The sermon was out of Luke 8. I know it all too well. The analogy of the seed - which represents God's word and our heart which represents the soil. Like many when I read this passage or hear a sermon preached from this passage, I immediately lock onto "the good soil" and skip over the hindrances that prevent the seed from finding the good soil which are the path, the rock, and the thorns.  Isn't it easier to just ignore these hindrances? Surely these hindrances that Jesus mention could not apply to me? But ashamedly, they do.

Some of the seed fell  "alone the path and were swept away". I acknowledge at times I have let the devil steal a good word given to me by others. Or I simply discount words from others because I don't deem them "spiritual" enough. But I am learning the meaning that "it takes a village to raise a child ... or change a man". I am becoming better at letting others speak to me and in me.

Some of the seed fell "on rock but could not develop root". I acknowledge that at times I have hardened my heart from the words and counsel of others. Especially when it comes to constructive criticism. I take it too personally. Every defense mechanism goes on high alert. My heart becomes "rock" hard. I may nod in assent. But inside I am melting. It takes longer for me to walk through this valley of  self-deception. But God's grace gets me through it.

Some of the seed fell "among thorns and were choked". I acknowledge that I play too much with the spirit of consumerism. The Holy Spirit nudges me with the question, "when is enough ... enough?" Lay this on top of the internal struggles I wrestle with which are (1) performance (I am what I accomplish), (2) Possession (I am what I acquire), and finally (3) popularity (I am what others think). Jesus is very adamant when he states "You can't serve God and mammon. You can't serve two masters". My true identity is found in Christ alone. Not in what I possess, or what others think about me, or their expectations from me.  I am slowly learning this fact. I need your help to stay focused on this bullseye.

The good soil - takes a lifetime to cultivate. But this calls for us to cooperate with Holy Spirit to remove the hindrances that contaminate the good soil of our heart and allow the seed from to spring forth a crop a hundred time more that what was sown. As Ken stated in his sermon "guard your heart, for it is the well spring of life". Thus heart surgery is a must if we are to become true disciples of Christ.

One of best the "heart surgeries" I know is self-denial. Ugh! On Sunday Ken mentioned the "F" word. Fasting. Ugh! My flesh screams NO!!! This is radical for me. But it is so cleansing. I have fasted seriously about half-dozen times. Each time it was a struggle. Each time it brought forth much more fruit. So starting today (Ash Wednesday) will begin a fast unto the Lord throughout Lent. My favorite food is "junk" food. Thus I will not consume junk food (chips, sodas,etc) fast food, and pastries. I pray to limit my meal intake to 1 per day. Also I will limit my TV viewing to 1 hour per day (there goes ESPN). Fasting; ugh! But I know this is needed. Trust me. Fasting clears out a lot of junk out of the heart.

Proverbs 4:23 - "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life".

Saints; I highly recommend heart surgery! Get ready for multiple heart surgeries. It makes the soil of our heart much more fertile.