Today’s text
Matthew 13:1-9
That same day, Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the shore, and he told them many things in parables. He said, 'Listen, a sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up at once, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Anyone who has ears should listen!'
Prayer
I pray, my Lord, for the seed of your gracious kingdom that I have sown, begging also for the faithful sowing of your beloved of every time and place.
Grant that your seed my take root in the souls of those we have touched in your name that they may come to faith and know you, and that knowing you they may love and serve you.
The seed we sow bears the power of your resurrected life. It finds soil, sprouts and grows. But in the weariness of life and grief, struggle and trial, the youthful plant withers so that we find no life in the preaching of your word and the worship of your glory.
Tempted by dryness, many fall to despair or apathy, some who are near and dear to our hearts. But dearer still to yours.
Grant awareness of your unfailing love to those who feel nothing of your nearness. Restore to them the joy of your salvation.
And if they must wait a time to know your presence, grant them hope that the seed of your life within them has not died.
Empower us also for that task of uplifting the weary that we may be the arms of your gracious embrace.
Pr. David L. Miller
http://prayingthemystery.blogspot.com/
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Thursday, July 10, 2008
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Today’s text
Matthew 13:1-9
That same day, Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the shore, and he told them many things in parables. He said, 'Listen, a sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up at once, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty Anyone who has ears should listen!'
Prayer
I wonder Jesus, did you look over the crowd and hope?
I hope. I hope everyday to meet hearts and minds where the seed of your kingdom has grown into the beauty of love and the joy of wonder. I hope to be surprised by souls in which I meet and know you.
I hope because I know the power hidden in the seed of a love that dies and rises again. Knowing this, I watch for the beauty of your life secretly growing in the garden of your creation.
It doesn’t look like much of a garden on some days. A tangle of weeds, brambles and thorns seem to overwhelm the luscious promise of spring. But still I see the signs of the seed: a shared laughter, a knowing look, a small kindness, a love that refuses to be repressed, souls who humanize their tiny corner of creation though no one else may notice.
I notice, and I know I am not alone. Your seed grows into a new creation wherever it finds a bit of soil to sprout.
It grows even amid the tangled bramble of my confused soul, making the mess easier to bear. In fact, I have come to laugh at myself more. And there are plenty of failures and oddities there for my amusement. But I think the laughter is a sign of faith. I believe my real life is hidden in the seed of a love that dies and rises … and grows into your tomorrow.
Pr. David L. Miller
Matthew 13:1-9
That same day, Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the shore, and he told them many things in parables. He said, 'Listen, a sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up at once, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty Anyone who has ears should listen!'
Prayer
I wonder Jesus, did you look over the crowd and hope?
I hope. I hope everyday to meet hearts and minds where the seed of your kingdom has grown into the beauty of love and the joy of wonder. I hope to be surprised by souls in which I meet and know you.
I hope because I know the power hidden in the seed of a love that dies and rises again. Knowing this, I watch for the beauty of your life secretly growing in the garden of your creation.
It doesn’t look like much of a garden on some days. A tangle of weeds, brambles and thorns seem to overwhelm the luscious promise of spring. But still I see the signs of the seed: a shared laughter, a knowing look, a small kindness, a love that refuses to be repressed, souls who humanize their tiny corner of creation though no one else may notice.
I notice, and I know I am not alone. Your seed grows into a new creation wherever it finds a bit of soil to sprout.
It grows even amid the tangled bramble of my confused soul, making the mess easier to bear. In fact, I have come to laugh at myself more. And there are plenty of failures and oddities there for my amusement. But I think the laughter is a sign of faith. I believe my real life is hidden in the seed of a love that dies and rises … and grows into your tomorrow.
Pr. David L. Miller
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Today’s text
Matthew 13:1-9
That same day, Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the shore, and he told them many things in parables. He said, 'Listen, a sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up at once, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty Anyone who has ears should listen!'
Prayer
I give you thanks, almighty God, for the miracle of growth. Everywhere the seed you sow
is imperiled. Yet, I look into my soul and the souls of your beloved and find the wonder
of faith, the fire of hope, the beauty of love.
You say nothing about the sower. Is he anxious about the seed? Does she fear nothing
will grow and that her labor will be in vain, a chasing after the wind? Does he fear that
storms and infestation will destroy the crop before harvest?
No, you say nothing. This is like no farmer I have ever known, and I’ve known more than
a few.
You know what we struggle to believe: the power of your life is in the seed.
Believing this shouldn’t be a problem. A simple gaze into my own heart evokes enough
wonder to bring tears. For growing there is hope I did not plant, a love I did not create, a
faith in the gracious power of your life.
A simple gaze within reveals all I need to know. The seed you plant grows into the
harvest of the love you are. So we sow and rejoice in the miracle of a seed that grows.
Pr. David L. Miller
Matthew 13:1-9
That same day, Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the shore, and he told them many things in parables. He said, 'Listen, a sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up at once, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty Anyone who has ears should listen!'
Prayer
I give you thanks, almighty God, for the miracle of growth. Everywhere the seed you sow
is imperiled. Yet, I look into my soul and the souls of your beloved and find the wonder
of faith, the fire of hope, the beauty of love.
You say nothing about the sower. Is he anxious about the seed? Does she fear nothing
will grow and that her labor will be in vain, a chasing after the wind? Does he fear that
storms and infestation will destroy the crop before harvest?
No, you say nothing. This is like no farmer I have ever known, and I’ve known more than
a few.
You know what we struggle to believe: the power of your life is in the seed.
Believing this shouldn’t be a problem. A simple gaze into my own heart evokes enough
wonder to bring tears. For growing there is hope I did not plant, a love I did not create, a
faith in the gracious power of your life.
A simple gaze within reveals all I need to know. The seed you plant grows into the
harvest of the love you are. So we sow and rejoice in the miracle of a seed that grows.
Pr. David L. Miller
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