Category: Hosea

Posted on

Planting New Seeds

Fall is a good time to plant in Arizona. The cooler weather and our mostly mild winters provide a good growing environment.

I miss my garden and my flowers so now I plant a different kind of seed.

In years past, I have chosen my plants carefully. Measuring out the distance between, giving them enough room to grow without hindering the growth of what was around them. Potting soil added to the ground, automatic watering system in place and lots of tender loving care. I would imagine how they will look in 5, 10 and even 20 years. Gardens planted at homes I no longer live in brought temporary joy.

More important are the other seeds I have sown in the past 10, 20, 50 even 70 years. Seeds that have produced a wonderful marriage (although we had to pull up some weeds along the way), 3 children and their mates, 7 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, numerous friends who have been a part of our lives for so many years. Sowing seeds from God’s word to encourage, bring hope and God’s forgiveness of sin.

And then there are the seeds that had to be rooted out, things like bitterness, anger, insecurity, pride, selfishness and discontentment. These had to be dug up and pulled out by the roots so that the other seeds could grow and produce fruit.

This morning, I won’t be planting physical seedlings, I will be planting seeds of hospitality, acceptance, forgiveness, peace, joy, healing and restoration. It is my desire that all who share my life’s garden will know God’s goodness and the abundant life that He has given us in Christ Jesus.

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12 KJV

“This is what the story means: The seed is God’s message, 12 and the seeds that fell along the road are the people who hear the message. But the devil comes and snatches the message out of their hearts, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it. But they don’t have deep roots, and they believe only for a little while. As soon as life gets hard, they give up.

14 The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. But they are so eager for riches and pleasures that they never produce anything. 15 Those seeds that fell on good ground are the people who listen to the message and keep it in good and honest hearts. They last and produce a harvest.” Luke 8:11-15 CEV

Happy Planting!

Posted on

Making Good Ground

I frequently refer to the parable that Jesus told about a farmer who went out to sow seed. Jesus, himself, said that if we don’t understand this parable we won’t be able to really understand any of the parables.

The sower sowed the seed on all kinds of ground. He didn’t just see the good soil and sow there but instead seed went on the hard ground, the rocky soil, the soil with weeds and thorns and also the good soil. Every kind of ground had the opportunity to be planted.

“A farmer went out to sow seed. 4 While he was scattering the seed, some of it fell by the road. The birds came and ate all that seed. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where there was not enough dirt. It grew very fast there, because the soil was not deep. 6 But when the sun rose, it burned the plants. The plants died because they did not have deep roots. 7 Some other seed fell among thorny weeds. The weeds grew and stopped the good plants from growing. 8 But some of the seed fell on good ground. There it grew and made grain. Some plants made 100 times more grain, some 60 times more, and some 30 times more. 9 You people who hear me, listen!” Matthew 13:3-8 ERV

The same is true for us – the seed is the Word of God as Jesus said and the Word is available to all. We are the soil and it’s our responsibility to determine what kind of soil we will be. Frankly, I still have some thorns and weeds in my soil but am working daily to see that they are removed so the seed can grow and bring in a healthy harvest.

In the Old Testament we are given this admonition. “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12

It’s our job to break up the hard ground in our lives – we’re to pitch out the rocks and pull up the weeds so the seed has healthy soil to grow in.

Let God’s love soften the hard spots. Make good ground and watch the seed of God’s word produce a bountiful harvest.

Posted on

Sounds of Refreshing

What sounds wake you up in the night? For me it was the sound of distant thunder. About 2 hours ago, it was slightly muffled, and I knew it was far away but there it was. Hopefully, the promise of rain.

All around us there has been rain but here in our little community we’ve had very little. As I listened the thunder seemed to be coming closer and then the patter of rain drops on the roof. At first, I stayed in bed thinking it was but a brief shower. To my pleasant surprise it wasn’t. It’s a gentle shower, not a pelting deluge, that has continued for well over an hour.

