Neglect mending a small fault and 'twill soon be a great one. BEN FRANKLIN
When one of you says, I am a follower of Paul, and another says, I prefer Apollos, arent you acting like those who are not Christians? Who is Apollos, and who is Paul, that we should be the cause of such quarrels? Why, were only servants. Through us God caused you to believe. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. My job was to plant the seed in your heart, and Apollos watered it, but it was God not we, who made it grow. The ones who do the planting or the watering are not important, but God is important because he is the one who makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work as a team with the same purpose. Yet they will be rewarded individually, according to their own hard work. We work together as partners who belong to God. You are Gods field, Gods building, not ours.
1 CORINTHIANS 3:4-9 NLT
Everybody sows seeds of some kind. We are never just sitting by idling, with nothing being sown. Even when we dont appear to be sowing seeds in the lives of others we are. Many times when we are totally alone we still sow seeds by having been an influence at some other time than the present. Many times in my life I have been reminded of some experience or words that someone has shared with me at a previous time, and as I recall them they seem to bloom in my present situation. These words and mental images of someone elses situation, and how they overcame, are seeds of encouragement. They may lay dormant in my life until my own like situation comes along and waters them. As I begin to draw upon and use the resources available, I realize that these little seeds of hope have grown into answers and ways of escape. They are little seeds that grow into pathways and become open doors to a better life. My AA sponsor told me something once that I still recall. He said, Built a shelf in you mind for things that you hear that you dont have use for at the present time. Dont just discard these thoughts, but store them. Some day you might find that you need something you have heard, and it will be there for you at that time. As I look back over my life I see where there have been times in my youth when older people would point things out to me about my life. Because of my young self-centered attitudes I paid little attention. Today I realize that these were seeds of encouragement that I neither saved, nor stored. I wish I only knew then, what I know now. Today I see God taking seeds that have been sown in my life, allowing them to be watered by still others, to grow and bring about increase. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself .JRE
As we progress in recovery, we are to reach out to others. As we tell them about our deliverance, hoping to help them turn their lives around, these verses should encourage us. Even when the message doesnt seem to be getting through, we can leave the results in Gods hands. Sometimes people respond to our story immediately and enter recovery. At other times our words are only seeds that over time will grow and lead someone to be changed by Gods power. Perhaps we are just one of many people God will use to change someones life. One thing is sure: If we speak out God will use us to change lives.
LIFE RECOVERY BIBLE, page 1371
When one of you says, I am a follower of Paul, and another says, I prefer Apollos, arent you acting like those who are not Christians? Who is Apollos, and who is Paul, that we should be the cause of such quarrels? Why, were only servants. Through us God caused you to believe. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. My job was to plant the seed in your heart, and Apollos watered it, but it was God not we, who made it grow. The ones who do the planting or the watering are not important, but God is important because he is the one who makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work as a team with the same purpose. Yet they will be rewarded individually, according to their own hard work. We work together as partners who belong to God. You are Gods field, Gods building, not ours.
1 CORINTHIANS 3:4-9 NLT
Everybody sows seeds of some kind. We are never just sitting by idling, with nothing being sown. Even when we dont appear to be sowing seeds in the lives of others we are. Many times when we are totally alone we still sow seeds by having been an influence at some other time than the present. Many times in my life I have been reminded of some experience or words that someone has shared with me at a previous time, and as I recall them they seem to bloom in my present situation. These words and mental images of someone elses situation, and how they overcame, are seeds of encouragement. They may lay dormant in my life until my own like situation comes along and waters them. As I begin to draw upon and use the resources available, I realize that these little seeds of hope have grown into answers and ways of escape. They are little seeds that grow into pathways and become open doors to a better life. My AA sponsor told me something once that I still recall. He said, Built a shelf in you mind for things that you hear that you dont have use for at the present time. Dont just discard these thoughts, but store them. Some day you might find that you need something you have heard, and it will be there for you at that time. As I look back over my life I see where there have been times in my youth when older people would point things out to me about my life. Because of my young self-centered attitudes I paid little attention. Today I realize that these were seeds of encouragement that I neither saved, nor stored. I wish I only knew then, what I know now. Today I see God taking seeds that have been sown in my life, allowing them to be watered by still others, to grow and bring about increase. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself .JRE
As we progress in recovery, we are to reach out to others. As we tell them about our deliverance, hoping to help them turn their lives around, these verses should encourage us. Even when the message doesnt seem to be getting through, we can leave the results in Gods hands. Sometimes people respond to our story immediately and enter recovery. At other times our words are only seeds that over time will grow and lead someone to be changed by Gods power. Perhaps we are just one of many people God will use to change someones life. One thing is sure: If we speak out God will use us to change lives.
LIFE RECOVERY BIBLE, page 1371
