SCRIPTURE: John 14:15-24 “The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17) Let’s be honest, God is invisible to us, so is Jesus, so is the Spirit. Yet so many people throughout history claim to ‘see’ God,…
Author: Norm
God in the garden
SCRIPTURE: John 14:5-14 “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” (John 14:11) God is ‘out there’, beyond creation, beyond our reach or ability to grasp. How do you relate to an invisible, incomprehensible Being? God’s plan from the beginning was to make Himself visible. “Then the man and his wife heard the sound…
There’s no place like home!
SCRIPTURE: John 14:1-4 “My Father’s house has many rooms.” (John 14:2, NIV) “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” (John 14:2, KJV) This old version makes it sound like we will all live in palaces. The actual Greek word is a form of the word ‘to remain, stay’. A place to remain, a place to stay. In God’s…
Waiting
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 119:74-96 “How long must your servant wait?” (Psalm 119:84) Trusting in the Lord does not make like easier. In fact, often the struggles increase. We find ourselves fighting against the current, against the wind. We commit to doing the right thing, and then the situation worsens. Telling the truth at work can make things better,…
Before you speak, t.h.i.n.k.
For people who need hope…
SCRIPTURE: Nahum 1-3 “Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without victims!” (Nahum 3:1) Mosul is an Iraqi city under ISIS occupation. Citizens describe the occupation as hellish: beheadings, stonings, forced conversions, rape, men forced to fight jihad and young girls forced to marry ISIS soldiers. Like Nineveh in ancient Assyria…
His great compassion
*** Today’s readings will be divided, Jonah today and Nahum tomorrow. *** SCRIPTURE: Jonah 1-4 Niniveh is the capitol of Assyria, a occupying nation over Israel. Jonah hates Assyria (like a Palestinian might hate Israel today). But God uses fishy means to get him to go to ‘sin city’ with His message. ‘Repent or perish’: when…
Love under the spotlight
SCRIPTURE: John 13:31-38 “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him.” (John 13:31) What does it mean to be glorified? I think of it as having a spotlight shone on you. You are highlighted, honoured, celebrated, recognized for what is good. Because of Who Jesus is, how Jesus lives and dies and…
Satan wants in too
SCRIPTURE: John 13:18-30 “As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.” (John 13:27) Judas has been struggling. Should he keep following this lame messiah? The Pharisees have approached him: betray Jesus for gold. Judas likes money, which is why he was the money-keeper (see John 12:6) Judas is conflicted, until Jesus acts like a lowly…
Like a see saw
SCRIPTURE: John 13:1-17 “He loved them to the end.” (John 13:1) I have been journaling for years. Reading through past entries can be interesting, entertaining, encouraging. But also disheartening, when I realize how slow and stubborn a student I am. Lessons the Lord has taught me in years past, I am still learning today. I feel like…