Wonderful Jesus!

- A Loving Father!
  
  Posted at 3:35 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on June 20, 2020
  
  Luke 15:11-13,17,20 – “To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. NLT
  
  This parable is used a lot in sermons on Father’s Day, so I decided to do the same. In our Bible, the subtitle over this parable is “The Prodigal Son”, but most would say that this parable should be labeled, “The Loving Father” because it is more about the father’s love for his sons, then the sons themselves. You will have to read the entire parable on your own.
  
  Jesus tells a parable about a father and his two sons. The youngest son asks the father for his inheritance. Under Jewish law, the elder son would inherit the largest portion of the wealth (two-thirds), and the other son would inherit the rest (one-third). The father gets the money together, gives it to his son, and his son leaves. The son spends all he had on living large, a famine hits, and he finds himself feeding pigs. When he comes to his senses, he decided to head home to be a servant in his father’s house. The father receives him warmly, the big brother isn’t happy, but the father says he was lost but now is found! That’s it in a nutshell!
  
  The youngest son hurt his father in asking for his inheritance, which he wasn’t entitled to until the death of his father. What insult this must have been to the father! The son then leaves, with his money, and goes to enjoy his life and freedom. He spends everything quicker than he could have imagined, then a famine sets in. What a waste of money, time, and life! After he hits rock bottom, he decides going home as a servant is better than the life that he is living.
  
  The elder son on the other hand is at home taking care of business. He and his brother may not have been close before he left, but he definitely isn’t feeling his brother after he leaves. When his brother was home, he may have had some help with the work, but now he has to manage things on his own. He is probably becoming angrier by the day.
  
  The father loves both his sons. He is hurt that his youngest son has left, but instead of using manipulation or his authority to keep his son at home, he releases him. He continues life at home, but always with an eye on the road for his son to return home. He watches daily for him, probably with much concern and much prayer.
  
  Then the son returns! Hallelujah! The father is so excited. He sees the son before he arrives and rushes out to greet him. He embraces his son as one who was lost and puts a robe on him, restoring his honor as a son. He gives him a ring, restoring his authority as a son. He gives him shoes, restoring his place of sonship. Then he gives him a party, restoring their relationship, for he deemed him as lost, but now found. Much love and much forgiveness was extended to this son.
  
  The youngest son, has returned a broken young man. He is starving and humbled. He has realized the weight of all he has done and feel unworthy to be called a son. He has decided that his life is so bad off, even being a servant at home is better than what he has in the pig pen. He is probably embarrassed and ready to be attacked by his older brother, disowned by his father, and disrespected by the servants. But he returns to his father. Not his home, his father!
  
  The elder son was not called from his work to join the party. So when he comes in for the evening a realizes a party is being given to celebrate the return of his brother, he is angry and refuses to join in. The father finds him outside and tries to talk some sense in him. The son says that he has never had a kid killed for him to make merry with his friends, even though he had served him faithfully. He was hurt that his brother, who he imagined to have done the vilest things in life while away, was being treated as if he had returned from a long journey, instead of leaving with his inheritance, leaving them all behind! Although he wasn’t called from work to join the party, he was expected to join in the festivities. The father tries to reassure the elder son that his place and inheritance was secure. This didn’t mean that he was loved less. But it was right to celebrate the return of his brother!
  
  This is another parable that is full of meaning, and too hard to truly digest in a blog. The father’s great love represents, our heavenly Father’s great love for us. We can never do anything that will separate us from His love. He is always willing to forgive us, and to receive us back into the fold. This is what Jesus wanted us to know. The younger son’s attitude when he returned to the father, is the attitude that we should have when we sin. It’s against the father that we sin, and to the father we must return and ask forgiveness. The lowest place in the kingdom of God, is better than the highest place outside the kingdom. Then the attitude of the elder son is not the right attitude. All that he said was true, but to not be excited at the return of the brother, shows that the elder son had his own issues he needed to repent of.
  
  I could’ve easily titled this, “How is This Even Fair, part 2”, because that was exactly the heart of the elder son. It is difficult for some people to understand the loving nature of the Father. The Jews had difficulty understanding the Father’s love for the Gentiles. Some have a hard time understanding “jailhouse” salvation. While others have difficulty understanding, deathbed salvations. But that is only because they have a hard time understanding the heart of a truly loving Father! He is always willing, ready, and waiting to embrace us and bring us back to Himself. This Father’s Day, return to the love of the Father! Don’t worry about what others think, when the Father is watching for your return!
  
  A very happy and blessed Father’s Day to all of the dads who read this blog, and those whose loved ones read this blog! God bless you richly! Wonderful Jesus!
  
  Posted in Father’s Day, Parable of Jesus | 0 Comments | Tagged Attitude, brothers, Forgiveness, Jesus, love, parable, prodigal son, relationships, Salvation, service, the Father’s love
- Who Did the Father’s Will?
  
  Posted at 9:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on June 18, 2020
  
  Matthew 21:28-31 – “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. NKJV
  
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  This is an interesting parable. We have two sons and a father. The father asks one of his sons to go to work in his vineyard. The son says that he will not go, but then he goes and work in it. Then the father goes to his second son and asks him to go and work in the vineyard, and he says that he will, but he doesn’t. Sounds like anyone you know?
  
