Watermelon Seeds - Kay K. Mortimer

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”
Eph. 3:20 (NKJV)

One of the things I love about summer is watermelons. This year, we grew our own. Today I cut into a delectable forty-pound delight, one of the sweetest I’ve ever eaten.

The one drawback to eating watermelon is the pesky seeds. But today, as I dug them out and enjoyed the fruit, the Lord spoke to me. He asked me to count the seeds in this slice. There were seven.

Then, doing a simple estimation of the whole melon, I calculated maybe 100 seeds. He showed me how in this natural fruit He embedded a spiritual concept of multiplication.

Various natural things serve as spiritual examples. Jesus used them many times – fig trees, mustard seeds, pearls, etc. When the Lord speaks to me about something natural, I’m always interested in what He’s really saying at a deeper level.

So, back to the watermelon seeds. He began to show me how He has placed within one melon the ability to reproduce not just another melon or two, but exponentially.

Think about it. One watermelon, holding one hundred seeds, can reproduce one hundred plants which, in turn, produces perhaps two or three melons each. You can see how one melon can produce two or three hundred other melons. Each of those melons holds many seeds, repeating the cycle again. Herein lies God’s view of multiplication and increase.

This makes me join in Paul’s prayer “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.”

God desires that we bear much fruit. Jesus said, “By this My Father is glorified that you bear much fruit...” And, a few verses later, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…”

The next time you eat watermelon, think about those pesky watermelon seeds. God desires us to be watermelons and bear exponential fruit for His kingdom. God can take one seed and make hundreds of fruits from that one seed. Allow Him to plant the seeds of His word in your heart and cultivate them.

Kay K. Mortimer is a freelance writer, Licensed Tax Professional, and bookstore owner who lives in Aiken, SC with her husband. She writes for a local newspaper, as well as nonfiction devotions, meditations, and Bible studies. She is a member of the SC Writers Workshop. A deacon at River of Life Church in Aiken, Kay serves as Chairman-Elect of the Midland Valley Chamber of Commerce, is the accountant for the Aiken Community Playhouse, and serves on the Board of Directors of SCNATP. Her greatest passion is teaching and sharing the Word of God, helping Christians to grow and be encouraged in the faith.
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Saying Grace - Kay K. Mortimer

“…commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”
I Timothy 4:3-5 (NKJV)

“God is great, God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. By His hands we all are fed. Give us, Lord, our daily bread. Amen.”

Many of us recognize the words of this simple prayer we learned as a tot. But do we realize how important such a childlike prayer is?

Before eating, “grace” is expected by many. But is this a meaningless tradition, or is it steeped with Biblical truth, applicable for our daily lives?

I found my answer in the truth of the text above. We should, receive our food with faith and thanksgiving, by “saying grace”.

By giving thanks, we also sanctify our food. By asking God’s blessings, He sets our food apart for our good and nourishment.

According to this verse, the food we receive is sanctified by both prayer and the Word of God. I have learned the importance of speaking and praying the Word of God over my life.

Even the time-honored child’s prayer we echoed earlier attests much Scriptural truth. Consider the following:

• Psalm 48:1 – “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.” (God is great.)
• Psalm 100:5 – “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.” (God is good.)
• I Timothy 4:4 – “For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving.” (Let us thank Him for our food.)
• Psalm 103:2, 5 – “Bless the Lord, O my soul…who satisfies your mouth with good things.” (By His hands, we all are fed.)
• Matthew 6:11 – “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Give us, Lord, our daily bread.)

Therefore, it seems clear that our prayer of thanksgiving before our meals should include and be based upon the Word of God. In doing so, God blesses our food for us.

Be thankful. Say grace. A childhood prayer is a good place to start. For God is great. God is good. Won’t you thank Him for your food?

Kay K. Mortimer is a freelance writer, Licensed Tax Professional, and bookstore owner who lives in Aiken, SC with her husband. She writes for a local newspaper, as well as nonfiction devotions, meditations, and Bible studies. She is a member of the SC Writers Workshop. Her greatest passion is teaching and sharing the Word of God, helping Christians to grow and be encouraged in the faith.

Hearse With a Trailer Hitch -- Kay Mortimer

“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.’” Revelation 14:13

Ever seen a hearse with a trailer hitch or a car top carrier? Absurd, you say? I must agree. I haven’t seen one either. But do the Scriptures indicate such an incredible notion?

Revelation 14 says, “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.’”

Perhaps, then, the more accurate phrase is, we will never see a hearse with a trailer hitch or car top carrier. Psalms says, “Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dies he shall carry nothing away…” All earthly possessions we amass will mean nothing to us when we depart this life.

However, though we carry nothing with us, the works that we do as believers shall follow us. The Greek word here depicts the image of the good deeds of the believer accompanying them as they ascend into heaven at death.

I’m encouraged to pursue the things that truly matter in life. Understanding this motivates me to make every day count for the kingdom of God. I recently heard a sermon where the pastor talked about living our lives so that, when we pass, it costs the kingdom of God that we are gone. He encouraged us to make our lives count so that there is a cost, or void, because of our death.

We have a small window in the house of time called “life.” May we make these words, penned centuries ago by the great Christian John Wesley, our dictum for every day:

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

When my window of life closes, may my life have been valuable for God’s kingdom. Although there isn’t a hearse with a car top carrier, may the trailer following me carry good works done for God’s honor.


Kay K. Mortimer is a freelance writer, Licensed Tax Professional, and bookstore owner who lives in Aiken, SC with her husband. She writes for a local newspaper, as well as nonfiction devotions, meditations, and Bible studies. She is a member of the SC Writers Workshop. Her greatest passion is teaching and sharing the Word of God, helping Christians to grow and be encouraged in the faith.