Episode 46
Planting Seeds of Hope: Navigating Family Conversations About Faith During the Holidays
Join Savannah and Jeremiah in a heartfelt discussion about "casting seeds" of faith during the holiday season. They emphasize the importance of planting seeds of Christ's love and truth in the lives of family and friends, especially when these interactions can feel isolating for believers. The duo explores various biblical references, particularly from the book of Matthew, to illustrate how to recognize the different types of hearts—those that are closed, rocky, thorny, or ready to receive the gospel. They share personal experiences and practical tips on nurturing relationships and encouraging spiritual growth, highlighting the significance of prayer and discipleship. As the holidays approach, this episode serves as a reminder that sharing your faith can be a powerful act of love, even amid challenges.
Takeaways:
- Planting seeds of faith during the holidays can strengthen relationships with family members.
- Recognizing when someone's heart is closed is crucial for effective evangelism efforts.
- Demonstrating Christlike love and kindness can plant seeds even when words fail.
- Discipleship is essential for growing deeper roots in faith and understanding of God.
- Being patient and nurturing towards others' faith journeys is part of the Christian calling.
- Celebrating the spiritual growth of others can encourage them to continue their faith journey.
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Transcript
Happy Thanksgiving and welcome back to Casting Seeds.
Savannah:I'm Savannah, your holistic health practitioner and.
Jeremiah:Host Jeremiah, your co host, and you're.
Savannah:Listening to the only holistic health podcast that uses God's singular truth to give you individualized discernment.
Jeremiah:So on today's episode, we're going to be talking about how it is your turn now to be casting seeds like we do every single time we do these podcasts.
Jeremiah:And this is an opportunity for you guys to plant seeds, whether it's going to be biblical.
Jeremiah:Well, they should all be biblical, but if it's a holistic thing, if it's Jesus, if it's a health concern, or if they need help in some manner or form.
Jeremiah:Today we're specifically going to be talking about Jesus and how we can plant seeds in our families lives during the holidays.
Jeremiah:We're going to be using the book of Matthew.
Jeremiah:And yeah, this is going to be exciting because, you know, this is.
Jeremiah:As a new Christian for myself, this has been really difficult for me on occasion.
Jeremiah:And to talk about God with family, it could be hard.
Savannah:Yeah, family.
Savannah:I know that a lot of Christians already know this, but the Jesus of Nazareth effect, the Nazarene, I don't know what this is.
Savannah:You don't know what this is?
Savannah:Jeremiah is a newer believer.
Savannah: He was saved in: Savannah:But the Jesus of Nazareth effect is basically, you know, in the Bible, they said he's a Nazarene.
Savannah:What good could come out of Nazareth?
Jeremiah:Oh, okay.
Jeremiah:Yeah, yeah, I've heard that.
Savannah:Because you've read that.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:Basically they were saying, like, how is it possible that a Nazarene could be calling themselves the Messiah?
Savannah:Especially because.
Jeremiah:Because we know him well.
Savannah:Also, the prop, the prophecy came from Bethlehem.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:And they didn't know that he actually was born in Bethlehem.
Savannah:But the point is, yeah, they grew up and knew.
Savannah:Even a perfect child and still with him, they were like this guy.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:So when people have grown up around you, it's a lot more difficult for them to understand and see that there are some serious changes happening.
Savannah:Sometimes there is a break that needs to happen.
Savannah:Like that happened with me and my family.
Savannah:That happened with Jeremiah and his family.
Savannah:We were both the very first Christians in our families, both Jeremiah and I.
Savannah:So we wanted to talk about things that helped us over the years with casting seeds of faith and love and truth into our family's hearts, even from a near and from afar of basically being able to help plant those seeds of faith.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:And how we were able to deal with that over the holidays because the holidays can feel the most lonely and the most isolating when you don't have a Christ like family around you.
Savannah:So we wanted to let you guys know we are here and whether you are a brother or sister in Christ that's struggling near or far, we want to support you and love on you with this episode.
Savannah:And please don't hesitate to message us or reach out to us so that we can pray for you and give you a little shout out.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:All right, so where can we start?
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:So we're going to be breaking down in Matthew 13 the different types of seeds, the application of the seeds, and then implant that to the holidays.
Savannah:All right, so with.
Jeremiah:You want me to read the first one?
Savannah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:All right, let's read the first one.
Jeremiah:This one is the seed on the path in Matthew 13, verse 4 and 19.
Jeremiah:As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path and the birds came and ate it up.
Jeremiah:When anyone hears this message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart.
Savannah:Yes.
Savannah:So for the application around the holidays, this is something where we need to realize and recognize when our.
Savannah:When someone's heart's closed.
Savannah:I think that's something that was very difficult for me when I first became a Christian because my heart was just so zealous and excited that I had met my Lord and Savior and I wanted to scream it from the mountaintops.
Savannah:I wanted everyone to know that there is a cure to death, that you can have everlasting life.
Savannah:And to think that my own family members didn't have that.
Savannah:It was the most heartbreaking and heart wrenching thing in the world, let alone strangers on the street.
Savannah:And I think we all tend to forget once we've been walking with Christ for a certain amount of time what it's like to have that zealous heart and how just how beautiful it is to be so excited.
Savannah:But we also need to be able to check in with the Holy Spirit and get wisdom and discernment and asking, how do we know when someone's heart is closed?
Savannah:And it's just good.
