Luke 16-17:10 Forgiveness is tough, and it isn’t something that I can just do once and for all.  I have to keep forgiving over and over again when my mind or circumstances bring the hurt to the surface all over again.  I am experiencing this kind of struggle as I deal with divorce in my extended family.  I’m a protective big sister even though my brother has the Lord at his side and can take care of himself! I think this might be the kind of forgiving that Jesus was referring to here: “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and … Continue reading Forgiveness is a duty

Luke 14-15 What does it cost to be a follower of Jesus? Is it free? I haven’t really thought about following Jesus in that way.  Somehow in my reading, I must have skipped over these words from Jesus: 28“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31“Or suppose a … Continue reading The Point of First and Last

Luke 12-13 Actually today I’m going to write about something I read yesterday that has stuck with me.  I’m puzzling over what it means to have good eyes.  Here are the verses in context: 33“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is … Continue reading Can I clean the kitchen and be a Mary, too?

Luke 10, 11; John 10:22-42 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”41“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Are you are Mary or a Martha?  I am, without question, a Martha.  I am distracted by the many preparations that need to … Continue reading Mary, or Martha?