verseoftheday

Today is a blessing written in the 1500's that maybe you need today...or maybe it's to pass on to someone in your life...let this settle into your bones... May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us. Teresa of Avila #blessings

....I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation... I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13 NIV Often we see Phil 4v13 as a slogan, a motivational statement for sports teams  or written on strapping tape on players...but the context of the verse is not about achievement out in the world, but about winning the battle in our minds - the battle for contentment - it started in Gen 3 when the seed of discontent was planted in Adam & Eve and we've succumbed to it ever since. As young children none of us needed to be taught to want the things other kids ad...that discontent has been with us from the beginning We need a constant infusion of God's truth & knowledge of his grace... #forthewin #itsabattle

...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation... Philippians 4:11-12 NIV So what's the secret? I just want the magic formula... John was in prison & so is Paul. Yet he knows "the secret". It's not our circumstances. Yet that is the first place I look, the thing I want changed. If only... when... why can't... God just fix my problems... You want the secret? Then re-read this letter from the beginning... know who Jesus is & what he did, choose to live with the same servant heart and attitude he did, choose thankfulness as a way of living...it's there, in surrendering to God that the secret to contentment is found...

Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see:  The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy  are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.  Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me." Matthew 11:4-6 NIV John would have recognized this response from Isaiah 35 - Jesus is doing all the things the Messiah was supposed to do...except... set the prisoners free - and John was stuck in prison! So in answer to yesterday's question, Jesus says yes I'm the One, but right now I'm silent on the question that affects you the most...do you trust me, do you believe, even when you don't get the answer you want? Do you still choose to believe? #wordsofJesus #choose

John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?" Matthew 11:2-3 NLT This is the key for all people, for all time - is Jesus the One, the messiah, the one who came to save, to make a way...is Jesus the real deal? As CS Lewis put it - was Jesus a liar, a lunatic...or Lord, because being a good man, a good teacher, just speaking moral truth, another prophet, those are not options he leaves open. This trilemma is at the heart of all questions of faith - and each person at some time in their life needs to answer it for themselves... who is Jesus? #lunaticliarorLord #madbadorGod #somethingtochewon

Friday! Proverbs! The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives. Proverbs 12:6 NLT A murderous ambush! Seriously? Maybe my words do lay in wait to cause havoc later... when I talk about someone else only knowing part of the story...when I judge without knowing their story...when I say about people "did you see..." then maybe my words are lying in wait to do damage... The story of the monk telling his trainee to place a feather on everyone's doorstep in the evening and collect then up again in the morning...the feathers are like our words, impossible to get them back (like trying to squeeze toothpaste back into the tube!) May my words today not lie in ambush, but speak life #proverbs #wisdom #speaklife

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances... Philippians 4:11 NIV Learned to be content. This is not something that just happens but something we need to be deliberate about,  reflect on...what is it in this that is making me dis - content? Is it the external circumstances? Someone else's actions or attitude? Can I change that? Maybe...but I do have control of my response - how I choose to let those things work in my life...in my heart... And when I look deeply I find envy lurking there...anger...disappointment... now I see what needs addressing that will  lead to contentment...and it's within my control - it can be learned... #theheart

I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess - happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it... Philippians 4:10 MSG Paul is re connecting to this church community & appreciative of their support - which has been from a distance. In our time, no one is far away because technology has closed the gap... Is there a "Paul" in your life who you can encourage? Maybe a pastor, parent, friend, ministry leader...the person who preached on Sunday or led worship... Those in leadership need our encouragement & support too... #lovepeople #beanencourager #loveyourpastor

What is the price of two sparrows - one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it...So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 NLT Jesus is sending his new team of 12 out into the world... & while they'll meet some good people they'll come up against strong opposition - may even be arrested for their faith - & in the middle of that is "I know about those everyday things that you don't even notice - the sparrows - & if I know about them and care, you are much more valuable - I know this world is going to be tough at times, I know...but I'm gonna be with you... (& you'll soon learn that I'm going to die for you) You & I. Valuable to the creator. #wordsofJesus #dearlyloved

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me - everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9 NLT Paul wrote this to the church from prison, so it wasn't about emulating his circumstances or location...it wasn't about lifestyle, wealth or poverty... This is a personal letter written to the church, so the big themes of the letter - live in unity as a diverse group of believers, emulate Jesus servant heart, & keep looking to Jesus as your source of joy & life. That's what he wants us to copy. That's the source of peace. #jesusatthecentre

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me - everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9 NLT This isn't Paul big noting it...this is Paul saying you've heard all the important stuff, you know what you need to get on with...don't spend the rest of your day / week / year waiting for more knowledge, more info, another sermon... get on with it! You know Jesus, what He was about, represent Him in your world whatever that looks like. He came to be a servant - so serve. He came to love and bring healing and restoration - so do that in whatever way you can in whatever place your in...that's your act of worship...and mine :) #sunday #worship #loveGod #lovepeople

