"Now as he walked by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and Andrew his brother
casting a net into the sea: for they were
fishers.
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye
after me, and I will make you to become
fishers of men.
And straightway they forsook their nets,
and followed him."
Mark 1:16-18
FOLLOW ME! just simple words, easy to
under stand. Maybe the most outrageous
that the disciples had ever heard.
In these words, Jesus expressed the
effect of what it would mean to be His
disciple.
These words were outrageous because
they needed a person to "leave everything,"
[to put anything that was important to them,
second] to follow Him [to do His will], and to
"deny himself [ignore what they want],
and take up his cross" [that's when their
will crossed His] every day
(Matthew 16:24).
It was a command to be used at all time,
no matter what problem faced, no matter
what others thought or said. It was a
command that forced some to change
priorities, and for others, simply too
outrageous.
All through His ministry, Jesus kept coming
back to this message, showing it importance.
He told the disciples, "My sheep hear My
voice, and I know them, and they follow
Me" (John 10:27).
He taught them, "If anyone serves Me, he
must follow Me, and where I am, there My
servant will be also; if any one serves Me,
the Father will honor him" (John 12:26).
Jesus even stressed this after He rose
from the grave, commanding the disciples
to "Follow Me!" (John 21:19).
Today, Jesus commands the same, He says
"Follow Me". This is the way to peace and
power, authority and fulfillment. When
facing temptations or feeling pressured to
conform to the world, simple remember to
leave every thing behind [mentally,
emotionally, physically and spiritually] and
follow Him!
Seasons
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for
in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
Galatians 6:9
A farmer may be tempted to look at a field
after the land has been prepared and the
seeds are sown, before any fruit or harvest
can be seen.
It may be times of worry and wonder and it
may even be difficult to wait.
But eventually the farmer comes to under-
stand the responsibility of simply preparing
the soil and planting the seeds at the right
time. Knowing that in order reap a harvest,
seeds have to be released and sown into the
ground.
Farmers must then wait patiently for the
harvest season, trusting in God that after the
planting and watering it is only a matter of
time before the harvest comes.
This seedtime and harvest goes for every
area of life, spiritual, physical, and financial
etc.
Even knowing these principles, it is still
difficult to wait. It become frustrating to
expect rewards immediately and harvests
instantly.
Remember that God has a "due season" ; a
time to reap blessings.
Keep sowing seeds into the Kingdom!
Don't grow weary!
Continue to have faith in Him!
A harvest will come in the right time and
the right season!
in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
Galatians 6:9
A farmer may be tempted to look at a field
after the land has been prepared and the
seeds are sown, before any fruit or harvest
can be seen.
It may be times of worry and wonder and it
may even be difficult to wait.
But eventually the farmer comes to under-
stand the responsibility of simply preparing
the soil and planting the seeds at the right
time. Knowing that in order reap a harvest,
seeds have to be released and sown into the
ground.
Farmers must then wait patiently for the
harvest season, trusting in God that after the
planting and watering it is only a matter of
time before the harvest comes.
This seedtime and harvest goes for every
area of life, spiritual, physical, and financial
etc.
Even knowing these principles, it is still
difficult to wait. It become frustrating to
expect rewards immediately and harvests
instantly.
Remember that God has a "due season" ; a
time to reap blessings.
Keep sowing seeds into the Kingdom!
Don't grow weary!
Continue to have faith in Him!
A harvest will come in the right time and
the right season!
Reason to Believe
"Look, the winter is past,
and the rains are over and gone.
The flowers are springing up,
the season of singing birds has come,
and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.
The fig trees are forming young fruit,
and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming."
Song of Solomon 2:11-13 NLT
People going through difficult times may feel
and think nothing is ever going to change.
Feeling stuck in circumstances for a long time
it is hard to imagine life being any different.
It seems like nothing works and prayers are
not being heard.
It can be hard to imagine that God really
wants to bless or that His blessings are really
on the way.
But the promises of God's Word really are
true. In every circumstance He needs to be
trusted, even when things don't seem to
change. Seeds need to be planted and faith
has to be continually in action.
Doubt and worry is to be ignored.
The Word of God is to be confessed.
And His promises declared.
The good new is God is faithful and the
blessings are on the way!
and the rains are over and gone.
The flowers are springing up,
the season of singing birds has come,
and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.
The fig trees are forming young fruit,
and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming."
Song of Solomon 2:11-13 NLT
People going through difficult times may feel
and think nothing is ever going to change.
Feeling stuck in circumstances for a long time
it is hard to imagine life being any different.
It seems like nothing works and prayers are
not being heard.
It can be hard to imagine that God really
wants to bless or that His blessings are really
on the way.
But the promises of God's Word really are
true. In every circumstance He needs to be
trusted, even when things don't seem to
change. Seeds need to be planted and faith
has to be continually in action.
Doubt and worry is to be ignored.
The Word of God is to be confessed.
And His promises declared.
The good new is God is faithful and the
blessings are on the way!
Planting Seeds
"Restore our fortunes, Lord,
as streams renew the desert.
