Parable: Sower and the Seed
This story is about four very different people and how they accept and react to the word of God. The first person do not hear the word of God at all. A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. The second person do hear the word of God and for a short while he seems to be following his word. But he soon stop listening to the word and lose sight of the Lord. 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. This person heard and grew in the word, but somehow got caught up the world and he too lose sight of God. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. The fourth person did not only hear the word, but became a true christain, and doer of the word. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Pay attention and listen! "Whoever has ears, let them hear." I don't know about you, but I have been all of the above at one time or another in my life.
Matthew 13:3-9
8 of the Most Distinguished Persons in the Book of Genesis
Though there are many persons mentioned in the Book of Genesis these eight persons seems to stand out in the crowd. Among them is God, for He is number one. Then we have Adam, Satan, Noah, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and Joseph.
1. God
There is nothing document in the Bible that tells us when God came to existence. Evidently, he existed before the beginning of the time. In Genesis, the book is the beginning of creation of the heaven and earth, not God. It is the beginning of everything except God.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ~ Genesis 1:1
2. Adam
After God created the heavens and the earth, he created all things in between. Then he created the first man in his image that he called Adam.
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. ~ Genesis 2:7
3. Satan
Now came the most deceiving person known to all the generation; Guess who? Satan.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, "You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die."
You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 3:1-5
4. Noah
Adam and Eve bare two sons, Cain and Abel. Later they had another son whose they named Seth. The genealogy of Adam:
Seth became the father of Enos.
Enos became the father of Cainan.
Cainan became father of Mahaleel.
Mahaleel became father of Jared.
Jared became the father of Enoch
Enoch became the father of Methuselah.
Methuselah became the father of Lamech.
Lamech became the father of Noah.
And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.
Genesis 7:1-5
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
Genesis 17:1-5
6. Issac
The story of Abraham and Sarah and their son Issac is one of the greatest story ever told. God's promise to Abraham was fulfilled at ripe age of one hundred years old when Issac was born. Surely he was proud and truly blessed to father a son at such an old age. Not long after Issac was born, God tested Abraham faith when he told him to sacrifice Issac. And Abraham willingly took his son to the mountain top to prepare the wood to carry out the will of God. But when God saw that Abraham was man of great faith an angel appeared saying:
By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
And she became pregnant and bore him a son.
Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son. ” Because of this she named him Dan.
Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.
Then Rachel said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.” So she named him Naphtali.
And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:
And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.
Jacob favorited Joseph over his other sons, which made jealousy with the other sons. Rachel bare another son making him number twelve, that she name Ben-oni, but Jacob called him Benjamin.
8. Joseph
His brothers hated him and even they conspired to kill him, but his older brother, Reuben thought that it would be better to cast in the pit of wilderness. Joseph, the dreamer was removed from the pit by merchants and sold for twenty pieces of silver while he was brought into Egypt.
Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
Genesis 39:1-3
1. God
There is nothing document in the Bible that tells us when God came to existence. Evidently, he existed before the beginning of the time. In Genesis, the book is the beginning of creation of the heaven and earth, not God. It is the beginning of everything except God.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ~ Genesis 1:1
2. Adam
After God created the heavens and the earth, he created all things in between. Then he created the first man in his image that he called Adam.
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. ~ Genesis 2:7
3. Satan
Now came the most deceiving person known to all the generation; Guess who? Satan.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, "You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die."
You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 3:1-5
4. Noah
Adam and Eve bare two sons, Cain and Abel. Later they had another son whose they named Seth. The genealogy of Adam:
Seth became the father of Enos.
Enos became the father of Cainan.
Cainan became father of Mahaleel.
Mahaleel became father of Jared.
Jared became the father of Enoch
Enoch became the father of Methuselah.
Methuselah became the father of Lamech.
Lamech became the father of Noah.
The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.
Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, and also seven pairs of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth.
Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.”
And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.
Genesis 7:1-5
5. Abram
The generation of Noah begin with his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born unto Noah's sons. For now we are take note of Shem's children which were Arphaxad, Asshur, Elam, Lud, and Aram. We may recall the son of Arphaxad to be Salah. And Eber the son of Salah bear Peleg.
