verseoftheday

[3] Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. [4] In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches. [5] Also give my greetings to the church that meets in their home. Greet my dear friend Epenetus. He was the first person from the province of Asia to become a follower of Christ. Romans 16:3-5 NLT What do you notice in this part of Paul's letter to the Church in Rome? That after all the theology, Paul focusses on connection. People. A range of people who he names and values and encourages the church to recognise. He is sharing power. And he recognises that none of us can do this on our own, we all need one another, just as he did.  Who are you grateful for today? Who would you and I acknowledge if we were Paul? Connection. Gratitude. Sharing power. This is the upsidedown kingdom... #letters #upsidedownkingdom #weareBeloved  #speaklife 

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God's people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me. Romans 16:1-2 NLT The word "deacon" here is "dialokonos" which is literally someone who kicks up dust - someone who gets things done in ministry.  Paul is writing to the Church that has been born out of a patriarchal culture, and is operating in one, in the heart of Rome. And Paul says to welcome Phoebe, to honour her, to give her whatever she needs, because she is worthy of honour. Paul is saying if you honour me, honour her, because she is part of my story, part of the  birth and development of the New Testament Church, the New Covenant Church where all people are seen, welcomed, loved. Phoebe gets things done in ministry so empower her in any way you can. This is the message  Paul is sending at the beginning of the end of ...

Sunday Psalms  For the choir director. A love song to be sung to the tune of "Lillies".  A psalm of the descendents of Korah. Beautiful words stir my heart.  I will recite a lovely poem about the king,  for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet. You are the most handsome of all. Gracious words stream from your lips.  God himself has blessed you forever. Psalms 45:1-2 NLT An unusual psalm/song in several ways. We're told the writers are the descendents of Korah who have written some songs of lament and sorrow. It's written for the Choir Director naming the tune it's to be sung to.  And it's a love song.  Perhaps the invitation for us in this song is to write about, to express something about, towards, the people we love.  The writer of this song gets specific, expressing something of what they appreciate about the other. Name the thing you appreciate about others.  It's Biblical to write a love song, so have a go... #psalms #songs #writ...

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,  But the perverse tongue will be cut out. Proverbs 10:31 NKJV When we look for Jesus in this Proverb, he's right there - the one who is wisdom, the righteous one who's words speak life and light into this world, who's word created and sustains our reality! And the promise is that when he returns all that is "tahpukah", perverse, twisted, will be straightened. Somehow, all that is wrong will be made right. There will be justice. And Love will be in charge.  So go and vote today, knowing that our hope is in someone way bigger. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #itsaheartthing #weareBeloved 

Friday! Proverbs! The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,  But the perverse tongue will be cut out. Proverbs 10:31 NKJV Yikes! No indication if who does the cutting or when but the second part of this Proverb is quite a grumpy! When we dig a little deeper we find that the word for "cut out" is "karath" and is also used as part of the covenant promises when a sacrifice is cut in half. Perhaps there's something covenantal going on here. The word "perverse" is "tahpukah" which means  "the twisting or overturning of what is straight". This isn't about swearing or using the odd "bad" word, this is a heart thing. I twist or overturn something except to get some benefit for me.  So I find both parts of this Proverb operate in me and thru me at times.  Wisdom and deceit. Yikes! The invitation of Proverbs is to see our own heart and what direction we are heading in... One day, that deceitful part, that part that deceive...

[32] Then, by the will of God, I will be able to come to you with a joyful heart, and we will be an encouragement to each other.  [33] And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all.  Amen. Romans 15:32-33 NLT I thought this was the end of Paul's letter, but not quite...but he ends this part with looking for mutual encouragement- genuine connection with each other, and brings his readers/listeners back to the source of peace, God, "Theos", the owner of all things. May He be our source of peace. In this crazy, messy, beautiful, sad, glorious, good, disheartening, hope filled life, we need an anchor that is bigger than us, something or someone that will hold no matter how big the storm is, who can hold the thoughts we don't share, who can carry our shame, who can redeem our messed up hearts. Someone who when they say that nothing can separate us from His Love has the power and authority to make that real. Our story is safely held, we are safely held in someone...

[30] Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me.  Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. [31] Pray that I will be rescued from those in Judea who refuse to obey God.  Pray also that the believers there will be willing to accept the donation I am taking to Jerusalem. [32] Then, by the will of God, I will be able to come to you with a joyful heart, and we will be an encouragement to each other. Romans 15:30-32 NLT When you think of the Apostle Paul, what characteristics come to mind? Met Jesus, life turned around, theologian, super Christian, evangelist? Here at the very end of his letter to the church in Rome we have vulnerable, human Paul, in need of prayer. And he is specific about his fear.  And shares his hope. Paul's vulnerability invites us to be vulnerable too, to ask for prayer, to let our needs be known (in safe ways to trustworthy people). What would you...