Ready to launch your business? Get started with the commerce platform made for entrepreneurs. Shopify is specially designed to help you start, run and grow your business with easy customizable themes that let you build your brand, marketing tools that get your products out there. Integrated shipping solutions that actually save you time. From startups to scaleups, online, in person and on the go shopify is made for entrepreneurs

like you sign up for your one dollar a month trial at shopify dot com slash set up

hi friends i'm annie f downs let's read the gospels the gospels are the first four books of the

new testament in the bible matthew mark luke andospels are the first four books of the New Testament in the Bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

These are the stories of Jesus Christ's life on earth, the friendships, the parables, the sacrifices, the meals, the miracles.

So here is how it works. I'll read three chapters to you. You can listen or read along in your own Bible or online, and then I'll pray, and that's it.

Today is day 17, and I will be reading Mark chapters 4 through 6 in the new living translation. And if you are using your

let's read the gospel's guided journal, we are on page 115. Mark 4. Once again, Jesus began teaching by the lake shore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one.

Listen, a farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the

seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with

underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.

But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun and since it didn't have deep roots, it died.

Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced

no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was

30, 60, and even 100 times as much as had been planted. Then he said, anyone with ears to hear

should listen and understand. Later, when Jesus was alone with the 12 disciples and with the others

who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables

meant. He replied, you're permitted to understand the secret of the kingdom of God, but I use

parables for everything I say to outsiders so that the scriptures might be fulfilled. When they

see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand.

Otherwise, they will turn to me and be hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will

turn to me and be forgiven. Then Jesus said to them, if you can't understand the meaning of this

...