Savannah:It's good to know that some family members or friends might have hard heartened hearts or even just be completely disinterested and not hearing like they don't want to hear Christ.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:And during the holidays especially, they may not be open to this discussion at all about faith because they know that most of these holidays are faith based holidays at least here in the us so when it comes to that, you still can plant seeds by demonstrating Christlike love and kindness and patience and the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Savannah:But ultimately, when it comes to recognizing that someone has a hardened heart or a closed off heart, because you don't know, that's for God to decide, not for you to decide.
Savannah:All you can do is continue to live the way God has called you to live and continue to share the gospel gently and lovingly.
Savannah:And the truth is going to be sharper than any two edged swords.
Savannah:That's what the word is.
Savannah:So let that cut it alone.
Savannah:And if your existence pisses somebody off, which that was me in my walk with my family at the beginning, let it happen.
Savannah:You are now going to be a living, breathing sacrifice.
Savannah:Your body is not your own anymore.
Jeremiah:And you also have to recognize this is not against you, this is against God.
Jeremiah:It's their heart posture towards the Lord.
Jeremiah:And you're going to take offense.
Jeremiah:I took offense.
Jeremiah:You know, like, I just wanted to prove everything right about God.
Jeremiah:I wanted to like throw scripture at my family and just tell them how wrong they are.
Jeremiah:And yeah, I mean, it's not, we do not change hearts.
Jeremiah:That is the Lord's job.
Jeremiah:We don't harden or soften them.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:And don't be if there are also, like, I want to say ritualistic things that your family does that you now disagree with or you feel uncomfortable with doing.
Savannah:You don't have to make a big hullabaloo and put a damper and make everyone feel bad.
Savannah:You can separate yourself or just choose not to be there during those situations or interactions.
Jeremiah:Yeah, that's a good point.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:Because I feel like it's easy to make a big blow up or even sometimes you not being there will be the biggest offense to them.
Savannah:But again, that's between them and the Lord.
Savannah:And you have to do what God is calling you to do in those convictions.
Savannah:So if the Holy Spirit's speaking to you, have scripture to back it up.
Savannah:Don't just say this is how you feel.
Savannah:You can kindly and sweetly like write a text message or write a letter or say it in person if it's appropriate and safe enough for you to do so.
Savannah:But if not, it's okay just to also be silent and remove yourself.
Savannah:And later when somebody asks why weren't you there?
Savannah:Because they actually care and love you and miss you, you can explain it then.
Jeremiah:And it's an opportunity to share the gospel at the same time.
Savannah:Exactly.
Savannah:Exactly.
Jeremiah:Because they're asking.
Savannah:But that's why the next part of this in the seed on the path, we want to talk about praying for understanding as well.
Savannah:Because as you interact with people who seem indifferent or hardheaded to the gospel, pray that God would soften their hearts over time.
Savannah:That small act of kindness isn't just a, it's not a thoughtful gesture.
Savannah:It's not something that's just, you know, a feel good moment for you.
Savannah:That's you praying and interceding and asking God for help on loving on them and opening up their hearts.
Savannah:That's the strongest thing that you can do.
Savannah:That's what a sincere prayer is.
Savannah:And if they are ready, you can even say like, hey, is it okay if I just pray with you or over you at some point?
Savannah:Are you comfortable with that?
Savannah:And if they say no, respect that.
Savannah:And if they say yes, then you just open up an opportunity to pray with them, which is really beautiful.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:And when you do pray, be thoughtful to where they're at in life and what they have shared with you and how you, how you can ask them, how can I pray for you?
Jeremiah:They don't.
Jeremiah:Maybe know, you know.
Savannah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:And that could be pretty, pretty hard and terrifying.
Savannah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:Knowing you want prayer and not knowing what to pray for.
Savannah:And that's the thing too.
Savannah:If all of this tends to stress you out immensely, just know that there are herbs and supplements that of course can help you with these things.
Savannah:You can even do something as sweet as just drinking chamomile tea or valerian root tea while you do these things if you really are that stressed out.
Savannah:Or you can obviously listen to our biblical.
Savannah:Our stress.
Savannah:We have a stress episode and then one for biblical stress as well.
Savannah:So if going to Thanksgiving dinner or going to Christmas or New Year's with any of your family members is really this hard, also maybe talk to an elder of your church or someone that you trust, maybe a counselor at your church, and ask them if it is wise for you to even celebrate those holidays with them this season.
Savannah:It could be fine within the next few seasons, but just ask about that wisdom and how to practically just kind of live out the next few months with the Lord and your family in their life.
Savannah:Because these few months were some of the most difficult, especially starting with Halloween, all the way through Christmas for me and my family.
Savannah:The first, I don't know, eight, nine years of me being a Christian, I even struggled with stuff when Jeremiah and I first started dating with my family that was like really big around Halloween time.
Savannah:So I just wanted to make it clear that it's not always easy and it's okay and it shouldn't be easy.
Savannah:It was.
Savannah:It'd be weird if it were, because God makes it very clear that he will separate father and son, brother from brother.
Savannah:His word does that.
Savannah:So that's why, at the end of the day, you also want to model love and understanding.
Savannah:And.
Savannah:Yeah, it's kind of like that cheesy thing where people say, like, sometimes our actions speak louder than words.
Savannah:But you.
Savannah:I hate that saying where people are like, you're.
Savannah:You might be the only Bible that someone ever reads.
Savannah:Have you heard that?
Savannah:No, I hate that.
Savannah:Good.
Savannah:I'm.
Savannah:Babe, I'm so glad you've never heard that saying.
Jeremiah:There's a whole lot of things I've never heard that I hear pastors talk about and, like, everyone.
Jeremiah:And I'm like, yeah, I've never heard all these negative ideology ideologies, the Christian Christians and stuff like that.
Jeremiah:That just didn't work out well.
