The Rocky Soil

It has been way too long since I've written. Not just publicly but privately. There are never really enough hours in a day to do all I'd like to do but certainly God has given me enough to fill up each hour. Tonight I'm reflecting still on a fantastic weekend away. My great friend, Devon Morreale, just became a "Parker" this weekend at her wedding. I was very much looking forward to it for a while. Our trip began with Johnny, Dom and I traveling to Ocala whee I dropped them off for Counsin Mary-Annes birthday party :) From there I had a wonderful 3 hours of listening to music and thinking about nothing as I drove to Ft. Myers - it was pure bliss! Not only would I see Devon but I was blessed to be in the presence of wonderful friends- faithful friends like the Amandas, Michelle, Tracy, Sarah and Logan and Emily. I'm not talking faithful in the sense that they've remained my friend over the years -although that is true and i can say that the moment we saw each other it was like no time had come in between our fellowship. What I mean to say is that i was so encouraged to see their faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ. No doubt, it has been the Lord's faithfulness over the years to hold on to them and keep them in rich christian communities, but the older I get the more I'm realizing how many "rocky soil seeds" there are out there and how easy it has become for people to just walk away - apathetically. "6 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Rich scripture that penetrates my own dark heart. I've heard a number of sermons about these verses and the more I hear, the better grasp of it I have. I believe there are instances where my own heart can be like the rocky soil. I hear the word but when the troubles of this world come I am quickly discouraged and forget the promises. But in a greater way this is talking about so many friends that have left the fold over the years. So many who once believed and loved but who have since had troubles, battles, disappointments or maybe even riches and success and the lack of root has shown itself evident. I'm getting to the age where this is happening all too often. Folks who started so strong are abandoning the faith - and for what? Money? Knowledge? Freedom from guilt? Cultural-relevancy? Are we to compare the richness of knowing Christ Jesus for any of this? My heart firmly feels for these folks and knows that I too could easily fall to this category except for the grace of God. My prayer over the years has been "Lord dont let me go" I've had the doubts, I HAVE the falterings, I continue to wish for God to just show himself so all would see. But the Word stills my heart will scriptures like this one- 27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” Nothing will convert a hard heart except the power of the Holy Spirit. So we leave them up to Him and beg for their repentance and remain a faithful friend during it all. But this is not true of these lovely ladies I was with this weekend. Their love for Christ has grown. Their faithfulness despite the same troubles, battles, disappointments or even riches and success has only proven to yield a crop. So the Lord be praised for this. The feeling of being in a room with like-minded believers is a blessing you take for granted. We laughed, we sighed, we rejoiced and danced. I wish these moments happened more often, but then again I probably wouldn't appreciate them as much. So to you girls and my friends who have decided to fight the good fight and to pray for Gods strong hold on your heart despite the doubts that come - Thank you! Your faithfulness is rare and your godliness is encouraging. Your passion restarts my dead heart and makes me focus on the important things. Thank you for trusting God for your life. All praise to Christ because as we believe - His grace is sufficient. To those who are crushed or cold, whose doubts have overtaken them, whose lives have choked out the Word - come back. 1. There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. 2. The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day; and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away. Wash all my sins away, wash all my sins away; and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.