Big Island,

Look at the word axiomatic. It means: A self-evident principle or one that is accepted as true without proof as the basis for argument; a postulate.

Notice the expression “self-evident”.

I once read that if a certain muscle contains a lot of a certain nutrient, then it’s axiomatic that that nutrient is necessary for the function of that muscle.

What is the “secret”?

If I drive through a farming community and observe a farmer out planting seeds, we call that farming. He’s planting seeds for the sake of reaping a harvest.

Jesus took this idea and by the wisdom of God extracted the things out of it that makes it work, and then applied it to himself. He also taught others how to do it. In essence, HE PUT IT ON. HE PUT IT IN THE FIRST PERSON. He put on the principle of sowing and reaping.

When we look at a farmer, HE IS FARMING. When we attempt to use same the principle upon ourselves it’s called…..Drum roll please!

“KEEPING A SECRET”.

This entire hullabaloo about seeds and candles under bushels is merely Jesus’ teaching on faith and how it works. The subject matter is FAITH.

He’s saying that when we pray to God for something we have to declare it a “SECRET”. We literally say it out loud “heavenly father I declare it a divine “secret”; that I have received such and such (-whatever you have asked for in prayer), by faith, and I will not attempt in any way to exalt myself though attempts to bring this to light. It will remain a secret forever”.

The term SECRET is axiomatic to the principle itself. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING TO SHOW UP IN YOUR LIFE, YOU HAVE TO DECLARE IT A SECRET, AND THEN KEEP IT A SECRET FROM THE WORLD AROUND YOU. Anything less is going the opposite direction-the direction of mans reward-PEW! (lordy thaz nassy.)

YOU DON’T WANT THAT. Mans reward is not always good. If you want Gods reward then you have to declare it a “secret” and then keep it a secret from the world around you.

Apparently the human heart or spirit is a revealer of “secrets”. But you have to establish a secret in prayer and then maintain the secrecy.

Why would that be?

Job 28:21
Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

When we seal Gods word within our hearts/spirits, we are “hiding” it from the fowls of the air that Jesus taught were the satanic forces in this world that want to devour that seed.

“Hiding” is synonymous with “secret” or “keeping a secret” (it’s merely a metaphor for planting). We are in essence hiding the Word of God within our hearts behind a pane of proverbial glass that all hell wants to come into for the sake of devouring the seed. As long as we keep it secret, we are keeping it in a place where Satan can’t get in and devour it. If we attempt to take it to the world through helping ourselves to mans reward I.E. self exaltation, we open the door to the devil and HE TAKES IT TO US.

When we take it to the world through “acting our faith”-WRONG, THE WORLD AND THE DEVIL, TAKES IT TO US (BAD).This would be accounted for by the expression “the cares of this world ENTERING IN, chokes the word and it becometh unfruitful”. Found in the parable of the sower. The cares of this world-worrying about how to “act your faith”-has to “enter in”. It can’t’ enter in when we have no connection or ties to the world by virtue of sealing off attempts to bring it to pass ourselves.

When we stack the various overtones of hiddeness over our lives we lock ourselves in the “secret place of the most high” as David said. It then is just a matter of time before God exalts us into the open. But it’s a lifestyle not a temporary fad.

Mark 7:24
And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.

In the Old Testament a man demanded to know the name of the angel that was standing before him representing God. What did the angel say his name was? “Why do you ask me my name seeing it is SECRET” was the angels/Gods response.

This is axiomatic as to how God works in this earth. He wants to be hidden within our hearts and kept a secret. Again why? Because the human spirit is a culminator of sorts, it’s a revealer of secrets much like ground grows seeds that are planted. If God is held within our hearts in this hidden mode, there will come a time when he can show up in our lives I.E. MANIFEST. But until then, he beckons to be regarded as a secret-a planted seed.

I hope this helps.

Tell know man.

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It is my belief that when Jesus said "this generation will not pass away" in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 He was talking about a forty year generation. The people who heard Him talking could look ahead forty years and know that everything Jesus predicted concerning the destruction of Jerusalem would come to pass. History records that it did in 70 AD.
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(14 ) For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own "Pastors", and delivered unto them His goods.
(15 ) And unto one "the kingdom of heaven" gave five souls, to another two souls, and to another one soul; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
(16 ) Then he that had received the five souls went and traded with the same, and made them other five souls.
(17 ) And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
(18 ) But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his Lord's soul.
(19 ) After a long time the Lord of those "Pastors" cometh, and reckoneth with them.
(20 ) And so he that had received five souls came and brought other five souls, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five souls: behold, I have gained beside them five souls more.
(21 ) His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
(22 ) He also that had received two souls came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two souls: behold, I have gained two other souls beside them.
(23 ) His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
(24 ) Then he which had received the one soul came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
(25 ) And I was afraid, and went and hid thy soul in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
(26 ) His Lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful "Pastor", thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
(27 ) Thou oughtest therefore to have put my souls to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
(28 ) Take therefore the soul from him, and give it unto him which hath ten souls.
(29 ) For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
(30 ) And cast ye the unprofitable "Pastor" into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The talents are Souls!
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I aggree with B. D. that this passage does not show where Christians are. And I would also agree with Ih or lh that the last part of the passage is a key that Jesus wanted to drive home to the Pharisees. He wanted to kind of plant the seeds in their minds that they wouldnt believe even if someone were to come back from the grave and smack them up side the head and say "look, I'm ba-ack"
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May I respectfully suggest the following : Every other reference to leaven in scripture has a bad connotation. You have already pointed out "Beware of the leaven of the pharisees" (also of the sadducees; also of Herod). In the Old Testament the first mention of leaven is that Lot (and despite everything, the New Testament refers to him as a righteous man) baked UN-leavened bread for the angels who visited him and warned him prior to the destruction of Sodom. On the day of the passover the lamb was to be eaten with bitter herbs and UN-leavened bread, and the subsequent celebration of the passover was to be characterised by "no leaven in all your houses". When Paul says "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" he was clearly warning against an evil influence (and may have been deliberately borrowing terminology from Christ in this parable). Seems to me difficult to set aside this uniform testimony of scripture in the case of this parable.

