The Power of the Normal Life

By Thomas Denegre

Matthew 6:9-14

I was talking to a Latino gang leader named Carlos during a Kairos Prison Ministry weekend event at a State of Ohio Correctional Facility. By looking at his face I can tell he was in a state of wonder and puzzlement.  God will do that to a sinner who is searching for the truth.

He explained to me how he spent most of his young life in a variety of prisons. Not long-ago Carlos was released from prison and paid a visit to his girlfriend.  They got into an argument and she called the police.  When they arrived, they found a concealed gun on him.  Back to prison he went.    Now he was spending a long Kairos weekend tasting God with the most powerful men in the prison; the Kairos team. So we had this conversation

“What is going on?” Carlos asked. “I’ve never been treated like this in my life. I’m being treated so well.  What’s the deal?”

“This is called normal,” I explained.  “All your life you lived in fear and violence thinking it was normal.  Yet this is the normal life and it’s called the Kingdom of God.  It’s why we do it.  It’s why we’re here. Do you want know more about normal Carlos?”

“Yes, I do,” exclaimed Carlos.

“Do you know the Our Father’s prayer?”

“Vaguely,  I remember my mother use to pray it over me when I was little.”

“Mind, if I give you the expanded version,” I asked. He nodded his head and I proceeded with the expanded version.

As you know it starts with “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” We have a magnificent and awesome Dad.  Everything seen and unseen has been made by Him. Before you were born every day of your life was ordained in his book as written in Psalm 139:16. Like the father of the prodigal son, our Dad has been watching you with a keen eye. He dreamed of you before you were born.   He’s less concerned about your sin than about you.  He’s waiting for you to cross the line into his kingdom.  Because when you do, he’s going to smother you with hugs and kisses. Instead of life filled with death and destruction, he’s waiting to give you an abundant life. (John 10:10)  You’re his dearest child and he created the universe so we can have a home to live in.  His greatness and love deserve our awe, respect, and love in return.

The next part says, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  So, what is the kingdom?  It’s his spiritual Kingdom coming into our lives on earth.  Just as water permeates a sponge, so does God’s spirit permeate our spirit. We are one in his glory. (John 17:22) The normal comes alive.  By living in life union with Jesus and having his words living powerfully within you (John 15:7) then his streams of love, joy, mercy, kindness, friendship, and long-suffering enter into your life.  No longer will you be imposing your will on others which results in fights and divisions, but like gravity, you’ll enter a mass of power called God’s love that will heal all your heart wounds and put you into a peace the world will never understand. This is the kingdom of God we bring to this world.

The prayer goes on to say, “Give us this day our daily bread.”  Let me tell you about the bread.  Jesus is called the bread of life for he’s is the great I am. (John 6:33) When I receive the consecrated bread, I know Jesus is feeding me with his spirit.  As you know, living in the world can drain the life out of you.  But Jesus has a plan. His daily bread refreshes us.  Jesus will say to you, “If you are in despair, I’m your encourager. If you are hungry for truth, I am your food. If you are weak, I am your strength. I am the way, the truth, and the life.  I am your life.  I am your love. I am your joy and peace.  I am your patience and long suffering in all things.  I am your battery charger of life.  I am your streams of love, tenderness, kindness, and mercy.  I am the great I am.  I am your source of life and let me charge you up.  Taste and eat me for I will refresh you!” Indeed, he does!

The next line in the prayer says, “And forgive our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Or, in other words, Jesus is saying, “I care more about you than what you have done.”  Do not let the poison of retaliation, hatred, and unforgiveness produce bitterness and self-destruction. Through experience I know that by living in life union with Jesus I can see you as Jesus does.  I can see the goodness and gold in you. Through repentance of your sins, and belief in Jesus as your savior, Jesus is ready to make you perfect and complete.  Through your humility and open heart, Jesus will craft you into your original design as mentioned in Psalm 139:16 and be made into His image.  Forgiveness is everything because it stops all the violence and destruction.  It allows a person to draw in the peace that heals the heart. Don’t we all want mercy? God will not give you what you deserve, but what you need. That’s why he’s such a great dad. He’s waiting for you to cross the border into his kingdom so he can bless you.

