#Sowing and Reaping

[momentsbeforemass]

Results

“Measure results, not processes.”

The first time I heard this, I was in a training session for new managers. The trainer repeated it, and the whole room lit up. Like the clouds had parted.

Making results your benchmark for success is an approach that can be very liberating for the people you are managing. Done right, it supports creativity and gives them the room to improve in unconventional ways.

As human beings, we want things to be universal. To apply across the board, to work every time, everywhere.

That impulse can become a liability. When we take something that was meant for a particular purpose or a limited context, and try to use it across the board.

When we do, it’s like trying to use a specialty tool to do something that it was never meant to do.

It is true that making results our benchmark for success can work – in the context of managing people.

But outside of that context? Making results our benchmark for success can be a recipe for frustration. Especially if we apply it to things that are beyond our control.

When you and I try to help other people, we are setting ourselves up if we judge the value of our efforts based on the results we’re seeing.

Because different people respond differently.

And it doesn’t matter how you’re trying to help them. Whether you’re telling someone about Jesus. Or teaching someone, or helping someone who’s homeless, or trying to raise funds for a good cause. Different people respond differently.

God knows this. That we’re all different. And that we all respond differently. After all, that’s how He made us.

Which is why God doesn’t judge the value of our efforts based on the results that you and I see.

It’s the point of today’s Gospel, where someone is scattering seeds.

The one scattering the seed doesn’t know how those seeds will sprout and grow. What happens with those seeds is beyond the control of the one scattering them. And yet, those seeds do grow.

The important part for you and me? Look at the only place where human effort comes in.

Not in growth. Not in progress. Not in the end result. The only place where human effort is involved? Scattering the seeds.

So what does that mean? It means that whatever good God has called you to do, do your part. And do it well.

Scatter the seeds. And keep scattering the seeds. Over and over.

But don’t worry about the rest. That’s God’s part, not yours.

Trust God for the growth. Trust God for the results. When you do, you will be amazed at what comes from the seeds that you have scattered.

Trust God. And keep scattering the seeds.

Today’s Readings

[troubledontlast1]

What you do now will come back to you in the future.

Life has a funny way of making you deal with what you make others go through.

[ernestbruce]

well, Israel is getting what it is earning with its actions and hate

i do not love Iran

BUT ISRAEL'S BEHAVIOR HAS BROUGHT THE ILLOGICAL AND HATEFUL WRATH OF A BULLY TO ITS OWN PEOPLE

Israel, what goes around comes around

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/israel-hamas/2024/04/13/israel-war-updates-iran-ship/73311944007/

[1whoconquers]

Sowing Righteousness and Reaping God’s Rain: Hosea 10:12 as a Call for the New Year

“Sow righteousness for yourselves and reap faithful love; break up your unplowed ground. It is time to seek the Lord until He comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain.” (Hosea 10:12) The start of a new year is a time for reflection, renewal, and recommitment. As we step into 2025, Hosea 10:12 invites us to examine the state of our hearts, prioritize righteousness, and seek the Lord…

[absolutedestinyapocalypsse]

how are they gonna adequately prepare whatever child they cast for nico di angelo. it has got to be impossible for someone that young to give informed consent about playing the saddest wettest loser in all of human history. like hey kid i know youre sprightly and all of ten, but we need you to be in all five stages of grief at all times. remember, your mother was killed in fascist italy, youre eighty years old, and now youre in love with the guy who killed your sister. say this next line like you know what it's like to be an ear of corn.

[nando161mando]

reaped what he sowed

[geekpreacher217]

You Reap What You Sow - Hosea 10:12-15; Galatians 6:7-8

In a passage that is filled with agricultural metaphors, the prophet Hosea encourages Israel to sow righteousness and reap God’s mercy. Instead, they had sown wickedness, and would reap God’s judgement.  Hosea echoes the principle seen throughout the Scriptures, that you reap what you sow.

[edensking]

"There Will Be War in 2024"

I just published an article titled “There Will No Longer Be War Anymore” and noticed it getting almost no response, likely due to its peaceful title and graphic that isn’t attention-grabbing.  I knew that was a risk when I chose that title, so I am doing an experiment.  This is the exact same article but with a title and image that focus on the exact opposite aspect of this message.  I’m curious…

[momentsbeforemass]

Dumped on

“Many people are like garbage trucks.

They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they look for a place to dump it. And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you.

So when someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Believe me. You’ll be happier.”

That’s the central idea in David Pollay’s classic, The Law of the Garbage Truck.

The next time you find yourself at the end of a demoralizing, exhausting day, think back over why it was that way.

Some days, it’s obvious. We got hit with one of life’s big ones – the death of a loved one, end of a relationship, loss of a job, betrayal by a friend, etc. Things like that will knock anybody down.

Some days, it’s not obvious. We didn’t get hit with one of the big ones. So why do you and I still feel like we got knocked down?

Because we got dumped on.

And it doesn’t take long for that garbage to pile up. For it to become overwhelming.

If you’re seeing a lot of garbage in your life, consider what Jesus is telling us in today’s Gospel.

   “The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more given to you.”

Jesus is pointing out one of the fundamental principles of life. What we give is what we’re going to get. And we’re going to get back even more than we give.

If we’re seeing a lot of garbage in our lives, you and I have to be honest with ourselves.

Is it really just everyone else dumping on us? Or are we doing the dumping, and just getting back even more than we’re giving?

If you and I are tired of seeing a lot of garbage in our lives – before worrying about anyone else’s dumping – you and I need to stop our dumping first.

This is the higher standard that Jesus is calling each of us to.

If we have any hope of living the positive version of what Jesus is saying. If we’re going to be His. Then we’ve got to stop living like garbage trucks.

There’s nothing wrong with avoiding other people’s garbage.

But if we’re serious about doing it, then stopping our own dumping is the first step.

Today's Readings

[curiousaur]

izzy will not let the GMs forget that they fully chose to do this to themselves

[biblebloodhound]

There Are Consequences to Injustice (Exodus 12:29-42)

“A horse may run quickly but it cannot escape its tail.” Russian proverb

Exodus Out of Egypt, by Rivka Lemberg At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house…

[star-stream]

Skipping meals sounds like a great idea until you get hungry right when you cant get something to eat

[superbdonutpoetry]

Our Ministry in Context

Do you boast in your own righteousness? Ephesians 2:8-9 – Authorised Version For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. We are the Body of Christ, members of His body, a God created entity. 1 Corinthians 12:27 – Authorised Version Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. So we boast in…

[randsomhogue]

So aparantly, the CEOs are running scared. They're deleting their wiki pages and removing the 'about us' pages from company websites. They must have forgotten about the first rule of the internet: nothing truly dissappears forever. Your names are out there. After all, you were proud of the work you were doing before. What changed? Did you forget you were dealing with the lives of real human beings? Enough is enough. Run and hide, cowards.

[thatmooncake]

Someone is here for another visit! 🎉

It’s time for Moon crimes (and their consequences)

(Aftermath close ups under the cut)