Grow Better...Not Bitter...
...When Adversity Calls.

Life is not static...change is inevitable -- You and I GROW through change.

Even so......how you grow is up to you.

Are you "wheat"...

...or a "weed"?

It's an important thing to know...

...read on.

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The Parable of the Sower

The following parable...

...is a story told to a large number of people who had gathered around Jesus one day as He was sitting near the shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel.

A few of His most devoted followers...

...called disciples...

...were there, as well.

It is important to note that the parable is told to the curious crowd, as the disciples look on...

...however...

...only the disciples are allowed to understand the meaning of the story.

I present a challenge to you...friend...

...read with the desire to know the mysteries of the kingdom...

...and the eyes of your understanding will be opened.

Ask God for help...and it will be given.

Let Him know...

...you want to grow!

Where are YOU in this curious tale?

**(The stories that follow are taken from the Holy Bible......God's Word. The numbers you see in the text.....are used as reference points to aid in study and presentation.)

Go to "The Disciple"

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Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:1-23 (NCV)

A Story About Planting Seed

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and

sat by the lake. 2 Large crowds gathered around him, so

he got into a boat and sat down, while the people stood

on the shore. 3 Then Jesus used stories to teach them

many things. He said: “A farmer went out to plant his

seed. 4 While he was planting, some seed fell by the

road, and the birds came and ate it all up. 5 Some seed

fell on rocky ground, where there wasn’t much dirt. That

seed grew very fast, because the ground was not deep. 6

But when the sun rose, the plants dried up, because they

did not have deep roots. 7 Some other seed fell among

thorny weeds, which grew and choked the good plants. 8

Some other seed fell on good ground where it grew and

produced a crop. Some plants made a hundred times more,

some made sixty times more, and some made thirty times

more. 9 Let those with ears use them and listen.”

Why Jesus Used Stories to Teach

10 The followers came to Jesus and asked, “Why do you

use stories to teach the people?”

11 Jesus answered, “You have been chosen to know the

secrets about the kingdom of heaven, but others cannot

know these secrets. 12 Those who have understanding will

be given more, and they will have all they need. But

those who do not have understanding, even what they have

will be taken away from them. 13 This is why I use

stories to teach the people: They see, but they don’t

really see. They hear, but they don’t really hear or

understand. 14 So they show that the things Isaiah said

about them are true:

‘You will listen and listen, but you will not understand.You will look and look, but you will not learn.15For the minds of these people have become stubborn.They do not hear with their ears,and they have closed their eyes.Otherwise they might really understand what they see with their eyes and hear with their ears.They might really understand in their minds and come back to me and be healed.’ Isaiah6:9–10

16 But you are blessed, because you see with your eyes

and hear with your ears. 17 I tell you the truth, many

prophets and good people wanted to see the things that

you now see, but they did not see them. And they wanted

to hear the things that you now hear, but they did not

hear them.

Jesus Explains the Seed Story

18 “So listen to the meaning of that story about the

farmer. 19 What is the seed that fell by the road? That

seed is like the person who hears the message about the

kingdom but does not understand it. The Evil One comes

and takes away what was planted in that person’s heart.

20 And what is the seed that fell on rocky ground? That

seed is like the person who hears the teaching and

quickly accepts it with joy. 21 But he does not let the

teaching go deep into his life, so he keeps it only a

short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of

the teaching he accepted, he quickly gives up. 22 And

what is the seed that fell among the thorny weeds? That

seed is like the person who hears the teaching but lets

worries about this life and the temptation of wealth

stop that teaching from growing. So the teaching does

not produce fruit (n) in that person’s life. 23 But what
is the seed that fell on the good ground? That seed is

like the person who hears the teaching and understands

it. That person grows and produces fruit, sometimes a

hundred times more, sometimes sixty times more, and

sometimes thirty times more.”

[1]n: produce fruit: To produce fruit means to have in your life the good things God wants.

[1] The Everyday Bible : New Century Version. Nashville, TN. : Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2005

**All bold emphasis and italics mine.

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Where Are You?

The insight you receive from this story ...

...is a glimpse into your future...my friend.

Perhaps...

...even your destiny. (I don't say this lightly.)

Don't be like those who "look into a mirror and then look away...

...and immediately forget what they looked like."

**Meaning this:

DON'T "SEE YOURSELF" IN THIS PARABLE AND GO ON WITH LIFE AS USUAL...

...UNCHANGED.

DESIRE MORE...dear friend.

Desire more.

Examine yourself...

...and decide to "grow better."

Lets continue.

This next parable takes us one step further in the same thought of growth and growing...

...and reaping and sowing.

Where are you in this one?

This is told by Jesus, as well...

...with the explanation given only to His most devoted followers:

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Matthew 13:24-30 (NCV)

A Story About Wheat and Weeds

24 Then Jesus told them another story: “The kingdom of

heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field.

25 That night, when everyone was asleep, his enemy came

and planted weeds among the wheat and then left. 26

Later, the wheat sprouted and the heads of grain grew,

but the weeds also grew. 27 Then the man’s servants came

to him and said, ‘You planted good seed in your field.

