verseoftheday

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it - not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it - they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:25 NIV Interesting place to end 2018...at the end of the year we often look back at the good, the bad, the ugly. The things we got right, and maybe some things we wouldn't do the same way again! James says yes look back. But look back at what God has said, how He has revealed himself in his Word, and in the person of Jesus. And look forward and live out what God says. Choose. Choose to follow God's design for us to thrive and flourish. Here's a few things I look back on in 2018: Our God is good. He doesn't do things the way I want, when I want. He does use the things we go through for good if I let him His Big Story is a Love Story. His Word is a lamp and a light. If I want to see in the dark, walk the journey He has for me I need that. #theWordjustliveit #Godsgym #itsal

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17 NIV There is one brother who was born for a time of adversity. And he stepped into it. He didn't have to. But he chose to. Why? Because he thought that we were worth it. So worth it he left eternal goodness and humbled himself, shrunk himself, entered a world of suffering and hurt, & took it all on himself. Because he loves. You. He is the friend who loves at all times...loving is not just what he does, it's who he is. He is love. He doesn't stop When we don't get him, reject him, turn, go our own way, trip, fail...he loves at all times. In our flaws, in our stuff, He Loves. And that's why we sing. #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #chosen #adopted #redeemed #loved

Friday! Seems it got lost this week... A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17 NIV Solomon says its family that should be there when you're in trouble. But it just doesn't always work that way. Even our friends don't always know how to help, what to say, what not to say. Maybe this proverb is not for me to receive, but for me to action. To live out To be the friend that loves at all times. No matter what is going on in my friends life I won't turn away, won't walk away, but will step towards. When there's adversity I won't be selfish. The word for "brother" is "ach" and it means brother, but also relative, companion, countryman... just about anyone God has brought into your life... I need to be that friend who loves at all times. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #theWordjustliveit #lovepeople #Godsgym

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. James 1:23-24 NASB For many people this is a time of year for a bit of introspection, thinking about the year that was, and what's ahead. James is encouraging us to live out God's Word. Whereever we find ourselves, whatever our circumstances. Its like looking at yourself. You don't forget who you are. The greek word here is "eimi" I am. We don't forget who we are. I am who I am in everything I do. And that's how James wants us to live out God's Word. It's not "hey just don't forget to live out what you've heard", the living out is inseparable from the hearing. #james #james1 #Godsgym #theWordjustliveit

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 NIV As the year winds down I think back to times in2018 when I haven't done what the Word says... I've listened, but how have I deceived myself?  "Go into the world..." That doesn't mean me. "Be kind." But you don't know my life "Make disciples" We have a pastor for that "Love one another" Really? "Bear One Another's burdens" Surely that's for those gifted or "called". "Blessed are the meek" Not in my world! James is just a blunt guy. Listen. Don't kid yourself that the Word is not for you. Jist live it. I wonder how different 2018 would've been if I'd just done that? #ouch #Godsgym #james #james1 #theWordjustliveit

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 NIV Boxing Day! You'd think this day was named after big box retailers! While it's origins are hazy it was born out of acts of kindness towards others. Paul tells us to live like that in this verse. Nice. Until you see where God's kindness took him...to the Cross. Kindness and compassion aren't things reserved for gift giving on Christmas Day or acts of kindness on Boxing Day. Kindness and compassion are to be such powerful drivers in our lives that they lead us to massivr action, to giving of ourselves. Kindness and compassion are not just something we do, but who we are. Just like Boxing Day started with small acts of kindness,  we can start small too. Take another step up. I wonder how I would live if I let kindness and compassion be The driver of my life? #boxingday #bekindandcompassionate #lovepeople #forGodsolovedtheworld

