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Listen while you read: "Saviour Thy Dying Love"1 (Lyrics) |
At the time of writing this, about two feet of snow remain on the ground in the area where our small raised garden is supposed to be. As there was already snow on the ground when we moved here, I have not seen it yet, and I only remember it from the times when we looked at this house with the idea of buying it. But as spring approaches, I am looking forward to having at least a small garden. That made me think of the way seeds germinate and how plants multiply, and that made me think of some of the parables about sowing seeds which Jesus told the people.
For the past while, I have been studying some of those parables. I really like the one about the seeds growing at night.
Mark 4:26-28 – The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. (NKJV)
The soil is prepared, the seeds are sown, the earth is watered and fertilized, and then the seeds germinate and start to grow—there is nothing more that we can do about it; it just happens. That is the way it is with the Word of God so often. At some point in their lives, many people hear the Word, perhaps at home or from friends, or in Sunday school or church, and gradually, they realize that this Word has meaning for them, and they believe the Word.
Back in the late 1940s, a family of new immigrants from the Netherlands came to this area. They had never been to church in their lives, never. But they were homesick, they could not speak the language, and they longed to speak to other Dutch people, so they came to church, quite some distance from where they lived. They kept coming for the fellowship mostly. It gave them the opportunity to commiserate with others in similar situations and to make new friends. It was something they looked forward to all week. But in the process, they discovered that the Word that they heard in church, the hymns that they sang, and the message in them became important to them; they believed. We joined the church and have been faithful members for the rest of our lives.
As Jesus said in the parable of the sower, "These are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred." (Mark 4:20 NKJV)
After His resurrection, Jesus gave us the mandate to bring the good news of the gospel to all people. As the parables tell us, we need to prepare the people and bring the Word in a way that is meaningful and easy to understand, and then, we are assured that the seeds of faith will grow, here and everywhere.
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, as we sow the seeds of faith, each one of us in our own way, we pray that You will be with us and with those who hear the Word and that they will indeed believe and then also spread the Word, to the best of their ability. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
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Saturday, April 20, 2024 – In Niger — We had some wonderful cool weather through January and February which was a real blessing as we approach the hot season in April/May. We welcomed three returning students who had been delay due to the coup d'état. Pray for a resolution to the coup, and for endurance during the hot season and power cuts. Pray for the salvation and growth of our students.
Housing: "Update April 18, 2024: The judge granted the father 4 extra days of visitation per month. T is..." 
A touching reminder Joel. God bless.
Joel,
Well said, well done.
God Bless.
Dear Joel,
You wrote a God-given message. Thank you. I copied it and want to give it to a lady I know.
I pray that God will continue to guide you in your writing.
I love your devotional today, thank you. Just as we are watching all the new growth sprouting, I am still waiting for new growth to sprout in family members. One seed at a time, even if the faith is the size of a mustard, it is planted and it will grow.
(B.C.)
Such a timely message Joel, even though it is still cool the crocus are blooming and the daffodils are getting ready to bloom on the sunny side of the house. So many are impatient for spring, but God always delivers in his time! We pray that the seeds we spread wills sprout and flourish for all to see and grow for all to see. Thank you.
Good Evening Joel:
What a beautiful devotional portraying how the Word of God penetrates the lives of those who are steadfast and faithful to His teachings. It was a long trip for you and your family each week, yet because you were seeking friendship and acceptance you continued to make the trip and were blessed to have found a wonderful church family where the seeds planted grew and produced beautiful Christian Fruit.
A lovely message assuring us if we allow our lives to be under the umbrella of His Word, the Holy Spirit will indeed bless us and the Word of God will melt our hearts and we will become servants of the living God…Not all clergy, mind you, but servants in our own way.
Thank you Joel!
God be with you and your loved ones. Always.
I liked your story about the flower. I am in Pico, Azores with my husband.
I have seen in all this lava rock a tiny little fir tree starting no more than an inch high and my first thought was,”no matter the rocky road you may be on…be what you were meant to be” thought it would be a great motivation poster. and the other day it was a little flower also. Amazing how God looks after these little things with great odds and also looks after us when the odds are or seem to be against us. I don’t know how people go through life without His constant love, guidance and forgiveness.
I was concerned the other evening about my husband’s health and the work he was doing, I wanted him to stop and he kept going!! In the midst of my concern I heard God asked, “don’t you trust me, he will be ok?” I asked for forgiveness and yes I trust Him and gave concerns over.
The rest of the evening went well, helped him finish off, etc. God is faithful. trusting you are having a great day. God bless you for your contribution to the devotions.
Just came across your contribution to the PCC Daily Devotional dating back to April 27, 2014.
So hard to imagine how, back in the 40’s a Dutch family, living in Holland had NEVER been to a church, when all around you were Christian churches and schools. With all those incredible pipe organs, and all the loud singing from the congregations, I cannot help but be STUNNED!
When in Holland, it’s hard for me to stay out of a church.
Anyways, Joel, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your inspiring devotionals. Reading thru the devotionals is a wonderful way for me to start my day.
May God continue to bless you and your family as you serve your Lord.
(SK)