NorMel House Devotions

Some days, the words just flow through my fingers and onto the page. I feel like a conduit, not a writer. But then there are days when the words just don't seem to come; when there's so much on my heart, but I just can't seem to put it into words. Grief can have that effect sometimes. There are no words that will truly express my thoughts and feelings right now, so I'll let God's Word speak for itself: No more shall there be in it     an infant who lives but a few days,     or an old man who does not fill out his days Isaiah 65:20 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.                           ...

For many, this week is "March break," and there are lots of planned activities and holidays. Many children don't have school this week, and their parents are often looking for ways to keep their children occupied. What if this year's March break looked a little different? What if we pointed our kids towards Bible study, engaging them in fun and creative activities meant to direct their thoughts to learning to live as the Bible teaches us? What greater activity is there for our children than learning how Christ lived and died for us, and how we ought to express our thankfulness to Him? With Good Friday and Easter Monday coming up, why not prepare your children by teaching them what those days are really meant to celebrate? Knowing what we do about Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, how do we prepare ourselves and our families to celebrate Good Friday and Easter Monday? The people in that time were not aware of what was to come and what it would mean for them an...

  Bless the Lord, O My Soul Of David. Psalm 103  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3  who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4  who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5  who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 6  The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. 7  He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. 8  The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9  He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. 10  He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11  For as hig...

This world is filled with evil. We don’t like to think about how evil the world and people truly are, but sometimes it feels like it slaps us in the face and knocks us to the ground. When people do hateful and hurtful things to us, it’s easy to want to strike back. However, Romans 12:21 reminds us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Not an easy thing to do, and it goes against our own sinful nature; but if we turn back a few verses, we’re told “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the LORD’.” (Romans 12:19). 1 Thessalonians 5:15 tells us, “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” Don’t strike back. When people slander you or do evil towards you, remember, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:18). But...

Titus 2:13 “While we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” One of the things that marks a Christian lifestyle is that the Christian knows this life is temporary. Christian living, Paul says, is one of “waiting for the blessed hope”. We know that this mortal life is momentary in God’s eternal plan. We await eagerly, with patient hope, the return of Christ Jesus our Savior. Paul has been teaching Titus, and us, about Christian living and so we know that, while we wait, we are to live a certain way. We live looking forward to an eternity with our God and Savior. We await eternal redemption from our sinful and worldly passions, when death will no longer hold sway over us, and we await the restoration of creation; when we, and this earth, will be restored to its perfect order as God designed. Without Christ, man is enslaved to his passions and desires. We were dead in our sins, but Christ came to give us life, to free us from the power...

 Read Ephesians 6:10-20 Paul wrote to the Ephesians with many instructions on how we, as Christians, are to live our lives. He comes to the close of the letter addressing how we will be able to live the way he has instructed. Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God, being strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Why? Because we are in the midst of a war! We are fighting spiritual warfare against darkness and the spiritual forces of evil, both here on earth and in the heavenly realms. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 says, "For though we walk in the flesh we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." How can we, simple and sinful beings, possibly hope to fight the things we can not even see? Paul tells us to stand firm, to "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." Some believe that Paul had Isaiah 59:17 in mind, as it says ther...

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 and  1 Corinthians 6: 12-20 Today's text is a beautiful reminder that we are called to be holy; God wants us to be pure in all we say, think, and do. It is a call to action. We are to flee from sexual immorality because our bodies are meant for the Lord. 1 Corinthians 6:15-17 says, "‭‭Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit." When we have sexual relations with others, we bind ourselves to them. But it doesn't stop there. In all we say, think, and do we are to be pure. That means that crude jokes, lustful thoughts and fantasies, what you wear, and how you present yourself all show what is in your heart. Someone who is pure at heart will not be se...

As God's children we are called to live a life that is different; we are called to be Holy. 1 Peter 1:13-16 says, "Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”" Why must we be holy? What does it mean to be holy? What does that look like for us? Thankfully, God doesn't tell us to be holy and then leave us to try figure it out on our own. Scripture is full of passages to help us. So what does the Bible say about why we must be holy? Our text has our first answer. We are to be holy because God is holy! Leviticus 20:7-8 says, “ ‘Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord , who makes you holy."...

Read Colossians 1:1‭-‬10 Our passage has much to teach us but I think I an important thing to note is that Paul prayed without ceasing for God's people. In several of his letters, Paul makes the point of thanking God for the people and/or praying for them for various reasons. In Romans 1, he thanks God for them because their faith is talked about all of the world. He remembers them in his prayers at all times. In 1 Corinthians 1 verse 4, Paul thanks God for them because of God’s grace given them in Jesus Christ.  In  Philippians 1 verse 3, he tells them how he thanks God for them with joy. Then, in Colossians 1 verse 3, Paul thanks God for them because of their faith in Christ and love for the saints.  He goes on in verse 9 to say he does not stop praying for them and asking that they be filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding.  In 1 Thessalonians 1:2, Paul again says that he always thanks God for them; remembering their work produced by faith, labor prompted ...