Seeds of God

A Pack of Seeds by Charles G. Ramsey – “I bought myself a pack of seeds, To grace my garden fair. And stuck them in my pocket, For months they waited there. And when the time had come to see, The flower’s lovely face; I thought it strange that only weeds, Were growing in their place. How foolish then, oh Christian man, God’s Word you have indeed. You carry it or hide it, but do not plant the seed. No fruit there grows in garden fair, unless the seed you sow; For you the Word of God you must plant, Then God will make it grow” We plant and water, but only God can make it grow (1 Corinthians 3:5-9).

[Genesis 1:11] The principle is as old as the seed itself. If you bury it, it can grow. “And God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit according to their kinds.” What a wonderful chain reaction. Man has developed hybrids, but God created the original. In the end a hybrid will die out without the intervention of man; but in the end the original seed will remain because that is what it was designed to do. Here’s an example of how amazing and resilient the seeds that God created really are. An archeological team was digging on a mountain site in Israel. Their study centered around the 2000 year old battle site between the Romans and the Jews known as Masada. History records the battle to be a rather devastating one. But what was not known is that something managed to survive the siege, seeds! The archeological team actually discovered preserved seeds from an extinct plant known as the “Judean Date Palm” at King Herod’s palace on Masada. The archeologists brought the seeds to a scientific expert that had some experience in dealing with aged seeds, and with a little love and nourishment, guess what they got? You guessed it; they got a formerly extinct plant known as the Judean Date Palm. The plant was affectionately given the nickname “Methuselah.” Any guesses why? The amazing thing is that the seed still contained exactly what it contained when it was separated from the plant. It contained all the information that it needed to create exactly what it came from despite the fact that it was literally 2000 years old. Makes one look at Genesis 1:11 with a little smile, huh? Now, if man is able to produce the exact same plant from a 2000 year old seed because of the principle created by God, then would it not stand to reason that God can produce a Christian, and a Christian alone, by using the same principle with His Word? After all, did Jesus not say, the Word of God is the seed of God? (Luke 8:11)[The Parable of the Sower Luke 8:1-15] Yes, He did! The apostle Peter also wrote concerning our salvation, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring Word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). I’m not talking about hybrids here; I’m talking about the original. The original seed produced only Christians 2000 years ago and there is no reason the same seed cannot do the same thing today; if a person uses the same seed they will get the same result (Acts 2:47; 11:26). This is not hard to understand. The problem is that it is too simple for some people to believe. Put your faith in the Designer of the seed and allow it to grow the way it was intended to (Luke 8:15). It still works! Even before I found out about the story of the Judean Palm Date seeds, I already knew about the 2000 year old seed that is still growing and producing its own kind today.

I'm Sticking With God

When James A. Garfield was a young man, a friend gave him a printed slip of paper which he cherished all his life. It read as follows: * Make few promises. * Always speak the truth. * Never speak evil of anyone. * Keep good company, or none. * Drink no intoxicating liquors. * Good character is desired above everything else. * Be honest if you would be happy. * When you speak to a person look into his eyes. * Spend less than you earn. * Live within your income. * Never run into debt unless you see your way out. * Good company and good conversation are the essentials of virtue. * Good character can be injured only by your own acts. * If evil is spoken of you, let your life refute the falsehood. * If your hands cannot be employed, attend to the cultivation of your mind. James Garfield has been dead for well over 100 years (September 19, 1881), yet there is not one thing contained in that list of suggestions that would not make of each of us a better person. The manner of communication and transportation may have changed drastically. Medical science has made unbelievable strides. But that which builds character remains the same. Can it be that this philosophy made him say with deep conviction, “I stepped down when I left preaching the gospel to become president of the United States”? I do trust that all Christians will remember that Christian character does not change with the times. God does not change (Hebrews 13:1-8; James 1:17).

[Psalm 33:12] “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.” Our liberal media, courts, politicians, celebrities, and so forth, are increasingly turning America the Beautiful into America the Bad. What God has described as unlawful abominations, primarily what we’re dealing with today, abortion and homosexuality (Proverbs 6:16-19; Leviticus 18:22), our insolent nation has redefined as legal and acceptable. All across the fruited plain, from sea to shining sea, decency and morality are steadily eroding away. Through educational policies (Bible /prayer banning), God is fading away. Because of prosperity and Bible ignorance, the acceptance of absolute truth (John 1:17; 14:6; 17:17; Ephesians 4:21), is vanishing away. And consequently, hope as God would have it (1 Peter 1:3-5; Hebrews 6:16-20), is drifting away. America, America, God shed His grace on thee!!! Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Shall we continue in evil that good may come? God forbid!!! (Romans 3:8; 6:1-2) God crown thy good with brotherhood, for we are all his offspring (Acts 17:26-28). “Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3). Let us return to our maker. Let us return to His mandates (Psalm 119:172; 2 Timothy 3:16). ”Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people” (Proverbs 14:34). Let us extol the beauty of heaven’s precepts all across our spacious skies and emulate them in our lives!!! And, “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands” (Psalm 90:17). 

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting really upset with those who are dragging our nation down into their pit of misery and sin. “...do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous ...He who does what is sinful is of the devil ...The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin ...Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God...” (1 John 3:7-10). Pray for our un-Representatives.

