Jesus tells the parable of the sower and the seed:

A sower is spreading seed. Some seed was sown on stony ground. They are like those who hear the word but have no solid root for it, so when tribulation comes, they fall away.

There were other seeds sown among thorns.  They are like those who hear the word, yet are deceived by the riches of this world and distracted by cares so that the word is choked and is unfruitful.

Then there are those who are like seeds sown in good soil. They hear the word, accept it and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty and some a hundred.

So we discussed what the fruit of the word is: it is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, temperance (not being addicted to any things of the world) – and I can’t remember the other two for now….

We discussed how God instructed us to “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23)” We think about the heart as a garden, and how we can weed out evil thoughts by asking God to get rid of them. (Of course this, like weeding, is a never-ending process, even and sometimes particularly in the best soil)

Nehemiah 1-3 begins the story of another captured Israelite, the eponymous Nehemiah, who persuades the King who holds him to let him return to Jerusalem to rebuilt the wall. This is the beginning of his efforts.

Dear God, Please help me and my husband keep our hearts so that they are a good environment for Your word to flourish and bear fruit. Please help us teach our children to do so too. Please help us control our thorns and our rocky soil. We cannot do it by ourselves. Thank you for sending Jesus so that we can come to You in peace as children when we believe and follow Him. In Jesus’ name, Amen