✝ Daily Encouragement (9/14/22) "The Good Soil" (Part 2)
Published: Wed, 09/14/22
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Wednesday, September 14, 2022
The Star Barn near Elizabethtown,
PA
Click on photo to
enlarge
"The Good Soil" (Part 2)
“But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and virtuous heart, and hold it firmly, and produce fruit with perseverance" (Luke 8:15).
Thank you, God, for water, soil and air,
large gifts supporting everything that lives.  Many people see soil as nothing more than dirt. But soil is a marvelous gift from God. On the third day of Creation the dry ground (soil) appeared followed by vegetation.
Wherever you live, unless we have readers in the polar regions or extremely high elevations, you can see evidence of this divine work, even in concrete covered cities.Soil is very complex and there is an entire field of soil science which studies the physical and chemical properties of soil. Good soil structure for growing is soft and crumbly, with granular aggregates that hold together even in water. Soil has many nutrients that plants need and these can be enhanced.
 The parable of the sower is recorded in all three of the synoptic gospels (Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:1-15). In this parable the human heart is likened to soil that is receptive
to the seed of God's Word. That's the kind of heart we want!The description of the good soil is slightly different but complimentary in each account.
The good soil represents true disciples who understand God's word and produce a good harvest. They listen with a good and virtuous heart and are even willing to suffer in their perseverance for Christ.
Lord, let my heart be good soil!
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
 Daily prayer: Father, we thank You for soil, one of Your great creations from the very beginning that we easily take for
granted. We want to be like the good soil mentioned in the Parable of the Sower; the one who hears the Word, absorbs its message, understands its meaning and as a result brings forth an abundance of fruit; the kind that has lasting eternal value such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Just like water, soil and air produce good vegetation, so also the Bible, prayer, and worship produce godliness in the believer. May we be faithful in
doing our part. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil" Video Asian
singers
Lord, let my heart be good soil,
open to the seed of your word. Lord, let my heart be good soil, where love can grow and peace is understood. When my heart is hard, break the stone away. When my heart is cold, warm it with the day. When my heart is lost, lead me on your way. Lord, let my heart.. Lord, let my heart.. Lord, let my heart be good soil. "Morning by Morning" Video Pat Barrett
I will trust where You lead
I will trust when I can’t see Morning by morning Great is Your faithfulness to me Brooksyne's note: We sang this song on our church service this last Sunday. This verse caught my attention. Do we sternly rebuke fear when it arises in our life? When fear and doubt from the enemy overshadows courage and faith from God's Spirit let us speak out in the authority given to us by Christ:
All fear be reminded
My future is secure My Father has spoken And He keeps His every word Looking back a few years to one of our favorite places,
The Old Windmill Farm.  This horse on the Old Windmill Farm was interested in checking out my suspenders. He would pull at the elastic suspenders till they snapped. This startled the horse, but he quickly got over his fear, and enthusiastically thought up a new game of "Snap the guy's suspender". I finally decided this horse had had enough horsing around at my expense! Perhaps it was the first experience he had with straps that stretch and he got a kick out of it, since the straps of a bridle do not stretch. 
I had so much fun leading a team of mules as the Lapp family, along with Stephen and Ester, rode on the hay wagon through the fields (probably four years
ago). I was surprised they offered me the chance but I jumped at it as I still remember when Grandpa Sherrell let me lead his team of mules, as a young teen, after we had done a day's work of plowing on his 200 acre farm on Mountain Top, Arkansas. (In a few weeks I will be on the mountain again visiting with aunts, uncles and cousins.) It was a bit harder to lead Jesse's team since I had to stand and guide the mules. Grandpa had a bench seat on his wagon and I would guide the mules
sitting down. Stephen tried it for a few minutes as well. I'm sure the mules were relieved when Jesse eventually took the reins from me!
Can you guess whose baby I'm
holding!
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