  Let’s look at the first son. He said that he wouldn’t go and work, but he changed his mind and went. Actually, the NKJV says that he regretted that he said no, and so he went. Most of us would admit, that we can get with this son. Whether it was respect for his father, or guilt that made him regret it, we don’t know! But at some point, he got up and went out into the vineyard. This son made the father feel better by doing what he was asked.
  
  Then we have the other son. The one who said he would go, but didn’t go. This son is the one that makes you want to kick him out of the house! He basically told his father, what he wanted to hear, then did what he wanted to do. This son made the father’s heart heavy because he lied to his father, and let him down. Know anyone like that?
  
  Then Jesus asked, which one did the father’s will? The answer was, the first! Can I stop here for a moment and say that although he did what the father asked, and I’m sure the father was glad that he went, he was still wrong! Notice Jesus didn’t applaud either son, nor did he agree with the answer that the first son had done the father’s will. He just continued on with His point!
  
  Have you ever been in this situation? You asked someone, maybe your child, to do something and their first response is no? Do you remember how utterly frustrating it was for you to hear the word no? Especially if it was something as simple as the example above. It’s the family business, and everyone is needed to make it work. Why weren’t the sons already working? Why would he have to ask them to do that which they should already be doing? Nevertheless, he asks and the son says no. But then he has a change of heart and goes out to the vineyard. In a way, he did what was asked of him, but the fact that he said no doesn’t put him in the “son of the year” category.
  
  The Father asks things of us all the time. Sometimes we say no, and later we come back and do what he asks. But to make it right, we have to fix it. That’s called repentance! And that first son may have regretted it, but Jesus doesn’t say that he went to his dad and repented. I’m not so sure that Jesus was as please with the first son, as I’ve been taught. I know that in a similar situation, my concern would be that my son had the nerves to tell me no. Then he went, thinking that just because he did, I should be happy. I’m not feeling generous towards him at all!
  
  Then the second son said yes, and didn’t go! I’m even more upset with this kid. Lying is unacceptable! Did he forget? Did he know he wasn’t going when he said that he was? This is even more frustrating, to have someone say they will do something and they don’t! How about us, with the Father? Or even with one another? Do we say we are going to do something and then we just don’t do it? Have you ever been guilty? I won’t ask you to confess, if you don’t ask me to confess!
  
  In both of these situations, if we are honest, both sons had a problem. If you had to decide who did what the father asked, it was the first one. If you ask, who did the will of his father, I have to say neither. What?? That’s right! Neither!
  
  The first son went, but he didn’t want to go. He even said that he wouldn’t. Obedience is an attitude. Naturally and spiritually. As a parent, I would have been glad that my son finally went, but I would’ve been disappointed that he had said no in the first place. And if he didn’t come back and apologize, I would have wanted him to, to know that he understood what he did wrong.
  
  I teach social and emotional learning and restorative practices. Sometimes you have to fix a thing, by addressing it, and realizing that you have hurt someone. I know this parable is about obeying God. And I know that in a sad way, the son showed obedience. But if in his heart, he struggled with obedience, then it will happen again because his first response wasn’t a yes! He felt bad, and went; but he should’ve gone to the vineyard immediately. Does that make sense?
  
  Jesus was making a point that the Pharisees were the ones who said that they obeyed the Law, when in actuality they did not. They said they loved God, when they had no proof of that love by their actions. They rejected Him and wanted to get rid of Him, acting as if they didn’t know God at all. Then there were the sinners, who originally acted disinterested in the things of God, at least with what they had seen, but when they heard the truth, spoken by Jesus, they wanted to obey Him.
  
  I may be overthinking this, but I am sure that God loves it when we “come around” to His way of thinking and do as He asks. It most definitely is better than saying that we obey Him, and then we don’t! But a better way, when we know He is speaking to us, is to simply say yes and do what He asks. I know firsthand it’s not always easy. I try to never ever say no. But sometimes I have to build up the courage, or pray a few more times about it, or even get counsel, because I’m not excited about it or sure it’s Him. Maybe I’m more like the first son then I care to admit. But when I know it’s God, I obey!
  
  I don’t want to be like either of them. I want to learn the voice of God and then learn to obey Him. All of the time. I don’t ever want to say to Him that I won’t do something He asks. I say that I won’t go on the mission field, or become a pastor, but that’s because I can say He hasn’t asked. But if He does, I want to be able to say yes to His will, even if I want to say no! Just a thought! Wonderful Jesus!
  
  Posted in obedience, Parable of Jesus | 3 Comments | Tagged Attitude, father, Jesus, obedience, parable, sons, vineyard, will of God
- How Is That Even Fair?
  
  Posted at 9:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on June 16, 2020
  
  Matthew 20:1-7 – “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ ESV
  
  This is another popular parable. If you recall, in the 19th chapter of Matthew, Peter has just been told that it will be difficult for a rich man to enter into the kingdom. Peter then replies, that they have left all to follow Jesus and wants to know, “Therefore, what shall we have?” In the Message Bible his question is rendered, “What do we get out of it?”
  
  The Lord tells the disciples of the rewards that they will receive: they will rule with Him, everything given up will be restored 100 fold, and of course, eternal life. Then He shares that the last will be first, and the first will be last. But He doesn’t stop there. He then shares with them what the kingdom will be like, using the parable of the workers in the vineyard.
  
  The master goes out to find workers for his vineyard. He hires workers at 6 am, goes again and hires more at 9 am, then noon, and finally at the 11th hour, which is 5 pm. The work day ends at 6 pm. He agrees to pay the first workers a denarius for a full day’s work. Then, subsequently, he offers the same pay to the others, even those who work for only an hour.
  