Savannah:It's the Christian cliches that drive me nuts because I never want to be the only Bible that someone ever reads.
Savannah:I.
Savannah:I would want someone to look at me and see my actions and be like, wait, you're a Christian now?
Savannah:I want to read the Bible.
Savannah:Where does it say that in the Bible?
Savannah:I want to be the reason why someone would want to open up a Bible.
Savannah:Not wholeheartedly.
Savannah:I want it to be because of Jesus.
Savannah:But I'm just saying, if it's really going to come down to my actions, I don't want it to be like, meh, yeah, it's nice things about to do good things.
Savannah:No, it's not.
Savannah:Yeah, I don't do it for you.
Savannah:If you want to be into this, open up your Bible.
Savannah:Or here's one, you can have one.
Savannah:So I.
Savannah:That.
Savannah:Yeah, I just.
Savannah:I want people to understand when.
Savannah:When we say model love and understanding, it's to model love so that people yearn for that understanding.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:They want to be a part of it.
Savannah:Are you ready for the seed on rocky soil?
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:This one is based off of Matthew, chapter 13, verses 5, 6, and verses 20 through 21.
Jeremiah:Some fell on rocky places where it did not have much soil.
Jeremiah:It sprung up quickly because the soil was shallow.
Jeremiah:But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched and they withered because they had no root.
Jeremiah:The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
Jeremiah:But since they had no root, they last only a short time.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:That's why for the Holidays we want to.
Savannah:Which by the way, I think this is much harder than someone who just outright rejects Christ.
Savannah:Because these people, the seed on the rocky soil people, a lot of them think they're okay.
Savannah:They're totally okay where they're at.
Savannah:And I think these people are much harder to reach.
Savannah:I have family members who totally think that they're very weak Christian lifestyle where they don't read their Bible, they don't have prayer time, they don't have any community at church.
Savannah:They think they're okay.
Savannah:And I can't solidly say, because I don't see any fruit in their life, that they are okay in any way, shape or form.
Savannah:This seed never can even grow into a plant, let alone produce fruit.
Savannah:And that's scary.
Savannah:And I feel like family members need to know that, but they need to know it in a gentle, loving way.
Savannah:And not even just family members, but friends too.
Savannah:But that's why we want to 1 acknowledge those who seem receptive but shallow.
Savannah:Right.
Savannah:During family gatherings, some people may show kind of temporary enthusiasm or express like interest or faith.
Savannah:And they're kind of like, they make it faith very much about them, not about Christ in any way, shape or form.
Savannah:But their commitment is very fleeting.
Savannah:That's how you can tell.
Savannah:It's always out of convenience, their commitment to Christ.
Savannah:And they may like the idea of Christmas.
Savannah:What are they?
Savannah:Creasers?
Savannah:Christmas, Easter people?
Jeremiah:Creasters, I recently heard that term.
Savannah:Yeah, they're creaseders.
Savannah:But that's the thing.
Savannah:The thought of God's love is really wonderful to them, but they make it their own.
Savannah:And the thought of God's wrath or true justice and like the whole purpose of the gospel message really never hits home with them.
Jeremiah:Yeah, they create their own idol of what Jesus is.
Savannah:Yeah, their own to serve themselves.
Savannah:I don't like the Old Testament Jesus, I like the New Testament Jesus.
Savannah:Or I.
Savannah:Yeah, I only like God when he's loving.
Savannah:Yeah, they're very.
Savannah:Exactly.
Savannah:They create their own God.
Savannah:And that is something that you can very easily discern with somebody by checking their fruits.
Jeremiah:So I heard this really interesting comment the other day.
Savannah:What?
Jeremiah:A tree doesn't eat the fruit from its own tree.
Savannah:Ooh.
Jeremiah:So you can never be self serving biblically, I like that.
Savannah:But also as an herbalist, it's kind of incorrect.
Jeremiah:How is it incorrect?
Savannah:Because technically I'm going to get real technical.
Jeremiah:Okay.
Savannah:Technically when fruit drops from its tree or like a vine, it plants a seed.
Savannah:No.
Savannah:Yes.
Savannah:But what I'm trying to say, you specifically talked about it eating.
Jeremiah:Okay.
Savannah:The fruit can rot into the ground, and then the ground, that nutrients is absorbed into the ground in its own roots.
Savannah:So technically.
Savannah:Technically, a tree can eat its own fruit.
Savannah:Not to ruin it, but I like what you said.
Jeremiah:I agree and disagree.
Jeremiah:Because if I wanted to get technical, the rotting and everything, that whole process, animals will eat that.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:But it could still break down, like, the juices of it.
Jeremiah:So.
Jeremiah:Okay, it drank the fruit.
Savannah:Whatever.
Savannah:I like the.
Savannah:I like what you said, though.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:Not to just, you know, that's me being annoying.
Jeremiah:Yeah, I got it.
Savannah:How do you encourage deeper roots, love to somebody who may be on rocky soil.
Jeremiah:For those who seem to respond to the commentary that you're providing, or they seem interested in what you're saying and they have interest in the Lord and to have, like, a deeper faith with God, but they don't know how to achieve it.
Jeremiah:They don't know, like, oh, I should go to church or I should buy a Bible.
Jeremiah:You know, I was there.
Jeremiah:You recommended that I should buy a Bible when we first met.
Savannah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:So, like, there's different ways you can love on these people.
Jeremiah:Your family and friends.
Jeremiah:You could offer to do devotionals with them.
Jeremiah:You could do your own little prayer group.
Jeremiah:You could suggest our podcast books.
Jeremiah:Just do Bible studies and be there for them.
