Jesus' Parables #1

Jesus' Parables

Even though we have studied six of Jesus' parables on this blog, I consider this post as the beginning of a new series.  I recently found an old Bible from the early 1800s and it is full of notes and commentaries that are very different from our modern equivalent. In this Bible, I found the quote below explaining why the parables told by Jesus are so valuable (see below). 

That last line is so true! -  "things learned with delight are the longest remembered."

That is why, in this series we are going to study ALL of Jesus' Parables.

Just as a reminder:

Here is a list of the parables that we have already studied:

(Please click on each link to read each post)

- The Wicked Husbandmen/Vinedressers (aka Parable of the Tenants)

- The Persistent Widow (or Unjust Judge)

- PARABLE OF THE VINE (part#1) - "The True Vine & the Father Gardener"

- PARABLE OF THE VINE (part#2) - "Be a Fruitful Branch Instead of a Withering Branch"
- PARABLE OF THE VINE (part#3) - "Producing Joyful Fruit - God's Love Remains Forever"
- PARABLE OF THE VINE (part#4) - "Everlasting Fruit & Everlasting Friends"
- The Prodigal Son (Part#1) - The Son Who Ran Away
- The Prodigal Son (Part#2) - The Son Who Stayed Home
- The Good Samaritan (Part#1) - Love God First
- The Good Samaritan (Part#2) - Love Others
- PARABLE of the Sower (Part#1) - Along the Pathway
- PARABLE of the Sower (Part#2) - On Rocky Places
- PARABLE of the Sower (Part#3) - Seeds Among Thorns

- PARABLE of the Sower (Part#4) - Sown on Good Soil

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Below is a list of the parables that we will be studying in the future: 

- The Lost Sheep

- The Lost Piece of Money

- The Pharisee & the Tax Collector

- The Wedding Banquet

- The Two Sons

- The Friend at Midnight

- The Barren Fig Tree

- The Growing Seed

- The Laborers in the Vineyard

- The Wise and Foolish Builders

- The Two Debtors

- The Ten Virgins

- The Weeds

- The Mustard Seed

- The Leaven (or Yeast)

- The Hidden Treasure

- The Pearl of Great Price

- The Draw-Net

- The Unprofitable Servants

- The Unjust Steward (or Shrewd Manager)

- The Unmerciful Servant

- The Great Feast

- The Rich Man & Lazarus

- The Strait Gate (or Narrow Door)

- The Good Shepherd

- Christ The Door

- The Talents (or Bags of Gold)

- The Pounds (or Ten Minas)

- The Sheep and the Goats

- The Tower Builder & the King at War

- The Lamp Under a Basket

- The Doorkeeper

- New Clothes on Old Garment & Old Wineskins

Each parable has incredible lessons that we can implement into our daily lives.

Copyright, Permissions & Disclaimer

Linked to:

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You might be interested in watching this video:

click HERE to view

"Jesus Is........ THE BREAD OF LIFE"

Summer Fungi & Fluttering

Summer Fungi & Fluttering

I was helping my husband pick up sticks in the yard (before he started mowing) when I noticed something that looked like a tangerine (at least that's what it resembled after a quick glance anyway).  After a closer look I realized that it was a mushroom - it was so cute!  I quickly ran to get my camera (see pictures below).

I later looked it up and it really is called "Orange Peel Mushroom".

 

All photos were taken by me (Angie Ouellette-Tower)
© (2026)

photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower


A few weeks ago I did a post about the "Mushroom Tree":

(click HERE to view "The Mushroom Tree")

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Later that week, I was walking through the garden when I noticed a beautiful "Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly" fluttering around.  Actually, it was so fast that I was unable to focus correctly in the pictures below.

In 2023 I did a post about this type of butterfly and the pictures were much clearer (click HERE to view "The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly")

Enjoy the following pictures:

All photos were taken by me (Angie Ouellette-Tower).
© (2026)

photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

ENJOY!

Copyright, Permissions & Disclaimer

Linked to:

Senior Salon Pit Stop

Thursday Favorite Things

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You might be interested in watching this video:

click HERE to view

"Deformed Garden Produce Hall of Fame"

Tuesday with a Twist Blog Hop #696

Welcome to Tuesdays with a Twist #696!

ENJOY!

Before we get to the blog hop today - 

During the month of August, I will be featuring a garden veggie post from the past:

Daily Garden Produce (with RECIPES)

 

Checkout wonderful seeds at Mary's Heirloom Seeds 

click HERE to shop for the best seeds

Or click picture below:

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Also, checkout one of my Bags/Purses available at Zazzle:

Evening Sun Mix Sunflower Tote Bag
by GodsGrowingGarden

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Good Morning and Welcome to another No Rules Party!

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

My Features this Week are:

1. "Peach Cobbler Cookies" by Cindy's On-Line Recipe Box

2. "Capturing the Fragrance of Late Summer in a Victorian Peach Pie" by My Little Old World

3. "Anyone For Tea?  Dining Room 2026" by Debbie-Dabble Blog

If you've been featured I'd love for you to grab a button.

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Saturday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!

*Pictures should be your own* 

By linking up you give us permission to use these photos

 (with proper link backs) in our features.   And now for the party!

