Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The fields are ripe for harvest




"Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37-38

I've lived around agriculture for almost my whole married life. It has only been the last two summers, though, that I have been so intimately connected to harvest. You see, at the start of our marriage my husband worked as a farm chemical salesperson. So, yes, he was involved with farming and farmers. Yes, his work was very different depending on the season and, yes, we would have considered ourselves an ag family. We just weren't as close to things as we are now.

Two years ago my husband took a position as a farm agronomist for a large dry land wheat farm in Eastern Oregon. He loves it. He is much more connect to the farm and to the everyday workings of the farm. Now he is actually farming...not just helping farmers.

So, this is harvest season. They started with green peas at the beginning of July (which was late because we're having a cool summer) and now they have moved on to wheat and lentils. It is busy and Chris isn't home very much. Still, I am grateful for this season of harvest.

Being so intimately connected to harvest has been very thought provoking for me this year. There was one field of peas that didn't get harvested this year because the cannery couldn't take it. I think it will be harvested for dry peas later and we have insurance on the field but, still, there was a feeling of loss watching those peas dry out. What a waste! I felt sad about all the preparation that had gone in to that field that was essentially for nothing.

Then I thought about how God views the harvest of souls. In the book of Matthew Jesus told us to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field. But what if the workers aren't willing? What if we don't have time or interest in the harvest? I was sad about a wasted field of peas. Imagine how sad our Lord would be if a "field" of souls was left unharvested! 2 Peter 2:9 says that the Lord does not want "any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." So, let's get out there and do some harvesting!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Goals and plans

About a year ago (actually, August 11) I made a goal. I wanted to lose 50 pounds. And you know what, I almost have. So far I've lost 45 and I feel great. I don't know when those last 5 will come off but I'm still working on it. More importantly, I'm in the best shape of my life. I'm running nearly every day and I feel great.

Earlier this month I ran a 5k with a good friend of mine. It was a great time and I felt so great about the accomplishment. So, we have decided on a new goal. We are training to run a half marathon on October 2. I'm so excited about it...which seems strange because I'm also scared to death! I think it is great to have goals and it is something that I'm working on in other areas of my life too.

So, a half marathon this year and next year maybe a whole marathon...it would be great to finish a marathon before I'm 35 (which means next year is it!).