  When the day ends, the master has the foreman call over the workers, and since they start with the last one hired and gives him a denarius, those who worked all day, thought they would received more. When they also receive a denarius, they become angry with the owner. He replies that he can do what he wants with that which is his; and that they received the payment that was agreed upon. Basically, they were asking, “How is this even fair? We worked all day long in your vineyard, even at its hottest point; and you make them equal to us. That just isn’t fair!” Well, whether it was fair or not, it was right; because it was his money, and therefore his decision.
  
  I have heard the phrase, “That isn’t fair,” more times than I can remember. As a matter of fact, I wish I could’ve placed a jar in my classroom to collect a dollar every time it was said! I got to the place where I stopped defending if something was fair or not, and started saying, “It may not seem fair to you, but it’s the right thing to do!” Then I’d keep it moving!
  
  The situation in the vineyard is exactly like the kingdom, some people will get saved as kids, others as teens, and still others as young adults, and they will serve God faithfully all of their lives. They’ll start churches, go on mission fields, feed the poor, teach Sunday School, and a host of other things before they die. Then there will be those who get saved and not serve Him for any real length of time, or not at all. Well, when they get to heaven, all of them will receive the gift of eternal life. There are no degrees of eternal life. It’s the same for us all! Your works may determine your rewards in heaven, but we all get the same pay, eternal life!
  
  Then there is the attitudes of the first workers, like some in the kingdom. Instead of them realizing the good heart of the one who hired them, they were complaining because they felt cheated. Most of us probably feel that it really wasn’t fair! None of us would “really” be happy to find out that we worked all day long and got the same pay that someone, who only worked an hour, received. Let’s keep it real! I can understand where they were at. However, they were more interested in how it wasn’t fair to them, and they couldn’t see the blessing that the master was to the last workers. In a very real sense, those families could have gone hungry that night had the master not shown compassion on them. If the first workers would’ve have been the last hired, it would have been the favor of God, and we all know that favor ain’t fair. But because they watched it happen to the other workers, the thought the master had treated them unfairly!
  
  Can you relate? How many times have you complained to God because of something He did for someone else? Especially a new believer? Your marriage is going through and you’ve been praying for years. Someone gets saved, their marriage is a disaster, but within a few months, their marriage is restored. How is that even fair? Well, since I don’t know all of the details, I just have to say, God knows what He is doing. His compassion knows no limit! Maybe less complaining will get you the same results.
  
  Another point is the character of the master. He had a heart of compassion for those workers who wanted to work but couldn’t find a means to provide for their families. They had been overlooked, maybe rejected, but the master of the vineyard hired them. Just like in the kingdom. All of us are important to God. It doesn’t matter when we cry out to and make ourselves available to Him, He accepts us! So how is that even fair? It is if you are the recipient! God says your heart is evil if you feel this way about how He runs the kingdom. I don’t know about you, but I want my heart to be right before the Master.
  
  Lastly, the first shall be last and the last shall be first. The kingdom message was given first to the Jews and lastly to the Gentiles. But today, the Gentiles carry the message of the kingdom and the Jews are catching on. In which case, they are last! How’s that even fair? They did reject Him as a nation, and the Gentiles accepted Him. Now they have to get in line to receive their Messiah! There may be more to that, but that’s all I have for now. Wonderful Jesus!
  
  Posted in God’s Blessings, Kingdom of God, Parable of Jesus | 1 Comment | Tagged Attitude, complaining, favor, Jesus, Kingdom of God, parable, provision, vineyard, workers in vineyard
- Where Did You Build?
  
  Posted at 3:49 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on June 13, 2020
  
  Matthew 7:24-27 – “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” ESV
  
  Jesus concludes His Sermon on the Mount with this parable. It’s actually a very fitting ending to a remarkable teaching to His followers about life in the Kingdom of God. The hearers in the audience were raised in Judaism, whose ancestry went back to Abraham, and they were very familiar with the Law. However, in this sermon, Jesus doesn’t stress the importance of following the Law, but the importance of a sincere heart of obedience towards God.
  
  This parable is short and to the point and needs little interpretation. The message of this parable, is powerful and life changing, and as applicable today as when He first spoke it.
  
  There are two builders. One is wise and one is foolish. The wise man builds his house on a rock, and according to Luke, he dug deep into the rock to lay his foundation. The foolish man built his house on the sand, without laying a foundation at all. The storms came upon both houses, but the house built on the rock, with deep foundations, withstood the storms, while the house on the sand was destroyed.
  
  I read in a commentary on Matthew, that the land of Palestine required that one should be careful about where he chose to build a house. In some areas, the land was filled with gullies, or ravines created by water. In the summer time the sandy hollows of the gullies looked like a great place to build, because of it’s flat surface. However, if you chose that area upon which to build, in the winter you would have raging torrents of rushing water to deal with. If this were to happen, it could literally destroy your house.
  
  Imagine you built your house in a gully thinking that it’s a great place to enjoy the sun and sand, and maybe even the waterfront. You have easy access to the life you enjoy and all is well in the land. Then one day the heavy winds and rain come along and you have to get out as fast as possible to not be carried away with the house. Life isn’t fair! How could God let this happen to you?
  
