His Living Word

Here at His Refuge Homestead we love to grow our own food. There is just something about fresh fruits and vegetables. I believe part of that is knowing where the seeds, soils, and fertilizers come from. It’s also about knowing what is not in them.

When we purchased this place, it had been dormant for at least 15 years. We have had it for 12 years. So, the soils, if they had anything in them have long been neutralized. The lawns are allowed to grow out quite a while after they should have received their first cutting. This plan provides the bees with something to survive on as early as possible. It also benefits any other beneficial insects. They are all an active part of the homesteading system.

The crops are rotated throughout the various gardens. The land is rested every seven years in their cycle. The fertilizer use here comes from the our chicken coops and rabbit pens. The amendments for the soils are certified organic along with any seeds we have to buy. There is a lot of preparation required for the gardening part of the homestead. Select seeds are planted in late January and early February. This early planting ensures we have plants when the weather allows us to move outside. The process is a deliberate plan, nothing is left to chance.

As we follow through, planting the plants and a lot of direct burying of seeds. we are doing everything we know how to to insure a successful harvest. We don’t have a lot to do with the growth of the plants from there on, some watering and weeding. The actual growing of the plants is left in the mighty hands of God.

As our grandchildren were growing up we were blessed to teach them this process. I love to use Jesus’ proverb about scattering seeds. I find this to be pretty important information as it is repeated in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. How the seeds and plants react to the soil types. They saw firsthand what happened to the plants in different soil conditions. Something as simple as a lack of rain and its impact.

The seeds of life, God’s truths when planted in good soil will always produce an abundant harvest. Our job is to plant the truth, water it, and when needed add encouragement like a helping hand. We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. When we do that we are sharing His love and compassion, who doesn’t want that?

Yet people’s life situation are what creates the type of soil we plant the seeds of truth into. Jesus loves to take the time to teach us His word. In Luke (TPT)8:5-8 He tells us: “A farmer went out to sow seeds for a harvest. As he scattered his seed, some of it fell on the hard pathway and was quickly trampled down and unable to grow and became nothing but bird seed. Some fell on the gravel, and though it sprouted it couldn’t take root; it withered for lack of moisture. Other seed fell where there was nothing but weeds. It too was unable to grow to full maturity, for it was choked out by the weeds. Yet some of the seed fell into good, fertile soil, and it grew and flourished until it produced more than a hundredfold harvest, a bumper crop.” Then Jesus added, shouting out to all who would hear, “Listen with your heart and you will understand!” He loves us and wants us to completely understand. Because of this, He further explains it in the next few verses,12-15. “The hard pathway represents the hard hearts of men who hear the word of God but the slanderer quickly snatches away what was sown in their hearts to keep them from believing and experiencing salvation.  The seed falling on the gravel represents those who initially respond to the word with joy, but soon afterward, when a season of harassment of the enemy and difficulty come to them, they whither and fall away, for they have no root in the truth and their faith is temporary. The seed that falls into the weeds represents the hearts of those who hear the word of God but their growth is quickly choked off by their own anxious cares, the riches of this world, and the fleeting pleasures of this life. This is why they never become mature and fruitful.  The seed that fell into good, fertile soil represents those lovers of truth who hear it deep within their hearts. They respond by clinging to the word, keeping it dear as they endure all things in faith. This is the seed that will one day bear much fruit in their lives.” 

We have found this to be so true. I want to encourage you to encourage others. To share God’s love and compassion and then to plant the seed. God is the one who knows the heart’s condition (the soil type) we are called to plant the seed. He will do the rest. Have an amazing week living a life of abundance in the Love of Jesus.