At the time of this writing, gardens in north central Indiana are flourishing. Tomatoes are just beginning to ripen, the first picking of green beans has happily occurred, peppers of all varieties are now included in multiple recipes, summer squash has been prepared for the first time of the season, cucumbers are racing up their intended trellis, and the zucchini and yellow onions are prolific. I am well aware that this is an age-old analogy, but for me, it is personal and extremely applicable. As I ponder the prep that has gone into this bountiful harvest, I cannot help but be mindful of my 5th/6th grade classroom garden. The prep work is staggering, but the potential harvest is bountiful beyond description.

Preparing the Soil

Last fall, my husband and I tilled the garden area after clearing it of the summer’s produce. We then added a layer of horse manure that we were able to load into our truck from our son’s property. This lay on top of the soil all winter and then was tilled into the garden in early spring. We use a large Garden King tiller for the initial tilling and then a smaller Stihl tiller once the plants are established. There is always the hand weeding and the application of Preen, a weed-and-feed product which helps with the constant weed population while also feeding the plant. All of these strategies are similar to what occurs in the lives of the children in our ministries.

Breaking Up the Ground

Hosea 10:12 says, "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.” We are sowing righteousness in our kids’ lives and breaking up fallow ground. We are helping to prepare their hearts for God’s work. This is our focus, week in and week out, as we select curriculum and strategies that are hopefully Spirit-directed.

Good Soil Yields Fruit

In Mark 4:3-9, Jesus shares the parable about the seed (God’s Word) falling on different types of soil. Only the good soil has the desired outcome. So it is with all of us. The Word needs to find lodging in the good and fertile soil of our prepared hearts.

Guarding the Garden

Many times, we make the comment that we live in the midst of a nature preserve! That is all fine and great—until it is time to grow a garden! Do all of the rabbits, deer, groundhogs, and bugs in the entire county reside on our property!? Because of this, we have erected a chicken wire fence around the entire perimeter of the garden. We have also installed two solar ultrasonic animal repellent devices. The parallel is clear.

In Job 1:10, Scripture shares that a hedge was around Job and his family. The book of Psalms and other places throughout Scripture teach us that God is our refuge and our protection. Please read and study Psalm 91:1-16. How vital it is that we pray for spiritual protection for those entrusted to us. Always remember that 1 Peter 5:8 admonishes us “to be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Training Up

We are literally “training up” our cucumber vines to climb the trellis that is new to us this year. Immediately, the verse found in Proverbs 22:6 comes to mind: “Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The KJV uses these very words of “training up.” We are spending our lives “training up” children and helping parents to do the same. We so greatly want to raise a generation of kids who LOVE and follow Jesus to the very best of their ability!

Waiting on the Harvest

James 5:7 says, "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it…” When I look at my class of 5th and 6th-grade Sunday School students, it is hard to be patient. I am very excited to watch and also be directly involved in equipping this small army to be mighty warriors for our King Jesus. God’s showers of blessings create bountiful outcomes, as do the summer rains for our vegetable and flower gardens.

May the “precious fruit of the earth” be formed in our personal lives individually and in the lives of our beloved kids!

Karen Bishir grew up hearing about Jesus' love and forgiveness from a young age, and when she came to understand the message of salvation through faith in Christ, she embraced God’s grace and forgiveness. Raised in a pastor's home, Karen has continued to live in ministry throughout her adult life alongside her husband, Terry, who has pastored Liberty Baptist Church for 38 years. They are blessed with four married children and 14 grandchildren. Karen is deeply involved in Liberty’s music, women’s, and children’s ministries, and her passion for teaching has led her to serve in homeschool, Christian, and public school settings, as well as within the church. She treasures time with children and their families, and her heart’s desire is to see God working in lives across all generations.