verseoftheday

Ephesians 4:30 NLT ...Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing... Identified Marked Sealed As God's own. No matter what happens in our life, where we live, what we do...if we have taken that step of faith we are part of God's family. We belong. Our future is secure, our hope is in His guarantee. #sunday #worship #belong #dearlyloved #sealed #hope

Ephesians 4:30 NLT And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. The way that I live, the choices I make, can bring sadness to God...quite a thought...the context of this chapter is about unity in the church, and about living as children of the light...how we live everyday...if I can bring sorrow to  God, then I guess I can also bring joy... Father in heaven, I need your Spirit within to help me in the choices and attitudes that I have, that I will bring you joy, not sorrow, pleasure not sadness, from the way that I live. Amen #choose #loveGod

Friday morning...Proverbs 10:24 AMP The thing a wicked man fears shall come upon him, but the desire of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be granted. wicked righteous Fear Desire It seems so black and white. That person is wicked, and I'm righteous...so I'll get what I want and have a good life... I've been chewing over this today, & life isn't that black and white is it...while I am made right with God, I'm not uncompromisingly righteous, and still battle with stuff that could be called wicked...I have reactions & attitudes that are not that great, do things, think things that are not righteous...yet...I want God to keep chipping away at me, to become more like Jesus, & that's the journey we are all on... #itsajourney #somethingtochewon

Genesis 12:10 ESV Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. Hello? God you've called me to go, & I've done what you asked, lived right...and now the situation is so bad that I can't stay here! What's going on? Ever had a "famine in the land"? Where there is no good way out...you just can't stay in that situation? A couldn't fix it God didn't seem interested The situation became unbearable Abram had to move. Change something. There's no indication God directed him, so he made the best call he could and got moving...to sojourn (love that word) somewhere else, for his own survival and for his family Abram had to change location What about you? #famineintheland #justgottamove

Acts 1:8 ESV ...and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Jesus called his team in Acts to represent Him. To be his witness. To his truth, grace and...resurrection. That's what mission is and what being a missionary is. Representing Jesus in this world. Loving, giving, healing, teaching, sharing...walking around in sandals...and where? Jerusalem = my town, my place Judea = my country Samaria = my enemies country the end of the earth = everywhere else So be a missionary by representing Jesus wherever you are, wherever you have been called...whatever you face today... #represent #mission #beamissionary #wordsofJesus #lovepeople

Acts 1:8 ESV But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you... Jesus. Risen. Alive. Promises that his Spirit, will somehow become part of us, working in our lives as an agent of change, of transformation, making us more like Jesus...from the inside...and this is all part of his kingdom work...as we are changed, we reflect his love and grace to those around us, we make choices in our lives to bless others rather than chase the riches of this world, we choose to give, to love, to represent God, to be his hands and feet in the everyday, the mundane, & in the extraordinary... #wordsofJesus #represent #embassyofthekingdom

Acts 1:3 ESV He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. Jesus. Died. Suffered. And in that suffering took on himself all of the darkness of this world Jesus. Risen. Without the resurrection there is no christian faith...in Jesus resurrection, death is defeated, the hope that we have of renewal, of restoration, depends on the resurrection...during that 40 days Jesus talked about the Kingdom, not some future far off time and place, but here and now, where renewal and restoration in Him can be found. #alive

Matthew 5:43-45 ESV You have heard that it was said,   You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven Love your enemies Pray for those who give you a hard time...how hard is that!? ...so that...so that we might reflect God's character, so that we represent Him, so that He might be made known...it's not about us, but who we represent! #beattitudes #wordsofJesus #lovepeople #lovepeopleevenwhenitshard

Ephesians 4:29 ESV Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. We get to choose the words we say...this part of Ephesians has been about unity in the church, and living a new life...not everything we think needs to be expressed in words, but especially when those words can hurt. Choose words that build up, that give life, hope, spoken with grace... Sometimes that's really hard if we are in a difficult situation, but we always have a choice. Choose to pray rather than gossip Choose to look for solutions rather than criticise Choose to empower others not put our own case... #maymywordsgivegracetothosewhohear #choose

It's Friday so time for Proverbs 10:23 ESV Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding. Often in Proverbs the fool is compared to the wise, the person of understanding. Who would want to be a fool in Gods eyes? We get to choose to be a fool...or not...One night someone kicked our mailbox over...just a joke to them...I don't literally kick people's mailboxes over, but do my jokes at someone else's expense, my sarcasm hurt people? What are the mailboxes you kick over? #aimtobewise #dontbeafool #choose #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Psalms 119:18 NLT Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. I don't like being told what to do...how to live...the law...rules...why can't I just do what I want? I want to drive on the right hand side of the road. OK some instructions are good for me, for us... Father in heaven, may we all have our eyes opened to see the wonderful truth and blessing that comes from following your instructions. May the fruit of your spirit be evident in my life today, may I seek to put others needs ahead of mine, love not only those I care about, but those who are against me. I don't want to fear the Negev, the desert, the hard places or things you may call me to do. Today I want your word to be a lamp to my path. Amen. #pray #Godgetsourtxts

