verseoftheday

"Beware that you don't look down on any of these little ones.  For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father."  Matthew 18:10 NLT Jesus reiterates again how much he values children.  And in the verses before this he describes just how those who would harm our children should see their actions and choices.  The word the NLT translates as "look down" is "kataphroneo" which according to Bible Hub is literally, "think down," refers to holding someone in contempt, deeming them unworthy and hence despised or scorned. So if we're not doing that then we're deeming them worthy, care for them, look up to them, look for what we can learn from our children.  I wonder how different our world would be if we took Jesus at face value here? How do you literally not look down on someone? We stoop down to them. We get down to their level, we enter their world. I wonder if this is what Jesus wants us to do, t

"And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matthew 18:5-6 NLT These words of Jesus are sobering reading for communities, families, individuals who have the responsibility to care for, nurture and love our children, the vulnerable, the small, the powerless.  Jesus love for the small people on our world is full of justice. And he calls us to follow him. So, his heart for children, his heart for the small,  his heart for the powerless, the vulnerable, somehow, should be ours too. It can be easy (although sometimes necessary for our own well-being) to insulate ourselves from some of the terrible things that happen in this world.  But I'm not sure we're free to say that we follow Jesus and do nothing. I was at a concert on the weekend and half wa

Come,  let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving.  Let us sing psalms of praise to him. Psalms 95:1-2 NLT This song starts with an invitation, an offering to come and join in. In singing. In shouting. With thanksgiving. The "with thanksgiving" part is an attitude, something we bring with us. The shouting and singing is what we're called into.  Maybe culturally that's not what you're used to, maybe it's an easy fit, but this is about expression of an inner heart of thanksgiving. If someone has prepared a meal for me, the least I can do is thank them. With a smile. With appreciation. (TBH sometimes I take great meals a bit for granted, which is not cool. Is that what I do to our God too? Take Yahweh a bit for granted?) Whether it's going to church or whatever Monday holds, if I start with a heart of thanksgiving, things are different, there may not be shouting, but there's a better c

Sunday Psalms; He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The sea belongs to him, for he made it.  His hands formed the dry land, too. Come,  let us worship and bow down.  Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for  he is  our  God. Psalms 95:4-7NLT This Psalm invites us to take a different perspective from what we see on the ground. I don't think the writer of this song had the opportunity to fly in a plane, or see an image of the earth from space, but does know what a shift in perspective can do...and we're invited to see creation, and in that seeing, to see the Creator. Perhaps today we're just invited to see differently, and in that seeing, simply to honour and worship the Creator. #Psalms #psalm95 #perspective  #10000metreview #Sunday  #worship #thisisourGod

God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ - which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ - everything in heaven and on earth.  Ephesians 1:9-10 NLT Ever wonder what God is up to? Paul gives us a clue here, well, more than a clue, this is what God is up to, a joining together, a uniting of heaven and earth. Not heaven without earth, but whatever the barriers are, the separation is between heaven and earth, it will be gone, and there'll be one authority: Jesus. The empires of people, the power structures we strive for and build that create injustice, that place some higher than others, that hoard resources, selfishness, all the ugly me stuff, will be gone. At the right time. We can all say "if it was up to me..." But that's just me wanting to exercise power for what may be good reasons, but from my perspective.  Try as I might, I can't really see f

Friday! Proverbs! Happy is the one who is always reverent,  but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble. Proverbs 28:14 CSB There's 2 people in this proverb, one who is "reverent" which is "pachad" to be in awe or to dread. This person is described as happy or blessed.  Seems kind of strange! The second person gives us the clue...the one who "hardens his heart". The first person has a soft heart, an unselfish heart, a heart open to God, to being reverent to Him, and it flows that when our heart is open to God, it's open to His world, to people, and to what needs tending within us too.  We're going to feel things.  Emotions. Including reverance, awe, and even dread.  This proverb is subtly giving us permission to experience all our emotions, not to suppress some that are deemed less acceptable, because that's a kind of hardening of the heart, making it into something it was not meant to be.  (At church on Sunday we were asked from the f

"And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me." Matthew 18:5 NLT There's 2 sides to this coin that Jesus gives us here: Welcome a child, welcome the small, welcome the powerless, welcome the voiceless,  welcome those walked past, the unseen, and we're welcoming Jesus - who doesn't want to be doing that? And the other side of the coin?  We were all there once, for some of us being that small child was a long time ago, but we can probably find some memories of what that was like. Jesus says that in his economy, in his way of being in the world, that when you were small, Jesus saw you, welcomes you in,  says you're valued, accepted, wanted, loved. You were enough then. Jesus welcomed this child into the circle of those who wanted to be the kings of the Kingdom, and said be like this little one, this is who I love.  No matter what your childhood memories are, you are in fact, Beloved.  Welcomed. #wordsofJesus  #redletterBible  #you

Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said,  "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:2-4 NLT This is part of a long dialogue from Jesus about our children & their preciousness. And it's prompted by the disciples wanting to know who's going to be the greatest.  Who's going to have the power. And Jesus calls in a small child.  A child with no power. And says to his students, his disciples, you're asking the wrong questions. Not only that, but you're not seeing the Kingdom for what it is, you're still looking at it like Empire, like the power structures of the world, and my Kingdom is just not like that.  My Kingdom elevates those with no power. The small. The vulnerable. Those without a voice.  They are seen. And they

Who will protect me from the wicked? Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Psalm 94:16 NLT The writer of this song felt alone, knows what it's like to be treated unjustly, unfairly, to feel exposed, unprotected.  The writer knows too what despair is; v18 "Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave."  Where was the singwriters community?  Why did no person stand up for them, stand with them? Jesus sets us the example of entering in to the world of the marginalised and standing with them, bringing healing and hope, standing against injustice. And he calls us to follow him. This can be a costly thing to do, but our world seems to have plenty of despair, a surplus of injustice, and a need for us to hear one anothers need for protection, to be that protection. Is there an opportunity, a  way, to be a little more of that in our community, in the lives of those we love? #psalms #psalm94 #injustice  #despair #hope #healing #itstarts

