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Graphic by April
The Fisher Boy
There was once a boy; we shall call him Stephen who lived by the Sea of Galilee. He was going off for the day to do some fishing. He carried with him his lunch in a basket his mother had prepared for him. Along the path he saw many people gathered by the sea and as he got closer he asked a woman,
“What is happening, tell me please.”
“There is a man called Jesus coming to talk to us, there has been such a lot of excitement, He is a good man.”
“I want to see this man called Jesus,” said Stephen and he pushed ahead of the crowd and saw a boat coming ashore. A kindly man stepped from the boat followed by several of his friends called disciples. As Stephen watched he saw Jesus touch a crippled mans arm and make it better. As the time went by Stephen forgot about his fishing and lunch as he watched Jesus heal and listened to him talk about God’s love.
It was getting late and Jesus told his disciples to give the people something to eat. “But we have no food,” came the reply. Stephen suddenly remembered his lunch and peered inside his basket. “ I have these five barley loaves and two small fishes, you can have them, but it is not enough for all.” Jesus smiled and thanked Stephen and took the five barley loaves and two small fishes and blessed the food and the disciples past the broken loaves and fishes amongst the great number of people. Stephen and all the people ate and were filled. “Now gather up the leftovers,” said Jesus and Stephen watched and counted twelve baskets of barley loaves and fishes left over.
Stephen went home feeling happy and told his mother about Jesus and the crowd of people and that the food she has prepared for him has fed so many. The story soon got around the village and Stephen never forgot that day he intended to go fishing.
Joyce Gale 2003 ©
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A Boy Called David
Once there was a boy called David who lived in Bethlehem, with his father Jesse and brothers. One day a friend of Jesse called Samuel came to visit the family and said.
“God spoke to me about your sons, let me see them.”
So Jesse called his sons to meet Samuel and each one was introduced to him, but Samuel said.
“Are all your sons here, I feel none of these is the chosen one, God sent me here to see.”
Jesse said “ I have one younger son, but he tends the sheep.”
“Fetch him to me,” said Samuel “we will not eat till he is here.”
So it was that David came before Samuel who saw that he was goodness of heart. “This is he the Lord’s anointed.” Samuel anointed David with oil and the spirit of God came upon him.
Now there was a King called Saul and he became tired and unwell and asked his servant to find someone to play music to him, to help lift his spirits. The servant told Saul about David the shepherd boy who could play the lyre (which was like a small harp). So Saul sent a message to Jesse to send his son David with his lyre. David went and played his lyre to King Saul and the King was pleased with him and he kept David in his service. So it was that the King got better so David was able to go home to his family.
Then David heard that there was a battle planed by the Philistines against King Saul. How their leader a giant of a man called Goliath nearly three meters tall (ten feet), and in full mail armour. Goliath had sent a message to Saul to choose a man to fight with him and they were very afraid. David went to Saul and said, “I will go and fight with Goliath.” Saul was dismayed “You are no soldier how can you fight this man?”
“I have killed lions and bears to protect my sheep and the Lord has been with me,” replied David.
So Saul had David dressed in armour and helmet and given a sword, but David threw them off. He took he staff in his hand and five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his wallet. With his sling in his hand he went and stood before Goliath. Goliath laughed, “ Who is this am I a dog, with you come with sticks.”
David said “ You come with a sword and spear, but I some to you in the name of the Lord. The Lord will deliver you into my hands.”
Goliath roared and moved forward to David who quickly took a stone to his sling and the stone sank deeply into Goliath’s forehead and he fell on his face to the ground. From which he never rose again.
When King Saul saw what David had done he was overwhelmed and David was a hero in the land. King Saul kept David in his household, but that was just the beginning for David.
Joyce Gale (2004)
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Parables.
There was once a man who was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho. While he was walking along a gang of thieves set upon him and took all his belongings and left him for dead. As the man lay on the ground a Priest came by and when he saw the man wounded in the road he was filled with horror. But he crossed the road and left the man where he was.
Later a Levite also came along and he also crossed the road and left the man where he was. Much later a Samaritan was journeying with his horse and he saw the wounded man. He bound his wounds and put him on his horse and took him to an Inn and looked after him.
The next day the Samaritan left but gave the InnKeeper money to care for the man and he would repay any thing he spent on the man.
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A sower went out one morning to sow his seeds. Some of the seeds fell on the wayside and the birds came and ate it all up. Some of the seed fell on stony ground where there was very little earth, and it grew very fast. Then the sun came and scorched it because there was no water for the roots it shrivelled up and died.
Some of the seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew with the seeds and choked the plants so it also died. But some fell on good soil and it produced plants that grew and increased in there hundreds and thousands.
These seeds are like words.
Those sown on the wayside are immediately forgotton.
Those sown on stony ground are faint-hearted.
Those sown among thorns, possession choke the words.
Those sown on good ground the words are heard by hundreds and thousands.
Mark 4.
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