Psalm 13: 1-6….Down but not out!

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?How long will you hide your face from me?How long must I take counsel in my souland have sorrow in my heart all the day?How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;light up my eyes, lest I sleep theContinue reading “Psalm 13: 1-6….Down but not out!”

Psalm 12: 1-8…..Despair turns to Hope!

Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone;for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.Everyone utters lies to his neighbour;with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,the tongue that makes great boasts,those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,our lips are withContinue reading “Psalm 12: 1-8…..Despair turns to Hope!”

Psalm 11: 1-7….I will not flee!

In the LORD I take refuge;how can you say to my soul,“Flee like a bird to your mountain,for behold, the wicked bend the bow;they have fitted their arrow to the stringto shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;if the foundations are destroyed,what can the righteous do?”The LORD is in his holy temple;the LORD’sContinue reading “Psalm 11: 1-7….I will not flee!”

Mark 9: 42-50….Was Jesus really so gentle?

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippledContinue reading “Mark 9: 42-50….Was Jesus really so gentle?”

Mark 9: 38-41…..A sideline thought on judgement.

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. ForContinue reading “Mark 9: 38-41…..A sideline thought on judgement.”

Mark 9: 33-37……me, me, me…

And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “IfContinue reading “Mark 9: 33-37……me, me, me…”

Mark 9: 30 – 32….. Death talk again.

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he willContinue reading “Mark 9: 30 – 32….. Death talk again.”

Mark 9: 22b-29…..He’s dead!

But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, heContinue reading “Mark 9: 22b-29…..He’s dead!”

Mark 9: 14-22…..The disciples could not do it.

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowdContinue reading “Mark 9: 14-22…..The disciples could not do it.”

Mark 9: 9-13….The return trek.

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say thatContinue reading “Mark 9: 9-13….The return trek.”