A seed, a tiny seed, can pack a big wallop! Look out at any garden, flower bed, or any tree; look at the people walking around. We all got our start as a small seed, as do all the things that happen in our life.

I find it so amazing that we as believers are given faith the size of a mustard seed, that we can be used to plant seeds of encouraging thoughts or ideas in others, how we can be planted into people’s lives to make a difference, how we can plant seeds of money, time, possessions and reap a harvest, how we can plant seeds of faith or doubt in what we say, sow tears, and nurture a dream… all of which are seeds. We can sow to the flesh and reap destruction or we can sow to the spirit and reap life. We speak seeds, either good or bad. We experience the harvest of our past sowing of seeds, forgetting what we planted, wondering at the outcome.

God plants seeds inside us! The things we are passionate about, the talents we have, the thoughts of things we’d like to try or maybe think we are crazy for thinking – are all seeds! We should aim to use them for to the Glory of God who’s given them to us with purpose in mind. The gifts He’s given to us are for the betterment of the church as a whole and for touching the lives of people around us, making certain to use them in love for others and the desire to see God glorified.

1 Cor. 12: “1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”

What talents and desires has God given to you? In what way can you start applying even just one to honor God? I encourage you to step out and try!     A word from the Lord to you: “step out of the boat Peter”

John 12:23-25 “23  “Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

God plants US as seeds! When we are the seed, dying to self to choose God’s will over ours, it is to birth out of us something glorifying to God that will impact many people near and far. He’s asked of us something great to magnify His Greatness. As in the case of Mary, mother o f Jesus, Holy Spirit implanted in Mary a special gift from God. Mary chose to say: “be it unto me as you say” – think with me about this young small town girl, engaged, a virgin. She must have had a vision for what her life would be like, she most certainly knew what would be accepted and not accepted, and she had dreams for what her family would be like, even if all we are talking about is her wanting the “norm”. There is a cultural idea of what normal is right? You have a job, get married, have kids and take vacations. Seems to be a generally accepted idea of life, but then God speaks and all that goes out the window.

We have some letting go to do of what we want, and what we thought our life would be – it’s what we call “dying to self”. When we “die to self” it makes way, makes good ground, and makes room (a spacious garden area) for God to multiply through you. He likes to multiply!! He is an Abundant God; the seed of our little life must die so that the Hugeness of God can burst out through us. He spoke to me: “there is fertility in submission”.

Hebrews 5:7 “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”

We, the seeds, are from Him, through Him we grow, and for Him we live. It is an amazing example of the verse: Romans 11:36 “For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”

Amy Nedrow

I pray to continue this in the next post