.png)
Many communities hold harvest celebrations during the fall season to observe the successful reaping and gathering of crops planted, nurtured, cared for, and are now fully grown, ripened, mature -- ready for consumption or use. Also, in the United States, we celebrate “Thanksgiving” in November. Thanksgiving is a festive time when families get together to share a special meal and make cherished memories. It is also a time when we focus on sharing and giving to combat the experience of hunger in our communities.
With these things in mind, Shiloh Christian Fellowship is celebrating by focusing our teaching for November 2021 on “Reaping Your Harvest.” As such, we will cover the following perspectives of reaping and harvesting this month:
The resulting reward or return from labor, handiwork, or effort planted, nurtured, cared for, and are now fully grown, ripened, and mature.
Obtaining reward or return from your labor, handiwork, or effort.
We are also introducing a seven (7) step approach as a guide for aligning your effort to reap your harvest successfully:
Step 1: Plant
Sow, plant, provide, introduce or instill something specifically for the Harvest of growth, development, and increase.
Act or give input to support an activity.
Without sowing and planting, you cannot expect to harvest.
Proverbs 14:23(ESV): In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.
Step 2: Timing – Know The Season
There is a season for sowing and planting versus a season for reaping and harvesting.
Know the seasons and perform your activity accordingly.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.
Step 3: Goal Setting – Plant According to the Desired Harvest
Determine your goal and desired achievement.
You will reap whatever you sow!
Proverbs: 21:5 (ESV)The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
Step 4: Do Not Limit Your Planting
Be open to planting multiple crops.
Demand and season dictate the need to be flexible.
Limiting your planting and your crop could determine the success of your reaping.
Ecclesiastes 11:6 (NIV) Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.
Step 5: Protect Your Crops
Safeguard the seeds you sow from impending threats.
negativity, fear, hate, and doubt
Overcome challenges by focusing on faith, positivity, ethics, love.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV): Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Step 6: Awareness
Stay engaged – recognize and participate in every cycle of the process that leads up to reaping:
Sowing, planting, nourishing, protecting
Follow-up and Follow-through!
Proverbs: 20: 13 (NIV) Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; stay awake, and you will have food to spare.
Step 7: Give Thanks
Don’t be afraid to celebrate when you reap your Harvest.
Demonstrate gratitude for receiving the fruits of your labor.
Honor God and share with your neighbor.
Celebrate with a thankful heart.
Exodus 23:16 NLT Also, you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also, the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field.