Increase Our Faith

Given November 14, 2007
First, I apologize for not writing for over a week. I was attending a state technology conference for most of the week and was unable to find the time. So, I will catch up beginning today.

After Jesus had told his guys to forgive somebody seven times as day, they said, "Lord, increase our faith", Luke 17:5. That seemed a pretty tall order for those guys and they realized they needed more faith to do that. But Jesus began telling them that all they needed was faith as small as a mustard seed. They didn't need any super faith, they had what they needed and we do too.

But, it made me think about seeds....if we have a seed that we want to produce a plant, we don't take it to Jesus and ask Him to give us the increase. No, we plant it, water it, and do the things that we know will cause it to grow and increase. The law of seed-time-harvest is already in place, we just have to operate in it.

I think it's the same with our faith. We all have a measure of it, (the seed), so we have to develop it with prayer, the Word, and exercising it. When we do those things, our faith will increase and we'll be able to do great and mighty things through God who gives the increase by His plan according to Christ Jesus. Be blessed!

Thank You For The Harvest

Given August 8, 2007
As we gather today to celebrate those things for which we are thankful, I'm reminded of where the harvest comes from; the seed. "And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:12". The things we are harvesting today come from the seeds we've planted in the past. If you're not seeing the kind of harvest you want, or in the amount you want, try planting different or more seed.

This summer, after planting some bean seeds, I harvested a bumper crop. I love to count things, so I counted the bean pods I got off of several plants. You know I got 27 bean pods from one plant with about 8 beans in each pod. That's 216 bean seeds that came from the one I planted! Now that's a good return! I had planted a bunch of seeds so I got a bountiful return. "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6". And, since I wanted beans, I planted bean seeds. I sowed according to what I wanted to harvest.

But I didn't just let the seeds sit there. No, I watered them, got the weeds out, kept the soil loose around them because I wanted the best harvest I could get. And it took awhile. But I had faith that the process would work. It works the same way in the Spiritual realm. You get what you sow and in the amount you sow it. "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38".

As we give thanks today for what God has done for us and the things He has given to us, realize it comes from this principle of seed-time-harvest; plant the seed, give it some time, reap the harvest. You know, we should be out looking for opportunities to plant into the Kingdom of God in many areas of our lives and expecting, by faith, a bountiful return.

Be blessed!