The Life Is in the Seed

When the Word of God talked about the herb, grass and tree yielding seeds in Geneses 1:11 most of us never think anything beyond that. Often times we do not realize that we live in a seed filled world. It is as if though all of God’s dealing with humanity is about nothing more than seeds, sowing and reaping.

We have the harvest seeds (soul), tithing seeds, seeds for the sower (spiritual and physical farmer), seed of the woman, the generational seeds, and the animal kingdom seeds.

The Word speaks of the righteous seed, royal seed, the lineage seed, life giving seed, Holy seed, seed of Israel, seed of blessings, seeds of kindness,incorruptible seed and the seed of the Word.

Opposite of that we have the seed of thoughts, seeds of words and actions. The wild seed, bad seed, corruptible seed, the mingled seed, wicked seed, seed of evildoers, seed of falsehood, seeds of adultery and the list goes on.

Luke 8:5 talks about a sower who went out to sow referring to God’s Word and our spiritual condition.

For this reason, many Christians are seed conscience they consider what they say and do. God fearing parents raise their children in church because they want the seed of God’s Word to take deep roots in their little children’s hearts.

I have been working on a fiction story called “On Wings of Praise” for a couple of years. It is about a little girl who pulled her family out of poverty during the early nineteen hundreds. One afternoon as she sat on the front porch eating a peach. The six year old looks at the pit and realizes that inside the pit was a life giving seed. From that revelation a million dollar idea was born. That idea transformed the rest of their lives.

Inside every seed is a life bearing power that produces after its own kind. It is not the nature of the seed to be corn and grow carrot. What we sow is what we reap.

The taste of ripe California fruits is divine in flavor. The last time I went, I brought several seeds home to Texas. The other day I took some of those seeds and planted them. I am anxious to see them grow next spring. Because every seed must grow as sure as the acorn that the little squirrels bury in the ground. In the spring (due season) it will be force to pop upward.

There in the darkness of the rich potting soil, It will lie dormant for a long while. Winter will come and the earth will freeze and it will appear that all hope is gone. It will show no signs of life for a season. Buried underneath the frozen sod is a lifeless and forgotten seed. It appears to be dead in every form, but not so --- there is a mystery in the seed sown. Though it be tiny it is bursting with life giving energy.

Underneath the wet ground its shell swells and crakes open releasing an ocean of roots. They explode with a force that spreads out in every direction. The thread thin roots grow downward embracing the earth with a solid grip. They feed on the richness of its new muddy environment. They dig deep into the utter darkness to quench their thirst.

They continue their downward pursuit, until the spring showers and warm sun come pounding on the ground making their demand.“Come forth!” they cry. Like Lazarus in the grave it too must obey,and that which appeared dead comes back to life in a sprout form.

God commanded that as long as there was life, seedtime and harvest would remain. It cannot do otherwise.

This is true whether the seed is secret sin, a tree, a flower, a weed, an action, a word, a behavior pattern, running of our finances or the rearing of our children.

It may remain in darkness for a season but it will grow and bear fruit. It does not change in character because it is spiritual, financial, physical, earthly or eternal seed.

By nature, we are seed producing beings. Furthermore, with every passing year, it will produce more fruit and every fruit will bear its own seed.

Like Johnny Appleseed we too spread seeds everywhere we go with every breath we take, every thought we think, every word we speak, every decision we make and every act we commit. Knowingly or not we are producing life or death, good or evil, blessings or curses.

Every earthly progression, government, advancement, movement, invention, business, lifestyle, creation or idea came from a seed.

When I stopped and consider the weight of my responsibility as a seed producing being - I wept.

By Norma Vera

Interview with Kathy Macias

1. How did you get started with writing?
I've always wanted to be a writer-can't remember ever wanting to be anything else. I was an avid reader as a child, particularly because I was sick quite a bit and couldn't always go to school or, when I did, couldn't play with the other kids during recess. So I read everything I could get my hands on! When I ran out of things to read, I began to write my own stories. I wrote a story in the third grade that the teacher liked so much she showed it to the principal, and they decided to turn it into a play for the entire PTA. I was
thrilled-and hooked!
2.Were you a child writer?
Definitely! As I stated in the previous question/answer, I started early. By the time I was in junior high, I had my mind set on writing professionally, even though I didn't really understand how that would happen. But I remember telling my boyfriend, Al (now my husband) when we were about 14 and walking home from school one day that I was going to be a writer when I grew up. He reminds me of that often, and tells me how blessed I am to be able to do what I dreamed of for so long.
3. If so, do you have advice for children writers?
If you love stories and enjoy writing, do it every chance you get-and also read as often as possible. You will develop your style and polish your gift and talent by reading/studying other people's works and practicing your own. I also encourage you to take journalism classes. Though I only worked as a reporter/columnist for a short time, it taught me great discipline in my writing and enabled me to write quickly and concisely. Another area of study that helped me a lot was drama. Learning to "get inside someone else's skin" as an actor enables me to bring my characters to life on the written page.

4. What do you love the most about writing?
I write fiction and nonfiction and enjoy them both, but I suppose I prefer fiction because I love being able to create stories and watch them unfold through my characters' lives. There are times those characters become so real that they actually try to take over my story; then I have to reign them in and remind them who's in charge! It's hard work, but a lot of fun too.

