The Claustrophobic Christian- Choosing the Fire

So much of the world is on a 5-10 second attention span. Even when it comes to looking at scripture or the things of God. We throw our attention only to what pertains to us and then we quickly move on. Keep it short, paint some flowers or a mountainscape in the background, and make it feel comfy. I don’t need to tell you this. You already know. 

Most of us are cozied up to a nice blanket of self-affirmations by 9am. Scrolling through our phones, picking out the memes we like best, sharing them, or hiding the ones we’re not fond of. When someone sees us later in the day, they might say “Hey, I loved that meme you posted!” and we’re racking our brains trying to figure out which one. 

We build monuments to ourselves. Right here. In this little phone you’re holding. 

It makes sense, dear friends. The need to feel seen and heard is expected and the world banks on you utilizing it’s every move to benefit yourself.

Yet, you and I both know that there is only One that can provide divine connection and acceptance on a consistent basis, and His love for you cannot be contained in a meme. 

In the bible, there’s a King that lives much like this. Constantly building up his own sense of self-worth, though figuratively in his case. He even built a tower for people to worship. Then, when three young men refused to bow to it- he decided to do something about it. (For the full comedic commentary of this story- check out my podcast next Monday!)

Remember Daniel’s friends from my last post? The guys that probably sang him to sleep the night before they were supposed to die? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were given a cushy job after Daniel interpreted the king’s dream but here we find them in a tight spot with the king. They refuse to worship the golden image that the king has built and he’s threatened to put them into a blazing furnace.(Dramatic, I know) 

So basically, we have this narcissist throwing a fit saying “Worship me! Pay attention to me! Love me! Affirm me!... and if you don’t- I’m going to bake you in my giant oven.” 

“..If you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” Daniel 3:15

This sort of reminds me of one of the opening lines of the blockbuster hit from the late 90’s- The Titanic. Remember when Cal says “Even God himself couldn’t sink this ship.”? I remember feeling like that was some serious foreshadowing. Just don’t go there, Cal. Now this entire ordeal is your fault. 

So, King Nebuchadnezzar does the same. “What god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

For these three boys the answer was simple. My God can. 

“We do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. The God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O King. BUT EVEN IF HE DOES NOT, we want you to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

Perhaps the most talked about verse in this passage- “Even if He does not”. Bottom line, world? We won’t worship any other god by King Jesus. 

On a daily basis, the whole of society is crying out "Come! Worship me! Pay attention to me!" and we do it. We are so terrified of being labeled “out of touch” or “that kind of Christian” that we assume that society’s agenda is God’s agenda. This happens in all facets of life. We fear that if we don’t affirm the actions of the world, we’ll be ostracized, ridiculed, or let’s be honest- left out. What if instead, we said “No, I trust in God’s sovereignty. I will bow to no other god. Not even the god of comfort.” 

In choosing to step into the fire, these three boys afforded God the opportunity to shine brighter than ever in the eyes of King Nebuchadnezzar. No matter the consequences, they trusted in the sovereignty of God. 

When faced with the choice of affirming the world or compromising our faith, we must trust that God will be glorified whatever the case may be. We may lose a relationship, a job, or an argument (heaven forbid), but knowing that God is sovereign and He is in control is winning. To the world, it may look like we are walking into a situation where we are going to get burned, yet God knows the outcome and He sees the seeds planted. The people on the outside looking in will some day see the evidence of Him working if we keep believing. Loyalty to Christ’s call on your life must be the only thing that gains your allegiance. 

When we trust in God’s sovereignty like they do in this story- it causes the enemy to forfeit his right to barter for our sense of security.

Just as with this King, much of society will not like you saying no. The king was furious for two reasons:

1. Furious because the boys wouldn’t affirm or justify his actions. 

2. Furious because he couldn’t do anything to punish them. 

You won’t gain any new friends, that's for certain, but scripture tells us that it's better to lose the whole world than your soul. You say, it's not that easy, Kari. I know. But it's worth it.

