Agriculture of the Spiritual Life

~~~ 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 ~~~ Psalm 112 ~~~ John 12:24-26 ~~~

 

...bountifully...cheerful...abundance...gracious...lavishly...  

 

These five words are taken from today's readings.

Each one connects to the agriculture of our spiritual life.

 

Bountiful means generous...we are to give of ourselves

to the Lord without holding back any part.

Giving of ourselves freely;

 liberally bestowing our praise upon him.

What you send out to others will return to you plus more.

 

Cheerful...have you heard; be cheerful and pass it on.

God does not want us be sad and long-faced with our devotion to him

If we truly love the Lord how can we not be cheerful?

Be cheerful...people will wonder what you're up to.

 

Abundance...fullness to overflowing...extremely plentiful

God is giving us more than we would even know to request.

His grace is more than sufficient...it is overflowing upon us.

To have more than we need of God's love is meant to share.

 

Gracious...kind...pleasant...merciful...compassionate.

Being gracious in little ways carries over into the rest of your life.

It is the practice cultivated daily in how you respond to others.

God is always gracious, kind, and merciful with us. 

 

Lavishly...something done extravagantly.

 God has been lavishing his love, care, and protection on us since creation.
Everything about creation lavishly tells us about who God is.
There is not one thing that he will not give to you.
Ask and you shall receive...

 

Whoever serves me must follow me...

 

 If we are to follow Jesus we must practice these five spiritual precepts...
Learn to give from our bounty...
 with a cheerful heart...
out of abundant love...
always acting graciously toward others...
Lavishly serving in the presence of the Lord. 

 

 

 

Have you ever taken the time to carefully look at a seed?

They come in varied sizes and shapes.

They are even different in color.

What they do have in common

 is that each tiny seed holds deep inside the potential

to become a unique plant.

 

This wondrous energy for transformation is dormant until

just the right environment is provided.

 

Jesus uses the wheat plant for his analogy in the gospel,

but I invite you to consider the sunflower.

The sunflower formation consists of many seeds housed

 right in the center of the flower head.

It is the seeds that are important.

They are enhanced by the brilliant yellow petals

which frame them so perfectly.

The sunflower proudly nourishes the seeds

until they have stored enough nutrients to survive

without the support of the flower.

 

The beautiful flower surrenders its life...its beauty

so that more of its kind can continue to grow.

 

God is able to make every grace abundant for you,
so that in all things, always having all you need,
you may have an abundance for every good work.

 

Imagine the potential one seed holds...

what you sow today may last a lifetime.

Blessings come in releasing the seed...letting it go.