The Times News has teamed up with area clergy to share ‘Words of Comfort’ twice a week in our print edition and online at . Any member of the clergy who’d like to get involved can contact Allison Winters at awinters@sixriversmedia.com.
The Times News has teamed up with area clergy to share ‘Words of Comfort’ twice a week in our print edition and online at . Any member of the clergy who’d like to get involved can contact Allison Winters at awinters@sixriversmedia.com.
When it comes to gardening we get to choose what we plant.
We want tomatoes? We plant tomatoes. We want eggplant? We plant eggplant.
Hopefully we will have a good harvest with proper care like weeding to keep the undesired from overtaking the desired.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.â€
Unlike our gardens and planting seasons, it is always planting season in God’s garden.
Don’t delay, start planting now!
We must keep tending it. Get rid of the bad to make room for the good to grow. This involves purging bad habits entertaining good thoughts. Prayer and reading God’s word to sow the good seeds.
Unlike physical gardens, hardships, illness and the like don’t affect the spiritual harvest but may enhance it at the end if we trust in God.
God knows our struggles; we must not give up.
In Galatians 6:9-10, it says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap at harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity let us do good to all people...â€
If we want the rewards of doing good, we have to do good.
Some opportunities present themselves, others can be sought or made. Remember that the harvest time comes according to God’s calendar, not ours. So don’t get impatient.
Maybe you feel like you don’t have that much much to offer, but look at a potato. Not much to look at, but it is very useful. Think about how many people it helps feed and how easy they are to store.
Potatoes grow covered in dirt, and from them we get baked potatoes, french fries, hash browns, mashed potatoes, potato cakes, fried potatoes (one of my favorites), potato soup, potato chips and more.
Who knows how many possibilities exist in the hands of the right cook. I’ll tell you who knows, God knows.
You may think you don’t have anything to offer, but you have more to offer than you realize. Don’t undervalue your contribution.
Apostle Paul wrote I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it.
Your participation matters. There are many bricks in the wall, all of them are needed. God wants you to come to Him.
What you reap is up to you. Your relationship with God is between you and Him.
Rev. Shane Wallace is a pastor at Coeburn Methodist Church.
Rev. Shane Wallace is pastor at Coeburn Methodist Church.
