seed – Desiring for More

March 19, 2025

The Overflow

1 Chronicles 29: 11-13 (AMP) Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and on the earth; Yours is the dominion and kingdom, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all. In Your hand is power and might; and it is in Your hands to make great and to give strength to everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.

I finished reading 1 Chronicles yesterday, in my daily readings for the year. I try to read at least five chapters a day but making it important to take notice of what God is saying as I read. Our daily reading should not be to check off our to do list, it should give us an opportunity to seek His face. So do not rush it. As I was finishing up this book of the Bible, I could not help but notice David’s heart of praise. He was in awe that God would even choose him and his family. He was in awe of how far God had brought him. David was in awe of all that was available in his hands to put together such a plan for his son to build the temple.

When was the last time we stood in awe of God? Even in the offering of the people, he was in awe of who’s hand it came from in the first place. He did not puff up his kingdom nor himself of the wealth they attained, it was all for the glory of the Lord. Without God they would be nothing.

1 Chronicles 29:14 (AMP) But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.

1 Chronicles 29:16 (AMP) O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy Name, it is from Your hand, and is all Your own.

It is just a good reminder of keeping our hearts pure with whatever we have been given to work with. That is what is important to remember about the parable of the talents. You can read it entirely in Matthew 25:14-30. What is put in our hands is not ours, but we have been trusted with it to build up His kingdom. Yes, it is to be used to take care of our practical needs, but where does our true treasures lie? Only caring about yourself is like the servant who was given the one talent and buried it.

Philippians 4:17 (AMP) Not that I seek the gift itself, but I do seek the profit which increases to your [heavenly] account [the blessing which is accumulating for you].

Mark 4:26-29 (AMP) Then He said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who throws seed on the ground; and he goes to bed at night and gets up every day, and [in the meantime] the seed sprouts and grows; how [it does this], he does not know. The earth produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head [of grain], then the mature grain in the head. But when the crop ripens, he immediately puts in the sickle [to reap], because [the time for] the harvest has come.”

Money is not the only thing we are to sow. We all have been given time, resources, talents, and the best gift of all, salvation. Your redemption was not meant to be kept to yourself (2 Corinthians 5:18, 20). You are to cultivate it and share it. As you grow, you help others grow. We have a God of abundance. Do you know why I spend so much time in the Word every day? He is planting more of Him inside of me to share. It is the overflow of His Presence that gives me strength and joy.

When Paul stated that he could do all things through Christ who strengthens him he was not trying to master a great feat. Paul was living a life of abundance in Christ. He was in awe of the revelation knowledge he was able to share. He was in awe of the people that God entrusted into his care. He did not take any of it for granted. It was through Christ he was able to travel as far and speak to as many leaders for His glory. Verse 14 of chapter 4 of Philippians is just so important, nevertheless it was right for others to share with him in his difficulties. People are important. He did not use them up and throw them away (as become our custom in a self-seeking world). He did not move on to the next group that would bring him to his next level of elevation. Verse 17 as shown above, he sought the profit, the heavenly benefit for them. He wanted the ability for them to know the life of abundance in Christ by doing what should come naturally to us. Using whatever we have in our hands to build His Kingdom.

This is my prayer before I leave the house every day. “Thank You Lord for giving me another opportunity to glorify You today. Let me honor what You honor. Let what I have be used for Your glory, it is all from You and for You.” I hope this blesses you and reminds you to keep a heart of praise and thanksgiving as you go about your day.

October 27, 2022October 27, 2022

The transformation of hope

1 Peter 3:13-15 (AMP) Now who is there to hurt you if you become enthusiastic for what is good?But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness [though it is not certain that you will], you are still blessed [happy, to be admired and favored by God]. Do not be afraid of their intimidating threats, nor be troubled or disturbed [by their opposition].But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.

Imagine your younger self. What did you look like when you received Christ as your Lord and Savior? I often look back at the person I was. I look back at the eighteen year old girl, who had gotten engaged a few months before. I look at the girl that when she accepted Christ immediately enrolled in her future in-laws seminary. I was taken right away, it seems, to buy the appropriate clothes. Even though I was new in Christ, it took me a long time to get to the above scriptures. The seed of change was planted, it was not rooted yet.

I heard from someone that knew me back then that it is so good to see me now, because they did not know if I was going to make it. They did not know if I would ever reflect the changed life. I put on the right clothes, didn’t I? I attended all of the right classes, didn’t I? I am at every church service. I have done whatever I was asked. I am baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of tongues. I am a tither. What was missing?

My account of hope. Love always hopes. I had to get to a place where it was not the love of people, but His love I was settled in. Even though I was going through the steps, I still did not feel like I was enough. I was missing something. I was missing the relational development that goes along with the personal surrender. Since I was missing this, I was not able to see and respond with grace, love, mercy, kindness and gentleness. When my heart turned to wanting to share that hope, a change happened. Discipleship is not teaching rules, it is teaching relationship, by showing relationship. This is what I needed most and what I have decided to give to others. I needed grace, so I am giving grace. I needed compassion, so I am giving compassion. I needed freedom, so I am showing freedom.

When I share my faith, that logical defense for the hope and confident assurance of who I am in Christ, I share who I was before. I share that it was the draw to be loved and not have to question if I am enough. Psalms 45:11, in the Passion Translation says, “For your royal Bridegroom is ravished by your beautiful brightness. Bow in reverence before him, for he is your Lord!” Some translations say that He is enthralled by you. When I got revelation of that, I was not afraid that I was not enough, not to say that those thoughts do not to creep up every now and again. There are thoughts that will come in and try to rob my identity in Christ. I have to remind myself that I am rooted in His love (Ephesians 3:17). I have to remind myself that surrender happens daily. I am not the same person I was yesterday. I am not the same girl I was twenty four years ago. I am not the same person I was five years ago. I am a new creation (1 Corinthians 5:17), spiritual awakenings and new revelations bring new life every day. I am a continual work in progress. What may have meant to hurt me, will not, because I am still blessed and favored by my God. So are you!

Father, I thank you that Your Word is my final authority. I thank you for sending your Son to restore me into a life giving relationship with You. I desire nothing else but to glorify You and to draw others close to You. Search my heart Lord. Root out those areas in my life that clog up the pores of hope. I want to be rooted and grounded in Your Love so when the fiery darts of the enemy come against my mind I can deflect it and will not let it take anchor. Forgive me for the times that I looked at people as the source of my love and comfort. I need them, but my identity is not rooted in them. Thank you for placing people in my life that I may serve as a worship to You. May I see them through the eyes of hope because love always hopes. I choose to surrender my will today. Let me be like a drink offering and pour out my life to You in worship today. I know you are my source of love and compassion. Let freedom flow through me as I lean on the Holy Spirit to guide me in my words and actions today. In Jesus Name, Amen.