Author: Norm

THE STORY OF JESUS: Job 13-14 “I will wait for my renewal to come.” (Job 14:14) Job sees everything that happens as directed by God (14:5). Ultimately Job expects that God will renew him (14:14-17). But in the meantime, our days are few and full of trouble (14:1). Will we still trust God, in light of this?…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Job 11-12 “Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune.” Zophar put Job in his place; he suffered because he sinned… period. Sad to say, I was once like Zophar, a voice of heartless ‘truth’. But as Job states, I was “at ease”, preaching from my ivory tower. Too many of…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 2:41-52 “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49) Somehow as a boy, Jesus had a clear sense of God’s calling for His life. His motivating drive was to serve His Father. This is what guided His decisions and actions all through life. What do I wake…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 2:33-40 “And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2:35) Jesus birth was not all sweetness and joy for Joseph and Mary. The goodness of Jesus would be difficult to live with. His goodness stands out in contrast to our own sin. Hearts will be challenged; open hearts will humbled….

THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 2:25-32 “For my eyes have seen your salvation…” (Luke 2:30) Unlike Simeon, I cannot see my salvation with my physical eyes. But I have been “moved by the Spirit” to see it by faith. How do I explain it: I sense it, I feel it, I know it deep inside. Whenever I…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 2:21-24 “The purification rites required by the Law of Moses.” (Luke 2:22) So how do we feel forgiven, how do we become certain of God’s love? When you feel dirty, do you perform certain cleansing acts? In those times, do you feel God’s love, or do you feel condemnation? The rituals in…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 69 “For zeal for your house consumes me.” (Psalm 69:9) David’s heart was on fire for God, even if it meant suffering. His zeal was for building, maintaining and protecting God’s temple. The temple represented God living with, at home with, His people. In its time, it served as a reminder of…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Job 8-10 “If only there were someone to mediate between us, to bring us together.” (Job 9:33) Bildad sees God’s ways as simple: we sin, God punishes us… period. Job wants to argue this, but struggles because how do we argue with God. In this verse he is asking for a mediator with…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Job 5-7 “How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove?” (Job 6:25) This scenario reminds me of how many approach evangelism or pastoral care. When someone is grieving or struggling in sin, do we preach truth at them? We claim that the truth sets people free, but is truth what…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 2:15-20 “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) I am a pondering, I am often thinking about God, Jesus, faith, etc. For me these things are too profound to simply pass over or accept. I’m not so much questioning them, as I am mulling over…