Monday, December 7, 2009

A Little Serious and a Little Silly

So I'm doing the new Kelly Minter study on Ruth right now. I'm in week 2 and already I have been VERY challenged. Today, she talked about sowing and reaping.

It was the 4th time in 24 hours that concept was placed in front of me. I'm serious.

Obviously, I've spent some time thinking about where I'm sowing. In some places, I am seeing the first signs of harvest. In others, not so much. One particular area I have been sowing often in tears. For almost 13 years. I won't lie, lately I've had to confess my being "over" it to the Lord. Just plain over throwing out the seed with no sign of a harvest. I know that's wrong, just telling you where I've been.

A couple of weeks ago when I was talking to God about this situation, this verse kept coming back to me.

Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Kelly wrapped up today's homework with that verse. Thank you God.

Oh, and then I had a devotional e-mail that I have no idea how I get, but anyway...

Guess what the verse was for the day. Yep. Galatians 6:9. Hello God.

The devotion went on to say this:

"For years William Wilberforce pushed Parliament to abolish slavery. Discouraged, he was about to give up when his elderly friend John Wesley heard of it, and from his deathbed called for a pen and paper. With trembling hand Wesley wrote: “Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and of devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them stronger than God? O be not weary in well doing! Go on, in the name of God and in the power of His might, till even American slavery shall vanish away before it.” Wesley died six days later. Wilberforce fought for forty-five more years. Three days before his death, slavery was abolished in Britain. Eventually, it was abolished in America too. Hang in there—what God has in store for you is worth any price you have to pay."

Over forty-five years. That is a long season of sowing isn't it?

I've come to accept that in that one area, I may not see the harvest for a while. But I know it's where God has called me to sow so I can't stop. So I keep doing what God says to do. Because I know He keeps His word, I can read Psalm 126:5-6 and
have a little pre-harvest celebration. :)

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

I don't know about you, but I sure needed that reminder that my time table and God's time table are not the same. :) He's moving and working and when it's harvest time, boy oh boy what a party we'll have.

On a very silly note, every time I see the word "sheaves" I think about a "Little House on the Prairie" episode where the town people are singing that old hymn in church! Makes me laugh because they look so bored.

I tried my best to find that clip, but I didn't. However I DID find this one and I'm sorry if my silliness offends you..but this just reminded me of my grandparents and their record player (that looks more like a buffet than a record player). I think this record is in there. I'll look the next time I'm there. :)

3 comments:

Patty said...

I am in week 1 of Ruth! We are also studying Ruth in Sunday school. It is so good.

I know the scene you are talking about in Little House. lol

Love you,
Patty

Leah Adams said...

Steph,

I get that same email devotional and have no idea how I started getting it. Anyway, it has spoken to me several times so I just keep letting it come to my inbox.

The Lord is dealing with me in a somewhat similar manner...talking to me about waiting in the silence. Blogged about it twice this week. He seems to be into themes in many of our lives and it seems like many of us are needing to hear similar messages. Stay the course, trust my heart, stay faithful to the last word you heard from Me.

Love ya,

Leah

Www.writinghisstory.com said...

This is awesome! Thank you for sharing - water for the soul!! Much love and blessings, Alisa