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Grow your own!
Many wonderful garden products from
 "Mary's Heirloom Seeds"!!
click to view

You're the STAR - Week#4 HOME (August 2026)

I have really noticed the days getting shorter - can't believe that Summer is almost over.

Thank you again for joining us!

There are many ways to follow me:

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

blog  |  TruthSocial  |  facebook  |  pinterest  |  twitter  |  zazzle  |  RUMBLE

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Before we continue onto the Linky party I wanted to share from my blog:

22 Treasures - PRESERVING

 

WELCOME to Week#4 of the August 2026 "You're the Star" Blog Hop!

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WELCOME to HOME feature week of the August 2026 "You're the STAR" blog hop!

Meet your hosts

 
This week is HOME feature week
Swing by the hosts' Blogs:

Lisa @ At Home With Lisa

Kris @ Kris and Larry . com

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

Colleen @ Butterfly in the Attic

Michelle @ Moms Are Frugal

This is a month long Linky party featuring YOU!

There will be 4 different features each week and 4 different feature categories.  Just to be clear - this is NOT a themed party - you may link up ANY family-friendly blog posts any day of each month. 
The "theme" occurs in our weekly features:
WEEK#4 HOME - recipes, home décor, antique/DIY &/or travel (this can include anything about your home - even history posts - all while remaining family friendly)

(All features were chosen from the July 2026 "You're the Star" blog hop)

"Aging" My Faux Brick Wall by Debbie-Dabble Blog

 

Southern Tomato & Cracker Salad by Carol on the Lake

Remodeled Primary Bath and Other Bathrooms by Cindy's On-Line Recipe Box

Lemon Cheesecake with Lemon Curd & Blueberry Sauce by Scratch Made Food

If you've been featured then please grab a STAR button below:

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All Hosts/CoHosts will post this blog hop on every Monday of each week.

Please link up your family friendly blog posts below!

It wouldn't be a linky party with YOU!

(IMPORTANT NOTE: by linking up you understand that you might be featured next month and if so, we will use some of your photos from your post - rest assured - we will always link back to your lovely blog.  We might also share your fantastic posts on social media.  Also, you may link up as many family-friendly posts as you like & YES - other blog hops &/or giveaways are welcome {giveaways and blog hops will NOT be featured though}  Thank You & ENJOY! )

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Prayer Manifests in the Physical

Prayer Manifests in the Physical

In this post, I will show how prayer (a spiritual action) can manifest in the physical (it can change our physical reality).

Firstly, I need to clarify or define "prayer"

Prayer

- a petition to God

- an earnest request or wish

- the act or practice of praying to God

At the very end of this post is a video about "Prayer Basics" (You can scroll to the end or click HERE if you would like to watch that video).

Remember that our struggle is not in the physical (flesh and blood) but in the spiritual (see verse below):

Jesus said that whatever we ask for in His name (if we say "Heavenly Father, in Jesus name I pray......) then it will happen.  The verse below clearly states that we should be able to do even greater miracles than Jesus did when He was here!

(click HERE to read "God's Power Inside Us Means No Fear of the World Outside")

Everything that Jesus did was requested in the spiritual realm but the change occurred in the physical realm.

(click HERE to read "By Your Faith - Jesus' Miracles")

Here is the controversial issue - WHATEVER we ask for shall be given to us.  Well, that is not very Christ-like is it?  That would be like - "I want this and I want that."  

The Scripture passage below clarifies that dilemma.

Nobody should seek his own good but rather put others first and help them in their needs.  Selfishness is never constructive or beneficial.

It is very difficult to know exactly how to pray because we often cannot fathom the amazing answers to our prayers that God has planned.  The Holy Spirit intercedes for us and uses the spiritual language with groanings to convey what is truly in our hearts (see Bible verses below).

Also, in the last verse below we see that the answers to prayer are in the physical - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him".  The phrase "in all things" means that we see results/answers both in the physical and spiritual realm. 

In Ephesians chapter 6 where it talks about "Becoming a Christian Soldier," we read the same thing about "praying in the Spirit" (see below).  Prayer really is our most powerful "spiritual weapon."  (click HERE to read "Becoming A Christian Soldier - PRAYER")

Also, notice in the verse above the last part about "always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." - keeping focus on others rather than being selfish.

Answers are not always instantaneous (they can be but not all the time) - we need to pray without ceasing - pray continually (see below).  Plus, being joyful and thankful prevents us from always complaining.

Focusing on joy and on being thankful prevents the downward spiral of depression and despair.  See Scripture in the picture below.

(click HERE to read "Fill Your Mind With These 8 Things")

I want to end this post touching on "abundance".  I recently saw a commercial talking about "manifesting abundance."  Well, that is so wrong because abundance that truly satisfies can only come from God.  Multiplication and increase comes from our Heavenly Father and not from the "universe".

Prayer is talking to God and that will mean unimaginable changes in our physical reality.

Copyright, Permissions & Disclaimer

Linked to:

Senior Salon Pit Stop

Thursday Favorite Things

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You might be interested in viewing this video:

click HERE to view

"Prayer Basics & 8 Ways To Find Answers"