Parable of the Seed

Matthew 13:3-23 I am sharing with you my thoughts about verses 3-9 but read verses 18-23 for God's word; The Holy Bible, through the Holy Spirit, clearly shares the entire meaning...

3 "Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed." --- seeds are the believer who shares The word of God, the given nudge/oppurtunity of the Holy Spirit.

4 "As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up." --- The moment the receiver hears, "it goes in one ear and out the other" it's complicated or boring... verse 19 tells it best "the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart."

5 & 6 "Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root." --- The Word of God the nudge of the Holy Spirit feels right at the time you hear with your heart, but you go about your day with no devotion to the Lord.

7 "Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants." --- Here again you hear with your heart but your not willing to repent and if you do repent you still continue to sin, and sin separates us from God.

8 "Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." --- Ahh the good soil like us! His Word the nudge of the Holy Spirit sets your soul on fire and you grow in the knowledge of Christ! your light shines before others and people want to know, what is it about you? Finally verse 9 "Whoever has ears, let them hear."   Luke 24:45 "Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures."

God chooses; John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."

so Lord I ask you now help the reader to let go and let You God, that once we share the word, "sowed seed" as a witness for You Lord, that we understand and appreciate that it is Your choice to water the sewn seed... in understanding with reverence I ask you to bring the rain! in Jesus Name Amen

First Seed of Faith

First Seed of Faith

This began way before I was born. (“before I was born the LORD called me.” Is. 49:1)
When my mom was a small child. Both her parents worked their own store and had to hire someone to take care of her. I don’t know her name but my mother called her Nana she was a Catholic woman in a Jewish household, she shared stories with my mom about the blessed birth of Jesus and about him being the messiah, God’s only son; hence the “First Seed of Faith.” 

My mom grew up in the Jewish faith and Married a Jewish man, divorced and married a second time to my father also Jewish. I was the youngest of five. I spent my early years in Philadelphia. My Father was an adulterer and abusive to my mom and punished my siblings and myself harshly. One night my sister and I witness the abuse inflicted on our mother it was that event that caused my mom to finally file for divorce. 

At the age of five I went through another traumatic experience I was a victim of kidnapping and even at that young age I felt a presence, looking back I know now that Jesus was with me. We lived in Philly for four more years. Then at age 9 we moved from Philadelphia to Atlanta. It was here in Atlanta when our mother shared another important decision with us. She had decided to take steps to convert from Judaism to Catholicism.  (of course I know now and she knew later that being Jewish is not a religion, you can't convert from it but you can convert to it) ... anyway she had asked my sister and I if we wanted to do the same. Not really having a deep understanding, but loving our mother, we decided to follow her to an Episcopalian Church. Their we shared in the first ceremony, the Pastor gave a few words and then sprinkled us one at a time with holy water, on our foreheads.  I did not attend church as often as my mom and sister, when my sister was 12 she joined a youth group and was made to take me with her. I was not interested, and struggled with having to go; eventually my mom gave in and freed me from it, my sister continued to attend...

When I became a teen I pretty much did what I wanted, My mom never really approved of my friends, then one day I told my mom that I was going to spend spring break with my friend Alice, she lived right next door to a church, her dad was the custodian and a deacon. It was there in her neighborhood where at age 14; I met my husband Glenn and where I had my first real passionate kiss. After three years of dating we married, against my mom’s “better judgment” In a little chapel at Saint Phillips Cathedral in Atlanta. I felt and Glenn felt it too; a strong trembling on the inside, looking back I know it to be the Spirit of God joining us as one (which had always been His plan, a little girl from Philly and a little boy in GA.) again God was and had been protecting me through-out my entire life.
 
Then came the time I was told that I was pregnant, when Elenn Rae was born; I felt a stronger presence in my life and began to visit churches, I had visited several over the course of the first seven years of marriage. I never was able to settle anywhere, and was unsettled in my own life, unsure of anything like a fish floundering around on land so close to the waters edge and not able to quench my thirst. So I gave up my search, then a few years later when our daughter was ten, a new miracle in our lives, I had given birth to our son, he was 3lbs and 4oz born on our 11th Anniversary; Feb. 3, 1990. 

When he was nine months old I had Glenn Jr. and Elenn christened by the same minister who had married their father and I. By the time he was three, our daughter Elenn was 13 and had been attending a church regularly, she had been apart of the youth choir and very involved with most of the activities. One night as I was folding clothes; I broke down and started crying, she came into my room and asked me what was wrong. All I could say was that I needed God. So my daughter invited me to her church. I was concerned with what people might think, seeing as how Elenn had been a regular now for three years. I also did not own "church clothes", but Elenn pulled out a pair of blue jeans and a white blouse from my closet and said; wear this mom and come on Wed. That very Wed. I went and was greeted warmly, and sat with the mother of my daughters best friend, the pastor had preached about Job and that very night, I opened the Bible (a gift from my mom) to the Book of Job and it was as if every word lifted off the pages, for the first time understood what I was reading, it was very emotional. I knew then what I needed to do. That very Sunday morning at the invitation I had gone forward and publicly accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. a few months later my daughters Sunday school teacher shared with me how every Sunday Elenn would ask the class to pray for her mom & dad... wow! the power of prayer! as long as I have breath, I will praise my Lord and my Father in Heaven! 

