Chapter 5 - Renewing Seasons
Planting Seeds for New Growth
Genesis 1:11-13 - “Then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth'; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 So the evening and the morning were the third day.”
This passage details the third day of creation, when God made vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees producing fruit according to their kind. While the passage does not explicitly mention negative emotions or personal cleansing, it can be symbolically seen as representing a time to purge negativity and renew oneself.
The verses illustrate God's deliberate and systematic creation, laying out a blueprint for life and development. Overcoming negativity can be tackled with purpose and organization.
The creation of seed-bearing plants and fruit trees highlights the significance of cycles, reproduction, and persistence. Metaphorically, this represents the possibility of renewed growth and producing "good fruit" in lives after negativity has been removed.
The creation of vegetation beautifully highlights God's loving provision for life, showcasing His careful care and deliberate plan for all of creation. This can inspire us to trust in God's provision and guidance as we work through cleansing negativity.
This urges us to release emotional and spiritual baggage that could hinder our growth and well-being.
Do you believe in the Power of God's Word? The Bible states that God spoke vegetation into existence, emphasizing His word's power to shape reality. This underscores the importance of engaging with positive affirmations and drawing strength from scripture to overcome negative thoughts and feelings.
The act of creation itself implies new beginnings and the potential to turn barrenness into fruitful abundance. This aligns with the notion of releasing negativity to make room for new growth and positive change.
The phrase 'according to its kind' implies a natural order aligned with one's true purpose or nature. Removing negativity can be viewed as aligning with God's plan for a healthy, positive
life. While Genesis 1:11-13 mainly describes the physical creation of plants, its core principles of divine order, cyclical growth, and provision can serve as a guide for removing negativity and cultivating a more positive, fruitful inner life.
The Bible states that God spoke vegetation into existence, emphasizing His word's power to shape reality. Do you believe that God ‘spoke’ everything into existence? Do you have scriptural evidence?
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On a scale from 1-10, how would you rank yourself on the Fruits of the Spirit? Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law.
Love ____ Patience ____ Faithfulness ____
Joy ____ Kindness ____ Gentleness ____
Peace ____ Goodness ____ Self-Control ____
What fruit do you see in your life?
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How does your “fruit” affect others?
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Brain Teaser:
Genesis 1:11-13 - “Then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth'; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 So the evening and the morning were the third day.”
“Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth’; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 So the evening and the morning were the third day.”
This section speaks of fruit that grows whose seed is in itself. How and why then do we grow produce that does not seed itself? If a seedless watermelon no loner seeds itself, how does it continue to product more fruit? Where do farmers get seeds from? Do you think these foods are affected nutritionally? Do you eat these foods? Interesting...
What DO YOU THINK?
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Google AI Overview states:
In essence, fruits and vegetables that 'no longer seed themselves' are those that have been selectively bred, often through hybridization or other methods like vegetative propagation, to reduce or eliminate their seed-producing capabilities. This process can be intentional to create desirable traits, such as easier consumption (seedless grapes or watermelons) or improved plant vigor.
Here are some examples of such fruits and vegetables:
- Seedless Grapes: These are either parthenocarpic (developing fruit without fertilization) or stenospermocarpic (where fertilization occurs but seeds abort early, leaving only soft traces).
- Seedless Watermelons: These are triploid plants resulting from crossing a normal diploid watermelon with a tetraploid one, producing sterile seeds that result in seedless fruits when pollinated by a diploid strain.
- Bananas: Most commercially available bananas are sterile and propagated vegetatively from suckers or offshoots, meaning they are essentially clones of the parent plant.
- Pineapples: These are seedless because they are self-incompatible. When a single variety is grown and self-pollinates, fertilization does not occur.
- Seedless Cucumbers: Some varieties are bred to be naturally parthenocarpic, or parthenocarpy can be induced using hormones or pollen extracts.
- Seedless Citrus Fruits: Some varieties of oranges, lemons, and limes can be seedless due to natural mutations or breeding efforts, according to Wikipedia.
It's important to understand that in many cases, these fruits and vegetables still could produce seeds if specific conditions were met (e.g., cross-pollination from a seeded variety for seedless oranges or watermelons). However, their commercial cultivation relies on methods that either prevent seed formation or on vegetative propagation techniques that produce clones of the desired seedless variety.
Additionally, hybrid plants (often labeled F1) may not produce seeds that "breed true," meaning saving and replanting their seeds won't reliably produce the same plant in the next generation. While not strictly "no longer seeding themselves," this characteristic means that gardeners who want to reproduce the hybrid variety must purchase new seeds each season.
Just something to ponder…
Welcome to Cultivating a Personal Relationship with Jesus
Just something to ponder the next time you are at the grocery store looking through the fruits and vegetables - Remember which numbers mean that they are organic and which ones mean that they are genetically modified (see Book 1: No, Not One! - Appendix A - Nutrition Section)
