Tag Archives: seeds

light… ( a thought )

15 May

light…
a thought, first from
Psalm 97:11, ( with footnote) Light shines[a] on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.Psalm 97:11 [a] from a Hebrew manuscript and other ancient versions (see also Psalm 112:4); … in most Hebrew manuscripts ‘Light’ is sown and in, Psalm 97: 4 ‘ Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. 5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,who conduct their affairs with justice.’


The images here are all about light; light that dawns; light that sows, that plants, as a heart that enriches, that seeds. Light in these Psalms is something that holds and lifts.
It is a generous gift from the Lord. Light lives as one of his greatest gifts. Thus,
‘ I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.” – Isaiah 44:22

In His word, His Light, His life, all darkness and mists are swept away. Only His Light remains.

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questioning Jesus, Mark 4 -his kingdom

10 Aug

Mark 4 is a rich chapter. Within it we have 4 ( four ) majors aspects of the gospel: Jesus’ teachings ( parables, including, but not limited to ‘The sower and the seed’, with his full explanation ); Jesus’ life, as well as his disciples; and the storm on the lake.

Today, I wish to focus in on another parable dealing with seeds, the mustard seed,

‘Again…

Jesus is, again, teaching on a subject dear to him, and us, his kingdom.

‘….he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

In the hot, dry Middle East this seed grows add nd provides shade even for birds perched within its leaves. They can sit in the shade, be cool and rest; see around them and feel the life of this tiny mustard seed.

The word, a word from Jesus, planted in the soil’s heart, blossoms into a shade tree for all, even ourselves.

His response planted mustard seed shades not just our outside self- our family and friends; our work and relationships, but shades on insides. Our resentments and hurts; our disappointments and failures; our angers and self-pities. All is shaded, cooled and rested, by and in this word, his word. This parable.

The Jewish teachers at the time used parables in their teachings. The people were very familiar with their, this form of teaching. But they used it to serve as anecdotes, as illustrations of points in their analysis of the law, as they understood it.

Jesus ‘throws’ the parable alongside his main point: “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like,…’ and then, as if speaking out loud to himself… ‘or what parable shall we use to describe it?’

Jesus’ two questions here lead to only one essential point, principle: his kingdom is a seed that grows both within and without. And it gives peace, shade and rest in all who receive it.

By receiving the kingdom comes; grows; lives; comforts, as shade.

Receive his seed. For that is how we understand and grow.

33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable.But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Questions and parables, lead to the kingdom. His kingdom comes.

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‘continually’

9 Aug

‘continually,’Psalm 126

today, 9 August Sunday, we take a pause in our daily blog series, questioning Jesus, a study in Mark’s Gospel, to look a personal word of scripture, Psalm 126

Priscilla and I used this Psalm on/in both our wedding invitations and our wedding celebration. Today, we in our time together ( as we have done throughout our 40 years together ) at Psalm 126. ( YLT )

This day we composed questions of Psalm’s text and the text of our lives to deepen our life together. One question, an …

essential question: how do I/we continually water our seeds?

126 A Song of the Ascents. In Jehovah’s turning back [to] the captivity of Zion, We have been as dreamers.

2 Then filled [with] laughter is our mouth, And our tongue [with] singing, Then do they say among nations, `Jehovah did great things with these.’

3 Jehovah did great things with us, We have been joyful.

4 Turn again, O Jehovah, [to] our captivity, As streams in the south.

5 Those sowing in tears, with singing do reap,

6 Whoso goeth on and weepeth, Bearing the basket of seed, Surely cometh in with singing, bearing his sheaves!

So, we came with an essential principle: the seed sown is always sower’s tears. From our marriage, I sing, I will sing, as I sow them.

And how do I sing and sow? New KJV says, ‘continually’ ( verse 6 ) what this does ‘continually’ mean?

‘Continually’ means that we, I, will always have tears, seeds, to sow. I sow with tears, over my life and amends; my hurts and dwellings in sorrow and self-pity. These tears water my seeds; they grow me, my life and even me beyond my earthly sojourn. And as I, my, cries sow, I also sing in joy. Joy.

So sing as you sow. And as you reap, bring in sheaves. Children, moments of happiness and love, and sorrows and hurts. All are in my basket; all are my seeds.

So I sing over all as a mother over a new born child. Or in sorrow over a departed love. Lament and rejoice; plant and reap. Sing.

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