Second, note that the idea of "hiding" the leaven in the measures of meal suggests a degree of subterfuge and under-handedness. Then, (I know this will meet with some objections) bearing in mind that the woman is forbidden in scripture from teaching or exercising rule in the church, the fact that this leavening was done by "a woman" may stand for irregularity of procedure.

So the idea seems to be this : There will always be a drift towards the exercise of irregular authority and underhand effort (by whom? - by Satan) intended to infiltrate and pollute the true soul-saving gospel of Christ (thereby making it a NON-gospel, and ineffective for the rescue of guilty sinners) "until the whole is leavened" - i.e. polluted, neutralised and rendered useless and unacceptable to God. Of course the sovereign power of God will never permit things to come to this position. But the means by which He will prevent it is by just the sort of warning implicit in this parable, which puts believers on their guard against teachers who will seek as "grievous wolves" to "enter in among you, not sparing the flock..." This is in line with Jude's clarion call to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints."

This interpretation of the parable of the leaven seems in line with the preceding three parables of Christ, all of which demonstrate a similarity of thought - that the progress of the gospel will NOT go un-challenged. Parable of the Sower : A harvest only succeeds in 1 out of 4 soil types; Parable of the Wheat and Tares : Satan deliberately sows "the children of the wicked one" among them to create opposition/subversion etc. Parable of the mustard seed (also often disputed) : Growth of the mustard seed into a great tree is unnatural (indeed grotesque) growth, and seems to indicate that the original simplicity which was in the Lord Jesus Christ has suddenly been hi-jacked to become something it was never intended to be - namely a great, outwardly impressive, monolithic structure (you can think of the establishment of Christianity as "official" "proper" and "professional" religion under Constantine, subsequent development of Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Episcopalianism, Connectional denominationalism etc. - these bear very little resemblance to the true nature of Christianity characterised by our Lord in the Beatitudes ("Blessed are the poor in spirit..." etc.)) Note that "The birds of the air come and lodge in the branches" - again, as recently as the parable of the sower, the birds of the air have the negative connotation of "the wicked one" who "catches away that which was sown..." so the nesting of "the birds of the air" - Satan and his forces - in the topmost branches of the unnatural overgrowth of ecclesiastical structures, is not just something that we see in the unscriptural practises of some organisations calling themselves churches, it is also something which the Saviour anticipated and warned us about.

So the gospel application is this : Do not be diverted into accepting every modern idea which claims to be Christian. Recognise that much of what masquerades as Christian is actually opposed to the true Christ who is revealed in the Bible. Salvation - rescue from sin (not just the consequences of sin) - and eternal life are to be found in Jesus Christ and His work of atonement on the cross. Salvation cannot be found anywhere else. There are many people and ideas seeking to influence the church today to modify this straightforward gospel message and take on board other things as being equally important. But they are like cuckoo's eggs. There is never room in the nest of the true church for Christ's gospel and something else tagged onto it. If allowed to stay, the "something else" will sooner or later push the gospel out. It has happened many times down through the history of the Christian church. Of course we are not required to live in a state of constant suspicion - that would not be Christlike - but neither are we to be naive. There is a constant need for vigilance, lest our churches and gospel preaching should be neutralised by compromise with the creeping pollution of ideas and philosophies antagonistic to the absolute authority of Christ and the holy scriptures.
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God warned us of these days, the falling away from The Spirit, which I think, is the Oil of the candlestick (Rev-1-20) The Rock (The Holy Spirit) to Build His Church, the candlestick! (1Corin-2-13-16) For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ! (1Corin-4-20) For the Kingdom of God is not in Word, but in Power. The Power of The Spirit, to teach us His wisdom of His Word! (James-1-5) (1John-2-27) His anointing upon His anointed ones, no need that 'any man' teach them! (1Corin-3-1-7) God, not man and his Theology, nmust give the increase. I truly think, this is why we have so much confusion in the Religion of today, man, thinking they were wise, thought we no longer needed God, to teach His servants, took this power upon themselves, that they might establish the Bible College, that the religious leaders might be taught by man, approved or disapproved by man, and sent by man, into the local churches as servants of God, when indeed they have heard nothing from God! (Jeremiah-23-18-22) We see the results! Instead of turning the people away from their sins, they have created a Religion, that has justified continued sin against Holy God, while they promise their followers everlasting life, calling such Religion, the Grace of God (Jude-4-13) that they might take claim of salvation! (11Thess-3-12) God does not force Himself on any man, instead, He removes Himself, therefore, the Oil is no longer in the candlestick - The Church! (Rev-18-23)
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Does anyone know the meaning of "Abrahams Bosom"?
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Dear sir,
Reply to the above message, I am really getting convinced but How for the interpertation is in line with the God 's Word. I still don't know.

The last part of this message what I could recomendwas , as it is written that he will baptize you with fire. So the lord will use the people with Anointing rather than called but not filled with the holy spirit.


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Jesus sais in Matthew 17:20 If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

I only have a very short space here and must be very brief but hopefully I will impart enough to get you started. If not please email and I will give full discourse.

