verseoftheday

Welcome to Friday - hope the weather is better where you are than it is here! Proverbs 10:19 NLT Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. Boom! #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #nothingmoretosay

Ephesians 2:19-22 MSG ...This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You're no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here...God is building a home. He's using us all -irrespective of how we got here-in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he's using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together... The church The christian community This is how it is supposed to be, the master builder carefully choosing and fitting us in together...because it's together that we represent God to the world, not by looking the same, not by thinking the same, but by being united in and by Jesus So choose be part of it, wherever you are :)

Luke 10:39-40 NIV She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made... Martha was distracted. She was captured by what had to be done...and missed Jesus. We are all different and have different gifts & abilities but, our priority needs to Jesus. The good that Martha was doing had become the enemy of the best - time with Jesus Our reality is that there are demands on our time; work, business, study, exams, ministry...& sometimes it's social events, social media, hobbies, sports, music, things we enjoy...all good things...but like Martha, are they distracting us from Jesus? Keep him a priority How can you and I ensure that happens? #jesusatthecentre

Luke 10:38 NIV As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. In chapter 9 Jesus is described as homeless. Martha welcomes the homeless Jesus in. Are we hospitable? Do we only invite in those we know well? Are we waiting until we...have a bigger place? Our own place? The right stuff? Better food? To be able to cook better? Hospitality is our calling. Yes for some it is their gifting, but all of us can be inviting people in in some way. Not sure what happened to the disciples but I think Martha got the 12 xtra guys as well. Sometimes hospitality gets messy. What could we do this week to be hospitable? Invite in? What little step could we take? #behospitable #lovepeople

John 14:27 NIV Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Don't be afraid. Fear stops us from stepping out, taking a risk, being courageous Sometimes it paralyses us -what are we afraid of? Over the last 2 weeks from John 13v34 we know Jesus loves us, is prepping our next place, has given us his Spirit as our advocate, left us with mission and purpose, won't leave us as orphans, is coming again...then we don't have to fear whether people will accept us or not because we are dearly loved, we don't have to fear death, or what follows, because Jesus has made a way...is the way...so we can live in freedom choosing to follow Him #nofear #choose #stepstopeace

John 14:27 NIV Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Don't let your heart be troubled...sometimes we let our hearts rule everything...we believe that our emotions are truth, that how we feel reflects reality...i feel left out so i am worthless...our feelings are our feelings, but is there truth in our conclusion?  You and I are loved by the creator of the universe. He has made the way for me to be made right with God. Those are truths. Don't let your heart be troubled takes an act of the will to place truth at the centre of who we are...allow God's truth, his love mercy and peace permeate...don't let your heart be troubled! #youaredearlyloved

John 14:27 NIV Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Jesus says my peace. It's different. It's not like peace you get from this world. It's not security found in the things we own, or our current circumstances. His peace transcends our circumstances, where we live, what we have. He gives forgiveness from the past, restoration for today, and hope for the future...not just the future we have on this earth, but for heaven...for what follows...because you & me, we are the objects of his love. The creator of the universe made the way & wants a renewed relationship with us, and for us to represent Him to the world. #love #hope #purpose #youaredearlyloved

Friday! Time for the next Proverb..10:18NLT Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool. Seems that these words were written for us today...how easy it is to talk about others when they aren't around...gossip about them. If we do that, we are a fool. When we find ourselves in a situation like that we need some strategies to end it. Rather than gossip about someone change the subject Or challenge the situation - I don't feel comfortable talking about someone like this when they aren't here Or offer to pray for them/the situation And when I hear the words of gossip and slander tumbling out of my mouth I need to stop myself...I don't want to be as Proverbs describes it...a fool. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #dontbeafool

John 14:27 ESV Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Over the last couple of weeks we've looked at the build up to this verse...steps to peace... Look out to the needs of others Look up to where our future lies Ask questions Live out the law...of love Look inward to God's Spirit who dwells in our hearts Remember we won't be left as orphans Peace is connected to mission Jesus peace is not like the world's...what does that mean? What springs to mind? Will you write your thoughts down somewhere? Journal? Scrap of paper? Electronic? There is something powerful about organising our words in writing. #tryittoday #wordsofJesus #stepstopeace