  Your neighbor, on the other hand, built his house on the hill. When the storm came, he and his family were quite safe in their home. They continued on as usual because their sturdy house, that had it’s foundation in the rock, was secure. Again, you think, life isn’t fair! God loves your neighbor more than you! Does He? Or is there something else going on?
  
  Jesus says it clearly, the wise men is the one who hears His words and does them. The foolish man is the one who hears His words and does not do them. One person is living a life of obedience and the other person is not. Both of these people heard Jesus, but only one of them obeyed Him. Yet, people easily become embittered over a situation of their own making, blaming God, because someone needs to take the blame, other than them!
  
  In the Church, we have both types of people: wise and foolish. They both attend church, read the Bible, memorize scripture, attend conferences, and buy Christian literature. They both look the same, like strong Christians! But when the storms of life hit, they reveal the truth about each and every person. Both had the appearance of a solid Christian faith, because they both heard the word, but only one was able to withstand the storm. The one that withstood the storm had laid the foundation of his house on the Rock; while the other one only looked like he had.
  
  Jesus’ parable is touching a place where we don’t want to go. He lets us know that an intellectual knowledge of Him and His kingdom principles will not sustain you in the tough times. Nor do they represent a commitment to Him. Looking like you are alright, when you are not, will one day expose you for the fraud that you are. It is a life of obedience and heartfelt worship and service that keeps us anchored to the Rock! It is obedience that is the proof of life surrendered to Christ!
  
  The apostles continued this teaching when James wrote that we are to not only be hearers of the word, but doers also. John furthered this teaching by saying we are liars if we say we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness. Interesting to note, there was no third house mentioned. You know the one, the house of the partially obedient person?
  
  If I tell my child to clean the kitchen, and she only washes the dishes, did she obey me? If I tell my student he can go to the bathroom, but he also went to his locker and got some water, did he obey me? If Jesus tells me that committing adultery is wrong, and I’m not having an affair but I love pornography, am I obeying Him?
  
  Jesus introduced, at the close of His sermon, a radical new way of thinking. He actually revolutionized what following God was all about. It’s not about getting caught up in the rules and being able to recite them, but demonstrating absolute obedience to Him and His way of doing things. Remember, the wise man’s life was secure in Jesus and protected from the storms, while the foolish man’s life was headed for sure destruction. Are you being wise, or foolish? Only you really know the answer to that question! Wonderful Jesus!
  
  Posted in hard times, obedience, Parable of Jesus | 0 Comments | Tagged Christian, God, Handling difficulties, hard times, Jesus, Jesus as teacher, obedience, parable, protection, Victorious Living, word of God
- Reaching Your Fullest Potential!
  
  Posted at 9:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on June 11, 2020
  
  Matthew 18:23-27 – Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. NKJV
  
  This parable gives us insight to kingdom living at its finest. The king is calling his servants to him that they may give an account of all they owe him. A servant comes before him with a debt of 10,000 talents. That’s a lot of debt. If a talent is worth a dollar, that’s a minimum of 10 grand. At that time, it would have been significant. I looked up the value, but it isn’t as important as what is being said.
  
  The servant doesn’t have the ability to pay the debt, so the king’s orders are that he is to be sold, along with his wife, his kids, and everything he owns. But he begs the king to be patient with him and to give him a chance to pay. The king is moved with compassion and releases him of his debt!
  
  This parable follows a question that Peter asks of Jesus about how many times should he forgive his brother? Then in a magnanimous way he asks, “Up to seven times?” Jesus replies, “Up to 70 times 7”. Then Jesus launches into this parable.
  
  After the servant is forgiven his debt, he goes out and sees someone who owes him 100 denarii. This is significantly less than what he owed the king. However, when he was asked by the debtor to give him time to pay it, the forgiven servant wouldn’t hear it, and he had the man thrown into debtor’s prison. Those who saw it, reported his behavior to the king, the king was upset, and threw him into debtor’s prison canceling the forgiven debt.
  
  This parable is one of the easy ones to understand, although Jesus gives us insight to its meaning. Jesus concluded the parable by saying, “So my Heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
  
  It’s just that simple! We read it, we acknowledge that it is a truth, and then we have difficulty living it out. Notice, I said “we”. But Jesus is pretty clear on this! Some people are going to need forgiveness over and over and over again. No matter how many times they say they are sorry and they will never do it again, they do it again. And yes, we are to forgive them every single time because if we don’t, we won’t be forgiven.
  
  You know what? I don’t think people really believe that their lack of forgiveness, no matter how justified, will hinder them from being forgiven by the Father. But Jesus said it would. What pain, what hurt, what wrongdoing, is worth risking the Father’s unforgiveness? When He has forgiven much, He has no difficulty to ask us to do the same.
  
  There is no way that we can please the heart of the Father if we are always looking to have our debts forgiven, but we are not willing to forgive the debts of others. Jesus told us to pray that we are able to “forgive those who trespass against us”. He understood it wouldn’t be easy. But it is necessary, He said, if we want forgiveness.
  
  Don’t allow anything, or anyone to separate you from God. Don’t give them the power to hinder your precious relationship with Him. It may take an act of faith, and it may be slow in happening, but if you will make a step towards forgiveness, God will enable you to do it!
  
  Can I just give you a note of caution: If someone were to sexually abuse my daughter, I would ask God to help me to forgive that person. But I would not feel a need to become that person’s friend or to have them in my life to prove that I have forgiven them. We each must follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. But I don’t believe that forgiveness means that we have to keep putting ourselves or our family members in harm’s way to prove that we have forgiven an individual.
  
