A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Tuesday,
April
21,
2020
Rye harvest
on Musser Road, Lancaster County, PA
"A
Lesson From
Seedtime"
Listen
to this
message on your audio player.“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease” (Genesis 8:22). “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy” (Psalm 126:5). “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:7-9).
Often
we don't understand the trouble in this life.
Though we trust His perfect plan we sometimes question why.
All the tears we've cried. Every sleepless night.
Though we trust His perfect plan we sometimes question why.
All the tears we've cried. Every sleepless night.
Late yesterday afternoon my neighbor, Janden, stopped by in a golf cart and asked if I wanted to go see the Rye harvest. Janden is a young man who works in the parts department at one of our area's farm equipment dealerships. He was excited about showing me a new 850HP chopper his company had just sold to a local farmer. What a sight to see this huge machine at work!
A very busy time for the farmers is
ramping up in our area. A drive through the country
reveals a buzz of activity on farm after farm as
it’s planting time or "seedtime". We see a lot of
different farming methods in our area from modern
hi-tech such as the huge chopper to old order
methods using horse (or mule) teams that I also
witnessed yesterday afternoon along Rt 30 making
large round bales. It sure makes for some
interesting sights as we travel about.Today
we consider the challenge of farming in the midst of
this coronavirus pandemic many may be unaware of.
Due to disruption of supply chains, processing
plants and changes in consumption fresh milk is now
being dumped and many chickens are not even making
it to market.
The word “seedtime” is used only once in the entire Bible (in most commonly used versions). "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease" (Genesis 8:22). This is known as the Noahaic covenant, the promise that God gave to Noah following the great flood. The flood occurred many thousands of years ago but this covenant promise has and will continue unabated "as long as the earth endures". Seedtime is otherwise known as sowing or planting as a physical phenomenon and we see this promise being faithfully fulfilled all around us.
It's interesting that in this covenant our normal designations for the seasons of Spring and Fall (Autumn) are not used but rather the agricultural seasons (seedtime and harvest).
There is a great spiritual truth as well in seedtime and harvest, in sowing and reaping. The second daily verse states, "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy" (Psalm 126:5). I don’t believe farmers typically "sow in tears" but as they sow (seedtime) they are certainly aware of the many dangers that face their growing crop till harvest (drought, flooding, disease, insects, etc.). It’s sure that way for us, also, as we sow in a spiritual sense. Many reading this message have sown their faith seeds in the midst of sorrowful experiences.
1)
There may be some matters in your life that you
have committed to the Lord but they're not yet
fully resolved. At times we may cry out to God in
tears petitioning for His help. I spoke to a young
man who shared that he is overcoming a particular
matter in his life but it remains a source of
temptation for him. He is earnest in his desire to
follow the Lord and live by His commands. I
encouraged him to press on in faithfulness and
gave him several specific tips. As he stays
faithful I am confident that he will overcome
based upon this wonderful Scripture: “And I am
sure of this, that He who began a good work in
you will bring it to completion at the day of
Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
2) You are seeking to faithfully follow the Lord and sow His seed in the lives of others. You have such a burden for loved ones who are not following the truth. But they are unreceptive, perhaps even hard, and you see no evidence of a forthcoming harvest. You continue to sow, at times in tears. For some of you this has gone on for years and years. You are weary and perhaps discouraged. But God’s Word states, "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy."
2) You are seeking to faithfully follow the Lord and sow His seed in the lives of others. You have such a burden for loved ones who are not following the truth. But they are unreceptive, perhaps even hard, and you see no evidence of a forthcoming harvest. You continue to sow, at times in tears. For some of you this has gone on for years and years. You are weary and perhaps discouraged. But God’s Word states, "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy."
Let us share a great, great promise. Read it slowly and accept it by faith. Brooksyne and I memorized this passage early in our marriage and have so often drawn strength and much needed perspective from it: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:7-9).
It
will be worth it all. It will be worth it all.
Every fear erased on that day.
It will be worth it all.
Every fear erased on that day.
It will be worth it all.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
there have been many times that we acted in
faith when it seemed futile in doing so. When we
get our eyes on the challenge it takes our
eyes off of you, the One who heals the sick,
raises the dead and casts mountains into the
depths of the sea. Father, we choose to walk by
faith and not by sight. We choose to
believe in things impossible with man, but
possible with You. We do believe and choose to
walk in faith until the invisible is made
visible, either here below or in heaven above.
Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Worth
it All" Video Brooklyn
Tabernacle Choir The choir director, Carol
Cymbala, has a great introduction to this song
that will encourage many through these times.
The
machine chops the Rye and dispenses it into a
truck. This will be used for animal feed.
Lots
of lights at sunset!
This
photo shows the tractor making the furrow rows.
Yesterday
Moses and Eli James finished work on the the back
side of our utility barn. They are covering the
crack in the wood siding to better weatherproof
the barn. Notice our dogwood tree is budding!
James
made a peanut butter birdfeeder with the pine
scraps. You place peanut butter in the holes, hang
the feeder and watch the birds come for a tasty
meal! These will be on sale at the Old Windmill
Farm.
Finally
today: A friend injected some humor by
suggesting the caption for yesterday's goat photo be "Old goat and
baby goat"!
Send a message to
Stephen & Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA