It's Not Guaranteed

Life on the farm teaches us many lessons: to everything there is a season, hard work is necessary, and waiting is too. Farming provides endless opportunities for my children to learn responsibility and we also learn about walking in faith. Earlier this month we had to replant corn and God has taught me a spiritual lesson through a difficult situation. May it bless you as well.

Friend, planting seeds doesn't guarantee they will grow. We learned this difficult lesson on our farm and I've been reminded the same is true when it comes to our faith. Just because my husband tills the soil, and fertilizes it as well, does not mean corn will grow. Just because we pray and share our testimony, doesn't mean the seeds of faith will mature. And just because we pour into our children and guide them with the Truth, we are not promised they will always live a godly life.

I know those are not very encouraging words, but can we agree they reflect the reality we live in? Trust me, ripping up the first corn we planted was a difficult process. Counting the cost of planting the crop again was challenging as well. Doing the work again took time, effort and money.

As I thought about all of this, I came to the realization that the fact that our actions don't guarantee results can leave me defeated and cause me to give up. My husband could have been pretty discouraged by the absence of heat and lack of growth. These thoughts could have left him questioning about attempting to plant again. But he's a farmer and he knows farmers plant seeds. He also believes and knows it's God who does the growing.

Recently, I've heard of marriages falling apart and children drifting away. Situations that Satan sometimes uses to leave me thinking "what if" and fearing what lies ahead. These individuals are walking through hard trials and experiencing pain I don't understand. Not long ago, they probably thought they were investing and planting good things into their families, but yet the harvest doesn't look like they expected.

Friend, if our eyes are not set on Jesus, these situations can leave us overwhelmed and fearful. They can lead to anxiety and bitterness. Thankfully, my husband's faith is bigger than all that happens in the field. Job knows planting seeds doesn't guarantee growth, but he knows seeking the Lord leads to direction, trusting Christ provides peace and obeying God brings blessings.

Instead of letting the results of our actions, or lack there of, leave us defeated, may the truth about God being good and faithful encourage us to persevere. Let me ask you a couple of  questions - Are you focused on what you do or who God is? Is your attention on what you get or how you grow?

The other night, we drove by one of our fields and my husband said, "I'm sure glad we replanted that." I instantly thought about what God taught us through the process and revealed His character to us and I was grateful as well. Even when our work fails, God's work is productive. He is always teaching us and though our seeds may not grow, our faith does. Friend, our labor may not always be fruitful (at least from an earthly perspective), but God's work is eternal!

There is much in this world that is not guaranteed, but there are promises that will never fail!

 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27

Have you ever had to "replant"? How did you handle this? What guarantee from God can you cling to today? 

It's A Family Thing

Today most farmers no longer make small square bales, including my husband, but this week he did, which meant we needed to stack them in the hay mow. I'll keep things real and admit our kids are not always eager to do their chores; there are moments they complain and times they argue, but attitudes were good yesterday. (Perhaps that's why this rare job was a joy!)

My husband directed traffic and gave us all our job to do...the 3 oldest kids were stacking in the barn, our 2nd son was helping Job on the hay rack while our youngest was supervising from the nearby sandbox and I operated the skid loader which was attached to the rope that pulled the bale fork. It may sound like a complicated process, but it really went quite smoothly.

As I sat in the noisy John Deere, I could see our oldest through the barn window and watched our 7 year old eagerly help his dad. At times our "baby" would give me a thumbs up letting me know I was doing alright. Observing this was a treat...it's not every day we're all eagerly working together on a single job.

I'll admit this moment of joy caught me off guard...I never expected to enjoy a job in my 40's that I dreaded as a teenager! Unloading bales is work. It's often hot, itchy and time consuming, but yesterday our family job painted a picture. The efforts and effects of my "Team Beran" are similar to that of the body of Christ.

From the oldest to the youngest, we each had a role. Granted some of the kids thought Jed had the easy job and one even offered to trade, but in the end we completed our assigned task. Ephesians 4:11-13 says, "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

Friend, if you are a believer of Jesus, you are a member of His body. Just like my children are a member of our family and were given a job to do, God has the same for you. The roles may look different and require various skills, but they are all equally important and required to complete the task of building His kingdom. I pray you and I will do them to the best of our ability and with good, godly attitudes.

