I was born and reared on a farm in southwest Iowa. Though God called me away from the plow to pastoral ministry, I've always appreciated my rural upbringing. Though I have been a “cityslicker” now for over 30 years, I still tend to view things from an agricultural standpoint. I guess it is generally true that “you can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy”!

The Bible tells us that “God created the heavens and the earth”, Genesis 1:1. He created all things on the earth, including man in His own image. The first man, Adam, was an agriculturalist. God created him and “put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it”, Gen. 2:15. Later, after the fall of man into sin and the judgment of the Universal Flood, God made a significant promise to another farmer named, Noah. The Lord said, ....”I will never again curse the ground for man's sake...nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. While the earth remains, *Seedtime and Harvest*, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall *not cease*., Gen. 8:21-22. That divine promise given with a beautiful rainbow in the background must have meant so very much to Noah and his little family. From just those 8 people, 4 married couples, the whole earth was repopulated, replenished and replanted. And in the 4000 years since, God's promise to Noah remains in effect for us today...”Seedtime and harvest...shall not cease”.

All of nature around us testifies to the sovereignty and faithfulness of God. Yes, we certainly had winter this year, and it was a memorable one! I think God has a sense of humor, don't you?! In the midst of media hype about “global warming”, God sent a frigid February, capped off with an incredible ice storm that some have called (a great insurance disclaimer!) an “act of God”!

As Jenni and I drove by a snow-covered golf course in early March, I commented to her, “Well, one month from now, that course will probably be open!” How could I say that? Because of the faithfulness of almighty God! He promised that “seedtime and harvest” will not cease while the earth remains. In a matter of a few days, all the ice and snow was gone, green grass was appearing, robin and cardinals were fluttering about, and farmers and gardeners were getting ready to plant the seed! What a mighty God we serve!

So Christian brother or sister, *be encouraged*! Keep on planting the seed of God's word into the hearts of your children and grandchildren. Keep on sharing the Gospel with your lost friends and loved ones. “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing (precious) seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”, Psalm 126:5-6. “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”, Isaiah 55:10-11.

Dear friend, now is not the time to be discouraged, disgruntled or disengaged. That is precisely what Satan wants. God wants you to prepare for eternity. Be saved! Get Baptized! Join the local church! Dedicate your life to Christ! Report for duty! Reenlist in the battle! Be available, usable, and dependable! Work, for the night is coming when no man can work! “Therefore my beloved brethern, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord!”, I Cor. 15:58.

Come on, fellow-laborers! Let's take a deep breath, dig deeper, and keep on plowing, planting, praying and pressing on, until Jesus comes. It will be worth it all when we see Christ!!

“Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness, sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve,
Waiting for the harvest and the time of reaping—We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows, fearing neither clouds nor winter's chilling breeze;
By and by the harvest and the labor ended—We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master, tho the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
When our weeping's over, He will bid us welcome—We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.”

--Knowles Shaw