Some folks have never had thebenefit of afirsthand

experience to understand Jesus’

parable regarding the sowing of seeds. Anyone, who has depended on seeds to supply enough food to prevent hunger, is more likely to give careful atten-tion to them. When I was young, I learned how important they are. My widowed mother had to do everything she could do to keep her three sons alive. She did laundry for people, baked pies, and purchased food items at wholesale to sell in the community. I was the oldest, so she got seeds for me to put in our garden. If the seeds did not grow, we might go hungry. Jesus said God’s words are like seeds sown along a pathway, on rocks, among thorns or on good soil (see Luke 8:5-12). I’ve seen this demonstrated when people read Scripture verses in my books regarding praising God. When some folks read them, they decide it’s not important. Others read and are excited by the poten-tial results. They say, “If praising God is that pow-erful, I’m going to do it.” The seed had been sown in their hearts. Sometimes other interests want to crowd out the life-giving message that God’s Word offers us. So, we need to guard the good seeds in our hearts. Being thankful to God is powerful enough to provide the solutions that we need for many prob-

lems. But we cannot benefit if we hear and then soon forget. We must nurture and care for God’s promise to make everything work for our good if we love Him (see Romans 8:28). I urge you to study, meditate on and practice prais-ing God for everything, and do it as carefully as you would care for seeds that would supply your only source of food. Let praising God become a way of thinking and believing. You will find many, many opportunities each day to believe that God is causing everything to work good in you. Be thankful for the weather, your work, your situation – everything! His many rewards may include answers to your prayers. You will receive gradually increasing joy, peace and growing assurance that He is working good in you. And never tire of sowing the good seeds of praise in others. Some of your seeds will produce the harvest that God promises! Jesus did many miracles and gave His Good News to many people, even though He knew that few would be faithful to Him. But God used the few faith-ful ones to cause His Good News to reach people all over the world. You and I are called to sow good seeds and to believe that God will reap the harvest.(Reprint from November, 2003)

Good SeedsFoundation of Praise • P.O. Box 2518 • Escondido, CA 92033-2518 • 760.741.2755 • www.foundationofpraise.org

By Merlin Carothers November, 2018

Just a ReminderYear-end contributions to the Foundation of Praise, per the IRS, must be mailed and postmarked by December 31, 2018 to receive credit as a 2018 tax-deductible gift.

Bible on Praise When I searched the Bible for verses that spoke of giving praise to God

I was surprised to find so many. The more I read and mediated on them, the greatermy joy became. This little booklet of sixteen pages will truly bless those who read it.

Buy 1 copy for $5.75 including shippingBuy 2 copies for $11 including shipping

Buy 5 copies for $20.25 including shippingBuy 10 copies for $30.00 including shippingBuy 25 copies for $55.75 including shipping

This year, instead of sending out greeting cards, write your message on the insidecover of the Bible on Praise where it will be enjoyed by friends and family.

God’s own words will be read over and over by those to whom you send this booklet.The front cover was painted by Merlin and mailing envelopes are included.Shipping applies to one U.S. address only. For other shipping requests or to place an order with a credit card call 1-800-PRAISE1 (1-800-772-4731).

This offer expires on December 31, 2018

11 NOVEMBER

HONORING ALL WHO SERVED

VETERANS DAY HTIME TO GIVE THANKS

Coming Soon... Praise & Prayer Journal

How often have you been asked, “Please pray for me?”You might offer a heartfelt prayer and later have

such a long list that you find yourself overwhelmed.That is where this Praise and Prayer Journal can help

you organize your prayer time and, over the courseof a week, you will have prayed for everyone!

