Timing... Our's or God's!

Have you ever noticed how our timing is rarely the same as God's?  Kay and I are slowly creating a farm environment that will have produce available in the fall, winter, and spring.  Kay will also be offering farm tours and lesson plans that comply with the Sunshine State Standards.  What an awesome way to show children about where their food comes from and the importance of viable and sustainable agriculture. 

We want to 'go.. go.. go..' to get things up and going and yet God has us going along at a deliberate slow pace, paying for things in cash instead of going into debt.  I certainly see His reasoning with the economy in the tank and so many monetary systems on the brink of collapse, still it's hard to move so slow sometimes. 

We have these hopes and dreams for this farm and I wonder what God has in store for our farm that we haven't even considered yet.  It is up to us to either stay under the protection of our Lord, moving onward when He says or going out there and winging it on our own.  As hard as it is, I choose to go God's speed and pray that those around me will hold me accountable in this regard.

Seeds

I came home from work last night to a box a seeds that were just delivered for our farm (Google 'Abundant Blessings Farm, LLC' for more farm info).  The seeds are all packaged by variety and stacked neatly for our use.

Have you put much thought into a seed?  Inside each of every seed in that box is the genetic code of the parent from which they were derived.  These days the wonder of this has been removed by the scientific minds of our day and we toss around terms like 'DNA' without giving it much further thought.  But really, have you ever considered the miracle that awaits in each and every seed?

As a farmer, my wife will lovingly place each seed in the soil (or growing media because we grow hydroponics as well).  She will make sure that each gets the correct amount of water and nutrients (i.e. food) do develop into a mature plant.  She will carefully train the branches (pruning where necessary) so that they will be fruitful and multiply.  She will protect the plants from pests and diseases that seek to harm and destroy.

What an incredible miracle... each and every seed!

In the same manner, we are God's seed.  He places us here and wants to tend, nurture, prune when necessary so that will be fruitful by telling others about Him and leading them to Christ.  That is how we multiply.

We get caught up in labels of who we are by what we do (Mom, Dad, Fireman, Farmer, Banker, Lobbyist, etc.) yet that is just what we do part of our life.  We came from a seed that was planted by God.  Our purpose... our true purpose in life is to do just as those seeds in the box in our kitchen.  Our true purpose is to grow in Christ and bring others to the understanding of His redeeming and saving grace that is available to all who choose to believe.

I can't wait to plant those seeds!

Simplicity is What We Make It

Six episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, that is how I spent a good part of my Sabboth day of rest.  What draws us to that show?

For me it has to do with a simpler lifestyle.  Family and town folk caring and looking out for each other.  A church bizaar or picnic being the focus.  Simply sitting on the porch and watching the sun set. 

Why is this so hard for us?  Why do we allow the world and society around us to push us into their mold of rush, rush, rush and always being active for ... well, active's sake?

We have a farm so time is of the essence for us with all the chores to get done each day.  Many lives of both two-legged and four-legged animals depend on us to care for them.  That said, it is up to ME to carve out that 'simpler lifestyle' in my day. 

How do you do it?  How do you make sure that you don't get caught up in the whirlwind of life?