I walked out on the patio and just stood there taking it all in. There is something so soothing about the smell of rain in the desert. The dry earth welcoming the moisture; the sage brush, palo verde, mesquite, saguaro and the ocotillo exhale their dryness and welcome the refreshing.

Oh, the refreshing! The welcomed refreshing.

“When your land was thirsty, you sent showers to refresh it.” Psalm 68:9 CEV

“Thirsty deserts will be glad; barren lands will celebrate and blossom with flowers. 2 Deserts will bloom everywhere and sing joyful songs. They will be as majestic as Mount Lebanon, as glorious as Mount Carmel or Sharon Valley. Everyone will see the wonderful splendor of the Lord our God.” Isaiah 35:1-2 CEV

But rain isn’t just for the dry ground or the barren desert. The Lord promises a refreshing for our souls.

“I will bless the thirsty land by sending streams of water; I will bless your descendants by giving them my Spirit. 4 They will spring up like grass or like willow trees near flowing streams.” Isaiah 44:3-4 CEV

“Let’s do our best to know the Lord. His coming is as certain as the morning sun;
he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime.” Hosea 6:3 CEV

“The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.” Zephaniah 3:17 CEV

“You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water,
3 and you refresh my life.” Psalm 23:2-3 CEV

There’s only a few light sprinkles falling now but the earth is refreshed. Let me share one more verse of refreshing with you.

“Rain and snow fall from the sky. But they don’t return without watering the earth that produces seeds to plant and grain to eat. 11 That’s how it is with my words. They don’t return to me without doing everything I send them to do.” Isaiah 55:10-11 CEV

God’s word is like the rain that showers the earth bringing new life and refreshing. If you are thirsty, if you are dry, look to God’s word and soak in the rain of His Spirit.

Posted on

Let’s Get Started

If you read yesterday’s blog you know that we are God’s garden. Paul said he planted; Apollos watered but God gives the increase. Today it’s time to start preparing the garden.

Each year I had my garden, I would get started by breaking up the ground that had sat through the winter. The surface would be hardened from the long period of being dormant. I would take my time raking through the earth, crumbling the dirt clods, raking it again, watering, raking, crumbling and finally adding new soil as needed.

If you want to have a fruitful garden, you have to have good soil.

“I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’” Hosea 10:12 NLT

Plow up the hard ground of your hearts. Excellent advice.

When we first moved back to Arizona, the ground in our area was sunbaked caliche, a natural concrete type material found in desert areas, beneath it was a red clay. Neither soil type was good for growing flowers and vegetables. It took a lot of work, but I was able to bring in good topsoil, Dave added a drip system and finally we had a garden that would bear fruit.

We don’t have physical stones in our hearts but the Apostle Paul warns us of spiritual hardness.

“ But now you must stop doing such things. You must quit being angry, hateful, and evil. You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others. 9  And stop lying to each other. You have given up your old way of life with its habits.” Colossians 3:8-9 CEV

“ As a follower of the Lord, I order you to stop living like stupid, godless people. 18 Their minds are in the dark, and they are stubborn and ignorant and have missed out on the life that comes from God. They no longer have any feelings about what is right, 19 and they are so greedy they do all kinds of indecent things.” Ephesians 4:17-19 CEV

Breaking up the ground, preparing the soil is hard work.

Sometimes there are big rocks to remove – bitterness, anger, jealousy, deceitful desires – so that you can have a productive garden. And don’t forget about the weeds and the wild uncultivated seeds that seem to grow in this hard soil.

“Other people are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching, and they quickly and gladly accept it. 17 But they don’t allow it to go deep into their lives. They keep it only a short time. As soon as trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they give up.

18 “Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching, 19 but their lives become full of other things: the worries of this life, the love of money, and everything else they want. This keeps the teaching from growing, and it does not produce a crop in their lives.” Mark 4:16-19 ERV

I know I’ve given you quite a bit to think about today. Pray on it. Tell the Lord you want Him to show you how to break up the ground, pull out the weeds and how to become more productive in your walk with Him.

He will do the very thing you ask, after all, it’s God who gives the increase! Now, let’s get started.

