Gentle Art Of Learning

"Just as an inferno begins with but a spark,

a field grows vast and plentiful

from the sprinkling of seeds"

~ Stephanie Fries ~

Steph's Poetry Corner

As I read the above quote the scripture "the sower soweth the word ~ Luke 4:14," kept swirling around in my head. The field represents our heart and the seeds are God's word. As I thought on the quote and what I wanted to say, I continued to think about my current situation as a mother. This road of motherhood is like none other I have previously traveled. It is long, it is hard and there seems to be little reward. I know that I am not suppose to expect anything in return however, no one told me therefore I didn't expect it to be one filled with continual challenges. I have learned that it is an opportunity not only for me to trust the Lord but to walk in love on a daily, minute by minute basis. I am differently still a work in progress but I think I finally see what I am missing.

As I have accepted the responsibility to be a mother/educator to my children, I have also said yes to raising my children in the nurture and admonish of the Lord. But what is that really?! How do you raise them? What tools do you need? What is the nurture and admonish of the Lord? Now, I don't have all the answers, but I am beginning to understand what is expected of me. I am to be like my Father (the Sower) and sow the Word of God into my childrens heart. And in order for them to reap a harvest of thirtyfold, sixty and even a hundred, I must do something first:

Its really that simple. We must be hearers and doers of the word in order for us to be able to pass it along to our dear children. We must be able to pray, share, and model the Word in order for our children to understand and follow. As we begin to apply the Word to our own lives/hearts, we begin to change and God can move in us. As we pray and meditate on the word, giving thanks for our situations, families, etc., we allow God into our everyday lives and to cultivate our hearts to receive for them to grow.

We are told in Romans 12:2, to not be conformed to this world but to renew our minds. We renew our minds by praying, meditating, hearing and doing the Word. We are cultivating the field of our hearts when we do so and preparing our hearts to become good ground for harvest. We must be willing to do these things for our children. As we teach them daily ~ when they come in and go out, walk alongside and sit by ~ we must be sowing into their lives the Word of God. Many of us know that we wouldn't be where we are if it wasn't for someone praying for us ~ that's sown seed. We must do this for our families and others so they may be able to stand especially when Satan tries to steal the word from them (see Mark 4:15).

As I reflect on the past 5 yrs of homeschooling, I realize that I dropped the ball in this very area and the enemy has come along and sown tares in my fields. Praise God, they are removable, though it will take much time and patience, just like it does for the farmer who must wait in order not to damage his crops in the process. As I wait, I also get to plant more seed, water them in prayer and let God be God. As I sow though I have an advantage over the natural farmers: the Word of God is able to clear out the bad as it begins to take root in the heart. Hebrews 4:12 is my favorite verse to prove this point and it says:

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Now thats some cleanup, don't you think?! The Word of God is able to help us to grow, cleanse our hearts and become who we are created to be. Thats awesome and it doesn't require much ~ just a little here and a little there ~ day and night.

I want a field that grows vast and plentiful in myself and my family. Therefore, I renew my commitment to be a sower and doer of the Word of God. I will purpose to plant the seeds into my own heart so that I may walk worthy and be a true disciple of the Lord. I will not lose hope for I know the Lord will never leave nor forsake me. I will learn how to be as patience, caring and watchful as the farmer over his crops. We shall be like those Jesus speaks of in Mark 4:19:

"And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, sixty, and some an hundred.