Keep Planting

I love this time of year when the leaves are back on the trees and everything is coming back to life from the wintertime where it seems everything was dormant. During wintertime, it’s hard to tell which trees are alive and which are dead. As the leaves come back, it’s easy to tell which trees/plants are alive and which are dead. This time of year is when you plant a garden. My wife has a small garden and the green beans are breaking through the ground.  Planting a garden requires getting the soil ready. She also has to physically plant the seeds and then she will be on the lookout for weeds. Weeds can drastically hinder a garden. Not only do they choke out the good producing plants, they steal the nutrients from the soil and this can stunt the growth of the garden plants.

I’ve just shared in a few sentences about all I know about gardening. I love the story Jesus tells about gardening and how planting the Word of God is important to future growth of others. Check this out…

¹⁴ The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. ¹⁵ The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. ¹⁶ The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. ¹⁷ But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. ¹⁸ The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, ¹⁹ but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.²⁰ And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

²⁴ Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. ²⁵ To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” (Mark 4:14-20; 24-25 NLT)

I have been away for a few days at a conference that really planted some new ideas and healthy thoughts inside my heart. I needed to hear some encouragement and insight in growing my business. I also needed some insight into expanding my heart of service to others. My routines have been interrupted for sure. I have been listening to the Lord. I am so thankful that even when my schedule is changed for a bit, He’s still present and He’s still leading me.

I want to know more of what He must teach me.

I want to plant the Word of God into the hearts of others as I go through life.

I want to keep listening to Him as He grows and expands my heart to serve.

I want Him to grow a garden of compassion, love, understanding and service inside this heart of mine.

Pressing On!

Dwayne