Jesus is Lord of the Harvest – Our job is to grow!
Chinese Bamboo Tree
I like the story of the Chinese bamboo tree: You take a little seed, plant it, water it, and fertilize it for a whole year, and nothing happens.
The second year you water it and fertilize it, and nothing happens.
The third year you water it and fertilize it, and nothing happens. How discouraging this becomes!
The fifth year you continue to water and fertilize the seed and then—take note. Sometime during the fifth year, the Chinese bamboo tree sprouts and grows NINETY FEET IN SIX WEEKS!
Life is much akin to the growing process of the Chinese bamboo tree.
It is often discouraging. We seemingly do things right, and nothing happens. But for those who do things right and are not discouraged and are persistent, things will happen. Finally we begin to receive the rewards.
I am now receiving the rewards of seeds that were planted 5 years ago. You are as well. Are you getting the results you want? If not, begin today to sow the seeds of what you want 5 years from now.
Remember, if you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll get the results you’ve always gotten.
By Dan Miller
I love this story – I find it encouraging as a leader, as I have worked for years to build businesses, churches, ministries, often pouring countless hours of hard work, sweat, money, prayer, teaching, and study into the entities I felt ordained of God to pioneer and grow – and like the farmer in the story who watered and fertilized his seedling daily, saw little growth in the natural, often for years –
Yet, roots were digging down into the earth, building the deep foundation that had to be in place, to support the height and rich fruit that would last for generations.
So what are you building?
What are the spirit-led steps of obedience you need to take, to develop in your gift and calling?
While I am back at school working on a Masters, I realize again, the principal of becoming a student for life at the feet of Jesus. I have not arrived – what I don’t know, I don’t know, and it seems here at seminary, I am revisiting certain truths at a deeper level, and Holy Spirit is answering questions I have had for over 20 years in some cases. Yet, I am a doer – and I study to apply, to help people, to solve problems, to build lives, organizations, curriculum that will equip and empower others in their unique callings and destinies.
So, as we enter into 2017 – what goals will you set before the Lord?
Let’s Pray:
‘Father – You have created me for a purpose, a high calling of heaven, fulfilled only in and through Christ Jesus. How well I know my own tendency to attempt to do this in my own strength. Show me how to obey you in it, to do it Your way, day by day, in intimate steps of obedience to Holy Spirit, seeking you first each morning, and walking with You through each day. Adjust the vision, the plan as You see fit, that I might fully obey You this year. I ask, knowing I am heard and answered, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus. Amen’
Time: https://www.chrisaomministries.com/2016/06/28/redeem-your-time-eternity-is-counting-on-it/