Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The Farmer Preacher




We climb up, up the ladder, Baby Girl and I.  We squeeze into the cab with her grandpa, my dad.  The space seems smaller since the last time I sat here (although the seat assures me it is I who have grown), but the honest smells of dust and grease and hard work are the same.


As we cozy close together, my shoulder against my dad's, Baby Girl clings tightly to my hands and presses back into my body.  It's her first harvest up close, up high.



He talks about the beans, how they're not as good as he'd hoped.  Too much rain too early, too little later on.  For years this farmer-dad of mine has been teaching me lessons about everything, but most of all, leading me in the Way. 

And now, the farmer has turned preacher.  He will be sharing his love, his knowledge, his Lord with many, in a new way.



"Look at the fields!  They are ripe for harvest."  John 4:35



"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few."  Matthew 9:37



Go glean.  Go bless.



Consider gleaning from God's Word at Internet Cafe Devotions.

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17 comments:

Amanda said...

I loved this... there is so many farming-related topics in the Word, and just like the farmer knows all too well, there are times and seasons in the natural and in the spiritual.

It is harvest time around the small town I live in also... sugar cane is being harvested, and where the tall green stalks once were, is now dust and new seeds.

Happy WFW! I loved learning a little more about you via this post. Glad your little one is learning some important lessons with Grandpa too.

Ozjane said...

The farmers often get to the realities of life a lot quicker than many in the cities.
We have had fires last year, floods this year (hard to be sad about that when it means the drought has broken) but there is a grasshopper plague on the way unless God in His goodness does something amazing. The floods were not enough to drown them.
Makes reliance on God so much more real.

Cranberry Morning said...

Farmers have so many spiritual illustrations going on in their lives daily!

I love harvest time.

lori said...

Girl,
This was awesome...it's on my bucket list to at least for a season live and work on a farm...I think the Lord meets farmers out there in the dust...It's quieter out there! What a blessing that HE showed you through the farmer preacher grandpa....

Geesh...I'm all teared up again!

loved this!
lori

Joyfull said...

I loved reading this! There truly are many farmer topics in God's Word and they are blessed to receive His Word and share it through daily life. Thanks for giving us a peek into that!

Warren Baldwin said...

Linked here from the Brewers in Germany blog.

I like this post. I was raised on a farm, and preach now, and still long for hte farm.

Made me think of another early farmer-preacher, too, the OT prophet Amos.

Nice blog. wb

Unknown said...

What a delightful way to share the Word of God with your little one this way - fun and spiritual activities for grandparents, parents and their grandchildren /children. What an wonderful legacy for your father, as well. :)

MIracles Can Happen Boys Ranch said...

This was awesome....made me think of my hubby will be getting that chance next week to lead are little grandsons in the Way...while taking them in the tractor while he is harvesting! There are so many lessons to learn through farming that go along with God's word!

Beautifully written...thanks for sharing!

Natalie said...

How awesome that you can share this memory of your childhood now with your sweet baby girl! Your dad sounds wonderful and you are so blessed to have him.

It IS harvest time and I always think, though I am not a farmer, what is it time to harvest from my soul?

Great WFW!!!! It's still not too late for us to get together though we missed our July timeline...:)

Natalie at Mommy on Fire
http://www.mommyonfire.com

Wanda said...

What a great WFW post. There is so much work to do.

alison said...

i love living on a farm.....there are so many things you can teach your children about the world, life, and God...just by pulling them up on a tractor seat :)

Anonymous said...

Now that's what family is supposed to be all about - passing down the good stuff! And that is incredibly beautiful!

Susannah said...

Oooooo, a wonderful photo essay. I love your creativity. You do different things than the rest of us. Getting inspired, friend!!!

Love that up-close shot of your little girl, then pulled back in the second shot. The rest of your story is told so well with images.

God uses sowing-reaping-harvest metaphors so much in Scripture. You (and your Dad) have a leg up on us "citified folk."

Thanks for sharing your wisdom!

(((Hugs)))

{amy} said...

What a wonderful, godly heritage to continue passing down!

Anonymous said...

Such a great post... timely...very creative...evoking memories...painting a picture... making scripture alive and relevant. Happy WFW!

Denise said...

I enjoyed this.

Maggie S said...

ACk. I loved riding up high with my dad when I was small.

...looks like I need to re-follow or something. I haven't been getting notified of new posts.

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