Thank you Jesus for your patience, protection, provision, and most of all your LOVE. Amen

Eph. 2:8-10

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph. 2:8-10 NIV

Prayer for Your Hands:
Lord, I thank you that you have anointed my hands and put the same Healing & Resurrection Power of Christ within them. With Lifted Hands I lift my eyes to the Lord., where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord. Thank you LORD for keeping me from all harm and watching over my life as I come and go Psalm 121

Prayer for Your Mind:
Thank you Lord that I have the mind of Christ, The helmet of salvation I know the Truth and I will abide in it

Prayer for Your Ears:
Lord, I thank you that you have given me ears to hear. Enable me to hear opportunities to be a witness today. To Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks, the reason for the hope that I have.
1 Peter 3:15

Prayer for Your Eyes:
Lord I thank you that you give me eyes to see what you see. Yet I thank you that I can walk by faith and not by sight!

Prayer for Your Lips; Isaiah 55
Lord, I thank you that as the rain falls from the Heaven and waters the Earth so shall your word be that proceeds forth from Your mouth that shall not return void but will accomplish what You have set it to do.

Prayer for Your Mid-section:
Lord, I thank you that you have not given me a spirit of fear but of Power & Love.

Prayer for Your Feet:
Lord, I thank you that my feet are shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. With my feet you have given me authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; so that nothing will harm me. Luke 10:19

Prayer for Your Heart:
Lord, thank you for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, create in me a pure heart, where the Holy Spirit is glorified! From the heart flows love, teach me to love as you love. Speak Lord your servant is listening!

common ground II

"God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood."
Romans 3:25  -- Leviticus 17:11 we are told that Life is in the Blood...
 
John 18:37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
 
Mark 9:31 His Promise; "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days HE WILL RISE."

He Is Lord

The cross Jesus was nailed to read:
“JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS” The Son of God and  Man being crucified. His skin, inflamed by the heat of the sun His head ached from the blows and bled from the cuts, caused by the woven thorns, placed on His head for a crown... He Is Lord

Dry crusted spit upon His face, beaten and bruised, showing His years an yet He was only 33. His lips which spoke truth, grace, love and healing where dry and cracked. So thirsty... He Is Lord

His shoulders, arms and back where sore from His beating, tied and bound to the cross limited in movement. His chest, heaved with utter exhaustion, His hands numb from the spikes hammered through.... He Is Lord

His heart, broken, the people who had followed Him with shouts of acclamations “Hosanna in the Highest” where now against Him being verbally abusive. His own disciple betrayed Him with a kiss... He Is Lord

His legs, trembling and weak from the agony of His journey to “The Place of the Skull” His feet, also painfully numb from having been nailed into the cross... He Is Lord

His garments stripped from Him, for lots to be cast. His mind and body bearing all the pain and stress issued to Him for all mankind for this reason He was born, and for this He came into the world... He Is Lord

The sun was concealed in darkness and the earth fell deadly silent. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit."... He Is Lord

The soldier standing by took his spear and pierced The Lamb Of God bringing a sudden flow of blood and water... He Is Lord

The veil of the temple was torn in two! the earth shook in anger! rocks split, the scorners and mockers were terrified and ran in fear!... He Is Lord

Only a few remained, mourning for Him, Jesus was removed from the cross, His body was treated with the greatest love and attention, placed in a tomb, hewn out in the rock, where no one had yet been laid. He was wrapped in fine linen cloth with spices. Then a great stone was rolled, to sealed up the tomb which was heavenly guarded... He Is Lord

Three days passing at the break of day the stone was found rolled back! Jesus was no longer there! He Is Lord! Hallelujah!!! He Is Risen from the dead and HE IS LORD!

written in 1998


---------------------------From "Sun Stand Still" by Steven Furtick.
12 Audacious faith confessions


I am Fully Forgiven and Free From all Shame and Condemnation.
Romans 8:1-2   Ephesians 1:7-8   1John 1:9

I Act in Audacious Faith to Change the World in My Generation.
Joshua 10:12-1  John 14:12

I Have no Fear or Anxiety; I Trust in the Lord with All My Heart.
Proverbs 3:5-6  Philippians 4:6-7  1 Peter 5:7

I’m Able to Fulfill the Calling God has placed on My Life.
Exodus 3:9-12  Psalm 57:2  Colossians 1:24-29

I’m Fully Resourced to do everything God has called me To Do.
Deuteronomy 8:18  Luke 6:38  Philippians 4:13

I have no Insecurity, because I see myself the Way God sees me.
Genesis 1:26-27   Psalm 139:13-16  Ephesians 5:25-27

I am a Faithful Spouse, a Godly Parent – Our Family is blessed.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9  Ephesians 5:22-25  Colossians 3:18-19 1Peter 3:1-7

I’m Completely Whole – Physically, Mentally, and Emotionally.
Psalm 103:1-5 Matthew 8:16-17 2Corinthians 5:17 1Peter 2:24

I am Increasing in Influence and Favor for the Kingdom of God.
Genesis 45:4-8  1Samuel 2:26     Acts 2:37-47

I am Enabled to Walk in the Sacrificial Love of Christ
    2Thessalonians 2:16-17    1John 3:16; 4:9-12

I Have the Wisdom of the Lord concerning Every Decision I Make.
     2Chronicles 1:7-12     Proverbs 2:6  Ecclesiastes 2:26  James 1:5

I am Protected from All Harm and Evil in Jesus’ Name.
    Genesis 50:20  Psalm 3:1-3  2Thessalonians 3:2-3