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Brooksyne Weber
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Wednesday,
September 14, 2022
The Star Barn near Elizabethtown, PA
Click on photo to enlarge
"The
Good Soil" (Part 2)
“But the seed in the
good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word
with a good and virtuous heart, and hold it firmly, and
produce fruit with perseverance" (Luke 8:15).
Thank you, God, for
water, soil and air,
large gifts supporting everything that lives.
large gifts supporting everything that lives.
Many
people see soil as nothing more than dirt. But soil is a
marvelous gift from God. On the third day of Creation the
dry ground (soil) appeared followed by vegetation.
Wherever you live, unless we have readers in the polar
regions or extremely high elevations, you can see evidence
of this divine work, even in concrete covered cities.Soil is very complex and
there is an entire field of soil science which studies the
physical and chemical properties of soil. Good soil
structure for growing is soft and crumbly, with granular
aggregates that hold together even in water. Soil has many
nutrients that plants need and these can be enhanced.
The
parable of the sower is recorded in all three of the
synoptic gospels (Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke
8:1-15). In this parable the human heart is likened to
soil that is receptive to the seed of God's Word. That's
the kind of heart we want!The description of the
good soil is slightly different but complimentary in each
account.
- "As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty” (Matthew 13:23).
- "But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold” (Mark 4:20).
- “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and virtuous heart, and hold it firmly, and produce fruit with perseverance" (Luke 8:15).
- "one who hears and understands"
- "one who bears fruit"
- "one who hears the word with a good and virtuous heart"
- "one who holds it firmly"
- "one who perseveres"
The good soil represents
true disciples who understand God's word and produce a
good harvest. They listen with a good and virtuous heart
and are even willing to suffer in their perseverance for
Christ.
Lord, let my heart be good
soil!
Be
encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
we thank You for soil, one of Your
great creations from the very
beginning that we easily take for
granted. We want to be like the good
soil mentioned in the Parable of the
Sower; the one who hears the Word,
absorbs its message, understands its
meaning and as a result brings forth
an abundance of fruit; the kind that
has lasting eternal value such as
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self-control. Just like water,
soil and air produce good vegetation,
so also the Bible, prayer, and worship
produce godliness in the believer. May
we be faithful in doing our part. In
the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Lord, Let My Heart Be
Good Soil" Video
Asian singers
Lord,
let my heart be good soil,
open to the seed of your word.
Lord, let my heart be good soil,
where love can grow and peace is understood.
When my heart is hard, break the stone away.
When my heart is cold, warm it with the day.
When my heart is lost, lead me on your way.
Lord, let my heart.. Lord, let my heart..
Lord, let my heart be good soil.
open to the seed of your word.
Lord, let my heart be good soil,
where love can grow and peace is understood.
When my heart is hard, break the stone away.
When my heart is cold, warm it with the day.
When my heart is lost, lead me on your way.
Lord, let my heart.. Lord, let my heart..
Lord, let my heart be good soil.
"Morning by Morning"
Video Pat Barrett
I
will trust where You lead
I will trust when I can’t see
Morning by morning
Great is Your faithfulness to me
I will trust when I can’t see
Morning by morning
Great is Your faithfulness to me
Brooksyne's note:
We sang this song on our church
service this last Sunday. This verse
caught my attention. Do we sternly
rebuke fear when it arises in our
life? When fear and doubt from the
enemy overshadows courage and faith
from God's Spirit let us speak out
in the authority given to us by
Christ:
All
fear be reminded
My future is secure
My Father has spoken
And He keeps His every word
My future is secure
My Father has spoken
And He keeps His every word
Looking back a few years
to one of our favorite places, The
Old Windmill Farm.
This horse on the Old Windmill Farm was interested in checking out my suspenders. He would pull at the elastic suspenders till they snapped. This startled the horse, but he quickly got over his fear, and enthusiastically thought up a new game of "Snap the guy's suspender". I finally decided this horse had had enough horsing around at my expense! Perhaps it was the first experience he had with straps that stretch and he got a kick out of it, since the straps of a bridle do not stretch.
I had so much fun
leading a team of mules as the
Lapp family, along with Stephen
and Ester, rode on the hay wagon
through the fields (probably
four years ago). I was surprised
they offered me the chance but I
jumped at it as I still remember
when Grandpa Sherrell let me
lead his team of mules, as a
young teen, after we had done a
day's work of plowing on his 200
acre farm on Mountain Top,
Arkansas. (In a few weeks I will
be on the mountain again
visiting with aunts, uncles and
cousins.) It was a bit harder to
lead Jesse's team since I had to
stand and guide the mules.
Grandpa had a bench seat on his
wagon and I would guide the
mules sitting down. Stephen
tried it for a few minutes as
well. I'm sure the mules
were relieved when Jesse
eventually took the reins from
me!
Can you guess whose
baby I'm holding!
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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."
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