The smell of freshly plowed earth

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“Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength.�
ERIC HOFFER

And another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.� But Jesus said unto him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.�
LUKE 9:61-62 NASB

Share with me what Finis Dake has to say about this scripture. “Jesus knew that if he returned home he would likely submit to the unbelieving relatives who would weep, reproach, ridicule, and tempt him to give up such an idea.�

Have you ever been headed in a direction in life and decided to maybe put things on hold. Or maybe you just go back to something else for a while, something familiar and easier. I have, and I have found that often I never make it back to my original plans and destination. Many times when we get side tracked, playing catch up over whelms us and we never get back into the groove that we were in. I recall in 1974 when I graduated college with an Associates degree, that I decided to work for one semester and then go to the university. I never made it to the university. I recall in 1983 when I was doing time for a DWI, that I came to know Jesus Christ and allowed the Lord to work in my life daily. When I headed home from jail, I looked back to my old life and friends. My Bible remained closed for the next two years. For the next 11 years I went to drug and alcohol treatment several times and I always had someone at home while I was in treatment taking care of my place and animals. I always returned to my old life. In 1998 I went to treatment for the last time and returned home with the Lord in my heart. We have been plowing daily. I don’t want to look back, go back, or return to my old life. With the love and support of my family, my church, the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, and new friends that I have met on this road of happy destiny, I have not had a desire to go back or even want to return to the life before. I love the smell of the newly exposed earth when it has been freshly plowed. It has a natural odor that is not offensive. I enjoy looking at the rocks that get turned up as the soil is exposed. I also like the feel of the loose soil sifting through my fingers as I prepare it for use. It’s all fresh and new, and so is my life today. I keep plowing daily and keep my eyes looking ahead. That old weed infested, damp and soured rocky soil of my past was never right for spiritual growth anyway. Today God is helping me plow areas of my life that I could never plow myself……………JRE

“Brethren I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.�
PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14 NASB

“There is a difference between devotion to a person and devotions to principles or to a cause. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause; He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself. To be a disciple is to be a devoted love-slave of the Lord Jesus.�
OSWALD CHAMBERS

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[QUOTE=toad]“Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength.�
ERIC HOFFER

I love the smell of the newly exposed earth when it has been freshly plowed. It has a natural odor that is not offensive. I enjoy looking at the rocks that get turned up as the soil is exposed. I also like the feel of the loose soil sifting through my fingers as I prepare it for use. It’s all fresh and new, and so is my life today. I keep plowing daily and keep my eyes looking ahead. That old weed infested, damp and soured rocky soil of my past was never right for spiritual growth anyway. Today God is helping me plow areas of my life that I could never plow myself……………JRE

I am late to respond to this, but had to say that I laughed when I read the title. I had just come inside from digging around in the dirt in my backyard. I had to use my hands-with gloves on- to do the work so I wouldn't damage cables and/or roots of other plantings. Pulling weeds, pruning and planting for over three hours made me feel rejuvenated. I thought of something I read in The Maker's Diet by Jordan S. Rubin. He talked about how beneficial the microbes in the soil are to our health. Yes.... making mudpies as a kid was actually good for you!!! God is amazing and we actually do benefit from getting all dirty! He cleans us up very nicely too. Maybe the good smell of the soil is there to attract us to it. I love to garden- was raised around farms and always enjoy the work. God is good.... all the time.

god bless...
cmc

ps
JRE: thanks again... but who is Finis?

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Finis Jennings Dake is the author of the comments in the Dake Annontated Bible. It is a King James Version. He spent a life time studying the Word. He passed some years ago but his family still publish his work. He was from my neck of the woods, Missouri and probably is a distant relative of mine. My mothers maiden name was Dake. Here is a link..........

http://www.finisdake.com