginning, and will continue for a few weeks. Me? Personally, I'm blessed with a nose that doesn't get bothered by that kind of thing.

Spring definitely is a time of increased activity, though. And not just the birds and the bees, and the trees popping out their leaves. (Don't get me started on the birds that disdain the nesting areas created for them, and obstinately try to build in precarious places that I have to keep clearing!)

For us, it's always a time to clear the yard of debris from the winter. To survey the grapevines and admire the irises. To gasp at the bare spots in the lawn, and head to the big orange store for grass seed and fertilizer.

Nodding your head with me?
I thought so!
The ground is prepared, and the seed is sown. Tiny sprouts delight us when they pop up, and we cajole them into growing (we think). When the time is right, the fertilizer is applied.

Careful, though! Too much fertilizer, and the sprouts are burned. Too little, and they run out of nourishment and die away. The same with the watering . . . got to be done just right.

Recently in the midst of this frenzy, the Spirit nudged me, and I realized afresh that this is just like the parable that Jesus used, to teach His disciples.

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you,but to others I speak in parables, so that,“‘though seeing, they may not see;    though hearing, they may not understand.’
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. (Luke 8:5-15)

So, don't despair if that loved one or acquaintance that you've witnessed to, doesn't seem to want a relationship with our Lord. It will happen. When God's timing is perfect!

It's up to us to keep preparing the ground, and sowing the seeds!