It has been over ten years ago that my Aunt taught me to can and freeze foods for winter. The first year was expensive for me. I had to buy jars, lids, and all the supplies. And I purchased beans, potatoes, and cucumbers. Everything I wanted to can or freeze and put up for winter, I bought. It was that way for the first four or so years.
Each year, I purchased jars and supplies. Each year, I bought beans, cucumbers, potatoes, peaches, and apples. All the things I wanted to put away for winter , I purchased.
There is something else I did each year. I always, always canned enough extras to give away. For four years, I gave away canned green beans. Lots of them. I gave away canned potatoes, peaches, apples, and pickles. Year after year, I gave.
After a few years, a friend of mine called and asked if I needed some jars. “YES!” I said. The jars were the most expensive part, and I was so thankful for her offer. On my next trip to Ohio, I came back with a carload of jars. I was blessed! Jingle, jingle all the way home. LOL.
I have used those jars for years, AND I gave some away. You see, I need a continual harvest; therefore, I continually give.
After four years, something changed. I no longer had to purchase beans. My Aunt Sherry would call and say, “We have extra beans, if you want to pick them, they are yours.’
Now, my beans were free.
Then she would call and say, “Do you want to do pickles? I have extra cucumbers. Come get some if you want.”
For the past several years, I have not purchased beans or cucumbers. But then a year came when everything changed. That year was the kicker!
That year my Aunt Sherry gave me beans and cucumbers once again. But it doesn’t end there. At the beginning of planting season, my Uncle Bobby called and asked what kind of beans I liked. I told him. He then told me he was planting me a row of beans and two rows of potatoes. All I had to do was come get them. Oh my!
And again, it didn’t end there. My stepdad called and said he was going to plant potatoes for me. I only needed to dig them. Oh, my word! Double portion.
I had always purchased enough potatoes to last for several months, in addition to what I canned for winter. Their generosity saved me over $100. I was blessed.
But it didn’t happen overnight. And it didn’t happen without my participation. I sowed. And sowed. And continued to sow. Year after year. I sowed everything, and I began to reap in abundance.
You can’t tell me sowing doesn’t work.
2 Corinthians 9:6 says, The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be given to you.” Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.
If you want a harvest, it only comes one way. Sowing. And it doesn’t come overnight. You must make up your mind that you are going to be a giver. You will give consistently. You won’t quit giving until you see harvest. Even then, you won’t quit giving until you see the double portion. And certainly, don’t stop giving then. After the double portion will come overflow.
That year and every year since, I had not one but two gardens of beans to pick from for free. I had two gardens to dig potatoes from, and I have all the jars I should need for years to come. I am ready and willing to do the work to bring in my harvest. I am seeing an overflow in this area.
It is teaching me how to see overflow in other areas of my life. I will have to do the same thing I did with vegetables and jars…sow and sow again. In my sowing, I shall surely reap. I did not allow myself to become discouraged in my giving and I am so very thankful for that.
God is faithful. A man will live entirely by what he sows, I am seeing this truth in my own life.
This analogy may sound odd to you – but it taught me the laws of seed time and harvest in a practical way. One that I can implement in every area of my life. I am thrilled to see a manifestation of my years of faithful giving. I am delighted to see my harvest in such a wonderful way. I am thankful to be reaping where I have sown. Praise to the Lord of the Harvest. Thank you, GOD, for the increase.
May we each see an increase this year. In both practical and supernatural ways.