But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering... Leviticus 12:8 NIV Not the most popular Christmas Day verse. Luke 2 tells us that when Jesus parents took him to the temple, they didn't have a lamb. They had a pair of birds. They had the offering that the poor took. Christmas has become about buying and consuming, almost an exercise of power. If I can't give you the lamb, if my gift isn't goid enough, I'm not good enough. There's that word again. Shame. In His divinity he left the glories of heaven for the broken reality of what his world had become. Humbled In his humanity he joined a poor family in a colonised country and became a refugee. He came as a baby, in a small, vulnerable package. Dependent on his creation. Adopted. Most people in the world won't get to enjoy Christmas Day like I will. I can't save the world. God's plan to do that came

After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. "The Lord has done this for me", she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people." Luke 1:24-25 NIV Here at the beginning of the Christmas story we have one of the great hidden themes of the Bible. Something we all share with Elizabeth. Shame. Here's the first inkling of what God is up to. He's stepping into the story in the most unexpected way, making Himself small, powerless, so that He can take our shame. Take our disgrace. And overwhelm it with His Grace. The world would have us think that some tinsel & fairy lights will fix everything. They're nice, but they won't. Liz knew that God was at work to remove her shame. He took ours as He was nailed to the Cross. Yes the tinsel is nice. But the real Christmas story has a much bigger purpose, to open the way for a Saviour, a Rescuer, a Redeemer. #chris

Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.  ...But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Luke 1:6-7, 13NIV Faithful. Old. Suffering. Heard Not words we usually associate with Christmas. Zach & Liz were old. They'd spent their lives serving God, doing what was right and good. And they were suffering. Children were a sign of Gods blessing and important in the culture. And they had none. They were second class. Looked down on. Them When everyone else is successful, they were not. Not. Yet they remained faith full. They served God And their prayers were heard. Heard Even when we don't think God hears us, this Christmas story tells us something different. God does hear our prayers. Zach & Liz chose to remain faith full for decades even when God didn

Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, when he has no common sense or even a heart for it? Proverbs 17:16 AMP When I look for Jesus in this proverb, he is there. He's there quietly asking about my heart. Do you have a heart for wisdom? My wisdom. My kingdom My upside-down kingdom He gently reminds me that I have the purchase price in my hand because He provided it. At the Cross. He whispers that Christmas is not what you've let it become. Without the Cross, well, it wouldn't mean anything at all. He's quiet though Humble Doesn't push it He quietly asks in all the noise and hustle, the billboards and the sales, the shopping and the running...do you see me? Do you have a heart for me? #proverbs #somethingtochewon #jesusatthecentre #heartdirection #upsidedownkingdom

Friday! Proverbs! Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, when he has no common sense or even a heart for it? Proverbs 17:16 AMP Oh wow. Isn't that true! What happens if I put me in this proverb? Well I'm the person who has the means to get wisdom, but not always the heart for it... Where's my heart? Captured by the tinsel, the stuff, the easy, the quick fix, the quick win...the "when", the "if only"...the distractions, the lightweight. The literal translation of this is; "Why is there the purchase price in the hand of a fool..." And we always think money. God's wisdom is available to me without money. I don't have to buy it. I just have to have the heart for it. In this crazy time we call Christmas we might pray for survival, for peace...but for wisdom? I just have to have the heart for it :) #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #haveaheartforwisdom

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John." Luke 1:11-13NIV Angels! Fear! Zach was a priest & in church & this was clearly not an everyday occurrence for him to be terrified. Christmas is a time of craziness but this was something literally out of this world! What's the Angel's message? Don't be afraid. Where am I gripped by fear? Fear of what others think? Fear that I don't measure up? The angel knew of his fear and knew his situation. And knew his name. Our fears, our situations are known. Our God knows. For decades Zach had been praying about this. Was God really listening? Was He really there? In a moment of spectacular supernatural goodness Zach knew. And w

