SCRIPTURE: Mark 8:27-30 We are so familiar with calling Jesus ‘the Christ’ that the shock value is gone. For centuries the people of Israel (and of all nations) have been hoping and waiting for a Deliverer, a God-ordained, God-equipped Messiah who would finally set things straight. Many would-be Messiah’s have come and gone, but none were…
Author: Norm
The kind of person God lifts up?
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 52 This Psalm is tied to 1 Samuel 21-22, where Doeg betrays David and slaughtered the priests and citizens of Nob. David accepts responsibility for what happens (1 Samuel 22:22); this Psalm expresses his pain, anger and confidence in God despite this horrific situation. Love for God and people does not mean that we ignore injustice or abuse…
No ordinary people!!!
“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations – these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit – immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does…
2 Kings 21-25
SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 21-25 What do you sense the Lord saying to you? PRAYER
My heart is still blurry!
SCRIPTURE: Mark 8:22-26 First of all, why spit; and second, why did it take two times for the man’s vision to become clear? I am not sure about the spit, nor about the two-step healing process… but I can relate to the process itself. This is not instant healing, for some reason it takes a bit…
Still not getting it… or being stubborn?
SCRIPTURE: Mark 8:14-21 I have been journalling for years, and one thing I’ve noticed is that I often have to learn things over again. Lessons learned in the past have to be relearned again. And I can sense the Lord gently saying to me, “Why can’t you see or understand? Are you stubborn?” Jesus warns His…
He refuses to play games with us
SCRIPTURE: Mark 8:11-13 There are different motivations for testing someone. A jealous employee may set up a fellow employee with an assignment, hoping that they will fail; a wounded counselee may test their counselor with limited information, to see how they will respond. Both are testing for selfish, personal reasons, but the counselee’s test is more…
God has to repeat Himself!
SCRIPTURE: Mark 8:1-10 Is this just another version of a single feeding miracle, or did it happen on several occasions. But if it happened on several occasions, why didn’t the disciples figure it out the second time? If they saw Him do it once, why did they not expect it again? Good question, though we should…
‘Bazinga!’
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 51 In 2 Samuel 11 we find the story of David fling with Bathsheba and his murderous coverup; in 2 Samuel 12 we read how God uses Nathan to ‘bazinga’ him (its a great story, read it!) Psalm 51 is the result of David’s exposure and humbling; he comes clean to God. God is not surprised by our sin,…
Show Your power… please!
SCRIPTURE: Mark 7:31-37 Oh that this healing power was as evident today as it was with Jesus. Many Christians believe it is, but I have not seen it at work like this. Just being honest, I have not seen obvious miraculous healings (from blind to seeing, from lame to walking, from deaf to hearing, from dead…