Genesis 12:9 NIVUK ...Then Abram set out and continued towards the Negev. #1 when God calls, go. #2 age is no barrier #3 choose to worship #4 God's timing can be different to ours #5 trust God no matter what #6 choose to worship even when the future is unknown Abram headed into the desert. He wasn't going somewhere pleasant or welcoming, but somewhere hard. We will do the hard and difficult when it's for us...study, exams, work, exercise...'cos we get the benefit...but are we prepared to do the hard, the difficult for God? For his kingdom? I'll happily acknowledge what God has done for me but won't vacuum the church, or share my faith, or open my bible or ...go...into the desert... #7gointothedesert #eventhoitshard

Genesis 12:8-9 NIVUK ...There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord . Then Abram set out and continued towards the Negev. #1 when God calls, go. #2 age is no barrier #3 choose to worship #4 God's timing can be different to ours #5 trust God no matter what #6 choose to worship even when the future is unknown Abram didn't know what the next step was, but chose to build an alter to worship God. Sought Him. Prayed. We don't know what happened, if anything, when he prayed, but Abram then pressed on. Choose to worship even when our current situation is difficult and the future unclear #choose #worship #evenonaTuesday

Genesis 12:4, 8-9 NIV ...Abram was 75 years old when he set out... From there he went on towards the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent...There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord . Then Abram set out and continued towards the Negev. Principle#4 Abram's call/commission/task from God didn't happen UNTIL he was 75. We expect everything to happen now. On my time line. Be prepared to wait on God's timing Principle#5 In the midst of this journey Abram didn't know the end point, where he was going...sometimes we think we have to have it all planned out, the steps to success, the end game. Abram got to a place then asked God for the next step We just need to keep trusting God no matter what #trustGod #nomatterwhat

Genesis 12:4, 7 NIVUK So Abram went, as the Lord had told him...Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran ...So he built an altar there to the Lord... Principle#1 when God calls us we should go Principle#2 age is no barrier in God's economy. Principle#3 whatever we're doing, whether we're in the midst of change or not, whether we know the destination or not, whether things are going well or not, worship. If you can get to church today somewhere, take whatever is going on in your life, and choose to worship God anyway good or bad Joy or hurt Victory or defeat Easy or hard Choose to worship #sunday #worship #choose

Psalm 119:12-16 MSG ...train me in your ways of wise living I'll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you... Pondering God's wisdom takes time, and deliberate intent. How often do we carve out some time to ponder on God's truth? How could you do that today? David says that's more important than getting ahead in this world...how hard is that with the pressures on us in every area of life? Transfer God's truth into your own words is key. When we write it, paint it, photograph it, compose it, speak it, live it...transferring His truth to our lips, our expression, then it comes alive! #ponderthat

Friday! Already! And the next Proverb is 10:22 NLT The blessing of the lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. What does rich mean? Truly rich? Who do you know who is truly rich? One of the people we know is Sister Rose Bernard; a nun from the US, living in PNG for 40 yrs, & had taken a vow of poverty... She simply loved God, and loved  the people that God brought into her life, where ever that was, & was God's agent of blessing in their lives She owned (almost) nothing. Yet is rich. "...and he adds no sorrow with it" There is no downside to the blessing & richness that comes from God. No negatives, no winners & losers, just blessing. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #embassyofthekingdom

Let's call this part 3 of 3 Genesis 12:1 NIV The Lord had said to Abram Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. God acknowledges some special and specific things & people in Abram's life, God knew it would be hard for him to leave...when God calls us he knows us, he knows that there are important things that we might have to give up, special people we have to leave...when God calls someone close to us to go, He knows it will be hard...change is hard. Go...to the place I will show you...that speaks of God's care, direction, engagement, & His bigger purpose - stay  connected with God - that's where we really belong. #faith #trustGod #seasons #belong #myfaithwillstand #Heknowsus #Helovesus

Genesis 12:1 NIV The Lord had said to Abram Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. Abram was called to go...he had to leave a lot of important and good things behind. I wonder how he might have felt about that...? I wonder if his father, his people put pressure on him to stay? Abram was successful in his endeavours yet God had something else for him Change is hard. Hard for those leaving & for those staying Change challenges us all about what's really important and the need for us to stay connected with God - that's where we really belong. #somethingtochewon #faith #trustGod #seasons #belong #myfaithwillstand

Genesis 12:1 NIV The Lord had said to Abram Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. Abram was an important person in his community. Yet God called him to leave...sometimes our security, our faith is wrapped up in, or is connected with the people around us...and sometimes God has other things for them to do...Abram leaving would have left a gap...when that happens in our lives it is challenging about what's really important and the need for us to stay connected with God #somethingtochewon #faith #trustGod #seasons #myfaithwillstand

