When Texas pastor Jim Denison was in college, he served as a summer missionary in East Malaysia. While there he attended a small church. At one of the church’s worship services, a teenage girl came forward to announce her decision to follow Christ and be baptized. During the service, Denison noticed some worn-out luggage leaning…
Author: Norm
remember Who is in charge here!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 7, Psalm 8 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: As a Jesus follower, I am looking for ways to be like Him. One of the things that stands out for me in Jesus is His confidence and comfort in God as good and right and just and sovereign. I see Jesus standing before Pilate, quiet and confident because He knows…
caretakers
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. [Genesis 2:15]
total, painful honesty
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 5, Psalm 6 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: As a Jesus follower, I look for pictures of Jesus everywhere, in daily life and also in my daily bible reading. Today I see Jesus, the perfect human (offspring of God and humanity), wrestling with God like David did. In Psalm 5 David wrestles with God about those who use deception and…
rest in peace
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 3, Psalm 4 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Psalm 3 was written during a time of family and national crisis [see 2 Samuel 15-19]. He seems to be talking himself through this crisis, with the Lord. He names his struggles before the Lord, then affirms his confidence in Him. He is totally honest, even angry [see Psalm 3:7], which is amazing since he…
the wise way to live
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 1, Psalm 2 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The way of the Lord – what Jesus teaches, what Jesus practices – is not just a religion, it is a way of life. The best way of life. It is wisdom, and it can stand up to the tests and challenges of life. Psalm 1 describes the wisdom of living the…
devotion
SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 27 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: To be fully devoted to the Lord. This chapter describes people who want to show their love for the Lord by dedicating something (land, children, livestock, possessions) to the Lord and His service. Such acts of devotion are not to be taken lightly, and once made, they cannot be taken back. They…
choosing the right path
SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 26 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The path that we choose will determine the destination that we reach. Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and…
make my life a jubilee
SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 25 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The Sabbath year and the Year of Jubilee both symbolically point to the Lord’s ultimate plan to restore liberation and celebration, once and for all. Everything is moving towards liberation and celebration. No matter what happens in this life, even when things go wrong and we lose our way or our place,…
respect
SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 24 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: After reminding Aaron to keep the symbols of Lord’s presence (the candle) and provision (the bread), the people discover the importance of RESPECT. The Lord uses this occasion where someone intentionally, brazenly curses Him before all the people, to teach them about respect. Not only for Him, for but for all people,…