Today we’ll be digging in about the seeds we plant in the soil of our lives.  We'll focus on this particular parable, especially on the “seeds" we are sowing in our lives.  Just like a farmer carefully chooses the best seeds for his crops, we need to carefully choose what we plant in our lives.

Now, you might be wondering, what exactly are good seeds? Well, Jesus explains that the seeds are the word of God.

BIBLE PASSAGES/TEXT

MATTHEW 13:18-23

“Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.  22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one 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.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Today, we're gonna start talking about planting, focusing on the soil of our lives as we continue with this season’s theme on life as a garden.
Our passage is one of Jesus’ famous parables -  the parable of the sower, and it has a lot to teach us about the importance of being a good soil for God's Word to take root in.

BIBLE PASSAGES/TEXT

MATTHEW 13:18-23

“Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.  22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one 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.”

Have you ever thought about how the way we think is like a garden tool? Or how our minds are like powerful tools that we can use to shape and cultivate the garden of our lives?  Or how the way we think shapes and cultivates our lives?

BIBLE PASSAGES/TEXT

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Have you ever thought about how the Word of God is like a garden tool? Just like a tool helps a gardener cultivate and maintain their garden, the Word of God helps us cultivate and maintain our hearts and minds in line with God and His will for our lives, which is ultimately to grow into Christlikeness.

BIBLE PASSAGES/TEXT

Psalm 119:18-24; 37; 105 “Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.  18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.  19 I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!  20 My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.  21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.  22 Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.  23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.  24  Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors…  37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;  and give me life in your ways… 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

Gardening is more than just growing seeds or watering them and hoping for fruits or harvest, right?  The best way to do this is to start with something as basic yet important as gathering your tools. Translate this into our lives.  What is an important tool that you can actually use right now?

BIBLE PASSAGES/TEXT

Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

Hi there! I just want to share a short prose that is very much about our theme this season. This is from Donna Fargo, an American singer-songwriter, and just an all-around artist.  Donna has been one of my favorite artists/writers from Blue Mountain Arts since I got introduced to their works like 23 or so years ago.  

“Look at Your Life as a Garden”  by Donna Fargo
https://www.amazon.com/2017-Calendar-Celebrate-Every-Make/dp/1680880365?ref_=ast_sto_dp

(see 2017 calendar)

2023  - a brand new year and a brand new season for this podcast/channel as well. Join us for the next few days, or weeks, or as God leads, as I pray to be sharing some encouragement in the line of looking at our lives as a garden. Just like a garden, our lives are filled with good seeds and bad seeds, moments of growth and moments of stagnation.  We plant something everyday, and in due season we harvest what we planted.

BIBLE PASSAGES/TEXT

Proverbs 28:19 “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.”

Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 6:7-9 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”

It's that time of the year again - the end of the year. And you know what that means, right? Most people have this as a time to reflect on the past year and probably make some resolutions for the coming one.

But before we do that, I want to take a moment to talk about how we can end this year in God and look forward to the new one with hope in Him.

BIBLE PASSAGES/TEXT

2 Timothy 4:7-8  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Thus, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”