  My husband and I loaned someone about two thousand dollars. They never did pay it back. We didn’t allow that money to hinder us from fellowship, or from helping when a different need arose. We forgave and kept it moving. But we probably wouldn’t loan that person two thousand dollars again. If the Lord prompted us to help that person financially, we would do it! But it would only be at His command, because we are wise stewards of our money. Forgive, that you might receive His forgiveness; because without His forgiveness, your life will never reach it’s fullest potential! Wonderful Jesus!
  
  Posted in Forgiveness, Parable of Jesus, relationships | 6 Comments | Tagged Forgiveness, Jesus, obedience, parable, Prayer
- The Sower Sows Seed
  
  Posted at 9:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on June 9, 2020
  
  Matthew 13:3-9 – “Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” NKJV
  
  The parable is called, “The Parable of the Sower”, but it is really not about the sower. As a matter of fact, the sower could really be anyone, as the sower is not an important part of the parable. I’ll come back to the sower.
  
  The seed that the sower sowed is the seed of the word, or of the gospel. The seed is important because the sower, whomever that may be, is sowing (teaching or preaching) the Word. That’s important to know to understand this parable.
  
  The ground is the heart of the individual who hears the word. There are four types, the wayside, stony places, thorny ground, and good ground. Each of these individuals hear the word. We will use each type of hearer, or ground, to learn what Jesus is saying.
  
  Let’s begin with the seed that falls by the wayside and is eaten by the birds. “And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.” Jesus tells us in His explanation that when anyone hears the Word and doesn’t understand it, it’s easy for the enemy to steal the word. This is likened to when you hear a sermon, that your mind rejects for whatever reason, and the enemy steals that word from you. If you have an issue with the “tithing” message, when you hear it, it would fall on the wayside of your life, because you didn’t understand it, and that keeps you from believing it and receiving the blessing of tithing. It was wasted seed in your regards. This person is unreceptive to the Word.
  
  Then we have the seed on stony ground. “Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.” Jesus said this person also hears the word and receives it with joy, has no root in himself, but endures for a little while. As soon as he is persecuted or have some type of tribulation come upon him because of the word, he is tripped up and the word is null and void in his life. Let’s stay with tithing. In this case, you hear about tithing, you get excited about tithing and as soon as someone in your family start giving you a hard time about it, you decide it’s not that important. The word had no root in you and withered away. This person is shallow, and has no true interest in the word.
  
  The thorny ground has a little more depth to it. “And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.” Jesus explains that this person hears the word but allows the cares of the word and the deceitfulness of riches to choke the word. This person has heard the word about tithing. As they are being taught about tithing the enemy reminds them of their bills, of what they could do with that money, or just too preoccupied with the world. And for some reason, that person just can’t seem to bring himself to tithe or to do so faithfully. The word has been choked out of his life. Jesus said, this person is unfruitful.
  
  Lastly, good ground. “But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” This person not only hears the word, but Jesus said this person understands the word that has been heard. This individual receives the word as truth, believes it is necessary for their life, and acts upon it. This person would be the one who becomes a tither. Faithful, diligent, committed tither, because the word that was heard and understood took root in his heart. This person will have much fruit, in differing degrees of fruitfulness, but will still the reward of being good ground.
  
  Let’s go back to the sower. The sower is the pastor, the Bible teacher, the Sunday School teacher, the conference speaker, in other words, the deliverer of the word. The sower has the responsibility to sow the word, but every person has the responsibility to have good ground, a heart that is open to the Word. Grant it, some things may be new to you, and you may need to have more clarity before you embrace it, but your ground should be open to receive the word.
  
  Another point about the sower. The sower sows the word and has no control over the ground the seed will fall upon. In an audience, of any size, there will be all types of soil, but the sower’s responsibility is to sow; and the hearers’ responsibility is to hear and gain understanding in order to bear much fruit.
  
  Being unreceptive, shallow, or too preoccupied with the world hinders the word of God from taking root in the soil of our hearts. It hinders fruitfulness in our lives. This is why Jesus said it is such an important parable and it helps us to understand the others. What is produced in our lives, depend on how we hear and understand the word that is sown. Wonderful Jesus!
  
  Posted in Parable of Jesus, the Word of God | 0 Comments | Tagged good ground, hearer of the word, Jesus, parable, seed, sowing, the Word of God, understanding
- He Spoke in Parables
  
  Posted at 5:45 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on June 6, 2020
  
  Matthew 13:3 – “Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. NKJV
  
  I’ve been reading through the Bible. Sometimes I just like to focus on reading the Bible from cover to cover, for the simple pleasure of reading. I am in the New Testament and will probably finish it by next Saturday. As I’ve been thinking about the blog, and just my own time with the Lord, I believe that I will spend some time studying the parables of Jesus, something I’ve never focused on before.
  
  What is a parable? The word parable, or “parabole” in the Greek, according to the Vine’s Dictionary, is “a narrative, fictitious but agreeable to the laws and usages of human life, by which either the duties of men or the things of God, particularly the nature and history of God’s kingdom are figuratively portrayed; a comparing, comparison of one thing with another, likeness, similitude”. This is important to note, because all parables are not stories, for in the gospel of John, the author uses metaphors that teach us the nature of the Son of God.
  
