verseoftheday

Dear children,  let's not merely say that we love each other;  let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:18-20 NLT I think John knows what it's like to have an "inner critic", that voice in our head that accuses us, tells us we're not good enough, not enough, don't belong, aren't accepted. He's just given one example of love-in-action, and here reminds us that when it comes to Love, compared to God, we're children, learning on the job, following His example. John encourages us to put Love into action, and as we do, know that it is Love that reflects our God's heart, and that's enough. We're like children, trying things, not always getting it right, learning, & growing in living out Love. And that's enough. ##lettersfromJohn #testimony  #light ...

1 John 3:16-17 NLT We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion - how can God's love be in that person? 1 John 3:16-17 NLT There are some days when finding compassion is really hard.  It's buried down there somewhere. Buried beneath layers of justification about others choices and all kinds of things. But John is not trying to beat us up here, but to invite us in. Invite us in to seeing again, afresh, anew, how Jesus loves us.  And as we sit in the love we have received, we're invited to see people. In that seeing we get a glimpse of Jesus seeing us: more than a collection of choices, more than a collection of memories, but as a person, worthy of love and connection. What is John's letter inviting you into today? To see someone differently? At work? Where you live? It starts with kno...

Psalms 149:6-9 NLT [6] Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands - [7] to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, [8] to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, [9] to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones.  Praise the Lord! Psalms 149:6-9 NLT Wow! There is some wild imagery here in this song! How does praise for God go hand-in-hand with all this? I don't think this is some prescription for military action or violent overthrow of anyone, but a reflection of God's heart for justice, making things right. We have the advantage of reading this after Jesus life and we get to see the things Jesus was here to overthrow; Death. Injustice. Self-salvation projects. So as I sit with this language of overthrow, I'm wondering what in me needs to be put in chains? What thoughts, attitudes, actions are so far from the God we are called to praise tha...

Sunday Psalms; Psalms 149:1, 3-4 NLT Praise the Lord!  Sing to the Lord a new song.  Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful. ... Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. For the Lord delights in his people;  he crowns the humble with victory. Psalms 149:1, 3-4 NLT Do you feel the freedom in this song? Sing a new song. Sing out loud. Sing with your voice and instruments and your body, a whole person response. There's freedom because Our God delights in you. Delights! And whether we get to experience "victory" in this life, there is a hint here that humility is going to bring something good.  What was Jesus victory over? Death.  It wasn't over someone else, but over death, so that we can have Life. Life is the reward.  I wonder what that can look like today? In all that we might be trying to hold, to keep in balance, the struggle, weight, where is Life found? Where can Life break in? #Sunday #psalms  #psalm149 #praise #...

Mark 6:18-20 NLT John had been telling Herod,  "It is against God's law for you to marry your brother's wife." So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod's approval she was powerless, for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him. Mark 6:18-20 NLT John's life was all about pointing to Jesus. Here at the end of his life, the Empire has him killed.  For telling the truth. Herod appreciated John, just as Pilate appreciated Jesus.  Yet neither Herod or Pilate was prepared to give up anything to save people they saw as good. John points us to Jesus, who gave up everything to save.  To save us.  People who reject him, forget him, lose sight of him, drift away, wander back, seek restoration, question, challenge, get angry at, wonder about, give up on, and yet Jesus loves us.  He Is Love. L...

Friday! Proverbs! Proverbs 6:1-5 NLT [1] My child, if you have put up security for a friend's debt or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger - if you have trapped yourself by your agreement and are caught by what you said - follow my advice and save yourself, for you have placed yourself at your friend's mercy.  Now swallow your pride; go and beg to have your name erased. Don't put it off;  do it now!  Don't rest until you do. Save yourself like a gazelle escaping from a hunter, like a bird fleeing from a net. Proverbs 6:1-5 NLT If only Herod had been able to follow the advice of this Proverb! We've got it wrong, made a mistake, don't put it off...don't let pride get in the way...step towards the problem and own it. I wonder how many times in my life things would have been so much better if I had followed this Proverb...my pride, my fear of looking like I've made a mistake, got it wrong, what others will think of me, embarrassment...it's so easy ...

Herod's daughter Herodias came in and danced, thrilling Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the young woman,  "Ask me whatever you wish, and I will give it to you." Then he swore to her, "Whatever you ask I will give to you, even as much as half of my kingdom." .... [26] Although the king was upset, because of his solemn pledge and his guests, he didn't want to refuse her.  So he ordered a guard to bring John's head... Mark 6:22-23, 26-27 CEB This is the part of the story where Herod makes an offer to his daughter who he probably expected to ask for a new horse or a holiday in Rome, but took the opportunity to work with her Mum to get something Mum wanted.  Herod, who had the power over life and death of others, could not seem to be able to overcome 2 things: His rash promise. And his potential embarrassment in front of his guests.  There's been times when I've done the same thing (on a different scale with different consequences), said...