verseoftheday

What the wicked dreads will come to him,  but what the righteous desire will be given to them.  When the whirlwind passes,  the wicked are no more, but the righteous are secure forever. Proverbs 10:24-25 CSB Can we see Jesus in this  Proverb? He was the one the whirlwind passed over, and by stepping through, being brought back from, death itself, he is the one who is getting what he desires - restored relationship with his people. Us. In this messed up and beautiful world, hope is here, that there is more...whether we're in the whirlwind, have been through it, or can see it coming, our hope is in the One who has already been through it all for us.  For us. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #itsaheartthing  #redemptivestrands #hopeishere 

Friday! Proverbs! What the wicked dreads will come to him,  but what the righteous desire will be given to them.  When the whirlwind passes,  the wicked are no more, but the righteous are secure forever. Proverbs 10:24-25 CSB Such rich pictures in this Proverb for us to sit with; What we dread, what our fears are, and what we want, what we desire. The whirlwind, the storm, that passes over and what remains. What does the whirlwind  represent? What or who is lost, and what or who remains after the whirlwind passes over.  At one level this Proverb is full of warnings and promises about life in the world, but when we turn it inward, and consider it in relation to our inner world, our spirit, what changes? And we can feel the redemptive strand here...something lasts forever... What part of this Proverb jumps off at you today? What is that about? #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #itsaheartthing  #redemptivestrands #hopeishere 

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you.  Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.  Dont copy the behavior and customs of this world... ... Bless those who persecute you.  Don't curse them;  pray that God will bless them.  Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.  Live in harmony with each other.  Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people.  And don't think you know it all!  Never pay back evil with more evil.  Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.  Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Romans 12:1-2, 14-18 NLT This part of Paul's letter seems to be an extension of this idea of what worship is, of what transforming life looks like. It's not a "to-do" list, but an invitation into a way of being, a way of livin...

Don't just pretend to love others.  Really love them.  Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.  Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.  Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.  Rejoice in our confident hope.  Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.  When God's people are in need, be ready to help them.  Always be eager to practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13 NLT This isn't a set of rules we have to follow, a tick list, it's an invitation into a way of being, a way of living that reflects our God's love for us and grace towards us out into the world that we live in. These are not weapons to fire at others, or at ourselves. Grace over guilt. Maybe start with this and see what opens up: "Rejoice in our confident hope." Start with hope. Confident hope. (For more on this go back a bit earlier in Paul's letter and check chapters 6 & 8) And rejoice in that.  And I ...

Don't just pretend to love others.  Really love them.  Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.  Love each other with genuine affection,  and take delight in honoring each other.  Romans 12:9-10 NLT I wonder why Paul thought he needed to write this to the church in Rome? If he wrote this to my church what would have caught his attention? If he wrote this to me, what would he have noticed in me that needs this encouragement? What does Paul's encouragement invite is towards today? #letters #invitation #reallylovenopretending #holdontothegood #delightinothers

I am on the verge of collapse,  facing constant pain. But I confess my sins;  I am deeply sorry for what I have done.  I have many aggressive enemies;  they hate me without reason.  They repay me evil for good and oppose me for pursuing good.  Do not abandon me,  O Lord.  Do not stand at a distance,  my God.  Come quickly to help me,  O Lord my savior. Psalms 38:17-22 NLT All of our emotions can be found in the Psalms - perhaps you've felt like David does here, maybe that's how it is today - this Psalm gives permission to feel what you feel  - that's OK. David's writing also gives us some clues about the way forward: He acknowledges what's going on in him by writing it down - try that if you haven't. He looks inwards to his own heart, looks outward to the choices and actions of others, and looks up - continues to look to our God in his distress. Perhaps we can follow David's pattern here. What do you think? #psalms #songs #rede...

Sunday Psalms; Psalms 38:6-11 NLT I am bent over and racked with pain.  All day long I walk around filled with grief. A raging fever burns within me,  and my health is broken.  I am exhausted and completely crushed.  My groans come from an anguished heart.  You know what I long for,  Lord;  you hear my every sigh.  My heart beats wildly, my strength fails,  and I am going blind.  My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease. Even my own family stands at a distance. Psalms 38:6-11 NLT I'm not sure if David is experiencing all of these things at the same time or if he is writing his song to express a time in his life, to get God's attention, but he does have something to say. And he says it. Writes it.  Gets it out of his head.  Pain. Grief. Fever. Exhaustion. Anxiety. Body breaking down. Rejection. It's all here. And it's not directed away from God but towards Him, letting Him know what's going on. The invitation of t...