Sunday - Mustard Seed

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”

Sundays: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Finally, in this simple saying of Jesus, the mustard seed becomes a tree. It's established, produces fruit and provides a place for the birds to safely rest. The tree is a peacemaker.

God looks at me and says, "Be a peacemaker - help people come into my family and find rest with me."

Moses wrote: For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Isaiah wrote: The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field. The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.

I think God looked at the earth on the seventh day of creation and said, "Be a place of peace for me and my children."

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So in the past seven days I have considered:
- How the mustard seed went from almost nothing to a place of peace for the birds
- How God takes me from being poor in spirit to being a peacemaker
- How the earth went from chaos to a place of peace for God himself and his people.

God, let it be so.

Saturday - Mustard Seed

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”

Saturdays: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

To be "pure in heart" is to have the character do what's right when your supposed to. What is right for a mustard plant to do? Produce fruit - mustard seeds. Once the plant produces fruit, the whole cycle starts again, and you continue to see God work.

God looks at me and says "You need to be pure in heart - it's what you were made for. You need to take and maintain responsibility in the areas you influence my creation. Use your energy and make things wonderful. When you do, you get to see me at work."  

King David said: Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.

Paul said: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

I think God looked at the earth on the sixth day of creation and said, "I will put people made in my image here, and I'll give them responsibility to take care of this place. They will work and create and be happy, and live with me." 

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God, beyond my own life - the good and the bad - there is a whole world out there. You made every person in hopes they would be like you and to see you. Reach out to all the people on earth and bless them.

Friday - Mustard Seed

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”

Fridays: Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

As the small plant starts to grow, it's fully dependent on the environment. It's "at the mercy" of the sun, rain and soil to survive. Once the plant grows to the point of producing fruit, it in turn shows mercy to others.

God looks at me and says " I want you to come to me regardless of your failings. You need my mercy to survive. I show my mercy through people like you. You must join in to make all of this work."

Jesus said: It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

James wrote: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Jesus also said: Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

I think God looked at the earth on the fifth day of creation and said, "I'm going to give you creatures that will not work and show my mercy - the birds and sea animals." 

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God, bless all those people around me that don't know you and are searching. Help me to be part of the goodness you want to give them.

Thursday - Mustard Seed

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”

Thursdays: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Once the seed germinates, it starts to grow. It gets "hungry" to be filled with what's good for it - water, light, nutrients. Once it sprouts, I can get optimistic about its future. It's not going to stay in the ground dead, but it will live and grow.

King David said: Taste and see that the Lord is good;blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

I think God looks at me and says "I know you're hungry, and I know you want to be filled with good. I'm going to do that, one day at a time, to the extent you can accept it."

I think God looked at the sky on the fourth day of creation and said "you are empty and need to be filled," and put the sun, moon and stars there.

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God, please bless all those people I know who also know you. Give them the opportunity to do good, see good be done, and experience good being done for them. Fill up their lives.

Wednesday - Mustard Seed

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”

Wednesdays: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Initially the seed sits in the ground, powerless to do anything but wait. It's waiting for the environment to support it with the soil, heat, light and water. It will come to "inherit the earth", sprout and grow.

God looks at me and says "Just wait, and don't give up. You will start to grow and good will come of it."

King David said: I remain confident of this:I will see the goodness of the Lord    in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

James said: Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.

I think God looked at the earth on the third day of creation and said "I've created the land, and filled it with plants that will grow and reproduce. This will provide for the beings I'll put there."

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God, in the midst of grief, I look forward to the future and the good you will do. You are in charge and I'm not. It's hard to for me to wait for good to come - help me to be patient.

God, my biggest hope is that ultimately encouragement and blessing will come to the people we know because of my son's life. I hope that no one rejects or distances themselves from You because of this.

Tuesday - Mustard Seed

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”

Tuesdays: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

This is the hard part of the process - being planted. The little seed is put into the ground. It becomes separated and alone. It has to "die".

No death, then no life.

Jesus said: Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

King David said: Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.


God looks as me in this state and says, "You're blessed. You're lucky. You're experiencing loss and pain, but comfort will come." 

I think God looked at the earth on the second day of creation and said "I have pulled you apart, but it will be good in time."

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God, I'm mourning huge loss - part of me has died. I don't want to be destroyed by this. I don't want my family, my world to be destroyed - and it feels like that could happen. I feel like I have fallen to the ground and I'm buried.

God you have sent so many people to me, to us, to give comfort. I know you want us to have faith in you and our future. I believe you will take a bad situation and turn it for good. Please see us through.

God, forgive the sins of my family - me, my wife and my kids. Be near us.

Monday - Mustard Seed

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”

Mondays: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

That single seed  in it's present state is not 100% worthless, but pretty close. It can't do anything until someone comes along to plant it. I guess you could eat it - not much food or flavor there.

God has looked at me and seen me this way, but he says to me "You're blessed. You're lucky. Regardless of your current state, you have a future."

I think God looked at the earth on the first day of creation and said, "you're formless and void, but you have a future."

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God, these last four weeks have been the hardest of my life. In some ways, it feels like years since Caleb died. In other ways it seems like hours. Time is all screwed up for me right now - it's hard to keep my bearings straight.

God, forgive me for all I've done wrong and for everything I've missed. I need you.