Proverbs! Pt2 I like to win...to be right... even when it's about faith, whether the other person believes that there is no God, or believes in a God of their own construction, or has a different view on an issue we can be quick to put our case, prove our point...maybe even win...but lose the person...lose a friend... lose an opportunity to show grace... So today is write-your-own-proverb day! I've realised that behind every Proverb in the Bible is a story...behind mine is the desire to be right ahead of loving the person - so here's my proverb: Better to be a lover Than a winner Better to lose the fight Than lose the person What about you? What's your story? And what's your proverb? #proverbs #wisdom #stories #writeyourownproverb

Friday! Proverbs! There is a proverb coming, but first a story... It's the Olympics & we like to see our people win. I like to see my team win #turbonation I like to win. I like to win games, and arguments. I like to be right. When I was told of a situation last night my first thought was not for the person who was hurting and how I might be able to help, but that I was right, how I could see this coming...a quiet "told you so" was in my head and heart... I ...can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge... but do not have love... 1 Corinthians 13:2 NIV I may be right, but as Paul says...so what? You were right. You won. And? I'd lost sight of love, lost sight of the person... #lovepeople Part 2 tomorrow...

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful... 2 Timothy 4:7 NLT Sneaking in another sports verse while the olympics are everywhere... Paul reflects on his life like a sporting contest - an Olympic event - he kept going as hard as he could for the sake of the gospel, of God's kingdom for as long as he could...and at the end remained faithful. That doesn't mean perfect, always got it right, never made a mistake...but used the resources and gifts he had to spread the gospel and encourage others...despite his physical disability, despite being in prison, beatings, shipwrecked... he remained faithful. In our journey, whatever that looks like, will we finish well...and at the end  remain faithful? #fight #run #faithful

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 AMP Renew. You only need to renew something if we have it, but its old, tired, tarnished...broken. David is just like us...at times he had it together & then there were times like this when he was heartbroken at his own sin, his own poor choices...and he knew he needed renewal. All of us need this sometimes. We need to lean into God - cry out to Him - and into the christian community that we have & seek renewal... and sometimes we need to be there for others...to help them with whatever it is they're carrying, to be God's hands and feet in a hurting world. Will you be that person others can lean into? #lovepeople

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 NIV The word "create" is the same Hebrew word used in Genesis 1:1 where God created the heavens and the earth...from nothing... fresh... new... perfect... good. How cool is that! While in a legal sense I'm already made new, I know that this process of allowing God to chip away at the things that I hold onto, the things that bind me, the habits that hurt others, the things that need re-creating...that process needs to keep happening as I keep trying to line up with God... While David was well aware of his sin this isn't a "woe is me" downer thing but a realisation that he needed to ask God to work on the not-so-good bits of his own heart... #dearlyloved #childrenofGod

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 NIV David, who had misused all his authority and power, become an adulterer and a murderer...if after all that he can come back to God...acknowledge & confess his sin & wrongdoing...then I can too. No matter what our weakness, O If God's grace is sufficient for David, if God's arms are open for him, then his grace is more than sufficient for us...his loving arms are always open for us to return to his embrace, no matter who we are, no matter what we've done, no matter what may have been done too us...there is nothing too big or too small, nothing too ugly or hurtful that Jesus love cannot wash away... #nomatterwhat #dearlyloved #childrenofGod

...let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus... Hebrews 12:1-2 AMP The focus, endurance and persistence of an Olympic athlete is what we are called to emulate...with our eye on the prize - not a piece of gold but the person of Jesus! Not just the author of our faith, but the perfector, the Way. His race took him to the cross...and he did that for me, & for you. And he is our prize. The reward at the end of our race...so when it's tough stay the course & keep our eyes on the prize... #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #eyeontheprize #onedayallwillbemadenew

...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful. Proverbs 12:5 NIV If the advice our mind is giving is deceitful... then we need a plan & the antidote is in Thursday's verse...when the negative, the wrong, the ugly thoughts run thru our minds we can't just shut them down, but need to replace them with Truth, things that are pure, noble, right... when the advice in our head is you're a loser, ugly, unloved, worthless, damaged... replace it with the truth: you're redeemed, dearly loved, a child of God... #dearlyloved

Friday! Already! The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful. Proverbs 12:5 NIV How often have we made plans, set our course, only to be derailed by someone with something more exciting or fun... don't go to church, come to our party, don't study, have a drink, don't work, throw a sick day...steal...deal... There's always someone with an easy way out, a short cut, a quick fix...and often it's us - the battle is in our minds. The plans if the righteous - prayerfully set your highest values - write them down & go back to them when the advice of the wicked (even from within) seems such a great idea... Jesus captured his highest values in these 2 hashtags... #loveGod #lovepeople #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV What a list of good things to focus on...and that's the point here - what we choose to think about - so easy to let the opposite things in from what we read, see, hear...the false, the dirty, the negative, the hurtful...it's not hard to find and so easy to let into our thinking...the comparing, jealousy, the wanting...so Paul says think about the good. Actively fill our minds with this list of goodness... choose to fix our minds here... #choose #think #whatwefixourmindonisimportant