The mustard seed (as well as all seeds) has been given a commission by God. You may read this in Genesis 1:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
Genesis 1:12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

We also have been given a commission to go into all the world and teach all people what the Lord has taught us. But to many times we look at situations and circumstances and say "I can't do that." But if the mustard seed said that it would never sprout and come out of the ground. A mustard seed is to be planted approximately 1/4" deep in the ground. Considering the physical size of the mustard seed to the depth that translates to a depth equal to over 100 times the size of the seed. It does not say I can't push the ground away and bring forth. Once it is planted it only has one intention. To bring forth seed. That is the program that is on the inside. The Master Programmer put this program in place way back in the beginning when He said "bring forth seed."

The same way God has put a unique program (or purpose) into each one of us. We each have a "destiny" that God planned for us before the foundation of the world. If we will allow ourselves to be planted, then the program will bring forth that thing in our lives that God has before ordained. Nothing will be impossible unto us, because we will only be concerned about doing what is our program. I will not try to emulate your program (ministry), and you would not try to emulate mine. You know that you have a special calling from the Lord, as do I. When you know what God has told you to do, then nothing is impossible. God does not instruct us to do what is impossible. He does not prepare us for failure. He instructs me to do what I can do (sometimes only with His help are these things possible), and has prepared me to do what He instructs me to do.

Hope this helps. I could go on for days if allowed.

brothertommy@hotmail.com
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On behalf of everybody who like me has been martyred by the evil servants in charge of churches through calling the police to remove us from church or arranging hostile psychiatric hospitalization on account of spoiled rotten begging, I thank God for His words which justify us (Matt. 5:42, 6:24ff, 7:7) and promise our deliverance (Matt. 24:45-25:30).

We who have suffered such abominable punishments deserve to know well that we have no rewards waiting in heaven for us for patiently enduring under punishment from evil servants in charge or, especially, for going over the line between right and wrong in our begging... because Matt. 7:6 and I Peter 2:20 were printed in copies of the Holy Bible available to us long before our sufferings. Therefore, such a pastor as may dominate us now to keep our grievances quiet has no crowns in heaven to offer us for accepting his church discipline, and our rewards in heaven will be far greater if we cry out and call the church leaders completely to account for such failings as broken promises to spread the Gospel throughout the whole world by the year 2000.

Jesus Christ will be far more satisfied with us and able to bless us if we become completely frank with Him in prayer and no longer hold back our hearts. Failing to help us in our times of greatest need on earth through needed divine intervention, He has provided for absolutely incredible vengeance against the evil servants in charge (Matt. 24:45-51) in place of more years of freedom to apostatize in which to enjoy being completely healed and established as we might prefer. That the churches have already failed to fulfill their promises to evangelize the world by the year 2000 has changed the proper interpretation of Matthew 24:45-25:30 incredibly adversely for the evil servants in charge from offices to pulpits.

Because so many church leaders and evangelists have made and broken these promises, it is now patently apparent that they are unable to plan to spread the Gospel throughout the world with a testimony to all peoples (Matt. 24:14, Mark 14:9) and follow through on their promises. Well, the clock is ticking! The generation of Jews who saw Israel become a nation when they were twenty years old is aging, and God's holy Name is at stake to return before they all pass away. For this reason, the loss of morale among missionaries from failing to fulfill their promises to evangalize the world by the year 2000 cannot continue to drive churches inward to build the home church building and congregation and ignore world evangelism. In this context, the pastors' pretext that the judgements of Matthew 24:45-25:30 would be carried out in Heaven with the ever forgiving character of Jesus Christ as master must be torn to shreds; for if they should get their way, world evangelism will NEVER happen to make Jesus Christ return when He promised! Let us examine the judgements of Matthew 24:45-51 as possibe on earth with human masters or groups of humans as masters. This is now necessary to bring about world evangelism and the rapture of the saints.

Now seek I to bring about the judgement of the servants in charge as soon as possible on this earth (Matthew 24:45-51) so that without the hindrances of the Church Growth Movement, world evangelism may be attempted under faithful leadership, which unlike the Church Growth Movement will remember the need to memorialize Mary's anonymous anointing of Jesus Christ at Bethany if our spread of the Gospel really be worldwide (Mark 14:9, John 12:1-3). The power to judge is not yet in the right hands, yet our omnipotent Lord, praised be his name!--is surely able to bestow it. Promises from the American government such as our First, Fifth, and Eighth Amendment rights must fail, however that may happen, in order to judge the evil servants in charge with amputations and floggings as Jesus said would be done (Matt. 24:45-51, Luke 12:42-48); still I say, our awesome God is omnipotent and able to accomplish this, and both to those who pray to keep America safe and secure and to national enemies who would rejoice in an invasion or a coup d'etat I remember my citizenship in heaven and offer the Lord's Prayer just the same. American constitutional rights are defending injustices which Jesus Christ will not tolerate just before His return. Still, unless the United States Congress and the state legislators wake up to the reality of the end times and find some way to permit the imposition of the judgements upon the evil servants in charge prescribed by Jesus Christ, God's will could turn in an extremely adverse direction very fast in order to allow the ousting of bad pastors so that world evangelism may be accomplished.

