"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop - a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
This is a parable Jesus taught. What does it mean? What does it have to do with us?
When anyone hears the message about the kingdom of God and does not understand it, Satan comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. but since he has no root he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the woman who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the person who hears the word and understands it.That person produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
(From Matthew 13:3-9 and 18-23 with gender attributions by me)
What are we supposed to produce as the result of receiving God's word? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - these are called the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Insightfully yours,
Paulita
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Sweet Peas
It's hard to think of spring flowers when it's late fall in California. It seems I've only just cleaned up the remains of the pumpkin vines when it's time to plant sweet peas. Forcing myself to visualize their vivid colors and deliciously sweet smell, I prepare the ground and sow the seeds. In the still warm earth, the seeds spout and within weeks the baby plants are 3 to 4 inches high. Then they seem to stall, waiting through the winter for spring. My gardening book says they need this long cool growing period to develop a strong root system. The approach of spring and longer days triggers the top growth and a few months later I have a profusion of fragrant, colorful blossoms, my reward for planning ahead.
There will always be times in our lives when we want instant results, and God says, "Wait." We move, leaving friends behind and it takes time to form new friendships. We are injured or ill and must wait for recovery. Our job is terminated and we wait for a response to our new application. We wait for school to be out and vacation to start.
It's been said, "While you're waiting for God to open a door, praise Him in the hallway." In God's eyes, it's not how long we wait, but how we wait. We want our outside circumstances to change, but God is producing strength and character on the inside.
Finally, the result of sowing in our own life, or in the life of someone else, appears. We see we are changed because or someone's sowing in our life, and we thank God.
"He who began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6
Insightfully yours,
Paulita
There will always be times in our lives when we want instant results, and God says, "Wait." We move, leaving friends behind and it takes time to form new friendships. We are injured or ill and must wait for recovery. Our job is terminated and we wait for a response to our new application. We wait for school to be out and vacation to start.
It's been said, "While you're waiting for God to open a door, praise Him in the hallway." In God's eyes, it's not how long we wait, but how we wait. We want our outside circumstances to change, but God is producing strength and character on the inside.
Finally, the result of sowing in our own life, or in the life of someone else, appears. We see we are changed because or someone's sowing in our life, and we thank God.
"He who began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6
Insightfully yours,
Paulita
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Fruit Trees
Wouldn't it be fun to enjoy fruit from your tree the first year it is planted? When we landscaped our large backyard in the Bay Area, we planted four bare root fruit trees: a cherry, a golden delicious apple, an almond, and a freestone peach. We anticipated great rewards, but the first season our cherry tree produced only three cherries, two for the blue jays and one for us. The other trees produced no fruit at all.
The second year seemed to be magical. We harvested our first delicious apples, our first almonds, and eight more cherries. But we had to wait until the third year for the peaches. Then we got the most luscious fruit we'd ever seen or tasted.
A "real" gardener will tell you the trees need to spend their first couple of years establishing roots before bearing fruit. Some even advocate pulling off the fruit for the first two years.
New Christians are like baby fruit trees. Sometimes spiritual fruit appears soon after a person becomes a believer, but more often, really mature fruit comes after time studying with the Lord Jesus in His Word. Even the apostle Paul spent three years learning what God had called him to do before beginning his ministry. (Galatians 1:17-18)
Maturity takes time, nourishment, and mentoring: time to experience and process, nourishment from studying God's Word, and mentoring by a pastor, fellow sojourner, or friend.
Where are you on your spiritual journey? Are you a new Christian? Welcome! Or are you ready to mentor someone else?
Insightfully yours,
Paulita
The second year seemed to be magical. We harvested our first delicious apples, our first almonds, and eight more cherries. But we had to wait until the third year for the peaches. Then we got the most luscious fruit we'd ever seen or tasted.
A "real" gardener will tell you the trees need to spend their first couple of years establishing roots before bearing fruit. Some even advocate pulling off the fruit for the first two years.
New Christians are like baby fruit trees. Sometimes spiritual fruit appears soon after a person becomes a believer, but more often, really mature fruit comes after time studying with the Lord Jesus in His Word. Even the apostle Paul spent three years learning what God had called him to do before beginning his ministry. (Galatians 1:17-18)
Maturity takes time, nourishment, and mentoring: time to experience and process, nourishment from studying God's Word, and mentoring by a pastor, fellow sojourner, or friend.
Where are you on your spiritual journey? Are you a new Christian? Welcome! Or are you ready to mentor someone else?
Insightfully yours,
Paulita
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Pruning, Disbudding, and Thinning
Pruning
When I prune my roses in January, I have to realize that when I'm finished, I will have only three or four canes sticking up and pointing in different directions. The pruning looks quite severe and indeed it is, but that's the way I get the biggest and most beautiful roses for the next season. A healthy plant is one that is constantly renewed, so I try to substitute new canes for old each year. Blooms are produced on new wood.
Disbudding
How disheartening to twist off all but one bud in a cluster of camellia buds. Wouldn't I get more color if I let them all mature and open? But by taking off all but one bud, I get larger blossoms, ones that look better in flower arrangements for my dinner table or for corsages. It's a choice I have as the gardener.
Thinning
Have you noticed that nearly every package of seeds tells you to sow the seeds and then when the plants are up a few inches, thin them to six inches apart? How can such a smart idea seem like such a waste? Look at spring poppies and lupine that cover the hills. God sows His seeds freely. But gardening experts are knowledgeable, and I'm still learning. Vegetables, especially, need their own space to produce extraordinary fruit.
As a busy person, I have found I need to exercise the same discipline I use in the garden when choosing activities for my day, week, or year. Perhaps you, too, have trouble saying "no" when you see needs all around that you know you could meet. How do you prune, disbud, or thin your activities so you can be the most productive and still have time to grow personally? Who else can fill those jobs?
Suppose God planned something for you, that only you can do? Find that, and give it your all.
Insightfully yours,
Paulita
When I prune my roses in January, I have to realize that when I'm finished, I will have only three or four canes sticking up and pointing in different directions. The pruning looks quite severe and indeed it is, but that's the way I get the biggest and most beautiful roses for the next season. A healthy plant is one that is constantly renewed, so I try to substitute new canes for old each year. Blooms are produced on new wood.
Disbudding
How disheartening to twist off all but one bud in a cluster of camellia buds. Wouldn't I get more color if I let them all mature and open? But by taking off all but one bud, I get larger blossoms, ones that look better in flower arrangements for my dinner table or for corsages. It's a choice I have as the gardener.
Thinning
Have you noticed that nearly every package of seeds tells you to sow the seeds and then when the plants are up a few inches, thin them to six inches apart? How can such a smart idea seem like such a waste? Look at spring poppies and lupine that cover the hills. God sows His seeds freely. But gardening experts are knowledgeable, and I'm still learning. Vegetables, especially, need their own space to produce extraordinary fruit.
As a busy person, I have found I need to exercise the same discipline I use in the garden when choosing activities for my day, week, or year. Perhaps you, too, have trouble saying "no" when you see needs all around that you know you could meet. How do you prune, disbud, or thin your activities so you can be the most productive and still have time to grow personally? Who else can fill those jobs?
Suppose God planned something for you, that only you can do? Find that, and give it your all.
Insightfully yours,
Paulita
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