Lastly, the prayer says, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Jesus knew that in this fallen world we will still face temptations and tribulations.  We are still flesh, and sometimes the old desires coming creeping up to tempt us.  But mark my words.  And it’s all about words.  Let God’s word always be in your mind and heart, because when events come your way, so will his word come to save you. 

“So, this is the normal life Carlos. It’s called the Kingdom of God.   Do you want it?” I asked Carlos.  He took it and became a new saint.

Like the father of the prodigal son, Jesus is always scanning the border to spot his child who wants to return home, waiting to make a mad dash to his child so he can smother him with kisses and to welcome him home. Jesus is always more concerned about the person than the sin.  Shouldn’t we?

SERVE Period

41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10: 41-45


Today’s scripture is one that always reminds me how flawed the disciples were. We see two brothers trying to vie for a place of honor, once they are in heaven with Jesus. James and John have a private conversation with Jesus asking him to set them apart from all the other disciples. Jesus, of course, uses this as a teachable moment, explaining to all of them what it means to become great.

This passage is probably familiar to most of us. Jesus words, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be a slave of all.” Although the familiarity of the words make it easy to quote, the lesson is much harder to put into action.

For the past two years, my family has served at Coastal Community Church, in South Florida. One of my favorite things our church does is, "Serve Saturday". On the first Saturday of each month we go to the same neighborhood and serve the residence there. The Senior Pastor designed t-shirts for us to wear that simply reads, "SERVE." on the front.

“The Christians are here; the Christians are here!” Those are the excited cries that can be heard from one of the houses on my block, in Collier City. On the first Saturday of every month, while a team from my church serves hot dog, chips, snow cones and provide fun activities for kids, I am fortunate to walk down “my block” and visit the families.

Each month I am blessed with conversations, where I’m able to encourage the residence as I catch up on what has been happening in their lives. I am filled with joy as I pray with them over health, financial, or family struggles; and play with the children who joyfully run out of the homes excited that the Christians are here.

It’s more than mere houses on a street. These are families with stories, stresses, and successes. Walk down any street in America and you will find families in need. In Collier City, though, the stresses seem to outweigh the successes.

That’s where we come in. Knocking on the doors is just the beginning. It’s started with conversations, then month after month I got to know the names that match the faces. Before I knew it when I prayed for Verna, Anna, Luis, James and Maria, Mac and Louise, Jerry and Lily, I not only know their faces, and their stories, I know their hearts.

Collier City is about showing who Jesus is through serving. Period. We expect nothing in return. We share ourselves with no expectations attached. One of the values at Coastal is, Saved People Serve People and serving in Collier City is a beautiful way to show the love of Christ.

In our passage today, Jesus says, “ the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” If we are called to be like Jesus, that is our job too. SERVE. And not just once a month but every day. Start looking today for ways you can serve. Don’t worry you do not have to be perfect. We are flawed just like the disciples were with Jesus, but he can still use us for his kingdom purpose.


Read today's entire passage here Mark 10

What Can You Do?

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, a time to get together with friends and celebrate the coming of the next 12 months. Maybe have a drink or two.

It is also a time to listen to sports analysts telling us which teams will win the big game and which teams will suffer destruction.

And of course, it is a time to actually watch the big game.

 New Year’s is also a time for renewal; a time for resolution. A time to lose some weight. A time to join an exercise club. A time to change a habit.

 Today’s reading is Zephaniah 1:1-3. Zephaniah, a prophet living about 620 BC during the reign of King Josiah, warns Judah of its coming ruin for not following the Lord and his laws and commandments..

 Zephaniah’s prophecy was for those living in Judah at the time, but it also is for us.

