verseoftheday

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus...  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5, 8 NIV Jesus became obedient to death...didn't have to...but chose to. And not just any death. Humiliated in a public execution that was used by the world superpower of his day to show its dominance and terrorise people. He allowed all of that. And this is how he calls us to be too... #takeupyourcross #followJesus #thereisgonnabeacost

...Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven" But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, "That's blasphemy! Does he think he's God?" Matthew 9:2-3 NLT Actually yes! Jesus did think that. And rather than talk to Jesus, see where he was coming from, they just "talked amongst themselves" It's not often we make a lot of progress by looking in...by reinforcing our thinking within our little circle...and esp if we don't look at Jesus claims for ourselves. Quietly and gently Jesus says I love you. I've made a way. You're forgiven You're OK now Be encouraged Yes thus life can be hard One day all will be made new I Am #beencouraged #wordsofJesus #sunday #worship #thisisourGod

Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Be encouraged, my child..." Matthew 9:1-3 NLT Jesus had a big day, and then a long journey, & rather than peace and rest he is met by someone in need. Tired or not he still looks on the person in front of him with love, tenderness, kindness... This is our model. Love the one in front of you...the person you meet on the bus, the person who cuts your hair, the one next to you who's hurting or struggling... just follow Jesus example and love the one in front of you... #wordsofJesus #lovepeople

Friday! Proverbs! Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people. Proverbs 11:3 NLT "Honesty is the best policy" was quoted to me as a child...now I see the source of that...in the middle of God's word. Interesting that honesty guides good people...if we're a bit lost about what to do then honesty is a good place to start. Be honest with yourself. There's good and not so good in all of us and sometimes an honest appraisal is helpful When we're stuck in tricky relationship issues let honesty be your guide to find a way forward... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #honestyisthebestpolicy

...Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven" Matthew 9:1-3 NLT Paralyzed. What paralyzes us? What stops us, holds us back? Keeps us in our comfort zone? Lord use me...but I'm too afraid to introduce myself to someone new at church...or help because it might get difficult... or...or... Jesus gently says Be Encouraged. In the big picture you're forgiven, you're OK with God, there's nothing to be afraid of...so don't let fear hold you back In this case the paralyzed guy had a team. Having people on your side and being there for others is important...who's team are you on? #forgiven #dearlyloved #nofear #inthistogether #onyourteam

Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven" Matthew 9:1-3 NLT No matter what's going on on the outside, Jesus is interested in the heart. He sees their faith, their collective faith, & gives a kind and gentle reassurance about what really matters. You're forgiven. My guess is that the paralyzed man is caught up in his condition being linked to his sin. His heart condition. I wonder what things I'm worried about today that Jesus would say "be encouraged my child...the big ticket stuff I've dealt with for you. You're OK with me..." #dearlyloved

I know, Lord , that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Psalm 119:75-76 NIV Sometimes when we read God's word it stings. I'm so far from being who I should be...or we look at what God says about something and find it hard to follow. It's simply not what we want to do. Not sure what's going on in the psalmists life but he says: God you are good. But what you say hurts. I know you love me. Show me that today. I still choose you. No matter what...God is Unfailing Love. When He is silent, unfathomable, when things are good, or not going our way...Unfailing Love. #youaredearlyloved

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus... ...he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant... Philippians 2:5, 7 NIV Ok so Jesus made himself nothing...became a servant...but here I'm called to do the same! In my relationships I should do the same. Give up my authority. Become a servant. In my home, flat, workplace, study place, marriage, family... And somehow by doing that we will see more of Jesus...an inkling of what He gave up for us... #lovepeople #beaservant #jesusatthecentre

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 2 Timothy 1:5 NIV Yesterday I heard the story of a wonderful lady of faith, whose strength of character and love for God has been passed down to the second and third generations. Paul here is thankful for Tim and his faith as well as his multi generational heritage... One thing we're all going to leave is our reputation, & a legacy in the lives of our family (whether we have a biological family or a much wider "family") What's yours and mine going to be? We get to influence that rep, that legacy, every day in our actions & reactions, the things we do, invest our time in, & say... #choose

