Sew and Sow

Hi, I’m Ms. Sew and Sow. Not to be confused with being a so and so. I was inspired while sewing up a tear in a stuffed dog toy the other day. The puppy ripped a hole in it and the stuffing was falling out every time she shook it..

To sew is defined as to stitch together. Sow is defined as to plant seed for growing, to scatter abroad. (MW) Knowing how to stitch things together is a valuable skill that everyone should learn.

I like the valuable skills that God has given to me and want to use them every chance I get. So when I am researching these blog posts, I am sewing together the ideas He gives to me in order to sow the seeds to increase His harvest.

Parable of the sower

A farmer went out scattering his seed. Some fell along the path and birds came and ate it up. Some fell in rocky places with shallow soil. Plants came up, but were scorched by the sun and withered because they didn’t have good roots. Some seeds fell among thorns and weeds which choked out the plants. Some seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop a hundred, sixty or thirty time what was sown.

The birds eating the seed on the path is the evil one snatching away the message put in the heart of the listener. The seed on the rocky path is the man who heard the word, received it with joy, but it only lasts a short while until trouble comes or he gets distracted. The seed in the thorns and weeds is the man who heard the word, but worries of life and wealth choke it out. The seed on the good soil is the man who heard the word and understands it and he produces a crop that reaps more than was sown. (based on Matt 13)

Now watch me do some sewing! “So sit down in the chair right there and let me show you how it’s done.” (The Charlie Daniels Band) (Humble, aren’t I?)

In 2Thes 3:6-13 the apostle Paul tells believers that they should follow the example he set. He was not idle, nor did he eat anybody’s food without paying for it. He worked night and day so he would not be a burden financially on anyone while he was preaching the gospel.

Acts 18:1-3 tells us Paul went to see a Jew named Aquila and his wife, Priscilla in Corinth. He did this because they were tent makers, just like he was, and he stayed and worked with them.

“Now we know…the earthly tent we live in…” 2 Cor 5:1

“God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.” (Rev. 21:3 [NIV])

The tabernacle is the meeting place of God and his people. It is recognized as a space of the sacred presence of God. A model of God’s presence dwelling in the midst of His people. There was also the Tent of Meeting which was different than the Tabernacle. “ It was Moses’ practice to take the Tent of Meeting and set it up some distance from the camp. Everyone who wanted to make a request of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in the entrances of their own tents. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside. As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at its entrance while the LORD spoke with Moses. When the people saw the cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, they would stand and bow down in front of their own tents. Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one would speak to a friend.” (Ex.33:7-11a [NLT])

According to John 1:14, The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. He tabernacled among us. We are the earthly tents of presence of Jesus. He dwells in us and we can speak to Him face to face, and one would speak to a friend!

As sew and sows, we are in good company. Paul sewed tents and sowed seeds. We can do the same. Sewing the theme of the Gospel into the earthly tents of others by sowing the seed of the Word of God into their hearts. Thereby giving them the blessing of speaking with the LORD face to face too!

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” (2 Cor 9:6 [NIV])

Joel Osteen said “the seed has to lead.” If you never plant the seed, you’ll never get the harvest.

It is my job to sow the seeds. That always comes first. It is God’s job to bring forth the harvest. I can only put the seed in the ground. I do not have the power to split the seed and make it grow. Only God does.

“The harvest you reap reveals the seed that was planted.” (Gal 6:8 [TPT]) The footnote for this verse further explains, “ the good seeds would include prayer, Bible study, speaking wise words, loving, and dropping these seeds every day from a life lived in our new creation life.”

In Genesis 26 tells us there was a famine in the land.(v.1) But Issac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him. (v.12) God has done it in the past in barren, famine conditions, and He can do it again. We just need to plant the seeds, and the LORD will produce the crops and bless the harvest.

I had a dream while writing this post. I was working at a large food bank. There was an abundant harvest of fresh fruits and vegetables on the shelves all around me. I was moving a crate with the most amazing looking carrots in it, when a woman came up to me. She said she was the produce inspector. I started chatting with her while she looked over the harvest. She was making notes on her clipboard and began to walk away. I knew my opportunity was about to pass, so I told her Jesus loved her so much and no matter what she was going through, He could meet her where she was at. She stared at me with wide eyes, then turned and walked away. I stood for a moment, dumbfounded. Why didn’t she respond? Then God reminded me, “I’ve got this. You did your part. Let me do mine. I’ll split the seed you planted when the time is right, and the produce inspector will produce a harvest. It’s just like those amazing carrots you were admiring. They are a vegetable you cannot see the whole of, because they grow under the ground. You are unable to see their progress until they are ready to be harvested. So just trust Me and keep sewing and sowing.”

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower…will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” (2 Cor. 9:10 [NIV])

We can all be generous sew and sows. He increases our store of seeds. We will always have what we need to sew and sow. We can trust Him to do His part, when we do ours. So join me my friends in receiving the blessing of an abundant harvest that God will grow in the seeds we are planting!