What Are You Sowing?

I came across a rather somber verse in an even more somber book in the Bible in Amos 8:7:

"They sow in the wind, and reap the whirlwind...

The verse made me evaluate quickly my actions of sowing and reaping, especially in light of goals to be a godly wife and mother, to get out of debt, be a successful coach in ministry marketing and to help others to find the freedom they need in Christ.

What is sowing in the wind?

These things came to mind:

Planting on shallow, rocky ground.

That can be as simple as tithing to a ministry that is bearing no fruit! God trusts us with the discernment to sow our tithes and offerings into ministries that are impacting the world for HIS glory...and not just the glory of a preacher or ministry.

Sowing to our flesh

Not much more needs to be said here. When we let our flesh, worldly desires, the "I want it and I want it now" mentality rule, we quickly can find ourselves captive to debt, sorrow, and emptiness.

Sowing to a fantasy

Lots of temptations assault us everyday with this one. From lottery tickets to get rich quick scams, the carrot of riches dangles in front of us in many forms.

I think of this verse in Proverbs on this issue: "He who tills his land (tends to his business, works in proven methods of attaining wealth)
will have plenty of bread. but he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough."

So this made me ask myself the question: "What are you sowing?"

I prayed and asked God to help me with this listI

I need to sow:

*Time in the Word, prayer in my intimate relationship with God

*Time with my husband serving him and his needs.

*Sowing mercy and love in all my relationships, especially as I groom my two children into vessels of honor for God.

*Finances to ministries that are producing a good crop of people finding Jesus, being discipled, feeding the hungry, providing for widows, and serving faithfully God's Kingdom.

*Sowing in the spiritual realm through fasting and praying for others.

*Time spend studying and developing personal development, maybe even a new skill, that is needed as part of God's destiny for my life. It might mean reading a book instead of watching television. Spending money to go to a Dani Johnson seminar, instead of season tickets to see a favorite sports team.

This little verse definitely made me think long and hard this morning.

I desire to continue on a path I believe God has made even more clear in the past year.

I pray what I sow remains and is not just dust in the wind.

What Do You Say When....

What do you say to someone who is facing a tragedy.

What do you say to someone who's prayers go unanswered?

I start my work day (from home) today with word of a friend whose 20 something year old son died in a motorcycle accident.

Right after that call, another one from a friend facing another month, another year with no answer to her prayer to have a baby.

What do you do? Rather, what do you say?

I know there is only so much you can say without sounding trite or abrasive. My brain wants to pummel them with verses from the Word. My heart wants to reach out and just comfort them.

I believe a combination of both, minus the pummeling, can help. God's Word does not return void.

So to the friend who lost his son, I ask him if I could pray for him right at that moment as I talked on the phone. I said a quick prayer with the verse "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34). He sobbed and said "thank you."

I can only trust God that was enough.

For the friend who was longing for a child, listening was the best course of action. And then a gentle word simply re-assuring her that God does know the desires of her heart. She said she could relate to Abraham and Sarah in the Bible. That brought an opening to share Romans 4...specifically encouraging her to be like Abraham..."Who did not waver at the promises of God through unbelief, but was strengthened by faith knowing that He who promised was able to accomplish what HE had promised...."

In times like these, I am so thankful for the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.

For with His Word and His Spirit, we can be broken bread and poured out wine. We can weep with those who weep. We can be "Jesus with skin on" to a lost and hurting world, or simply to those around us.

My encouragement to you?

As you face the punches of life, and the unfair curve balls that hit your gut, learn to allow the "God of all comfort" be your source of hope and solace amidst your pain.

I know "soaking in His Word" during those terribly painful times have been my only hope. The Word can be like the "Balm of Giliad", which not only takes the sting away but also makes the wound whole again.

So as you allow God to comfort you, you in turn are able to comfort others.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ." (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

Be Jesus with skin on to someone today.