God is showing us in this story that nothing else matters. Your devotion should lie with Him, not with the persons and things around you. There’s nothing the world can do to us because we know in our hearts that our God would not send us into a fire that He’s not willing to walk in Himself.

Later on, the boys entered into that furnace. The king made sure it was 7 times hotter than usual and even the guards that threw the three men in were killed just by getting close to it. Yet- when the king looked down into the fire, he saw not only Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He saw what he described as “a son of the gods.”

Gives me chills every time I think about it. 

What is demanding your attention? What god is beckoning your worship these days?

Matthew 6:21 tells us “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Treasure His promises. Put your heart's hope in the fact that your God affirms you, beckons you, and stands by you in every imaginable tight spot. He will be your defense and His name will be made great every time you decide to trust His sovereignty over your own security. In choosing to worship Him alone, you will be left unscathed. 

Dear God, may we choose the fire every time. For we know that Your glory burns brightly inside it. May we start today, deciding that You are worth the risk. You are all that matters. May our feet stand firmly on Your promises for us and may Your Name be made great in our lives. There is no greater comfort than knowing You deeply. No greater security can be found than in Your love.

*Next week on the podcast, we have Amber Irving of The Strong Home joining us to talk about this story, God's sovereignty, and more! Tune in for that as it airs Monday October 26th! If you're riding in your car, taking a shower, going for a morning jog, or washing dishes- it's a great way to listen to the word of God unfold in a relatable way. Follow/ Subscribe at anchor.fm/kari-jones-banks

The Claustrophobic Christian- Interpreting the Impossible

Never in my life have I told someone to meet me at a location without knowing where it was. Nor have I promised money to someone without having it first. Ask me to predict the future or read your mind and I’d laugh in your face. These things just don’t happen in everyday life. It’s impossible. 

In the second chapter of the book of Daniel, we meet a young man who takes on the impossible. The kid is absolutely out of his mind. There, I said it. He’s crazy! Read the story- you’ll see. I’ll try my best to paraphrase it for you. (Click Here to Read for Yourself)

God’s people have been completely overthrown by the Babylonians, who seek out the best and brightest of young men to train at the palace as King Nebuchadnezzar’s apprentices. This kid Daniel and his buddies have already found favor with the King’s chief guard but now everything changes. The King is now demanding that someone interprets this weird dream he had AND he refuses to describe the dream first. 

Talk about ridiculous expectations! The most revered of the Babylonians can’t do it, so because of this- the king wants to kill all of the wise men in the kingdom including Daniel and his friends! What a psychopath!  Daniel hears about this and decides to set up a meeting with the king for the following day, saying he’ll deliver on the dream and it’s interpretation so nobody has to die. 

Here’s where the story really grabs me. 

Daniel asked for time with the king (vs 16) BEFORE the dream had been revealed to him. Talk about a tight spot. 

The more I read this story- I thought about my teacher friends. I thought what impossible tasks the kings of this world are laying on them today. My mind wondered about friends of mine who have littles they’re sending back to school or teaching at home, virtually. How in the world will they be able to pull this off? Who will give them the answers on how to proceed? 

Something we can learn from this story is this: 

When asked to interpret the impossible, Daniel started trusting God immediately. 

The great thing about this kid is that he wasted no time. He started trusting God immediately. It wasn’t like he had time to go home and figure it out first. He heard they were going to start killing people, and he threw himself at the mercy of God. So many of us would immediately start looking for someone to blame, or we’d start groveling about the insane expectations our bosses or our families have placed on us. 

If we were Daniel, most of us would have pleaded for mercy! And Daniel did plead for mercy. Just not at the feet of who you’d expect. 

“Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. During the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision.” (vs17-19) 

Can you imagine that night? He goes home and tells his three buddies. “So… yeah… King Neb wants to axe us…  like, with an actual axe...because no one could tell him what he dreamt last night…  but it’s totally ok… because I told him… I could do it. So now we need to start praying for God to tell us what this guy’s dream was!”  Imagine their faces! I bet they threw Daniel into bed, started playing some zen music on the harp and lyre, and sang Rockabye Danny all night long. What if on the way to the bathroom in the middle of the night, Shadrack stubbed his toe and woke Daniel up? Well, we might’ve had a different story on our hands. But here’s what happened. 

God reveals the dream and it’s interpretation to Daniel in his sleep, so he was able to go to the king the very next day and deliver on his promise! God was made great in the eyes of King Nebuchadnezzar and so many lives were spared! The king even went as far as promoting Daniel and his friends in their positions!

While there’s no distinct timeline on God’s promises or His purpose in our lives, there are a myriad of opportunities that we waste while trying to figure things out on our own. Why did Daniel trust God immediately? Because God ACTS immediately- though not always in the way you’d think. 

If you’re struggling to find hope in your impossible circumstances, let me remind you that we serve a God who’s best in tight spots. No other God can do what he does. Not even Amazon Prime, while heaven sent, can keep up with how our God delivers. So we can’t afford to waste time. Don’t wait until you’ve exhausted yourselves to call on God for help. Say with a passion “my God can do it!” and walk in faith. 

What if the next time your boss sends out another email that leaves you groaning, you decide to trust God immediately? Print it out and write DONE on it. Decide then and there that your God is standing with you just as He did Daniel, when he went before the king. See, the wise men of Babylon said no god could do what the king had asked. Vs 11 “they do not live among men”. I can imagine whenever Daniel was before the King, the presence of God was upon Daniel and God was peering over his shoulder saying “tell em’, boy. Show them who I am.” What an amazing thing it is, to have a God who not only sends us out- but stands beside us while we do it! 

May we take every impossible moment and claim it for the Lord’s glory in our lives- so that others may know that our God is a God who delivers the impossible! 

NEXT WEEK 

Make sure you don't miss next week's podcast where we'll be discussing how to trust God immediately in tight spots, as we've seen in this blog. Hear how they've handled tough decisions regarding the changing school and work climate, trusting God along the way. 

Joining me will be 

Melissa Reasoner 

(Business owner and mother of two beautiful daughters who have returned to in-class learning at their elementary campus) Check out her blog at https://melissareasoner.wordpress.com/ 

Courtney Smith 

(Work-from-home mother of an online-learner. Also my sweet cousin.)  

Another blogger at workitoutmomma.blogspot.com

Hannah McDonald 

(Virtual and In-Class Teacher on two different campuses 

as well as my best friend:)) 

To subscribe to my podcast for this episode and more- click on the link below!

Not Surprised- Standing on the Promises

I'm not even surprised anymore. 

After the last few years we've had, I'm no longer surprised by what God's able to do in our lives. There was a time when my husband and I would both marvel at God, saying "I can't believe this is happening. This is insane." 

That's just not the case anymore.  

I have experienced such a consistent level of God's provision and completion of promise in our lives that it's become something we stand on rather than hope for. 

Here's the latest evidence of His unrelenting care.  

Two weeks ago on a Wednesday, my 2014 Dodge Durango stopped accelerating as I was driving to my favorite Mexican dine in spot- Taco Bell. At first, I thought it was a fluke so I turned the car off in the parking lot, switched it back on, and proceeded to reverse. Everything was fine. Ordered my 2 crunchy tacos, a bean burrito with no onions, and drove forward only to find out that the problem persisted. The husband was called, he confirmed this was not normal, and we carefully drove it to his place of work. From there we decided it needed to go into the shop. That's not the whole of it. Other things were happening in our little world, as is always the case. 

• I was headed for a 4 day camping trip with my daughter THE NEXT DAY
• Husband now had no way to get to work if I went camping.
• No sitter for my son if he couldn't be taken to the sitter's house. 
• We live 25minutes from town. 