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV Imagine an army patrolling the boundaries of our hearts... But that army is also patrolling the boundaries of our minds. In our mind is where the enemy of peace lurks...the echoes of past hurt & loss, fear of the future, doubt & worries for today... We need a guard because it's a battle, a battle that for some of us must be fought again and again so we won't be swept away by the thinking of this world, but held firm in the Father's love So choose to replace anxiety & fear with prayer, petition & thankfulness & as we do that allow the garrison of heaven to guard our hearts & minds... #dearlyloved #childrenofGod

And Gods peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace]... Philippians 4:7 AMP That peace. That's just what we want...our future is secure, our past is forgiven, & we can live today in the security of God's father heart towards us... May today your heart be flooded with God's peace. May you know his unique love for you as a dearly loved child...whatever circumstances today holds. That peace. To get there we need to follow V6,  put aside our anxiety & fear...& take up prayer, petition & thankfulness... #thatpeace #dearlyloved #childrenofGod

In a loud voice they were saying: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!" Revelation 5:12 NIV We drove thru Hawkes Bay yesterday and there were newborn lambs all over the place...a lamb...a picture of innocence, never done a thing wrong, & yet this is the picture of our saviour...completely innocent, never done a thing wrong, & slain for us... And only Jesus was innocent enough to be able to take on my sin and yours...so only He is worthy...and so worthy of our praise and honour...not just on Sunday, but on Monday too... #dearlyloved #jesusatthecentre #thisisourGod #worthy

Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd... Matthew 9:35-38 MSG God at work in the world...and as Jesus, the creator of the universe, jammed into humanity just like ours, met people, shared, taught, listened...his heart was broken... broken for the lost. In our world of striving and noise how easy it is to miss the people Jesus saw...as God he had the power, but as a man, he was limited just like us...and so he needs a team. Us. #Godatstreetlevel #legit #lovepeople

Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed" Matthew 9:20-21 NIV She knew that Jesus was the real deal...the One who could save, bring healing and restoration...and here he was wondering around, in her town... Her faith was personal and quiet. So often we only see the big, the loud, the awesome, the popular and important even in church...but Jesus knows the quiet, the ordinary, the introvert, the one who carries the weight of suffering & heartache & loss...he's about us, all us, right where we're at, right now...and He loves... #Godatstreetlevel #legit #dearlyloved #childrenofGod

Friday! Proverbs! A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. Proverbs 12:4 NIV Noble. Not a word we use a lot - righteous, virtuous, good, honourable, upright, uncorrupted...who is that good? Who's character is that pure? Maybe this proverb is hinting at something deeper then... we, the church, are described as His bride, & if we're not righteous it's like cancer in God's bones... and the only way we become righteous is thru Jesus, by faith, by our choice. So those who choose to believe are God's crown, it's our faith, our heart that God wants the most... that we choose Him... #wasntexpectingthat #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #choose #loveGod

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God Philippians 4:6 AMP Try starting your prayers with thanks. Maybe something of God, his character and goodness, or being thankful for the person you're praying for, or for something about your life...but start with thankfulness...because that not only changes and shapes the way we pray, and what we end up praying for, but is also part of our antidote for anxiety and fear... Prayer Petition Thankfulness And finally "continue". God wants to hear from us, he doesn't grow tired or weary or give up on us, so continue to come to him with thankfulness & let Him re shape us :) #bethankful

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition .. Philippians 4:6 AMP A petition is best presented written down. It's a clear and defined request...one key way of dealing with worry, anxiety, fear...is to write down what it is, and wrote down our conversation with God. This helps order our thoughts, give clarity to what is causing us to be anxious, and often helps us see our anxiety in a new, more manageable way...see our fears for what they really are... So write your petition to God, your prayers, your joys,  sorrows, victories and disappointments, songs and stories...share your heart with our heavenly Father... #petition

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. Philippians 4:6 AMP Prayer is not just a one way street, not just a "fix this for me...", but a conversation with the Creator of the Universe...and when we talk to Him about what's going on for us, when we get beneath the surface, when we get to the heart of the matter and pour that out to Him, lay that at His feet, give that as our sacrifice...then...our anxiety, our fear, the chains that bind and hold us back, can be chipped away at by the Living God...replaced by grace...replaced by love...replaced by purpose and hope... #prayerchangesus

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but... Philippians 4:6 AMP What causes us to worry? To be anxious? Exams? Health? Life? Death? Money? Relationships? All of the above...?? Some of us are frozen by anxiety because what's been said or done to us in the past... "Some feelings are just habits from child-hood circumstances. Feeling left-out, inadequate or misjudged are often only ghosts from the past" Maybe identifying what our worries and anxieties are is a good place to start. Paul says don't worry about anything - name the anything or anythings in your life whether they're fears for the future or ghosts of the past... #somethingtochewon