The Lord will not reject his people;  he will not abandon his special possession. Psalm 94:14 NLT The circumstances of life, the things that have happened to us, the pressures of the world, can lead us to believe that what the songwriter says here is not true.  We add in a story of our own worth, or lack of it, and we have a toxic brew. But this song invites us to hold this as true.  We are not rejected. We are not abandoned. We are Beloved. If we too hold that as true, then can we let that truth gently shape our responses, shape how we stand in the world, quietly nibble away at the meaning we give things. Jesus life repeats this. His life says that we are not rejected, we are not abandoned, and His Life says that we are, in fact, beloved.  How can we let that truth in today? #Psalms #psalm94 #youareBeloved

How long, O Lord?  How long will the wicked be allowed to gloat? How long will they speak with arrogance?  How long will these evil people boast? They crush your people, Lord,  hurting those you claim as your own. Psalms 94:3-5 NLT  Grief, suffering, wondering whether God is ever going to do anything about some of the evil in this world...the writer of this song is right there. Crying out.  This song tells us a few things; It's OK to name injustice (see v6 - gets quite specific) It's OK to cry out. It's OK to cry out to God. It's OK to complain to Him about injustice, about what's wrong. It's OK to speak, your voice matters.  The problems in our world can seem so big, there's so much, and it can seem like too much, overwhelming. And when that threatens we can use the words of the Psalms to realise it's not just us who have felt that way, who cannot accept that the way things are is how they should be, or how our God wants them to be.  And perhaps in song

But he gives greater grace.  Therefore he says:  God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.  James 4:6 CSB This is not about taking pride in our work or achievements, being proud of someone, standing with them or for a cause, this word "proud" here is "huperephanos" According to Biblehub: Definition: showing oneself above others Usage: proud, arrogant, disdainful. This is compared to the "humble", the "tapeinos", which is God reliant rather than self reliant. Having a right view of ourselves before God, before His creation, before His people, to see ourselves in His Story. Our world calls us in the opposite direction, it's all about me, my story, and while there is some truth in that right, this seems to be what's at our core...how we stand, how we are in relation to God, where our heart is at in relation to Him. Kind of challenging, yet full of hope and opportunity because it's all couched in, held in, offered in, Grace.  H

Friday! Proverbs! People who conceal their sins will not prosper,  but if they confess and turn from them,  they will receive mercy. Proverbs 28:13 NLT So easy to see the word "prosper" and connect it with material success, more cows, a bigger business, a holiday home, a new car.  All good things, but when Proverbs talks of prospering, it's unlikely that's what it means. Because this is all about the heart. It starts with concealing.  A heart that is concealing things.  When we conceal things that should be in the light, then it's going to affect our prospering.  And this Proverb gives a 2 step approach to change: Confession. And turning away. Confession may be just speaking it out loud with someone you trust, sharing in small steps the truth of what we're concealing. It takes choosing another path, another way, another option. Turning away. This might require new practices, new habits, deliberate choices about where we go, who we spend time with, what we so.

But he gives greater grace. James 4:6 CSB This chapter pivots on this little phrase, "but he gives greater grace". James has just unpacked our heart motivation, the internal battles, and how much our hearts are so pulled around by the ideas of the world and away from God...but he gives greater grace.  Grace that is more than enough for my internal battles.  Grace that is more than enough for my poor choices, but it takes something: But he gives greater grace.  Therefore he says:  God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. It takes a shift away from me, and towards God, a shift in orientation that I must be right, I always know, I have to be able to do this on my own, to "you're God, I trust You, choose to follow You, honour You, give my heart motivations more and more to you..." Being humble is something like that. And at the same time, with the same breath, knowing that we are Beloved. Chosen. Adopted. Dearly loved because we are,  dearly loved becaus

Don't you know that... So whoever wants to... Or do you think... James 4 CSB These snippets are from vv4-5 of James 4, and they make no sense because we need to read the whole chapter, the ideas are all linked together: It seems to be about our heart motivation, the battles within, how that affects the way we stand in the world, and how we stand in relation to the ideas of the world, and ends with some practical ways to live that will shift our hearts motives, or at least give them a nudge. So if you're up for a workout today, read James 4.  It takes less than 2 minutes to read the chapter once.  As we read this chapter today (as many times as you can) listen for James heart for us, listen for what he might have for us today, listen to his questions, listen for what the Spirit has for us in this today... #james #james4 #itsaheartthing #Godsgym

"But, so we won't offend them,  go to the sea,  cast in a fishhook,  and take the first fish that you catch.  When you open its mouth you'll find a coin. Take it and give it to them for me and you." Matthew 17:27 CSB V24 tells us they were in Capernaum, which google maps shows is a small settlement right on the Sea of Galilee.  Matthew doesn't tell us how long Peter was fishing for, or even what happened, what Peter did. He doesn't record whether Peter was on his own, was thinking about his life as a fisherman, whether he caught a fish, found the money and paid the tax. He doesn't wonder why Jesus just didn't produce a coin. Peter doesn't get a sermon or lecture, but there must be something to learn. Peter was quick to respond, quick to jump to action.  It seems that Jesus wanted him to learn to slow down, to think about his actions and their impact on others ("so that we don't offend"). It seems that Jesus wanted Peter to trust him.

"What do you think, Simon?  From whom do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes? From their sons or from strangers?" "From strangers," he said.  "Then the sons are free," Jesus told him. "But, so we won't offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you'll find a coin. Take it and give it to them for me and you." Matthew 17:25-27 CSB The miracle of the money in the mouth of the fish is not the thing, paying the temple tax is not the thing. The key thing is that we are free. Jesus sets us free from the constraints of culture, of Empire, of the expectations of others.  Free.  And at the same time, we don't use that freedom to benefit ourselves, offend others, or make ourselves out to be better than.  Our society isn't governed by the same rules, the same expectations, that Peter's was, but there are rules and expectations all the same. Last year I had a lecturer