God provided and Jared was able to make up that time not being on the job by catching up on some much needed paperwork that had been piling up. We went on the trip- had an amazing time- and honestly? I had forgotten about it until I got back home. 

It would be a week before anyone could even look at the car. What were we going to do? No car for two kids? This is crazy. Still, things were happening. God was working.  

• My boss lives in my area (which is 25minutes from town) so she brought me home each day. 
• Husband was able to make things work out to where he could pick up curbside groceries after work.
• Lots of people were praying for good news on the car. 

Good news on the car did not come. When we finally got it into the shop the following Wednesday- we didn't hear back on the car until Monday. Basically- we need an engine rebuild or a brand new engine to be sure that the car would run safely again. What? We can't afford that! We began to get discouraged. 

• We were SO close to paying off that car! Then we would have two vehicles paid off and no car payment!
• There would be practically zero trade-in value on the car now. 
• We can't cover the cost of a new engine right now! 

It's so easy to have faith when things are kind of bad, but when you feel like you've been cheated by life- or that there's a certain amount of unfairness going on, it's hard not to ask "Why me?" But we didn't. We tried to keep a positive state of mind. Meanwhile- so many other things encouraged us! We could definitely see how God had already been preparing us. 

• We had money saved away because of some changes we had recently made to the budget. Almost enough to buy an "in between car" until we could save enough for the repairs on the Durango. 
• We had friends who lived nearby that could give us rides if needed. A few neighbors offered to bring by groceries or give us a lift into town. 
• My sweet husband decided that God was calling him to have some humility and ask for help. He makes a post via Facebook, inquiring about a car we could purchase.
• We would be fine. God always comes through. 

Fast forward to this Tuesday. Jared's parents are in town and they brought our nephews over for a visit. While we hung out at the house, we explained our situation and the plan to buy a car to get us by until we could afford the repairs needed. The discussion was mainly focused around the idea that we needed to accept where we were and know that God would take care of it. 

Within a half hour of that conversation- I get two phone calls. 

First Phone Call 

A friend from church has a son that's getting married and they had a videographer cancel. They need someone to video their wedding for them and they want to pay ME $500 to do it! What? Me? Are you serious? YES! Praise God! Now I can put that money toward getting a vehicle! 

Second Phone Call 

Another friend that I used to teach with calls and offers to let us borrow one of her cars indefinitely until we get ours fixed!  I told her it could take a while and she insisted. Insurance would cover me. Nothing to worry about. A 2005 Toyota Camry. Just perfect for my little ones and me. 

So Many Things- Confessing a Discontented Heart

It’s hard for me to be still. Polly Pocket in the background on Netflix while Cola eats Fruity Pebbles for the letter P we’re working on this week. I told myself- I WILL make time to be still this morning. So much easier said than done. Perhaps that’s why we whisper it to ourselves. We’d look pretty foolish shouting out things that we don’t actually end up doing. So timid, we are, in declaring things for the Lord. Boy do I ever wish I was as vocal on my Instagram about my love for Jesus as I am for Tacos. 

I did my bible reading, pushing through by putting my headphones in and keeping the monitor close to me in case the baby woke up. Suddenly, it hit me that I needed to just stop. Stop doing and stop “working on being still”. Actually BE STILL, Kari! 

Pushing my bible and notebook aside, I put my head in my hands. As the music played in my ears, it was only a matter of seconds before I broke out in tears. Why do I have such a hard time listening? Why can’t I move forward? Is it too much to ask to feel good about myself for ONE day? What’s holding me back? Why am I trying so hard all of the time? What am I trying to prove? 

As swift as water from a stream, the words came out of my mouth (in a whisper, nonetheless).

I want so many things, God. 

There it was.

 My confession. 