Those who plant in tears
will harvest with shouts of joy.
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest."
Psalm 126:4-6 NLT
It can take a real step of faith to plant seeds.
Farmers know a harvest cannot come
without sowing seeds, no matter what it feels
like, and no matter what is happening at the
time.
Spiritually it can be even more difficult to
sow seeds, particularly for practical needs,
during trials, or when circumstances are
hopeless.
These are times when faith must act, not
feelings, and the seeds are planted
sacrificially.
Seeds may need to be sown during dis-
couraging circumstances or suffering.
There may not be immediate results and
problems may continue after the seeds
are sown.
The psalmist wrote about this kind of
situation. He described a time when the
people of God were captives in a foreign
land. They had sown seeds and believed
God for deliverance. Yet it seemed like
nothing was happening and that there
was no reason to even hope.
Then their prayers were answered and
God delivered them. Even though they
were sad, their mouths became filled
with laughter and joy.
No matter how difficult the circumstances,
God's Word is true. He rewards whoever
acts in faith. Sowing into His Kingdom, will
reap great harvests!
as streams renew the desert.
Those who plant in tears
will harvest with shouts of joy.
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest."
Psalm 126:4-6 NLT
It can take a real step of faith to plant seeds.
Farmers know a harvest cannot come
without sowing seeds, no matter what it feels
like, and no matter what is happening at the
time.
Spiritually it can be even more difficult to
sow seeds, particularly for practical needs,
during trials, or when circumstances are
hopeless.
These are times when faith must act, not
feelings, and the seeds are planted
sacrificially.
Seeds may need to be sown during dis-
couraging circumstances or suffering.
There may not be immediate results and
problems may continue after the seeds
are sown.
The psalmist wrote about this kind of
situation. He described a time when the
people of God were captives in a foreign
land. They had sown seeds and believed
God for deliverance. Yet it seemed like
nothing was happening and that there
was no reason to even hope.
Then their prayers were answered and
God delivered them. Even though they
were sad, their mouths became filled
with laughter and joy.
No matter how difficult the circumstances,
God's Word is true. He rewards whoever
acts in faith. Sowing into His Kingdom, will
reap great harvests!
Season of Blessing
"He did good and gave you rains from
the heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfy-
ing your hearts with food and gladness."
Acts 14:17 NASB
Spring is a time of hope. It also is a
time of change. Spring reminds us that
the cold winter is gone, and it soon will
be time to enjoy the warm summer.
Spring is the time when farmers get the
soil ready for planting the seeds. Spring
is a time of waiting.
The Bible calls attention to seasons. In
the very beginning, God said that the
"lights in the expanse of the heavens"
were to be "signs and for the
seasons and for days and years."
Genesis1:14
Nature is controlled by seasons, for
God "made the moon for the seasons"
Psalms 104:19; and "even the stork
in the sky knows her seasons"
Jeremiah 8:7
Seasons are also important for spiritual
growth. God's blessings can only be
received by living according to His calendar.
Season are linked to obedience. By obey-
ing, He will give "rains in their seasons, so
that the land will yield its produce and the
trees of the field will bear their fruit"
Leviticus 26:4
The Word says that "for everything there
is a season, a time for every activity under
heaven... a time to plant and a time to
harvest"
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
the heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfy-
ing your hearts with food and gladness."
Acts 14:17 NASB
Spring is a time of hope. It also is a
time of change. Spring reminds us that
the cold winter is gone, and it soon will
be time to enjoy the warm summer.
Spring is the time when farmers get the
soil ready for planting the seeds. Spring
is a time of waiting.
The Bible calls attention to seasons. In
the very beginning, God said that the
"lights in the expanse of the heavens"
were to be "signs and for the
seasons and for days and years."
Genesis1:14
Nature is controlled by seasons, for
God "made the moon for the seasons"
Psalms 104:19; and "even the stork
in the sky knows her seasons"
Jeremiah 8:7
Seasons are also important for spiritual
growth. God's blessings can only be
received by living according to His calendar.
Season are linked to obedience. By obey-
ing, He will give "rains in their seasons, so
that the land will yield its produce and the
trees of the field will bear their fruit"
Leviticus 26:4
The Word says that "for everything there
is a season, a time for every activity under
heaven... a time to plant and a time to
harvest"
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
By being sensitive to His calendar, He
promises a harvest but first the seeds [His words] must be planted. He will send rain to water the seeds and He will bring in a "fruitful season" of harvest!
For God so loved the world
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Jesus died your soul to save;
For your life He freely gave
All He had in heaven above,
Just to show His wondrous love.
Wondrous love so rich, so free--
Can it truly be for me?
Yes, dear friend, 'tis true, 'tis true,
All Christ did, He did for you.
--Jennifer R. Leaf
Believe on the Lord Jesus
Jesus died your soul to save;
For your life He freely gave
All He had in heaven above,
Just to show His wondrous love.
Wondrous love so rich, so free--
Can it truly be for me?
Yes, dear friend, 'tis true, 'tis true,
All Christ did, He did for you.
--Jennifer R. Leaf
Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved.
Acts 16:31
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