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”As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.” Matthew 13: 20-21
 

We’d all like to think that we are rich fertile soil ALL the time, in every situation, and in every circumstance.  When really the truth of the matter would suggest that we are not the super Christians we think we are. (removing cape with head hung low)  While the parable of the seed and the sower speaks of salvation, I believe it could also speak to our everyday lives after Believing.  As believers, I believe that God speaks to us in our day to day.  (I had to clarify b/c I come from a background that some might not understand that truth just yet) In speaking to us, that Word is a seed that’s sown in our hearts and how we react often times goes right along with the seed sower parable. 

 
Let’s go through them (rather quickly) so that my point is clear.  In this corner, we have “the path listeners”!!  They hear the Word (or instruction) but don’t quite understand it so it’s tossed out and the enemy comes along to daintily gather it up with no probs. (mental pic, lol)  Then we have the “Rocky Grounders”. They hear the Word (or instruction) with joy, hide it away with every intention of trusting Him for it, doing it, etc.  But then….the seas roar and we either run to the bottom of the boat (dramatically) scream to God that He doesn’t care that we die or we take our eyes off the WORD (Jesus) to the circumstances and we sink (momentarily of course, Jesus IS there). Then there are “THE THORNS”. (I had to capitalize it, it sounds like a rock band) They hear the instruction but aren’t seriously considering it bc they would be required to give up too much (World Race anyone?)
 
My point for this little ditty, would be those that allow the seed to fall on rocky ground….GUILTY.  But before my sentencing, here my story.  Before WR God gave me specific instructions. They were crazy, all over the place, and didn’t seem to fit.  But I trusted Him with all my heart.  I made affirmations everyday stating what He told me, I rehearsed them in my head, I wrote them down and even told my inner circle to pray concerning these things.  Full faith ahead!  One of the items of sporadic-ness (yes, I made it up J) was to go back to school.  At 28 yrs old & fully immersed in a career, (whether I liked it or not is an entirely different blog) it sounded completely crazy.  Oh and did I mention, He said full time and to quit my job……yeah. But I embraced it whole heartedly.  Sea #1 (1st Count) So I get the ball rolling on the school thing and I find out that there is a loan that I forgot about and is now in DEFAULT. *dun dun dun* (If you are in school you should know or at least have heard about that dreaded word) And to make matters worse, it defaulted a week before I called leaving me helpless.  I couldn’t go back to school unless I paid off 10k.…yeah, I said 10k. So I did what any “good Christian” would do, I went screaming, arms flailing , hyperventilating to the bottom of the boat at Jesus. 



 

I. Did. It. ALL.  The “DO you not care I’m dying” bit, the angry “you’re supposed to be God” monologue, the “This is what YOU said” wine and cheese, the whole nine. Of course gentle Daddy (Heavenly) calmed me down, reminded me of His word (and how it doesn’t return void), spoke gently, repairing His favorite drama queen and in a matter or 30 days took care of it. Sea#2-10 (Count 2-8) So to make an already long story short, A lot happened and it seems I just kept forgetting. Wave after wave crashed.  Some I am victorious in trust Him and some I fail miserably.  And each time my loving Daddy reminded me, strengthened me, and continues to grow me.  This is truly a journey of deeper faith and trust.

This is my encouragement.  We are not super Christians and sometimes we fall….let’s rephrase that, we fall all the time J He gives us instruction and either we don’t want to hear it, we don’t understand it, we’re drama queens/kings about it or we can rely on the One that’s giving the Word.  If you’re reading this, I know He’s already given you one crazy Word. Give it all up and backpack around the world loving the so called “unlovable” is not an ordinary calling.  I encourage you as He gives instruction on the race and off.  Our flesh might want to respond in the ways I just explained but I encourage you that His Word doesn’t return to Him void and that He is faithful to complete everything He starts in you. We have no “ root in ourselves”.  I encourage you to lean wholly on Him, knowing that He is responsible for seeing it through. Our job is to merely trust and obey.  So, some that are reading this might be on the verge of doubt, don’t. I’m guilty of 8 counts of untrust. So, I understand that the circumstances can get overwhelming but allow him to weed/de-stone, plow deeply, and prune effectively in your situation so that the Word He has given you will give life to you and more importantly those He’s calls to you.  He is faithful and more than that TRUSTWOTHY. Rest in that!
 

                            “He makes all thing beautiful in it’s time….” Ecclesiastes 3:11(a)
 
In faith believing,
Brooke