I want a shirt to fit me the way it does that girl on her Instagram. I want my kids to sleep through the night. I want my daughter to know my intentions and not be so sensitive. i want my son to catch up to the other kids his age. I want movie theatre popcorn. I want to be motivated to do more than I'm doing. I want my friends to call me more. I want my house to be finished. I want my back to be healed. I want tacos delivered to my front door. I want people to stop misunderstanding me. I want my leaders to be genuine. I want to stop second guessing myself and others. I want to trust. I want to love unconditionally. I want. I want. I want. So. Many. Things. 

Teach me to want only You. Please. 

My whole body began to shake as I sobbed in the reality of still wanting so much, as if I had so little. I felt immense shame from the mere thought that what God had given me wasn’t enough! In that moment, I began to release the heart of covetousness and I began to think on the things of the Lord. His mercy in my life. His provision. His sense of humor and His embrace during times like this. 

Dear friend, if you find yourself in a place where you are having a hard time being content- please know that you’re not alone. There’s a lot going on in the world right now and when we feel cornered or limited, we start to act entitled. Out of deprivation, we begin to believe that we deserve more than what we’re getting. I understand. I’m in and out of that belief constantly. However, we must choose to stand on the word of God instead of the shifting tides of the times. 

His power is made perfect in the places where we feel powerless. Maybe the longing for more isn’t necessarily the issue. For God calls us to a higher purpose than we’re currently living out, I believe that. So the longing is valid, but where are you placing your hope? 

The psalmist said it best when he wrote Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:1-2) 

Jesus says - I Am enough. 

My grace is sufficient for you. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

I’ve given you all things for all times (Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 9:8-12)

I have called you to do my work, and given you the strength to do it well. (Ephesians 2:10, Romans 8:28)

We want so many things. That is our confession. Let’s ask God how we can live for Him in pursuit of these things. Place your head in your hands and tell Him- Teach me to want only You.

Part 3- A Busy Body

Hello friends! It’s been a few weeks but last time we were together, we were on Part 2 of my three part series on Ecclesiastes 11. We talked about Digging Intentionally, Internally, and Intimately. We never know what God is doing- so it’s our job to continue to pursue His people and be ready to dig deep to create space for seed to be planted in their lives. We also talked about what this means for us personally- to break ground in our own hearts so that we can  be more impressionable- by The Word and not The World. 

This week we’re going to end our series with a new format and a farewell of sorts. I’ll be taking a break for the remainder of the summer to work on Digging Internally, myself! I’m also going to be giving some thought on how to proceed with the blog and podcast in the future. It’s my goal to do more scripture series and topical discussions as well as bring more voices into the mix! It’s been a challenge with COVID, but I see light at the end of the tunnel, and I know that this little break will help me to see more clearly the direction that the Lord is wanting to take me. So while this may be the end of a season, it surely is just the beginning of something greater to come! 

Part 3- A Busy Body

Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon,

 for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both. Ecclesiastes 11:6

I love this verse for so many reasons. As the concluding statement in this section of Ecclesiastes 11, it persists with the idea that God is ultimately in control. Though we don’t understand how He’s working half the time, it shouldn't stop us from doing what we’ve set out to do- which is serve Him and His people. King Solomon says “you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another... or both!”

 “Or both” is my favorite part.  He doesn’t say “or neither”. He believes in a God that can use it all and never doubts that prosperity will come. He believes in a God that says “I see you trying, and I will work that for My good. I see you failing, and I will also work that for My good.” What a great God we serve, that can make use of our best efforts and worst failures. 

The sad truth is that as believers, we have an “or neither” attitude so much of the time. We put our “feelers” out there for ministry or service, and we wait for someone to take the bait. We think to ourselves, well, maybe it’ll work. Maybe it won’t. Maybe it’ll be the Facebook post that I shared that will bring them to church, or maybe it’ll be the text I sent last week … or maybe neither. Maybe they just don’t want to come to church at all, and I can’t take it personally.  

It’s hard getting up early to plant that seed. It’s hard to do all the digging that’s required. It’s difficult to keep busy all afternoon, waiting to see if God will do something with what we’ve done. It can be extremely discouraging when it doesn’t happen in the timeframe you’ve imagined. 

