Good Soil

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed,

some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

He who has ears, let him hear."

Matthew 13:3-9

It's Morning, Jesus
I am praying for living soil.
I am praying for man, made from dirt.
I am praying for upright soil
into which you breathed the breath of life


I pray that the message of the Kingdom will be heard.
I pray for those who do not understand the message of the Kingdom.
Because of their lack of understanding, Satan snatches away the seed,
like birds picking up seed on a path.

Grant me, Lord, today, a renewed vision of your kingdom
A new excitement
A renewed insight to how the Kingdom works
A renewed surprise at the radical presence of the Kingdom all around us.

Touch our understanding, Lord Jesus,
That the evil one may not snatch the seed of the Kingdom from our hearts.

I pray Lord, for those who, receiving the Kingdom, have no root.
I pray for Sunday School Classes, small groups, intensive bible studies,
community experiences...that each will become good soil in which the sown and germinating seed of God can take root and be nourished. Deepen friendships in the faith; give us a hunger and thirst for the fellowship of believers. Shape our appetities from the things of this world to the hearts and spirits of each other. Give us spirtual intimacy above our material fancies; turn our hearts from the billboards of the world calling us to consumption and attune our hearts to the needs of your kingdom people all around us calling for friendship and comfort.

Pray, Lord, for those who hear the word,
But the deceitfulness of wealth, chokes it out.
Wealth promises them what only the Spirit can give.
Wealth cheats them of the true wealth of the kingdom.
The worries of this life, choke out the joys of the Kingdom.

And I pray, Lord
For good ground.
For the one who receives the word of the kingdom and understands it.
It multiplies. It grows.
And what does he understand, Lord?
That the kingdom of heaven is in his midst.
That the kingdom of heaven is here...already, but not yet.
That the kingdom of heaven is a mixture of wheat and tares
That the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed
made out of small, small things
That the kingdom of heaven is like a little bit of yeast the leavens the whole lump.
That the kingdom of heaven has enemies, who come and sow tares among the wheat at night.
That the kingdom of heaven is really like a pearl...that when really understood and found..causes a man to sell everything he has, and invest his all in it.

Come, O' Holy Spirit
And show us the kingdom.

Amen