Sunday Psalms; The Lord is king! He is robed in majesty. Indeed,  the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. Your throne,  O Lord,  has stood from time immemorial. You yourself are from the everlasting past. The floods have risen up,  O Lord.  The floods have roared like thunder;  the floods have lifted their pounding waves. But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,  mightier than the breakers on the shore - the Lord above is mightier than these! Your royal laws cannot be changed. Your reign,  O Lord,  is holy  forever and ever. Psalm 93. NLT. It would seem that whoever wrote this song had experienced some kind of flooding event, some kind of natural disaster, and this song is some kind of resposnse. A reminder that our God is bigger than the disasters that might come upon the land, that might impact us. A reminder that there's a Bigger Stroy here, a reminder of our God's eternal nature, outside of space and time, a

When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes? From their sons or from strangers?" Matthew 17:25 CSB  Peter/Simon had been cornered by those who collect a tax at the temple and asked if Jesus paid. The implication is that Peter had no idea but just said "Yes!". Intriguing thing here is that Jesus didn't wait for Peter to initiate anything about what had happened, somehow, Jesus already knew.  We also see Jesus being a Rabbi and not telling or educating Peter, but asking him a question, opening up space for Peter to see something else, see something deeper that's going on here. Jesus is asking Peter to consider, from what he has learned about Jesus, from what he has learned about himself, who is really in charge here? And we get to reflect on that question too. Jesus might ask about taxes today, but is more likely to ask about multinational technology  companies and their

Friday! Proverbs! When the righteous triumph,  there is great rejoicing, but when the wicked come to power,  people hide. Proverbs 28:12 CSB My thought immediately went to countries and what we often see played out in the media. (When this Proverb was written none of what we call countries today existed.) I do know that people hide from those with power. Especially small people, who we call children. Children hiding in families because those who should care and nuture and love them, can't or won't. People hide in relationships that should be equal but aren't. This world is not (currently) as it should be. But Proverbs is about the heart and asks me to wonder who is hiding from me? Would anyone rejoice if I had power in some space or place? How well do I use the power, the influence, the words, the authority that I do have? We all have power.  Sometimes we don't recognise it or see it as that, and perhaps this Proverb creates a little space for us to think about where we

What is the source of wars and fights among you?  Don't they come from your passions that wage war within you?  You desire and do not have.  You murder and covet and cannot obtain.  You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and don't receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:1-3 CSB Ouch! This is all about my motives.  What's really going on in my heart that triggers the internal battle, and then the actions I take, the things I do, the things I say. I don't actually murder anyone, but I have had no problem judging someones character on very little evidence, disregarding people because they hold an opinion that I don't, want what someone else has, covet their privilege while ignoring mine...the list goes on... James in the most loving way possible wants us to "get underneath the hood" and asks us to have a good look at what makes us tick. Not because he's any different,

What is the source of wars and fights among you?  Don't they come from your passions that wage war within you?  James 4:1 CSB A couple of great questions from James - what causes conflict? Globally. Within countries. Between groups. Between me and others, especially those I care about. And finally, what causes the conflict within me? James brings it back to issues of the heart.  Ever seen that as a "war"? My desires waging war with one another within me? Maybe that's an interesting picture as I consider my inner conflict, how cunning one side can get, the weapons that are brought to the battle line, how jealousy can come disguised as wanting to do more for others, how judgement puts on the uniform of truth. How would you answer the two questions that James asks? What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don't they come from your passions that wage war within you?  (Remember this is James writing, who about 10 times refers to his readers as "dear brothe

The righteous  thrive  like a palm tree  and grow  like a cedar tree  in Lebanon. Planted  in the house of the Lord, they thrive in the courts of our God. Psalm 92:12-13 CSB There's a thriving, a growth, that doesn't come from and isn't dependent on what our culture, our world says is thriving or growth. There's a now and a not yet feel to this, because we are not yet living fully in the "courts of our God". Some days, some moments, we glimpse all that this song sings about, and holds the promise of more to come.  We are His Beloved, and this picture of thriving and flourishing is what is ahead, not some "perfect" state where nothing happens, but a return to Eden where everything was "good", as it should be, where there is growth and thriving, when all the disconnections from the land, each other, ourselves, and with our God, are fully restored.  For now, we get glimpses of that as we choose to love God, & love people as best we can. #p

For you have made me rejoice,  Lord,  by what you have done;  I will shout for joy because of the works of your hands. How magnificent are your works,  Lord,  how profound your thoughts! Psalm 92:4-5 CSB Do you wonder what the sing writer is looking at, considering, as they pen these words? Is it the sky at night? The fields, the ocean, the mountains? Is it watching a child sleep, enjoying a great meal with a friend? When the writer considers who our God is, what He has made, tried to grasp something of the mind of God, these words have spilled out. There's an invitation here for us to just slow down and consider who God is, where we see Him in the world, in the stars, in the Creation, in others.  And to just sit and wonder. #psalms #psalm92 #wonder 

Sunday Pslams; It is good to give thanks to the Lord,  to sing praise to your name,  Most High, to declare your faithful love in the morning  and your faithfulness at night,  with a ten-stringed harp and the music of a lyre.  Pslams 92:1-3CSB This isn"a song to be sung on the Sabbath day" A song to be sung when we choose to honour God by resting.  By giving our mind, body and spirit rest. Rest. Some might have to work today, for some it seems difficult to get a moments rest. Perhaps this song can help us find that rest: It starts with an attitude, a choosing to be thankful. Gratitude. A choosing to praise, to sing, to use music. And to declare some things at the beginning of the day and at the end of the day. To declare God's faithful love.  At the start of the day. And at the end of the day.  To be grateful. And to sing, to find a way to express with our body that gratitude, to have a whole integrated expression. When we sing it's engaging our mind, our body, and our

As they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus told them,  "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised up." And they were deeply distressed. Matthew 17:22-23 CSB Jesus couldn't have been any clearer, yet it seems that the disciples didn't understand, didn't remember, or perhaps were so overwhelmed by all that happened around Jesus death, that they simply couldn't make sense of it.  We see Jesus life, and his death, and his resurrection, from a distance. I wonder what it was like to be so up close. To not quite understand Jesus meaning. Was this all some kind of metaphor? What was it like to be living under the terror regime of the Romans?  What was it like to see your Rabbi executed? The person you've invested everything in. I'm not sure how I'd be in their shoes (sandals) either. Would I remember these words of Jesus and hold hope that they were true after witnessing

