The Lord's plow

[toad]

“Why should I start at the plough of my Lord, that maketh deep furrows on my soul? He is no idle husbandman, He purposeth a crop.”
SAMUEL RUTHERFORD

You can’t just scratch at the surface of the soil and plant a seed and expect a good crop. You’ve got to really turn it over and get down deep under the surface and loosen up the soil so the root structure can spread out and get a foundation for the supplying of nutrients to the plant. I have found the Lord does not just scratch at the surface or the symptom of my problems, but He digs deep to the source. The Lord runs His plow deep and helps me turn the problem over by bringing the source to the surface. Once exposed to the Light it is easier to see the true nature and to openly discuss and resolve the issues. Of course some of my character defects I have buried deep and have place a stone or two on top of them with the hopes of them never being discovered. God does not just let these lay dormant to be watered by some adversity and to grow. My God has a way of letting me know that He knows the problem exists and stops plowing long enough to get out the pick and shovel and start prying at my hidden defects. Here in southern Missouri each year as I prepare the soil for my garden I must remove some of the larger rocks that have worked their way to the surface. They stand as obstacles to have good root structure and foundation. It is a little harder work preparing the soil of my heart for a crop, but my, when it’s harvest time I find it all worth the while. Today God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………….toad



“We should make an accurate and really exhaustive survey of our past life as it has affected other people. In many instances we shall find that, though the harm done others has not been great, we have nevertheless done ourselves considerable emotional injury.
"Then, too, damaging emotional conflicts persist below the level of consciousness, very deep, sometimes quite forgotten. Therefore, we should try hard to recall and review those past events which originally induced these conflicts and which continue to give our emotions violent twists, thus discoloring our personalities and altering our lives for the worse.”
BILL W. A.A. 12X12 page 79-80

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Here in New England, as the same back in Ireland, potatos are the crop of choice to grow. There are so many rocks to clear out and they keep coming back every year. A New England farmer needed to work harder for a crop then those who farmed in the midwest rich soils. Potatos were the crop of choice because they grew in the poor soil better then other kinds of crops.
The Lord had to remove the potatos from my ears before I would even start to listen to His still soft voice. I would say that I had so many rocks that needed be removed that my head was full of potatos.

As the Lord would pry at the larger rocks...it hurt most times. I am stubborn and wouldn't let some of them go. I sure am grateful that the Lord doesn't give up on us.
I hope and feel that He has removed all the larger rocks and most of the smaller rocks and by the time I reach heaven... I hope that the Lord has helped me remove even the rocks as small as a grain of sand.
As I reflect on my beginning days as a Christian...I see that the Lord was able to make good use of the potato crop that was growing among the rocks (my sins of the time). As Ilooked out in my own garden in my yard, I see variety and growth that has gone beyond the boarders of the garden.
I am starting to see some variety and growth in myself and I know that the growth has gone way past the boarders of who I am. Any goodness you see in me is not me but the Lord living in me. His love has caused an overflow in me that has His goodness shine and blot out my old self. When you see me...I hope that you always see Jesus in me. I don't like my old self and neither did others. I am ever grateful that the Lord plowed my soul and changed my heart.
All to Him I owe... sin has left a crimson stain... He is washing it white as snow.