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20ESV "The righteousness of God" If James is saying that we can't produce it, what does that look like? He gives us some help in the rest of the chapter, but for now, the message is that try as we might, we can't just do this ourselves. I like to think I can. There's times when I've thought I can save myself In her song "Sparks" Brooke Fraser sings this: "Eve ate the apple And I did the same" Rather than follow God's word I think my way is better. James says no. Your anger, your passion won't do it. When it comes to God am I quick to listen? And slow to speak? And slow to become angry at Him? In this crazy Christmas time slow down, find some space, to listen to the Creator #quickslowslow #Godsgym #james #james1

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20 NIV James seems to be saying that our anger leads us away from God, away from his goodness for us. It's counter productive. I think that's because my anger is usually selfish. This person's words, actions, driving, has annoyed me, made me angry. Angry at you Because its affecting me. But if I get angry because how something has affected you, my anger becomes fuel for action to right a wrong, to bring justice, goodness, restoration. David Powlison says this "The clearest gauge of whether anger is right or wrong in its expression is whether it acts to condemn or to offer help." Lord help me today to only have anger that offers help, that leads to justice, that leads to goodness Thanks Amen #james #james1 #Godsgym #quickslowslow #angerthatheals

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry... James 1:19-20 NIV Quick, slow, slow. These 3 things are a package deal, because they're really about one thing - my heart. My heart is slow quick quick Slow to listen Quick to speak Quick to take offence, quick to get annoyed, quick to get angry. I'm sure there's techniques and things I could learn to flip this, but it's a heart orientation that brings real change. When my heart is oriented towards God, it is inclined to love others. When I love people as image bearers, as valued by God, as someone He said was worth dying for, then, I'll put my stuff aside and listen. Then I'll hold back my judgement and slow down what I have to say. And then I won't quickly take offence, get annoyed, get angry. When my heart is oreinted towards me, then I'm slow quick quick When its oriented towards God, & others, I become quic

He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord . Proverbs 17:15 ESV I do justify the wicked. Because I so easily justify my own thoughts and actions I do condemn the innocent. Quick to blame So that makes me an "abomination to the Lord" It's sin. And try as I might I just can't get rid of it all. And yet. God loves me Adopted into his family (have you ever considered the power of adoption? To say to someone "join our family, we love you not becuase you were born here, because we choose to love you) There's only one place that these things are reconciled. Only one place they make sense. At the Cross. It's there that my sin and God's love smash together. It's there that Jesus became an "abomination to the Lord", not for his sin, but for mine. It's at the Cross that God's love made a way. Became the way. Its at the Cross where Grace prevailed. And my hope re

He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord . Proverbs 17:15 ESV I don't comdemn the righteous. Or do I? When I don't believe someone When I wonder what they were doing going there, at that time. When I judge without knowing someone's story.  When i haven't walked in their shoes. I wonder if that's what the writer is getting at. God hates injustice And loves justice Do stand up for, stand beside, walk with, advocate for, the hurt, the broken, the powerless...the victim...the innocent. If this is God's heart, it needs to be mine too. Sounds messy. Difficult Costly Uncomfortable Can't I just leave this to someone else? #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #lovepeople #standwith #bearoneanothersburdens

Friday! Proverbs! He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord . Proverbs 17:15 ESV An abomination! That is strong language! Doesn't leave any wriggle room. God hates injustice. How do we justify the wicked? We believe their delusions. We cut them slack because they're powerful, or like us, or we know them. We minimise what they've done. So don't Don't justify the wicked, the perpetrator. God hates injustice And loves justice Do stand up for, stand beside, walk with, advocate for, the hurt, the broken, the powerless...the victim...the innocent. If this is God's heart, it needs to be mine too. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #lovepeople #standwith #bearoneanothersburdens

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak... James 1:19 NIV Part 2 of James' guide to being a great listener. Slow to speak. That might mean not speaking at all. My problem is that while you're talking I'm already forming what I want to say in my head...and sometimes i just can't wait - it seems so important! So it must be important to you too. Just finish, so I can talk. Nah I'll just jump in anhway! James counsels me to slow it down. Slow down my speaking Because that communcates something else. That I care That you are important That your thoughts are important James says this is for everyone so today I'll try... #james #james1 #listen #tolistenequalstolove #loveoneanother #Godsgym