John 14:22-24 MSG Judas (not Iscariot) said, Master, why is it that you are about to make yourself plain to us but not to the world? Because a loveless world, said Jesus, is a sightless world. If anyone loves me, he will carefully keep my word... Jesus must have been frustrating at times Judas asks a question but the answer just seems obscure What is it that Jesus calls us to do? Love Love One Another Love our Enemies Shine your light,share your story with others Know His truth...& live it Judas asks how will the world know about you Jesus? And his reply is...it's up to you & somehow this is part of getting real peace in our lives...seeing our part in God's story and doing our bit...you could almost call it our mission... #stepstopeace #wordsofJesus

John 14:18 NIV I will not leave you as orphans; Maybe you have felt, or maybe feel today, that you're abandoned, unloved, lost, alone...Jesus says in these simple words that He won't leave us like this...He's coming back...and...He is working on our behalf in the heavenly realms...so even if we feel orphaned sometimes, the truth is we dearly loved by a saviour who is coming back for us! John 14:18 NIV I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. #stepstopeace #wordsofJesus #youaredearlyloved

Back from the boonies (yes that is a real word)...funny how reliant on technology we believe we are... John 14:16-18 NIV ...I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever - the Spirit of truth...you know him, for he lives with you and will be  in you... God's Spirit lives with us and in us...and is our advocate...someone who is always on our side...so look in to the Spirit of Truth who God has placed in our hearts...we are not alone on this journey Steps to peace Look out to the needs of others Look up to where our future lies Ask questions Live out the law...of love Look in to God's Spirit who dwells in our hearts #stepstopeace #wordsofJesus #advocate

Friday! Time for Proverbs... Proverbs 10:17 ESV Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. How often have I ignored good advice? Sometimes even after I have asked for it...but there is more to this...the path to life is more than just making good decisions about education or things we buy or places to stay or whatever...it is about the things that will have eternal significance...the source of truth is God's Word...how seriously do I look at it and then actually follow it? #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon verseoftheday may not arrive for the next couple of days as we may be off the grid...

John 14:15 NIV If you love me, keep my commands. Jesus knows how to keep it simple and direct when he wants to...no stories about the Kingdom and stuff being lost or found...just keep my commands...and they are? Love God Love people (Matthew 22:37-40) His new commandment is to love one another (John 13 34-35 - where we started on Sunday) All the other things Jesus taught built on this foundation...the new law...the law of love...it's about giving not getting, others not me...if we want peace, live Jesus commands... How could we show that today? #stepstopeace #wordsofJesus #loveGod #lovepeople #embassyofthekingdom

John 14:5-6 NIV Thomas...Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way? Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life... One of the most powerful and pivotal statements in the Bible...how do we get to your Dad's place? I am. The way. We aren't following him, because he is it. He isn't pointing us in a direction because he is the direction Look out to the needs of others Look up to where our future lies Look to Jesus. The Way. The centre of everything.  The question for Thomas, for us...do you believe what Jesus says... #choose #believe #stepstopeace #wordsofJesus #turnyoureyesuponJesus

John 14:5 NIV Thomas said to him, Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way? Gotta love Thomas. He wasn't afraid to ask questions. Thomas wanted directions, the roadmap to get to the place Jesus was going...so don't be afraid or hesitate to ask...ask questions of God, your pastor...dig a bit deeper into what you read... Look out to the needs of others Look up to where our future lies Ask questions along the way #stepstopeace # ask #thanksThomas

John 14:1-4 NIV Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God;  believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms... I'm going to prepare a place for you... I'll come back for you... Steps to peace 1. Look out to the  needs of others 2. Look up to where our future lies Jesus is prepping the next world,  and is coming back for us. I love the picture here. My Dad's got a great place,  I'm going there to get a room ready for you...it's gonna be awesome... This gives us peace. The confident hope that Jesus is on our team and has the long game all sorted. No matter what we might be going through or feeling now... #stepstopeace #wordsofJesus

Jesus talked about peace. His Peace But it's part of a longer conversation and questions from his disciples, his team, that seems to start here.. in John 13:34-35 NIV A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. The command to love. Love people When we really invest in the lives of others, choose to serve & give  without looking for thanks or reward, when we look out for ways we can help (not look away), choose to love with all those actions in 1 Corinthians 13...really love people...not just our friends, but maybe even those who are against us... that is the first step to having peace... #stepstopeace #wordsofJesus

Romans 10:10 NLT For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved How can it be so simple?  Well it just is. Step 5 on the Romans Road 3v23 For everyone has... 6v23 For the wages of... 5v28 But God... 10v9 If you... 10v10 For it is believing... #biblememory #fantasticfour #romansroad #hidethewordinyourheart