And now I announce judgements. The demands of all the flock's wealth and amputations made by telephone in 2001 of the Meier family at Twin City Bible Church in Urbana, IL 61801, in place of failure to provide fifty million dollars requestewd in 1997 and 1998 to be obtained by begging to compensate Kevin Douglas Rosenberg for ruinous, utterly needless, admittedly mistaken psychiatric captivity and drugging (sin of witchcraft, Gal. 5:19, Greek), will accrue more demanded amputations before God: a thumb's weight weekly if evil servant in charge Bill Meier dare escape what was demanded before into the afternoon of December 26, 2003 UT. I myself cannot impose this, yet I dare ask Jesus his Lord, and He encourages me to keep on asking (Matt. 7:7). I have had to sin habitually because of Bill's influence on pastors to keep me quiet until I had to junk church after church to escape their domination, and I call down Matt. 18:5-7 to curse Twin City Bible Church like the fig tree in the name of Jesus Christ and send Bill's flock destitute for nearby churches to send out.

I do not possess such power as to bring this all about, yet still I thank God again for the Scriptures to show my current ways right before Him and to deliver me from the power of the evil servants in charge of today's churches through His will for vengeance. May God help our mentally ill brethren and everyone else in Him who needs assistance and has trouble asking for it among English speakers in authority. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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The non prodigal son is the one who attends church every week. does all that is to be done to be a "good" son- obedient hardworking. yet he does not see how BIG his Father is- how his Father is capable of loving them both equally as much. He does not see how everything that God has belongs to him. Everything that he "worked" for is his to own. He is even petty about a fattened calf! To me, he has obeyed without really Knowing the character of his own father. My take on him. ;)
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I would like a picture of a mustard tree for my Junior Church class but can't seem to find one on the internet!

Do you still have the website address which has the picture of the tree with the boy standing next to it?
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I am currently doing a paper, for school, on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. I do not have much background in Christianity. I am to write a Modernized version of this parable and would greatly appriciate any advice or suggestion that you have.
Thank-You
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This is my parable. All my life I have coasted on the opportunities God gave me, rather than striving to use them to increase his kingdom. I called it humility or being satisfied with small things, when deep down it was fear and laziness.

This parable reached deep in me and challenged me. It spoke the words my father always asked me: Why didn't you do your best? What are you afraid of?

Now I am in law school. For the first time in my life I am laying it all on the line and doing my best, not caring whether I'm first in the class or last. Doing my best for God with with talent he gave me. It is scary to do your best, because then you have no excuses if you don't succeed, no ifs or buts to comfort your pride.

What would the servant had felt if he had gambled and lost the talent, seeing the other two with their riches?

I don't know, but this is what he would have heard:
"Well done, my good and faithful servant."
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"So we learn that there is rejoicing in heaven over every sinner who repents; but those who are faithful and transgress not any of the commandments, shall inherit 'all that the Father hath,' while those who might be sons, but thought their 'riotous living' waste their inheritance, may come back through their repentance to salvation to be servants, not to inherit exaltation as sons.
"The wonderful story of the prodigal son has been misinterpreted almost universally. How frequently is the statement made from sectarian pulpits that because this younger son transgressed and committed all manner of sin and then repented, he was better off than his older brother who did not sin. By many the real lesson in this parable is lost. The younger son asked for his inheritance and received it. He went out and spent it in the vilest wickedness. When his substance was gone, he was forced by physical suffering and degradation to repent. Had his substance held out longer, he would have sinned that much more. It is needless to repeat all the circumstances of this story. It is sufficient to say that when he returned his father received him, but did not promise to reinstate him in the fullness of the inheritance; this is apparent in the answer made to the obedient son: 'Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine'." (The Way to Perfection, p21)

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why do i have t0 make research on this?
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The leder brother represents us as well. The prodigal was the wasteful son the elder brother was the stingy son.
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Eccl 12:6-8
6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

i think that this is more a relating of an actual specific occurrence rather than a parable.



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This is the only explanation that makes since to me. As most others seem to imply salvation by works which contradicts all i know regarding the grace afforded us by the cross of Calvary
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(Mathrews-13-22) He that receives the seed (Word of God) among the thorns is he that hears the Word: and the CARES OF THE WORLD, and th DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, choke the Word and he becomes UNFRUITFUL!
(39) The ENEMY that sowed them is the DEVIL: and the reapers are the angels.
Again, we look at a Lost deceived World, on it's way to Hell, that Christ loved so much, that He gave His life that man might be saved, and all you can do is keep knocking for Riches!! Pray tell me, what do you think He still OWES you?
Again I will say, You are walking on dangers ground! You gave me until Friday, for a list, what happens if God should require your soul before Friday? Would you be ready?
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I had a dream on June 21, 2003 and was shown an awesome sight. A swarm of Tornadoes descending from the sky that look like giant elephant trunks.

People will not know where to hide. So I am telling you now in advance. All that will listen, listen. You will want to find an underground place of shelter such as the below ground floor of a university or mall or parking garage that is windowless. Flying glass spells trouble. Start looking now where you will go. Watch for the signs, you will have time to go to your designated place of shelter. But to wait to look for the appropriate place of shelter at that time will be futile. You must do so now as an act of faith. And in that day, if anyone tells you, "Come with us! There is
a strong building over there". Don't go with them! Do not try and help anyone either or you will be confused and forget your hiding place.

I believe it will be as in the Parable of the 10 Virgins.
Let us pray earnestly to our God for the shed blood of the thousands of Iraqi people. Perhaps He will turn away His anger and leave us a blessing instead.

