The type of soil we use for our gardens and crops can really make a difference. The right soils can produce a beautiful garden, good crops and abundant fruit. Other soils, not so much. We used to live in Nevada. It was hard to get things to grow there (except sagebrush and tumbleweeds and nasty things called “goatheads which have spikes that will go through a bicycle tire and don’t feel good on the feet). Other places we have been have lush green plants because they have that dark organic soil full of nutrients. How we hear and understand (and accept or not) God’s word is kind of like that, as Jesus explains in this parable.
Continue reading “What God Sows”Carrying Your Cross
In a previous post, we talked about denying ourselves and carrying our cross daily (see Carry Your Own Cross) as Jesus spoke of in Luke 9:23-26. Here we will discuss this in a little more detail. How do we show others that we are followers of Christ? What does it mean to carry your own cross?
Continue reading “Carrying Your Cross”A Rock Solid Foundation
Jesus knew a thing or two about building. One thing he knew was that you need a firm foundation, and what it stands on. Our faith is no different. We need a firm foundation and we need it to stand firm. We can only do that with Christ being that foundation. And what we stand on is His words…the truth.
Continue reading “A Rock Solid Foundation”The First Christmas
I remember watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special. With all the hustle and bustle of shopping and gifts and trees and decorations, we lose sight of what Christmas is all about. But Linus got it right. Remember? He recited part of Luke 2. ‘Christ’mas is not about any of that. It is about the birth of our Savior.
Continue reading “The First Christmas”Out with the Old, In with the New
Sometimes change is hard. Sometimes we have a hard time accepting new things. Jesus told a parable that speaks to us about the new…The New Covenant that is better than the old. Grace is more complete than the Law. We are a new creation in Christ. The old self has passed away. There will be a New Heaven and a New Earth. He will make all things new.
Continue reading “Out with the Old, In with the New”