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The Value of a Planted Seed.
I have a patch in my front yard...it’s designed to be a flower bed. When we moved in it was over-run with weeds, I weeded and weeded and weeded. I’d get one type of weed out and another would take over. I’d never seen anything like it. When weeding didn’t work, I used weed killer over and over, tried different kinds even. And nothing! I have tried to plant flowers multiple times. Once I planted something like 30 bulbs...not one...not one flower grew, I watered, took careful care and nothing. The next year I did the same. And nothing, nothing grew but pesky weeds. I’ve decided someday we’re going to pave it with pavers or cement, I give up, until then we’ll just weed eat it. In my years of ministry, I have planted so many seeds. So much watering, and so often nothing in return. I have a group of students who are now all entering adulthood, out of college, living life some with multiple kids now. I have lost track of many, a few I have kept in contact with briefly through social media. Two weeks ago, the youth pastor who followed me at one of my previous churches, and also a friend of mine, tragically lost his life in a swimming accident with some of his current youth ministry students. This rocked not only the world of his current students, but of his former students, many of which were also my former students. You see, some of those seeds I was able to plant, he watered. I had the opportunity to meet with about 25 of those students the other day to give them a space to remember, ask questions, share stories and give hope. Some of those seeds from years past that I thought were never going to bear fruit are now heavily involved in church and really seeking to do God’s will in their lives and teach their children to walk in His ways. Some of those seeds are now missionaries and joined us via Zoom, five are now youth pastors. And others, who joined us in person are now more lost than they were as teens. It reminds me of a scripture; “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. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Matthew 13:3-9 You never know where the wind might take those seeds. I just wanted to encourage each of you today, to keep planting seeds wherever you go, keep watering them, don’t give up on them. And check your soil. Is there something God wants to do with you, but He can’t because you’re not ready or willing to hear and do? What’s holding you back? Do you need to weed your garden so God can work? Confess it and see how God grows you. Do you need a little fertilizer, read the word! Do you need the Son, He’s waiting with open arms! Blessings to you and yours, Pastor Delinda
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AuthorNotes from the Staff @The Woods Archives
March 2023
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