Posted on

The Love of God

Did you think I wasn’t coming this morning? A little slow in getting started but I have been having a wonderful time of thought with the Father. This weekend the kids have planned a celebration for our 50th wedding anniversary. I sat here for a long time thinking about that day and the joy it will be this weekend having all the kids and their families here with us to celebrate.

As I sat here thanking the Lord for what He’s done in us and for us over all those years, my heart filled with song – yes, a song. This is only natural since I started singing when I was just tiny, about 3, and songs stay with me. I heard the words

“I will sing of Your love forever, I will sing of Your love forever, I will sing of Your love forever”

T remembered so many verses that tell us that the Lord’s love will endure forever. His love is so great – amazingly unconditional and eternal!

“I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.” Psalm 89:2

“Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 106:1

“For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.” Psalm 117:2

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” I Chronicles 16:34

“I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.” Hosea 2:19

Did you get that last one? I will betroth you to me forever, the Lord has chosen us as His beloved! Wow – amazing!!

We became His betrothed and He gave up His life for us. He loves us as His own body, He covers us with His strength and protection, He presents us spotless to His Father.

I am so thankful that God knew what He was doing when He brought Dave and I together. His goodness has marked our marriage from the very beginning. We’ve been through some tough times, like all married couples, but God’s faithfulness and goodness have been our strength.

As I look back and remember the preparation for my wedding day, the excitement, the anticipation, the LOVE I put that in context to our relationship with Christ.

“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” Psalm 89:1

Let the love of God fill your hearts with great joy!

Posted on

Preparing the Soil

I have always enjoyed gardening and for the first time in a large number of years I live where I don’t have a garden plot.

For many of you, thinking of gardening is still several months away. I know when we lived in Montana I was advised to not put any plants outdoors until after Memorial Day. In Idaho it was a little sooner than that but not much, end of April. You see the ground was snow covered until then. But here in southern Arizona I started preparing the soil in February, however, this morning it was 33* when I got up.

There are so many stories in the Bible, parables they’re called, that teach us about our life in Christ through farming.

This morning I saw a correlation that I never noticed before and I have taught on the verses in Luke 8 many times. I love how God’s word is living, growing, always able to show us something new.

“After this Jesus went to all the cities and towns preaching and telling the Good News about the holy nation of God. The twelve followers were with Him…Many people came together from every town to Jesus. He told them a picture-story. 5 “A man went out to plant seed…”Luke 8:1-5 NLV

A man went out to plant some seed – that man was Jesus. You notice the first verse, “Jesus went to all the cities and towns preaching the Good News”?

Sharing the Good News of God’s kingdom is what Jesus did. He was the man sowing the seed. He was the one preparing the ground of men’s hearts. Some of the ground was hard as concrete, some was rocky, some was filled with thorns and some ground was prepared and ready to plant.

Now I know most of you are familiar with this parable but I’m going to take the next few days to show you examples of what Jesus taught, examples that occurred in the life of his followers just hours and days after He preached this message.

I would like you to take time today to read at least the first fifteen verses of Luke 8. When you do pray and ask the Lord to open your heart to the meaning of the message of the parable. For the next few days we will be looking at different soil and how it affects our growth.

I had to learn how to adapt the soil in each of the areas where we lived so that I would get a good harvest. Gardening takes work. If the soil isn’t prepared properly crops won’t grow, there will be no harvest.

“I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’” Hosea 10:12 NLT

Being a fruitful Christian also requires good ground. Each year I ask the Lord to show me what obstacles might thwart my growth. It’s time to prepare the soil!

Posted on

Unshakable, Immovable

A few days back a friend and I were discussing all the senseless tragedies that have been in the news lately. Some people want to blame God for what’s occurring. I would like to go on record, “this is not God’s fault”.

What I’m about to share with you now are the words that came pouring from my heart. The word of God is my unshakable, immovable, solid rock foundation. In these uncertain times we need a firm foundation.