Jeremiah:A lot of people need.
Jeremiah:Need community because we all feel really alone when we don't have the body of Christ and when we want to be Christian and we don't get that body, it's really difficult for people to stay connected with the Lord because that's how the Lord loves on us.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:It's about doing life with them.
Savannah:And if you're unable to do life with them, help them get connected.
Savannah:Like, go to their church and help them get it set up in a men's group or a women's group or just introduce them to people.
Savannah:And guess what?
Savannah:If you really are feeling like you are called to encourage someone, grow deeper roots, then you probably are called to do life with that person.
Savannah:And it's not just like, here's a book and abandon them.
Savannah:Here's a book.
Savannah:Can I check on.
Savannah:Check in on it with you weekly?
Savannah:Can we talk and pray about it?
Savannah:Can I meet with you at a coffee shop, like, twice a month?
Savannah:Can I call you once a week or once every few days?
Savannah:Can we text each other our prayer requests every morning?
Savannah:Whatever it is?
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:We're called to be disciples, to be.
Jeremiah:To be discipled and to disciple all of us.
Jeremiah:It's not a calling.
Jeremiah:It's a true statement.
Savannah:You mean it is a calling and a true statement.
Jeremiah:Well, a lot of people use the excuse, oh, I don't feel called to do this.
Jeremiah:You're called to be a disciple, period.
Jeremiah:Show me in the Bible where it says otherwise.
Savannah:It doesn't, but that's why also the next point, too, to stay patient and nurturing is really important.
Savannah:And it kind of blends in with that, because just like a seed needs time to grow, the faith of others may take time to mature.
Savannah:And you may not be a part of the seed planting, you may not be a part of the seed maturing.
Savannah:And that's where, again, checking in and with the Lord, with where you are supposed to be in this person's walk is really important.
Savannah:When I met Jeremiah for the first time, it was on a dating app.
Savannah:I thought he was a Christian.
Savannah:So did he.
Savannah:We were talking for a little while.
Savannah:I realized very quickly he was not a Christian.
Jeremiah:And then I realized it a little bit, like, a few days later, and I was like, hey, what are you looking for in a man?
Savannah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:And she described God.
Savannah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:And I was like, oh, oh, okay.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:When I described.
Jeremiah:I don't think I'm this.
Savannah:When I described Jesus and he realized that I made it clear to him, using wisdom, that we like each other, we find each other attractive.
Savannah:I'm also a woman.
Savannah:You're a man.
Savannah:It is not appropriate for me to be going through this part of the journey with you.
Savannah:I'll be praying for you.
Savannah:Bye.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:And then six months later, we met in person.
Savannah:Jeremiah was saved, and he wanted to share his testimony with me.
Savannah:It was so beautiful to know that I could be a part of that seed planting because what I got to be also part of the growth.
Savannah:Because then we started dating, which I don't recommend dating.
Savannah:A new believer for Savannah.
Jeremiah:Savannah really does plant seeds in a lot of people's lives.
Jeremiah:And, like, I've had some of her clients, some of the guys come and reach out to me and ask for information and.
Jeremiah:About Christ, About Christ and, like, how to get plugged in with men at church and stuff.
Savannah:Well, God's really called me to that through my work.
Savannah:That's why we're doing this podcast.
Savannah:Yeah, Right.
Savannah:Because I feel like I've been called to help plant seeds.
Savannah:That's why.
Savannah:Casting seeds.
Savannah:Yeah, but that's the thing.
Savannah:Like, God, I ask God what my strength is, and I utilize and use that strength that people actually enjoy and love about me, and then just give that credit to the Lord, because God's the one who made it.
Savannah:I'm an image bearer of Christ, and anything good that anyone finds in me is.
Savannah:Was established by Jesus.
Savannah:So I use that to then pray and help strengthen the roots of somebody else to grow deeper in him.
Savannah:And then I ask, too, if they can pray for me.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:So that they can also strengthen me.
Savannah:I immediately give them a duty, because then when they start falling off the bandwagon, I can say like, hey, you don't really ever love on me.
Savannah:Like, I also need to be prayed for accountability.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:And then that it hurts in a good way where they're like, man, yeah.
Savannah:Savannah's been praying for me every day for a month, and I've made too.
Savannah:Like, exactly.
Jeremiah:When you're praying for them, like, just send them.
Jeremiah:Shoot them over a text.
Jeremiah:And, like, my favorite question to ask is, how's the Lord working in your life?
Jeremiah:How are you?
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:What's it makes people really talking to you about?
Savannah:What was your favorite verse that you read this week?
Savannah:And then they're like, I didn't.
Savannah:I haven't read for three weeks.
Jeremiah:And they're like, and then that conviction for them.
Savannah:Yeah, yeah, let's read together right now then.
Savannah:If you haven't been in the word for three weeks.
Jeremiah:I know.
Jeremiah:I get it.
Jeremiah:Some of the guys at Churchill shoot me a text.
Jeremiah:How's it, God?
Jeremiah:How's got the Lord working in your life?
Jeremiah:I'm like, oh, boy, I'm.
Jeremiah:I slacked off, actually, this couple days.
Savannah:Jeremiah is really wonderful at being super honest at where he's at always, and not being afraid to talk about those things.
Savannah:And that vulnerability is actually what I think helps A lot of people who are, like, on rocky soil, they love talking to him because he doesn't make them feel bad or feel small in any way, shape, or form.
Savannah:He's like, here's where I am.
Savannah:Let's do it together.
Jeremiah:I'm right next to you.
Jeremiah:I'm sinning somewhere.
Jeremiah:Yeah, I'm repenting.