I remember running track in Jr. High and High School. I ran the 400m dash and I would always get so sick to my stomach right before my event came. I’d look around and become suddenly overtaken by anxiety from the length of the race I was about to run. I would say to my mom, “I don’t want to do it. I’m so nervous.” My hands would start sweating and my voice would crack. Lumps would form in my throat as I suddenly felt numb from the waist down. Wishful thinking, I guess. Though I had done it a million times, there’s no greater rush of fear than when you step up to your lane and get on your mark. 

I recall one time, my Mom telling me, “Oh, Kari Ann- it takes longer to cook a Poptart!” And as funny as that was- it put things into perspective for me. That gun would go off and I would have it in my mind that the Poptart was in the toaster, warming up for me. All I had to do was outrun that toaster and victory would be mine! It’d be all over and I could go back hanging out with friends and watching other people be nervous. Sure enough- the last stretch would come into view and I wouldn’t feel scared anymore. I’d feel empowered and I’d embrace that last stride to the finish line like the champion I was. (Typically coming in 1st-3rd place.. Just sayin’) 

If only we could feel that way when it came to our daily lives. King Solomon knew that God’s provision would come and His purpose would be fulfilled just as my Mom knew I could finish my race. The perspective that God WILL work His plan out and He WILL use whatever we have to give Him- we need more of this on the earth.  If we thought more in the “or both” mindset, we could work our way to triumph! . 

Think about your life and all that’s happening right now. Not what’s on the news, not what’s happening with your family and friends, and not what’s on TikTok for goodness sake. 

Are you living in an “or both” mindset? Do you believe God has the power to work in your circumstance? Are you working each day as if He will bring bountiful blessings to your field? I pray you know that the love of your generous Father withstands every culture clash, every financial woe, and every heartbreak you might be experiencing. 

Jesus said in John 16:33, “Take heart. For I have overcome the world.” He wrote the Farmer’s Almanac. He knows which crops will fail and which will come in full abundance. We need only to keep busy. Let us be a Busy Body, carrying out the work of the Lord until we reap a harvest of holiness in this world. 

Pray

Father, help me to walk into each day with a winning attitude. Help me to remember that every step I take, and every breath I breathe, You have ordained it and you are using it all for Your glory on this earth. May I walk in victory before the battles ever start. May I stand calm on the waters before the storm ever hits. May I work diligently in my patch of field where you have placed me before the harvest ever comes. Thank You for each day I get to spend loving your people and being loved by You. 

Reflect

1. Reread Ecclesiastes 11:6. Are you living with an “or both” mindset? Why or why not?

2. What are some of the things that pop into your head that give you an “or neither” attitude? How do you think this affects your ability to do God’s work?

3. As a ploy to get you to consider reading more of this intriguing book of Ecclesiastes, here’s some more of King Solomon's thoughts on work and toiling on this earth. (Worth the read, read it and answer the question below.)  

 “I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned. And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless! So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world. Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy. So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless. So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from Him? God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please Him.” 

How can you relate to Solomon here? For me, this hits all too close to home. Thankful for his honesty in the flesh and, in the end, clarity in the Lord. 

Do Something

• For this week, make a Ministry To-Do List for yourself. Perhaps these are things you’ve always felt led to do but haven’t felt like it would make a difference. Try it! See what God does with what’s on your heart! (it could be as simple as making a meal for a neighbor in need.
• What are some failed attempts that may have caused you to have become discouraged in ministry? Make a list of them in a journal. How might you give those concerns to God this week? 
• Think back at Part 2 of this series. What is one way you could Dig Intentionally, Internally, or Intimately with the lessons learned in Part 3? Write them down and work to complete those tasks this week. It’s not futile. It’s fruitful. 

Further Reading

John 16:33- “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” NLT

Phillipians 1:3-6 “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” NLT

Hebrews 12:12-14 “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.”

