THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 6:19-24 “If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” (Matthew 6:22) What we focus on impacts our whole life, for good or for bad. Healthy eyes refer to healthy focus, keeping our mind on what is good, positive, hopeful. A life focused on money is not healthy,…
Author: Norm
Who is your audience?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 6:16-18 “So that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting…” (Matthew 6:18) Jesus is addressing the underlying motives behind our piety or good deeds. Do we make huge donations, or make ourselves appear pious, for others to see? I know growing up in the church, keeping up appearances…
Take a stand!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 7 “Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.” (Psalm 7:9) Children abducted and abused, women assaulted and raped. Girls kidnapped and put in the sex trade, dealers using drugs to enslave their victims. Those with disabilities taunted and bullied, those with mental illness ignored and…
The greatness of grace!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Genesis 34:1-36:43 “Your name will be Israel… I am God Almighty… A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants.” (Genesis 35:10,11) God-struggler (Israel) and God Almighty, what a team. God takes sinful, deceitful strugglers, and does great things through them. What gives me…
Don’t give up!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Genesis 32:1-33:20 “You have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” (Genesis 32:28) God-struggler, what a great name for God’s people. This is not a negative name, but an encouragement for those who do not give up. Faith in God is like that, it is a struggle to hang on, a…
In my life, Lord!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 6:9-15 “Your kingdom come… on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) This line captures the intent of the whole prayer, of all prayer. “In heaven” does not refer to a place, but to God’s presence, to God Himself. In God’s presence, His Name is honoured, His will is done, His…
K.I.S.S.
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 6:5-8 “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans.” (Matthew 6:7) Prayer is not a technique for getting God to do what we ask. It is not the eloquence nor the abundance of words that impresses God. And yet, you wouldn’t get that impression from Christians – or pastors…
For You, God!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 6:1-4 “Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4) Some people do good for good’s sake; some do it to look good. Jesus is not saying every good deed needs to be hidden, unknown. He is challenging the selfish motive that some people have in doing…
Showers of love!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 5:43-48 “That you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:45) I am a child of God – created as God’s child, and restored by Jesus as God’s child. “When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named…
Shut up Satan!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 6 “Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping.” (Psalm 6:8) I love how brutally honest and real the psalms are. God inspired David to express these raw, real emotions. God wants us to see David struggling, doing battle against his tormentors. Notice how David…