Jesus at one time in his many teachings had likened the Word to a seed. He explained it as follows:

Mark 4

Now I don't know about you but when I read this I relate it in terms to my life, which is supposed to be what a Christian does when he reads the Bible. In doing so, I imagine my faith and beliefs as if one of those seeds were me. I refuse to allow Satan to take the seed that is me away. I also cannot be joyful upon receiving the seed and allow it to stop growing because of the trouble I encounter in this life. In my study of the Word, God tells me that most certainly there will be times of trouble and there will be hardships. I am not excused from the workings of this world because I am physically still in it. My Lord has given me not only the instructions on dealing with it but will supply me the strength to endure it until such time as he decides to allow it to change or until he is ready to bring me out of it. A Christian must, as I have said before, keep an open mind as to God's reasons and the understanding that those reasons may not be immediately known. Faith in the judgment of God is the key here. I also refuse to allow the trappings of this world to make the growth of my seed cease. Whatever is in this world will not go with me beyond this world and since God has supplied me with what I need for my eternity I need not concern myself with the tangible things. This brings me to the seed in Jesus's story that falls to the good earth thereby bearing fruit. These writings I do each week serves a dual purpose. It is Gods fruit from the planting of the seed that is me. I must admit to also using these writings as a way for me to communicate with God. When I open my mind to thought as I read my Bible he brings into my mind those things that I should be paying attention to. I cannot focus my life in the proper direction if I do not continue each day spending time with God in both prayer and the Word. God has supplied the seed with the formula for growth (the Word) as he does in each Christian who pays heed to the Word. What happens to your seed depends on you. I find in my own life that refusing to acknowledge what is right is a sign of weakness of character and my life has had too many character flaws prior to my present relationship with God. I cannot allow myself to turn back to something I know to be wrong. I will go on in my trust in God, in spite of anything to the contrary in this world. My prayer is that you too will let the Word be entwined with your life here so that we may stand together in the kingdom of God and see his smile!

With love and praise to God through Jesus Christ, my Savior,

Jeff Crisp

Often times I hear of Christians that were enthusiastic about their decision of belief in Jesus Christ but then become discouraged because they seem unable to retain that level of enthusiasm. Can't you step back for a moment and understand why this may be happening" Each day we are presented more and more with the evilness that dwells in our world. It's easy to become discouraged when you are pounded each day by the opposing forces of Satan unless you spend as much time in the truth of God's word.

For those of you who become discouraged...Remain encouraged by surrounding yourself with him, constantly seeking him...Don't act, speak, or think from the flesh: do it from the spirit of God. If you want something badly enough....seek it! Psalms 119:2 says "Happy are they who keep his unchanging word, searching after him with all their heart." God has shown us in our interaction with this world that the things humans seem to value most are the things they seek, work towards, and acquire. In the realm of worldly possessions why does it seem that the man who works hard for his riches uses them more wisely than the man whose riches are handed him with no effort on his part" When you give of your time and efforts to seek something of value don't you hold it more dearly thereby using it more wisely"

God gives you the way to keep your spiritual fervor alive and growing. Look at Psalms 119:35 "Make me go in the way of your teachings; for they are my delight." When you let God in control of your life initially, you feel wonderfully excited and relieved because you have placed your faith in God's promise of blessing your life. The excitement you experienced dulls only because of a failure to continue with using the tools God has blessed you with. Mark 11:24-25 "For this reason I say to you, Whatever you make a request for in prayer, have faith that it has been given to you, and you will have it. And whenever you make a prayer, let there be forgiveness in your hearts, if you have anything against anyone; so that you may have forgiveness for your sins from your Father who is in heaven."

It's perfectly human to become discouraged and to become overwhelmed at times with worry but God tells NOT to worry about our worldly needs. Philippians 4:6 "Have no cares; but in everything with prayer and praise put your requests before God." And in 1Peter 5:7 "Putting all your troubles on him, for he takes care of you." And my personal favorite, Matthew 6:25-26 " So I say to you, Take no thought for your life, about food or drink, or about clothing for your body. Is not life more than food, and the body more than its clothing" See the birds of heaven; they do not put seeds in the earth, they do not get in grain, or put it in store-houses; and your Father in heaven gives them food. Are you not of much more value than they"" When you worry, pray to God and explain that you are worried though you know not to be and allow him to relieve you of it.

By studying God's word, by communicating with God through prayer, by seeing how the sacrifices you have made pale in comparison to those of Jesus Christ, and by doing these things often then the excitement and the relief continues. Matthew 7:8 "Because to everyone who makes a request, it will be given; and he who is searching will get his desire, and to him who gives the sign, the door will be open." That desire should be for a life in service to God through Jesus Christ.

In Christ,

Jeffrey Crisp