Where did the weeds come from?’ 28 The man answered, ‘An

enemy planted weeds.’ The servants asked, ‘Do you want

us to pull up the weeds?’ 29 The man answered, ‘No,

because when you pull up the weeds, you might also pull

up the wheat. 30 Let the weeds and the wheat grow

together until the harvest time. At harvest time I will

tell the workers, “First gather the weeds and tie them

together to be burned. Then gather the wheat and bring

it to my barn.” ’ ”

Matthew 13:36-43 (NCV)

Jesus Explains About the Weeds

36 Then Jesus left the crowd and went into the house.

His followers came to him and said, “Explain to us the

meaning of the story about the weeds in the field.”

37 Jesus answered, “The man who planted the good seed in

the field is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world,

and the good seed are all of God’s children who belong

to the kingdom. The weeds are those people who belong to

the Evil One. 39 And the enemy who planted the bad seed

is the devil. The harvest time is the end of the age,

and the workers who gather are God’s angels.

40 “Just as the weeds are pulled up and burned in the

fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of

Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out

of his kingdom all who cause sin and all who do evil. 42

The angels will throw them into the blazing furnace,

where the people will cry and grind their teeth with

pain. 43 Then the good people will shine like the sun in

the kingdom of their Father. Let those with ears use

them and listen.

[1] The Everyday Bible : New Century Version. Nashville,

TN. : Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2005

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Leave "Grow the Seed" and go to "Home Page"

Is Your Head Reeling?

Have you ever had an experience where you felt like your present "reality"...

...your daily routine...

...had been peeled away and..

... it's as if you could "pick it up and hold it by the edge"...

...fling it aside...

... and know that it's not really who you are?

You have the faint realization that there's more going on "here"...

...than meets the eye?

Don't ignore that revelation...friend.

It is indeed a revelation...

...a revealing of truth...

...in the midst of illusion.

DO NOT BE DECEIVED.

ALL the "world"...

...with its systems and processes...

...could come crashing down...

...BUT TRUTH REMAINS FOREVER.

Jesus said:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life.The only way to the Father is through me." John 14:6 (NCV)

If you're having even the faintest hint of your "reality" being "pulled back" as you read...

...the "eyes" of your understanding are beginning to "open".

LET THEM OPEN...

...don't fight it.

It may come across as confusing at times...

...but that's OK.

You're in Good Hands...

...you're in the Father's hands.

He will continue to teach you by the Holy Spirit...

...as you desire Him more...

...and as you yearn (or long) to grow in truth.

The Adventure Is Just Beginning...My Friend.

You must want God...

...in all of His majesty...

...more than anything else in this world.

I'm not kidding.

He WILL NOT come second.

You must need Him like you need air.

He will not take second place in your life.

But...

...the moment you make Him first...

...His life in you will begin to grow beyond your wildest imagination.

These next few really short stories may help you grasp this thought better:

(These are a continuation of the parables told by Jesus......but without the interpretations as the first two had. You must grasp these on your own with the help of the Holy Spirit.)

Seek to understand.

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Matthew 13:31-35 (NCV)

Stories of Mustard Seed and Yeast

31 Then Jesus told another story: “The kingdom of heaven

is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.

32 That seed is the smallest of all seeds, but when it

grows, it is one of the largest garden plants. It

becomes big enough for the wild birds to come and build

nests in its branches.”

33 Then Jesus told another story: “The kingdom of heaven

is like yeast that a woman took and hid in a large tub

of flour until it made all the dough rise.”

34 Jesus used stories to tell all these things to the

people; he always used stories to teach them. 35 This is

as the prophet said:

“I will speak using stories;

I will tell things that have been secret since the world

was made.” Psalm 78:2

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Matthew 13:44-52 (NCV)

Stories of a Treasure and a Pearl

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a

field. One day a man found the treasure, and then he hid

it in the field again. He was so happy that he went and

sold everything he owned to buy that field.

45 “Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a man looking

for fine pearls. 46 When he found a very valuable pearl,

he went and sold everything he had and bought it.

A Story of a Fishing Net

47 “Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was

put into the lake and caught many different kinds of

fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled the net

to the shore. They sat down and put all the good fish in

baskets and threw away the bad fish. 49 It will be this

way at the end of the age. The angels will come and

separate the evil people from the good people. 50 The

angels will throw the evil people into the blazing

furnace, where people will cry and grind their teeth

with pain.”

51 Jesus asked his followers, “Do you understand all

these things?”

They answered, “Yes, we understand.”

[1][1] The Everyday Bible : New Century Version. Nashville,

TN. : Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2005

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It IS Worth It...Friend

Do you want to continue to grow?

Do you want (desire) to be a devoted follower (a disciple) of the risen King...

...Jesus: The Son of God?

He reveals His greatest mysteries to His disciples.

The road may become difficult at times...

...but...

...He will empower you to do what He is calling you to do.

Listen...

...I can hear Him calling to you now:

"Come Follow Me."

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READY?

If you're ready to be a devoted follower...

...or just want to see what it's all about...

...continue your journey by going to "The Disciple" (link below).

Grow strong in the Spirit...

...as you continually surrender yourself to Him.

Grow...Grow...Grow!

Blessings...friend.

-- Pilgrim

P.S.) Are you reading and praying...

...everyday?

It's your "food and drink"...my friend...eat up! :)

Leave "Grow The Seed" and go to "The Disciple" Go to "Love God" Referene Page Go to "The Surrender" Go to "The Hush" Go to "Home Page"

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...so others may benefit from your insights or concerns.

Thanks for sharing!

-- Pilgrim