  When I was growing up in the things of God, my question to Jesus was, why did you talk so much in parables? Why didn’t you just say what you meant? Then at least I wouldn’t have to wonder about what you wanted me to know. Have you ever felt like that, or even thought that? If so, you are in good company, because the disciples also felt this way when they asked Jesus the same question, why parables?
  
  Well, the answer to that question is in the word itself. The first time Matthew uses the word parable is in the 13th chapter. Up until this time, Jesus is speaking pretty plainly to the people. As He goes about healing and casting out demons, people begin to either reject and criticize Him, or they begin to believe on Him. By the time we get to Matthew 13, He begins to conceal His message of the kingdom in parables. It is this obvious disdain and rejection that causes Jesus to begin to speak in parables, intentionally targeting His disciples with His message.
  
  Another key reason He speaks in parables is that it was prophesied that He would. Psalm 78: 2 – “I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old.” Isaiah gives even greater insight when he writes in Isaiah 6:9-10, that He would speak and they wouldn’t hear or understand. Jesus even quotes this when He explains the purpose of the parables to His disciples.
  
  And lastly, from the words of Jesus Himself, the most important reason is, because the message of the kingdom is for those who are in the kingdom. Kingdom citizens need to know what is being said to them by their King. Therefore, we will seek to understand what is being said to us in the parables, whereas, those outside of the kingdom will be unable to understand, or could care less.
  
  I’m always trying to look at the word and make it applicable to my life. When I think of the use of parables, I think of how some couples relate to each other. A husband and wife that truly spend time together, learn to communicate in ways that others don’t understand. There may be special phrases, nuances, or looks that they exchange with one another to convey a message meant just for the two of them. This deepens their intimacy and keep private, things that are not meant for others.
  
  As Jesus’ Bride, the parables serve as a “special” message reserved for us. When He talks about seed, we understand that He is talking about His word, or an offering, but not an actual seed in a garden. We don’t get it all at once, and sometimes, we need help in the understanding, but those of the kingdom persist in their journey to understand what it is the King is saying.
  
  Not only do I read the Bible, but I’ve had years of teaching and studying the Bible. I enjoy searching out the scriptures, reading commentaries, and listening to sermons to understand what Jesus is saying to us through the Word. After decades of doing all of this, I am still amazed at how much I don’t know about the Word and how much I need to know still. But I also know some things. As I go through this study, I will encounter truths I understand well, truths I’ve heard but need clarification on, and some things I just didn’t really understand. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do the same for you, and at the end we will all have a more intimate understanding of Jesus, our King! Wonderful Jesus!
  
  Posted in Parable of Jesus, the Word of God | 1 Comment | Tagged Jesus, parables, prophecy of Jesus, teaching the word of God
- Another Pandemic!
  
  Posted at 6:20 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on June 4, 2020
  
  John 13:34-35 – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” NIV
  
  This has been a difficult time for the world. Americans, of every ethnic background, but especially Blacks, have taken to the streets in an outrage over the senseless death of another Black man at the hands of a police office, hearts are broken. As protesters have hit the streets all across the world, there is a harsh realization that racism towards people of color is a world-wide pandemic.
  
  A pandemic is (a disease) prevalent over a whole country or the world. And racism is a disease of the heart that is prevalent over this entire country, even this world. I don’t want to blog about it, but to blog about anything else is to casually acknowledge that this is wrong, and then to go on with my life. This is why my blog is so late in getting out today, just struggling about what to write.
  
  Do you know what happens in times like this? I’ll tell you! You have a video player in your heart that clicks on, and every instance of racism you have experienced, heard, read, or thought about fights for a right to play in you mind. You think of your family members and friends who have been subjected to racism and you fight to push back the feelings of anger that want to rush into your heart. And then, you intentionally begin to remind yourself that as a Believer, you have to hang to the words of Jesus like never before. Love as I have loved you!
  
  This is not a denial of what is happening! Not by a long shot. This is not an overlooking of what has happened. It’s not even possible to do that! But it’s a place of starting the healing in my own heart with the intent of moving forward to a brighter tomorrow.
  
  The Covid-19 pandemic, and the influenza pandemic in the early 1900s, were curbed with social distancing. Unfortunately, this pandemic of racism, is a result of social distancing. Not just in the past several months, but as far back as we care to remember. As we have maintained our White communities, our Black communities, our Latino communities, our Asian communities, and so forth and so on…we have in essence given the pandemic of racism a place to thrive. We may work together, we may even socialize together, but we don’t live life together, loving, as we should.
  
  Even in the church, where this commandment should be front and center, it is still not the case. Some how, Black Christians tend to be looked upon as if we are some how an anomaly of the Black community. So, we are accepted in the church, while the “rest” of our community is not accepted. As new creations in Christ Jesus, we are definitely different than the non-believing Black person, but we are still a part of the community of Blacks. And when we don’t see our church leaders take a stand against racism, it creates a division in our hearts, if not in our sanctuaries.
  
  I remember when I arrived at my duty station in Italy. The Senior Chief that I reported to made a statement to me, in the presence of a Black First Class. Said the white guy to the black woman, “I don’t like women, I don’t like Blacks, and I don’t like Southerners. And you are all three.” Seriously? Did you just say that to me, to my face? The First Class laughed, I was appalled. After I reported it, (weeks later after he tried to undermine me and my performance), he was removed from our base. But before he left, he stopped by my room to get me to retract my “accusation” because he was just playing. Will someone please let the world know, this is not a joking matter! Racism is serious business! Because it comes with such negative connotations to people of color and is accompanied with violent consequences, why would anyone think it is okay, or even a minor issue, when it’s always a part of our lives.
  
