verseoftheday

And this was his message: "After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. Mark 1:7-8 NIV John today would be a celebrity. YouTube channel Millions of Instagram followers Books on the locust diet He was powerful. Influential. The people flocked to hear him. To follow him. But his message was clear: There's one coming with real power He's holy He's going to bring a new thing. God's Spirit. Jesus came. But gave up his power. For us. He is holy. But he allowed that holiness to be smashed. For us. He left us His Spirit, a  connection with the Eternal. Some days I'd be happy if He came back in power and just fixed things...but its not the way of the Kingdom... John pointed people to Jesus then...and points us towards Him today #upsidedownkingdom #gospelofmark #Jesusatthecenter

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. Psalm 34:8-9 NIV This part of the song evokes good times...my favourite people are here, around the table, great food...God is good. But David was on the run for his life. Lost everything. His power and authority gone (he faked insanity to get away) Living in a cave And he writes this song: "Taste and see That the Lord is good" David doesn't assess God's goodness based on today's  circumstances. He knows God is good. He chooses to trust Him To honour Him as best he can, in today's circumstances. In today's stuff. I was at a wedding recently and the vows included "in sickness or in health, richer or poorer..." This couple are not going to assess their love for each other based on the external circumstances of their life, or about how they feel today... No matter what God i

This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Psalm 34:6-7 NIV David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his Father's household heard about it they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him... 1 Samuel 22:1-2 NIV Samuel gives context around when Ps34 was written. David called out and was rescued. What did his rescue look like? Living in a cave And all the people who were in trouble, in need, under pressure and unhappy came to him... I want rescue on my terms. Get me out of here. Away Away from my troubles To somewhere better for me More comfortable for me Save me And instead. God sent people in need. #upsidedownkingdom #askingGodforrescueisadangerousprayer #psalms #psalm34

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism... ...Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:88-9, 13 NIV Monday morning and back to the gym! James is hammering away at favouritism. Great that you're loving others. Doing what's right. But. Even in doing that are you showing your biases? In your heart. James keeps pushing me to think about my motivation and to test it. And all the while it's that last line that not only dictates how to live, but also what saves me. It's Mercy. Grace. Mercy triumphed in God's dealings with me. And so it needs to be in my reading of this chapter, and in the way I try to live. Grace. That is the thing that removes favouritism. Demolishes differences. Gives freedom. So don't hang on to things God has forgiven you for Mercy triumphs When you don't feel good enough Mercy triumphs Start there today. Then with the pe

The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camels hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. Mark 1:5-8 NIV This must've been quite a thing. The whole countryside All of Jerusalem Think massive music festival, or sports event. Think revival meeting. And John was the star. Must've gone on for days. And he was the focal point. But John was not swept up in all this...he did not even change his clothes. No upgrade to a new suit or ripped jeans. He didn't change his diet And he didn't change his message. Great. Repent from your sin. That's absolutely the right thing to do. But get rea

John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: "After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie." Mark 1:6-7 NIV I've never heard of the John the Baptist diet...sounds like a winner! I wonder why Mark describes him like this? We usually describe a face, height, ethnicity...but he went with clothing and diet! I guess he wanted to accentuate the differences. Highlight them. John's not the usual guru He's different. Don't mistake him for someone who claims to be the Messiah He's different His message is different There's one coming who is the real deal - make no mistake about that... #itsoktobedifferent #youarenotwhatyoueat #Jesusatthecentre #gospelofmark

Friday! Proverbs! A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22 ESV God made us to live and function in a body. Interesting thought! And who we are, our heart, is connected. How our heart is affects us physically. A joyful heart. No matter what we might be suffering from physically, having joy, choosing joy, changes things. For the better. And a crushed spirit. Just writing those 2 words saddens me. Having a crushed spirit is not the way it should be, not the way it's supposed to be. There is a Redeemer. One who was crushed for us. One who wants to work in the broken crushed parts of our hearts, and uncrush them. Our job is to work with Him in that. Uncrushing It may be our own hearts, or the hearts of others, He calls us to work with him in the uncrushing. A crushed spirit is not how it should be, and one day all that is broken will be unbroken, all that is crushed will be uncrushed, there'll be no more tears, and al

