Seeds For Thinking

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

Scripture: Jesus looked at them and said, “With man, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26, NIV)

There are many things in this world that most people find to be beautiful or exciting; things that bring a swell of appreciation or satisfaction. Majestic trees, rolling plains, and towering snow-topped mountains bring travelers from afar just to view them. Amber waves of grain stir the artist in one way, and the farmer in another. Each has their own, personal emotion and association with the scene spread out before them. The artist thinks in terms of form, color, and texture - the farmer recalls the planting, the weather during the growth stages, and anticipates the harvest.
Truly, we don’t all like the same things, or see the same meaning in them. As a beekeeper, the sight of a swarm of bees marching into the hive, flowing like a living river, means that they have accepted their new home, and the queen bee is probably safely inside the hive. Opening a hive while a “honey flow” is in progress (the bees have nectar and pollen sources to feed upon) is a beautiful sight in my opinion. There is an order, a purpose about their actions, as they go about their work. The thrill of seeing white-capped honeycombs means sweetness ahead for the beekeeper, and food for the bees through the harsh winter.
Most people, though, see only a stinging insect, best left alone, and honey is to be bought at the store.
Sometimes the beekeeper spots trouble in the hive. The words “queenless” stirs the beekeeper into special action. The queen is the mother of the hive; she is the glue that holds it all together. Without a queen, there will be no young bees, and the colony will soon die out. There is a sense of disunity, a lack of purpose that can be felt by the experienced beekeeper. They are saying by their actions, “We are in trouble here!”
When they are without a laying queen, and no fresh bee eggs, they are powerless to do anything about it. But I am not a bee; I have resources that they know nothing of. I can do things that are impossible for them. I can restore a new queen for them. By a simple action (for me) I can make the difference between life and death for that colony of bees. All they have to do is accept my gift.
So, also, can God do things that are impossible for us. He has given us Life Eternal, in His Son Jesus Christ. All we have to do is humbly and earnestly accept that gift.

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

Scripture: Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26, NIV

Quickly, now! Express the concept of the word “impossible” in a proverbial saying. Here is my offering: “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.” Granted, most thoughts don’t tend toward the topics of either silk purses or sow’s ears these days, but it is a good old saying that expresses the idea that something is - well - not possible!
Many years ago a meat packing company took great pride in boasting of the total utilization of one of their products, to the extent that they “used everything but the squeal.” I’m not sure what else they could do with pig’s ears besides make doggie snacks. I have not heard of a packing company selling silk purses. However, the idea proved to be just too tempting to another company, one that took challenges seriously. Somehow, they processed the cartilage in pig’s ears so that it became sort of like a plastic, the same type of substance that is spun into nylon, rayon, or - silk. And, you guessed it! They used their sow’s ear-become-threads to make a ‘silk purse.’ Just to show that it could be done, that it was indeed possible to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
Here are some exercises for the mathematically inclined among you. Consider that the word “impossible” contains ten (10) letters. That means that two letters - ‘im’ - totally controls the other eight letters. That’s right, two out of ten. One-fifth, or twenty percent. So much for the the maxim that the majority prevails! Follow me? Take the majority letters “possible” and add just two more. That is all that is required to stop something dead in its tracks. Impossible, you say? IMPOSSIBLE!
Consider , also, another way to stop things dead in their tracks with those same two letters, and the addition of one small symbol that is not even a letter. It is called an apostrophe. Just a dot that got squished, like this - ‘ makes im into I’m, a phrase with lots of potential. Potential = possibility. Still with me? OK, I’m going to explain what I mean. And, no, I’m NOT going to repeat it.
Ahah!! Did you see that? The addition of that itsy bitsy apostrophe made two words, totaling three letters, into one word with power. I am becomes “I’m.” Consider how often those three letter, either in their original form or the contraction, are mated with three more letters which really puts the brakes on things getting done. I’m NOT! I am NOT!
I’m playing letter games. Yes, I am. But many people are quite serious about making I’m NOT = impossible. Think about it. Consider how often you hear (or use) I’m NOT! Quite often, I’m sure.
Impossible? When I’m trying to make it on my own, yes. Let me give you three more letters that make all things possible.
GOD!
April 13, 2003

