Butter and Honey

Sowing

I really enjoy good old-fashioned musicals.  I grew up watching them and singing and dancing along with them.  And now I've begun to share that with my children.  They really enjoy them, too.  Tonight, after watching one, my son asked me to print out the lyrics to two of the songs so that he can learn them.

So what could be wrong with that? 

It really got me thinking again about what am I sowing?  Am I sowing to the flesh or to the spirit? 

There is nothing wrong with him enjoying wholesome musicals, having fun with the characters, and then singing the songs with his brother and sister.  But am I also sharing my excitement for and love of the word of God with them?  Am I imparting to them the importance of hiding God's word inside their hearts?  Knowing the words to "If I Were A Rich Man" will not shield them from temptation and fear as Whom have I in heaven but thee?  and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.  My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.  Psalm 73:25-26

Which all comes down to my own relationship with the LORD.  Is there really none upon earth that I desire beside thee ?

What Am I Sowing?

I've been thinking of this the past few days, fueled by some pointed scripture verses.

Hosea 10:12-13   "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD till he come and rain righteousness upon you.  Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of mighty men."

Galatians 5:25 - 6:10  "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.  For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.  But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.  For every man shall bear his own burden.  Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

Late last week, recovering from my trip to visit my father, I was thinking over different things and sorting things out in my head.  The law of  sowing and reaping was recalled in my memory and that really got me to thinking about "What am I sowing?" 

"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

Sadly, being starkly realistic, I can see and recall time after time where I was sowing to the flesh either in my own life or in the lives of my children.  I also saw clearly that those times of sowing came as a result of three things: selfishness (I was busy doing something and didn't want to be interrupted),  tiredness (as in not getting enought sleep and/or not refreshed and filled with the strength of the LORD), comfort/ease (I didn't want to make waves, cause a disturbance, upset anyone, so I simply gave in even though I knew it was not the right thing.)  Looking at those three, it is easy to see how they are really just one thing - self/flesh.  My reasons for not standing up and standing fast was because I was busy, I was tired, I didn't want to deal with whining and complaining, I didn't want to exert myself.

I was also able to see that those times where I did stand fast and not sow to the flesh were times that I, with the LORD's strength, was on top of things; the day started with the proper focus, meals were ready on time,  we spent time in the Word as a family, schoolwork was done in timely fashion and distractions were gently discouraged. 

The biggest part of all of this is really where my eyes were focused - were they focused on what I wanted to do or on what needed to be done?  Was I thinking of myself and what I wanted to do that day or was I thinking more about what I could do to serve and encourage and build up those around me, my children and husband?  Was I seeking to please myself (temporarily) or my LORD (eternally)?

I can see how weak minded I am and how easily I can wander out of the way to do my own bidding.  I cannot tell you in words how deeply this grieves me.  That struggle is always there and I can so completely empathize with Paul when he writes "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." Romans 7:18,19

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."   Romans 8:5,6

Keeping my eyes, my mind, my heart focused upon the LORD every day, every hour, every moment, is the only way I can do that good that I am called to do.  Remembering His love and sacrifice, the truth of His Word planted within my heart, and encouraging myself and others with songs and hymns and spiritual songs -

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. "  Colossians 3:12-17

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.” Hebrews 12:2

Why Butter and Honey?

Isaiah 7:15 says

Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.

This is my desire as we raise and train our children in the nurture and admonition of the LORD, that they - and we - would know to refuse the evil that corrupts and defiles and instead choose the good which brings glory to our Heavenly Father.