SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 17:1-22:16 “One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.” (Proverbs 18:9) Because there are so many proverbs, my plan was to read until one jumped out at me. This is the first one that jumped out at me, and I couldn’t let go of it after that. These proverbs make…
A twist on the Footprints poem
Let’s be honest, He’s had a drag us many times, hasn’t He?
Bigger than the storm
SCRIPTURE: Luke 8:22-25 How could Jesus sleep in that little boat, during a storm? How could Jesus rebuke the storm, to make it stop? Are these things that we could do too, if we had faith? It was faith (resting in God) that enabled Jesus to be calm through the storm. He knew God had a…
Part of God’s family
SCRIPTURE: Luke 8:19-21 We know from other passages that Jesus loved His mother and brothers. But here He is making a point: ANYONE who loves and obeys God can experience God’s family bond. On the one hand, everyone belongs to God’s family… but sometimes a family member can act in a way that alienates themselves from…
Opening ourselves to God
SCRIPTURE: Luke 8:16-18 Jesus makes the following points: 1) What we are is meant to be seen, not hidden. 2) Our secrets (that which we keep hidden) will one day be revealed. 3) Those who listen to God (i.e. are open to Him) will be blessed, those who refuse lose their blessing. Many of us are…
God is speaking to you!
SCRIPTURE: Luke 8:11-15 God has been communicating throughout the centuries, trying to get our attention (i.e. God’s Word). Through people, through circumstances, through our conscience, through nature, through Scripture, through Jesus. Every day God’s message – like seed – is impressing on us our need for God, for help, for mercy, for wisdom. What do we…
God’s love through it all
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 78 When a child is being disciplined, what they usually sense is their parents displeasure and anger. Even though their parent’s heart may be throbbing with love, the child will not likely sense it. In this Psalm, Asaph reviews Israel’s history: God’s gracious help, Israel’s stubborn ingratitude, and God’s discipline. Asaph is aware of…
Something better than karma
SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 10-16 “The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.” (Proverbs 10:16) This verse makes it sound as if we earn our eternal reward. It sounds like ‘karma’, the Hindu/Buddhist teaching that your deeds determine your destination. My sense is that these religions are sensing the very…
Ears to hear?
SCRIPTURE: Luke 8:1-10 The good news is the message of the kingdom of God… God restoring His creation through Jesus, the promised messiah. Jesus embodies this new creation life, and some people are open to it, while others are not. These women, and the disciples, seem to get it: they have ‘ears to hear’, open and…
Crazy love?
SCRIPTURE: Luke 7:44-50 “Whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” (Luke 7:47) I find these words of Jesus challenging. The strength of my love reveals the strength of my gratitude. This woman displays excessive, what some might call ‘outrageous’ or ‘crazy’ love. People judge her for it, but Jesus welcomes it. Reminds me of when David danced…