Good day to ya everyone. The information I’m sharing today, in prayer and the Word, are much needed in the times we are experiencing right now. Take in every word and be blessed.
Today’s Prayer
Father, I come before you on behalf of my brothers and sisters everywhere to ask that You help us remember that many have chosen to come to this nation to share what we have to offer. We have welcomed them. They too have the freedom to worship in their own way, but that does not mean that we have to give up our Christian heritage and teachings to accommodate them! For if we try to join together every religion into ONE, we will likely end up with NONE! Help us consider this seriously before we abandon our own faith in deference to other religions. Remind us that our Constitution gives every citizen the right to worship in his own way as long as it does not endanger others. Help us as Christians to defend our precious freedom, for fear that we lose it altogether. It’s in Jesus’ name I present this and all things, Amen.
Let’s eat.
The Sower, the Seed, the Soil
Luke 8:4-15
One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: “A farmer (the Sower) went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘‘when they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand. “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
The Preacher
Psalm 126:5-6
Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.
The Word
1 Peter 1:23
For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.
The Hearers
Romans 10:10-17
For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “LORD, who has believed our message?” So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
Quote of the Day
What a blessing it is when in the midst of our discouragements and sometimes our self-aversion because of failures or littleness of spirit we are able to look away to this glorious fact of our relationship to God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Nighness is brought about by Christ dwelling in us….Christ brings God to us and brings us to God. Nighness or nearness results in blessing. He who is near to God has access to the divine resources of blessing and help.
Harold Ockenga
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REV. ELDER G E STERRETT
FOUNDER
GCKRS HELPING HAND FOUNDATION – THE RELATIONSHIP FACTORY
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James H. Taylor Sr. – Kankakee City News has published my Daily meal message for a decade.