But while they slept, an enemy came and sowed tares. Ellen Gould Harmon White, c. 1900. Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 The Message Jesus told another story. “God’s kingdom is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. That night, while the farmer’s servants slept, an enemy sowed thistles all through the wheat and slipped away before dawn. When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the weeds showed up, too. “The farmhands came to the farmer and said, ‘S

Noon - Rest from Work, aka "The Siesta". Vincent Van Gogh. Matthew 11:16-19; 25-30 The Message “How can I account for this generation? The people have been like children crying to their parents, ‘We wanted to skip rope, and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk, but you were always too busy.’ John came fasting and they called him crazy. I came feasting and they called me a boozer, a friend of the misfits. Opinion polls don’t count for much, do they? The proof of the p

Jesus and his Twelve Apostles. Matthew 9:35-38; 10:1-23 9:35-38 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out w