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I have heard in the natural a mustard seed does not turn into a tree, it is an herb only. Is this true and where can you find info on a mustard seed tree?
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Hey, Rick......I don't know you personally, but I saw you were from home town, I thought I would say hello. I go to Spanish River and have lived in Boca 32 years now. How 'bout you?
There are quite a few interesting comments on this web-site. I think it's neat how people break stuff down and look for meanings. Like, "what do the sandals represent?"
I've been the prodigal son recently. got really off track. wheh! I mean really off track. It's so wonderful to be able to come to God with a broken and contrite heart and accept His forgiveness. What a pleasure being back in fellowship. Let me hear from you.
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Edwin,
Jesus says that if you live for him that He will take care of everything else, including the people who are making your life miserable. Living for Jesus is not always easy, it is full of suffering and riducle, but look at the suffering and judgement that He went through just to save you and me. It is important to remember that God will bless you eternally as long as you obey His commands and although it doesn't seem like it He is sovreign through all things ecspecially this situation. It is not for us to understand why these things occur but it is important to trust and have complete faith in His Sovreingy for our lives. One of the important themes in Mark is suffering. Jesus said if we want to follow Him we must endure suffering.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" Mark 10:45

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways adn my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
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I hope by now you have found some of the peace you were seeking. I never understood the parable of the prodigal son until I had one. The argument of the dutiful son always made sense to me. But now that I have a younger child who has gone off to waste and destroy his God-given talents through drug abuse, crime, problem relationships...I fully understand how gladly I would celebrate his return to us, not expecting any favored treatment from us. All the time I love both my children, but more of my prayers have been for the wayward one. The celebration would be for the answer to my prayers.
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I agree with you about the elder son who stayed home but the bible records that the Heavens rejoice when one lost comes home. For the brother that stayed, he's symbolic of us that have been in the church and done the bidding of the father for years and we let our selfishness get in the way of celebrating the return of our family (maybe some church members that used to come). He was faithful indeed and deserves merit, but he is also at fault in the fact that he should have known that he had a special place in the heart of the father. Just something to think about. God Bless

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Would it be possible for me to read how Brenda T:urner napplies this parable to her life to pass it on for tomorrow morning as a sermonette to children age 5 thru 4th grade?
Thank you.
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One thing I am reminded of while I was reading through your messages was, not hiding the lamp under the bowl, but letting the light shine. Does everyone remember the concept of not hiding the light and letting our light shine? The last servant was scorned because he had buried into the world whatever the master had entrusted.
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I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE IMAGE OF THE The Mustard Seed TREE.

THX, GOD BLESS,

JOSEPH
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after careful and thoughtful study of the old testament prophets I can`t help believing that the ram with two horns that daniel see`s in his vision is symbolic of the ram being america who does seem to do as it pleases in regards to the world today and the horns being the symbology of the twin towers I really believe the end times are being played out in the world today as described by the prophets who recieved their wisdom from god as a gift. I just feel so helpless in regards to what is going on but I also believe nothing happens in this world without god willing it.
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teaching grandchildren faith is as a mustard seed

please send info as described

greatly appreciated

louise

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i love jesus sooo much
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I think you've seized upon something that isn't a part of the parable of the sower. The context is the kingdom of God. The place where we're sowing the seed is into the realm of the spirit, our hearts. Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within you. Did you notice that Jesus never addressed the issue of watering the seed? Well don't seeds need to be watered? Then why not address such a critical thing? Because if you go back into the Garden of Eden, you'll recall that a mist watered the plants of Eden, the watering was already provided for in this garden. In this realm of the kingdom within, the watering is already provided for. And lets not forget that the seed were talking about is the Word of God. "Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible seed, by the word of God which live and abides forever. If the seed is planted it will grow! God will provide the increase. The curse that has come upon the earth and our physical bodies has not contacted that place where these seeds are sown. It's infinitely easier to produce in the realm of the spirit for "he watches over his word to perform it." The tough part is in having enough scriptural knowledge to be able to plant the seed and turn loose of it for long periods of time. Being patient. But I wouldn't seize upon the curse that IS in this earth to allow the enemy to say why ever bother. Maybe your just saying that God has the final say. But then what about dope and poppy plants? If seeds are planted in the realm of the kingdom of God inside us they will grow. Good or bad.
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the older son has been misunderstand for a long time. He is a good kid. What more can a father ask from his son? But he is blinded by his bitterness. And in v. 31 the father tells the older son that all the father has is the older son's. If this is the case, the older son can choose to ask the father to give him and his friends a BBQ party. But the son doesn't ask. He gets mad at the father and turns bitter.

Very often we are more like the older sons. Not many of us live an exciting life like the younger son. We make complaints to our Father for not having what we want. But we don't spend time to ask.
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The other night I watched a program that was just brutal to watch. A college campus had assembled a forum of “religious experts” to discuss salvation and weather Jesus was the only way to salvation. A basic understanding of the parables of the Kingdom could have really dispelled a lot of the unbelief that was perpetrated.

The panel consisted of about seven to nine diverse people. Jews (I think Christian Jew), Catholics, Muslim, fundamentalists and a self proclaimed “Christian Liberal”.

As the panel began to meander away from Christ being the only way to salvation (with every smooth argument in the world), the crowd began to get visibly annoyed. One by one they would stand up and try to bring the conversation back to what Jesus did at Calvary and his atoning work. One woman said in essence, your dismissing the whole of the word of God and aren’t respecting it as the WORD OF GOD.

At that the Christian liberal spoke up proudly quoting the word of John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, the was with God and the Word was God. This was the person who was the most dismissive of the idea that salvation was ONLY in Christ (such arrogance). The Muslim woman proudly stated that from day one, Islam has ALWAYS believed that Jesus IS the WORD OF GOD, and that he is even nicknamed that-if I understood correctly. She also expressed no need nor desire to accept Jesus a Lord or personal savior.

