Author: Bill Hall

Mark 4:32
   Jesus is signifying here that the kingdom grows to a worldwide extent. Though it starts small, the kingdom is in God’s hand. It is sure to fill the world because it is in his program for this present age. It cannot be stopped.

Exodus 29:1-30:38

1 John 2:29 “If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.”

Heavenly Father, you are present everywhere always. You are able completely anytime. You are informed infinitely every time. We cannot fool you. We cannot escape you. We cannot be greater than you. We bow to your awesome holiness and righteousness. Your truth is such a blessing to us! It makes our lives what they are. As the Creator, you can lead us every moment. We can trust your sovereign care. Thank you for your goodness! In the name if the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a lady with several physical needs. Pray for a man in the hospital. Pray for two lost individuals.

Journal #15125

Mark 4:31
   Seeds start out small, seemingly insignificant. Yet, they contain great potential in just that small package. The mustard seed was common to that area, and would have been familiar to Jesus’ listeners.

Bible Reading: Exodus 27:1-28:43

Scripture Memory: 1 John 2:28 “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, never will we know just how much you have done for us. If we were to collect a mustard seed for every blessing that you bestow upon us, the world would run out of seed. Your greatness is impossible to describe in its entirety. But, we will continue to praise you our whole lives through and then sing your praises in heaven above. You are worthy! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a man recovering from gallbladder problems. Pray for a woman recovering from a fall.

Journal Entry #15124

Mark 4:30
   This type of introduction was a good way to introduce a parable. It gave people a heads up on what was coming next.

Bible Reading: Exodus 24:1-26:37

Scripture Memory: 1 John 2:27 “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and mercy! You have given us so much. May we live to give to you. You are worthy of our praises and adoration. You alone reign over all. You alone know the end from the beginning. You alone understand this universe you have made in its entirety. Thank you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a man who is lost. Pray for a man who has cancer.

Journal Entry #15123

Mark 4:29
   The great harvest of souls in the church age is still coming forth. Many are being saved every day. The Great Comission has not stopped its advance over the globe. There are still places that do not have the Word.

Bible Reading: Exodus 21:1-23:33

Scripture Memory: 1 John 2:26 “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word! In it we find hope for life. In it we find wisdom for our choices. In it we find truth for our future. In it we are introduced to a relationship with you. Oh thank you for what we can find in it! Thank you for the truth in Christ! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a man with lung problems.

Journal Entry #15122

Mark 4:28
   There is a process to the growth. This is true of the gospel age. There is a process and progression. We understand some of it, but do not know about all of it. For example, though we know that the rapture will take place, we don’t know when or exactly what will cause the Lord to decide it is the time for it.

Exodus 17:1-20:26

1 John 2:25 “And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.”

Pray for a woman with a broken bone.

Heavenly Father, thank you for telling us just what we need to know. Though we often think it would be better if we knew everything, we know it is not. We can trust you to do the best thing. We can trust you for our future, because you tell us the truth. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, amen.

Journal #15121

Mark 4:27
   It is still somewhat of a mystery how seeds grow. Though, through modern science, we can explain the process quite well, we cannot replicate it. Biotechnology works with what is already there rather than producing something new.
   So, the sower knows that after some time seeds will begin to grow, but he does not know exactly how this takes place. Though we know the conditions under which the truth of God’s Word takes root in a heart, we cannot make it happen. Like the seed, though describable, the process cannot be replicated.

Exodus 14:1-16:36

1 John 2:24 “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.”

Heavenly Father, thank you for your wisdom, you know how the seeds work, and you can make them. You have the power to create new things. Thank you for being so holy and wise. You don’t just destroy people out of hand. You deal with us individually and love us each one. Your mercy is available and free to us. We will give you the glory because you really are the best. Jesus is the foundation of all that we know and need. He is the Christ, the one who has made our existence an amazing thing. By him we may rule in our places once again. By him we may be your ambassadors. Thank you for your word, dear Father! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, amen.

Pray for those who faithfully serve the Lord week after week. Pray for the lost. Pray for a woman with cancer. Pray for a man who has a bad cold and has to work.

Journal #15120

Mark 4:26
   We will easily miss the method of planting employed here. This man does not plant a certain number of seeds in certain spots. Instead, he throws the seed into an area of ground. This is much like what we do when we plant grass.
   This helps us with the illustration. The gospel is spread generally, and then more is done for the growing seed as it appears. If you plant grass, some of the seeds will not produce. Those that do you will revisit and water, and tend, to get it to grow.

Exodus 11:1-13:22

1John 2:23 “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.”

Heavenly Father, thank you for this week with my family. You are so nice to us to give us the joy of enjoying one another. You provide all the good blessings in this life. Thank you for all that we may have and be in Christ. May our lives be an endless testimony of service to him! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, amen.

Pray for a man having brain surgery to remove a tumor. Pray for a woman recovering from surgery.

Journal #15119

Mark 4:25
   Please, may I beg of you, never take for granted the wonderful blessings God has given you! Praise Him daily for the fact that he has made his awesome truth available to you. You can go to his word and see the truth for yourself in its pages.
   Jesus here once again lets us know that the measure for judgment will be based upon the revelation that is available to us. So many will go to a devil’s hell, not because they’re bad people, for we all are; but because they failed to take the gift of righteousness by Christ that is offered by Almighty God. The saddest part of the story of this world will not be the great evil and cruelty of man, but the failure of so many men to see the great righteousness and holiness and love of Jesus Christ.

Exodus 8:1-10:29

1 John 2:22 “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”

Payer Requests: Pray for a woman and her newborn. Pray for a woman with stage 4 cancer. Pray for a missionary couple as they readjust to field life.

   Heavenly Father, help us to be faithful servants to you. Help us to use what you have given us, rather than setting it aside. Help us not to miss what you have revealed to us, and that you have enabled us to serve you in your ministry. You have given us the opportunity to be involved in the spread of the gospel. You have given us the opportunity to share the love of Christ of abroad! I praise you for your wondrous grace and mercy! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, amen.

Journal #15118

Mark 4:24
   The Lord knows how much we have heard, and what we have done with it. It is all recorded, he has forgotten nothing.

Bible Reading: Genesis 46:1-48:22

Scripture Memory: 1 John 2:21 “I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for this wonderful day, and for the blessings that you have given us! You are faithful! We love you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for us this weekend as we have our third child. – I will resume posting after we get back from the hospital.

Journal Entry #15117

Mark 4:23
   Jesus said this same thing many times. Indeed, it may have been something people would quote him as saying. It can be very good to be quoted, and saying the same thing over and over helps the quote come out right.

Bible Reading: Genesis 43:1-45:28

Scripture Memory: 1 John 2:20 “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your amazing blessings! You have given us so much. May we always live to serve you. Your praise must be always in our mouth, for you are worthy. Thank you for Jesus, your dear Son! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a family that just lost a loved one recently.

Journal Entry #15116