verseoftheday

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is...joy...against such things there is no law Joy. Funny thing joy. Funny little word too... Since it's the fruit from having God's Spirit dwell in us, it's not something that is dependent on our circumstances, or events around us. I've looked up some definitions but the dictionary is not that helpful...so here's mine... Joy is the feeling we have from knowing (that deep understanding) that we are loved, that we have value, purpose, and, an inheritance/destination. It can't be turned on or manufactured.  Does it come from using our gifts to bless others? What do you think? #writeyourowndefinition #fruitoftheSpirit #joy #youaredearlyloved

Matthew 18:21-23, 35 ESV ...Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him...seventy-seven times...Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts...forgive your brother from your heart. This story Jesus told about the King & forgiveness of debt - how much should we forgive? How much have I been forgiven? That's the thing that is easy to lose sight of...how my sin is to God, & what it took to make it right. And as an emissary of the Kingdom my life should be characterised by forgiveness too. Forgiveness frees us from the hurt, the past, & it's hard...but what is the alternative? Bitterness, anger...we get to choose #Kingdomvalues #choose #forgiveness

Mark 8:27-29 ESV And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, Who do people say that I am?  And they told him...And he asked them, But who do you say that I am? Today in Chch is the first meeting of the Sunday Assembly. A Church, but without God The same questions Jesus put to his team on the road that day resonate today. The Sunday Assembly and much of our country believe what about Jesus? But who do you say he is? This is the heart of our faith. Jesus God. Man. Sacrifice Saviour Creator Judge Friend #sunday #worship #Jesus #theoneandonly #jesusatthecentre

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love... Fruit. The blessing and outpouring that comes from our essence. Who we are. Is that me? Sometimes maybe...but all the time?  Am I characterised by love? I just need to work harder at it. Or perhaps...I need to give more of me to God and ask Him to work it out...cos this is the fruit of Him living within... # fruit of the Spirit #love #loveGod #lovepeople #embassyofthekingdom

Friday! Time for the next Proverb... Proverbs 10 v13 You'll find wisdom on the lips of a person with insight, but the shortsighted needs a slap in the face. Sometimes you've just gotta love The Message...The shortsighted seems to be only seeing my world, how things affect me...if I throw my rubbish out the window of my car it gets it away from me, but messes up the world for you and everyone else. Slap. God's story is all about the preciousness of others. He loved us We should love others Are we people of insight?  Is wisdom something we are known for? #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #keepyourpathsstraight

Romans 5:8 NLT But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. But God. He didn't have to, but He chose to. It's all about God & His love for us. Love.  For us. No matter who you are No matter what you've done God loves you. Step 3 on the Romans Road 3v23 For everyone has... 6v23 For the wages of... 5v28 But God... #biblememory #fantasticfour #romansroad #hidethewordinyourheart #youaredearlyloved

Matthew 13:33 NIVUK ...The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about thirty kilograms of flour until it worked all through the dough. Why 30kg of flour? Why was a large quantity important enough to mention? Because the little things that we do, the small, insignificant, unseen acts of love towards others can have a massive impact...we just don't know which ones! That smile, hug, txt, call, visit, gift, prayer, encouragement...that step of faith, the being prepared to go, the reaching out across barriers and divides, the standing up for the oppressed...stepping forward in the way of the kingdom...little steps...and when we trip up & get it wrong (I know that I do) get back on the path... #lovepeople #embassyofthekingdom

Matthew 13:33 NIVUK ...The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about thirty kilograms of flour until it worked all through the dough. We (the christian community) are that yeast. The small (maybe insignificant seeming) ingredient that makes all the difference...we are the emissaries of the Kingdom of Heaven, changing the world from the inside, like yeast works to make bread... (have a think about how important bread is in the Bible...) It's not done with power or authority...but with love... #keepitsimple #loveGod #lovepeople #embassyofthekingdom

Matthew 13:31-32 ESV ...The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.  It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants... The Kingdom had a tiny beginning...a ragtag bunch wandering around in an insignificant part of the Roman Empire...and yet...they went on to found the most significant religion, that has had the most dramatic impact on our world...we are part of the Kingdom, emissaries of the Kingdom, called to live out Kingdom values... Check this video out if you have 5 mins... http://vimeo.com/m/42155907 #Ludmilla #embassyofthekingdom #lovepeople #wecandothis