Peleg*Reu*Serag*Nabor*Terah*AbramAnd when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
Genesis 17:1-5
6. Issac
The story of Abraham and Sarah and their son Issac is one of the greatest story ever told. God's promise to Abraham was fulfilled at ripe age of one hundred years old when Issac was born. Surely he was proud and truly blessed to father a son at such an old age. Not long after Issac was born, God tested Abraham faith when he told him to sacrifice Issac. And Abraham willingly took his son to the mountain top to prepare the wood to carry out the will of God. But when God saw that Abraham was man of great faith an angel appeared saying:
By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Genesis 22:16-18
At the age of forty when Issac took Rebecca to be his wife, she too was unable to conceive. But God bless them and she became pregnant with twins, Esau being the first born and after him came his brother Jacob.
When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb.
The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.
After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob.
Genesis 25:24-26
7. Jacob
In modern times, Jacob might have been called real lover, for he fathered 12 sons by 4 different women. Jacob and his first wife Leah had 4 sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. After seven years he took Rachel to be his wife and when she saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister Leah. Jacob slept with Rachel’s maid Bilhah, and she became pregnant and bore him 2 sons, Dan and Naphtali.
So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife. Jacob slept with her.
And she became pregnant and bore him a son.
Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son. ” Because of this she named him Dan.
Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.
Then Rachel said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.” So she named him Naphtali.
Genesis 30:3-7
When Leah saw that she could no longer bear children, she too gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob to bear children. Zilpah conceived and to Jacob she gave 2 sons, Gad and Asher. But again Leah conceived And bore Jacob 2 more more sons Issachar and Zeblun. And she later gave birth to a daughter named Dinah.
And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.
And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:
And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.
Genesis 30:22-26
Jacob favorited Joseph over his other sons, which made jealousy with the other sons. Rachel bare another son making him number twelve, that she name Ben-oni, but Jacob called him Benjamin.
8. Joseph
His brothers hated him and even they conspired to kill him, but his older brother, Reuben thought that it would be better to cast in the pit of wilderness. Joseph, the dreamer was removed from the pit by merchants and sold for twenty pieces of silver while he was brought into Egypt.
Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
Genesis 39:1-3
The Truth about Forgiving
If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will
forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not
forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:14-15
How do we let go of the resentment? Sometime it is hard to let go of the hurt and pain. Until we forgive, the pain lies deep in our soul, we're the one that carry the burden and long suffering. A grudge have no place in the heart of man. The longer a grude is held on to, the most likely it to increase the chance of certain ailments in our body. It may increase the blood pressure, heart disease, and other health problems such depression stress and might lead to dependency of alcohol&drugs. When we take the responsibility to forgive, then our soul will receive the greatest benefit. Only true men know the full freedom of forgiveness.
My best friend called me during the weekend. As always it was so wonderful to hear from her. She said. "May, I waited to late to forgive Larry (her ex-husband)." He was my husband of twenty years and then he betrayed me. Since then I been looking for revenge and full of rage. I reminded her of the scripture; Deuteronomy 32:35 ~ Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them. Oh, She knew the scripture very well and that why she knew to forgive Larry. But it was a bit late, because Larry had gone his way and Pam have since remarried. She realize now if only she could committed to forgiveness sooner, they would probably still be together. Pam told me "that the grass on this side of the fence was not greener; as it was on Larry's side." What a price to pay? During the early years of Larry and Pam's marriage, she also had wronged him. He was able to let go of the hurt to forgive her. After that they had a great marriage, until Pam was starting to reap what she sowed. My friend couldn't handle it when table turned.
