verseoftheday

Romans 8:18-19 NLT [18] Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. [19] For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.  Romans 8:18-19 NLT Sitting with this idea that there will be suffering in this life is not easy.  When we acknowledge the reality that there is and will be suffering helps us to not just prepare for it, but to live with it when it arrives. This passage gives us part of the story - acknowledges that there is suffering, and that there is something coming that will absorb it and turn it into glory. And secondly, that all of creation, all of us, are in this suffering world together.  All of us. All of creation knows and is waiting on the renewal of all things. (This may be of little help when we're in the midst of our own suffering, but this is the hope we hold for one another when others can't hold it for themselves). Suffering is part of this life. And so is...

Romans 8:14-16 NLT For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.  So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves.  Instead,  you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.  Now we call him,  "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children.  Romans 8:14-16 NLT God's children. His own children. Children of God. Seems that Paul wants us to "get" something here. Nestled in amongst his discussion of those parts of who we are that are not fully aligned with God, the battle within, his call to live in the Spirit, are these repeated identity reminders: We are: God's children. His own children. Children of God. In amongst all the stressors, demands, griefs of this life this reminder holds us: We are: God's children. His own children. Children of God. #truthtorestin  #letters #hopeishere #weareBeloved 

Psalms 26:8, 11-12 NLT I love your sanctuary, Lord,  the place where your glorious presence dwells. ... So redeem me and show me mercy.   Now I stand on solid ground, and I will publicly praise the Lord. Psalms 26:8, 11-12 NLT David declares that he loves God, walks with integrity, and needs redeeming, and needs mercy. This psalm, this song, reflects the story we find ourselves in too...doing our best to do what is right, and at the same time knowing we need redemption. David ends his song with two ideas: Publicly acknowledging and praising God  And  Knowing that "now I stand on solid ground". No matter what we get to stand on the solid ground that we have been redeemed by Jesus. Even though we might feel that we still need it, that we're on the shakey ground of our own redemptive efforts, we get to stand on the solid ground that is Jesus. Praise Him!. #psalms #songs  #redemptivestrands #hopeishere #unfailinglove #weareBeloved 

Sunday Psalms; Declare me innocent,  O Lord,  for I have acted with integrity;  I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Put me on trial,  Lord,  and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.  For I am always aware of your unfailing love... Psalms 26:1-3 NLT Not sure I'm as brave as David is to ask God to put me on trial, to have Him examine, challenge, pick apart my motivation in Court! To test my heart for integrity! And as David does this, goes boldly before our God, there is the redemptive strand that David knows that he is held by Unfailing Love. Some days it's easy to believe that and other days not so easy, but this song invites us to live like it is, no matter what is in front of us today. Live boldly because we are held by Unfailing Love. What does that invite us to put down today? Live boldly because we are held by Unfailing Love. What does that invite us to step towards today? #psalms #songs #redemptivestrands #hopeishere #unfailingLove...

Hatred stirs up strife,  but love covers all offenses. Proverbs 10:12 ESV Can we see Jesus in this Proverb? Before he was born Herod was causing strife (to be fair to Herod that was more fear than hatred), but right thru Jesus life there were those who were against him, even his own people rejected him. The Hebrew word is "sin'ah" which means hatred, hostility, enmity. If our life is marked by the hatred, hostility or enmity (ill will) of others, then we're in good company. Jesus knew all about it, right up to and including his death. And only His Love covers all offenses.  Only His Love is enough. In our humanity, our love is limited, our ability to absorb the sins of others is limited, it's only Jesus Love that is sufficient to cover all offenses, because His Love is out-of-this-world Love, Divine Love, Holy Love, Unfailing Love.  Yes we're called to be like Jesus, but not to be Him. Let Him be God, and we get to love as best we can in this messy imperfect l...

Friday! Proverbs! Hatred stirs up strife,  but love covers all offenses. Proverbs 10:12 ESV My tendency is to look at someone else and point this Proverb at them: "Don't be so upset - love covers everything" "You have to let this go - the Bible says so". But that doesn't line up with the story of the Bible at all. God held people to account, Jesus did too, just read his warning in Matthew 18 toward those who harm children. So if Proverbs is not a weapon to weild against others but a mirror to look at our own heart, I'm wondering where I am stirring up strife? For me it can be envy. That stirs up an internal strife. Regret. Grief. And how does Love speak to those things? How does Love speak to me? Even where the offense is against me, what does Eternal Unfailing Love say to me even in that? Perhaps this Proverb while starting small invites us back into the Big Story that we are held safely in.  The Story where my offence towards God is absorbed by Eternal...

Romans 8:1 NLT [1] So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  Do you have a handful of verses that you go back to when you need a reminder, reassurance, redirection, rehope (is rehope a word?)? This is one of those verses when the doubts about me come up, the inner critic is noisy, the self talk is unhelpful, this is one place that is helpful - if God doesn't condemn me, then why should I? It also reminds me that my life is held safely in Jesus - whatever happens. And when my life comes to an end, there is no condemnation, but a life with Jesus. What does Romans 8:1 invite you towards today? "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." #letters #Grace ##hopeishere #weareBeloved