Philippians 3:20 ESV ...But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ... Election. Done & dusted. A new government of our country is being formed...regardless of our political views...whether you saw the outcome of the election as a win or loss, a good thing or not, or if you weren't that interested...our real citizenship is heaven. A place where countries, ethnicity, borders, politics,  haves and have nots, rich, poor, educated or not, all the barriers and boundaries and differentiators we have in this world will be gone. The only thing will be, do you know Jesus as your Lord and your Saviour. #citizenofheaven #thisworldisnotmyhome #itsallaboutJesus #sunday #worship

Romans 6:23 NLT For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. do u remember the fantastic four? Gen 1v1 John 1v1 John 1v14 John 3v16 Romans 3v23 (Sept 1) is the first step on the Romans Road & the next Bible Memory challenge.  Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard Followed by today's verse. 6v23 Chap 6 is about breaking the power of sin in our lives and this verse 6v23 sums up the choice we have. Choose death Choose life The choose Life road is free.  We just need to take it... Are you up for the challenge? It's Saturday...you've got time... Fantastic Four Romans Road steps 1 & 2 #choose #biblememory #hidethewordinyourheart #romansroad

Friday...and the next Proverb is...Proverbs 10:12 NIV Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. Love. Does that mean ignoring wrongs? It seems the comparison with stirring up conflict is the thing here. When we are wronged do we choose the path of hatred which creates conflict, or love? Love chooses to keep no record of wrongs. Love chooses to forgive Love goes the extra mile #love #Kingdomvalues #choose #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Matthew 13:44 ESV The kingdom of heaven   is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy   he goes and sells all that he has and   buys that field. The Kingdom is described in Parables. When he found the treasure he sold everything with joy to gain the Kingdom. Matthew 19:16, 21-22 ESV ...a man came up to him, saying, Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life? Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.  When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. His eyes were not on the Kingdom but on the treasures of this world. Where is my focus? #Kingdom

Matthew 5:41 AMP And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two [miles]. The Kingdom is a set of Principles. Not commandments, but principles to live by...why go the extra mile? Because the Kingdom is about love. And sometimes that's what it takes to show love... Place Person Principles #principlestoliveby #Kingdom

Hebrews 12:2 AMP Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. [Ps. 110:1.] The Kingdom is a person. Jesus. What was the prize that he with joy endured it all for? Our redemption Our reconciliation Our restored relationship #Kingdom #love

1 Peter 1:3-4 NIV ...In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you... The Kingdom. Had some gr8 teaching on this last night and this is the first component. The Kingdom is a Place. An inheritance. Imagine if we had a $10mill inheritance waiting...would we be worried about today? We have more than that! An inheritance that can never devalue, treasure that can never be lost... Where are our eyes? Always stuck on the things of this earth? "...My past is redeemed, my present makes, my future is secure..." #Kingdom

1 Chronicles 28:9-10 NLT ...learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve...For the lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. So take this seriously. The lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work... Take God Seriously. While his heart for us is full of love & compassion, He is also justice & truth. (If we have accepted Jesus then we have no fear of rejection) Just as he had work for Solomon, he has things for us to do too... Know Worship Serve Seek Work #loveGod #sunday #worship

1 Chronicles 28:9-10 NLT ...learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him... Learn to know God Worship Him Serve Him Yet...we still need to seek Him. Go looking...seek is not a passive easy word but implies using our intellect and effort to search...it's like God is known to us yet unknown, there, yet needs to be sought out, obvious...yet still full of mystery...yet...able to be found... We can't put God in a box and have Him all figured out...there is mystery and there is wonder... #wonder

Friday already! Why do some weeks zip by & others drag? Proverbs 10:11 MSG The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse. These two people are at either end of a continuum...words that speak life at one end...& death at the other...the question is not only where we are on that continuum, but where are heading...are we heading towards the speak life end? Or away from it? Are we choosing our words to be life giving, life changing, life saving words, like a deep, life-giving well...? #choose #choosetobeablessing #lovepeople #proverbs #somethingtochewon