Friday! Proverbs! A rich person is wise in his own eyes,  but a poor one who has discernment sees through him. Proverbs 28:11 CSB It's easy to fall into the "look at that person" who characterizes this Proverb, but if our start point is that Proverbs is about the heart, about my heart, what is it getting at? Is it asking me to consider where I think I'm better than someone else, where my success somehwere has elevated me, maybe it's wealth, qualifications, health, the way I look, my Instagram followers, whatever measures of success our culture values at the moment. Where am I "wise in my own eyes"? Where am I letting my relative wealth insulate me from the issues others might face on a daily basis? How has that relative wealth shaped the way I see me, others, the world I live in? And the flip side is where I am relatively poor...this Proverb says the poor can see the blind spots that the wealthy have. The Hebrew word can also mean "noble", thos

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times,  and willing to yield to others.  It is full of mercy  and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:16-18  NLT Let's look at the last part; Wisdom from above shows no favoritism. The longer I wonder about this, the more difficult it is. This isn't about treating everyone the same, because some people are not safe for us, but it gets me thinking in the Bigger Story how do I see others? Where does favoritism show up? And then James adds that wisdom from above is always sincere! There's no faking it! We're invited to think about our biases and our good deeds and where and to whom we focus those.  Wisdom from above is not a test, a pass/fail, an assessment, but a way of being, and James invites us into that, and wraps up this idea with an agriculture an

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times,  and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.  James 3:17NLT Last week we looked at those first 4 attributes of "wisdom from above"; Pure Peace loving  Gentle (at all times) Willing to yield to others James adds 4 more; Full of mercy Has the fruit of good deeds Shows no favouritism Is always sincere. Let's look at the first 2; When I'm full of mercy, when I'm bumped, tipped over, or trip over my own clumsy feet, mercy is what comes out.  Gotta say there's plenty of other things that spill out of me. But James is always inviting, always encouraging us as whaanau, so what's he inviting us to? To let more "wisdom from above in, to let mercy fill us more and more, so when we are bumped, when we do trip, that is genuinely what comes out.  The "fruit of good deeds" seems to

The Lord says,  "I will rescue those who love me." Psalm 91:14 NLT The song writer, and we're not told who he or she is, is pointing us to a Bigger Story than the one we are in every day. A Bigger Story of redemption and restoration. Of a world put right. Of Eden restored. This song is full of images of rescue, of being free from harm, of God being right here with us, and the things that concerned and worried us, the pressures of this world, are redeemed.  Made new. For now, today, may we see glimpses of that, hear the rumbles of renewal, not look past the beauty that is in front of us, be grateful for the blessings of people, place, the pockets of shalom that we hold and share with one another, and the hope of what is to come,  holding fast to Yahweh, the promise giver. #psalms  #psalm91 #alreadyrescued

For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers.  He will shelter you with his wings.  His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:3-4 NLT I've read this song and wondered if it's some kind of promise that I'll never get sick, that nothing will ever go wrong for me.  But it can't mean that.  Because things have gone wrong, I have been sick, people I love have died. Does it make a difference if the words "deadly disease" is the Hebrew word "deber" which means pestilence or plague, and this word is first found in Exodus 5 in discussion with Pharaoh when the people were still in captivity? The song is looking back at how God acted in a specific way for their freedom.  God did act on his covenants, his promises.  He did redeem his people and set on the path to freedom. And that we can hold onto down the centuries from whenever this song was written. Our God is faithful. He

Sunday Psalms; Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord:  He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;  he is my God,  and I trust him. Psalm 91:1-2 NLT This song is full of images that seem to be about capturing our imagination, and it all hangs on this declaration: "He alone... He is my God." I'm wondering if there's days when I don't start with that declaration, a statement of faith that changes the way that I see me, others, the world I live in, shapes the way I interpret what happens, pressures, losses, wins, joys. This song almost seems like it's written for us, because it's about finding this key thing: "Rest". We live in a world that conspires against us when it comes to rest.  The expectations and demands to stay "connected" via social media, phones, email, to always be available, to always be "on", it's not how we're designed to b

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others.  James 3:17 NLT James is giving the alternate to my selfishness. This is the first part of the alternate, the "wisdom from above." Pure. Peace-loving.  Gentle. Willing to yield to others. I'm not sure how often I really get all 4 of these things happening at the same time. There's first of all an internal component to each of these, a way of being, a way of "living".  As James is all about the expression in the world, they each find their expression in our choices, how we respond to others, what we stand for, fight for, do. Perhaps if we start with the last one, yield to others, and the classic time is when we're driving - how does this heart stance find its expression? Or consider being gentle. Have you considered who your harshest critic is? Perhaps that inner voice needs to learn to be gentle too, to hold back its power. To be

Friday! Proverbs! The one who leads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good. Proverbs 28:10 CSB Mmm...bit of a warning here for those who harm others. A warning to be careful with my actions and ideas.  And there is encouragement for those who have been harmed...for starters this Proverb acknowledges those who are innocent and harmed by others.  Not only are you acknowledged, but there is an inheritance of goodness for you. And finally there is an indication of justice. Yes it's vague, but it's there, and this theme is found in other parts of the Bible too. Even when you feel unseen, this Proverb is a small reminder that you're not unseen, that you're worth is known, that what happened matters, and there will be justice.  #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon 

If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don't cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. James 3:13-16 NLT As we read James letter what images come to mind? Here's 2 of mine: One is a person looking at the 2 choices James describes, weighing & considering them, in one hand, understanding more of God, showing that in good works, in being others focussed, in the things we do, and in the other hand selfishness. The other image is a path. Along the path are decisions, every day type decisions, big decisions, opportunities, and as I walk, there's clear options, and some not so cle

But if your hearts are full of bitter envy and selfish desires, then stop boasting and speaking lies to cover up the truth about yourselves.  James (He Leads the Way to the Scattered Tribes) 3:14 FNVNT Mmm the cover up that we do to ourselves, the fooling myself, the not letting the truth of what's going on in my heart to the surface...I'm not sure that my heart is full of envy and selfishness, but it's definitely there. And it's so much easier to cover it up, cover it over with reasons and justification and just not tell the truth about me.  (This can get a bit tricky because it seems that there are things that we believe about ourselves that are not true. Lies we've been taught, told, repeated - but these are probably not going to lead to the boasting & the coverup that James is talking about here.  Getting help to discern the difference is OK - none of us can figure everything about ourselves out on our own). James is inviting us to be honest about our heart,