Listen

Glory to You by 10,000 Fathers

Live Worship 

Lyrics (Sing Along this Week!)

Part 2- Space for Seed

In Part 1, we talked about picking up fallen trees and realizing that opportunities to serve others are all around us, though easily ignored. This week I want to move along with the assumption that we’ve decided in our hearts to do better. We’ve started working on clearing a path for a new harvest, we want to see God move so we’re providing space for that in our lives and expecting big things from Him. 

Let’s look at this next passage in Ecclesiastes 11 as we continue this series. 

Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.
If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. (vs4)

We decided last week that now is as good a time as any. We have to start and we must start now. Our hands are ready. We are now farmers ready to plant. The next step may require the most of you, but I pray you continue on this path. 

Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind 
or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, 
so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.(vs5)

So much of our Christian faith is discerning the voice of God. Just yesterday, my friends and I were at a local park and sprayground when a young man walked up to us without an adult. We didn’t know where he came from and we decided to just assume he lived close by. He was a little apprehensive but once I asked him, “are you from around here?” He promptly told me that his great-grandmother lived nearby and she knew where he was. So he splashed around with our kiddos and then he asked my friend for an orange as he saw us picnicking. After he had the orange, he sort of kept hanging around our cooler and you could tell, he wanted more. My friend told him “why don’t you take a break from playing and go home for lunch, buddy?” and he did. 

We were a little torn in that moment because on the one hand, I could hear Jesus saying “feed my people” and on the other hand you hear the voice that says “don’t feed someone else’s kid because you never know what they’re allergic to!” It’s hard, isn’t it? Should we have let him join us for our little picnic at the park? I sure wanted to! I just didn’t know if it was the right thing. Did we miss out on an opportunity to share Jesus with this little man by not letting him feast with us? 

Later on, he came back as we were playing on the playground. With a fresh set of clothes on, he ran over to play with us once more. We found out his name was Ryan and he lived down the street. My friend talked to him about the town she was from and we talked about school mascots and other random things. He played on the swings with our girls and then we had to leave. 

I thought about Ryan for a long time after we left the splash pad and I wrestled with God saying it seemed like you put Him on our path, but what for? Then I thought maybe he’ll be there next time I bring my daughter and I can continue to develop that relationship. Maybe this is just the beginning! Talking to Ryan and getting to know him was I think more important than the orange we let him have. Maybe the seed is sown first and foremost by letting the person know I see you. I think Ryan felt that. I hope something comes of that in the future. 

Before you can plant any seed- you’ve got to dig the hole. So much of the work that we need to do on this earth is not throwing seed onto soil. Yet, that’s what has been taught to us as children, isn’t it? “Sow the seed and God will do the rest!” That’s what I grew up hearing. If my tiny evangelical self decided to try and invite a friend to church or talk to them about Jesus but was rejected, my Momma would say “you’ve planted the seed and that’s what matters.” I argue that I might have skipped a step. I didn’t dig the hole first. I didn’t make room for that seed to sink in. 

God calls us to different types of digging. All are important. 

Digging Intentionally

So many of the encounters we have throughout our day are surface. Yet, each individual is a part of the harvest that God is wanting to grow. Are we being intentional in our relationships with one another? Are we saying “hi, how are you?” just expecting or even hoping for a vague response? Are we prepared to sit in a church row or on a park bench for hours to let them unravel their burdens? Imagine if believers were so intentional in day to day interactions, how much more would an outsider be willing to receive the gospel when spoken? As it stands, most relationships are so superficial that when we say “I’m going to pray for you” or send a scripture through text, it comes across as insincere or judgmental because it shocks the recipient. I get this image of someone throwing birdseed at a wedding. If you’ve ever been on the other end of that, trust me, it’s not pleasant. I followed someone out to their car after a wedding one time as the bird seed was pelted at them. I got a mouthful and a headache from it! Perhaps this is what it feels like when we go around tossing seed without digging around a little. Do the grunt work. Dig in and get to know their hearts. Be intentional with every step God calls you to take, every conversation He grants you, and every heart He sends you to hold. 