20 Ways to Overcome the Hurt
1. Began by facing the pain, hurt, and the resentment.
2. Let go of your emotions.
3. Cry if you must cry.
4. Have a converation with God and self.
5. Be true to self.
6. Are ready to forgive?
7. Be sincere about it.
8. Don't hold yourself responsible for the outcome.
9. Prepare for rejection.
10. Take an overall assement of the problem.
11. Go ahead and let go the resentment and offer forgiveness.
12. Accept the outcome.
13. Free your heart.
14. Fill yourself with laughter
15. Look at it as another accomplished milestone.
16. Let the healing process began.
17. Then let go of it.
18. Don't let the sun go down upon your wrath!!!!!!!!!
19. Be careful what you do to someone, because they might do it you.
20. Don't wait until all else fail to forgive.
Is there someone that you need to forgive?
Matthew 6:14-15
How do we let go of the resentment? Sometime it is hard to let go of the hurt and pain. Until we forgive, the pain lies deep in our soul, we're the one that carry the burden and long suffering. A grudge have no place in the heart of man. The longer a grude is held on to, the most likely it to increase the chance of certain ailments in our body. It may increase the blood pressure, heart disease, and other health problems such depression stress and might lead to dependency of alcohol&drugs. When we take the responsibility to forgive, then our soul will receive the greatest benefit. Only true men know the full freedom of forgiveness.
My best friend called me during the weekend. As always it was so wonderful to hear from her. She said. "May, I waited to late to forgive Larry (her ex-husband)." He was my husband of twenty years and then he betrayed me. Since then I been looking for revenge and full of rage. I reminded her of the scripture; Deuteronomy 32:35 ~ Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them. Oh, She knew the scripture very well and that why she knew to forgive Larry. But it was a bit late, because Larry had gone his way and Pam have since remarried. She realize now if only she could committed to forgiveness sooner, they would probably still be together. Pam told me "that the grass on this side of the fence was not greener; as it was on Larry's side." What a price to pay? During the early years of Larry and Pam's marriage, she also had wronged him. He was able to let go of the hurt to forgive her. After that they had a great marriage, until Pam was starting to reap what she sowed. My friend couldn't handle it when table turned.
20 Ways to Overcome the Hurt
1. Began by facing the pain, hurt, and the resentment.
2. Let go of your emotions.
3. Cry if you must cry.
4. Have a converation with God and self.
5. Be true to self.
6. Are ready to forgive?
7. Be sincere about it.
8. Don't hold yourself responsible for the outcome.
9. Prepare for rejection.
10. Take an overall assement of the problem.
11. Go ahead and let go the resentment and offer forgiveness.
12. Accept the outcome.
13. Free your heart.
14. Fill yourself with laughter
15. Look at it as another accomplished milestone.
16. Let the healing process began.
17. Then let go of it.
18. Don't let the sun go down upon your wrath!!!!!!!!!
19. Be careful what you do to someone, because they might do it you.
20. Don't wait until all else fail to forgive.
Is there someone that you need to forgive?
Parable: The Ten Virgins
At the end of time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight someone shouted, ‘The groom is here! Come to meet him!’ Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready. The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil. Our lamps are going out.’ But the wise bridesmaids replied, ‘We can’t do that. There won’t be enough for both of us. Go! Find someone to sell you some oil.’
While they were buying oil, the groom arrived. The bridesmaids who were ready went with him into the wedding hall, and the door was shut.
Ask yourself these questions: "Will I be ready, What am I doing to get ready?"