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

Scripture: Jesus said, “With God, all things are possible.”, Mt. 19:26 NIV
Thoughts From A Rooftop
After a number of repetitions, a rhythm develops that makes it easier. Poke, pry . . .poke, pry! It doesn’t seem like much progress at first, especially when thoughts turn to the area still to be done. Maybe 120 square feet. . . sounds large. Can’t see what’s under the shingles, but the pry bar keeps hitting nails.
The rhythm picks up. Poke (hit nail), pry . . . poke (hit nail), pry! Sure having a hard time getting that nail out! Ahh! - But when that section comes up, now I can see . . . LOTS of nails! Not just one stubborn obstacle, but many!
The nails seem to be in a pattern. If I poke just so . . . Yes! Go between the nails, pry, and many of them pop up along with a big section of shingles. One square foot, two, three . . . starting to show bare sheathing boards now. Still can’t see the nails underneath, but I know they are there, and that each poke and pry is effective.
Lots of time sitting on a roof removing shingles to reflect on other things. Watch the robin with her own construction project. I have been removing someone else’s lath and plaster; she has her own version of “lath” and plaster (mud). Skilled worker, none the less. Will soon be raising a family.
The frog chorus kicks in. Can’t talk ‘frog’ but bet they are singing love songs. A honey bee comes by. What’s on an old roof to attract her? A couple of geese graze down by the stream. Flower power is on awesome display all around. There is order in everything, if we but look for it.
My thoughts drift off to the unseen, to another world. God will give us insight if we observe and open our hearts and minds to Him. And so I wonder, how often do we hit unseen obstacles in our lives, and think we are getting nowhere? The task seems large; the effort so futile. Perhaps we too often give up, throw down our “pry bar,” climb down from the task, and wail that God has deceived us, abandoned us.
Look again! Look not through our eyes, but through God’s eyes. Underneath, unseen until made visible, we may be effective in small ways. One small problem solved, two, three! Numbers add up.
Get a rhythm going; Pray, act . . . pray, act. Now I can see . . . Not just one stubborn obstacle, but many! The task won’t be done in one fell swoop! Pray, act . . . pray, act. Take time to dwell on the good things. Let your mind wander to God’s kingdom.
The task will seem so much more manageable through God’s eyes.
April 14, 2002

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

Scripture: Jesus said, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, . . . nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 , NIV

Baking a pie is easy! You just need to get the materials, a recipe, and follow instructions. Right?
NO !?
And - Hey! Anybody can repair a gasoline engine. Just need some tools, and dig in.
No, again?
But of course anybody can do those things - if you have one important item. Experience!! And knowledge, of course, but much knowledge comes through experience. Hands-on, do-it to-it, make mistakes and move on experience.
Some things are automatic, such as breathing and the heart beating. Walking? Gotta practice! Talking? Humans are ‘wired’ for talking early in development, but it takes time and exposure to talking people before a child puts something together other than babble.
One thing about children, though, they are eager to try most anything. Not so for adults, as adults usually are VERY reluctant to try something with which they are not familiar. Children, up to the age when they become self-conscious about looking silly, will sit down at the computer, or make a stab at getting some sound to come out of a musical instrument.I've known of adults who can easily bake a scrumptious pie, or strip down and reassemble engines, dissolve into a pile of jelly at the very thought of having to set the clock on a video tape recorder. I’ve heard of people who stick a piece of tape over that flashing
12:00 -
Out of sight, out of mind.
There is one very, very important factor in all this talk about experience. First, we have to WANT to learn how to bake a pie or repair an engine, operate a computer or play a musical instrument. We have to acknowledge that we are starting with zero-zip-zilch experience, but are willing to learn. And we have to have a teacher! An experienced, knowledge-able teacher.
Think you can’t do any of those things on your “can’t do/won’t do” list? You are never too old to learn and never too young to teach. PRAY that you be found willing to do both, and that the Spirit helps you, as Jesus promised.
Talk to non-Christians about heaven. Ask them if they know Jesus. Invite them to church. Watch their faces; watch for the excuses, the denials to start.
This is where you find out how good a teacher you are. Can you assure them, interest them, lead them? Is your life such that they can see God’s message radiating from your life?
Endeavor now, before time slips away, to try something new. You may confound your doubting friends, amaze yourself, and make God say, “See, I have given you powers you didn’t even realize you had.”

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

Scripture: Jesus said, “With man, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Mt. 19:26 NIV
My thoughts turned back to the farm lifestyle of a century ago as I went about my chores recently. I had been talking to my grandson about tractors of fifty years ago, having spotted one for sale that was similar to one Dad had used to do all the farm tractor work. They are used mainly for show, or lawn work today. Even riding mowers have nearly as powerful an engine. But we plowed, disked, cultivated, pulled wagons, and did belt pulley work - things that the typical riding mower will never be able to do. I still use my father-in-law's 1950 Ford 8N tractor for all those field things. At only a couple of horsepower more than the rider, it way outperforms the rider because of the way it is built. Horsepower doesn’t tell it all!
So it is too, with people! Given the same basic specifications, some consistently outperform others. Given a task, some “get with it.” Motivation plays a big role in accomplishing work, just like design makes the difference between field work and running around in circles, making a lot of noise.
We can scan through the Bible, and find numerous examples on both sides. Take Jacob and Esau, for example. That Jacob was a schemer is not to his credit, but he was a “do’er” and jumped right in when Esau wanted to satisfy his hunger the easy way, even if it meant selling his birthright. Many times, being willing to give (up) brings rewards in the long term. Lot wanted the better pastures, the ones nearest the city. Abraham had given Lot his choice, and so ended up with the territory farthest away from Sodom and Gomorra. We don’t talk today about Lot’s descendants. Many people can claim descent from Abraham.
Many people want the easy route; they don’t want to pay the price, do the work, suffer the pain. The Rich Young Man who came to Jesus went away sorrowing, because his riches became a stumbling block. (Mt. 19:16-28) As I write this, I wonder - How many will take the time to open the Book, and read those passages?
I had one motto for my students in school - Do The Work! Those who did generally succeeded. The Lazy, the Whiners, the “I want It Easy” folks never did themselves much good. Just like the lawnmower, they made a lot of noise; never got to the hard stuff. I’ve seen many of those who saw the difficult as a challenge do well in later work, because the developed confidence their ability to learn - and do! To quote Jesus, “With God, all things are possible!
May 5, 2001