Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Thoughts:              Jesus told a parable about a field planted with good seed.  An enemy of the field’s owner planted weeds with the good seed.  The owner’s servants asked if they should destroy the weeds so the good plants could thrive.
 
“No, let them grow together,” the owner said.  “At harvest time, gather the weeds first and burn them.  Then gather the wheat into my barn.”
 
This seems straightforward.  But when the multitude had left, the disciples asked Jesus to explain the parable.
 
Sometimes, when the disciples asked Jesus for an explanation, Jesus was impatient.  We can almost hear his tired sigh, see him shake his head, hear him mutter.”  How could I have made it any clearer!”
 
But this time Jesus responded immediately with a detailed explanation of the parable.  He ended with a beautiful promise:
 
“Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father.”
 
Discussion:            Why is this a lesser known parable?
 
Activity:                 In this record of the Pilgrims’ first few years in the New World, William Bradford wrote that “… one small candle may light a thousand ….”  This week, what could your small candle light?
Remember in prayer this week Vivian Hansard, Dick and Mildred Parker and Mike and Tina Stefanski.
 
This Sunday in the Christian Life Center you may sign up to give blood on August 18th. 
 
Concerns from Sunday, July 16:
Lynne Meek and George and Jane Berquist – Prayers for family and friends of Beth Nitos, a close family member, who died Saturday morning.
Megal Corera – Prayers for my safe trip to Sri Lanka on the 22nd to see my siblings and not contact Dengue and for a safe return back home on August 10th.
Joyce Bauman – Dick and Mildred Parker – Just because…..
Dick Parker – Prayers for my procedure tomorrow and continued healing for Millie.  Thanks for prayers!
Jayne Saeger & Tina Stefanski – The prayers and love and caring from all of you are the support that is sustaining us in this difficult journey.  THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Tim Teagan – For a friend starting treatment for colon cancer and safe travel mercies for the Rumels.
Joy:
Jovi Julian – We give our thanks to God for all His blessings – for my son John Julian being chosen Troy Police Officer of the Year!
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