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. Psalms 34:4-5 NLT Is this David reflecting on his own actions? Looking forward to Jesus in the garden contemplating what was ahead? Inspired words that speak to us today? All of the above? Can you and I imagine living a life where there is not even a shadow of shame? Joy here is painted as the opposite of shame. And the way to get there? It seems less about looking in, looking at me, and more about seeking God, knowing Jesus, walking with His Spirit...which causes me to live out my faith in service of others...and in that purpose is (re) discovered, shame burns away like a shadow at noon, and joy is found. #seekHim #loveGod #lovepeople #nofear #shameisburned #joydiscovered #psalms #psalm34

I sought the Lord , and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Psalms 34:4 ESV I've got fears. Today's fear is inadequacy. God seems to be taking me in a direction and I fear that I can't do it. There's plenty of more competent people. David, who is literally running for his life when he wrote doesn't say: "Just pray for God to remove the fear" He doesn't say: "Take these 2 Bible verses and call me in the morning" And he doesn't say: "Don't be stupid" He does say: "I've got fears. And the way I found to get through is to seek God. Seek Him Who He is Get to know Him He's revealed Himself in his Word. Find Him there. He's revealed Himself in Jesus. Get to know Him He's given us His Spirit. Listen for Him In the seeking (yes that will take some work, no I don't know how much or how long) in the seeking He delivers us from our fears." I wanted a quick fix. #upsidedo

I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. Psalm 34:1 NIV This is a cool verse. Keep praising God. If you read 1 Samuel in the 20's chapters is the story of David literally on the run for his life. He faked being crazy at one point to get away. And at that time he wrote this song. I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:1-3 David is saying if you are afflicted, if it seems that the world is against you, you can't win, hurt, under pressure, then I know what that's like. Join with me. A fellow traveler, a fellow sufferer. And we'll talk to God together, remind ourselves of who He is. That He is good. He is for us. Even in the most difficult of circumstances, when we don't get God, don't feel it, choose to believe, to trust. And praise Him anyway. Sing.

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world... James 2:5-7 NIV Monday morning and back to the gym! Jim's gym! James is not writing to a church but to christians everywhere. And to me. This is not an isolated problem, but an issue of the heart. About my biases that I can't even see. Who are the "poor in the eyes of the world"? Who are the poor in my eyes? Those with less. And they so easily become less in my mind. Less wealth. Easy one. Less money, property, cars They're "less" Less social skills. Introverted. Hard to talk to. Seem closed off. Awkward. Less Less education. Must've made poor choices, don't have the goods, failure. Less Less resilience. Can't deal with life at the moment. Can't find their way out. Hurt, lost, addicted, struggling Less They're from the wrong country, they're the wrong shape, age...the wrong "look". My list could

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:20-22 NIV "He is our help" When do we need help? When we're in trouble "And our shield" When do we need a shield? When we're in a battle The psalmist finds joy in trouble, in the battle, because of who He places his hope. In who he chooses to trust. We get to choose every day Every hour Every moment In what or who we put our trust. The last part of the Psalm is almost a plea... I know your love is  unfailing, and I am gonna keep choosing You. Even though I'm not feeling it right now. In our trouble In the battle Even when we don't feel it Choose to trust the Author of Truth. Choose to rejoice in Him Choose to sing. No matter what :) #psalms #psalm33 #trust #choose #sunday #worship

