The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. (Psalm 126:4-6)
This verse from the psalms reminds me of a of the Harvest Hymn that I would annually hear at our festival.
Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eves;
Waiting for the harvest and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze,
By and by the harvest and the labour ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Go then, though with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
When our labour’s over, he will bid us welcome;
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Did you know that humankind are the only animals that laughs and weeps; for we are the only animal that is struck by the difference between what things are and what they ought to be.
A woman went to her pastor and said, "I’ve been a Christian for 20 years. I’ve read books on how to win souls. I’ve memorised scripture. I’ve taken courses on how to win the lost. And yet I haven’t won one person to the Lord. Why?"
The pastor’s answer surprised her. He said, "It is because your eyes are dry." Then he went on to explain: "You have failed not for want of knowledge, but for lack of love. When you really love someone’s soul, you will care enough to weep for them."
Today’s verse according to the Voice Version puts it this way, "Those who walk the fields to sow, casting their seed in tears, will one day tread those same long rows, amazed by what’s appeared.
Those who weep as they walk and plant with sigh Will return singing with joy, when they bring home the harvest.”
Lord, We come to you
in spite of our tears with expectations:
For at times we find your presence
is hard to take in -
difficult to believe.
O God, we long to believe.
Help our unbelief!
God is present here.
God is working in our midst.
Then our mouths are filled with laughter,
Our tongues shout out with joy! Amen
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