1 Chronicles 28:9 NLT ...learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought... Somehow God is in tune with us, knows our heart,  plans, thoughts...wow... There's a concept called "coram Deo" - everything takes place in the presence of, or before the face of, God. To live coram Deo is to live your entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God. Will we choose that every day? #somethingtochewon #coramDeo #loveGod

1 Chronicles 28:9 NLT And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind... If it's a good enough instruction to Solomon, it's probably good enough for us too... Learn. We don't learn about something or someone by doing nothing. We read, research, talk to others... Know God intimately. This takes time, commitment... Worship with your whole heart. What does that look like for you? Worship with a willing mind. Isn't that interesting...use your intellect, analytical ability, your strengths, to worship Him... #choose

Ephesians 4:24 NLT Put on your new nature, created to be like God; truly righteous and holy. Put off the old... Put on the new. This is action. Choosing. We are both made righteous and becoming righteous, made holy, yet becoming... As we put of the old beliefs, thoughts, attitudes & actions, don't just stop there...put on the new.  Created to be like God! This is our new nature, what we believe, the way we think, that leads us to live as He would... This doesn't change our circumstances, but changes how we look at them... #choose #putofftheold #putonthenew #lovelikeJesus

Ephesians 4:21-23 NLT Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 1. Learn the truth. This might take some effort and discipline to get into your Bible, get into a small group, take notes in Church, listen to podcasts... 2. Throw off the old. Discard it. Walk away. Drop it in the bin. 3. Renew your thoughts. Those messages we have running in our heads need Spirit lead replacement. 4. Renew your attitudes. We all need an attitude adjustment somewhere... 5. Jesus. It's all about Him. Creator Saviour Restorer God Friend Perfect Sacrifice Grace Truth Love.

Luke 15:20 NLT ...And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son... Father's Day. Sunday. Not sure what this means to you, I've got a great Dad, but I know that everyone doesn't, maybe your Dad has died, is absent, is distant, is negative,   abusive...maybe you can celebrate fathers day but there are people in your life who can't (so love them and fill the gap)...but...this verse is a reminder of our heavenly Father, who is full of love and compassion for us, when we are oriented towards Him, He runs to us with arms open wide... #fathersday #sunday #worship #youaredearlyloved

Matthew 6:1-4 NLT ...don't do your good deeds publicly to be admired by others...when you give to someone in need don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. 1. The expectation is that we will give. That we will do good to others. Do you? 2. When we give, or do good, do we make sure someone else knows?  I know I do sometimes... The left hand/right hand has always intrigued me...how can this work? Maybe it's give and then forget it? When Jesus talks he is usually trying to get to our hearts, our inner attitudes and motivations and challenge those. Give In secret Do good from a heart of love #Godsees #beattitudes #wordsofJesus #lovepeople

Friday!! The next proverb is... Proverbs 10:10 AMP He who winks with the eye [craftily and with malice] causes sorrow; the foolish of lips will fall headlong but  he who boldly reproves makes peace . Election season and this is the stock in trade of politicians it seems...but sometimes that's me too, happy to wind someone up perhaps without knowing them that well, or being flippant, and causing hurt, not knowing someone's story... but my aim should be to be a peacemaker...what about you? #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #beapeacemaker

Romans 3v24 NLT Yet God freely and graciously... Yet God Freely Graciously Just let those words roll around in your mind today... If we do something freely and graciously, we're doing it because we want to, it gives us pleasure or enjoyment, satisfaction, there is no compulsion, just...joy! These words have a smile on them :) And these words describe the way God wants us to live. In freedom With grace #yetGod #freely #graciously #inthistogether #love #dearlyloved #youaredearlyloved

Romans 3v23-24 NLT For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God... Yet God! He didn't have to do anything. He chose to do something He chose to make a way. For all of us. Because we are all in the same boat. All fall short, no matter who we are, or what we have done... And why? Because He loves. Loves you. Loves me. Undeserved, unmerited, I can't earn it or gain it in some way for myself... Yet God. #romansroad #inthistogether #love #dearlyloved #youaredearlyloved #yetGod

Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard Everyone All In this life comparing goes on everywhere...we are bombarded with images of how we should look, dress, appear...what is cool/hip/swag/whatever. God says compare yourself to me. We are all the same. All. #romansroad #inthistogether