Who is Ready for Fall? ~ Harvest Time | Kyle McMurray Coaching, LLC

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In our second episode of the series Who is Ready for Fall? We are talking about the most labor-intensive activity of the entire growing season. In farming communities all across the globe and across time, they celebrate this time of year. And yes, if you eat, it affects you too. Today we are talking about Harvest Time. You’re listening to Living the Freedom Life Podcast, episode #62

During Fall, we begin to notice the days are getting shorter. In other words, there’s not as much sunlight as there once was in the summertime. But there’s much more work to be done. Seeing this dilemma, somebody has to do something, right? Follow me on this one.

Daylight saving time really doesn’t help. We are just simply moving numbers around on a clock. I’m talking about the time between sun up and sun down, not what time it is, who cares about that, I just need to see while I’m doing all of this work and the time is getting shorter to get it done. It can be a lot of pressure. I’m from a farming community, my Dad owned a feed store for years, I have some working knowledge about this subject.

With a heavier workload and less time to get it done, that seems like an annual repeat of several chapters in Exodus. You know, where the Hebrews are making bricks for the Egyptians.

Why would God put us in such a predicament? Every year?

Why would God provide such a reminder in our lives? Hmmmm.

Just as in many things in life, we can put a lot of work and effort into plowing, sowing, maintaining the care of the crop, but when it comes to Harvest time, a farmer leaves it up to the crop to yield and the mercy of the elements, in whether or not there is a fruitful harvest or not.

In the Bible, even Paul wrote “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gives the increase”. 1 Cor 3

So, it is safe to say there is more evidence and proof of the provision of God in the Harvest Time, than in any other.

There’s a lot to be said in the Bible about Harvest Time. Too much to mention here, we just don’t have time.

There is a process of Harvest Time. Your blackened chicken with rice pilaf served with a side salad just doesn’t happen overnight.

Yes, there is planning, plowing, planting.

But there is also Reaping, threshing, winnowing, and storing. I’d like to go over each of these so we can gain some understanding and how we can “reap” the benefits of each one.

The first one is Reaping. I know, it’s scary to think of the Grim Reaper here, but it comes from Harvest Time. Reaping means there is a cutting down. It must be done. It is only painful when we think about what is lost. When we think about what is gained, then it evolves into a necessity. Reaping has to be done in order for us to have the nourishment and sustenance intended.

Threshing means to beat or separate the stalks and stems from the grain. With hardship, comes an easy decision making process to find what is useful. If you had hardship in your life, you have an easier decision making process than someone who hasn’t. I believe that God provides that. How many of you have gained deep Insight in your life when going through some of your hardest times? That is what Threshing does and I challenge you today, review some opportunities you’ve had in the past, see what you’ve learned from them and share them, teach them.

Winnowing is a little different. Yes, the wind blows and it separates the grain from the hull and chaff. . .more of a fine sifting happens here. But how often do the winds of change blow and we try to hold onto things we shouldn’t? The old way of winnowing is to toss up the grain in a tray while the blowing wind carries off all that is not useful. It’s quite dramatic, and a beautiful picture that God would take such care in what we consider something to make our daily bread.

Because the next step of the process in Harvesting is Storing. We can’t just leave the good stuff out to rot and waste, for the birds to come along and take it away. We need to put it where we can use it, and use it later. Share it with our family, carry it to our neighbors, reach out to our community.

Out of all the different directions we could go with today’s topic, I want to share with you one last thought, well, it’s more of a memory than anything.

Whether we would be Harvesting or just bailing hay, I remember something the old-timers called Lowance time. I remember coming to the barn in between loads, and drinking that cold, well water. It was so refreshing. I also remember me and my friends dunking our heads into the watering trough. But Lowance time was really about refreshment during work. I remember making my mom laugh so hard she would almost drop the lemonade she brought us when we would dunk our heads in the water to cool off.

If today you feel like you have to keep your nose to the grindstone, there are opportunities for you to experience God’s peace and joy.These times are meant to sharpen you. To give you reason to push through. To encourage you so that you understand that you always have more gas in the tank than you think you do.

Lowance time = is a time of refreshment and strengthening.

Harvest Time is a Time for hard work, you get to See the evidence of production, you get to have great rest afterwards, with great satisfaction when it’s done.