I couldn’t believe what was transpiring. I visualized a bowling alley and all these experts, apart from the fundamentalists, being pins that were ready for a person who knew the parables of the Kingdom to roll a perfect strike. Unfortunately, no one had the insight to call his or her bluff.

What if a person would have stood up and said this: “Sir, (the Liberal) you claim that Jesus is the WORD OF GOD. Is that right? Mam, (the Muslim) you also claim that Jesus is the WORD OF GOD right?

Peter said in his epistle, “Being born again not of corruptible SEED, but of incorruptible SEED, by the WORD OF GOD, which lives and abide forever”. JESUS-THE WORD OF GOD-mind you, said in Mark chapter four, “THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD”. So then there is a type of trinity in Jesus being the SEED and the WORD.

The functionary place of the seed is in the heart of a man, …“Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the word that is sown IN THE HEART.”

Which of you knowing a farmer, who HAD NEVER planted his seed for the year, and yet he believing that a wonderful crop was about to be produced, wouldn’t say to him (as kindly, political correctly, as respectfully-the fundamentalists were not of these) “sir I have news for you, your not going to reap a crop this year? He might say, “Well why not? I’m as good as the other farmers. I desire a crop really bad. What gives you the right to say that I won’t reap a crop? You in turn say “being good or wanting one has no bearing on weather or not you’ll reap a crop. Harvests are determined by seeds planted, not thinking, not wanting, not begging.” I would venture to say that not one of the panelists would allow a poor fellow with bills to pay, children to feed, a wife to keep, to believe such foolishness. And yet did you know that the “experts” were doing the same thing?

JESUS IS THE SEED. He is to be planted in our HEARTS, by “receiving”-planting, him in there (I call it the sinners prayer). Mark chapter four states:

20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and RECEIVE it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

And yet in their way of thinking, they were going to reap a crop of incorruptible fruit-salvation, without planting incorruptible seed. NOT!

A little bit of understanding could have pinned these unbelieving believers to the wall. And yet the fundamentalists, who as wonderful as they were, could not call the bluff’s of these panel members.

The panelists no doubt walked away smug, knowing that the scorecard in their heart read, liberals ten fundamentalists zero.

Oh, what a tragedy!

The next time someone says that they can obtain salvation without receiving Jesus, just say, “yea right, and farmers who never plant seed can expect a wonderful bumper crop!

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In the parable of the barren fig tree, something that stands out to me is the all-importance of producing fruit in our Christian lives. In other portions of scripture Jesus said that the axe is laid to the root, hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Have you ever asked yourself “do I produce fruit”? And for that matter how is fruit produced?

Look at the consequences of not producing fruit. “Cast into the fire”? It sounds like hell to me. This is serious business and I think it requires something over and above human opinion.

Oh, and get this, Jesus said that not only are we rewarded for our fruit, but that “every tree that my heavenly father has not planted will be uprooted in that day” Matt 15:13 (paraphrased). Capture that! All of the things that we apply ourselves to in the course of everyday life that does not come about from the sowing of the seed of Gods word will be uprooted and counted for nothing. That’s scary. There are going to be a lot of empty gardens in heaven if everything unfounded in the word is not permitted there.

I know a lot of Christians who think their Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon, (I had to ask to find out the name) as they conduct the affairs of life. Stars in their own picture shows they are! All the while not realizing that when they stand before God he’s going to say “ah, I don’t reward for that up here”. “But I have a crazy smile like Mel’s” you say. I can just hear God saying, “Yea we’ll have to talk about that”.

So you have a person with no “Word” abiding in them and the few things that they do have abiding in their hearts-TRASH is not allowed in his kingdom. LOO-SER!

I encourage everyone to study the precepts of the “Kingdom of God” as found in Mark chapter four.

Jesus said, “with what measure you mete, it will be measured unto you, and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that has to him shall be given and he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have”. Have what you may ask? How about the Word of God abiding in your heart? One scripture said that the man would have abundance. It sounds like the rich getting richer to me. But then what do I know.

All of us should be doctors of faith and of Mark chapter four, making sure that our hearts are filled to overflowing with the word of God.

I firmly believe that when we stand before God, the light that he emits will strike the word of God abiding in our hearts and it will look like a laser light show. Kind of like a chandelier, reflecting light in all directions. “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father”. Of course Jesus said, “Take heed that the light which is in you be not darkness”. Some people will be like black holes-the total absorption of that light.

If for no other reason then my asking you to, don’t be found in that state of disrepair on judgment day. When you look into the eyes of some people you’ll be overwhelmed by the desire to look away because of such an inglorious state. And yet others will carry this glorious light around throughout eternity. Can you imagine that? People will know that you’re coming from a distance because of the brilliance of light that you carry around. All because you took the time to sow to your inward garden the word of God.

What a glorious thought. Just think of it, you dear reader can have the white light of the sun shinning out of you’re inner man once we get into the presence God. And it’s your reward throughout eternity. But conversely, “he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have”. “Take heed that the light which is in you be not darkness”.


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I'd like more parables to read and appreciate. The Sower is wonderful.
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ok...um good?
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"So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work,because that is his lot.For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?"Many word and wisdom we may live and enjoy for this few days what God has give to us in our area too that upfil his will and be light and love with letters from Christ,so win and win more to him of lost ,pray for blessed revival soon,thanks and bless and hope.keijo sweden
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The rich man will be cast into the lake of fire, and Lazarus is now in heaven!
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In understanding Jesus’ teachings concerning the Kingdom of God, (God’s way of doing things in the earth) one of the most misunderstood and underrated things that a Christian has to consider is the time element involved in Faith.

Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is likened unto a seed, which is sown in the earth, and then after many days a fruit is harvested. But in light of faith being likened unto a seed or the idea of farming, the growing time has to be considered.

As difficult as this is to do, there is no other way around it. When I want a fishing lure, I want it today not tomorrow. When I woman eyeballs a new pair of shoes, is she content in having them next week? Trust me, if she really wants them she’ll have them tonight.

But in the realm of the spirit there are mechanisms set in place for our protection. It's called growing time. So, why this growing time? Is God just a hard head? Is he just being unreasonable? Or is there divine reasoning behind it?

According to Jesus our hearts are a two way street. “Let your light so shine”, “take heed that the light which be in you be not darkness”. And God has confined himself to working through the human heart. But do you know what? Satan is also confined to working through the heart. Now he has an advantage because he’s already in the earth (due to the fall of man). God on the other hand is trying to get back into the earth, and the great battleground is the heart.

The growing time is a buffer zone that God uses to function in the spiritual realm where #1. Satan can never beat him (us). And #2. He can preserve Christians from the affects of fickleness and unbelief. If the system worked that way we wanted it to, then Satan would be able to wipe us out in a matter of days. But this long growing time assures that the only things that truly enter into our hearts are things that we really desire or things that we obstinantly adhere to (negative things-yes they can get in there too). The whole thing is a safety mechanism whereby God in his infinite wisdom can keep us alive and happy.

Jesus taught that there is power in words and interestingly, he manifested himself as the Word of God (John 1:1). If all of the crud and expressions of the day were to REALLY take root in our hearts, we would seal a fate of doom very quickly. But be of comfort, God has set up a plan whereby we can access the “treasure of our hearts” in a deliberate way without destroying ourselves in the process. Of course the one drawback is this long time element, but if we know it going into the process then we can #1. Make sure that the things that we pray for are truly desires of the heart and not temporary whims that we all get into. And #2, we’re encouraged to be responsible thereby preparing for the future, much like Noah preparing an ark on dry land being warned by God’s Word of things yet to come. (This is the meaning of this parable: Prepare beforehand.)

This parable shows vividly this time element and it also shows the importance of preparation for the future in a godly sober manner.

God is not the author of hardship though we may think that he is in making us wait such a long time-so it seems, (we want everything yesterday) for the things that we ask for. But give the God of the heavens-the one who actually died for us the benefit of the doubt and know that he doesn’t withhold things from us, he preserves them for us. But we must figure in the time element in the growing of our faith.

If done properly we can feather a nest of blessing, security and provision over our families that terrorism or global uncertainty can never quell.

But you have to get on the front end of things and this entails preparation in the light of Gods word for the future. This is what a wise person does. A fool will always live behind the eight ball, forever reacting to unexpected visitors from the dark side in the form of circumstances not in line with the abundant life that Jesus promised all.

If done correctly, not only will our life’s structures prevail against the storms of life, but also we’ll have room for others who have not been so wise, so as to build their lives upon the word of the Almighty.

Don’t ever buy into that anger business where the adversary accuses God of making you wait as though he’s dangling a carrot in front of our faces leading us on. No, to the contrary, we’ve probably been believing things in our hearts that if he were to honor the one he would have to honor the other, and the other could possibly destroy us. God will work as advocate and counselor making up for our “ways” assuring us blessing if we but patiently harbor his promises in our hearts.

Cheer up! God’s CAUSING these things to come to pass, not impeding them. But we must hold fast his Word in our hearts liberally giving him time to work around our sin and quirks. All things considered, we serve a wonderful God that is not hard and unreasonable, but one who has all the facts, and who is our greatest ally.

So build your spiritual structures on the foundation of prayer and the believing of his word, in time you’ll be the “strong tower” that others come running to in times of a storm and destruction.

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Wanted to see if this picture was better than the one I have for Bible class
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The bridegroom,Jesus Christ actually comes(Raptures) the Wise righteous (born again) New Creatures! In fact, this passage says that after trying to buy oil from the wise virgins, the foolish virgins had time to go to the marketplace in pursuit of the oil(Matthew 25:9) Similarly in (Revelation 3:18) the Laodiceans are a picture of the foolish virgins left behind! They are told to go,and buy gold tried in the fire,and to buy white raiment.

[Matthew 25:9]

[Matthew 25:9] But the (wise)answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and (buy for yourselves.

Revelation 3:18

I counsel thee to (buy) of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and (white raiment) that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and (anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see)

The white raiment represents the robes of righteousness that these foolish virgins will have to obtain in the tribulation. The fire of the furnace of tribulation that these Laodicean, foolish virgins will go through will motivate them to be on fire for the Lord. The heat that they go through during the tribulation, will skim off their impurities, purifying them, and qualifying them to join the Bride for the Judgment Seat of Christ and Marriage Supper of the Lamb as the Wrath of God falls on this earth.

Door is associated with the rapture. In this verse Matthew 25:10 when it says the door is shut, the rapture of the Bride is over and the door or gate into the New Jerusalem at that time is shut.

Door in Greek can be seen as Portal,

Notice the Door is open in Revelation 4:1,and Matthew 25:10 shares the Bridegroom(Jesus Christ) came,and those who were Ready(Wise)Lamps Lit,and filled with oil(Holy Ghost) went in with him to the Marriage,and then the Door was shut.

2 Samuel 22:29

For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.

Proverbs 21:20

(There is treasure to be desired) and (oil in the dwelling of the wise) but a foolish man spendeth it up.


