Yesterday was combine day. The grain was ready to thrash. It was a huge answer to prayer. We have been in a bit of a pickle. This is just one piece of the puzzle that needed to fall into place. It's going to snow. The cows are stuck in the coral. The fences are torn down to the pasture. The new coral is still being built. The fences are still being built. Soon the cows will move to the new corral and then out into the pasture and onto the corn stalks. It is a season filled with constant change. It is harvest time. Now the corn is gone. The golden kernels filled the hopper of the combine and emptied out the spout into the grain cart. It was simply fascinating to watch. Dustin and I rode in the combine. Watching the green nose ride perpendicular to the sod. Carefully picking up corn stalks as it moved down each row. The process from here to now has taken a long time. A lot of sweat, back breaking corrugate row digging, hand weed pulling and countless prayers to heaven. It is finished. I will get the yields later today.
For a crop to yield a good harvest the soil must be prepared. This process of soil preparation in order to plant takes much more than I thought was necessary. The ground needs to be tilled, disced and often plowed. We often check soil samples to ensure what fertilizers needs to be applied. Sometimes we are blessed with compost or manure. The ground is ready for seed. Then it is roller harrowed down. Now it is corrugated. Then the watering begins. Now we watch for bugs, weeds and growth. Soon it is time to cultivate. In due time the stalks grow tall and tassel. The ears form and kernels develop. The weather turns cold and dry and the corn plant dries up. Finally it is harvest.
I am reminded of seasons in my faith journey when it seems like their is just no fruit. No harvest. It takes time. The farmer has faith and patience. Sometimes the best work is done in secret. Naked to the human eye. I have discovered this spiritual truth: God is able to do His best work in the compost of my life.
That means the hard stuff that I don't really want to face. The ugly stuff. It's during this time when the seed gets buried in the ground and we wait. Hoping that it will germinate and turn into a corn plant. How can something so small get so big and transform into something that produces a hundred times what was planted? This my friends is kingdom multiplication. Jesus changes lives. He makes something grow out of the dirt and makes it beautiful. Harvesting fruit takes time and patience, even when dealing with souls.
"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See [how] the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain." James 5:17
It is worth the wait. I must stay focused at the work to be done. Don't grow weary. Keep doing good.
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My
house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not
open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you [such] blessing That [there will] not [be room] enough [to receive it]." Malachi 3:10
The windows have opened and the blessing pours down. Our barns our full. The harvest is complete.
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