Then Jesus came over and touched them.  "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." Matthew 17:7 NLT Peter James & John are with Jesus on a high mountain and something extraordinary has happened to Jesus. It's like the divine part of who he is has been exposed, overwhelmed the human part, and there's a voice direct from God repeating at least in part what was heard at Jesus baptism. And the guys are terrified.  They're face down on the ground. Afraid for their lives? Overwhelmed? Overwhelmed by what they've seen and heard? Unsure what it all means? Unsure who Jesus, their Rabbi, teacher, leader, really is? And what does Jesus do? Stepped towards them. They're face down on the ground so Jesus must've stooped down or crouched down, or kneeled down next to them...and touched them. Jesus gave them the next step, and reassured them; "don't be afraid." Maybe there's something there for us when others are overwhelmed, unsure, afr

O Lord,  come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants! Psalms 90:13 NLT Moses song is full of lament, questions to God, statements about God's anger, and about how short life is. Not sure what was going on in Moses life when he wrote it, but when we need words and can't find them its OK to borrow the psalmists. When it seems that God is angry with us it's OK to let Him know. When we realise our time is limited it's OK to let God know how we feel. When God seems distant it's OK to let Him know.  'Cos Moses did. Given the content, maybe Moses wrote this song after his sister Miriam had died? Our losses need grieving, are worth grieving, and they come in all kinds of packages, jobs, businesses, money,  places we've lived, relationships, and people.  Psalm 90 gives us not just permission to grieve, but some words of loss and grief if we can't find our own.  (On the flip side of that coin, celebrate the good, the wins, the joys, be gra

Sunday Psalms; Lord,  through all the generations you have been our home! Before the mountains were born,  before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God. Psalms 90:1-2 NLT This is the first song in Book Four which is Psalms 90-106, and this song is written by Moses. And Moses immediately draws us up into the Big Story, draws us back through the generations, to before the things we see as permanent,  back to creation,  back to Before. And in that Before, our God Is.  And in the Before, there's this implication that Creation, and us, were somehow held in God's mind too (see Eph 1:4!). In this song Moses writes about how short life is and how difficult, but it's held in this safe idea that our God is so much Bigger, so much More. And Moses had been up close and personal with the Eternal, so close it changed his appearance  (Exodus 34:30). He'd had 40 days with the Bigger, the More, with the Eternal. The Eternal who through all generat

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?  Matthew 16:26 NLT Is anything worth more than your soul? The word "soul" is "psuche" which means and according to BibleHub it's usage includes: The vital breath Breath of life  The soul as the seat of affections and will The self A human person, an individual. Jesus is interested in what makes us us.  What is at the core of who we are, actually it is who we are.  Your personhood.  You. And says you have immense value, can't be valued the way that we value other things.  We can gain a lot of things that can be valued and measured and counted, and Jesus fear for us is that we gain those at the loss of what can't be measured.  Who we are.  So beloved, allow Jesus view of your worth sink in today.  Let His love for your personhood determine your value. #wordsofJesus  #redletterBible #youareBeloved 

Friday! Proverbs! Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law - even his prayer is detestable. Proverbs 28:9 CSB Ouch! This seems harsh! What does that mean to us, this turning away from hearing the law? Is it about not following the rules? You're not good enough if you don't  follow the rules? What if the word here is "torah"? Torah means  direction,  instruction,  law. Who's speaking? Or at least who's voice is it that the person is not following their direction? Not following who's instruction? Proverbs is about the heart, right? So what's going on in the heart of the person in this proverb? They can hear the torah, the law, the instruction, the direction, and turn away.  Choose not to listen. Choose another way. Choose their own way.  How surprising is it that this person who's heart has turned away, finds their prayer rejected? If I say to God I reject your direction, reject your instruction, I'm saying I reject you.  And while this

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?  Matthew 16:26 NLT Jesus has changed his emphasis with his discussions with his disciples and is repeatedly telling them about what is ahead for him; suffering death being raised from death  He's just told Peter off because Peter (not unreasonably) doesn't want Jesus to go through these things. Jesus is now laying out what it is to be a follower; To give up your own way.  And yet this is what they'd done isn't it? Followed their Rabbi's call and were going from place to place with him, listening to his teaching? So what is Jesus asking here? Perhaps he's asking to go a little deeper, to our heart motives, to what we really desire? I was at a tangi this week, and Jesus questions are kind of the unspoken questions at a funeral as we remember, and celebrate the goodness, and grieve the loss to ourselves, to others, to the world. The unspoken question i

If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.  James 3:13 NLT The word translated "prove" here is "deiknumi" which means to "point out, exhibit, show, teach, demonstrate, make known".  So if we're wise, understand God's ways, make it known by living it out.  This seems to be a theme of James letter. James repeats again and again that he is writing to "dear brothers and sisters", so his call is to be taken in that context. How does that speak to you and me today (as dear brothers and sisters, as those who care for one another, who are in this life together)? As I sit with this today I am wondering about doing some more learning. But I already know enough to step towards others and do good in this world, and maybe the Spirit is giving you a nudge in some way today too. Could be in some small almost unnoticeable way, right through to making a st

Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father,  and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?  Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs?  No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty spring.  James 3:9-12 NLT James doesn't seem to want us to rush past this idea that our words can be praise and cursing, as its a symptom of something deeper.  To ensure that he's not lecturing us but is right here with us he reminds us that we're dear brothers and sisters. This allows me to sit with this idea and wonder what's going on in me that brings out these different things. It's a reminder that all is not as it should be, not just in the world, but in me too. There's a restlessness there to put an end to the selfishness, the insecurities, the f

So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. James 2:17 NLT Jesus replied,  "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:37-40 NLT  Last night at our church the question was asked "what would you tell your 'young adult' self?" How would you answer that question? If I could pass back some wisdom I would encourage my younger self to learn to love God.  That this love needs to move from my head to heart to hands.  Love needs not only an expression, but it is only really discovered when it is embodied.  Jesus lived at the margins, with the marginalised, and I would encourage my younger self to be found there too, more and more. To seek Jesus there, to see Him there, to learn what love is there, and discover that I am, in fact, Beloved

