verseoftheday

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;  ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes,  speak up for the poor and helpless,  and see that they get justice.  Proverbs 31:1-9 NLT Who are the invisible? Those who have no voice. Who are the ones who cannot speak for themselves? Those who have no voice. Having a voice somewhere is what makes us human. It was the voice of God that brought all we know into existence, Jesus was named the logos, the word, he spoke healing and hope. The first interactions of people with God required voice.  We're made in God's image and that includes having a voice. Some of our deepest hurt comes when we believe we have no voice. In this Proverb, King Lemuel's mum encourages us to restore the voice of those it has been taken from. That is the start of justice. This may be the holiest work there is. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtosay #somethingtochewon 

Friday! Proverbs! Proverbs 31:1-9 NLT The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him. O my son,  O son of my womb,  O son of my vows,  do not waste your strength on women,  on those who ruin kings. It is not for kings,  O Lemuel,  to guzzle wine.  Rulers should not crave alcohol. For if they drink,  they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed. Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress. Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.  Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;  ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes,  speak up for the poor and helpless,  and see that they get justice.  Proverbs 31:1-9 NLT What does King Lemuel's Mum have to say? 1. Where you have power, use it to benefit those who have less.  2. Don't get caught up in what your culture, your world is trying to tell you to spend your life in o...

"Then the King will say to those on his right,  'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry,  and you fed me.  I was thirsty,  and you gave me a drink.  I was a stranger,  and you invited me into your home. I was naked,  and you gave me clothing.  I was sick,  and you cared for me.  I was in prison,  and you visited me.'" Matthew 25:34-36 NLT Jesus gives his Kingdom manifesto. If we ever wonder what God's will for us might be, what His calling might be, how He thinks His Kingdom will come on earth, then here it is.  Jesus Kingdom is a place where needs are met, physical needs, relational needs, a place where community and people are valued higher than anything else, a place where reaching out, seeing others, being generous, is normal. A place where there is no "them", only "us". #wordsofJesus #redletterBible  #manifesto #kingdomwork #lovewin...

"Again,  the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip.  He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last - dividing it in proportion to their abilities.  He then left on his trip." Matthew 25:14-15 NLT This story is another installment of Jesus answering the disciples questions about when the Temple will be destroyed & rebuilt, and Jesus gave them stories about watching, being ready, prepared, and now this one about using what they have been given wisely.  Because the Kingdom is not static, it's about things getting done.  Makes me wonder what this means about me - what does this story invite me into? What does it invite you into? If the Kingdom is a heart thing, not some external thing like the temple, a heart that is not expected to remain the same, but change and develop and be invest...

Don't worry about anything, but in everything,  through prayer and petition with thanksgiving,  present your requests to God. And the peace of God,  which surpasses all understanding,  will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 CSB This was the first verseoftheday and each November 12 we revisit it (& remind you that it's OK to unsubscribe anytime). Missed Nov 12 this year, but here we are with an annual reminder about worry "Don't worry about anything" just seems too difficult.  The stuff I have, the concerns, the fears, the hurts, the burdens, the unknowns, the knowns.  Yet Paul doesn't just tell us to stop worrying, he invites us into an alternative. A place where we are heard.  A place where what matters to us, matters. A place where we don't have to guard our hearts quite so much, because something bigger is doing that - the peace of God. Even Paul has a struggle nailing down this peace, defining it, holding it, but it...

But stay away from the godless myths that are passed down from the older women. Train yourself for a holy life! While physical training has some value, training in holy living is useful for everything. It has promise for this life now and the life to come. This saying is reliable and deserves complete acceptance. We work and struggle for this: "Our hope is set on the living God, who is the savior of all people, especially those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:7-10 CEB This "holy living" Paul is inviting us to train in is the word "eusebeia", sometimes translated "godliness", and it seems to mean our inner response to God that then finds its expression in the way we are in the world. This is the heart training Paul asks us to step towards. Just like going for a run or any kind of exercise, once doesn't really help, it's the regular practice that makes small gains, small shifts over time. And it's combined with where our hope is: In the Livin...

Sunday Psalms; Praise the Lord,  all you nations.  Praise him,  all you people of the earth. For his unfailing love for us is powerful;  the Lord's faithfulness endures forever.  Praise the Lord! Psalms 117 NLT Is this the shortest psalm in the book? It stands as an invitation for everyone everywhere to join together, for others to join with us, and for us to join with others, to join in in languages we may not be fluent in (or even understand) in places and ways that might be unfamiliar, but joining together with hearts that praise our God. This song gives two reasons to praise our God: Unfailing Love. And Enduring Faithfulness. When our circumstances are tough, when the world seems against us, when our thoughts are difficult to harness, when our emotions are all over the place, when we're calm, when things are good, when our plans are falling into place, praise our God for these 2 things: Unfailing Love. And Enduring Faithfulness. They're always true.  #p...