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen... James 1:19 NIV Is this James schmoozing us with "my dear brothers & sisters" (It is Christmas after all) When he says "take note of this" he seems serious. I think he's saying i really appreciate you and this is something important for your life. Don't miss it. Be quick to listen. I'm quick to hear. But to listen? I'm quick with my point of view Quick with my story Quick to judge Quick jump in, to have my say Quick to form my thoughts James is telling me to take note. This is important, because I care about you. Be quick to listen Listen for the heart. Listen for meaning Listen to encourage Listen to build the other person up, to strengthen Listen as an act of love Listen so that you might speak life. James says this is for everyone, so today I'll try... #james #james1 #listen #tolistenequalstolove #loveoneanother

You have declared today that the Lord is your God. And you have promised to walk in his ways, and to obey his decrees, commands, and regulations, and to do everything he tells you. The Lord has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands. Deuteronomy 26:17-18 NLT Firstfruits. Part of this firstfruits thing is promises The people made promises. To walk in the light of God's word. And God declares that they are his people His special treasure. And we are the children of that promise that echoes thru the centuries... As a kind of firstfruits we are connected to God's declarations. What a place to be. Safe Known Treasured Loved Dwell in that today. The world around you may not make you feel any of those things today, but God has promised it. Believe it. Live in the light of that love today :) #dearlyloved #james #james1 #wearefirstfruits

...In this year of the special tithe you must give your tithes to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, so that they will have enough to eat in your towns. Deuteronomy 26:12 NLT Firstfruits. This is a key use of the fiirstfruits...to ensure that the; Levites (our pastors, people we send as a church) Foreigners  (literally means those without inheritance rights - the refugees) Orphans (the vulnerable who have no one else) The widows (those who have lost their partner so are reliant on others now) The purpose of the tithe of firstfruits was to support those in need in the community. If we are a kind of firstfruits as James tells us, then these are the people we are called to help. More than that...who we're here for... Our purpose. If you're already in amongst it - great! Keep at it! Don't grow weary in doing good :) #james #james1 #wearefirstfruits #purpose #lovepeople

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:18 NIV ...take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce...Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name Deuteronomy 26:2 NIV Firstfruits were taken to where God dwelled. Taken to church. As part of worship. We're no longer stuck with one place where God dwells, but if we're a kind of firstfruits then we are part of that offering of worship. Paul says in Romans 12 to offer ourselves...worship is not just something we do. It's who we are. It's about who our life is oriented towards. And it is lived out in the small everyday choices that we make...we are the firstfruits, God is interested in us, our hearts...he delights in that. Delights in you and me Delights in knowing us Crazy, reckless love :) #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #wearefirstfruits

The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. Proverbs 17:14 ESV Jesus entered into the strife. He knew it was coming, like a dam breaking, and it was unstoppable and it was going to all come crashing down on him. And he came anyway. His argument, his quarrel, was not with us, but with sin and with death. He did not quit. Did not abandon. And the quarrel did break out. The dam did burst. And Jesus lost And in the losing he won a victory for us... Abandoned so we wouldn't be Forsaken so we wouldn't be Jesus entered the strife. #proverbs #thisisourGod #notabandoned #notforsaken #dearlyloved

Friday! Proverbs! The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. Proverbs 17:14 ESV The water got let out of the fish tank this week...and you know what? You can't put it back in. Whether its a tank, a dam, a  glass or a tap that comes to mind, once its out...water is difficult to get back. Proverbs is telling us that there's often an opportunity at the beginning of an argument, a quarrel, a fight, where it can be stopped. And its not by the other person, but by me. Quit Abandon Walk away My response in a conflict situation is to spark up in the same way. The writer here is telling me to abandon the fight before it starts. Before something is said that can't be unsaid. What does that leave me with then? Listening Listening for the other persons heart, listening for the truth they have for me or about me, listening for God's voice. To quit before the quarrel takes humility. And we have a good role model for tha

Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia. Acts of the Apostles 19:29 NLT Paul was from Tarsus. His traveling companions were from Macedonia. They were caught up in this riot together, & must've been journeying together for a while to be called traveling companions. Last night we watched a movie which is a story about unlikely traveling companions who changed as they got to know one another. Grew to love one another. Carry one another. On this journey of our life, we all need traveling companions. They may be with us for a season (like Paul's friends) or people we commit to for life. They may be unlikely companions, from different backgrounds and places, & we may have to grow to love them. There's going to be "riots", trouble, difficulty, and we need to learn to bear one another's burdens when the going gets tough. To love. To love one another. #unlikel

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:17-18 NIV Firstfruits. Trials, perserverance, maturity, and our good, unchanging God. Chosen. And we end up here. Some kind of firstfruits. Deuteronomy 26 talks about firstfruits. They come from cultivation. The work of someone's hands. If we are a kind of firstfruits we are shaped, cultivated, by the word of truth. God's Word The person of Jesus We don't read then God's word, look at Jesus life, death, resurrection, for information, but cultivation. Problem is I don't want to be shaped or changed by someone else. I'm selfish. And stubborn. Lord, let your word shape me, change me, make me fruit for your kingdom. Overwhelm my selfishness with your grace today. Amen #james #james1 #firstfruits #changedbygrace #Godsgym

...from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:17-18 NIV God is good. He is for us. He doesn't change. Yet there's evil, suffering, hurt, destruction in the world. The "anti" of who God is. So He must be allowing that for a reason (maybe lots of reasons!) One clue is found in this verse, & another in these first verses of James. He wants us to grow up. To be mature in our faith. Growing up includes fails, struggles, perservering. And then there's this verse. Chosen. And Some kind of first fruits. Do you remember the kid at school who was always the last one picked on a team because everyone knew they'd be an anchor? With our God, it's like He picks everyone first. He sees you Knows you Knows our strengths and our weaknesses and chooses us anyway. There are no favourites based

Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:16-17 NIV Don't be deceived, misled. I need reminding because I am easily misled. Easily misled that God is not good. But James reminds us that He is. Good. He doesn't change. God reveals himself in Jesus. This is who God is. He came to seek us out, to save...because we were lost. He forgives He redeems He restores He loves. He does not change. He is good. Rest in that today - whatever is in front of you today. He is good. He is for you He loves. And He does not change. #dearlyloved #childofGod #james #james1

The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. But in my distress I cried out to the Lord ; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears. Psalms 18:4-6 NLT Remember this is a song, & in songs & poems we let our emotions run, but God has included this one in the Bible for a reason... It's raw & it's real. The writer is in trouble Depressed Anxious Suicidal? God publishes this so that we know that He knows how it is for us sometimes. And he gives us a way forward. Cry out to God Talk to God And He hears. For the psalmist God feels a long way away, but he still prays to Him Confident that He hears Even in his distress, confident that He is personal. So no matter what you feel, bring your stuff, to God In community In worship Even if He feels distant Bring it. The raw and the real Confident that He is

If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house. Proverbs 17:13 NLT There is one who's goodness was repaid with evil. One who is Good. Pure Untainted Holy Good. If the priest was not 100% purified when he entered the presence of God, he died. Our God and evil, sin, could not abide together. And yet, at the cross, evil entered the house. All our sin was somehow placed on, absorbed by Jesus, who had humbled himself to leave heaven for earth, and humbled himself to let sin into his house. Into himself His good was repaid with evil. He didn't do all that for himself. He did it for us. And one day we'll understand what that really meant, what that really took. Good was repaid with evil This is love. He stepped towards, stepped in, and in some small way asks us to do that too, to follow His example and lay down our lives for others... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #Godsgym