God’s Word
God’s Word comes to us through the rain.
He refreshes our land through the snow that falls in the winter.
Good seeds grow from the softened soil.
His hand ripens the trees to bring forth rich fruit.
Praise God for His precious Word.
Thank the Gardener for His tender toil.
Bless the Great Farmer for abundant fields.
Give thanks for the grace He bestows on our barren souls.
God’s Word is scattered like the grains of the fields.
His seeds grow on the rocks, the roadways, the good soil, and the sand.
May good seed blossom from the fertile soil.
Rich fruit is returned to us from His grace and love.
Praise God for the missionaries who plant His Word among nations.
Thank the Gardener for His long hours of toil.
Bless the Great Farmer for abundant food and water.
Give thanks for the love He bestows on our struggling homes and world.
God’s Word shines like the sun’s light around the world.
Our world awakens, warmed by His healing touch.
May our hearts shine with the love He plants in them.
In His loving hands, we become His rich fruit.
Praise God for the light that flows from His heart.
Thank the Gardener for all of His Creation.
Bless the Great Farmer for the abundant harvests.
Give thanks for His Only Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Just like the dew, seed, and light that God plants in us with His Word, we are given the wisdom to know right from wrong, to stand up for those who cannot fight for themselves. Bishop Desmond Tutu said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the oppressor.” Because of all God has given us, we have a responsibility to care for the poor, the less-fortunate, the homeless, to feed all who need sustenance, to clothe all who are bare, and to help heal all who cry out in pain. If we do not cultivate God’s Word among the nations, in our country, and in our own homes, we are choosing the oppressor. Heraclitus once said, “A man’s character is his fate;” his personality and actions shape the outcomes of his life, and therefore, his destiny. We all need help at one time or another in our lives; our personality and actions should help to bring God’s light to this barren world, spreading His love to a world oppressed by the darkness of evil. Just as a seed planted by God in our hearts can grow into a beautiful Creation, so the outcomes of our goals depend on the energy and commitment with which we begin our purposeful journeys. Aristotle said, “The end depends upon the beginning.” God planted seeds in all of us, so we need to continue to help grow the gifts He gave us for the betterment of the world so no one is left behind to wilt and die. Let’s begin today to build a better world for generations to come. We do this by holding dear to our hearts God’s Word.
(Paraphrase of the hymn, “As the Rain from the Clouds,” written by Delores Dufner in 1939. Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 2006, 508.)
Anna Hartt
