SOWING AND REAPING
Today’s Reading: Psalms 125-129
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Mount Tabor is located in Lower Galilee, about 11 miles (18 km) west of the Sea of Galilee. It is believed by many Christians to be the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus. As we look west from Mount Tabor across the farmers’ fields below you can see Nazareth on the right. The beautiful patchwork of the fields tells us that people have sown seed and will reap the harvest.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Psalm 126:5-6
Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.
Psalm 125 states the fact that “The Lord surrounds His people!” On the basis of that fact the psalm’s composer can pray, “Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts!”
Psalm 126 gives an answer to the “Do good, O Lord” prayer, which is received with laughter and singing! These songs were sung by the people as they ascended Mount Zion. They may have been the former slaves in Babylon who had wept many tears; now, with Jerusalem in sight, they are rejoicing. Most of us who read our key verses are Christians. Our first tears are shed in repentance for sin. This brings joy! The next wave of tears are shed in our intercessory prayers for others who need to know Jesus. The Scripture teaches us that the seed we sow is the Word of God (Mark 4:1-20).
Psalm 127 confirms to us the futility of human effort apart from God. Those who rely on God can expect to be rewarded with restful sleep which results in peace of mind. Our families are blessed and our families bless us!
Psalm 128 reveals that the basis of a truly happy and successful home is “the fear of the Lord!” This “fear” is that awesome respect we owe God, our Creator, and that “fear” is manifested by the attention we pay to His Holy Word!
Psalm 129 is also a song! We can remember the words to songs well when we remember the tune. The songwriter remembers the history of Israel from the time it was a young nation up to the present. Those memories produce confidence in God’s overall plan!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray for a harvest of joy that will come as a result of my tears of repentance and tears of strong intercessory prayer for the salvation of precious people all over the world. Save my loved ones, Lord, and may I love others with the love of the One who dwells in me. In His Name, the Name of Jesus, I pray! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
There’s a saying I remember from childhood: “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” There are great poets who wrote in the English language about God and His reality. Those words were written by Lord Tennyson in the 19th century. He imagines the death of King Arthur and writes the above famous line. He goes on to write,
“Wherefore, let thy voice rise like a fountain for me night and day. For what are men better than sheep or goats that nourish a blind life within the brain, if, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer both for themselves and for those who call them friends? For so the whole round earth is bound by gold chains about the feet of God.”
Over and over again through the years I’ve come to God in prayer, claiming God’s promise found in our key verses. I’ve found joy and rejoicing in God’s blessing. Also I’m old enough to have worked for several summers as a teenager behind a “binder”… a machine that produces sheaves of wheat which must be placed in an upright stack so that the water will run off them when it rains while awaiting the community threshing machine. Then the grain could be put into the barn awaiting hungry cattle and horses, or the flour mill. This was an exciting time as all the farmers in the area would work together for the success of the harvest! It reminds me of the precious souls harvested because many of us have done our part in God’s harvest through our support of “The Crossroads Family of Ministries!” (click here for more on the sowing and harvesting work of Crossroads).
Yours for successful sowing and reaping!
David
Please do one of my blog friends have a short prayer that could be prayed with my uncle to accept Jesus. He is in a care facility and I hope to visit with him on Sunday, d.v.
Thank you Mr. Mainse for this blog 🙂
Diane 🙂
“Lord, be merciful to me a sinner”– is all the prayer one needs if sincerely spoken. God looks at a person’s heart, not their words, so if your uncle is truly willing to accept Christ as His Lord and Savior, the Sinner’s Prayer is more than adequate–the Lord will do the rest. I hope that helps.
Yes Lord be merciful to me a sinner!
Maybe contact a Lutheran church and borrow a copy of Luther’s Small Cathechism and read the Ten Commandments, The Creed, The Lord’s Prayer, The Sacrament of Holy Baptismn, Confession the Sacrament of the Altar plus all the meanings of the above!! When a person reads the other person is listening, and the Holy Spirit calls, gathers and enlightens us in the One True Word and sancitfies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith! The key is in the listening, Scripture says “to inwardly digest” I would not worry about being short, the elderly (and I am one) likes to hear and listen, and to mediatate on what we hear!
Never underestimate what seniors can hear or see, I am very excited for you! This is a wonderful gift you will be giving your uncle! we will are praying for you for the right words and for your uncle that his heart will be open! HE WILL BE GREATLY BLESSED, HIGHLY FAVIOURED, A REDEEMED, FORGIVE CHILD OF GOD!
Truly a celebration!!!!!!!keep us posted.
Used to claim the key verse a lot when I was overseas and it always brought me hope and encouragement. Love it! Now I need to stand on it again. Our church in the community holds at least one hundred people, has been enlarged and newly renovated and there is only two of us regulars who attend who live in this community and the Lord has been speaking to me about evangelism and these verses encourage it. Also Matthew 13:38a says the field is the world…We are to care about the whole world. Have been on Mt. Tabor and what a thrilling ride up there and scenery. Good photo Reynold and another inspiring blog David. Thinking of you Beverlee. Blessings!
Diane, you asked for a short prayer to pray with your uncle. Here’s one: “Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. I believe you died on the Cross at Calvary for all my sins. Lord Jesus forgive me of all my sins and come into my heart and wash all those sins away. I receive you now into my heart. Help me to live for You and take me to live with You in heaven when I die, in Jesus Name I pray. Amen. Now Uncle______, believe the verse in John 6:37b that says,”…he that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.” God bless you, Ger.
Many thanks Ger 🙂
Pray for my uncle that he is willing to receive Jesus.
see my blog above! blessings also, ou will be greatly blessed from this wonderful event!
Amen! Pastor Mainse.
I pray your prayer for today in Jesus Precious Name, Amen.
your uncle is in my prayers as well
I pray for your uncle Diane , God bless him as he excepts the Lord.amen…
Please pray for my grandaughter who is having a biopsy on her liver
pray it is benien . also pray for her salvation .Thank you all… R…
Rosemarie maybe you get find a Luther`s Small Catechism and give it to your granddaughter for her to read.
Father God You know this beautiful grand daughter and You know her health issues, I pray the Holy Spirit will call her to know Our Triune God, Our Father, Son and Holy Spirit! We ask for healing of this precious person Lord God, in Jesus Name we Pray AMEN
Prayed the prayer with you Pastor David; thank you for leading us through the psalms, culminating with prayer for the day. Good to hear you put on some weight!!
Coming in agreement in prayer for your grand-daughter, Rosemarie and for peace of mind for you as you wait for the results.
Praying for salvation for your Uncle Diane.
These payers in the Mighty Name of Jesus and for His Glory. Amen!!
Elizabeth: PRAISE AND THANK THE LORD FOR REMOVING SMAKES FROM YOUR LIFE! YES, GOD IS SO-O-O-O-O-O-O AMAZING! IT BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES
P.S. I just have to learn how to spell I MEANT TO SAY `SMOKES`from your life Elizabeth, well, it`s good to laugh also……..
Please pray the Lord will bring me a Ukulele. preferably an alto tone, I would like to find a group to play with, I enjoy music and I need to keep busy, praying for granddaughter and uncle who will receive the knowledge of Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour! AMEN