WORKS FOR WEDNESDAY

I set my cell-phone alarm clock for 7:22 a.m. so I would not miss Wednesday's with Beth on James Robison's, Life Today. As it turned out, setting the alarm was not necessary as the family of Loons swimming nearby lulled me out of my slumber at 6:45 a.m! Just enough time to get up, wash my face, brush my teeth, brew a pot of coffee and get pen and paper in hand for today's topic: The Law of the Harvest.

Good thing I had my first sips of coffee because Beth began her teaching by challenging the audience, "Do you really believe God's Word? Or do you just read it, study it, be blessed by it? Do you sow the Word into your reality?" Picking myself up out of a prone position and propping the pillows behind my back, I sat up knowing I would not be able to view this laying down!

"Sow the Word into my reality?" What does that look like? In our season of tears, season of deep sadness and sorrow, do we really believe what God's Word promises or do we just know what it says and expect His guarantee of the Harvest? Beth suggests: "The harder the test; the broader the effects of that past test--the bigger the ramifications. If God allows you to go through a deeply sorrowful time, when you sow the seeds through a time of tears something huge is on the other side--there is G.L.O.R.Y. at stake! Our entire line is going to be marked by our faithfulness." Phew! There's motivation to be obedient and sow the Seed! Not only are we guaranteed that God will walk through our sorrow with us; future generations will be marked by our faithfulness.

This sowing means that while the seed will never die, the sower (that's you and me) must die a little. For me this means, I must trust God's promises for my prodigal and release my right to----anxiety, unforgiveness, fear, unbelief--my right to be mad! If I truly believe what God's Word says, I must dig deep, plant the seed, and wait for the Harvest. I must not fertilize that seed with doubt, fear, unbelief or destructive behaviors. I must wait for the Harvest. The Harvest is not a fast food harvest--it comes up with just the tiniest of green and begins to grow into a full harvest of JOY!

I have said repeatedly on this blog, my son's journey is moving forward in baby steps. At times, this frustrates me! I want his growth to be steady and growing in leaps and bounds. There I go again, expecting the Harvest to be McDonald's style: Super-sized and fast! This is the part of THIS sower that must die....to guarantee the seed will grow into a full harvest, I must stop throwing weeds into the Harvest! What examples can you think of where you have not died for the Harvest?

For me, I struggle dying to my timing. I want my son's miracle NOW! Yet, when I listen to what Beth has told us this Works for Me Wednesday, I am inspired to die to my impatience. For, there is "Glory at stake."

What miracle are you waiting for? Is your desire so significant that you are willing to set aside your expectations and rely totally on God's guarantee for the Harvest? Are we willing to give up our right to micro-manage, to be mad, to be unforgiving; or are we going to, by faith, die to ourselves and be guaranteed the Harvest? Sounds like a no-brainer doesn't it? But it is hard work! Maybe this post should have been under "Tackle it Tuesday!" For it is hard work! I could post a before picture.....
This is me, struggling with my inability to give up my rights! I'm micro-managing the Harvest, I'm causing the weeds of unbelief, unforgiveness, and impatience to grow along side the precious little seedlings.
The after photo would look something like this! Now, isn't this a little better for Works for Me Wednesday??? When we plant the seeds of our Harvest, we must release them to God who guarantees the Harvest. When we "go out weeping, carrying [our] seed to sow, [we] will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves [of joy with us!]" Praise the Lord....and pass the G.L.O.R.Y!