Savannah:But the next one is equally as important.
Savannah:The seed among the thorns, which.
Savannah:Can I read this one?
Savannah:Love.
Jeremiah:Oh, come on.
Savannah:I like this one.
Savannah:Okay, okay, okay.
Savannah:So the seed among the thorns is Matthew, chapter 13, verses, verse 7, and verse 22.
Savannah:The other seed fell among the thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
Savannah:The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word.
Savannah:But the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Savannah:Oh, this is, like, so many people.
Jeremiah:This is not.
Jeremiah:This is not.
Jeremiah:This is Christians.
Savannah:No, this is everybody.
Savannah:This is a lot of people who claim Christ and then don't end up when.
Savannah:When they see.
Savannah:When they meet the Lord, when they die.
Savannah:This is when he says, for I did not know you.
Jeremiah:Oh, okay.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:This is a.
Savannah:But you know what, that's why you said this is Christians, because we know a lot of people who go to church right now.
Savannah:Who are these people?
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:It's scary.
Savannah:It's convicting.
Jeremiah:That puts conviction in my heart.
Savannah:The other seed fell among the thorns which grew up and choked the plants.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:This is also kind of reminds me of a lot of people who are wolves in sheep's clothing.
Savannah:A as well.
Jeremiah:Correct.
Savannah:Because they lead flocks astray.
Savannah:And I think it's because it.
Savannah:And we'll get into it.
Savannah:The first point that we have here is addressing distractions and competing priorities.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:So idols.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:So many Christians don't realize that these idols may be the stronghold that actually is producing no fruit in your life.
Savannah:Which then an a person, a real saved Christian could look at you and be like, I'm questioning whether or not you're even really saved.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:This isn't just like a struggle you're dealing with.
Savannah:This is a stronghold.
Savannah:And it actually goes above God to the point where I wonder if you ever even truly loved the Lord.
Savannah:You're a self proclaiming Christian.
Savannah:But is it.
Savannah:Is God proclaiming you as a son or daughter?
Savannah:Yeah, that is.
Savannah:This should be scary.
Jeremiah:You're so wise.
Jeremiah:I love your thoughts.
Savannah:Honestly.
Savannah:This is.
Savannah:This is the Holy Spirit.
Savannah:I'm like getting hot right now, but many people in your circle.
Savannah:Okay.
Savannah:And your family.
Savannah:Okay.
Savannah:Pay attention to this, you guys.
Savannah:I struggled with this for a long time.
Savannah:This is why I think I'm getting serious about it.
Savannah:They can be so caught up in the busyness of life, the pressures of work, financial stress, worries, the holidays, and all the dumb things that really don't matter because they do not make time to focus on Christ daily.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:And during the holidays, you're going to see the true colors of people.
Savannah:I had a guy in a Bentley today cut me off and then flip me off and honk at me.
Jeremiah:It's always your fault.
Jeremiah:You're the woman driver.
Savannah:But listen, have you guys noticed that people during the holidays are way more stressed?
Savannah:They're way more unhappy, way more mean.
Jeremiah:They'Re resentful towards people.
Savannah:Yes.
Savannah:People are like.
Savannah:And it's not just seasonal depression, y'all, which by the way, take your vitamin D and magnesium.
Savannah:Magnesium glycinate at night.
Savannah:But during the holidays, you're going to see people who are more distracted by worldly concerns and materialism than ever.
Savannah:And not even just like, they'll be more distracted by their own family.
Savannah:They'll put family above Christ.
Savannah:They'll put their husband above Christ, their wife, their kids, all of the school things that you have to go to.
Savannah:Just pay attention to holiday parties.
Jeremiah:The prayers are gonna be going around over Thanksgiving dinner.
Savannah:Prayers are so telling.
Savannah:That's such good wisdom, love.
Savannah:Like when you hear somebody pray the things that they want.
Savannah:What's the verse?
Savannah:The verse that says the.
Savannah:The heart, the mouth speaks with the heart, desires.
Jeremiah:Oh, yeah, the.
Jeremiah:Oh, I'm getting confused.
Jeremiah:Proverbs, the rotten mouth, the foul language.
Savannah:Yeah, you are.
Jeremiah:Yeah, I know what you're talking about.
Jeremiah:I can't remember which verse it is.
Savannah:It's okay.
Savannah:I'm sure someone's screaming it right now, listening, but.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:So we want to make it clear that this verse isn't about Christians who are just kind of struggling and teetering back and forth.
Savannah:This says that this.
Savannah:The seed is choked out amongst the thorns.
Savannah:That means it also does not grow into a plant and it does not produce fruit.
Savannah:So that's why you want to encourage and focus on Christ.
Savannah:If you see someone who is clearly getting choked out and, you know, you don't really know, you have never really seen them produce fruit.
Savannah:There's a difference between, like, wow, this person was really solid, like, last year, and this year, this seems like a really hard season for them.
Savannah:That person is probably just struggling.
Jeremiah:They're in a season.
Savannah:Yeah, they're in a season.
Savannah:But if this person has been a new believer, you know, first year, second.
Jeremiah:Year, what they call the baby Christian.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:Forever.
Jeremiah:Milk and honey.
Savannah:Yeah, forever.
Savannah:They.
Savannah:If you've seen zero meat and potatoes, if you've seen zero fruit ever in this person's walk, even if you've only known them for like.
Jeremiah:I've never seen meat and potatoes come out of a tree, though.
Savannah:I'm so done with you.
Jeremiah:Grapes, Apples.
Savannah:I've never seen grapes come out of a tree either.
Savannah:It's a vine.
Jeremiah:You're right.
