a lesson in farming {sowing & reaping}

When I have my "quiet time" with the Lord, I usually don't just let my Bible plop open and then read whatever random passage my eyes land on. However, for whatever reason, this morning I did, and I don't think it was "random" at all. I read Hosea chapter 10, and verse 12 really grabbed by attention... 

"Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you."

{Hosea 10:12}

(And just for the record, I had to look up the word "fallow." Maybe you are wondering, too? It means "dead," "dormant," "inactive." Ouch! Sadly, my heart can totally relate to that description more often than I'd like.)

Then, I found a couple of index cards that had been tucked into the pages of Galatians with the reference Galatians 6:7-9. And guess what those verses had to say...  

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

{Galatians 5:7-9}

 

Hosea was not so random, huh?

 

(Side-note: I just love seeing how God weaves the same story and principles all through His Word.)

 

These verses from Galatians were given to me weeks ago--with the intention of committing them to memory-- in the Chronological Bible Study I am a part of each Thursday afternoon.

 

So God blew the airhorn loud and clear to me this morning: 

 

Wake-Up-Call #1: Rachael, what is more important than saturating you mind and heart with God's truth? Quit being lazy! Start memorizing scripture!

 

Growing up, I participated in "Bible Drill" through my chuch. Though some may think the logistics of it (standing up in front of people, having a certain amount of time to look up or remember a verse, etc) are a bit ridiculous, I can't even express how thankful I am for those 9 years of participation--to this day, God often recalls to my mind verses and passages  that we memorized. I am getting teary as I type this...realizing how amazing it is that He has given us His very Word...how we have total access to all the power, comfort, truth, encouragement, conviction, guidance, peace, and love we could ever need or want, yet I often wander aimlessly, short-sightedly, defeatedly, sickening-selfishly through my days...all because I haven't trained myself to live with His Word at the forefront of my heart and mind. 

 

Storing up His Word in my heart is the remedy for that meaningless existence. Because whatever is stored up in my heart, can't help but spill out.

 

For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45         

 

I came across this video probably over a year ago; it is a powerful motivation to memorize scripture. Definitely worth the 3:52 of your time. 

 

 

 

Wake-Up-Call #2:Rachael, are you sowing for eternity? Quit being distracted by the temporary! Get far-sighted. Less you, more Him. Less you, more others.

 

The Bible is clear. It is not a confusing concept. What I sow, I will reap. I need Him to empty me of me daily. I need Him to "fix my eyes" daily. Nothing else matters. Nothing else truly satisfies.

 

Thankful for His convicting grace.   

Turning My Eyes

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

- Helen H. Lemmel, 1922

These words say it all for me right now. For the past couple of weeks I have felt like I've been suffocating in the busyness of life--just going through the motions--trying to keep my head above water. I decided at the last minute this morning to go to church with my dad since it is Father's day and it's not often that I get the chance to visit my old "home church", and as we sang this hymn, I was reminded that all I have to do is turn my eyes on Jesus. His eyes are already on me. I just must choose to "look full" in His face rather than at the spinning-dizzy world around me. Losing Granddaddy, work, the stack of books to read, the projects and papers to complete, the mountain of laundry and dishes to be done, etc., etc., etc.--all of that nagging stuff that makes me almost lose my breath when I let my mind dwell on it--"the things of this earth" will dim--will be covered up by the light, unending light, of His {glory} and {grace} IF ONLY I will choose single-minded focus. Choose to turn my eyes to the One who always has his eyes on me. 

Why is it that I run away from Him when I need His strength the most? Why do I refuse to spend time with Him when it's only Him that can make me stand? Why do I reject the Good Shepherd's always open arms?

Are you maybe feeling a bit weary or overwhelmed, too? Be encouraged, because HE is enough. 

This upcoming week, I'm praying for the strength and discipline to turn my eyes--to look full--in His wonderful, glorious, and grace-filled face. He outshines everything else.

[Ignoring the cheesy graphics on this video, I love this a cappella rendition by Selah.]

        

Looking for Rest?

"You have made us for yourself, O Lord, 
and our hearts are restless until they rest in you."

-St. Augustine

One More Grace

I just got off the phone with a sweet friend.  I asked if her week was off to a good start and she said, you know, I got up with a bit of the "Monday morning blues" but then I saw a post on facebook that reminded me I needed to stop complaining and be thankful...I got to wake up today.  This totally resonated with me and what I've been reading and thinking about lately.

A few weeks ago, I told you I started reading One Thousand Gifts. {I can't tell you how good it is.  God has truly anointed Ann Voskamp and her writing.}  Her whole premise is "All is grace."  Did you get that? (Am I getting that?)  

{ALL is grace.} every breath. every waking up. every day that is brimming over. brimming over with the "good". the "bad".  the busyness.  the tiredness. the joy. the frustrations. all of it. All is grace. 

She included the following quote in one of her chapters. Hit me like an arrow. 

Here dies another day

During which I have had eyes, ears, hands

And the great world 'round me;

And with tomorrow begins another.

Why am I allowed two?

-G.K. Chesterton

Why am I allowed two?

What am I doing with that allowance?

Later in the chapter she goes on to say, "If my inner eye has God seeping up through all things, then can't I give thanks for anything?"

Can't I?  Can't I trust Him--the One who gave up all of heaven for me--that much?  Can't I trust--and live like I trust--that if He gives me the one more grace of today, He has a grander purpose.  A grander purpose than my comfort, my plans, or my wants. 

Oh, for the grace to live like today is a grace rather than a drudgery.

And by the way, I'm on my third listen of this today.

a magnifying glass

"Our attention is like a magnifying glass--whatever we place it on becomes 

larger and more consuming of our time and energy."

What Happens When Women Say Yes to God, Lysa TerKeurst

 

How easy it is for me to divert my attention, my focus from the only One who is worthy.  One of my very favorite songs needs to be my desperate prayer to the Lord each day.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Making Time

“Time is what we all have, now, that which we never need to merely find enough of, but rather the gift we are given to make something of. Finding time’s impossible. We’ll have to be intentional and get down to just making time, something out of it all invisible. Every hour has sixty jeweled minutes no matter who you are. Or how long you have.” 

-anne voskamp

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