WE REAP WHAT WE SOW

THE PRINCIPLE OF SOWING AND REAPING

As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat; winter and summer, day and night. Gen 8:22 CEV

In the first book of the Bible, early on, God establishes the principal of seedtime and harvest. And then in the New Testament, we are told this principal of sowing and reaping is extended to the unseen realm as well:

Those who sow to please their sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; those who sow to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Gal 6:7-8 TNIV

EVERY ACTION IS A SEED SOWN

Every action we take is a seed sown that will bring a harvest in due time. Some seeds sprout quicker than others. Some harvest times come long after the seeds are forgotten. But the principle is certain: we will reap from what we sow. That which is motivated by our selfish desires cannot bring forth anything good; that which is corrupt can only begat corruption. On the other hand, seeds sown in faith and obedience will result in a good harvest, a harvest of spiritual blessings.

THE MORE WE SOW, THE MORE WE REAP

There’s one more thing that needs to be said about seedtime and harvest: the more we sow, the more we reap, whether good or bad. What we give out will come back to us. If we are generous with others, they will be generous to us. The measure with which we scatter abroad is the measure of our return.

Remember this saying, "A few seeds make a small harvest, but a lot of seeds make a big harvest." 2Co 9:6 CEV

Photo by Stu Seeger @Flickr

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Tags: Hope , Religion , Spirituality , Faith , Inspiration , Encouragement , Jesus , Christ , Christianity , Bible

WHO SAID THAT?

"The miracle you need in your life
is on the other side of your worship."

--Vicki Yohe, worship leader
Charisma June 2006

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THINK ABOUT IT

Only God is perfect;
Only God can perfect.

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I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly.
John10:10

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DREAMING THE UNTHINKABLE

To him who by means of his power working in us is able to do much more than we can ever ask or even think. Eph 3:20

WHAT IS BEYOND THINKING?

This scripture tells us that God wants to do more - much more - for us than we can think or ask. What is beyond thinking? I recently heard Graham Cooke ask this question. I thought it was a good question. What is more than thinking? His answer was: "dreaming." God wants to do something for us and in us that is higher and more awesome than where our thinking can take us.

ARE WE WORLDLY OR OTHER-WORLDLY?

The image in this photo has an "other-worldly" appearance. Like it, we are to be extraordinary, rather than ordinary. We are to be something special in the earth. Something that reflects the glory of God. We cannot get to that place through our own devices, our own thinking. Dreams take us beyond our intellect and touch the hidden man of the heart (Prov 3:5). What if there is a part of God's glory waiting to be manifest in the earth that only comes through dreams? Sometimes he ignites dreams through images in the night and sometimes he puts secret longings and desires in our heart, and we call those longings dreams. Through dreams he works in us to will and to do what pleases him. (See Phil 2:13.)

DREAMERS AREN'T OFTEN UNDERSTOOD

Joseph in the Old Testament had a dream that brought much opposition and adversity in his life. Dreamers aren't often understood. That's why it's important to be sure your dream is from God before you commit to it. When I'm not sure my longings and dreams are from God, I ask him to give confirmation and I search his word to see if my dream is scriptural, while I continue to pray for clarity. I ask myself if the fulfillment of my dream will bring God glory. Often I discuss it with someone I trust, someone who knows the Word and the ways of God. Someone who won't kill my dream just because it is bigger than I am, just because it hasn't been done before.

HE WANTS TO TAKE US BEYOND OURSELVES

After due consideration, if we know that we know that God has put a dream in us, let us hold it fast and not let the naysayers steal it! Let us trust God to bring it forth. Eph 3:20 tells us that it is his power working in us that will cause the "so much more" to manifest. If we stay close to him, he will take us beyond ourselves. And that's not just a good thing, it's a God-thing!

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. . . it is God who works in you
to will and to act
in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Phil 2:13 TNIV


Be energetic in your life of salvation,
reverent and sensitive before God.
That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you,
God himself willing and working
at what will give him the most pleasure.
Phil 2:13 TMB

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CHECK IT OUT

My writing is usually for both men and women, but I just stumbled on a beautiful online magazine called Christian Women Online that I want to share with my women readers. It is subtitled CWO: Uniting Women of Faith. The layout and photography are professional; the writing is excellent. Some of the articles really hit the spot for me and others didn't but might appeal to you. Scripture references abound.