Sunday Psalms; I will sing of the Lord's unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Psalms 89:1 NLT Well this is quite a change from Heman's Psalm 88, this one is written by Ethan the Ezrahite.  There's a lot of praise to God, recalling his greatness, his selection of David as king and all that followed in the first part of the song.  And then there's a shift in Ethan's story, it talks about rejection and God's anger and things collapsing, and a wondering of where God is in a mixed up world that doesn't seem to be working how God said, or how he wants or expects it to be.  Maybe there's something you can relate to in Ethan's song, that the world we live in can seem so broken, that every thing is a mess, that the perfect life is only for others to experience. We have an ally in Ethan the Ezrahite who's song gives us permission to write our stories, our laments, our hopes and our griefs. And Ethan also asks us to hold our

It can set your whole life on fire... James 3:6 NLT What is James talking about? Our words. Words we don't mean. Words said in anger. Words said in haste. Words said without thought. Words said without regard for my neighbour, for their impact. Words designed to hurt. Words chosen to shock, to hurt. Words that squeeze life out of people. I've done all of those things, used all of those words. Our words matter. Having places and people to express what is going on in us and with us is important, critical even to being human. At the same time James reminds us as dear brothers and sisters, that our words can cause harm to our world, our communities, those we care most about, and to ourselves.  Just like fire can destroy, when it's contained and treated with care it can keep you warm, cook your food, warm your spirit, it can speak life into you.  May our words,  my words,  speak life today.  Speak life to my world. Speak life to my community. Speak life to those I care about the

Friday! Proverbs! Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest collects it for one who is kind to the poor. Proverbs 28:8 CSB Well that's not the way the world I live in seems to work! And maybe that's the point of this proverb, to get us to stop for a moment and consider the systems that we are part of. Systems that can change, and can be changed.  This also gets me wondering about the Bigger Story, that person who has power in having capital or a business or assets or money who thinks they're accumulating it for themselves, but as they say, "one day it all goes back in the box". None of us can take it with us, and when Jesus Kingdom is fully functioning on earth, the last, the least, the left out, will be first.  And finally I'm wondering if the author of this proverb (who may have been Solomon) was hopeful that the next generation will be more compassionate, more willing, more able to share resources than his.  If Proverbs is about getting me to

"If you try to hang on to your life,  you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it." Matthew 16:25 NLT V21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer...He would be killed, but on the third day... raised from the dead. But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.  "Heaven forbid, Lord," he said.  "This will never happen to you" Jesus is updating his team on His mission, on what's coming next.  The life they've had following their Rabbi, their teacher, seeing and participating in miracles, healing, gatherings, the life of being a rabbi's disciple is going to end.  And Peter doesn't want it to.  He wants what he's used to to continue. He loves Jesus, doesn't want him to suffer (which are all good things).  And it seems that Peter thinks he knows better than Jesus what should happen. Jesus

Then Yeshua told his talmidim,  "If anyone wants to come after me, let him say 'No' to himself,  take up his execution-stake,  and keep following me." Matthew 16:24 CJB Matthew from v21 described a change in what Jesus was sharing with those following him. He repeatedly shared about what was going to happen next, that in Jerusalem he would be killed, and raised from death on the third day. Peter had stood against that idea, and in v23 tells Jesus off for talking about it. And Jesus verbally slaps  him down. Peter is so caught up in his own story, how Jesus death might affect him, and Jesus brings them all back to the Bigger Story. This is what being a follower of Jesus is, laying down that smaller story to pick up the Bigger one.  Peter couldn't see past the impact on himself.  Jesus reminded him there's more going on here, and following Jesus is joining in the Big Story of restoring shalom. Which story are we going to commit to? #wordsofJesus  #redletterBible

In the same way,  the tongue is a small part of the body,  but it boasts of great things.  Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.  James 3:5 BSB Our words matter. We all know people who do not take care with their words, who "don't have a filter", who's words can set things ablaze in us and in others.  And that's also been me. I've not taken care with my words.  And I suspect that even with maximum awareness and the desire to take care with my words, they are going to burn others in the future.  And that's where we need each others grace.  That when a fire is started (especially by accident) that we figure out ways to put it out quickly, acknowledge and restore the damage.  I think there's a bigger aspect to this too which is ideas. Ideas created by words that set things on fire. Ideas about people, ethnicity, place, ownership, success, values, who we are, rights, responsibility... there's Ideas that set the world ablaze, spark prot

O Lord,  why do you reject me? Why do you turn your face from me? Psalm 88:14 NLT Have you ever been with someone who blames God? Is angry at Him? Maybe you've been there too. Heman the Ezrahite does just that and it's recorded for us in his song.  It seems that this is part of being human, part of grieving what is lost, part of looking for answers when there are none, part of wanting someone to blame for injustice that is too big for us.  This song of Heman's gives us permission to be human. When we've got no voice, to find it even if it's questioning our God. To give breath and words to what is wrong is who we are, even if the target may not be worthy of our blame, but it's often the way forward, to get unstuck, to contain what's wrong, unjust, lost, and take those tiny, tentative steps towards healing. #psalms #psalm88 #somethingtosay #ourGodcanhandleourhurts #keepingitreal #stepstowardshope #youareBeloved

Sunday Psalms; For the Choir Director: A psalm of the descendents of Korah. A song to be sung to the tune "the suffering of affliction". A psalm of Heman the Ezrahite. O Lord,  God of my salvation,  I cry out to you by day.  I come to you at night. Now hear my prayer; listen to my cry. For my life is full of troubles... Psalms 88:1-3 NLT This song documents what seems to be Heman's life and his experience of what we would probably call depression today. As difficult as Heman's heart is to hear, it's a gift for us. Why? Well sometimes we struggle to find words to express our emotions and we can borrow the psalmists if we need to. Sometimes we aren't sure if all our human emotions are OK or acceptable and yet here's a song about some of those really difficult ones that has a tune selected and would have been sung as some part of worship to our God. It's in the middle of our Bible for a reason. When we feel alone, like we're the only one to feel like

We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.  James 3:3-4 NLT Words. Ideas. Ideology. What we say matters.  Today I'm inviting you to sit with me and consider James's analogies here, his pictures of a horse, imagine being on a horse, feeling its power, and being able to direct and control it. I'm seeing something about boats that James couldn't imagine, a container ship, it's massiveness being directed by a rudder so small, beneath the water, I can't even see it. What directs our world, countries, cultures, communities...and us.  Me. What are the ideas, the words, that impact my choices and actions today, what I can and can't do, my "shoulds". What words turn me in a direction? Turn us? #james #shipsandhorses #wordsandideas #whoamIfollowing?