 Those who are not believers will suffer eternal punishment. They will be destroyed, just like creation, on Judgment Day. As Zephaniah says, “The wicked will have only heaps of rubble when I cut off man from the face of the earth.”

Those who are believers will also be cut off from the face of the earth, but they will have a better place. Believers will be ushered off to Heaven!

Zephaniah is a bit like the sports analysts that tell us who is going to win the big game. The sports analysts are often times wrong. On the other hand, Zephaniah is 100% correct. Destruction is coming.

 The Israelites were to follow God’s Law. We, followers of Jesus, are to grow his Kingdom. Growing his Kingdom is the only way to bring non-believers to faith, saving them from eternal destruction.

 We are to share the Gospel, we are to care and love others and we are to help others in faith to grow their faith.

 Many of us will make resolutions for the coming year and that is good. Let’s also remember to make a resolution for God.

 What can you do in 2016 to help grow the Kingdom of God?

 Happy New Year!

Hospitality as Noticing

Matthew 25:21-40

“In my own little world it hardly ever rains. I’ve never gone hungry, always felt safe. I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet. In my own little world, population…Me.”

If I don’t look around too much and take care of my own responsibilities, I’m safe and content.

“I try to stay awake through the Sunday morning church. I throw a $20 in the plate but I never give ‘til it hurts. And I turn off the news when I don’t like what I see. It’s easy to do when it’s population…. Me.”

When I follow through with my obligations and shelter myself from tragedy I’m comfortable.

Singer and song writer Matthew West’s words hit home don’t they!? Even after hearing the lyrics to this song, we continue to protect ourselves and our families from the evils and tragedies of this world. If we don’t notice, maybe they won’t affect us. If we look the other way perhaps it will stop. Well, it won’t!

The primary theme in the book of Matthew is THE KINGDOM OF GOD. In this section, Matthew tells of the day the Son of Man comes in Glory with all the angels, and separates the people as shepherds separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep on His right will inherit the kingdom prepared for them for they fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed those in need, invited in strangers, looked after the sick and visited the lonely and imprisoned.

NIV Matthew 25:40; The king will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

The parable of the talents is also included in today’s reading reminding us that we are entrusted by God with “talents” to use for the good of the Kingdom. For some, earning a good living and using funds to assist others is their gift. For others it may be management of projects and outreach. For still others it’s using their hands and feet to make a difference. Whatever it is for you and me, we must first look around an NOTICE the need.

Try to recall the feeling of being ignored. Perhaps as a child your thoughts or opinions were not considered. Often in a new environment or job we feel out of place when no one seems to notice us or make us feel comfortable. Now attempt to picture yourself among the thousands of individuals fleeing from your unsafe country. You are just part of the hungry, thirsty, frightened crowd that few acknowledge. Maybe they just don’t notice.

Matthew 25 ends with verse 45-46, a statement from the Lord; “I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

What do you notice?

Read/Listen to Matthew 25:21-40

Watch/Listen to “My Own Little World” by Matthew West

The Kingdom of Heaven is Like... Matthew 18:21-35

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants… Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.” (Matthew 18:23-27)

When you think of heaven what comes to your mind? Angels, clouds, or streets of gold? Perhaps you imagine God on his throne with a choir singing His praises for eternity. Some people I know have a hard time thinking that heaven will be an enjoyable place for us if all we are doing is singing to God all day.

One thing I don’t often picture when I think of heaven is God settling his account with us. Today’s scripture explains that our experience in heaven will be of God having pity on us and canceling the debt our sin ran up.

Because of our faith in Christ, God will stamp our bill, “Paid in full”. So our time in heaven will be filled with gratitude for his mercy. That sounds pretty nice.


How about you...

Share your thoughts on heaven with us. Or maybe you have a question about heaven. Click the comment button below, we’d love to hear from you.

Read today passage at Biblegateway. Matthew 18:21-35