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No matter where we are in life, we should expect to reap exactly what we
sow. Whether we are happy and contented or discouraged and feeling
miserable, if we think hard enough, we will find that our present reaping
has much to do with how we sowed into our own lives. The Bible is a very
accurate book and one needs only to look within its timeless pages to find
the truths that are evident throughout. The Bible declares in Galatians
6:7-8 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: 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.” (Psalm 119:10-16) (John 1:1-3) (Galatians 6:9-10)
We must think of our lives as living plants who will ultimately grow and
show exactly the same types of seeds that were planted in our hearts. When
we plant seeds of envy, jealousy, strife, hatred, etc., we shouldn't expect
to reap generosity, love, peace and joy. We will receive or draw to
ourselves exactly the same types of seeds that we have sown. We must
remember this at all times and be mindful to carefully sow into our own
lives and the lives of others good seeds that will bring back a good
harvest of blessings. (2 Corinthians 9:6-9) (Luke 6:35-36) (Acts 20:35)
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to be careful how
you sow your seeds in life because when you sow correctly, the reaping will
be all the more joyful.
PLANTING HAPPINESS
Last year, I placed a flower pot on my patio.
It was only half-filled with potting soil. There wasn't any sign of life.
There were no seeds to grow. So as you can imagine the flowerpot remained
barren.
Last week, I decided that the neglected flower pot needed a little lift. I
went to a garden shop and checked out the blooming plants. While trying to
decide which flowers to purchase, I went to another store and ran across
some flower seeds. I picked up one of the packages and read the
instructions for planting.
“I am up for the challenge,” I thought. Many people have green thumbs, but
I have always insisted that I don't. Either I water my plants too often or
not enough. I either bake the plant in the sunshine or place it in areas
that are too shady. I know some plants like it hot and wet, while others
like it dry and shady. But for the life of me, I cannot remember which are
which.
As I stood holding the envelope of seeds, I felt the urge to see if for the
first time I could actually make something grow. I purchased several
packages and returned home with a gardener's determination and drive. I
immediately planted the seeds in the almost forgotten flower pot. For a
couple of days nothing happened. But I continued to water the soil.
On the fourth day, I actually saw green sprouts as they had just broken
through the soil. I was so excited. The tiny shoots brought a smile to my
face. I called Roy to come to look at them. Maybe my thumb wasn't
completely off-colored after all! Maybe I could make something grow!
I thought about how growing flowers are much like growing happiness. Our
lives are sometimes like the empty pot. Our days are filled with worldly
tasks and possessions. But because worldly things are of such little
importance, we lack a feeling of completeness. We sense there is something
missing.
The missing ingredients in my flower pot were the things that created life
itself -- seeds. The things that we may be missing in life are seeds of
hope, love, faith, and determination.
When we accept the fact that our life garden will produce exactly what we
plant, we become more concerned as to what we plant. I planted a variety of
flower seeds that day. I understand that the zinnia seeds will produce
zinnias. The morning glory seeds will produce morning glories.
Likewise, if I plant happiness in my daily life, low and behold, I will
find joy in everything I do. If I plant negative thoughts inside my heart,
I will only grow more discontented with each passing day. Whatever is
planted inside my heart will grow.
If we plant seeds of hope, we can expect miracles.
When we plant seeds of passion, love will come back to us.
The Bible tells us that without faith we cannot possibly please God.
Shouldn't we all plant seeds of faith? And if we plant seeds of
determination, there is absolutely nothing that can stop us from being the
persons God created us to be. When God is pleased with us, our blessings
multiply much like the blooms produced from a tiny seed.
In the next few days and weeks, I am expecting the tiny sprouts to grow
taller. Then I am expecting a flowerpot filled with blossoms. The once
neglected pot will hold beautiful flowers of assorted colors, simply
because I planted faith along with those few seeds.
This past weekend, our granddaughters Hannah and Katie came for a visit.
Three-year-old Katie wasn't initially fond of the idea of returning home.
When her Daddy told her that he had missed her, she looked up at him and
whispered, “But Daddy, I was just so happy at Nana and Pa's.”
We laughed together. We played together. We blew bubbles in the backyard.
We watched television together. We went to the zoo. And we went on a
picnic. The weekend was ours to do nothing but to plant seeds of happiness
in the hearts of our granddaughters.
Are you planting seeds of happiness in the hearts of those you love?
By Nancy B. Gibbs
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Romans 12:14-17 “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of
the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to
men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no
man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
Luke 6:30-31 Jesus declares “Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of
him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that
men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth
not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself
unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things,
believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity
never faileth...”
Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen
in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: WISDOM OF THE SOUL
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem182.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: JESUS MY DELIVERER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony136.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
