Change

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1 

Change is an ugly word to me. I don't like it, change is not something I look forward to. Although, in the past 3 1/2 years there has been a lot of changes. Some I have looked forward to, others where I have thought I was excited to only meltdown when they actually happened, and others I have dug my heels in and refuse to accept.

Two years ago we moved to Montana so that my husband could be a youth pastor at a church. I thought I was excited about the cross country move, but for the first four months I hated it. I wouldn't let myself get settled, I bucked the system so to speak every chance I got, and just refused to call this home. One day I was having a "gripe fest" with God, okay really lets be serious I was the one doing all the griping and our loving Heavenly Father faithfully listened to me, and then spoke ever so gently  spoke to me and said this is home!   From that moment on I knew this was home. Now two years later God is calling us away from this home.

For the past few weeks I have "bucked the system" again. I have not been happy about having to pack everything up, and move again. I am a plan person, I like to have a plan laid out. There is no plan. We are going to take a small "break" and pray about where God is leading us from there. After much prayer, talking with my mentor and lots of tears I am excited about the new direction God is sending us. I can't wait to see what his plan is, because as we know God's plans are bigger and better than we could ever expect.

Please be in prayer for us as we start this new journey.

Blessings!

What kind of seed do you want to be?

In Luke 8:1-15 Jesus tells The Parable of the Sower. After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,

“‘though seeing, they may not see;

    though hearing, they may not understand.’[a]

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Jesus gives the meaning of the parable in verse 11. The seed is the word of God!  With the first seed we see that some may hear it but the devil comes in and takes away the word from their heart. Then they don't believe and therefore do not get saved. The second seed, sown among the rocky ground, they hear the word and joyfully accept it but it doesn't take root, or doesn't "stick" because of trials. We find in James 1:2-4 we find out that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. But that requires us to be in our Word, praying, believing Jesus and following God's commands. The third seed, the one that fell among the thorns. We hear it but the world and our worldly outlook on life chokes the life out of our beliefs. We care more about what people think of us, about how much money we can make and we do not grow in our relationship with Christ. Then there is the last seed. This seed falls on good soil, it stands for those who have a noble and good heart, they hear the word, retain it, persevere through life's struggles and a produce a crop. John 15:5 says "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." 

My prayer is that I am the seed that has fallen on good soil. That I have heard the word, retained it, persevere through life's struggles, and that I bear much fruit and produce a plentiful crop, but that I give all glory to Christ. What seed are you? What do you strive to do everyday? We are called to be in our word everyday, praying, seeking wisdom from others. It is about a relationship with Jesus. Apart from Him we can do nothing!