Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: “I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also he has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.” Ecc 3:10-11

"Take time to smell the roses"
There were no roses blooming anywhere nearby, not even multiflora roses in the fence rows, but I did spend some time to take in the view spread out before me.
I had a few moments during the evening of a beautiful day in late spring to contemplate the majesty of God's wonders in a pastoral setting that could have been straight out of the 23rd Psalm. The succulent grass was green with the fullness of spring rains. I watched our sheep grazing in the pasture as I replenished their drinking water from a tank on my truck. The lambs were now confident enough to leave their mommas for group races around the pasture, leaping and twisting in midair, filled with the joy of life and the security of their surroundings. "For you are with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me," I thought - (Psalm 23:4b) and I in turn comfort my sheep.
Our two livestock guardian dogs wandered through the flock, pausing now and then to sniff and listen to assure that nothing dangerous had crept in. At one point they trotted over to the fence line and began to bark, looking at the field to the south. What did they detect? I could not tell, but some creature undoubtedly learned that they were alert and on duty.
"Red sky at night . . . ." The forecast was for fair weather on the morrow, and the thin, high-altitude clouds glowed in affirmation.
I shifted my gaze from the western skies, across the pastures, toward our neighbors to the east - the township cemetery. The tombstones glowed in the fading light, marking the final resting place of many people that I knew, including the former owners of this land upon which I now stood. A memorial marker etched with their names and the span of their lives sits just over the fence, as close as they could get to the land they once walked.
"One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever." Ecclesiastes 1:4, NKJV
I trust that my family and I will be found to be good stewards of this land that they so much enjoyed and cared for in their time. Our children, and already our children's children, come to this place to share in the task which we have undertaken to carry on.
Hopefully, we can instill an awareness of eternity in their hearts, much as some now lying there in such silent repose have instilled that knowledge into our own hearts.
"Where are they now?" I wonder, those souls whose earthly shells rest in the silence of the ages. Rich or poor, mighty or meek in their earthly time, that brief span determined their status for eternity. Neither I nor any mortal can find out that final work of God. I ponder the words of "The Preacher." the author of Ecclesiastes:
"I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before him.
That which is has already been, and what is to be has already been; and God requires an account of what is past. (Ecc. 3:14-15)
Like the dying embers of a giant fire, the glow in the west slowly faded, the sky darkened, and, as if mirroring life itself, the memorials dimmed and disappeared into the enveloping cloak of night.
May 28, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Nourishment
* Scripture: Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Mt. 3:4, NKJV)
Paul wrote, “I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it.” (1 Cor. 3:2)

All of God’s creatures require nourishment to sustain life. The types of food and the means of acquiring it are indeed wondrous and varied. Some require specialized diets, such as the koala bear, that eats only eucalyptus leaves. Others will eat almost anything that they can get on the outside of. Human beings are “everything eaters” (omnivores) except for maybe three year olds, who have a very selective diet. Teenagers also have definite preferences, tending toward pizza, burgers, and pop - but mostly whatever is within reach.
Styles of eating also vary a lot, from the dainty “peck like a bird’ of formal society to “tip the bowl and toss it in” characteristic of some cartoon characters. Proper society and manners have well established rules for ‘dining,’ including the order in which foods are served, the utensils to be used, and the manner in which they are to be employed. So you either pick at your chicken portion with a fork, or . . . you grab it with both hands and go at it!
From the largest to the smallest, the fussiest to the slob, all are provided for by God.
God also provides “The Word” that feeds mankind spiritually, as stated by both Jesus and Paul. Neither speaks of how we acquire or consume this spiritual food, though. Obviously, we don’t pick it from a tree, of dig it from the ground - or do we?
A lot of things set me to thinking about God’s Word, comparisons between God’s earthly realm and the heavenly one. This time it happened as I was watching our sheep graze, while I leaned against the truck waiting for the water trough to fill. They don’t just stand and eat; they grab a mouthful here, and another mouthful there, all the time moving across the pasture, choosing among the choicest grasses. So, to graze is to eat small amounts of various foods several times a day.
There is another definition for ‘graze,’ however; to touch lightly in passing.
The livestock guard dog, who lives with the sheep, gets one meal a day, and gulps/gobbles it down, then spends hours digesting her food.

Here is your assignment for the week: think about how you typically receive the Word of God.
A 'grazer' (noun) in the sense of getting small amounts several times a day, choosing among the choicest available writings.
A 'grazer' (verb) passing or missing God’s word unless it smacks you head on.
A 'gulper/gobbler' who loads up and then meditates over time.
The 'child', not yet ready to receive Paul’s solid food.
The “three year old” who mostly says “No!” - somewhere between milk and solid food.
The 'teenager', who devours as much of God’s Word as comes within reach.
And as to the “mealtime” - Formal ‘dining’ (ritualized worship) compared to free structure, perhaps ‘contemporary’ services, or ‘fast food’ style
Have fun thinking! And - bon appetit!.
July 3, 2005

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Mt. 3:4, NKJV)
Paul wrote, “I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it.” (1 Cor. 3:2)

All of God’s creatures require nourishment to sustain life. The types of food and the means of acquiring it are indeed wondrous and varied. Some require specialized diets, such as the koala bear, that eats only eucalyptus leaves. Others will eat almost anything that they can get on the outside of. Human beings are “everything eaters” (omnivores) except for maybe three year olds, who have a very selective diet. Teenagers also have definite preferences, tending toward pizza, burgers, and pop - but mostly whatever is within reach.
Styles of eating also vary a lot, from the dainty “peck like a bird’ of formal society to “tip the bowl and toss it in” characteristic of some cartoon characters. Proper society and manners have well established rules for ‘dining,’ including the order in which foods are served, the utensils to be used, and the manner in which they are to be employed. So you either pick at your chicken portion with a fork, or . . . you grab it with both hands and go at it!
From the largest to the smallest, the fussiest to the slob, all are provided for by God.
God also provides “The Word” that feeds mankind spiritually, as stated by both Jesus and Paul. Neither speaks of how we acquire or consume this spiritual food, though. Obviously, we don’t pick it from a tree, of dig it from the ground - or do we?
A lot of things set me to thinking about God’s Word, comparisons between God’s earthly realm and the heavenly one. This time it happened as I was watching our sheep graze, while I leaned against the truck waiting for the water trough to fill. They don’t just stand and eat; they grab a mouthful here, and another mouthful there, all the time moving across the pasture, choosing among the choicest grasses. So, to graze is to eat small amounts of various foods several times a day.
There is another definition for ‘graze,’ however; to touch lightly in passing.
The livestock guard dog, who lives with the sheep, gets one meal a day, and gulps/gobbles it down, then spends hours digesting her food.

Here is your assignment for the week: think about how you typically receive the Word of God.
A grazer (noun) in the sense of getting small amounts several times a day, choosing among the choicest available writings.
A grazer (verb) passing or missing God’s word unless it smacks you head on.
A gulper/gobbler who loads up and then meditates over time.
The child, not yet ready to receive Paul’s solid food.
The “three year old” who mostly says “No!” - somewhere between milk and solid food.
The teenager, who devours as much of God’s Word as comes within reach.
And as to the “mealtime” - Formal ‘dining’ (ritualized worship) compared to free structure, perhaps ‘contemporary’ services, or ‘fast food’ style
Have fun thinking! And - bon appetite!.
July 3, 2005