  We’ve made some grounds in the area of racism, but we have not made enough! Most racists are not as “in your face” as the Senior Chief was, but it is still there. As people of color, we are constantly being told to get over it, to move on, to not hold it against them, to forgive and forget. But in the same line of thinking, when will it stop? How many more people of color have to be falsely arrested, falsely accused, beaten, tazed, and choked to death? How many more times do we have to watch the men and women who have sworn to serve and protect us, be the ones we need to be protected from.
  
  I really wasn’t going to write another blog about this situation. Really! But a couple days ago I received a text. In the text, a young mother of an infant son, shared her heartaches and concerns about what is going on. She’s afraid for the world in which she has to raise her son. This is America! That should not be her concern. She’s not concerned about crime in essence, but about her son being stopped by the wrong officer or white person, and not making it back home. I almost cried. Can I say it again? This is America!
  
  I am not angry! Not even close! But am tired! Nonetheless, I will continue to work on the commandment given to me by my Savior, to love as He has loved me. He’s forgive me of much! More times than I care to admit. He has loved me through the good, the bad, and the ugly. He has loved me when I felt I couldn’t love myself. He loved me so much, He gave His life for me. His love caused Him to come to me on more than one occasion to help me get through trying situations. His love has never failed me. I sense His love even now!
  
  So today, I want to say, that in spite of my emotions about all that is going on, I choose to continue to work on my love towards white officers, in particular. I choose to assume good over bad. I choose to have a right heart instead of a suspicious heart towards them. I choose to love. Also, I choose to try to help others see the need to walk in love and forgiveness towards those who have brought hurt, harm, and loss of life our community once again. Will it be easy? Probably not because every one has to make their own decisions. But this will be my way of adding to the solution and not to the problem.
  
  If we’re going to end this pandemic of racism, we are going to have to close the distances in our society. We’re going to have to stop saying the white people I work with are okay, but not the white cops. The Blacks I attend church with are okay, but not the ones that live in that other neighborhood. We are going to have to reach out to one another with love of Jesus and make a greater commitment to stamp out this pandemic.
  
  If you have been doing that already, thank you! Keep up the great job of building bridges and relationships. If you have not, it really isn’t too late. Start now! If God would have thought that the world would be just wonderful with just white people or just black people, or just brown people, then there would have been no other race. Every nation, kindred, and tongue is expected to be a part of the Bride, so we may as well get it together now, for it will be that way throughout eternity. Wonderful Jesus!
  
  Posted in Jesus, love, pandemic, racism, Social Justice | 2 Comments | Tagged Believer, Forgiveness, God, Healing, Jesus, love, racism, relationships, Social Justice
- The Christian and Social Justice
  
  Posted at 9:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on June 2, 2020
  
  Matthew 23:23 – “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you give a tenth (tithe) of your mint and dill and cumin [focusing on minor matters], and have neglected the weightier [more important moral and spiritual] provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the [primary] things you ought to have done without neglecting the others. AMP
  
  All around America, and in other parts of the world, there is an outcry of racial injustice. People of every ethnic group are crying out for something to be done to balance the scales of justice for people of color. I mentioned before that I am not blogging for political reasons, and so I tend to not touch the issues surrounding our nation, but this time, I must blog because our lives, people of color, Black people, matter!
  
  Jesus spoke some really harsh words to the religious leaders of His day. He told them that they were majoring in the things that were minor, while ignoring the things that are important, and justice was the first thing He mentioned. In other words, He commended them for their religious duties, and rebuked them for not dealing with issues of justice.
  
  Justice means to “make right”. It is a relational term about people living in right relationship with God and with one another. Justice is rooted in the very nature of God Himself because He always does what is right! He is known to be faithful and just! Our very Constitution’s backbone is based on His just laws. And every thing that He is, love, holy, just…He expects from us!
  
  I have taught the Constitution of the United States in my classroom. As a veteran of the United States Navy, I have sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, understanding that, if need be, with my life. But I am also a Black American! When I see what is happening to the greatest nation on the face of the earth, where we will spend millions for the right to bear arms, and ignore our pledge to “ensure domestic tranquility”, it’s disheartening. For domestic tranquility, peace in the land, can’t happen when it’s peace for some of the people and not all of the people.
  
  Christians fight against abortion, we fight against gay marriages, and we fight for our religious freedoms, and all too often, many of those same Christians will reply to “Black Lives Matter” by saying “Blue Lives Matter” or “All Lives Matter”. It’s insulting to think that in the slogan Black Lives Matter, there is a suggestion that, no one else matters, when in essence, it’s really saying: We know all lives matter, and we know the lives of policeman matter, but when are you going to start realizing that our lives matter, too!
  
  There is undeniably a set of rules for Whites, and another set of rules for everyone else. As of 2017, Christians make up over 31% of the world’s population. We are the largest group of people in the world, and yet, racism is still an issue in our world. We have yet to affect enough change upon our laws to ensure that Blacks, and other people of color, have the same protection and value for our lives as our white counterparts.
  
  The Christian is taught to love as Jesus loved us. We are taught that when we come into the kingdom, we are family. We are taught that greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. And yet, racism is still a major problem in the world. 1 out of every 3 people profess Christianity, and yet, people of color are still seen as substandard, expendable, human beings. This is hypocrisy at its max. And I know that Jesus is not pleased!
  