Regular columns include:

• DysFUNctional by Darlene Schact who writes wittily about family and life
• Wind Scraps by Shannon Woodward: my personal favorite
• Me and My House by Kim Brenneman speaks to large families
• Book Buzz with Heather Ivester reviews Christian books
• Home and School is by Ann Voskamp, mother and home schooler
• Bonnie's Kitchen offers simple ideas and recipes that make every event an occasion
  

Recipes and inspiring children's stories are included in this e-zine. Scrapbooking with CWO is, obviously, for scrapbook enthusiasts and Blogging with CWO is for bloggers. The last includes a blogroll of Christian women bloggers. And each month a different blog is featured as "Blog of the Month."

The theme of the June issue is Father's Day. Reflections of Our Father's Love, by Sarah Lantrips was selected as the winner of a recent writing contest. Her article is a heartwarming testimony to our Father's keeping power and love.

To check it out: click here.

Once there, click anywhere on the top to enter. You'll then be greeted by a letter from the editor. After that, scroll down to find this month's features. On the left you will see groupings of specific articles and offerings. Be sure to click on Who We Are.

Wherever you click, you'll find something good!

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Technorati Tags: Peace , Heaven , Hope , Religion , Spirituality , Faith , Inspiration , Encouragement , Church , Jesus , Christ , Christianity , Bible , Women

WHO SAID THAT?

"Stress is a choice, because whatever the 'trigger event,' we always choose our own response."

--John G. Miller
QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, p. 26

ROMANS 14:19
Bringing Peace to Ourselves and Others

. . . we must always aim at those things that bring peace and that help strengthen one another. Good News Bible

So let us . . . definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual upbuilding (edification and development) of one another. The Amplified Bible

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LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Ps 119:105 KJV

God's word will show us where we are (a lamp unto our feet) and where we are going (a light unto our path.)

STAYING ON THE PATH

When approached prayerfully and in concert with the Holy Spirit, God's word will open our eyes to what is really going on in our current circumstances; we'll see truths we may have missed on our own. We will receive wisdom and insight that make difficulties "doable." We'll receive vision for the future that will keep us on the path of our destiny, even when darkness surrounds us.

Spirit can only be known by spirit--God's Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God's Spirit is doing . . . 1 Cor 2:15 TMB

COMING OUT OF CONFUSION

Making a habit of reading his word with the help of the Holy Spirit will bring us out of confusion by bringing clarity to our understanding of who He is and who we are in Him and to Him. As to our destination: He doesn't show us the entire path, but he does give us enough to keep us going in the right direction, even in the dark of night.

Photo by Claudia West, Creative Commons License 2.0
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CHECK IT OUT

Do you know Eddie Smith of the U.S. Prayer Center? Eddie circles the globe in order to equip God's people in areas of prayer, spiritual warfare, spiritual mapping, deliverance, leadership and other Christian disciplines. He is the author of many books and articles and is a "writer's coach."

He is also blogging now. In an article entitled Living in Timelessness, he has opened a window into heaven. If you want to peek in, follow the link below. If the lord has called home someone you love and you are still feeling the loss, you will be comforted by Eddie's insight.

Check it out: click here.

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WHO SAID THAT?

"Identity is a mix of who we are,
our dreams and aspirations, how we feel, and what we are like."

--Graham Cooke
A Divine Confrontation, p. 242

GUEST BLOGGER: MARGARET WHERRY

HOPE ALWAYS RETURNS

Hope is a peculiar thing. Even though it is often evasive and seems to easily slip out of our grasp, it is never far away.

Hope hovers over us like a devoted friend: it never departs from us entirely.

IT'S ALWAYS DARKEST BEFORE DAWN

Like God, hope always returns, fills us again, and brings new life.

It is always darkest before the dawn is an old cliche, but a truth nonetheless. It is in the darkest moments of our lives that necessary shifts and changes take place. It is where God often chooses to work the hardest. These changes make a way for fresh new sunshine and hope to move back in and bring with them a new day.

Don't give up. A breakthrough is on the way!

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Technorati Tags: Hope , Religion , Spirituality , Faith , Inspiration , Encouragement , God , Christian

CHECK IT OUT

Select free MP3 Vineyard worship songs are available from Vineyard Music USA. Accompanying chord charts and lyrics are also offered. When I visited their site today I found these free titles:

• King Forever
  
• If You Say Go
  
• Bless His Name
  
• I am Changed (Unfailing Love)
  
• Saving Grace

Check it out: click here.

