Friday, July 22, 2011

Food for Thought Friday: What Are You Sowing??

I really think our church is the best around, and we are definitely blessed with some JAM UP women teachers! I just returned from the women's retreat and listened to five dynamic teachers share about reaping a spiritual harvest. The theme verse was Hosea 10:12, "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD until he comes and showers his righteousness on you."

Of course there were tons of great notes, lessons, and truths taught throughout the retreat, but this is what stuck out most to me.
  • Galatians 6:7-9 " Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
  • We are either sowing in a field of iniquity (sin, corruption, the flesh) or a field of farvest (fruit of the Spirit, abundant life). The field of iniquity may include: a) works of the flesh- adultery, fornication, idolatry, hatred, jealousy, envy, bad temper, selfish ambitions, pride, drunkenness, compromise,gluttony, materialism; b) neglect- of God's Word, unbelief, of prayer, for the lost, of family; or c) ungodly attitudes- ungrateful, unforgiveness, worldliness, slander, lying cheating, hypocrisy.
  • We are either sowing seeds or weeds....We are always sowing and always reaping, but we have a CHOICE as to what we want to sow and reap. 
  • Look into the mirrow to know what crop you're planting. We are sowing for others....our families, children, spouses, ARE effected by all of our choices. What is planted today will eventually produce a harvest, good or bad.
  • Is your character reflecting God's character?
  • Our thoughts can be toxic because they eventually turn to actions.  We need to focus on what God has done in our lives instead of what Satan has done in our lives.
  • We have to stop categorizing sin and placing ourselves above others or seeing our sin for what it really is. All sin separates us from God and results in reaping consequences.
  • We are either going to reap blessings or destruction. Do your actions show you know God or deny Him?  (Titus 1:16)In everything set an example by doing what is good (Titus 2:7).  Be obedient, be ready, devote yourself to doing what is good, be peacable, be considerate (Titus 3:1, 4, & 8).
  • God's design in allowing difficulties is not that they defeat us but that they make us exactly what He wants us to be.
  • The problem with the average Christian is not the lack of knowledge, but rather tha application of the truths we already know!
  • The Lord wants to begin a work in us right where we are at.
  • Spiritual maturity is not easy, but it is rewarding. If you've made mistakes, repent and move on.
  • To truly forget something in your past, focus who you are in Christ today.  There is no condemnation in Christ.
  • It's human tendency to live in the past (good or bad), but God wants us to move on.God honors obedience. It's a choice how much he gets of us.
And I just have to put the verse again because it is SO good. Read and reread it. 
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." -Galatians 6:7-9

What are you sowing today???

1 comment:

Always Learning said...

I just read your marriage post and loved it. That book is awesome. You are a beautiful couple and you have a lot of wisdom for a young woman. Keep it up! This world needs true to life love stories. A happy new follower!

www.lorialexander.blogspot.com