Christian Chapter Chat

3.08.2006

An Instructive Moment About Hearing

What got to me is that for the first time, I realized that Ive been all of these types of soil.

The seed that fell on the rock. I was there when I was a young Christian. I was excited at first, but anything that came my way, I just faltered. I wasn’t strong enough to stand yet, no matter how badly I wanted to.

The seed that fell among the thorns. This stage is where I find myself returning to a lot. I get so caught up in the comforts of this world, that a lot of times, I don’t like running the risk of letting them go. I have a very very hard time letting go of things, so oftentimes, I cling to my material possessions. I cling to the people I love. I cling to the creature comforts. I struggle with letting go. And once I do decide that this stuff isnt really important, I cut them down – but only so far, I never seem to pull the roots out, so they always grow back. And since I don’t pull the roots of these out, I know my spiritual roots can only go so deep.

The seed that fell on good soil. This is the place I am constantly struggling to be at. I want to be here. I want to be fertile, but too often, I get lazy and let the weeds/thorns grow back up around me. But that’s the test, isnt it? You don’t have good soil without putting the work in. And you don’t get fruit, good fruit, without busting up the soil. It’s a constant growing process.

I loved the prayer this week, but I will have to admit, I had to reread it a couple of times so I could really grasp what Gire was saying…


“Why is that week after week I’m hacking away at the same old weeds? … Take your plow and furrow the hardness out of my life. Dig up the obstacles that keep the roots of my faith from growing deeper. Pull out the worldly preoccupations that tendril their thorns around my heart and squeeze out my spiritual life.”

Please, Lord, help me to fully pull up the roots of the weeds in my life. Please help my spiritual roots to go deeper than I thought possible. Please give me the desire to keep going when I don’t want to – when I don’t see any results. I know the fruit will be well worth the effort.

7 Comments:

  • Addie, now that you mention it...

    I see myself in the seed that fell on rocks at the first half of my life, too. I was getting the knowledge. I was performing the rituals. I just wasn't putting down roots and trying to grow in my faith. I partially blame myself for this - for not asking the right questions - but I also partially blame the church I was in. They fostered a feeling of "just follow the directions and you'll be okay." Well, I got confirmed and I came to church and I sang the hymns and read the readings...but no one ever said "read the bible" or "talk to God." I really had NO idea what I was trying to build. Now how can you be a farmer if you don't know how to farm???

    By Blogger HeyJules, at 9:25 AM  

  • good point, Jules, and my old church was like that as well - it was all about going through the motions - and make sure everyone sees you, it was all tradition, but nothing about a real relationship - heck you dont really need that to get to Heaven, all you have to do is come to church once a week.... Im so glad we left, but that is still the kind of church that Deb is at, which is why it will be so hard for her to grow...

    By Blogger dangermama, at 10:24 AM  

  • By the way, Addie, how was your day with her? Did you have any good discussions?

    By Blogger Pilot Mom, at 10:53 AM  

  • Jules and I were just discussing this.... here is what I wrote her

    Plans changed and we only got to spend about an hour together and no, no changes were made, I barely even got to talk to her about it…

    We were driving by a new store that a guy has just opened not far from her house and I asked her if she wanted to stop and see what he had, and she said no, he was a muslim and that scared her, she didn’t want to talk to him, he didn’t believe in Jesus… and she mentioned that another lady had gone over there to talk to him about Jesus…. I didn’t say anything, but I was so upset that some lady would only go over to talk to him about Jesus, not to just talk to him and see how he was doing, not to look in his story – not to show him love, but just to convert him…. I emailed Deb and told her that my heart was heavy for this guy and that I hoped God placed him along my path sometime, but I would pray for him until then – I don’t know when she will get it though b/c she doesn’t get to check her email often

    I just don’t see how she will ever grow in the environment that she is in, but she doesn’t want to leave…. I saw some people that I used to know from her church and they wouldn’t even look at me…. it just really saddens my heart

    By Blogger dangermama, at 11:16 AM  

  • Wow! That would sadden my heart...not just the ones who wouldn't look at you but the lady who went to share Christ. Just remember, though, that the Lord works through our mistakes and ultimately brings good out of them.

    As for Deb, if she is truly desiring to grow, then the Lord will not leave her where she is. He will do what is necessary. Take comfort in that.

    I'm sorry your time was cut short. That's a bummer.

    Thanks for sharing that with us.

    By Blogger Pilot Mom, at 11:28 AM  

  • I know... Im working on that whole trust thing I have going with God... :)

    By Blogger dangermama, at 11:34 AM  

  • I think each of us can relate to being all those types of soil. I certainly can.

    By Blogger Claire Joy, at 11:42 AM  

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