This past month, I had the privilege of reading The Sower by Scott Rodin and Gary Hoad, a book that deeply resonated with me. Reflecting on 2024, I’m grateful for the time I spent with an extraordinary mentor, Dan Peddie. From January to May, we engaged in hours of meaningful conversations, exploring the profound idea of sowing seeds and nurturing growth. Dan, a seasoned consultant for remarkable institutions, generously shared his wisdom, encouraging me to embrace the mindset of a Sower.

Dan sowed seeds of truth into my life until May, when he passed away at the end of the month. I know he stepped into the presence of the Lord with a strong welcome: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into your rest.”

As disciples, our journey is marked by significant movements that shift us away from:

• Brokenness to Wholeness
• Separation to Intimacy
• Disobedience to Faithfulness
• Self-reliance to submission and trust

Five Critical Requirements for the Sower
As I contemplate 2025, The Sower outlines four essential principles that guide the Sower:

• Shift from transactions to transformation.
• Move from two-kingdom bondage to one-Kingdom freedom.
• Focus on cultivating hearts that joyously become stewards.
• Grow as a Sower.

Jesus compares the Kingdom to a mustard seed, saying, “Which, at the time of its sowing, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth. Yet once it is sown, it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade” (Mark 4:31-32 NJB). Even the smallest acts of generosity can grow into something far beyond what we could ever ask or imagine.

The Fruits of Sowing
Each of us is sowing something, and the truth of our efforts will be revealed in the fruit that is cultivated. As Henri Nouwen writes in Bread for the Journey: “The Spirit reveals that we belong not to a world of success, fame, or power but to God.” This profound reminder calls us to remain grounded in our purpose as we move into the new year.

A Prayerful Approach to 2025
I pray that as we enter 2025, we begin each morning with the intentional mindset of a Sower. Let us commit to:

• Praying for people who need good seeds sown in their lives.
• Seeking discernment to recognize those opportunities and having the capacity to sow exactly what is needed.
• Ending each day with gratitude, naming the people into whose lives we were able to sow good seeds.

(Inspired by The Sower, p. 25)

As we look ahead to 2025, I am filled with hope and anticipation for the seeds that God has entrusted to us. Let us sow generously, trusting in His promise to grow and multiply our efforts for His glory. – Julie Miller