But the eyes of the Lord are on those... whose hope is in his unfailing love... We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:18, 20 NIV There's hope here Hope in the Unfailing Love And there's waiting. I don't like waiting. Queues Delays I want my stuff now, I don't want to wait for anything...as the world should revolve around me. Aren't I a customer everywhere? Even with God? And with people? I don't serve a god of my making, who does what I want. And the God I do serve tells me to love people, to "wash their feet", to be a servant. James says #quickslowslow Slow to speak. I'll wait for you. Wait for you to form your thoughts, find your words. I'll give people time. They can change. I'll wait for God. Because my hope is set on Unfailing Love It is this hope that tells us the waiting is not wasted, and allows us to wait well. #psalms #psalm33 #hope #unfailinglove

Friday! Proverbs! A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity. Proverbs 17:20 ESV So not much fun to be had here is there...but a reminder of the importance of what we think, our values, the values of our hearts. If our hearts are crooked, then we're just not going to see the good in situations, or in people. It may be a minor adjustment like a crooked picture on the wall needs straightening. Or it maybe a major realignment. If I'm like the picture on the wall I can't tell if I'm crooked. So I need someone else to point it out, someone from a different perspective, and the best person to do that is God. He straightens my crooked heart with the truth of his Word. As James has been telling us, that happens in the reading of the Word, the hearing it, and also in the living it out. That's when our frame is straightened... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #perspective #allowGodswordtostraightenme #

No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, Psalm 33:16-18 NIV Apparently after John D Rockefeller (prob the world's richest man at the time) died, his accountant was asked; "How much did he leave?" The reply? "All of it" This part of the Psalm is about where we put our trust. David had an army, was a warrior, had horses. He's not saying any of those are bad things. But they aren't the answer to what our world, our hearts, really need. My bank account, property, job, business, education, appearance, health, abilities, relationships, family... whatever those good things are, they cannot save. May our prayer today be: "My hope today Lord, is in your unfailing love" #psalms #psalm33 #hope #trust

Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes... have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2:2-4 NIV I doubt James plucked this example out of the air. In my church it's not about where you sit, but does everyone get the same welcome? The same attention? The same care? Do I judge on appearances? Clothing, the car they pulled up in? If it's someone famous or important do I make sure they meet the Pastor, hoping some of their fame/mana might accrue to me, attach to me somehow...but not that person who doesn't look or smell or walk quite right... I think I'm trained to make quick assessments of people, categorise them, judge them. Without knowing their story Their hurts Their need Their heart James says to me: Check your  motives Change your heart towards people. The out

But the Lord's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. Psalms 33:11 NLT Not sure how you're year is progressing, but when I read the news there is still trouble, tragedy, disappointment and heartache. The psalmist is clear on one thing here. No matter what is going on in the moment, or even in the span of our lives, our God is at work. He is not time bound like we are. His thinking is not finite like ours is He has revealed Himself in creation, in his image bearers, in his Spirit, his Word, and fully in Jesus. His plans are redemptive And restorative His driving force is love He wants none to miss it He does not change He is for us And His plans stand firm forever. We, just need to trust Him #trust #faith #hope #love

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. James 2:1 NIV New year, new week, and its back to the gym! This is tough! Next level. Before he launches into some examples, Jim sets us up here with "hey, if you're a follower of Jesus, if you've put your faith in him, then this is for you. Our glorious Jesus. Who was human and God at the same time Who personified God Who lived without sin Who died a criminals death to make a way for us Who was ressurected on the third day and ascended back to heaven Who left us with his legacy and his commission That Jesus. If you've put your faith in him, follow him, have his Spirit living in, then live it out by doing this one thing. Don't show favouritism." OK James, no problem. I'm a believer in Jesus. I've put my faith in him I can do that. I treat everyone the same I do. Well I try to Don't I? #james #james2 #Godsgym #liveitout #maybeth

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.  The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.  By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their  starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. Psalm 33:4-7 NIV The writer of this song has gone all "big picture" on us: God the creator of all we see - the physical world that we enjoy - just look at the stars! The big concepts of what God is about; Righteousness Justice Love And his personal statement of belief: the God of the Bible is True. I believe in Him I choose to Trust Him. Because of who He is Because of what He has done And today this is my song, my testimony of who God is. His love is unfailing. We know that unfailing love brought Jesus, our living hope, as the Creator entered his creation. Humbly Sacrificially Unfailing No matter what our circumstances, choo

Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.  The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. Psalm 33:3-5 NIV I'm not even allowed to sing in the shower at my house, but in this song, this poem, we are all encouraged to write our own song. Maybe that's a few scribbled words, or something crafted & structured with verses and music The form doesn't matter It's what I know I know God's word is true. It's what I believe I choose to believe that God is good, that He is for me no matter what today's circumstances are saying. I believe that He will unbreak the broken things It's what I see I see His goodness, his grace, his love in the world. It's in creation, it's in people, and some days I need to look really hard, but there are good things, things to be grateful for. If every day this week I wrote down a coup

Friday! Proverbs! Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction. Proverbs 17:19 ESV This is the person who is always spoiling for a fight. Keen to break the rules. Happy to get into trouble. That's not me though. I'm just a bit argumentative...like to win...prefer my way...mmm Maybe this is me after all. Who "makes his door high"? The Hebrew is literally "he who exalts his gate" What do you think this could mean for us? I don't even have a gate! Or do I? I keep people at a distance. Hold them at bay, don't let them in, so yes I have a gate. Keeps out the undesribales, keeps me free of concern for others so it's important to me. But this Proverb warns that if this is my heart, then the outcome won't be great. The way of the Bible, the way of love is not about transgressions, argument, strife, it's about peace And it's not about gates and barriers and walls and shutting people out

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27 ESV Yesterday some food dropped on my shirt, and if I'd done nothing, it would have stained it. We are going to get the mess and dirt of this world on us and in us. I noticed this stain. But how observant am I about the stains of the world? Sometimes I see them, and sometimes I need others to point them out, and sometimes they become clear in the light of God's Word. But I need to be observant. And I need to take action. Otherwise I will get stained. A change in attitude, thinking, action. Confession, forgiveness. Choices. I am forgiven. At the Cross, Jesus was permanently stained so I wouldn't be. He took on Himself all the pollution. But we still live in this not yet restored world, in this not yet renewed body. As we work with God on His restoration project, be on the lookout for stain

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27 NIV You may not remember the TV show Lost in Space (originally filmed in the 1960's!). There is a robot on that show who when it sensed danger would say "Danger, danger Will Robinson" James is giving us a similar warning here. Danger, danger. Pollution The world will pollute you. He can't just mean in a physical sense, but spiritually. Our hearts are polluted and it's danger danger because we can't sense it happening. Our thinking is shaped. Our choices Our values Our lifestyle Our dreams Our desires Where we put our time, effort, resources and commitment...James says danger danger, are you heading towards God, or is the pollution that too often we barely notice, taking you away... #james #james1 #dangerdanger

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress... James 1:27 NIV Yesterday we thought about the "who". Today it's the "when" "In their distress" In someone's time of need will I step in? Step towards their distress, their hurt, their need. Their mess. The Greek word used for distress is "thlipsis". It means persecution, affliction, distress, tribulation. And it has the meaning of being hemmed in, without choices, when there seems no way out. So, James tells us our religion should take us towards people who are the hurt, the marginalised, the discarded, and in their distress, when they're really feeling  like there's  no way forward, no way out, when they have no choices, to walk with them to find a way out. To help find options. Jim is not prescriptive about how that looks, so it's going to look different for you and for me, so how could this

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27 NIV Good to read James 1 from the beginning to give context: Trials Humility Perseverance Unchanging God #quickslowslow To live out God's word And now how our faith should look in the world we live in...how we should live it out. The orphans and widows are literal. But they also represent the marginalised, the discarded, those without resources. Who are those in our world Our country Where we live In our street Who comes to mind? Will you pray a dangerous prayer here at the start of 2019? Will you pray that God would bring some one, some group, some people, who you and I can step towards in 2019 Some one who despite (or maybe within) our circumstances, our battles, we can step towards. Maybe it's about jumping in and serving somewhere...James is not about programs, but people.

