THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DIRT AND SOIL

11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.

The New International Version. (2011). (Is 61:11). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Before starting this blog site, I had a heated discussion with the Lord. Actually, it was more like an adolescent obstinate tantrum – from me. “I’m not gonna do it. Nope, nope, nope. And You can’t make me. I’d rather eat dirt than have an internet presence and a blog site.” (That’s what one of my kids would tell me when they didn’t want to do something. “I’d rather eat dirt than….) So I went with that. I don’t know why I thought that would work with Father God cuz it didn’t work with me when my child tried it.
I laugh now at the irony of our arguments with the Lord. Somehow He is gonna turn them around and use them as a teaching tool. So I write “The difference between dirt and soil.”
I am writing this at 4 AM because I woke up 30 minutes ago with a nagging thought… “I wonder if there is a difference between dirt and soil?” My dialogue with the Lord for the past 30 minutes… “Lord, really you wake me up with a curiosity over dirt and soil? Do I care?” Lord… “I am waking you up for a teaching moment. It is very good and you DO NOT want to miss it.” I am learning to just go where my thoughts take me. (Clarification here, I go where my thoughts take me after I have come into the presence of God and centered my thoughts on Him. If you followed me yesterday, before I opened my eyes I asked Creator God to speak an abundant life into my day.) Now let’s follow where my thoughts take me because God is going to use them as to teach me something really good.
Did you know there is a difference between dirt and soil? I didn’t, but I guess I never really thought about it or cared to think about it. “OK Lord, let me grab my glasses and computer.” Do you know how bright a computer screen is at 4 AM? It is blinding. Remember our verse in John 1:5 from yesterday, “The light shines in the darkness and darkness cannot penetrate it.” Yep Lord I get Your point. Darkness can never ever ever penetrate light. HALLELUJAH!!!! (but that is another blog post for another day.)
According to Yankee Magazine and its article “The Best Medium for Your Gardening Needs | The Difference Between Dirt, Soil, and Compost”-
Dirt: Dirt is bland and often either rocky or silty and void of nutrients. If you add water to a handful of plain dirt, it will not compact well, if at all.

Soil: Soil is rich in nutrients and microbes, and when scooped up in your hand, it will clump or form a loose ball easily — often without water being added. When red-wiggler or earth worms are present in soil, it’s a sign of fertile ground in which to grow plants. Dirt on the other hand, is lacking the crucial nutrients and microorganisms that are necessary for healthy plants to grow. Worms will not thrive in dirt.

Hummmm good to know. What did we ever do without google? Yes, I googled this article. Trust me, I am not a gardener. That’s how I know God is leading me and building this blog site. I am the most unlikely candidate to write articles about the Master Gardener. I am just going where God takes me. The above article states the purpose for this blog site quite succinctly. I want the eternity seed God planted in my heart to grow and thrive. It can’t grow in dirt. Let’s go back to Mark 8:11-15. This is the parable Jesus taught about the seed the farmer sowed. I used it in my first article. 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”

The New International Version. (2011). (Lk 8:11–15). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

I have spiritual dirt burying the eternity seed. Worry, doubt, and distractions of the world are to put a name to just a few. According to the article in Yankee Magazine, the best medium for producing fruit and flowers in your garden is soil. Jesus said in verse 15, “good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” Thank you Jesus!!! He just told me I’m not a lost cause. The formula for good soil is: good soil = read God’s Word + hear God’s word + retain God’s word + persevere using God’s Word. That’s it! It’s that simple! God’s living word inside of me transforms dirt into soil. Soil will in turn produce an eternal crop from God’s eternity seed planted in my heart. Yea!!!!!

Just a little footnote to all this. I did a search of the word dirt in the bible. This is what I found:
12 A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (1 Sa 4:12). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2 And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (2 Sa 1:1–2). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
32 While David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and dirt on his head

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (2 Sa 15:32). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
5  My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt;
my skin hardens, then breaks out afresh

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Job 7:5). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
But the wicked are like the tossing sea;
for it cannot be quiet,
and its waters toss up mire and dirt

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Is 57:20). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Do you get it? Dirt in the bible is associated with deep mourning. Soil, however, is associated with producing sprouts and crops.

OK LORD, call me fascinated!