5. How did you get into Bilingual writing?
I studied Spanish in school and speak it passably-conversationally, actually. But I use a professional translator for my Spanish books and weekly Spanish devotionals. I don't trust my command of the language to do it accurately. It's been great, though, as I have met people in countries all over the world, some who say they read my weekly devotional in English and some in Spanish. What a joy!
6. How many books have you published?
I've published just over 30 of my own books (with more in the works), but I have also written several others for well known people-as a collaborator or ghostwriter. As a result, people are often reading my work without even knowing it!
8.Tell us about your latest book.
My most recent release is Red Ink, the third book in my four-book Extreme Devotion fiction series from New Hope Publishers. Each of the four books is set in a different country (No Greater Love in South Africa, More than Conquerors in Mexico, Red Ink in China, and People of the Book in Saudi Arabia). Red Ink is a fictionalized account of my own personal hero, Li Ying, a young woman currently serving a ten-year prison sentence in China for the crimes of printing and distributing Christian materials and teaching
children about Jesus. Realizing the price she pays for obeying God's command to preach to gospel makes me appreciate my freedom to do so every day.
9.Tell us about your relationship with Christ. I wasn't raised in a Christian home, but one of my younger brothers became a believer when he was about 20. Soon he led my mom to Christ and then my other brother too. My dad and I were the "hold outs." Then, when I was 26 and my life was falling apart, I remembered what my mom and brothers had told me about Jesus, and I turned my life over to him. That was 36 years ago, and it was the best decision I ever made. (My dad finally came to the Lord too-in his last week of life at the age of 88. What a faithful God we serve!)

10. What ministries are you involved in?'

I've been involved in many over the years, including teaching both children's and adult Sunday school; jail/prison ministry; homeless ministry; biblical counseling; working with the persecuted Church and helping to free modern-day slaves from the human trafficking trade (which will be the topic of my next series). Primarily I spend my time writing and speaking/teaching about those subjects. I'm also my almost 90-year-old mom's primary caretaker (she lives with us).


Check out her Blog amd website for free book giveaway
http://www.kathimacias.com/

http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com/

alandkathi@ca.rr.com

The Voice of Experience

I heard a testimony once about a blind man who navigated some missionaries across a river in a third world country. It was so deadly and dangerous they could only travel by night. When the missionaries discovered that the guide was blind they asked the escort, "How do we know he is leading us safely?" The man responded, "He relies on the Holy spirit for guidance."

If we train our ear to listen to the Holy Spirit. He will guide us safely around landmines that are hidden from our sight!

Interview with Lisa Buffaloe

1. How did you get started with writing?
I didn’t seriously begin writing until my health crashed from undetected Lyme disease in 2000. During that time, I searched God’s word for answers on suffering and illness and began making notes and writing a book on the subject.  From there, I branched into writing fiction using some of my past experiences. To quote Dickens, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...”

2. What do you love the most about writing?
For non-fiction, I love blogging or writing articles about God’s grace and love. With fiction projects, it’s fun to explore characters and their stories. I absolutely love when God surprises me with an unexpected twist or turn while I’m writing.

3. How many books you have published?

At this point, I haven’t been published other than articles, blogs, and interviews. My agent is Tamela Hancock Murray of the Hartline Literary Agency. Two of my manuscripts are currently being reviewed by publishers.

4. Which one was your favorite article?

The most fun to write was The Visitor featured as a short story on Christian Fiction Online Magazine. http://www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/visitor.html

5. Tell us a little bit about The Visitor.

Years ago, I lived in an apartment that had originally been a garage/barn. Late one night I had an unexpected and very unwelcome visitor. The article takes that experience and turns it into a humorous story.

6. Your relationship with Christ?

I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home. However, even growing up in a loving, safe environment some very negative things happened. God has helped me through molestation by a baby-sitter, assault, rape, divorce, cancer, death of loved ones, numerous surgeries, and chronic illness. I’m amazed at God’s goodness. Every day He gives me more reasons to long for Him and His presence. What a blessing to be walked through the fires and trials to find the things of this world replaced with a greater knowledge of Who God is and His sufficiency. Nothing and no one can remove what is safe with God, and with Him I am eternally safe.

7. What do you see in the future for your writing? (or you goal)?

I pray and hope that God will continue to allow me to point others to His amazing love. My goal is to help readers discover the truth in God’s promises. His love is unending, and through Him we can be healed, restored, and renewed—regardless of the nightmares of our past. No matter what we’ve been through, God is big enough to handle all our needs. He will free us from the past. He will restore what has been taken, and He will renew what has been destroyed.

8. What is your favorite quote and why?

“In my deepest wound, I saw Your glory and it dazzled me.” St. Augustine. God not only heals our past wounds, He takes what the enemy meant for evil and turns it into something amazing for us and His kingdom. God never fails to dazzle me with His goodness and love.

Lisa Brewer Buffaloe

www.LisaBuffaloe.com

http://www.lisabuffaloe.blogspot.com/

www.ShoutLife.com/LisaBuffaloe

www.MySpace.com/LisaBuffaloe