Sing joyfully to the Lord... We wait in hope for the Lord ; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord , even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:1, 20-22 NIV This Psalm is not about a world where everything is good and every problem solved. The writer is realistic about the place he lives. But He start with singing. Singing with his whole heart. No distractions, for an audience of One. The One who loves us in our humanness, in our flaws. And it ends with Hope Hope in a God who is holy. Hope in a God who is just. Hope in a God who Loves. Hope that is now. Here And Hope that is coming. This is not all there is, this is not the end of the story, one day all that is broken will be unbroken, all that is hurt will be unhurt, and there'll be no more tears. In this Hope, that is personified in Jesus, we can sing Joyfully With all our hearts To the audience of One #sunday #worsh

One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge and puts up security for a neighbor. Proverbs 17:18 NIV Do you see Jesus at work in this Proverb? He is the one who recklessly ignored this advice and put himself up as security. For us. His neighbours. For you. He did that knowing in advance that we couldn't keep our side of the deal. It makes no sense. He said he would come after us, seek us out He said he would make a way, and he became the way. He knew there'd be a price to pay. And he willingly paid it. There's only one reason to do things that make no sense, to leave the best place you can imagine to go to the worst, to willingly give up the best of what you have. All that you have. Love We are dearly loved. #recklesslove #thisisourGod #Jesusatthecentre

Friday! Proverbs! One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge and puts up security for a neighbor. Proverbs 17:18 NIV A bit of personal financial management advice from thousands of years ago... There's a sense of immediacy here...sure I will guarantee your loan, that seems like a good thing to do, it's what friends and neighbours do for one another... Be careful Slow down Think When it comes to money people do strange things, so be wise. When committing to guarantee a loan for someone, it may get called up and you may have to pay. Would that be OK? Be careful Slow down Think Even when it's a good thing you are doing (helping someone else) is it actually a good thing, or the best way forward for them? Be careful Slow down Think #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #think

For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. Philippians 1:20 NLT If you're still wrestling with NY resolutions, this could easily be Pauls: My hope is fully in the gospel, the good news of Jesus My resolution is to be courageous in sharing that with others My resolution is to live out the gospel in everything I do. No matter what the consequences or circumstances of my life. Paul was literally facing death. He'd just asked for prayer as he was chained to a Roman soldier in prison. No matter what my circumstances or the consequences...the gospel, the cross, who Jesus is, his love for us, his death for us to make a way... Paul was sure that the Truth would not let him down, that this was the path to Life for himself, and for everyone. Will you and I be brave enough to have NY resolutions that include any of

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. James 1:26 NIV Ouch! James just gave us our NY resolution: To stoop. To look closely and intentionally into God's word, and to live it out. Living It Out 101 Be careful with your words. Or you'll do two things: 1. Enjoy the sound of your own voice so much you'll believe that over God's word - deceive ourselves And 2. Wreck the good work you do with your words. Gossip Lies Saying too much / not listening Forgetting the "love" part when we speak the truth We all have our ways. What's Jim's solution? Keep a tight reign on what you say. Like a horse that is not given the freedom to go wherever it wants in any manner. No, it's directed, trained, controlled by the rider. Rein in my words! Yesterday a thought popped in my head and I said it. It wasn't necessary or helpful. I need to direct, t

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 Welcome to 2019! For some this is day to resolve to make some changes or commitments. James is on to it! NY Resolution: Look intently into God's Word This intently means "to stoop to look" Often I just drive by a place. Look at that beautiful spot, let me Instagram it and move on. James says slow down. Stop. Stoop. Get closer. Look closely. Have a forage around, see what treasures you can unearth. Be purposeful. Look with intent for what God has to say about himself, about us, and how we should live Live it. Do what it says. Not giving up or backing down, not discouraged by stumbles or setbacks, or difficult terrain, but walking with God, trusting Him regardless of my circumstances. That's the path to freedom and blessing. That's the path I want to be on in