Available for Pre-order $13.50 (includes shipping)Please use the enclosed order form to mail in

your order or to use a credit card call 800-772-4731

A BIG thank you for all the birthday cards and wishes. I was blessed by them! Mary

I’m really looking forward to eating

turkey on Thanksgiv-ing Day. I’m so glad

we aren’t limited to eating only manna. But wouldn’t it be fun to taste manna? Taste it once, that is. The thought of eating only manna for even one year is awful to me. How could I endure not having the many fruits and veggies that I love? No wonder so many of the Israelites complained about eating only manna. Again, the Israelites started wailing and said, ‘If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt… the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic…We never see any-thing but this manna’! (Numbers 11:4-6). God had a very good reason for providing manna for them. (They were traveling through the desert. Not the best place to grow a garden). And God has a very good reason for allowing problems in our lives. God tells us in the New Testament that He was testing the Israelites in the desert. Would they trust Him to provide what He knew was best for them? Do we trust our Lord to use our problems to help us to grow up in Christ? The Father wants us – the church all over the world – to grow up and mature without stain or wrin-kle… but holy and blameless (Ephesians 5:27). This doesn’t happen overnight. I thank God that He is so patient with us. I’m 86 and He’s still working with me. Just about every situation I’m in I want Jesus to use me, but I also want to have a heart and attitude open to whatever He wants to teach me. I’m ashamed some-times when it seems that I have to learn a lesson over and over again.

When I said in the previous paragraph that the Lord is still working with me, I meant to say it that way. The Lord wants to help us to grow up in Christ. But we also have a very important part to play. We have to have the attitude, “You are right, Lord, I should have said this or done that differently”. Your “manna situation” may be cleaning the same old house, cooking the same tiresome meals, or caring for the same seemingly ungrateful family. Or it may be going to the same dumb school or to the same unre-warding job. Day after day, year after year. How long will this take? Forty years? Probably not. We often have no control over how long our “manna situation” takes. Then again, if the Lord believes we have learned what He wants us to learn, or if He sees the spiritual growth that He wants to see in us, the time may be quite short. He often gives us a little “vacation”, before the next trial. It helps me to understand the trials in my life when I think about how long eternity is. That’s when we won’t have the opportunity to grow anymore, at least, not like we can here and now. This life and the strug-gles we have are really quite short when compared to eternity. And it helps to know that Jesus, our High Priest, is always interceding for us in the presence of the Father. Let’s not grow tired of “eating manna”. Let’s be faithful like Caleb and Joshua were for all those years in the desert. God had a reward for them when they finally made it into the Promised Land. I wonder what kind of reward He has for us. Let’s not miss it.

By Mary Carothers

Manna SituationsIn Loving Remembrance

of Merlin

Edna McAfeeBy her husband, Darwin

of Toms Brook, VA

The Foundation of Praisehas received a gift In Loving Memory Of:

November 11th marks the fifth year of my dad’s passing. In so many ways it feels like just yesterday when he would come into the office with a smile on his face and a “Praise the Lord” on his lips! We truly do miss him, but we rejoice in the Lord knowing that he is in the presence of his beloved Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are so very thankful for those of you who have continued to faithfully support the ministry of the Founda-tion of Praise. Your prayers are appreciated, and we will carry on Merlin’s Praise message for as long as the Lord allows us. God bless you!

I only knew Merlin

through his books, which

changed my life. I am

reminded of the tender

arms of the Shepherd

wrapped around

His precious

lamb,

Merlin.

I have been praising God for the good, bad and ugly because of the books Merlin wrote.I am happy he is in Heaven, but sad that he is no longer with us.

I didn’t realize how much of a connection I had with Merlin until I learned of his “promotion”. I have

felt a close spiritual bond with him and I pray for

your ministry.

I h

ave

considered Merlin my “pastor”

and his ministry

continues as I,

“Praise our Lord”.

I have beenso blessed by

Merlin’s booksand I know he

is Heaven having

a celebrationwith Jesus.

I am so grateful for the legacy

that Merlin left. He was so right to give thanks in all things – he is my hero

because it’s not always easy!

Merlin must be very busy in Heaven being greeted by the millions who came to find Jesus from his teachings.

I never had the pleasure of meeting Merlin, but his

words have been a steady diet of healthy spiritualityto me and so many others.

WhenMerlinpassed I felt like I had lost a personal friend.

It was a shock when I learned of Merlin’spassing, but I know he is with Jesus.

The Praise News always speaks to my heart.