Savannah:Anyway, I hope this is helpful either way.
Savannah:Now you need to start encouraging people to focus on Christ.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:So this is not more.
Jeremiah:This is not planting seeds, but this is watering seeds.
Jeremiah:This is nurturing each other and loving on each other.
Savannah:We're pruning.
Jeremiah:Yeah, pruning.
Jeremiah:I mean, you're going to meet Christians out there that are not going to be loving kind Christians to you.
Jeremiah:And it's okay to cut that vine.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:You got to cut the thorns out.
Savannah:Sometimes pruning is hard and difficult and guess what?
Savannah:You need to have a brother or sister in Christ walking you through it and being present with them.
Savannah:Because I've had seasons of pruning and people utterly abandoned me.
Savannah:Or I've made it clear like, hey, this is something I need to go through with Christ on my own.
Savannah:But I still need prayer and I'm going to update you but like I, I just need to be alone.
Savannah:Like I'm not going to hang out with people as much right now.
Jeremiah:I still love to check rebuke of the situation.
Savannah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:And also if there's forgiveness needed and an apology, like all that done properly praying.
Savannah:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Savannah:And sometimes that's what I mean.
Savannah:Sometimes there are seasons where you're in the wilderness with God and you just need to be present with him and not around as many people.
Savannah:But you still need to be held accountable.
Savannah:So those check ins are really important.
Savannah:Don't say like, you know, this is, this is my 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness.
Savannah:See ya.
Savannah:No, yeah, that's not how that works.
Jeremiah:And also I feel like this is for more of the married couples but don't feel obligated like if your husband's family or wife's family is not responding to the way you do it, maybe it's not up to you.
Jeremiah:Maybe you know, your spouse should do it.
Savannah:Do what?
Jeremiah:Evangelize or plant a seed or water.
Savannah:Oh yeah.
Jeremiah:You know, sometimes we need to take a little step away and yeah, let somebody else do it but be present.
Savannah:My family doesn't always like hearing things just from me.
Savannah:Sometimes when Jeremiah says it, it's much more convicting because they're like, oh, an outsider noticed and vice versa.
Savannah:And sometimes it's better when I say it because I'm the daughter or I'm the sister or the cousin.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:So but that's the thing, like sharing that peace that the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Savannah:Love, joy, peace, kind.
Savannah:Wait.
Savannah:Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
Savannah:Woohoo.
Savannah:They're in that order for a reason.
Savannah:We've said this many times and use those two benefit the people around you.
Savannah:Which is why the last thing that we want to say is pray for a shift in their priorities.
Savannah:If you're going to pray for specific things, pray that the worries of this life are no longer a stronghold that are choking them out to have a relationship or truly bear fruit in the future and pray for God to take that stronghold away, to prune that from their life.
Savannah:Because if you're not praying that for them, who is?
Savannah:And if you have the opportunity to have those discussions, may it be gentle and loving, and some people are going to be defensive no matter what.
Jeremiah:Always truthful.
Savannah:Yes.
Savannah:But at least share scripture and be honest.
Savannah:Because if God's calling you to do that, then if you say no, then you are not listening to a conviction that the Lord's giving you, and then that's a sin in your life.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:And also, if they do ask a question, you don't know the answer, tell them I'll get back to you, like, by the end of this week with an answer to that.
Jeremiah:Like, is it okay if I call you and talk to you about it later?
Jeremiah:And, you know, you go ask your pastor or a friend, whoever, it's okay.
Savannah:To say, I don't know.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:But I will.
Jeremiah:Don't rush into it.
Savannah:That's a great.
Savannah:Love it, baby.
Jeremiah:I learned that one the hard way.
Savannah:Really?
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:Oh, early on, when I first started studying the Bible and stuff, I actually asked you for advice on a question.
Jeremiah:I was like, I don't know the answer to this, and I don't remember what it was offhand.
Jeremiah:Five years ago, almost.
Savannah:I know.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:Happy.
Savannah:Almost.
Savannah:Five years of knowing each other, my love.
Savannah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:That's nuts.
Savannah:Okay, so this is the last seed.
Savannah:Even though we want to say just kind of overall general thing at the end, but this is the seed on good soil.
Savannah:Matthew, chapter 13, verse 8 and 23.
Savannah:Do I get to read it?
Savannah:Are you ready?
Jeremiah:I'm going to read this one.
Savannah:Ah, okay, fine.
Jeremiah:Still other seed fell on good soil where it Produced a crop 160 or 30 times what was sown.
Jeremiah:But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it.
Jeremiah:This is the one who produces a crop yielding a hundred sixty or thirty times what was sown.
Savannah:This is a Christian.
Jeremiah:This is.
Jeremiah:This is a very fruitful tree.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:This is somebody who is producing fruit.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:This is the reason I became a Christian, because I saw this.
Jeremiah:And this is the reason why I wanted to get married.
Jeremiah:Because I.
Jeremiah:I moved out here and I was living with a couple and they became family to me.
Jeremiah:And I got to see how they loved each other in their marriage.
Jeremiah:And seeing the example of good fruit, true love of Jesus really drew me to want to be the man that I am today.
Jeremiah:And still to this day, I want to be better and be more like God.
Jeremiah:More like Jesus.
Savannah:It'd be really weird if you didn't.
Jeremiah:I would not be doing this podcast and wanting you to talk to people.
Savannah:But look.
Savannah:Look at all the other seats, though.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:They don't want to do that.
Savannah:And that's what I'm saying.
Savannah:I think not enough Christians realize that it's weird if someone is claiming Christ and doesn't want to understand his love more deeply, doesn't want to understand him more deeply, and doesn't want to share that love more deeply.
