Breaking Up the Fallow Ground

                                                                                                                       

"Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord..."     Hosea 10:12

Hi Everybody, First I must apologize for the lateness of this week's e-news. One thing after another kept us from getting it out on time. But I hope you get this before Monday night and you can come to our Monday Night Meal & Message! Four weeks ago I talked about Fallow Ground--letting our hearts rest and rejuvenate for a season. Even God rested on the seventh day when he made the world. One of the great things about Scripture is how often the common, everyday things are used as examples to make a point. Israel was a nation of farmers and shepherds, so when the prophet Jeremiah told the people to "Break up the fallow ground; do not sow among the thorns," they knew exactly what he meant. Fallow ground is untilled and uncultivated ground--it is land that is resting. So before the land can be seeded and crops can grow, the hard, crusty soil must first be broken up. Our hearts are often compared to the ground in the Bible. There's hard ground, rocky ground, ground overgrown with weeds. All needing to be turned over. We have all felt the sharp edge of the plow when it breaks open the hard ground of our hearts. The Father, always turning over the soil to expose it to light, always wanting to open up and lay bare the areas of fear or anxiety or anger to remove and rejuvenate. It is a tilling of love. This Monday night, February 4, at Peace Lutheran Church, we'll talk about what that means. Bring your favorite dish for pot luck starting at 6:30 PM. The Message begins at 7:15. See you there, friends. Greg