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Pressing Toward The Goal

Apr24

Devotion for today…

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

-Philippians 3:12-16

Pole VaultingMy grandson is pole vaulting this spring. He loves the sport and is very good at it. In fact, he will soon be competing in the Texas Regionals. We were all concerned because he had  shoulder surgery, last fall, due to a football injury. We didn’t want him to injure  himself again; nevertheless, he keeps reaching for the goals he has set for himself.

I’m so thankful for his wonderful parents who encourage him to set goals, they have reared him to trust The Lord and his heart. Also, for the Christian Coach who prays with his team before every meet. That’s almost unheard of in public schools.

As these young men and women press on to reach their goals, I  pray that as a Christian, with God by my side, I can climb that mountain or leap over  every  obstacle that is holding me back and  be the witness he wants me to be. God doesn’t expect us to be perfect; however, he is pleased when we are willing to press on reaching forward to those things that are ahead.

Parable of Springtime Survival

Apr21

Devotion for today….

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

-Matthew 13:3-9

Travonna's PlantsOur plants have arrived, all 150 thousand of them!

Now it’s time to plant. In our arid parched  country people say you have to be a man of Great Faith or a gambler to be a farmer. I know my husband is a man of faith and not a gambler so we always put everything in God’s hands.

Every year when the plants arrive I try to imagine how difficult it’s going to be for them to survive and I know some will not. Some will not survive because of lack of water even though we irrigate they will be in the wrong place. Some will be planted in soil that isn’t as rich in minerals and some will be eaten by wild animals and insects ,and yes ,the weeds that tend to crop up even though they are hoed many times throughout the season will choke them and they too will be lost.Others will not bear fruit because the bees wasn’t able to pollenate them. But MANY will survive in spite of everything. Their roots  will dig deep  into the soil and they will hang on for dear life.

In Matthew13:4-9 Jesus preached to a multitude about the parable of the sower. People are much like these tender plants . We don’t all have the same opportunities and all of us face different adversities but we must never ever give up. God will help us survive if we believe and allow him too. He loves us. He wants us to survive so that we may   bear much fruit and glorify him!