“ Anyone who comes and listens to me and obeys me 48 is like someone who dug down deep and built a house on solid rock. When the flood came and the river rushed against the house, it was built so well that it didn’t even shake. 49 But anyone who hears what I say and doesn’t obey me is like someone whose house wasn’t built on solid rock. As soon as the river rushed against that house, it was smashed to pieces!” Luke 6:47-49 CEV

Let’s take a look at God’s word. He has given us a free will and He will not violate that. We are free to choose His blessings or to reject them. The choice of building our lives on the solid rock of God’s word is ours. God will not usurp our will to keep us from going to hell nor will He force us to accept any of his other blessings or His help.

“God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance”. II Peter 3:9 KJV

Psalms 103:1-5 tells us that the Lord forgives all our sins and heals all of our diseases but there are very few people I know who actually live free from the guilt of sin in every area of their lives or who live in divine health, 100% of the time. Does that mean that God lied when He said all, or does it mean we are unworthy to receive those blessings? NEVER!

If we are in Christ, children of the Father, all His promises belong to us.

“We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. 4 God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.” II Peter 1:3-4 CEV

Why do bad things happen to good people? 

If we don’t know that God’s promises belong to us, all of His promises, then we blindly and ignorantly accept the evil being done without fighting back. If we don’t know that God wants us protected, well, prospered, worry-free, forgiven and loved then that lack of knowledge will destroy us. We will have no foundation.

“My people are destroyed because they have no knowledge…” Hosea 4:6 ERV

But if we know we can fight against those things and be victorious, it changes the outcome.

“I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory.” II Corinthians 2:14 CEV

If we are in Christ, and we are as Christians, we are promised victory. I have more to share on this so there will be a part two tomorrow.

Don’t give up, don’t quit! Build on a solid foundation; we will be unshakable and immovable!

Posted on

Good Seeds Good Soil

In years past this is the time I start thinking about what I will be planting in my garden. This year there will be no garden. There’s no place to put one in at the RV park.

Although I won’t be planting a physical garden with tomatoes, onions, peppers, cilantro and the like, I am expecting another kind of harvest.

The primary step to ensure a successful garden is the preparation of the soil. One place we lived had horrible soil. It was rocky and the base was a sticky clay. I had to break up the ground, remove the stones and then add multiple bags of good soil into my garden bed. It was hard to get a good harvest.

“Plow your fields, scatter seeds of justice, and harvest faithfulness. Worship me, the Lord,
and I will send my saving power down like rain.” Hosea 10: 12 CEV

The hard ground of our hearts needs to be broken up too; the stones of bitterness, selfishness, jealousy and anger need to be removed. Good, fertile soil needs to be brought in.

“Jesus told them: If you don’t understand this story, you won’t understand any others. 14 What the farmer is spreading is really the message about the kingdom. 15 The seeds that fell along the road are the people who hear the message. But Satan soon comes and snatches it away from them. 16 The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it right away. 17 But they don’t have any roots, and they don’t last very long. As soon as life gets hard or the message gets them in trouble, they give up.

18 The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. 19 But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything. 20 The seeds that fell on good ground are the people who hear and welcome the message. They produce thirty or sixty or even a hundred times as much as was planted.” Mark 14:13-20 CEV

There are four kinds of ground in this story that Jesus is telling – the hard soil of the road, the rocky ground, the ground with weeds and the good ground. The same seed is being spread on all the ground, it’s the message of God’s kingdom.

Hard-heartedness, lack of being rooted, anxiety and worry kept the seed from growing in each of the first three soils. The good ground is those who hear God’s message and take it to heart. These are tender hearted and the seed takes root and produces a good harvest.

I’m taking inventory – preparing my heart. Have I allowed the ground to get hard? Are there stones that need to be removed, perhaps it’s time to weed out the thorns of distraction and worry?

I want the seed of God’s word to be in a constant state of production. “Lord, I desire to have a heart of good soil that creates an environment for the good seed of Your word to grow”.

