I have never fancied myself as a gardener, in fact I’ve never had the time or interest in it until recently. The reason I started was for two things. First, I love tomatoes—not the flavorless kind you buy at the store, rather I’m crazy about the sweet delicious fruit that ripens in the sun until it obtains perfect flavor (this could be my favorite food!). The other reason is that I love fresh salsa—not the kind that labeled mild or medium. The kind that comes with a warning that only the bravest could possible enjoy it. (The hotter the better!) This is really the reasoning behind my foray into gardening—availability for the things I love.

This spring, my husband tilled up a new larger spot in full sun and we branched out to plant a variety of vegetables. Everything from sugar snap peas, to eggplant, to sweet corn (what can I say, I’m an Iowa girl, sweet corn is a must!) And of course, half of our garden is dedicated to my delectable tomatoes, hot peppers, onions and cilantro—everything I need for my two favorite summer items.  

We started everything as seeds early in the spring. For the past three months we’ve watched them sprout, grow and start to produce. We are at the fun time in the growth cycle because we are now reaping the harvest—and it has been plentiful! 

Each time I plants seeds looking forward to the harvest, I marvel because this process is amazing, it is unlike any other. It always causes me to reflect on the spiritual principle of sowing and reaping. In fact, Jesus taught a lot about seeds, commenting that they were the key to unlocking His parables (Matthew 4:13-14). As I’ve waited over the past couple of months, I’ve watched the power of seeds and have recognized the importance they play in both the natural and spiritual realm.

Jesus summed it up perfectly in the parable of the growing seed, “He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come” (Mark 4:26-29).

Interestingly, the man in the parable is only responsible for planting and harvesting. In other words, he has no power to make the seed grow. It happens because the seed is activated by the soil when it's planted. Then, there is a time element to it, the seed starts to sprout even though it cannot be detected at this point. Only after a while does it become visible to the farmer and grows until it is established and able to flower and produce the grain. Then more waiting occurs until the the grain is fully ripe and ready to be picked. It takes patience to plant and harvest. 

Here’s the beautiful thing when planting and harvesting. The harvest is not a one to one ratio. In other word, you don’t get one head of grain from one planted seed; you get multiple. Currently at this point, I have so much of everything that I must pick, eat, can, and freeze it regularly, while having more than enough to also give away to friends and coworkers. The harvest has been impressive and I’m getting credited as a good gardener, but the truth is I’ve only planted and picked (and occasionally weeded and watered). The harvest has come because the seed was planted in good soil and given time to grow. The principle of the seed, took over in the beginning and has ensured the plentiful harvest.

This is the power of a seed—it puts into perspective how the harvest looks once the seed is established and producing. The word of God (spiritual seed; Mark 4:14; Luke 8:11) is as important to our lives as the natural seed is to the world. It also has the ability to produce an abundant harvest once it is planted and given time to grow. By looking at the growth process of a seed through harvest time, it give us a great picture of how the Word of God will produce, we just need to sow it; God will make it grow and flourish (Isaiah 55:10-11; Jeremiah 1:12).

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Sower of the Seed
The Ultimate Guide to Sowing & Reaping

I believe that if you can understand the power of seeds and apply it to your life you will be continually blessed. I believe it because I’ve witnessed it in my own life. I believe this to the point that I am willing to GIFT 5 READERS with the ‘Sower of the Seed’ ABSOLUTELY FREE; a powerful book explaining in detail this principle. In the parable of the Sower of the Seed, Jesus explains how the Kingdom of God works, using the illustration of a farmer sowing seed. This parable is an essential truth in unlocking the scriptures and understanding how the Kingdom works.

“Sower of the seed is a fantastic read for anyone who wants to understand why to study the word of God. Juli takes an in-depth approach at examining the Sower of the Seed parable. Her examination of one of Jesus' greatest lessons is spectacular. After reading this, I felt as though a flame had sparked for investigating scripture with more depth. The knowledge I acquired from reading this book will definitely be something I share with others. Thank you Juli for being a vessel for the Lord's message!” ~ Alana

To be one of the FIVE to receive this book ABSOLUTELY FREE (including FREE shipping), please send me an email with your name and address (jcamarin@jcblog.net). (US Only; limit 1 book per person, first come first serve. I will not use your information in any other way, nor will I send unsolicited mail or email… I just want to bless you!). 

If you miss this limited quantity offer, enjoy FREE shipping from my shopping cart on this book until September 1, 2014. (This is not a gimmick...again I just want to bless you with this powerful parable). 

“If you're looking for a book that will put a fire in your belly for delving into, understanding, memorizing, and applying Scripture, this is it! Though a short read, the content is foundational to understanding why God gave us His word, and the power within His word to transform lives. The style in which "Sower of the Seed" is written is accessible to anyone, and the illustrations used by the author make the messages stick. This book is a game changer for me in the way I approach Scripture” ~ Maribeth

8/16/2014 - Thank you to everyone who responded to this offer. All FREE books have been given away.