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Tobacco Fields Back Home

  • Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he was about to come. Then he said to them, 'The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest.' Luke 10:1 WEB

    By the early afternoon, we were covered up to our shoulders in tobacco gum. As we walked along the rows, we cropped the ripe tobacco leaves off by hand and slapped them under our arm. A tractor pulled a trailer, or 'tobacco drag' along a nearby path and when you had all that you could carry, you made your way to the trailer and stacked it on until it was full. Then it was taken to the barn of the day, where it was sewn onto sticks by a stringer, and hung on rafters in the barn to dry. After the tobacco was dried, it was stripped off the sticks, tied in huge burlap bags, and taken to the auction to sell.

    When cropping tobacco, a layer of sticky gum would get on your arms, then the sand from the leaves would stick to that. Then another layer of gum, and another layer of dirt built up until you were covered in something resembling black tar. It was also highly water resistant and difficult to wash off.

    The tobacco cropping season came during the months of July and August in the South. That was the time to bring the ripe tobacco into the barns. This was the hottest part of summer and when you bent down between the rows of tobacco, there was no wind at all. The harvesters would often struggle through the intense southern heat.

    I remember one day when some of the croppers became sick, partly from the heat and partly from the diesel fumes of the tractor settling over the area. One by one, they began vomiting and falling out, leaving the rest of us to carry their row. We eventually made it through the day and filled the barn, but we sure could have used more help that day.

    There is a great harvest in the kingdom of God starting to happen and the laborers are few. We are approaching the greatest harvest and many of the ones already in the field have become hurt, sick, discouraged, or passed on. Who is going to fill their shoes? Isaiah said: 'Here I am, send me!' (Isaiah 6:8) and God sent him. Wherever you are, pray for more laborers. We really need help in the field today.

    It was interesting that Jesus sent the laborers out ahead of Him, to the places where He was about to go. In my life, I have always wanted to be where the revival was, but usually ended up being somewhere else while it happened. The laborers prepare the way for the Lord to come. They go ahead of Him into the fields. So if you are a laborer, know that your work is not in vain. We are preparing the way for the Lord to come.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You so much for all that You do for me, for allowing me to know You. Put those in my path that I can reach and give me the words to speak and I will say them. Fill me with a boldness and Your passion for the lost, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

    Note: Happy Friday! Just as a heads up, the website will be down for a few hours this afternoon. We are having to have some electrical work done here, so will have to shut down the power for that time. For those who attend our Sunday service, we will still be bringing a service, but will not have time to prepare a Bible Study. We will still have worship, prayer time, and possibly a short message.Thank you for your patience and understanding, and for any prayers you may be able to send up!


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24 comments
  • 1
Debi Burton
Debi Burton Praise the Lord....Hallelujah!
July 27, 2018
  • 2
Pranoti  Kumar
Pranoti Kumar

Pastor I long to work in His vineyard. I hv been praying for this since a while now. But haven't been able to find ne slot. I am not an academician nor theologian. Just a simple housewife with love for my Savior. I do not mind doing ANYTHINg...As insignificant as can be.....But just want to do SOMETHING! Looking up to Him to use me wherever, however, whatever....pls keep me in yr prayers. Thx!

July 27, 2018
  • 2
Kevin Moore
Kevin Moore

Thank you pastor,   Amen 

July 27, 2018
  • 2
Gail Sellu
Gail Sellu

Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You so much for all that You do for me, for allowing me to know You. Put those in my path that I can reach and give me the words to speak and I will say them. Fill me with a boldness and Your passion for the lost, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen, Thank you Father.

July 27, 2018
  • 2
Tracy Carroll
Tracy Carroll

Praying for you Pastor & Sylvia <3

July 27, 2018
  • 2
Linda Clark
Linda Clark

Amen praise God!!

July 27, 2018
  • 2
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

Thanks to Paster Todd and Sylvia for RHM.They are awesome.Pray all goes well with the servers today.God Bless.

July 27, 2018
  • 1
Ed Frye
Ed Frye

Amen

July 27, 2018
  • 1
Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell

Amen!

July 27, 2018
  • 2
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

Thank you Pastor for caring. God bless you. Praise God. Amen 

July 27, 2018
  • 2
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen Father, send me. 

Prayers for you Pastor Dion and Sylvia and Thank you for all you do.

July 27, 2018
  • 2
Dion Todd
Dion Todd

We will probably be down for 4 to 5 hours this afternoon. We microsized our network here earlier this year with small energy efficient servers, but years before that we had huge Dell R900s with dual 900 watt power supplies. I calculated they costed about $77 a month each in electricity and having to cool them. Overtime it has damaged the circuit panel here, it has burn marks inside and throws sparks when you turn something on and off lol. So we are having to replace it with a new panel, new breakers, surge protection, and a ground rod. In the end, it will be better but I wish it could have been put off till later in the year. Be blessed everyone! See you on the other side.   

July 27, 2018
  • 1
Richard Mondello
Richard Mondello

I wish I could send something to help right now but haven't started my new job yet. Praying that Father Yahweh will come through for you and Sylvia so that He will keep this labor of love going and going better than before.

July 27, 2018
  • 2
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Amen.

July 27, 2018
  • 1
Jose Simo
Jose Simo

Dear Father in Heaven, I humbly ask You for the help needed by Pastor Todd and his wife to solve the problem in their ministry.. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 

July 27, 2018
  • 1
Bella Colliander
Bella Colliander

Heavenly Father I thank You so much for all that You do for me, for allowing me to know You.  Put those in my path that I can reach and give me the words to speak and I will say them.  Fill me with a boldness and Your passion for the lost, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.  AMEN! AMEN!!

July 27, 2018
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardle

Amen and Amen, Bella!!! May this be our joint prayer, in the name of Jesus, Amen!!!

July 27, 2018
  • 1
Bella Colliander
Bella Colliander

Father, I want to thank you for Pastor Dion and Sylvia.  They have helped make such a difference in my life, through you and your teachings.  I love them dearly and I know you do.  Help them, bless them.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

July 27, 2018
  • 1
Loriann Riley
Loriann Riley

Amen! Very nice devotion pastor Dion so true the harvest is plenty and the labor are few. 

July 27, 2018
  • 1
Rose Sicilia
Rose Sicilia

Have been praying for your electrical problems. I wish to go ahead of the Lord and prepare the way. I know He will guide me and give me the words to say! All praise and Glory to My Lord! Amen 

July 27, 2018
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardleedited: July 27, 2018

Amen and thank you Pastor Dion! May the Lord truly bless you and Sylvia, and your labor of love! May He bless you and meet all your needs, in Jesus name I ask and pray, Amen!

July 27, 2018
  • 1
Joseph Adams, Jr.
Joseph Adams, Jr.

Amen.

July 27, 2018
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen!

July 28, 2018
  • 1
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams

Amen.  Praise God!  Thanks Pastor Todd!  Heavenly Father I thank You so much for all that You do for me, for allowing me to know You. Put those in my path that I can reach and give me the words to speak and I will say them. Fill me with a boldness and Your passion for the lost, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray.  Amen.

July 28, 2018