Monday, April 03, 2006

Unplowed Ground by Ross King

It’s drier here than ever I remember
The fields that once were green and tall are now so bare
And patience for relief has turned to anger
And joyous praise has been replaced by faithless prayer
I used to love to tend these fields for hours
And even times of drought would serve to spur me on
But now it seems like years without a shower
And somehow my desire to grow has come and gone

This was the word to Jeremiah
But I think it applies to me right about now

“Break up your unplowed ground
turn your heart to Me again
Lay all your idols down
Come confess your sin
I long to ease your pain
And bring your fields to life once more
But I will not send my rain
Until you make me Lord”

A vineyard ripe with blessing now surrounds me
and every harvest so much more then I hoped for
But as the fruit increases all around me
I see how fat I am and I’m still wanting more

This was the word God gave Hosea
But I think it applies to me right about now

“Break up your unplowed ground
have you so soon forgotten Me?
I cannot watch you bow
At the alter of prosperity
I long to shower down
And see our love affair restored
So break up your unplowed ground
It’s time to seek the Lord”

Habits turn to cycles turn to seasons
And seasons turn to years before we know
And we lay still alive but barely breathing
And we whisper “that’s just the way it goes…”
But the Lord says “No,

Break up your unplowed ground
And you will find a treasure
Sell everything you own
To buy what can’t be measured
I long to lay you down
In richer fields than you have known
So break up your unplowed ground
And make this land your home”

James 5:1-6

Warning to Rich Oppressors
1Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. 2Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.[a] 6You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

Matthew 13:3-9

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear."