THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 109 “While they curse, may you bless.” (Psalm 109:28) David has been cruelly treated, betrayed, hurt… by a friend. I can sympathize with David, I can see myself praying the same way. He pleads for God’s blessing for himself to overrule their cursing. But He also prays for God’s curse to rest…
Author: Norm
God wants us to live!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Ezekiel 16-18 “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone… Repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32) Ezekiel tells two parables – about a woman’s rise and fall, and about a cedar branch. Through these stories, he is inspired to explain to Israel their troubles. Like the woman, God gave them everything to succeed…
Speaking with before speaking for Jesus!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Ezekiel 13-15 “Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!” (Ezekiel 13:3) Ezekiel warns prophets, the spokespeople for God (preachers, evangelists). Those in the religious community who supposedly say what God is saying. In this case, they follow their own spirit, for they have seen nothing (from…
Spirit to spirit, heart to heart!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 4:16-26 “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) In Jesus, God becomes human to bring us back to what really matters. Without God, our hearts are empty and we fill them with empty substitutes. Like multiple marriages or relationships, or religious rituals and traditions….
Thirsty for living water?
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 4:1-15 “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.” (John 4:14) Jesus is speaking in riddles, is He trying to confuse her? We automatically spiritualize what He says, but why would this lady do this? Of course she thinks about natural water, that is what He is asking for. If…
May Jesus become greater!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 3:22-36 “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.” (John 3:35) The good news is that Jesus has reclaimed creation for God and us! God raised up Adam and Eve and placed everything in their hands (Genesis 1:26-28). God loved them, and their were His much-loved children. Adam and…
Moving towards the light!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 3:16-21 “Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light.” (John 3:21) I can understand why people hate the church, or religion in general. But what I wish is that they could just focus on Jesus. In Jesus we see goodness, love beyond belief, hope, compassion. Jesus is ‘light’, a metaphor for…
Quiet Space Prayer
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16) QUIET SPACE (based loosely on Psalm 23) Lord, You are my Friend and my Helper. You are all that I need. You calm me down when I am stressed. You whisper peace to my troubled mind. You refresh my soul. You guide me in the right direction,…
Be Still and Know…
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 46 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10) As a Jesus follower, life can be challenging as we strive to live WITH, LIKE and FOR Jesus in the world. We face struggles from the world itself, but also struggles within our own sinful nature. And…
Battle prayer!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 108 “Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.” (Psalm 108:12-13) The enemies we face today are very different from what David faced. But we face battles and enemies that are just as real, just as serious. Behind our troubles and conflicts there is the greatest enemy of all….