verseoftheday

Then Peter began to speak up.  'We've given up everything to follow you," he said.  "Yes," Jesus replied, "and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property -along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then. Mark 10:28-31 NLT The Kingdom runs on values that are upsidedown to those of our world- Peter's world- Jesus was making it clear that his and others (& our) sacrifices for Jesus, for the Good News are seen, are recognised. And there is going to be an abundance of goodness, an abundance of the things we love in life. And.  Some of the people who we looked at as important w...

Mark 10:26-28 NLT The disciples were astounded.  "Then who in the world can be saved?" they asked.  Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God." Then Peter began to speak up.  "We've given up everything to follow you," he said. Mark 10:26-28 NLT Peter is so helpful as he says what's really going on - he still thinks his getting right with God is up to him. He's given up everything. More than the person who came to Jesus with his questions and left unhappy because he wouldn't, couldn't give up everything and follow Jesus. And Peter had.  Left his family, left his business, and was literally following Jesus, and now gets told that's not enough.  That will never be enough.  Only Grace is enough. Somedays I'm with Peter - what about all I've given up to follow you Jesus - more than that guy you were just talking to! Peter and his colleagues were ...

Sunday Psalms; Psalms 22:14, 17-18, 24, 26 NLT [14] My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. ... [17] I can count all my bones.  My enemies stare at me and gloat. [18] They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing. ... [24] For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help. ... [26] The poor will eat and be satisfied.  All who seek the Lord will praise him.  Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. Psalms 22:14, 17-18, 24, 26 NLT If we're looking for intense psalms 22 must be near the top of the list. It contains a number of descriptions of suffering... bones out of joint... heart melted like wax, descriptions of enemies, emotions, abandonment. There's a picture of a person having his last piece of clothing gambled for, which happened to Jesus hundreds of years after this was writte...

Mark 10:26-27 NLT The disciples were astounded.  "Then who in the world can be saved?" they asked.  Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible.  But not with God. Everything is possible with God." Mark 10:26-27 NLT This story in Mark's account seems to be about a person who wanted to confirm his "self salvation" project, that if he kept all the rules, did everything right, he'd be OK. But what he didn't reckon on was Jesus knowing his heart, and what had captured this person. And he couldn't give it up. The disciples seem to have realised that they too had things that captured their hearts, and wondered out loud how anyone can be saved, how anyone can be made right with God... So Jesus tells them that it's God making the way that makes the impossible possible.  We are saved because Jesus stepped towards us.  Grace. Impossible Grace. Because we are Beloved. Crazy, but true. #gospelofMark #GoodNews  #invit...

Friday! Proverbs! [8] The wise in heart accept commands,  but a chattering fool comes to ruin. Proverbs 10:8 NIV "The wise in heart" - what a beautiful description of a person - perhaps this is something to aspire to, and the way at least in part to be "wise in heart" is to be willing to listen to and accept instruction. Direction. To change. And what does this Proverb compare a person "wise in heart" with? Someone who won't listen. Someone who blathers on. My problem is that somedays that's me! Just blah blah, not listening, and not heeding the wisdom of God's Word and what He  invites me towards. Somedays I struggle with the simplest instructions; Love is patient. Love is kind. I'd rather be anything but those things, but this invitation towards being wise on heart draws me back to following God's instruction and loving. Love is patient. Love is kind. Patient and kind toward others.  Patient and kind towards all that is unhealed or un...

As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked,  "Good Teacher,  what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Mark 10:17 NLT Jesus had just started on his journey to Jerusalem when his trip was interrupted- how do we go with interruptions? When people have questions? If Love is patient, love is kind, how do I love others in the interruption? This man interrupts Jesus journey with his Big Question.  And in this, he is our model - bring your Big Questions to Jesus. Our Big Question can lead us to look at what Jesus did and said to seek answers, clarity, help. Our Big Question can lead us to prayer, to seek out the Holy Spirit's quiet voice. Our Big Question can lead us to question those in our world who may be able to point us towards Jesus. What's your Big Question today? Follow the redemptive strands of scripture and seek Jesus in the Question...(remembering that we are already Beloved). #gospelofMark #GoodNews  #in...

Romans 7:4, 6 NLT [4] So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point:  You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ.  And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead.  As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God.  ... [6]...Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit. Romans 7:4, 6 NLT These ways of doing things that the religious leaders had been imposing on people as being the way to be right with God, to be holy, Paul is telling the church in Rome, they're gone.  The last 2 chapters Paul has repeated again and again that we're made right with God through faith in Jesus, through His work, not ours. So don't go back to this rules based life. There's new life now that is Spirit led. We get to live out the law in the place we find ourselves not to get right with God, but in gratitude and to honour Him. What opens up in this Spirit led life...