Friday! Proverbs! The righteous understands the cause of the poor,  but the wicked is unconcerned. Proverbs 28:7 CJB This word translated "cause" carries the meaning of cause, judgment, justice, rights. Proverbs is written in a context of our God giving rules so that the poor will be cared for, not ignored or treated as less than. The book of Genesis has the idea that people are made in God's image, have received His breath, have purpose in the world, are made for connection with God, one another, the land, and within themselves. Can we sit with the cause of the poor? In the world? In our country? In our community? In our whanau? Do I understand what this simple proverb is asking? I do know that at times I choose to not understand, sometimes because the problem can seem so big, so far away, that injustice is at its cause and I can't fix that. And this proverb pops me in the category of the "wicked"! But Proverbs is not a weapon to beat ourselves or anyone el

For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature,  able also to control the whole body.  James 3:2 CSB James has been talking about working out our faith, and then this idea about those who teach being judged more strictly and adds this stumbling on the path, stumbling with what is said, the "logos", the word.  He seems to be saying that there's an element of control that is missing when the stumbling with our words happens, and that control is perhaps missing in other areas of the teachers life? Faith and works Words and actions James seems to be asking us to look at our faith and life holistically, that just as our faith needs expression, our actions, lifestyle, choices, need to line up with our words (and even more so if we're teacher others. And who isn't teaching someone somewhere along the way?) and our words should be chosen carefully, connected to our faith, connected to the truth of who Jesus is.  Are you intrigued

We all stumble on the path in many ways. James 3:2 FNVNT  Yep there's a context for this idea, but I'm wondering whether someone needs to know today that we all make mistakes.  We all get things wrong. We all trip up, trip over, make a wrong choice. All. None of us get it right all the time. No matter what their instagram tells you, we all stumble on the path sometimes. So, we can know that our God is Grace and His Grace is for us, and we can extend grace to others, but for some reason we can be really hard on ourselves. We have no grace for me.  Even though we know we all stumble on the path, I shouldn't. I'm wondering if this hinders us from accepting grace from others and from fully accepting Grace from our God. Maybe this little reminder from James can help shift things a little, we're all in this together, walking each other towards home, accepting our humanness, limitations, frailties, and perhaps giving ourselves a little more grace. #James #grace #beinghuman

Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.  James 3:1 NLT This is the very next thing that James has to say after talking about faith in action. Is there a connection? I wonder what problem James might be trying to address here in the new churches filling up with new believers - could it be that everyone wants to be up front as these churches are so different from the structures that they may have been used to or experienced. Everyone has something to say, and these new churches are an opportunity? The Bible as we know it doesn't exist. And who's doing the judging here?  God? The Christian community? The apostles? Or do teachers judge themselves in relation to their teaching? Maybe this lack of clarity is helpful for us as we consider what James' words might mean for us - that teaching others from our spiritual experience and/or God's word should be done carefully and with thought, not

Creator Sets Free (Jesus) smiled at him and said,  "One Who Hears (Simon),  Son of Wings of Dove (Bar-Jonah),  Creator's blessing rests on you, for flesh and blood did not help you see, but my Father from above opened your eyes. For this reason I have given you the name Stands on the Rock (Peter), and upon this great rock I will make my sacred family stand strong. And the powers of the Dark Underworld of Death (Hades) will not stand against them. Matthew 16:17-18 FNVNT Jesus gave Simon a new name. I wonder if that's something Jesus will do for all of us? I wonder what strength Jesus would see in you and the name that He would give you that reflects that strength? I doubt that Simon would ever have named himself "stands on the rock" or anything close to that, yet Jesus saw something in the faithfulness of his answer, in the heart that responded to his question of "who do you say that I am?" that prompted that name. Sometimes it's others who can see t

Sunday Psalms; On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the Lord. He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel. O city of God,  what glorious things are said of you! Selah I will count Egypt and Babylon among those who know me - also Philistia and Tyre, and even distant Ethiopia. They have all become citizens of Jerusalem! Regarding Jerusalem it will be said, "Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there." And the Most High will personally bless this city. When the Lord registers the nations, he will say,  "They have all become citizens of Jerusalem." Selah  The people will play flutes and sing,  "The source  of my life  springs from Jerusalem!" Psalms 87 NLT  This song written by the descendants of Korah is a beautiful picture of all of us from all over the place, all over the world, being together in a place of life and thriving and flourishing. We will all have citizenship rights in this wonderful city. There'll be no

He said,  "And what about you? Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15 CEB Jesus had been asking his team what others had been saying about him. Who he is. And there's a couple of different answers that Matthew gives us. This little dialogue is sandwiched between healings and miracles and a long discussion about being careful who you listen to, and a shift to talking about what was going to happen in Jerusalem, that he would be killed, and raised again on the third day.  And Jesus gives his team this hinge question, as they answer this question for themselves, the answer  will hold them for what is to come. "And what about you? Who do you say that I am?" Has the answer that you'd give to Jesus question changed? For me it has.  And it may change depending on our circumstances, what's going on right now.  And whatever it is that you are facing, Jesus question is a call to faith, to trust, to follow him in the good, the beautiful, the giving things of this

Friday! Proverbs! The wicked  are snared by their own sin; the righteous sing and rejoice. Proverbs 29:6 CEB I don't think this proverb is about comparing the wicked and the righteous because I know I don't fit into either of those categories - if it was it would set us up for an "I'm better than you" comparison which doesn't help anyone.  I think this is about the snare, the trap. It seems that both the "wicked" and the "righteous"sin, but the righteous can more easily see the trap of their sin, the ensnaring. We'd be naive to think we can see the trap, the ensnaring of sin on our own. That's why we need one another, need community, share where we've been ensared, how we got out, how we avoid the traps of our own sin. Because on the other side of that is singing and rejoicing, a picture of flourishing and thriving and freedom.  The idea of a snare is that once caught you can't get out on your own. We need one another to see

