Expectation & Preparation

Sown

Our camp theme is “Sown” this summer and we will be learning all about the process of farming, and specifically how sowing relates to our spiritual life.

Sown - Plant seed by scattering it on the earth

I had the privilege and blessing to be able to run a farm here in our area for 12 years and I want to share with you some of my experience and knowledge I gained and relate it to the biblical principals found in Galatians 6 and Matthew 13

I gained this knowledge 3 main ways

From other farmers helping me

From researching

From both failed and successful experiences

In the same way we can gain spiritual wisdom and knowledge

From others - Someone intentionally discipling you

From researching

From experiencing God

Tonight I want to talk about the first 2 steps of farming, expectation and preparation

1. Expectation

Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

When I understood I was in charge of a large operation that would reap at the end of the season I wanted to do a good job for my boss.

Reaping is the process of gathering in the harvest of what grew from what was sown or planted

What was reaped at the end of the season had to do with how well I prepared at the beginning of the season.

In order to prepare I had to set realistic expectations for the land I would be sowing and reaping from.

I had to ask questions like

What is the soil like?

What is the climate?

How much rainfall on average will we receive?

What equipment do we have to prepare the land?

How much is seed, fertilizer, fuel?

What is an average yield for the crop?

What is the crop used for?

What did or didn’t work in the past?

What value will the crop have?

I had to understand the answer to these questions so I would know how to prepare

If I expected a crop of pineapple to grow here, it would be foolish because we don’t have the right climate or the right equipment for pineapple.

Once I understood what could be expected from the land and what I would use it for, it was then I could begin to prepare, which is point 2

Preparation

At the ranch I managed we had bison, elk, and fallow deer. We had plenty of land to raise the hay necessary to keep them alive. I knew I could expect a minimum amount of tonnage from the fields if I prepared them in the proper way.

Months before any crop was planted I had to order fertilizer, seed, chemicals for weeds

I had to watch the weather carefully to know when I could plow, disc, harrow, and fertilize.

Many fields would actually start the preparation process in the fall so the old crop could break down over winter

I would spend an immense amount of time and hundreds of thousands of dollars in anticipation and hope for a crop that would be worth more at the end of the season.

Expectation and Preparation were vital to my job as a farmer. Without them I the farm would have failed. I could have poured all that time and money into a pineapple farm because I love pineapples, but I would have reaped nothing but loss at the end of the season.

So how does expectation and preparation relate to spiritual matters?

I know you are getting antsy right now, but his is where I really need you to pay attention. Give me 5 more minutes because I truly believe the application of this will be the factor in how much you get out of camp.

Let’s go back to our scripture for tonight out of

Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

You will get out of the next few days, what you put in. I truly believe this principle will follow you everywhere you go in life.

My old pastor use to say almost every time we met together, “Are you expecting?”

He was reminding us to be intentional with the time we had together.

I ask you the same question tonight for the rest of this week

Are you expecting?

If so, what are you expecting?

Just as I had to assess in farming, what will be realistic expectations for the land I am on

Set Realistic expectations for camp

Ask the right questions

What is the goal for camp?

Do I want to grow closer to God, to friends, to leaders?

Why am I here?

To have fun?

Where am I?

you are in nature, enjoy God’s creation

What time can I wake up?

Who am I with?

I am with friends and a lot of others that want to grow spiritually