Matthew 25:1-10
25 Duties of a True Christian
No doubt about it, If one is to be a true christian then there many responsibilities that come with that title. Christians should present themselves in a certain way. You may be able to know a real christian by the way they walk and talk. Let see how many of these duties reflect our daily lives. Is it only a few or all of them?ACCEPT Christ
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ~ Romans 10:9
BAPTIZE in the name of Jesus
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ~ Acts 2:38
CONFESS your sins
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.~ 1 John 1:9
DENY the Devil
I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.~ Romans 16:17
EVALUATE your faith
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”~ Matthew 17:20
FEAR God
Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God.~ Leviticus 25:17
GLORIFY his name
Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” ~ John 12:28
HEAR his message
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. ~ Revelation 3:22
INVITE others 2 Christ
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. ~ Romans 1:16
JUDGE no one
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ~ Matthew 7:1
KNEEL 2 pray
He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed.~ Luke 22:41
LOVE one another
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ~ John 13:34
MEDIATE in silence
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.~ Psalm 62:5
NEVER deny God
But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.~ Matthew 10:33
OBEY God's commandments
It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.~ Deuteronomy 13:4
PRAY for one another
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.~ James 5:16
QUIETLY wait for God
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still~ Exodus 14:14
READ the Bible
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. ~ 2 Timothy 3:16
SANG songs of praise
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord. ~ Ephesians 5:19
TALK in truth
These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts.~ Zechariah 8:16
UNITE in unity
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! ~ Psalm 133:1
VALIDATE your faith
For we live by faith, not by sight. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7
WORSHIP in spirit & truth
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. ~ John 4:24
X-RAY your heart
Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.~ Psalm 4:4
YELL NO 2 temptation
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13
ZIP your lips ~ But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. ~ Matthew 12:36-37
We would not be talking in truth if we claim to be reflection of all 25 duties. There is still a lot of work to be done.
Will God forgive Us of Our Sinful Ways
Will God forgive us of our sinful acts? 1 John 1:19 tells us that if we confess our
sins, He is faithful and just and
will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
We all
have done some sort of sinful act against one another at one time or another in
our life. As a result, many of us carry guilt and hurt. Only God can rid and heal us from of those
burdens. God is a generous forgiver,
stand ready to forgive us the very moment we sinned. He has promise his
children if we confess He will forgive us. His ways are not like ways.
Sometimes we have a hard time forgiving each other, but never God.
Throughout
the Bible, God demonstrates acts of forgiveness to some of the most dreadful
sins; David’s adultery with Bathsheba, and the blasphemy and persecution of
Paul. If he could forgive them, he can and will forgive us.
God and
only God can forgive us of our sins. Once He forgives us He purposely will not
remember our sins anymore. God doesn’t hold a grudge nor does he keep a record
of our sins. Our forgiveness is total and complete by the Grace of God. God
know that our forgiveness of sins is our greatest need.
Do you need forgiveness right now? If so pray and ask the Lord to forgive you. Once you ask him to forgive, consider it done.
New Year's Resolution: Cleaning House for 2013
What's your New Year's Resolution? Rather its losing weight, quit smoke, stop drinking, attending church more it is so easy to become distracted. Many of us never get started, but let try to stay focus on what we are trying to do this year. This is an amazing resolution that we all can do and stick with it.. If we could only do this type housecleaning for 2013, everything else will take care of itself.
Last week I threw out worrying, it was getting old and in my way.
CLEANING HOUSE FOR 2013
Last week I threw out worrying, it was getting old and in my way.
It kept me from being me; I couldn't do things GOD's way.
I threw out a book on my past. (Didn't have time to read it anyway).
Replaced it with new goals, started reading it today.
I threw out hate and bad memories. (Remember how I treasures them so)?
Got me a new philosophy too, threw out the one from long ago.
Brought in some new books too, called I can, I will and I must.
Threw out I might, I think, and I ought. WOW, you shouldn't seen the dust.
I ran across an old friend, I haven't talked to in a while. His name is GOD the FATHER.
I really like his style. He helped me do some cleaning and added some things himself.
Like PRAYER, HOPE, FAITH, and LOVE ~ Yes...I placed them right on the shelf.
I picked up this special thing and placed it at the front door. I found it---called PEACE.
Nothing get me down anymore. Yes I got my house looking nice, in fact it is looking good around here.
For thing like worry and trouble there just isn't any space. It's good to do a little house cleaning.
Get rid of things on the shelf. It sure make things brighter, maybe you should try it yourself.
BE BLESSED AND BE A BLESSING TO SOMEONE ELSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May the LORD open the window of heaven and pour you out a blessing that you will not have enough room to receive it all.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. ~ Malachi 3:10
May the LORD bless you exceedingly abundantly above all you could ever hope for.
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.~ Philippians 4:19
UNKOWN
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