Faith-bearing Seed for the Soul
"While the earth remaineth,
Seedtime and harvest
....shall not cease"

Genesis 8:22

Apache Tears...

When we lived in Arizona, we'd go out to Apache Junction and head into the mountains to search for some black stones called "Apache Tears". They were hard to find because they were imbedded in the rock and had to be chipped out. We'd come home with a bucket or two full of what appeared on the surface to be just rough, ugly, worthless rocks.

We had a machine called a tumbler that had an electric motor with a small mesh wire basket that turned. We'd dump the rock laden stones into the tumbler and turn it on and run it for a l-o-n-g time. The rocks with the stones inside of them would roll 'round and 'round bumping against each other until the ugly exterior was eventually knocked off, and what emerged was a black, gorgeous, tear shaped stone. We made all sorts of jewelry and things out of those glistening, jet black jewels.

I've often compared that "tumbler" with the church. God seems to pile all of us, with our ugly exteriors, together in a place called the church, or fellowship. He allows us to bump and beat against one another, at the sacrifice of much selfishness and self will, until all the rough edges are knocked off.

Several times a few rough stones missed the tumbler and were found on the ground weeks or months later in the same shape they were before. I've seen that happen to people who have dropped out of God's ordained fellowship...and they don't change; they have isolated themselves from those who are designated to help them grow and mature.

Hebrews 10:24-25 KJ

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

As the return of the Lord draws closer, the more we should desire to be that bride waiting for Him "without spot or wrinkle"...and the more we need fellowship with the Body of Christ to help us see our need for cleansing and repentance. And, yes, at one time or another, we have all been hurt by those "other" immature, insensitive, careless, mean and nasty, inconsiderate Christians, haven't we? But, something to remember, besides the fact that we may have appeared the same way to others once upon a time, is...

Psalms 126:5,6 KJ

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

I want to stand before Him one day with my arms loaded down with sheaves to offer Him; I don't want to take what appears to be the easy way out, at the cost of having nothing but ugly "self will" to offer my Lord and Savior.

Like someone else once said about the church: It's like Noah's ark; it has a lot of stinkin' stalls, but it's the only thing afloat! See ya in church this week!

Rooted and grounded in the love of Christ Jesus,

Marlene JuHaros,

Texas Seed Sower

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which will grow--perhaps it all will."

Eccl. 11:6

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