Seeds

Matthew 13
The Parable of the Sower

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a]

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

 

There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children.

One of these is roots, the other, wings.
Hodding Carter

This month in church we have been talking about the parables of Jesus. The Parable of the sower was always one that spoke to me as a parent. For what greater job do we as parents have than to, not only plant good seed, but to nurture the soil in which that seed is planted? I feel that, as a parent, I spend a good deal of time working to ensure that the environment my children grow up in is one that will nurture them and not only allow for growth, but also for deep roots. If they have roots that grow deep then the storms of life will not blow them over. If they are allowed to reach their full potential then they will bear amazing fruit.



To finish the month's study this Sunday, we had an outdoor service followed by a picnic. Our pastor asked me to come up with a craft for the children to do that might relate back to our parables. I decided to use bird seed. I dyed the bird seed using this tutorial. The bird seed doesn't come out quite as brite as the white rice, but I think it look great any way.
In all the business of getting ready for the big picnic, I forgot to bring my camera. So no photos there, but Birdy and I did wake up early an make some more bird seed masterpieces the next day. I think they turned out great and Birdy loved playing with all the colored seed.

I gave her the glue and just let her choose her own pattern.

Then she would select a color and sprinkle it over the glue dumping the rest back in to the little plastic tubs. After that she would add more glue and pick a new color.

She spent all morning working on her masterpieces. She made three total. The finished product is a little heavy for the paper so I think I will glue it on to poster board. If I did it over again I would probably find something heavier to start with. Other than that I think it was a success!