How the Message Was Truly A Message for Me

Sunday, we attended our church....finally...after being away for a month.  Busy weekends have kept us away.  The Scripture Readings included Matthew 13 and the Parable of the Four Soils. 
Here are the words from Matthew 13:18-23
Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is the seed sown along the path.  The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time.  When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.  The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, makng it unfruitful.  But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it.  He produces a crop yielding a hundred sixty, or thirty times what was sown.

I was so glad we were able to go to church!  As I heard the scripture reading I remembered learning that parable in my BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) study.  Then I realized as our Pastor was giving the message, that he was speaking right to me.  Isn't that such an amazing feeling when the message intended for all to hear was maybe just what I needed to hear?  Was God encouraging me that morning that I could take on this task?  As I listened, I thought about my 90 days ahead of reading God's Word, and I realized I needed to be the "good soil".  I needed to be sure my heart was ready to accept the "seeds" of God's Word.  If my mind/heart is full of rocks, weeds, and thorns I won't be openly ready to accept what God is telling me.  I have to make sure the soil of my heart isn't packed down hard and unwilling to accept those seeds he is going to drop down each day.  But, I can't just have loose soil ready to accept the seeds.  It needs to be nourished soil where the seeds can penetrate into the soil.  Where those seeds can then germinate and grow.  I can't let the weeds and thorns come in and prevent those seeds of God's word to take root and multiply.

What are the rocks, thorns and weeds in my life that will prevent God's seeds from growing in me?  Those who laugh and think I am crazy for trying to do this.  My own mind, who isn't sure even I can complete this monumental task.  All those daily distractions we choose to do instead of what is important. 

So, I am going to keep rocks, thorns and weeds from taking ahold of my heart.  Each day I will ask God to bring his "Special Roundup Weed Killer" and get rid of them so I can be ready to accept new seeds of His words every day.  Then it will be my job to nourish, water, and grow those seeds.  I can already feel some growing these last 2 days.  I can't wait to see the garden that blooms after 90 days!  Anyone that has a garden, knows that every day, weeds are trying to come in, so it is a daily job to keep those weeds out.  It isn't an easy job and some weeds will get though, but God's seeds are strong and if your soil is nourished, the seeds will beat out the weeds and thorns!


One of my mom's many beautiful gardens - tended daily with love!