Savannah:Yeah, that is weird.
Savannah:And it's okay to call that out.
Savannah:Yeah, it should be.
Jeremiah:I pray for.
Jeremiah:I've heard a lot of Christians say they're uncomfortable praying out loud, and I pray for them.
Jeremiah:I hear it at church.
Jeremiah:I hear it in public, and I'm like, how else do you express your love to everyone else around you?
Savannah:There are many ways that you can, but the deepest way is through prayer.
Savannah:And.
Savannah:And that's why also, too, like, when somebody says, oh, yeah, I'll be praying for you later.
Savannah:I mean, I get it.
Savannah:It.
Savannah:Exactly.
Jeremiah:Don't wait.
Savannah:Just pull them aside and be like, can I?
Savannah:Let's pray about that right now.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:Or don't even pull them.
Savannah:Just do it right there.
Savannah:Who cares if it's in a walkway?
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:Who cares if it's in a bathroom?
Jeremiah:I really like my men's group right now because, you know, like, everyone asks for prayer and stuff, and then on occasion, like, there's some serious prayers, and like, well, I'll just stop what we're doing and pray right there.
Jeremiah:And then.
Savannah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:And then other ones, we just create a prayer list and we email it out to each other, and it's pretty great having that list.
Jeremiah:Prayer is amazing.
Jeremiah:And then I can't express how wonderful it feels to get a text message, be like, hey, how is this part of your life going in your life right now?
Savannah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:It's so much to me.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:And men, I think, especially need that encouragement even more than women, because they don't get it often enough out in the normal world without Christ, where women were more communicative and more relational in that way in general.
Savannah:So.
Savannah:Yeah, I agree with you.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:But specifically for the three things that we have here for the application of the holidays and what you guys are going to be dealing with.
Jeremiah:No, no.
Jeremiah:A little bit.
Savannah:We got personal.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:But we want you guys to look for hearts that are ready to receive.
Savannah:That is so important because you may encounter family members or friends who have an open heart and a desire to know more about Jesus.
Savannah:And these are the moments where seeds can be planted deeply and they have the greatest potential of growth.
Savannah:You can see, like, oh my gosh, there are inklings of the Holy Spirit there.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:Right.
Savannah:This is somebody.
Savannah:And.
Savannah:Or even you could just already see that this person's saved.
Savannah:And they're also struggling like you at family outings or friend group things.
Savannah:And you two need to band together a little bit and encourage each other and love on one another and be different.
Savannah:It's okay.
Savannah:And you should be different.
Savannah:That's why the next one is encourage growth through discipleship, which we mentioned at the very first, at the beginning.
Savannah:Discipleship can be like just for that day.
Savannah:It could be monthly.
Savannah:Weekly discipleship has seasons.
Savannah:You're being discipled and you're discipling.
Savannah:Right.
Savannah:So that person in you, you both have to have genuine interest in learning more about Christ.
Savannah:That's the.
Savannah:That's why I said at the beginning.
Savannah:It's weird when someone claims Christ and then has zero interest in sharing, growing, or learning more about his love and who he is.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:Or they want to keep their life private.
Savannah:Yeah, yeah.
Savannah:Like too private.
Savannah:It's one.
Savannah:Like, people can set boundaries, but when they're like, oh, yeah, I'm good.
Savannah:Yeah, okay.
Savannah:Is that what you say to the Lord?
Savannah:But that's why having Bible studies and church services, inviting people to things, you can tell a lot about a person.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:Like Jeremiah said earlier through prayer.
Savannah:But even just like talking about church or your Bible time and how someone judges you.
Savannah:And in that situation, the last thing is to celebrate fruit bearing together.
Savannah:Ugh.
Savannah:We don't do this enough.
Savannah:We don't congratulate people when they've been walking more closely with Christ and they've been doing better.
Savannah:Like, you have to be.
Savannah:You've borne witness to somebody growing with the Lord.
Savannah:Like, do you celebrate that?
Savannah:Do you go, oh my gosh, you have been reading for three weeks straight.
Savannah:Let's go get coffee and celebrate that.
Savannah:Can you tell me some cool things you've been learning?
Savannah:Like, I'm so proud of you.
Savannah:Or is there any way, like I could.
Savannah:Or even just, you know what, I'm going to bring you some chocolates and flowers.
Savannah:Like, those are special little things that you can do to love on someone because they are having good turn turned up soil.
Savannah:They have things planted.
Savannah:They're ready to prepare a bountiful harvest.
Savannah:These are things that need to be celebrated.
Savannah:And if you're not excited for them or with them, then guess what?
Savannah:You're the weirdo in this situation, you're not being a good steward, you're not being a good farmer.
Savannah:And those who are open to God's word may become powerful messengers to be able to share the gospel themselves.
Savannah:So if you're not willing to support that or be excited about it, sayonara.
Savannah:Sayonara.
Savannah:I'd be.
Jeremiah:I've never heard of anyone celebrating like that, though.
Jeremiah:Though.
Savannah:Yeah, because it doesn't happen often enough.
Savannah:How excited?
Savannah:Jeremiah, when I called to check in on you, we hadn't spoken in months, and it was not because, by the way, I saw Jeremiah posting things on Instagram, like Bible verses.
Savannah:I was like, I'm just going to call him and check in on this guy.
Savannah:Never have I ever talked to him on the phone in my life.
Savannah:I talked to him like six months prior, texting, and was like, I'm just going to call him.
Savannah:Let's see how it is.
Savannah:I called him.
Savannah:And how happy were you that I called H?
