Seeds That Grow - Karen Huffaker

This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted! Luke 8:8 NLT

The year I tried my hand at vegetable gardening proved a learning experience and a step out of character for this city girl. But I was after seeds that grow.

The soil was primarily hard red clay and challenged me. In fact, my neighbor broke his garden tiller on the rocky ground as he plowed up a small garden spot for me.

Despite the early challenges, I rolled up my sleeves and continued with my new project, planting various vegetables. The tomatoes and peppers didn’t make it. The okra grew, but yielded only a small crop. The two small watermelons were a fun surprise–I didn’t even realize I planted those.

But the crop that grew abundantly was cucumbers. Apparently, cucumbers are hearty plants. The dirt was fertile for them, with just the right balance of nutrients. It seemed we were well on our way to producing a hundred times as much as I planted, both in quantity and size. Unfortunately, I don’t like them, but I did enjoy sharing my little harvest with the neighbors.

As we treasure and keep scriptures in our hearts, they are nourished to grow and produce a harvest of love, faith, and belief in Jesus to share with others. At times, the witness of our faith will fall on rocky soil or wither and die if hearts are hard and ears are closed. But at other times, the seeds of God’s Word take root and grow in fertile soil, and others will accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

Whether planting seeds of love, truth, hope, or faith, we can sow the seeds and look to God to produce a bountiful harvest.

What kinds of seeds are you planting?

Tweetable: Are you planting seeds that grow? 

Karen Huffaker is a freelance Christian writer. She has taught children’s Sunday school and single mom’s Bible studies and written poetry. She is from the Deep South and loves reading Christian books, devotionals, genealogy adventures, fishing, and all things family. She is also passionate about her grandchildren’s sporting events. 

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Seed Sowing - Martin Wiles

Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Matthew 13:8 NLT

“I feel like I need to apologize to you.” 

Jonathan was a young boy when I first met him. My dad pastored the church he and his family attended, and I lived in the area for a year. Then I moved on. Fifteen years later, I taught at a small private school that Jonathan attended. He was now a teenager. A good kid, but he wasn’t too interested in school. Several other children who had attended that small country church also attended the school.

After four years of teaching, I moved on again. Now a message was popping up on Messenger from a lady whose son I had also taught at that school—and who attended that small country church. They wanted me to preach their Homecoming message. I accepted. 

As I stood before the congregation, I asked those whom I had taught to raise their hands. Eight young men and women responded. Some I had misgivings about when I taught them—Jonathan included. Would they make it through school? Would they amount to anything? But they had. All were now married with families of their own. They were business owners, financial representatives, teachers, farmers. One was even the headmaster at that small country school.

Jonathan didn’t need to apologize. Neither did the rest of them. They were merely teenagers growing up. Me? I was just a seed sower who had planted a few seeds that were now producing fruit. But I wasn’t the only one. Their parents had sown too. So had the church and other schoolteachers.

Jesus said that’s what happens when we sow on fertile soil. And the soil of these young peoples’ lives was fertile. Their parents had brought them to church and taught them the principles of God’s Word. Teachers and preachers in the church—and at school—had reinforced their efforts. Now they reaped the benefits.

No matter our position, we’re seed sowers. We sow into others’ lives—students, friends, casual acquaintances, enemies. We offer a firm foundation for them to build on, a relationship with Jesus Christ. We offer an example of right living in a world gone wrong. And we’re patient—as the gardener and farmer are. Seed doesn’t sprout overnight—nor does it produce fruit in a week.

Look for daily opportunities to scatter good seed. Then wait for it to produce fruit.

Tweetable: What good seeds are you sowing?

Prayer: Father, send us opportunities to sow seed into people’s lives.

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Flashback Friday - Planting Seeds - Martin Wiles

Planting Seeds

How could one tree grow so tall and stout? 

While walking our dog one afternoon, I observed something I’d never noticed before. An oak tree at least one hundred feet tall. Since the subdivision we live in was once wooded, it’s doubtful anyone planted this tree. Its beginning no doubt started when an acorn fell from a neighboring tree or when a squirrel planted an acorn. Had the acorn never fell or been planted, the tree would never have existed. Read more...

Tweetable: What kind of seeds are you sowing?

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Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's Word.