WHO SAID THAT?

"Character is what you are in the dark."

--A. W. Tozer

LOOKING FOR PEACE

Job States the Problem

I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil. Job 3:26

Jesus Gives the Answer

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Isaiah Adds This

"There is no peace," says the Lord, "for the wicked." Isaiah 48:22

Conclusion

Was Job wicked because he had no peace? And how could that be when God called him "blameless and upright" in Job 1:8?

We see in the first part of Chapter 42 that Job repented of the sin of a presumptuous attitude toward God. God viewed him righteous (as he does us), because of the blood of the Lamb. In Heaven's economy, we are declared righteous because we are clothed in Jesus own righteousness. But that doesn't mean we always have right attitudes or actions. When we are in the grip of a wicked attitude, we are subject to turmoil as Job was. But temporarily falling into sin doesn't change who we are in our relationship to God.

Jesus has given us his peace and a way back into that place of peace when we lose it through a bad attitude or sinful action. We have an invitation to come to him and exchange our heavy burden for his light one and our harsh yoke for his easy one. Because of this submission and change of direction on our part (repentance), we experience rest.

Photo by Melissa Wiese, CC License 2.0

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WHO SAID THAT?

"I have no peace, no quietness;
I have no rest, but only turmoil."

--Job in Job 3:26

More on this topic in my next post

CHECK IT OUT

In my previous post, I asked you to join me in a quest for greater peace and rest in God. Just after I posted that message, I visited the blog of a worship leader friend and found his testimony of how he trusted God in a time of stress and found rest. His article is entitled, "The Beauty of Saying Nothing." Here's an excerpt:

After a particularly brain-frying Wednesday and worship team rehearsal for Wednesday night service, I went into prayer with a lot on my mind. It was hard to focus, and I was tired, and I began to think that probably most people who would be in the service would also be tired. So, I ran through the gamut of things I could say to them to "pump them up" whilst trying to pray something spiritual to God. Well, He seemed to interrupt my thoughts and prayer and told me . . .

Check it out: For the rest of the story, click here.

RIGHTEOUSNESS BRINGS PEACE

The mountains shall bring peace to the people . . . by righteousness.- Psa 72:3

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. - Rom 14:17

Rom 14:17 can be seen as a progression with peace and joy proceeding out of righteousness. (In a class on Bible Study Methods, I was taught that the first word is the most important in a list of words.) But let's look for confirmation in other verses and let scripture interpret scripture. The opening verse of this article is our first confirmation, stating that it is by righteousness that the mountains bring peace.

THE WORK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS PEACE

Isaiah agrees with our first two scriptures by stating the same thing in this verse:

And the work of righteousness shall be peace. - Isa 32:1

Isaiah stated that the work of righteousness is peace and the psalmist wrote that peace is brought by righteousness. It seems that righteousness can rightly be called the foundation of peace. What an important bit of information to those of us who are hungry for peace! Also note that when these two are in place, joy well ups up within. Since peace and joy come out of righteousness, let'’s look deeper into what it means to be righteous.

DEFINITIONS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Here are two amplifications from The Amplified Bible that follow the word righteousness. In these scriptures, righteousness is defined as:

• That state which makes a person acceptable to God -
  Rom 14:17
  
• Conformity to God's will in thought and deed - James 3:18

In both verses, the word righteousness comes from the Greek word that Strong's Dictionary numbers as G1343. The definition of this Greek word ties together both equity of character (or act) and righteousness through justification. To paraphrase Joyce Meyer: When we first trust God and He comes to live within us by His Spirit, he puts righteousness in us. Then because we have a deposit of His righteousness in us, we begin to do right things.

Here are some other definitions of righteousness:

• Saying 'Yes’' to right things and 'No'’ to wrong things
• "Right living" - The Message Bible
  

These right actions flow out of our relationship with Christ.

Righteousness begins with receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior and letting the sacrifice of his blood justify us. God counts us as innocent because of what Christ has done. That'’s the Good News of the New Testament!

LET'S SEEK AFTER PEACE

Obviously, we cannot have peace without righteousness. In future posts we will continue to look into how we can cooperate with the Prince of Peace to experience more fully his peace within us and how we can bring his peace into our relationships and circumstances.

I'm on a quest for greater peace and rest in God; I hope you will join me in the days ahead!

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THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY

To fear is to believe the evil one
has more control over my life than God does.