Digging Inwardly

Just as we can’t wait for things to be perfect before we reach out, we can’t wait for the perfect time to reach in. It’s within the imperfect moments of our lives that the Bible is most applicable, most needed, and most transforming. I can think of countless times in my relationships that I begged God to change things in someone else only to find that the work He was planning on doing started with me! If God had a shovel to your heart right now, would he easily break ground or would He need to rent a jack hammer? I’ll confess, sometimes, the ground of my heart has been hardened to even the slightest change. Sooner or later though, rains come and the ground softens because I realize that I cannot have seeds planted within me until I first have allowed myself to dig deep and find places for those seeds. Places where my thinking may be flawed, where my heart may be calloused, or where my perspective may be shallow. Ask yourself, Am I an impressionable person? Who do you leave the most room for? The world, or the word? God is calling us to dig inwardly, to search our hearts, and to break ground so that His Holy Spirit can guide us in our serving of one another. 

Digging Intimately

I believe God is calling the people of the church to be spiritually intimate with one another. In a world full of filters, we are called to love and nurture flaws. We may not have this type of relationship with everyone, but we should have it with some. I think about the relationships that God’s people held with one another in the bible. 

• Paul and Timothy- Communication and Encouragement 
• Ruth and Naomi- Generosity and Self Sacrifice
• David and Jonathan- Commitment and Grace
• Jesus and Peter- Forgiveness, Patience, Acceptance, and Loyalty
• Moses and Aaron- Advocates and Partners in Ministry, Supported one another 

Which of these attributes describe your relationships with your friends or the people you know in the church or elsewhere? If it’s one or two, maybe it’s time to let that wall down. Maybe it’s time to post an “OPEN” sign on your gate. Do people know that you love them? How do you show that? Do people know that you trust them or do you push them aside and walk with a “do it yourself” attitude? Think about this: in sharing and bearing our burdens with people we trust, we are preparing ourselves for ministry with people we don’t yet know. 

With Ryan, we made the choice to dig intentionally. That’s all. Just one choice. I believe it made all the difference. That young man came back for more. Isn’t that what we want for God’s people? To feel cared for enough to come back for more? We need space for the seeds that were so eager to throw out. Let’s get our shovels out and start digging, so that when God gives us the seed of His word, and the rains of His Holy Spirit, a harvest can one day be reaped. 

Pray

What a blessing it is to be a laborer in Your field. Lord, help me to see the ground that needs breaking, the hearts that need holding, and let me be ready when the rains come. Remind me that it’s not just about getting people to listen to me. It’s all about getting them to the point where they can feel your love. Let me be an impressionable person, guided by Your Word and moved by Your Spirit alone. Thank you for every opportunity you place in front of me to serve Your people. 

Reflect

1. Think of a time when you’ve dug intentionally and how did that benefit you and the person you were intentional with?
2. Do you have many  intimate relationships in your life outside of family? Why or why not? 
3. Are you an impressionable person? What leaves the biggest impression on you? How does the world leave an impression on you and does that benefit or hinder your relationship with Jesus? 
4. Read through Mark 4- The Parable Of the Sower and write down where you think you are in the story. What type of digging needs to be done in your life? How can you start? 

Do Something 

I think this is pretty simple. Find one way this week that you can start to 

• Dig Intentionally
• Dig Intimately
• Dig Inwardly

Go back through the reading and paraphrase what those things mean so that you can be mindful of them while you’re going about your daily life. Keep the shovel in hand at all times! 

Further Reading


Paul- (There’s a guy who had to do some digging first. Completely had to realign his thinking in order to follow Christ.) “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” ‭‭1 Corinthians ‭3:6-9‬ ‭NIV‬

Re-read through the life of Paul and see how God called him to all three types of digging (three I’s) 


Listen

The Harvester- Brandon Heath