It was now late in the same day, the first day of the week. His followers were all hiding behind locked doors in fear of being captured by the tribal leaders. Suddenly, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) himself was standing in front of them and said,  "Peace be with you!" He then showed them where the iron nails had pierced his hands and where the spear had cut into his side. John 20:19-20 FNVNT Fear. Not only was there fear of the military power of the Empire, there was fear of their own people.  No peace. No peace in the world. And no peace in their internal world.  Jesus came to bring peace.  Yes peace in our inner world, but at this moment the disciples are locked away to keep themselves safe. Jesus came to bring peace in this world.  In all aspects of life.  As we commemorate ANZAC Day here in NZ, we remember sacrifice, the absorbing of evil and conflict in the world in the bodies and lives of soldiers. We consider the cost.  We long for peace in our world.  We still only have p

Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road.  Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. James 2:25-26 NLT James doesn't let this idea go without a couple of examples, Abraham and Rahab. Abraham is the giant Totara in the forest of faith.  And yet James ends this part of his letter with Rahab.  Abraham in v21 has the label "our ancestor", yet Rahab carries the label of "the prostitute". Abraham's story is famous, covenant, sacrifice, God's miraculous provision, faith... It's all there.  Rahab's story is small. We don't know what happened to her, it was a small part of the bigger story.  And yet James seems to hold these 2 stories as being of the same value when it comes to living out faith. James ends this part of his letter with what seems a small story of faith expressed in life,

Now someone may argue,  "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." But I say,  "How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds?" I will show you my faith by my good deeds. ... Can't you see that faith without good deeds is useless? James 2:18, 20 NLT James isn't telling us it's a competition, that the one who serves more, does more is somehow "better". He isn't guilt tripping us into serving the church, or anywhere really.  Seven times we've heard "dear brothers and sisters" from James, this is an invitation to see that faith needs an outworking somewhere, an expression. Faith is something that impacts our thoughts, emotions, spirit, body, and finds expression in the world we live in. The word translated "useless" here is "argos" which means idle, inactive, unprofitable, lazy. Faith without expression is idle.  Just sitting around.  Where and how does our faith find it's expressi

But you,  O Lord,  are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Look down and have mercy on me.  Give your strength to your servant;  save me,  the son of your servant. Send me a sign of your favor.  Then those who hate me will be put to shame, for you,  O Lord,  help and comfort me. Psalm 86:15-17 NLT It's almost like David is reminding himself of who God is, coaching himself through a difficult time by reminding himself of God's attributes that he needs right now: Compassion Mercy Slow to anger Unfailing love Unfailing faithfulness Merciful One who saves One who sees me A helper A comforter There's days when we lose sight of God, who He is, so maybe today is a good day to write your own reminder, your own truth coach, your own psalm of who God is.  #Psalms  #psalm86 #writeyourownpsalm #truthcoach

Sunday Psalms: Bend down,  O Lord,  and hear my prayer; answer me,  for I need your help. Protect me,  for I am devoted to you. Save me,  for I serve you and trust you.  You are my God. Be merciful to me,  O Lord,  for I am calling on you constantly. Psalms 86:1-3 NLT On those days when we don't have the words to talk with God then this song of David may be helpful. We can borrow his words written several thousand years ago to cry to God, to call to Him.  This song gives us freedom to ask. Freedom to express what's going on for us, just as David did. As you take a moment to sit with David's heart seeking to commune with God, what comes up for you today? What connects? (Maybe what jars a little?) Our God is not afraid or unwilling to hear all of our stuff. I'm sure He loves to hear the good, the stories of connection and growth and blessing. David keeps it real and we can too, there's also disconnection, disappointment, and disillusionment. Maybe there's an invit

So you see,  faith by itself isnt enough.  Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. James 2:17 NLT The word here the NLT says is "dead and useless" literally means it "lacks life". James is (not so gently) letting his readers or the hearers of his letter know that faith should be life, speak life, create life, engage life, by the things faith prompts us to do, to become in the world.  Faith is a heart thing that finds its expression in the life we live and the life we give. We are embodied souls, and faith is an outworking in the world, embodied.  A requirement of a paper I was studying in 2022 required 40hours of voluntary work with a group and in a context that was new or different to what we might choose to do, or have done before. I ended up washing dishes and making breakfast and doing cafe prep so that the pastor could spend time with the people he was serving. But I had to do it for my paper.  James wants our hearts to be alive to those around u

Friday! Proverbs! A person who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. Proverbs 29:5 CSB Neighbour here is the word "rea" which can mean friend, companion, neighbour, another person in our life.  When we flatter them according to this proverb, something else happens which may not be part of the original intent. A net for the feet is spread.  Something tangles us up, we get caught up in something that can slow us down, hold us in place, trip us and/or our friend, companion, neighbour, workmate, flatmate, employee, boss, student, partner, trip us up. It's the heart beneath flattery that tangles and trips. Because flattery has an agenda, to get something, to achieve something that is not for the good of the other person. Flattery wants to build someone else up to gain something.  And this proverb reminds us that's a trap for both the person who is being flattered, and the one doing the flattering. Yes encourage one another, yes build one another up, but do it f

Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say,  "Good-bye and have a good day;  stay warm and eat well" - but then you don't give that person any food or clothing.  What good does that do? James 2:15-16 NLT It's easy to argue about James example - don't worry James, I'd never say that... But let's not skip James question: "what good does that do?" To be close enough to see a person's need, to have resources to help that person, and to speak some words that ring empty because they have no intent, no action, no love in them.  What good does that do? Nice (but empty) words does no good for the person, the community, the systems that have created the place that person is in, or the focus of James ideas here, our faith. It's uncomfortable. And James invites us as dear brothers and sisters to stop in that discomfort, to wait in it. Out of that discomfort over centuries have sprung charities and hospitals and hospi