When I was a wee child, only just 6 years old, I made a Go-Cart. I had no money, so I put my creativity to work. Using jam jar lids for wheels and nails for axles, I assembled my very own Go-Cart. The idea was brilliant, or so it seemed at the time. Obviously, the whole…
Death will be destroyed!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 5:35-44 “Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’” (Mark 5:36) I recently spoke on trusting God through difficulty as a guest pastor. A man, recently widowed, approached me with tears in his eyes. ‘Your words sounds so good, but it doesn’t work for me!’ His wife had died, and no amount…
God’s kingdom seed!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 4:30-34 “It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth.” (Mark 4:31) The message of Jesus seems weak and insignificant. Love, humility, self-sacrifice, forgiveness – can that really change the world? The dominion of darkness seems so strong, it even seems to be winning. Often many…
Be still and know that Jesus is God!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 46 “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) If you do not feel this peace, try repeating these words. Our world may be falling apart, and nations be in crisis, but God is still in charge. Because God is here, the world will not collapse, He will help those…
Angry love?
THE STORY OF JESUS: 1 Kings 9-11 “The Lord was angry because his heart had turned away from the Lord.” (1 Kings 11:9) In his wisdom and power, the Enemy found Solomon’s weakness… and exploited it. Solomon gave in to women and detestable idol worship (including child sacrifice). God wasn’t being petty or jealous, He was concerned for His people’s well-being….
God lives where???
THE STORY OF JESUS: 1 Kings 7-8 “But will God really dwell on earth?” (1 Kings 8:27) God – the awesome, uncontainable Creator – wants to live with you and me! The temple was meant to symbolize God’s greatness AND goodness. It showed that God wanted to live with them, to be at home among us. Don’t get stuck…
“All by itself” (i.e. God)!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 4:26-29 “All by itself the soil produces grain…” (Mark 4:28) Jesus is still explaining how things work with God’s kingdom. It begins from the heart (the soil), where the seed begins to grow. When the seed (the grace of Jesus) and the soil (the heart) mix, things happen. “All by itself” points…
Flourish with grace!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 4:21-25 “Whoever has will be given more…” (Mark 4:25) In this context, Jesus is still talking about the result of God’s message in our lives. God wants to bring His goodness out into the open through us. To shine like a light in a dark world, to flourish like a bumper crop…
What kind of soil am I?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 4:13-20 “Others like seed sown on good soil hear the word and produce a crop.” (Mark 4:20) In this story Jesus shows how God’s message can fail to produce a good crop. Some people reject it right away, but many people receive it. But of those who receive it, not all of them…
My life a parable!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 4:10-12 “To those on the outside everything is said in parables.” (Mark 4:11) Jesus seems to say that He uses stories to keep people from understanding. Those who see themselves as wise will dismiss stories and totally miss their point. And yet stories have a way of sticking, when logic or formulas…