Day 12 - Mark 4:10-20

10 Afterwards, Jesus, his disciples and those close to him remained behind to ask Jesus about his parables. 11 He said to them, “The privilege of intimately knowing the mystery of God’s kingdom realm has been granted to you, but not to the others, where everything is revealed in parables.

12 “For even when they see what I do, they will not understand, and when they, hear what I say, they will learn nothing, otherwise they would repent and be forgiven.”

13 Then he said to them, “If you don’t understand this parable, how will you understand any parable? 14 Let me explain: The farmer sows the Word as seed, 15 and what falls on the beaten path represents those who hear the Word, but immediately Satan appears and snatches it from their hearts. 16 The seed sown on gravel represents those who hear the Word and receive it joyfully, 17 but because their hearts fail to sink a deep root into the Word, they don’t endure for long. For when trouble or persecution comes on account of the Word, they immediately wilt and fall away. 18 And the seed sown among thorns represents those who hear the Word, 19 but they allow the cares of this life and the seduction of wealth and the desires for other things to crowd out and choke the Word so that it produces nothing.

20 “But the seed sown on good soil represents those who open their hearts to receive the Word and their lives bear good fruit—some yield a harvest of thirty, sixty, even one hundred times more than was sown!”


Terrie's Comments:
I pray that I would receive the Word into Good soil more often than not.  It is so easy to not let the word sink in, or to allow the cares of this life and the desire for things crowd it out so it doesn't produce anything.

I want to receive the word of God joyfully and let it penetrate my heart so that it is allowed to grow and produce an abundant harvest!


Tori's Comments:
The plant just needs to grow, that is it's main focus. And even then, it grows because that's what it was made to do! Not be distracted by wealth or worry.



Day 17
- Read Luke 2:13-21
- Cook Christmas recipes from other countries and pray for people in those countries to know Christ.
- Tell family members you love them
- Take cupcakes to your local fire department
- Decide on a special Christmas donation for a charity




We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. We also have a Christmas list which you will find in the right hand column as well :-) Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!