Author: Norm

May 6, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 24:15-25 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION The tensions between Rome and the Jews are reaching a boiling point, Jesus senses what is coming. He warns about a time of severe crisis, when Rome destroys Jerusalem and the temple (the holy place). The only relief through this horrible crisis will be God’s intervention because of His…

May 5, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 32 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION David senses what an amazing thing it is to be forgiven by God. It’s better than trying to deny or cover up sin… that only eats you up on the inside. When we are honest with God, the burden is removed and we are renewed. David urges everyone to…

May 3-4, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Joshua 13-21 OBSERVATIONS What do you notice in this passage? APPLICATION What do you sense the Lord saying to you? PRAYER

May 2, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 24:9-14 OBSERVATIONS When love grows cold, people treat each other badly, people hate and kill and betray and deceive. The most important thing in the world for us, no matter what is going on around us, is love. As long as we have the option to love, there is hope. When…

May 1, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 24:1-8 OBSERVATIONS The disciples are impressed by the architecture. Jesus is not. He sees the hollowness and frailty of this temple (and all man-made structures). He knows that human nature had made life in this world unstable. Its always only a matter of time before things, even good things, fall apart….

April 30, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 23:37-39 OBSERVATIONS Jesus expresses the heart of God. Here is the message of the whole bible: God’s desire to embrace and help His children, and their refusal to receive it. The consequence of rejecting God is that ‘your house is left empty’ The house symbolizes a place of welcome, happiness, security,…

April 29, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 23:29-36 OBSERVATIONS Jesus continues His rant against the religious leaders. Assuming that Jesus is good and fair, I accept His assessment of the religious leaders as good and fair; in others words, they must have been pretty bad. “We wouldn’t have done what they did.” (v.30) Jesus refers to how God’s…

April 28, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 31 OBSERVATIONS David is describing a time of deep struggle, how he was facing extreme hardship and reached out to God, and for a time didn’t find the support he needed. He prayed and prayed and prayed for God to help, and finally God did. David writes this song to encourage…

April 26-27, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Joshua 6-12 OBSERVATIONS What do you notice in this passage? APPLICATION What do you sense the Lord saying to you? PRAYER

April 25, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 23:23-28 OBSERVATIONS The key line here is ”But you have not practiced the more important things of the law, like fairness, mercy and faithfulness.” Jesus is challenging them for focusing on the laws rather than on the intent of the laws. Powerful imagery, straining the gnat and swallowing the camel, cleaning…