Posted on

I Know…

I know:

  1. the artist of this wonderful landscape
  2. the author of the world’s best seller
  3. the world’s largest cattle rancher
  4. the wisest man in the world
  5. the most compassionate person to have ever walked the earth
  6. Him and I call Him Father

Some times we get so focused on what we don’t know we forget to center in on Who we know.

“I say this because all of God lives in Christ fully, even in his life on earth. 10 And because you belong to Christ you are complete, having everything you need. Christ is ruler over every other power and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10 ERV

When feelings of inadequacy come, and they will, it’s important that we are firmly established in who we are in Christ.

The Apostle Paul writes that we are complete in Christ, having everything we need!

He couldn’t have written this if it weren’t true. That’s the thing about the Bible, every verse is true. God doesn’t allow any exaggeration, half-truth, misrepresentation or bald-faced lie of His word. He pointed these things out everytime someone acted in such a way.

“You have known the Holy Scriptures since you were a child. These Scriptures are able to make you wise. And that wisdom leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching the right way to live. 17 Using the Scriptures, those who serve God will be prepared and will have everything they need to do every good work.” II Timothy 3:15-17 ERV

God’s word provides us with all we need for every situation but there is one catch. Ready? We have to read it to know what’s in it. Simple but true.

“My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me.” Hosea 4:6 NLT

Let’s put it this way. If someone put $10,000 in your checking account but you didn’t know it, you would continue to operate on the balance you thought was available. But once you went on-line to view your account or received your statement in the mail your outlook would be entirely different. You would probably contact the bank to verify that the deposit was actually meant for you and not fradulent but once assured of that you would spend and/or save the money because it is rightfully yours.

God has given us something so much greater than that. He has given us Himself and placed all of who He is in Christ for our benefit! Reading His word gives us that knowledge.

There’s one more thing I feel you should know before I close:

“For I know that nothing can keep us from the love of God. Death cannot! Life cannot! Angels cannot! Leaders cannot! Any other power cannot! Hard things now or in the future cannot! 39 The world above or the world below cannot! Any other living thing cannot keep us away from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NLV

And now, you know too!

Posted on

Life Giving Water

The weather is warming up and everyday in the desert is beautiful but even more so when it’s blooming and the trees are budding.

It’s important to remember to take plenty of water when you go out hiking or exploring. It doesn’t take long in the desert sun to dry out or feel the effects of dehydration.

Every hiker knows to take life giving water.

As a girl we never went on a car trip without having at least two gallons of water in the trunk of the car. If the car overheated we would add it to the radiator and we would have some to drink in case of an emergency. Water is a necessity of life.

But what about our soul? How long does it take for the soul to dry out and become parched? How many emotional dry spells can it endure?

Since the soul is more fragile than the body the withering takes place more quickly. It isn’t always as visible as physical dehydration but it is just as devastating.

Have you had those times? Times when you say I just feel like I want to shrivel up and die?

King David spent quite a bit of time being pursued by King Saul in the desert of Israel. He knew what it was like to thirst both physically and spiritually.

“God, you are my God. I am searching so hard to find you. Body and soul, I thirst for you in this dry and weary land without water. 2 Yes, I have seen you in your Temple. I have seen your strength and glory. 3 Your faithful love is better than life, so my lips praise you. 4 By my life, I will praise you. In your name, I lift my hands in prayer. 5 When I sit down to satisfy my hunger my joyful lips hunger to praise you! 6 I remember you while lying on my bed. I think about you in the middle of the night. 7 That is because you are the one who helps me. It makes me happy to be under your protection! 8 I stay close to you, and you hold me with your powerful arm.” Psalm 63:1-9 ERV

Body and soul desire life giving water. Physical water refreshes the body and praise refreshes the soul.

We are waiting patiently for the Spring rains. Nothing smells better than rain in the desert, nothing brings signs of life like a desert rain.

“Let’s do our best to know the Lord. His coming is as certain as the morning sun; he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime.” Hosea 6:3 CEV

Life giving water restores the soul.

I pray that you will know what it’s like to be spiritually thirsty, to have soul-thirst, and then to be completely refreshed by the falling rain of God’s amazing love!

Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress