We’ve planted a garden many times over the years. We love fresh tomatoes, basil, and other veggies that allow us to make our homemade marinara and salsa.
Most of the time we have bought the plants from the store and placed them in our garden.
This year, we have started from seeds. My wife bought a set of assorted heirloom, non-GMO seeds online and we planted them ourselves.
It’s quite a different experience starting a garden from the very beginning. I know it may sound a bit still, but I marvel at the miracle of watching a plant grow from seed, good soil, water, and plenty of sunshine!
Of course, it’s our Creator who planted the first garden. He alone is the One who causes and brings forth the grand bounty of life.
We’ve been blessed with a growing and healthy set of plants. I watch over them, perhaps a bit too much. 🙂
I take them outside every day for fresh air and sunshine and then bring them back in at night to protect them from the many storms we’ve had this spring.
I look forward to planting all of our future veggies in the backyard, and I can’t wait to harvest the fruits of our labor.
In a strange coincidence, I keep running into Matthew 13 and the Parable of the Sower recently.
Particularly verse 23…
As for what was sown on good soil, this is he 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 RSV
Keep in mind here that none of this is to my glory. Just as Paul said, “Neither he who plants, nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” (1 Cor. 3:7)
Recently, a sister in Christ told me about a sermon my father preached many years ago that was partially responsible for her becoming a Christian the following week back in her hometown.
A young man who I baptized many years ago reminded me of a warning my parents gave him just before his baptism to stay faithful no matter what.
I am so proud that he is still a faithful Christian with a fine Christian wife even though his mother (who my Dad baptized just before him) has now fallen away and is suffering from cancer.
Another man who I studied with has just grown and grown. His prayers demonstrate a solid, quiet, maturing faith. He is quietly now a leader in his church.
All three of these were seeds planted along the way.
All we did was plant and give a little water for as long as I had the opportunity, but God gave the increase in each of their lives. And as I already mentioned, sometimes the seed gets choked out by worldly cares.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work all the time.
When I sat at the dining table with the last man I mentioned, I remember it as clearly as if I was sitting there still.
When the seed is planted, and it lands on good soil, the Lord can do beautiful things with it, and the Christian servants it yields are for GOD’S GLORY, not mine or anyone else’s.
My father had and a young man had been studying for many months, and my Dad finally asked him what his conclusions were after going over how to become a Christian.
He quietly said, “Well, I think I need to become a Christian.”
There was no way of telling at that moment what kind of soil he was or how much his life would yield…but God knew.
We are responsible for getting the seed out there and into the lives of everyone can.
Then God will give the increase, and God will be glorified.
Plant some seeds!
Always strive to be the best example of a servant and follower of Christ.
You never know what God might produce from it.
Matthew 13:36-39 ASV
THE SOWER SOWS THE WORD.
And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown; when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word which is sown in them. And these in like manner are the ones sown upon rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns; they are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown upon the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”
Mark 4:14-20 RSV