I had a clear view of Titus 2 played out in front of me as well. This was the first time Jed was really old enough to help and really experience unloading hay with the bale fork. He was so eager and excited. He was observant and willing. He watched everything Job did and did his best to help.

As children of God and women of faith we need to play both of these roles - the model and the mimic. There are things we need to learn to do, so like Jed may we be teachable and look to wise examples. We also have skills, lessons and a faith to share, so like Job may we be patient and willing to help those who want to learn. Friend, if you are a mom daily life gives us this opportunity...may we treasure it and use it wisely.

My time in the great outdoors also reminded me of the power of encouragement. This isn't just important on the farm or with my family, but in the body of Christ as well. Our words matter and they make a difference. The things we say and the tone we use impacts others. Ephesians 4:29 says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Is there a brother or sister in Christ who needs some encouragement? Speak the words today.

The majority of my life has been spent on a farm, I know farming and families go together and I'm grateful for the reminder that faith and families go together too! Friend, I don't know what role God has for you, but I know you are an important, necessary member of His body. I pray you accept your role, learn from others, do your best and encourage fellow believers.

A life of faith takes even more work and time than unloading a few loads of hay, but the effort is worth it and the reward is eternal. Keep pressing on and look forward to hearing from your heavenly Father what my kids heard from their earthly father - "Well done my good and faithful servant."  (So Job used sons and daughters, but you know what I mean, right? God created us to serve Him and will acknowledge us when we do!)

Perfection is NOT the Goal

I’m a perfectionist. There I said it. Do you need to say it too? Granted I’m not a perfectionist in all areas, but in the ones I am - watch out. I know doing a job and doing it well are important and are good things, but striving for perfection can create problems.

It’s easy to see this in my children. There perfectionism can create anxiety and lead to feelings of never being good enough. This desire to be perfect affects their attitudes and impacts relationships. It can lead to tears and sometimes drives me crazy.

Yesterday I found myself looking in the mirror as I was the one dealing with the frustration our endless striving for perfectionism creates. I’m working on a Bible study and as the deadline nears, my desire for perfection seems to increase. I’ve read and re-read my manuscript countless times. Friends I trust and respect have read it as well. Changes have occurred and improvements have been made, but my work continues.

The other day I told my husband, “The more I work on it, the more it seems I find to do.” Those words left my mouth and I realized my focus had shifted. I was concentrating on what I could do instead of trusting God to do what only He can do.

I think I may have forgot Paul’s words about God’s grace being sufficient. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 we read, "My (God's) power is perfected in weakness." Think about that statement for a minute. Do you have weak areas? Do you ever strive to perfect them? Or use your strengths to try and negate them? Friend, God not only knows our weaknesses, His power is perfected in them. 

This is no reason to sluff off and do the bare minimum, but it can and should encourage us to let go of the idea of perfectionism. 

The other day while doing our daily Bible reading, I came across Psalm 119:96. I read the words and stopped to jot down the reference. Later that day I wrote it in my journal - "To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless." 

This morning I was stressed about my upcoming deadline and God convicted me of my striving for perfectionism. As He did I recalled this verse. I opened my Bible and read it again. As humans we have limits - there are things we can't do and mistakes we will make. God on the other hand is perfect and His commands have no limits. We have timelines to deal with and deadlines to meet, God holds time in His hands and waits on no man. 

What a contrast between my Father and me. Today instead of striving to get everything just right, I'm attempting to surrender and trust the One who is perfect. I'm asking Him to lead me, to fill me with His Spirit, equip me through His Word and help me rest in His promises. Will you do the same? 

Friend, God doesn't ask us to be perfect in our performance, but He does command us to "be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect."  (Matthew 5:48) This is an internal perfection that leads to external results. It's who God is and who we are trying to become. This process of perfection won't happen over night, so we must persevere. As we do, we may make mistakes, but He can help us learn. New opportunities will arise and improvements will be made. I encourage you to shift your focus from what you need to do and take a little time to remember what He has done. God has worked through imperfect people before, chances are He can do it again!!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the truth of Your Word. Continue to sanctify and perfect me with it and through it. Keep making me more like You. Help me let go of striving for perfection. I want to do a good job for you, but sometimes that desire to do my best does more harm than good. Fill me with Your Spirit and renew me with Your Word, so I can press on and work with You to do all You call me to do. Help me obey and then trust You with the results. Father God, thank you for choosing me and using me. May Your power shine through my weaknesses and may I never forget that Your grace is sufficient. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.