Working With Your Hands

Today I began to prepare for a little get-away with my husband to the central valley region of our state to enjoy the richness of the harvest season and the magnificence of the fall foliage. 

Every trip is a creative adventure, so I wrote a list of items needed:

camera
watercolors
drawing tools
selection of papers (tucked in my favorite journal cover)

As, I put down my pen, I felt excitement and joy just thinking about how the seasonal colors and textures would offer an array of inspiration to explore.

As I drifted off into my imagination, the phone rang.  It was my friend, Arnie. He called to say hello and get a little mentoring advice about a current work project. 

At the close of our conversation, he said, “Ssusan, I have one more thing I wanted to share with you. It’s a story about my Dad.

“My Dad as you may remember me telling you, was a farmer his whole life, like his father.  We grew up on a farm and all learned how to work in fields and care for the crops and animals.  

“My Dad had a visit from my sister and her family. And, one afternoon, my niece found my Dad sitting quietly in a chair with his arms stretched out wide and his head gently moving from side-to-side.

“My niece said, ‘Grandpa, what are you doing? Is everything okay?’  With a quiet response, he said ‘Yes, my child, I am well.’  She said, ‘then why do you have your arms stretched out and why are you looking at your hands in such a curious way?’ As he put his hands down to rest, he said, “Well, my child, I was thanking God for giving me the gift of my hands and the strength to use them for over 90 years to work the land, to provide a home and food for my family and other families in our community for so many years. What a blessing it has been for me to work this land. I hope that you and your family will use the precious gifts that God has given you to continue to work the land, create food and sustain you.’”

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalms 90:17 (NIV)

What a wonderful story to etch on my heart for our journey to the central valley as we take in the harvest season with all our senses.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalms 19:1 (NIV)

Upon my return from our travel, I started my morning meditation and prayer time by pondering what it means to receive the fruits of God’s word and love in the harvest season. I found myself penning questions and simple sketches in my journal of what it truly means to sow seeds of God’s love, harvest a season of righteousness, and live a peaceful whole life.

As I opened my journal from my notes about Arnie’s Dad and the joy he had working the land, I was reminded of the many gifted conversations we had with new and old friends from the farms and vineyards who shared their stories about this year’s harvest season.  Though the stories were varied, I could hear a common theme about the love and peaceful thankfulness that everyone shared in working the land, mostly by hand.

With their voices and stories in mind, I turn to a fresh page and search the questions from my heart. I found myself “ploughing” through my bible and other biblical resources, as though I was in a sacred garden bed, preparing to rework the soil in hopes of discovering new growth or, in my case, answers to my thoughts. 

I came across a study in the book of James, chapter three, that opens with an invitation to Harvest Righteousness-Becoming a Peacemaker. I thought, “What a place to start!” I thought. God’s word answers the questions in my heart. 

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:18 (NIV)

The study opens with a story about the Eugene Peterson translation of The Message who puts a harvest perspective on relationships. He reminds us of the truth that loving and living with people is “hard work”.

Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. The Message Translation James 3:17-18

I was reminded from the stories that God is with us through all seasons to help us create a harvest filled with love and abundance to share with our families and our communities.  And, as I was reminded in my study, we all have the opportunity to grow a fruitful harvest season if we choose to allow the word of God to live in our minds and hearts.

He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of his life. He is never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous.
Psalms 1:3 (TPT)

Today, I wanted to share some seeds of thought to help you plant deep roots of God’s love in your life. Let’s plant the word of God deeper in our souls to truly enjoy the abundance of His love and blessings. What are some of the ways in which we can do this?

Pray the Word of God

Pray and reflect upon scriptures from the Bible that specifically address the desires of your heart.

You’re only truly happy when you walk in total integrity, walking in the light of God’s word. Psalms 119:1 (TPT)

 God’s Word is perfect in every way; how it revives our souls! His laws lead us to truth, and his ways change the simple into wise. Psalms 19:7 (TPT) 

Pray with Faith

Pray with an open heart to believe that God does hear your prayers. Have faith to trust and know that He always answers our prayers.

He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of his life. He is never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous. Psalms 1:3 (TPT) 

Get to the Heart of the Matter

Prune your heart from doubts and know the kind of prayer you pray is important to address the specifics of the matter.

Since Abraham and the patriarchs are consecrated and set apart for God, so also will their descendants be set apart. If the roots of a tree are holy and set apart for God, so too will be the branches. Romans 11:16 (TPT) 

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. Psalms 102:25 (NIV)