THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

October 7, 2020

LIFE IN THE FOLD:

Having a pretty yard takes a whole lot of work! Sometimes you wonder if it's worth the effort, time, and expense.

Honestly, I like having a pretty yard and throughout the years have gotten really gung-ho in the spring; then when the weeds start sprouting up in my flower bed, flowers start wilting from lack of water, yard needs mowed every single week, trees start dropping limbs from wind and rain, etc. my enthusiasm starts waning. I want a pretty yard, but don't like all the work it requires.

A couple years ago, we decided to start having our lawn treated for weeds. We didn't realize how aggressive the weeds had gotten and how they were killing out our grass in spots, until the treatments began working. We ended up with big bare patches of dirt in both our front and back yards. Whenever I mowed, it looked like a dust cloud covering our lawn; and covered me from head to toe with dirt.

So recently we had the company that treats our lawn to come out and aerate and plant grass seed in those areas. Grass for shaded areas needs to be planted in the fall. Right now, all we see are big bare patches with grass seed lying on top of the ground. In order for those seeds to take root and grow, they have to be watered daily.

The first day, we didn't have a sprayer for the nozzle of our water hose, so used our thumb; which got tiring by the time we got everything mowed. The two hoses we had connected together were, also, not quite long enough to reach everywhere that needed to be watered. I bought a sprayer for the nozzle, which helped, but still didn't quite reach all the areas; plus we were having to stand outside for over an hour watering everything. The instructions from the lawn service said that we needed to water daily for 5 weeks, until the seed gets good and rooted. So we knew that we needed a better solution. We didn't want to pay all that money for the aeration and over-seeding, only to have the grass seed not take root and grow.

Jon found a split hose that fits onto the end of our water hose, so that we can water two places at the same time. He also found a couple of nice sprinklers that fit into the ground and can easily be moved around. That system is working much better. It still requires some effort, for every 10-15 minutes, Jon has to move the sprinklers and hose to another area; but at least he/we are not having to stand outside the entire time holding the hose and water. We know that at some point, when we look, we will begin seeing green spouts where the seeds are growing and that they will take root and grow. Until then, we water.

1 Corinthians chapter 3 speaks of the importance of everyone working together on building the kingdom of God. No person is more important or more valuable than the other. But it requires the obedience of each individual doing what God asks them to do.

The church were immature and had allowed strife and jealousy to come between them. Instead of saying that they were followers of Jesus, some were saying that they followed Paul, while others said that they followed Apollos.

Paul told the people that they were both mere humans; each servants of Jesus Christ doing what the Lord had given them to do.

In verse 6, Paul writes, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." He continues, "So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow. Now he who plants and he who waters work as one, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's co-workers; you are God's field, God's building."

Is the job of those who came to our yard and aerated and seeded more important than the job of Jon going out every day to make sure that the seeds are being watered; or vise-versa? Absolutely not! You can't have grass without both doing their jobs. If the men came out and aerated and scattered seed, but Jon didn't water, the birds would eat the seed or they would die on the ground and nothing would happen. Next spring we would still have bare, dry patches of dirt all across our front and back yard. But if Jon watered those bare patches of dirt every single day, without the seeds first being scattered, then all he'd do is create mud. It took everyone doing jobs; yet God is the one who causes those seeds to sprout and grow and take root!

That is the exact same principle spiritually! God will place some in the lives of unbelievers or those who are disheartened and lacking commitment to plant those spiritual seeds. They may not be the ones who see those people come to God and surrender themselves to Him. But God will send others into their lives to water those seeds so that they will take root and begin to grow. Yet it is God who brings about growth and causes that person to increase in their relationship with Him. It takes each of us being available and obedient to what God urges and calls us to do, all being co-workers together in order to build the kingdom of God.

It may not only be seeds and watering that takes place in the lives of unbelievers, but also to those within the church that have grown weak or are undeveloped in their relationship with God. Perhaps they have allowed strife and jealousy to creep into their heart. God will bring people into those lives, also, to plant and water. Then He brings the increase and causes roots to deepen and those tender plants to grow.

Don't lose hope or patience or grow weary in doing good. Don't think that your work for the Lord is unimportant or feel as if you are a failure if you are not seeing the desired results.

Galatians 6:9 says, "So let us not lose heart (some versions say 'grow weary') in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we don't give up."

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

The soil at our home is particularly lush. It probably comes from centuries of river meanderings dropping rich top soil many feet deep. It doesn't need to be tilled, and doesn't need rocks removed, or even fertilizer before the grass will prosper.

The crew that planted the grass seeds probably won't see the results. If there were other crews who had come by to till the soil, to remove rocks, and to spread fertilizer before the crew planted seeds, there is a good chance none of them would see the lush grass filling our yard.

That often happens as we witness to others. All we might do is remove a few rocks. One person's rock might be thinking all christians are judgmental. Another's rock might be thinking you have to be pure to become a christian. Or we might till the soil a little by giving them a meal. The real seeds might not come till the soil is ready, and we may never see the results. But it is still important.

ON THE MENEWE:

Calico Bean Chili

Brown sausage with one small chopped onion and minced garlic; drain. Saute with one package of chili seasoning.

Open cans and pour into a crockpot.

Add meat mixture to beans and cook on low all day (8-10 hours) or on high for 3-4 hours.

This could also be made on the stovetop, if you would like it done quicker.

Great eaten with crackers or cornbread. Top with shredded cheese or sour cream, if desired.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

I shared this in a newsletter from 2008 and just ran across it again. I thought it was worth sharing and thinking about again.

(By Ken Fithen, Encourage Ministries)

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.' He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, frustration, anger, and disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so .... 'Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.' Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it! That encourages me!

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

People cannot do for you what only God can do for you.

People cannot give you what only God can give you.

People cannot love you in the way that only God loves you.

People cannot know you as God alone knows you.

Don't try to get from people what you can only get from God. - Christine Caine

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org