verseoftheday

Friday! Proverbs! Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands. Obey my commands and live!  Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes. Tie them on your fingers as a reminder.  Write them deep within your heart. Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family. Proverbs 7:1-4 NLT What do I treasure like this? Do I protect God's truth like I protect my own eyes? Do I hold God's truth with respect and honour? Do I write His Word deep in my heart? The writer of Proverbs couldn't make being clear about our values stronger than this, it's what we hold deepest that shapes our identity, thoughts, emotions, and choices. I wonder what the Holy Spirit is prompting me to tie on my finger, to remind me of today, to write on my heart, to store in that deepest part? Love is patient. Love is kind. This is what I am called to treasure and protect today. In a world which does not slow down and wait, this is what love looks like. In a world that is h...

Mark 6:51-52 CEV He then got into the boat with them, and the wind died down.  The disciples were completely confused. Their minds were closed, and they could not understand the true meaning of the loaves of bread. Mark 6:51-52 CEV This is the end of Mark's account of Jesus rescuing his team on the lake. Overall Mark, you're leaving us with questions! Why were the boys confused? What about relief, gratitude, wonder? What do you mean that "their minds were closed?" Closed in what way? Did they just not understand or was there something else going on? And what did they miss about the meaning of the loaves of bread? Was it that Jesus used the breaking of bread as a symbol of his body broken and this miracle was pointing to His body being more than enough to give life to everyone? How were they supposed to see that yesterday? Or did Jesus talk about that in his teaching and they weren't listening? Or is there something else? When even those closest to Jesus, who heard...

Mark 6:49-51 CEV [49] When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, they thought he was a ghost, and they started screaming. [50] All of them saw him and were terrified. But at this same time he said, "Don't worry!  I am Jesus.  Don't be afraid." [51] He then got into the boat with them, and the wind died down... Mark 6:49-51 CEV Don't worry. I am Jesus. Don't be afraid. Who needs to hear that today? What's ahead, what's happening that is causing you to worry? What is making you afraid? We get to call on the walking-on-the-water Jesus.  We get to ask Him to speak into our worry, to speak over our fear. And as we seek Him out in our story, may our hearts and minds be as calm as the lake was that day... The disciples couldn't see Jesus in the storm, but He could see them. We are seen. Seek the walking-on-water Jesus today... #gospelofMark #GoodNews  #invitation #weareinaBigStory  #redemptivestrands 

Mark 6:47-48 CEV [47] Later in the evening he was still there by himself, and the boat was somewhere in the middle of the lake. [48] He could see that the disciples were struggling hard, because they were rowing against the wind. Not long before morning, Jesus came toward them. He was walking on the water and was about to pass the boat. Mark 6:47-48 CEV More miracles. It's a stormy night.  Pitch black. Jesus is up in the hills and he can see what's going on in the middle of the lake. Jesus is then walking on the lake and catches up to them. Jesus is limited by his humanity, yet at the same time is not limited by the things that his team were struggling with.  The wind. The storm. The struggle. He'd been outside it, above it, praying through it with the Father. I'm with the disciples here - when all you can hear is the wind, when we're in the storm, struggling, it's really difficult to see the Bigger Story that we're in Jesus was feeling the rain, the lake, t...

Mark 6:46-47 CEV [46] Then he told them goodbye and went up on the side of a mountain to pray. [47] Later in the evening he was still there by himself... Mark 6:46-47 CEV How's that self care going? Time in prayer? Jesus wasn't being selfish, but selfcaring. There's that saying "you can't pour from an empty cup", and Jesus was filling his cup up. We're invited to do that too. Physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, thoughts...these all need "filling" at times. What do you need today? How can you take a step towards what you need to tip something into your cup? #gospelofMark #GoodNews  #invitation  #rememberweareBeloved 

Sunday Psalms; Psalms 7:1-2, 9-11 CEV [1] You,  Lord God,  are my protector. Rescue me and keep me safe from all who chase me.  Or else they will rip me apart like lions attacking a victim,  and no one will save me. ... [9]  You know every heart and mind,  and you always do right.  Now make violent people stop,  but protect all of us who obey you. You,  God,  are my shield,  the protector of everyone whose heart is right. You see that justice is done,  and each day you take revenge. Psalms 7:1-2, 9-11 CEV Fears. We all have them.  These fears expressed by David are current, happening now, fear for his life. Some things David does that might be helpful for us... He names what he is afraid of. And he gives that fear back to God, and names the attributes of God that stand in contrast to his fear: Our God is about justice, seeing those who seek to follow Him. Somehow, He will make things Right.  In our world where injusti...

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Mark 6:45-46 NLT Immediately after what? Feeding 5,000+ people, everyone having as much food as they needed. There was more than enough. Love the way NLT version says of Jesus "after telling everyone goodbye"... Jesus sent his team off in the boat and then stayed around saying goodbye. To 5,000 people. This is Jesus just interested in people, encouraging, loving on people, being kind. He cared for his team. He cared for the people. And then he went up into the hills to pray. He cared for himself. Those things all looked different, but Jesus knew what he needed. What self-care does Jesus example invite you into today? #gospelofMark #GoodNews  #invitation  #weareBeloved  #selfcare