  Amongst the anguish, the riots, the looting, the pain, are the voices of some really great people of all color crying out against this injustice. Not just for George Floyd, or Christian Cooper, or my daughters’ classmates whose car windows were broken out while they were tazored repeatedly by the cops; but for all injustices that we, people of color, deal with on a daily basis. It’s just getting so old!
  
  Here’s the funny thing. I didn’t want to blog on this. I thought, “My readers are all over the world and several of my followers are white people. I am called to teach the word, not to be political, that’s my assignment.” And yet, this is the word, spoken clearly by our Savior! We are not to ignore justice!
  
  Until we can demonstrate our love for every nation of people, and have the same laws apply to us all, and stand against the injustices of humanity, irregardless of the color of our skin, then we are not demonstrating the values that I see in Jesus and His word. And if you find this offensive, then I would really rather not be followed by someone who sees me as okay as long as I am quiet about my race and the injustices that we have to deal with, day in and day out! Because for me and my family and loved ones, this is a matter of life and death. And we cannot afford to ignore it!
  
  If you are a Christian who truly believe the Word, then you cannot be passive about social justice. And neither can I! It’s time to pray for racism to be revealed and dealt within our society. It’s time to ask God to help us be a part of the solution, and not a part of the problem. If there is to be peace in America, then it’s time for there to be peace for all Americans! If there is to be world peace, it’s time for it to be available for everyone. We are His hands extended to a lost and racially biased world, and to change it, maybe it’s time for us to change! Wonderful Jesus!
  
  Note: This is my blog and I fully support the ideas and thoughts expressed in it! I also completely disagree with the violence and looting that is going on and am praying that it cease.
  
  Posted in Christian, Jesus, Social Justice | 9 Comments | Tagged Christian, George Floyd, hypocrisy, Jesus, love, protection, racism, Social Justice, Tithing, word of God
- It’s in the Name!
  
  Posted at 4:03 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on May 30, 2020
  
  Matthew 1:20-23 – “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). NIV
  
  Have you ever stopped to wonder why Isaiah said that His name would be Immanuel, but He is actually Jesus? When I first came to know the Lord, it was one of those questions I had. Well, you may be in the advanced class and know this already, but I just wanted to share, in case there are those who are still wondering.
  
  In the Bible, names had meanings that represented a message that God was sending, or a calling/ministry on an individual’s life, or a memorial to something that was going on. I think of Ichabod, which means the glory has departed from Israel. So every time someone referred to him, or he heard his name, or thought of his name, he was forever reminded that on the day of his birth, his dad, his uncle, and his grandfather died, and the glory departed from Israel. Poor baby! Another interesting time of naming kids happened when Hosea and Gomer had children. He had a daughter named Lo-Ruhamah, which means “not loved” for God had decided that He would no longer show love to Israel. How messed up would a young lady be with this name today, if she knew that her mother had named her “not loved”? But for the record, God wasn’t saying the daughter was not loved, just that He would no longer show love to Israel.
  
  The name Jesus was a common Hebrew name. (Actually in Hebrew, it is Yeshua, and in the Greek, it is Joshua). When the Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, to calm his fears in regard to marrying Mary, and to inform him of the unique assignment he and Mary were being given, the Angel told him to name the baby, Jesus. The reason Joseph was to name the baby Jesus was because He, Jesus, would save His people from their sins. Then Matthew informs us that this is in fulfillment of the prophetic word given by Isaiah.
  
  Well, from what Matthew said, we can understand that the virgin conceived. After all, that was the whole point in the angelic visit, to assure Joseph that Mary hadn’t been dishonest with him. She was truly pregnant by Holy Spirit, and had never been touched by a man, in an illicit affair. So this point was made without a doubt, but the name isn’t Immanuel, it is Jesus. We are told that He will save the people from their sins, but not how He is God with us! And yet, he does!
  
  The truth that a virgin conceives is a supernatural occurrence. It is out of the norm. It can’t happen. But it did, because God made it happen. He placed the seed of Himself, into Mary, and when Jesus was born, “God with us” became a reality. Throughout the book, Matthew continues to share through the encounters of the Jews with Jesus that He is no ordinary man, but He is, in fact, God. He heals the sick, He multiplies food, He walks on water, and He expels demons; bringing God into the everyday lives of the people. Not the super religious, not the rich, but the lives of the common man. And so He is God with us!
  
  Matthew ends his book in a way that sums it all up; chapter 28, verse 20 – “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus proclaims to His disciples, and the world, that He is with us always. He, God the Son, is with us! Thus we have the proof, the solidarity of what God said through Isaiah, and what actually happened, that the virgin did conceive and His name is Immanuel. Remember, a name is as much about who we are called, as it is about what we are called to do. So although we call Him Jesus, for He saves us from our sins; we also call Him Immanuel, for He is God with us always!
  
  Back to the name Jesus! It was a common name, but once the Son of God took on this name, it became a holy name, a name above every name, the most powerful name known to man. Demons tremble at that Name, disease disappears at that Name, power is released at that Name. There is no other Name given amongst men, whereby we can be saved, but the Name of Jesus! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Wonderful Jesus!
  
  Posted in Holy Spirit, Immanuel, Jesus | 0 Comments | Tagged angelic visitation, Christmas story, dreams, God, God with us, Holy Spirit, Jesus, miraculous, names, Salvation, supernatural, virgin birth
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