Jeremiah:I was happy.
Jeremiah:I actually prayed that, you know, I would marry somebody like Savannah or Savannah.
Jeremiah:And I got that phone call and I knew I caught the girl.
Savannah:No, that's not true.
Savannah:He did not.
Savannah:Did you know right then and there?
Jeremiah:No.
Savannah:Okay.
Savannah:No, I knew on the beach, like a week later.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Savannah:Anyway, I called him because I saw him posting Bible verses, and the things he wrote underneath was literally like.
Savannah:I was like, that sounds so different than the person I talked to six months ago.
Savannah:And we celebrated.
Savannah:I literally asked you, I was like, what do you do?
Savannah:Like, that's so exciting.
Savannah:What are you going to do?
Savannah:And you were like, you know what?
Savannah:Can I just come down?
Savannah:It's.
Savannah:You even specified.
Savannah:It's not a date.
Savannah:I just want to share a part of my testimony because you're in it in person to you, and I just want to thank you.
Savannah:And then that's when my now husband said to me, what can I teach you?
Savannah:Because you taught me.
Savannah:What did you say?
Savannah:You taught me how to follow the Lord or something?
Jeremiah:I quite don't remember.
Savannah:It was something like that.
Savannah:I don't think you said it just like that, but it was like you taught me to be my own man.
Savannah:It was something cute like that.
Savannah:And I was like, I didn't teach you.
Savannah:The Lord did, but.
Savannah:And I jokingly said to him, I don't know how to gut a fish.
Savannah:This guy comes a week later with a fishing pole and, like, a filet fish set and goes, all right, we're going to go fishing.
Jeremiah:I brought my camping set for grilling and Everything.
Jeremiah:And brought rice and all the ingredients that I needed.
Jeremiah:I didn't catch a fish.
Jeremiah:I asked the locals, and they sent me to the wrong location.
Savannah:Yeah, I was really confused when we were at Capo Beach.
Savannah:I was like, this is all sand.
Savannah:Yeah, we're gonna catch a sand dollar.
Savannah:But anyway, I brought a picnic because I knew not to be romantic.
Savannah:I literally bought a cooler full of food because I was gonna be so freaking hungry because I knew we weren't gonna catch a fish.
Jeremiah:She didn't know that when she realized the location.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:When you said the location, I was like, we're not gonna catch a fish.
Savannah:Anyway, we didn't catch a fish that day.
Savannah:But Jeremiah caught me, that's for sure.
Jeremiah:I propose on that same beach he did.
Jeremiah:Yeah.
Jeremiah:That's pretty great.
Savannah:Two years later, two and a half.
Jeremiah:She didn't even say yes.
Jeremiah:All she said was, what, what, what, what, what?
Savannah:Anyway, going back on the topic, I pray that you guys do celebrate people more, because if I didn't choose to celebrate Jeremiah, we wouldn't have been married today.
Jeremiah:I wasn't going to reach out to her.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:Because I told him not to.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:And he respected it after the second time of trying to text me.
Savannah:Anyway, we pray that you guys find this really helpful, especially over the holidays.
Savannah:And just remember that casting seeds is so much more than holistic health.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:I mean, holistic health is holistic health.
Savannah:It's understanding who you are in Christ.
Savannah:And it's so much more than just going and buying the right herbs and supplements and living this clean lifestyle.
Jeremiah:Who are you doing this for?
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:The cleanest lifestyle you could live is for Christ.
Savannah:Yeah, that's.
Savannah:That's the most holistic thing that you can do.
Jeremiah:Let his blood cover you and make you white.
Savannah:Yeah.
Savannah:Jesus paid it all all to him I owe.
Savannah:Sin has washed the crimson and he washed it white as snow.
Savannah:That was the worst singing I've ever done.
Jeremiah:Savannah is an amazing singer.
Jeremiah:I should get her on here at least once.
Jeremiah:Maybe we should make her do the intro song for, like, when we start doing videos or whatever in the future.
Jeremiah:She's a great guitarist.
Savannah:No.
Savannah:Anyway, we love you guys.
Savannah:We pray that this is a blessing.
Jeremiah:Stop me.
Savannah:We pray that this is a blessing for you over the holidays and that you can share this with family and friends.
Savannah:Remember that you can, like, share.
Savannah:Subscribe and please comment a review if you're on Apple Podcast so that our podcast can get boosted.
Savannah:And if you love us, please donate so you can keep the show going because we are a listener supported ministry slash information podcast.
Savannah:Yeah, and that's all I can say.
Savannah:Love you guys.
Savannah:Happy Thanksgiving.
Savannah:Oh and Jeremiah's being baptized on Sunday so please be praying and we can even post a video on our YouTube for you guys to watch his baptism if you'd like.
Savannah:Oh boy, we love you guys.
Savannah:Keep Casting Seeds we hope you enjoyed learning how to cultivate God's creation from a Biblical perspective.
Savannah:Holistic health is to prioritize whole person wellness through Christ like and comment on what topics we're casting seeds or casting pearls.
Jeremiah:If you found this information provided useful, subscribe to our podcast for future updates.
Jeremiah:Leave a review to help us improve and share this episode.
Jeremiah:We would like to remind you before we leave that perfect health cannot be attained in this world.
Savannah:Only spiritual salvation through sanctification and repentance to God and turning away from sin will give you a perfect body in the kingdom come.
Savannah:Nourish yourself in the Word, in prayer and in Biblical fellowship daily.
Jeremiah:Thank you for joining us today and a special thank you to our listeners for making this podcast possible.
Savannah:Always praying.
Jeremiah:Keep Casting Seeds.