Ride For The Brand

“Ride for the Brand” by Paul Harwitz - The dismounted young cowboy asked the old hand, "What does it mean when they say 'Ride for the brand'?" The grizzled old-timer's age seemed to drop years, And he sat straight up in the saddle as he surveyed the steers. "It means a lot of different things, son. It has a lot to do with what's lost and what's won. I ain't talking about gambling, but earning a living, Hard work, trust, respect, taking, and giving.” “It means you don't never foul up the land, And you don't take unfair advantage or rob. You work hard, even when the work's rough as a cob. That's part of what it means to ride for the brand.” “It means you help your neighbors and your friends, And you help even strangers just passing through. It means you hire on a hungry saddle-tramp, Who needs a place to winter past the cold and damp.” “It means you don't let the poor folks go hungry, Just 'cause they're down and short on grub and luck. And it means that you don't work just for a buck, But 'cause you need work like water's needed by a tree.” “It means you can be trusted, and that you trust each pard, To do the chores that are needed, no matter how hard, 'Cause you're all riding for the same outfit, And you're all striving together to benefit it.” “It means you keep searching for that one last stray, Even though it’s the end of the day, Even though you'd rather stop and go to town. It means you don’t lay your responsibility down.” “It means you give an honest day's work for an honest day’s wage, Whether you're in the corral or out riding the range. Every job's important, and there ain't none that ain't. It's not the cowboy way to quit though it'd be easier to say ‘I cain't.'” “It means you'll not complain when you help dig a well, Nor even have to be asked to spell a tired cowpoke who's stove-up.” “It means you'll work with others as well as you’ll work alone, And that even when you're tired to the bone, you'll cowboy-up.” “That’s what it means, that, and a whole lot more.” “It means that you've got pride in yourself, your job, and the land. So saddle-up. Toughen-up. Cowboy-up. Be a man. Ride for the brand.” (© 1999 Used with permission; twb) Now, for a little rant from me.

[Ephesians 5:22 - 6:4] There is a tendency in our current society to throw the baby out with the bathwater. In an effort to fight against immoral acts such as sexual harassment, physical abuse, and bullying, perpetrated by a small minority of bad apples, mainstream media and social justice warriors have decided to coin the phrase “toxic masculinity” and toss anyone who exhibits manly qualities into that bucket. "Toxic masculinity" means that masculinity is filled with poison. In other words, to be a man is evil. If you do the things that we are told men should not do, then you are infected with toxic masculinity. You are poisoned. There is something wrong with you. Regardless of what "the experts," and the media say: "Men are not women!" A man is made much differently from a woman. Forcing men to be feminine is a corruption of the role of a man. Let men be men. Let them do their "man" things. This does not mean that they are not to respect and honor women. A real man knows exactly how to properly treat the women with whom he engages apart from his wife, to his daughter, to co-workers, and to a stranger on the street. My friends, just to call something a name does not make it so. Just because a man acts like a man does not mean that he is poison. MEN, BE MEN! And, don't let society make you ashamed of it! “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). Ride for the brand of Christ!

What Is Love?

I have to tell you; my anger towards those who are celebrating their “victory” to sentence to death the most innocent of all human-beings, not only at any time in the womb, but now, even in the birth cannel itself, is absolutely barbaric and testing my love for my fellow man to the extreme! The country I love is being sold to Satan for the price of self gratification wrapped in a perverted heartless “love” that’s being redefined every day. If this behavior continues, God-fearing or not, the wrath of God is going to come down on this nation and its citizens for allowing the dismantling of righteous living under His gift of love. “There are six things the Lord hates, seven are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” (Proverbs 6:16-19). All of these things are out of control in our state and federal legislatures. Do you think God is angry too?

February – the month of love. Love is, perhaps, the most abused word in the English language. It is a word that has become vague and diluted through misunderstanding and misapplication. We hear the word love used interchangeably with just about anything and everything. For instance, someone could say, “I love hotdogs” and in the same breathe say, “I love my wife.” Our culture has trivialized the word love and greatly devalued it in the process. Society markets a cheap imitation of love, in our culture, sentimentality is mistaken for love. Love is based on how someone makes one feel. Love is also met with conditions. In a society that exalts individualism, people see love as a response as to how they are treated. “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours,” is the mantra of so many involved in a “loving” relationship. We get love wrong because we begin at the wrong starting point. We start with ourselves when we should be starting with God. Authentic love must always start with God. God is love (1 John 4:8), and everything we need to know about love we can learn from Him. In fact, God sent His Son to teach us about love. Through Christ we learn that authentic love pays a price. The apostle Paul wrote, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Christ paid the ultimate price for you and for me. His love was so great, that he laid down his life for us. “My command is this (Jesus said): Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:12-14). Christ also shows that authentic love is completely unearned. God loves us because of who He is, regardless of who we are. Because, God, by his very nature, is love. John wrote, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10).God loved us first; even when we didn’t deserve it. He willingly gave it. Authentic love holds nothing back. God’s love suffered. It hung on a cross. The love of God is so immense that it allowed His Son to die an agonizing painful death, all for lowly humans like you and me. God’s love is no cheap imitation. Authentic love is about loving like God. It’s about character, not feeling or emotion. And it’s about who we are, not something we do. Authentic love is not contractual, it’s not conditional, and its intended purpose is not the pleasure of self. Authentic love is unearned, unconditional and unselfish. It loves without expecting a return. Lord, purify our hearts.