Good seed sunrise #19

Everywhere, all the time – God is speaking.

He’s talking specifically, personally to you and to me – and to “us”.

He’s speaking through His Word, He’s speaking through his Holy Spirit, He’s speaking through your pastor’s preaching, He’s speaking through the conversations you have, He is speaking through the prophetic signs of our day, He’s speaking through your circumstances. 

Besides signs, wonders and miracles; Jesus most often used parables  – simple illustrations –  to teach about God and His ways.

In the gospel storyline, his first was the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-8 and explained in Matthew 13:18- 23 (also paralleled in Mark 4:1-9).

The rest of my remarks assume that you are familiar with the parable, so if you don’t know it, go and read it now.

Jesus is pleading and interceding for us today just as he did when he first taught this parable and spoke these words  – “Let anyone who has ears to hear, listen!” Matthew 13:8

What is Jesus saying?

Hear the words of the kingdom.

Receive it.

Understand it.

Grow on it.

Act on it.

Then you will bear much good fruit.

Then you will be exponentially blessed to be a blessing.

Now as I like to frequently say, “the Bible is a big book with a lot of information.” But it’s the primary place to start as we seek to hear from the Lord, to listen for the words of the kingdom.

We are still early in the new year, relatively speaking, and already many of us may be “behind” in our Bible reading plan and start to feel overwhelmed and like giving up. If you’re on any kind of schedule to read through the Bible in a year, it’s going to be a lot of data and a good amount of time invested to stay on track.

One method I employ to fight overwhelm is to find one thing that I can glean from the daily reading and focus on or meditate upon that. Hence my almost daily Instagram #SeasonOf Light sunrise photos with a scripture, almost always culled from the reading for that day. [I also use the hashtag #SunriseWorshipDevotional]

The point is not to simply read the Bible out of a religious duty or obligation, but to actively seek to hear what Jesus is saying, to listen for the “words of the kingdom”.

Keep it simple.

Hear The Word + Grow In It = Abundance of Good Outcomes

I hope that’s helpful to you. If you’re behind your on reading, don’t quit. Narrow it down to finding even one “word” for now.

Be a blessing to somebody today!

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About Season Of Light

I am writing a devotional series called “Season of Light” (#SeasonOfLife) during the beginning of 2016, focusing on the 40 day season of Epiphany (from January 6 – February 10). We’ll explore the major biblical themes of the beginning of Jesus ministry, and I’ll comment as the Holy Spirit inspires. This is for the purpose of growing in our relationship with the Lord. My desire – my hope and prayer for you – is that your heart may expand and your spirit grow brighter as we seek to be filled with the knowledge and presence of God. So, I invite you to join me on the “Season of Light” journey!

Often I’ll be inspired by a scripture from the Daily Audio Bible readings and use that as a writing prompt. Here’s the DAB readings for January 19: Genesis 39:1-41:16; Matthew 12:46-13:23; Psalms 17:1-15; Proverbs 3:33-35 (

Our church is also on a reading plan of four chapters per day, starting in the New Testament. Today is Mark 10-13.