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; Philippians 2:5-6 NIV In our relationships with one another am I prepared to give up my position of power? My authority? Jesus did. Shrunk himself, humbled himself to become one of us...and instead of power and authority chose the risky path of love. Risky because love leaves room for rejection. There's always someone below us in the pecking order of life...will I choose love over authority or power? #choose #lovepeople

Friday! Proverbs! When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2 NIV How true is this? When we get puffed up and full of our own achievements...things crash...  Humility on the other hand is often formed in the forge of trial, difficulty, loss, struggle...but with that comes wisdom. Real life wisdom. And our model is Jesus. He was humble in a way that we can only aspire to...and if we walk with Him in our trials, wisdom will come #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:5 NIV A few years ago the WWJD? movement was a big thing...What Would Jesus Do? Sometimes it's still a good question to ask...Paul encourages us to have the same mindset as Jesus. What would he do? To know that I need to know Jesus, to learn how he responds to people...because the context here is in our relationships with one another. This is not about saving the world, but loving the people in your house, in your life, church, work, neighbourhood...loving the one in front of you as Jesus would... WWJD? #whoismyneighbour #lovepeople #keepitsimple

A friend loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity. Proverbs 17:17 AMP Ok so I know it's not Friday but just want to encourage you to love and stick with your friends...especially when times are tough...when your friends suffer a loss, are hurting, struggling...keep loving them...you don't have to have answers...just care. And especially the friends in your house - love them at all times #lovepeople #beafriend

Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained... Philippians 2:6 AMP Was Jesus just a man? Just a good teacher? One among many? A good bloke? Clearly not. We don't follow some enlightened person or someone who's had a revelation from God...but the One who Is. #thisisourGod #somethingtochewon #hewantstoknowyou

My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, "Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!" and either ignore the street person or say, "Better sit here in the back row," haven't you segregated God's children and proved that you are judges who can't be trusted? James 2:1-4 MSG It's so easy to fall into the trap of judging on appearances...at work, in class or in church. James' concern is that we only see the outside in others...if God is interested in the heart, in the person, then so should I... #lovepeople #james #keepingitreal

Let this same attitude and purpose and humble mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained... Philippians 2:5-6 AMP This humbleness/humility thing is a big deal with God. He knows how our heart motives work & challenges us that our attitude, purpose & mindset should match Jesus...who gave it all up for us... Humbleness that leads to action. For Jesus it went as far as the cross - for me. #sunday #worship #thisisourGod

...Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 NLT Our culture makes some people "better" than others...the famous sports stars, movies, music...suddenly their thoughts are tweeted and become news items & we soak it up... What if the Syrian refugees thoughts are at least as important? Or the  lady in Rio with the Zika virus...or the Sowers slum dweller...what makes us important? In God's economy it doesn't seem to be wealth, beauty, background, age, ethnicity...or any other measure we might use. Maybe if we thought of our neighbour as "better" we might get the balance about right... Jesus died for the refugee, the lady in Rio, & the person in Soweto as well as me...we're all the same... #behumble #inthistogether

Friday! Proverbs! Last Fri we finished Pr 27, so lets start Ch...11 :) The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him. Proverbs 11:1 NIV For all of Solomons wisdom, some of the Proverbs are a direct copy from God's law - in this case Leviticus 19:35-36. Who would've thought Leviticus was relevant to us today! This is about being honest in our dealings. Honest in business. Don't cheat your customer. Maybe there's a broader context we can apply this in...when there is a power imbalance...how do you use your authority, power, influence? It's so easy to slant things in our favour in even our closest relationships... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #accurateweights

...don't try to impress others... Philippians 2:3 NLT How often are my choices influenced (sometimes in very subtle  ways) by what I think others will think...? Clothes, cars, address, phone, job, looks... The details I share and don't share because I want my life/work/holiday  to seem more impressive... Paul is saying here just don't worry so much about what others think...it's not that important Don't get hung up on what society says is important (as Paul had) In the next few verses Paul tells us what is important, but for now, just be you. #justbeyou #dearlyloved

