THE STORY OF JESUS: Proverbs 13-16 “Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things.” (Proverbs 13:21) As I read through these proverbs, I looked for one that caught my attention. There were several, like this one above, that did make me pause. The question I had is, ‘is this really true?’ In my…
Author: Norm
Genesis 3:15
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)
Seeking advice is wise!!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Proverbs 10-12 “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15) As we saw earlier, wisdom is available to all who seek it. Part of seeking it is asking others for their input and insight. My experience is that we tend not to be fully honest…
Open to hearing!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 8:1-10 “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (Luke 8:8) Apparently not everyone uses their ears to hear. A person may hear something, but they might not listen. A person may hear something, but they might not understand. Anyone who is a parent knows this with their children. You might think…
What kind of sinner? (Part 2)
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 7:36-50 “But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” (Luke 7:47) Am I the kind of person who admits or denies my sin and shame? This woman had no doubt that her life did not measure up. Everyone around her told her, and she constantly felt it herself. She was so low,…
What kind of sinner? (Part 1)
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 7:36-50 “What kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:39) We are pretty good at knowing what kind of person someone is. We can tell by how they dress, or how they talk. After a short conversation, we are aleady making judgments about people. We size people…
Dancing to His tune!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 7:31-35 “But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” (Luke 7:35) Jesus is responding to the fickle criticisms of the religious leaders. John has a demon because he fasts, Jesus is a glutton because He doesn’t. Like children, first they’re dancing and then they’re singing the blues. Wisdom is not fickle…
What’s nesting in your hair?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 77 “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember…” (Psalm 77:11) Asaph was struggling through something terrible. He was desperate for help, yet his mind was plagued by doubts. Satan loves to torment us in tough times, adding his lies to the mix. The mind becomes a battleground,…
Wisdom is calling!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Proverbs 8-9 “To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.” (Proverbs 8:4) Wisdom is accessible and available to all people. It is written into the very fabric of nature… God built it that way. If we take time to reflect on things, wisdom will reveal itself. But…
Playing with fire!?!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Proverbs 5-7 “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?” (Proverbs 6:27) This warning about an adulterous woman applies to ALL sexual temptation. It was not just in that time that Satan used sex to ruin people. Lust and sexual sin are like fire in our lap, or…