This spring, I planted a packet of wildflower seeds.
They created a beautiful wildflower area but I didn't care for some of the plants that grew up. Also, many smaller flowers got lost under the big zinnias and giant marigolds. So I decided to collect some of the seeds to plant next year. After researching the best way to save seeds, I found that paper was a good way to store them. With my creative juices flowing, I created a Canva Seed Packet Template. It is designed for a photo of the plant to be uploaded on the front. The back can be filled out with information about the plant. You can use this template to create your own seed packets. Click here to access the template now, or read the end of the blog for more information.
There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments. -Janet Kilburn Phillips
Separating the seed from the casing or chaff is vital in preserving your seeds. You don't want to skip this step! If the chaff is left with the seed, it can cause them to rot. That is what happened to me. I cut some seed pods and put them in a baggie. A few days later, there were moldy and nasty! That led me to research the subject more.
While doing this, the Holy Spirit kept stirring in my Spirit. I knew He had something to say about this, and I was to write about it. The Bible has lots to say about seeds, but the direction He took me was a little different than I had considered before.
2 Peter1:3 tells us we have been given everything we need to live a delightful life.
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.
He gave you the seeds you need for an abundant and delightful life before you were born. Then the time of our new birth or salvation, He gave you the key to separate the seeds from the chaff.
Slapped by an Angel: The Legend of the Philtrum
Jewish folklore says we are taught all the wisdom and secrets of life by an angel while in the womb. Then at birth, she slaps us to seal that knowledge for us to discover as we grow. That is why we have that indent between our nose and upper lip called the philtrum. There is a line in Key Largo where Humphry Bogart's character Frank McCloud talks about it. He is talking to the father (Lionel Barrymore) of a soldier who died under his command during WW11 and his widow (Lauren Bacall).
Frank McCloud: And you, Mr. Temple. Remember telling George what this hollow is above the upper lip? Before he was born, you said, he knew all the secrets of life and death. And then at his birth, an angel came and put his finger right here [touching his upper lip] and sealed his lips.
How awesome is that! It is not in the Bible but is found in the Midrash Tanhuma Pekudei 3. Midrash is a method of interpreting biblical stories told by Jewish rabbinic sages. It fills in gaps left in the biblical narrative regarding events and personalities that are only hinted at.
Regardless of whether or not the story is true, 2 Peter 1:3 is! The solution to every problem or situation you will ever face, you have the answers in seed form on the inside of you. The tricky part is to get those seeds released and planted.
Separating the seeds from the chaff.
Isaiah 41:15-16 give us the answer to separating the seeds from the chaff. God himself makes us into a threshing instrument that separates the two.
15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.
16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel. KJV
A threshing sledge is an instrument that separates the grain from the chaff. The Holy Spirit helps you sort the useful from unnecessary, the valuable from the worthless; in other words, the seeds from the chaff. Then, the wind of His Spirit blows the chaff away, leaving the seeds of the knowledge you need behind. John 14:26 tells us Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be your comforter, helper, and teacher.
He, the Holy Spirit, will cause you to recall everything Jesus has told you. Could He be referring to information you were given in the womb?
However you received them, I believe you have seeds within you: seeds of love, of creativity, of success, seeds of faith, seeds of greatness! All waiting for the chaff to be removed. The enemy wants those seeds to stay incased that chaff so your seed will rot before you can plant it. The chaff is often made of fear, doubt, and unbelief. Thresh those mountains, crush them, reduce them to chaff, and the wind of the Spirit will carry them away, leaving the seed to be planted as the Lord leads.
Release the seeds within you
When my kids were little, we would tease them when they would ask for something by tapping our philtrum saying: Think, Think, Think. Then we would suddenly have the answer! I'm not sure where this started, but it fits into the legend. Maybe tapping that little indention is an act of faith to access hidden knowledge.
So try tapping your philtrum while asking for wisdom and that hidden knowledge. Look for scriptures that pertain to your situation and meditate on them. Then start writing whatever comes to mind. Review what you've written and separate out the seeds from the chaff.
I recently heard of a concept called heart storming. It is brainstorming with the heart. I believe that could be a helpful method to release those seeds. I'll be writing more about this later.
Download the Seed Packet Instructions. It has the basics of collecting and saving seeds, and the instructions for using the template. When you click on the template, it will link you to your Canva account or ask you to create one. A basic account in Canva is free and very easy to use. The editable template will appear in your projects. If you have any questions, please contact me via e-mail - at jodelights97@gmail.com. I'll do my best to help you.
This template sells for $2.75, but you can have it for free! Use the code SEED22 at checkout between now and October 31, 2022.