Matthew 8:2-3 NIV A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean" Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing", he said. "Be clean!" Jesus is all about fresh starts, about renewal and restoration. We have things that eat away at us...spiritual leprosy...leprosy of the heart... (interesting that leprosy affects the body's ability to feel) Often we want to fix things or change things in someone else's life, but here it's about me. Can you make me clean? Jesus says yes. I am willing. I am willing to give you a new start, a fresh beginning Am I willing to front up with my issue to God? #newbeginnings #clean #thisiswhatlovelookslike

Psalm 119:9-11 MSG How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. I'm single minded in pursuit of you. Don't let me miss the road signs you've posted. I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt. If you can get to church today somewhere, will you ask God on the way in to have a road sign for you today? Will you go expecting to hear from him? Are we really using his word as a moral road map? Then we need to be reading it! And remembering it! You don't put any old stuff in a vault...but things of real value. Carefully put God's word in the vault of your heart...that's how to live... #psalm119 #theroad #roadsigns #bankGod'spromises #sunday #worship

Genesis 1:26-28 MSG God spoke: Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can... From the beginning God's plan was that we would reflect Him, that we are all part of something bigger...that we all belong! All of us. You. Me. Belong. This was God's creative intent for us from the beginning. Yes it was messed up, and Gods story, his love story, is his pursuit of us, making a way for restoration  and redemption #belong #youaredearlyloved #fromthebeginningoftime

Friday! Proverbs 10:20-21 AMP The tongues of those who are upright and in right standing with God are as choice silver; the minds of those who are wicked and out of harmony with God are of little value. The lips of the (uncompromisingly) righteous feed and guide many, but fools die for want of understanding and heart. Words. Our words can be of great value, like silver,  they can feed and guide...nourish...but those words come from a heart oriented to God. Get our hearts and thinking lined up with Him, & our words will nourish others... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #beuncompromisinglyrighteous #nourish #words

Ephesians 4:28 NLT If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Maybe it's not stealing but something else that's going on in your life that needs to change...if you are ________, then quit. But there's more...don't just stop at stopping, use the energy and skill for something good, and most importantly, something that blesses others. Being able to see how to turn that around is not easy, and takes courage, and may well require the courage to ask for help...find someone you trust and ask. :) Finally those words "give generously"; how well do I reflect that? Do I live generously? Is there something I could do today? #somethingtochewon #dontstopatstopping #livegenerously

Psalm 119:1-8 MSG You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That's right - you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. The pleasures of this world have an allure that so easily drags us off the course, the road that God has for us...blessing comes when we live how God intended...it's hard sometimes and we need each other to keep us on track - sometimes we need someone to lean on, to pull us back on the road, and sometimes we need to be strong enough to stay the course & put courage into others... #psalm119 #theroad #inthistogether

Ephesians 4:26-27 NLT ...don't sin by letting anger control you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. sorting out what makes us angry by the end of the day is the mechanism for stopping anger controlling us (& maybe that can apply to our other emotions as well??) If we have a limiter, a switch, make a choice not to continue with being angry...and in Jesus time it makes sense for it to be when the sun goes down...it forces us to face what has made us angry or upset, think about the "why", and take some action to resolve it...we get to choose. Is my response right? Is it in love? What do I need to do to sort this? Maybe I need some help on this one...? #choose #love #lovepeople

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 Been a month since we were last in Ephesians...maybe it's time for some honesty in your life. Burying or avoiding the truth does not help the "body" Sometimes we lie to ourselves, justify what we do, sometimes we believe the lies of the world, of things that have happened to us, events of the past. A healthy body needs the truth. And sometimes I need to hear the truth about me... God's story is a love story. Love, forgiveness, grace, sacrifice,  restoration, second chances, restored relationships...that's His truth...all found in Jesus. #truth #stoptellinglies #truthwillsetyoufree #youaredearlyloved

Psalms 25:18-21 NLT Feel my pain and see my trouble...See how many enemies I have...Protect me! Rescue(me)...for I put my hope in you I have this assumption that if I confess, pray, have others pray, have enough faith, do enough, that everything will work out and I'll look from the mountaintop at the testing time in the valley... But. It doesn't always work out that way. Just like David we can cry out for rescue from our enemies, our circumstances, but there is no guarantee it will end well. Friends get sick and die. Businesses fail. Exams... Stuff happens. Life hurts. David cries out for God to fix things, but whatever the outcome his faith & hope remains in the one who will save, he chooses to put his hope in God #choose #onedayallwillbemadenew

Psalms 25:16-17 NLT Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress. My problems go from bad to worse... Sometimes Christians put on a mask, that everything is always rosy, good, cheery & lovely The reality is that some of us at some time (maybe now) feel just like David did... Like God has turned away Alone. In deep distress...heartbroken, hurt, concerned, in pain... When bad stuff piles up on more bad stuff... David lets it out, expresses how it really is to God, is honest & real, & this gives us the freedom to do the same. Sure not with everyone, but with God and people we can trust...and as David did, try writing how it is down the writing can be very helpful And be that trustworthy person who can listen #lovepeopleevenwhenitshard