Friday...Proverbs 10 v 15 A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin What is this all about?  Yes wealth can protect us from lots of things but maybe this is really about spiritual wealth and spiritual poverty. If our faith is strong and secure, that is our fortress against the things we live thru,  the things the world throws at us. But if we have no faith...what then? Where do we look for security?  Strength? Peace? What is your strong city? #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Matthew 22:11-13 ESV But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there   a man who had no wedding garment.  And he said to him Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment? And he was speechless.  Then the king said to the attendants, Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. What's with this? Thrown out for not having the right clothes?!!? When the King has a wedding feast he provides fine clothes for the guests...but this person couldn't be bothered, or chose not to change...the Kingdom is one of transformation, & we can get close to it, but if we don't change then the Kingdom isn't real for us... #choose #putofftheold #putonthenew #Kingdom

Matthew 22:9-10 ESV Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find. And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. The Kingdom is open for everyone...bad and good...no matter who we are, no matter what we've done, we are welcome to feast with the King. However...this group of people needed inviting by the servants of the King...They just weren't getting a reminder of their invitation,  but something more. How prepared are we to put the  invitation of the King out there? The people we invite are going to fill the wedding hall of the King... #Kingdom #Kingdomvalues #lovepeople

Matthew 22:2-6 ESV The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,  and sent his servants to call those who were invited...but they would not come Again he sent other servants, saying, Tell those who are invited, See...everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.  But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,  while the rest seized his servants...and killed them. The good news of the Kings invitation will not be met with universal acceptance...work, business, lifestyle are more important There may be such opposition that as servants of the King we are rejected, even to the point of martyrdom...bit of a scary thought...but what do we believe is true? The King and His Kingdom?

Matthew 22:1-3 ESV And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,  and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. This is a looong parable about the Kingdom, so might take a few days but a few things about it struck me... So if we are the servants of the King, some people have already been invited by Him, our job is just to remind them, remind them of their invite, to make sure they know it's on, how to get there...and be prepared to be rejected. Some people acknowledge God, but still choose not to join the party, take the step of faith...but they would not come... #Kingdom #choose #everyonegetstochoose

Romans 10:9 ESV ...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Confess and believe. Jesus is Lord. God raised Him from the dead. Jesus is at the centre of everything...He is the way, & it's simply faith that opens the way to all of us. How good is that? No matter who we are or what we have done, we can take that step and move from death to life... Step 4 on the Romans Road 3v23 For everyone has... 6v23 For the wages of... 5v28 But God... 10v9 If you... #biblememory #fantasticfour #romansroad #hidethewordinyourheart #youaredearlyloved #sunday #worship #Jesus

Ephesians 4:25-26 NLT So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And don't sin by letting anger control you... Part of life, living with other people, being part of a community,  is that sometimes other people make us angry...but Paul is clear here...it's about not letting anger control our actions or our emotions or our responses... When we get angry, dig a little deeper into our response...why...why do I respond that way?  Why does that push my buttons? And when we dig do we find truth? (see yesterday's proverb) #truthwillsetyoufree

Friday! What's the next Proverb then? Proverbs 10:14 NIV The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. Simple. We are wise, or a fool. Not a lot of middle ground here...the wise choose to learn, to store up seems to be like storing food or equipment or something for when I need it. Store up knowledge not for its own sake, but, so I can use it to make wise choices, to encourage or bless others...but the fool...talks from an empty head, & that is what leads to ruin...ruined relationships, business, lives... The place to start is God's word. His truth needs to be the foundation of our knowledge base. When we have a need we dig into that storehouse... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #hidethewordinyourheart

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is...peace...against such things there is no law Peace.  Not against the law. Yet...in politics, in the middle east, where war seems to be a requirement, in history, the crusades where it was convert or die, the colonisation of parts of the world...all the way back to Cain & Abel...peace in our hearts is the problem It's a fruit of the Spirit, so it comes from God Knowing who God is Knowing His love for us That he made a way for us to be right with Him That He has good things for us to do to bring restoration...to be His hands & feet no matter how big or small that might be Choosing to live Kingdom values... #loveGod #lovepeople #stepstopeace #fruitoftheSpirit #peace

Ephesians 4:25 NLT So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. Context: written to the church. Paul has been talking about putting off the old life, putting on the new...living Kingdom values...we're part of the same body - the church - so stop telling lies...stop saying everything is great if it's not, stop putting on a mask...be real with one another...we're all in this together and sometimes we need someone to lean on, and sometimes we have strength to give So stop telling lies about ourselves... #lovepeople #inthistogether #keepingitreal