Author: Norm

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 116 “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” (Psalm 116:7) In times of crisis or grief or stress or struggle, ‘return to your rest’. Go to that place where your soul is nurtured, encouraged, strengthened. Spend time resting your troubles in His hands, and resting yourself there too….

SCRIPTURE: Daniel 8-12 “Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.” (Daniel 11:35) In his vision Daniel learns that behind awful world events the angel armies are at work. These are tough times, and…

SCRIPTURE: John 9:1-12 “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2) It is true that all suffering is somehow connected to the curse of sin. And sometimes we do suffer because of specific sins. But not all suffering is because of specific sins. We usually think that all suffering is…

SCRIPTURE: John 8:48-59 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58) For these words to make sense, we need to remember the story of Moses. “Moses said to God, ‘Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and…

SCRIPTURE: John 8:42-47 “The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:47) If you struggle with faith or following Jesus, do not take these words against you. Jesus is not in the business of making struggling disciples doubt themselves. Jesus was trying to shake up and wake up these proud…

SCRIPTURE: John 8:31-41 “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.” (John 8:31) How do I know if I am a disciple of Jesus? Do I hold on to, do I make my own, the teaching of Jesus? Not just ‘do I believe it’ but ‘do I love it, live it, desire it?’ The…

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 115 “The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind.” (Psalm 115:16) Humans are amazing, humans are great, humans are important… But not greater, not more amazing, not more important than God. We often foolishly pride ourselves in what we do, what we accomplish, what we build. But our…

SCRIPTURE: Daniel 1-7 A people in bondage because of their sin. A foreign ruler oppressing the people, treating them as slaves. A faithful prince, staying true to God despite the consequences. This prince survives the death penalty (lions den), and is restored to life. The foreign rulers are judged, and found wanting; God’s prince is vindicated….

SCRIPTURE: John 8:21-30 “If you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” (John 8:24) Jesus is speaking in bold terms about Himself. By calling Himself the ‘son of man’, claiming to be God’s promised Saviour: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a…

SCRIPTURE: John 8:12-20 “I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” (John 8:18) Moses (John 5:46), the scriptures (John 5:39), and God the Father all agree with Jesus. If these religious people really knew God, they would recognize Jesus. They would rejoice that finally someone who shared God’s heart had come….