May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:74 NIV People were pleased to see the psalmist because he represented Hope. Hope in The Word. Somehow he was a walking, talking representation of hope in God. Regardless of circumstances. How can I be that guy? Who people are pleased to see because of the hope that resides in me? This is a picture of Jesus. He was that representation of hope, & asks us to be the same to a hurting world. Hope anchored in the Word Hope that reaches out Be that hope. #psalms #psalm119 #myhopeisbuiltonnothinglessthanJesusbloodandrighteousness

Don't be selfish... Philippians 2:3 NLT As a child I didn't need to be taught how to be selfish. That was easy...and still is. Not only did I need to be taught not to be selfish, but taught the opposite virtue - how to be generous :) How to share, give, not hold onto stuff too tightly, not to value things over people... Which life has the by-product of happiness that we all want? Selfish or Generous? #choose #begenerous

Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:3-4 NLT One of Steven Covey's 7 habits of highly effective people was to "sharpen the saw" If the saw gets blunt, everything gets hard, ineffective, so take time to look after yourself, rest, recover, rejuvenate... Get educated, learn, study. Work smarter Look after your health where you can. "Don't look out only for your own interests" doesn't mean disregard your own...but look after yourself too. Give yourself a break sometimes. God rested. Sometimes we need rest. It's OK. Sharpen the saw by resting, taking care of yourself, & learning... #sharpenthesaw

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves... Philippians 2:3 NIV Oh yep. I can do that...not. This is an impossibly high standard modeled only by one person...Jesus. It was him who acted only out of pure motives & valued us more highly than himself For us...this is aspirational...keep aiming for the standard but don't be disheartened or discouraged when we (or others) fall short... Jesus. Creator. Yet...valued you and me so much... #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #dearlyloved

If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care - then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends... Philippians 2:1-4 MSG Paul is pleading with the church - if this christian life means anything then Agree - get along, make it work, give a little, make room for others ideas... Love - care for, look out for, support, hug, pray for, weep with, rejoice with... Be deep-spirited friends. Love that! How can we BE deep-spirited friends? #inthistogether #lovepeople #beafriend

Friday! Proverbs! Know your sheep by name; carefully attend to your flocks; (Don't take them for granted; possessions don't last forever, you know.) And then, when the crops are in and the harvest is stored in the barns, You can knit sweaters from lambs' wool, and sell your goats for a profit; There will be plenty of milk and meat to last your family through the winter. Proverbs 27:23-27 MSG Ok so maybe this picture of farm life is not your reality...but beneath it sits  creation, God's instruction to tend this world and use it...there's seasons...of work, harvest, rest...and we all need each of those. And when we disregard those principles the wheels fall off...we get tired, sick, burned out... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #Godsdesign

We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it. Philippians 1:30 NLT Whatever was going on in Paul's life...he was still in the middle of it when he wrote this. It was long term. And it was hard going. Paul had his struggles and kept active in his ministry. He looked to his friends and christian community for support. And he kept his eyes on God and the big picture of His purposes in the world. That's gotta be a good model for us in times of trouble... #inthistogether #jesusatthecentre

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven...  standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Don't be intimidated in any way by your enemies... you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it. Philippians 1:27-30 NLT We've all got our battles. Paul had a big perspective of his and calls us to do the same - look up - citizens of heaven - look out - we're not alone #inthistogether #onyourteam #jesusatthecentre

Let your Yes be simply Yes, and your No be simply No... Matthew 5:37 AMP These days how often is yes but... Yes unless a better offer comes along Yes unless something more fun or interesting comes up Yes but I want to keep my options open. Our Yes should simply be yes. And that speaks to character. I'm not going to let you down, I'm going to keep my commitments whenever possible even tho something more "better" or more fun or interesting comes along...and if I've made a mistake, I'll bank that experience for next time and take some more time before making a decision... If we said "yes" then "no" maybe we need to put that right... Jesus is more interested in our character and how that gets to be more like His than almost anything... #wordsofJesus #yes

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ...For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him... Philippians 1:27, 29 NIV Hang on a sec...live worthy of the gospel - that sounds OK...believe in Jesus yep I'm good with that - but suffer? Not sure that's what I signed up for...dealing with the hard, difficult, messy, challenging stuff...it's ok in the gym... Are we prepared to live in a manner worthy of the gospel regardless of our circumstances? Am I? #Godsgym #ismycreedworthdyingfor #believe #inthistogether