The foolish neglect the Word of God. The Foolish become deceived by man made religion,and fall for the ways of the world(back sliding,and lukewarm)

God is preparing His bride,His righteous born again New Creatures for the rapture and the wedding of His Son. The day is coming, in our lifetime! Some will be taken, but many will remain to suffer God's wrath.

Jesus tells us to pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen.(Luke 21:34-36)

Luke 21:34-36

(And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares)

35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36(Watch ye therefore) and pray always) that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

king Jesus Christ prophetically warned, Take heed to yourselves, lest at anytime your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (overindulgence)and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, so that day come upon you unawares.(Watch ye) therefore, and (pray always) that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things .

(Luke 21:34-36) Here, in praying always, it is the Christians that are instructed to be sober,and not to be overtaken with overindulgence and the cares of this life,not just the unbeliever (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8) First, note that unbelievers do not believe.

Secondly, unbelievers do not pray,and Worship God! nor will they pray always,and Watch which is an explicit Christian directive for saved Christians to be Watching in preparation for King Jesus Christ! Lest That Day overtake them unawares.

We must continue to share,and teach the Powerful Gospel with anyone,and everyone at all Times!

One must remember to Pray the Back sliders,Lukewarm,and unbelievers Wake up(Romans 13:11)get Saved,and abide in King Jesus Christ!

Also we must continue to share,and teach that the Christians need to (Wake up) (Watch)and (Abide) in our wonderful King Jesus Christ!
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I ask you please read the webpage called(Rapture of his Bride) on the website www.raptureprophecy.com




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There was a lot of talk about the "bad" wayward brother and the "good" brother who stayed home and minded and got hacked when bad boy came home apologetically and resumed his place. Well, what about those other guys in the field who just do their job for pennies taking care of slopping the hogs or whatever. Aren't they human beings also, don't they have souls, aren't they capable of attaining status. In Judaism your mother has to be a Jew or you will not be allowed at the table at all. Speaking as a low waged hog slopper, I suppose my reward awaits me in heaven, right?
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Jesus uses leaven in some parables to explain how evil can quickly take over a person but in the parable in Matt 13 he is using it to describe how the Spirit of God causes the values of the kingdom of God to permeate in a Christian. Jesus does not have to tie his symbols down to one idea.
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A point to consider. The older son was not good. He had a hard heart. He was instead, much like the Pharisees, self-righteous and proud of his performance rather than being true to his Father's love. He demonstrates no grace or mercy, but rather ridicules his Father for his rejoicing at the return of his brother. In effect, he curses his brother and his Father. This story really should be entitiled the parable of the prodigal Father. The Father expresses recklessly extrtavagant love for his sons just as our heavenly Father does for those who accept His Son as savior and LORD.
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Please send picture of mustard seed tree. We will be covering the parable in our preschool Sunday School class this week.
THANK YOU!
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Hello-
I have taught a women's Bible Study for many years, and my lesson next week is on mustard seeds. I would love a picture of a mustard tree to show the ladies. Thank you. Bea Heid
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I know what it is like to be the Prodigal child who is too ashamed to approach our Father's home...and yet, when my soul heard my Father's silent prayer calling me back; I ran.
Indeed my Father welcomed me, and blessed me incredibly...which only caused me to shed endless tears of gratitude...a very different person than I had been when I was a "loyal church member"...this time, each tiny gift of bread or water, each stone on my Father's property was sacred to me...this time I took NOTHING for granted. I was so thrilled to be in the presence of my Father's home once again.
However, my elder brothers and sisters could not help but whisper about me, and none visited my home when I lived nearby. This hurt deeply, but I could understand.
I continued to pray with tears of gratitude each day, in a way that I never knew how to pray before...over the years, my tears melted away the residue of resentment I felt towards my elder brothers and sisters in the church, and I began to feel deep compassion for each one of them... and found myself praying that my tears of gratitude and of repentance could be used by our Heavenly Father to wash away the resentment in my elder brother's and sister's hearts...so that there is no resentment or sense of separation left...so that we are of one heart in front of our Heavenly Father...
I pray this not only for my own situation, but for the drama of elder and younger brother being played out in the middle east right now. If the Jewish people has been able to recognize Jesus and to embrace him as the King of Kings (instead of killing him, as Cain killed Abel); Jesus would have unified the Jews and their brothers, the Palistines long ago.
I agree with the writer, that our Heavenly Father is looking for both brothers to love one another with tears of gratitude while in the presence of our Lord.
Thank you, and Happy Father's Day,
Annie
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Mustard. Several kinds of mustard-plant grow in the Holy Land, either wild, as the charlock, Sinapis arvensis, and the white mustard, S. Alba, or cultivated, as S. nigra, which last seems the one intended in the Gospel. Our Lord compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed (Matt., xiii, 31-2), a familiar term to mean the tiniest thing possible (cf. Talmud Jerus. Peah, 7; T. Babyl. Kethub., iiib), "which a man … sowed in his field" and which "when it is grown up, it is greater than all herbs"; the mustard tree attains in Palestine a height of ten feet and is a favourite resort of linnets and finches.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12149a.htm

http://www.understandingbibleprophecy.com/Parable%2520of%2520the%2520Mustard%2520Seed.htm


http://www.web.odu.edu/webroot/instr/sci/plant.nsf/pages/mustard

http://www.bibletexts.com/qa/qa081.htm

The black mustard grew wild in Palestine on the shores of Galilee. This herb reached 1.8 to 2.4 m. (60 to 8 ft.) in height and as covered with yellow flowers. The seeds were used to flavor meat and vegetables, and were a favorite food of the birds.
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