I love reading the Word of God for many reasons.  One reason is to see how I can apply it to my life. The life of Jesus from the gospels shows us how He lived on earth, so I look for connections there to my own life.  I don’t presume to be like those amazing and brave first followers, but I am a follower of Jesus!  Paul tells us we are to put into practice the things he has taught, so I believe that is applicable to the rest of the Bible as well.

The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Phil 4:9).

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; (Eph 5:1).

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.  (Cor 11:1).

From the Journal . . .  May 2026

I was reading Luke 8, where Jesus tells the parable of the sower and the seed. Some seeds fell on the path and were eaten or squished. Others fell on rocky ground, where they began to grow but could not last because there was no moisture. Some fell among weeds and thorns, which choked the young plants. But some seeds fell on fertile soil—perhaps soil that had already been prepared—and produced a hundred times as much as was planted. Jesus ended by saying,

“Anyone who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke 8:8).

He doesn’t give the crowd more explanation of the parable at this time.  It’s like a teaser. His disciples ask what the parable means and He explains it to them, but first He says,

“To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand “ (Luke 8:10).

Later, the disciples would preach the parable with understanding to the crowds.

God I’m so grateful for Your Word and Holy Spirit. Luke, a disciple of the apostles, wrote it all out. It was never meant to remain a secret.

I know Jesus had His reasons for not explaining more to the general crowd. He said it was for His disciples to know the mystery of what He said. But the others were not allowed to understand. I confess I don’t understand why He wouldn’t explain to the whole crowd at the time but that is what Jesus did and He is never ever wrong in word or deed!

The disciples had shown a desire to learn and understand. They were committed to Jesus and He evidently was confident they could accurately communicate the meaning to others.

Wow Lord! Is that like Your words to me? Do you give me the words, confident that I can accurately communicate the meaning to others?

And God Said to Me:

Yes. I give you words because you desire to hear from Me and only Me.

‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know’ (Jeremiah 33:3).

You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “I shall seek Your face, Lord.” (Psalm 27:8).

You want truth and you want to serve Me by spreading the good news that you receive from Me. You want My glory and My good for your life. You also want My good for your people. Tell the good news. Tell the gospel. I created and gave this beautiful world for My children.  All are free to enjoy it in their temporal lifetime. It’s free to them. No requirement. No rent.  To live on in eternity with Me they are required to believe in Me, surrender to Me, and recognize sin and their inability to save themselves. They must call on Me to save them. There is no salvation without that. I am the way, the truth, and the life.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.(John 14:6).

There is so much here Lord! Thank you! I love Your Words!