verseoftheday

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 

Psalms 25:16-18 NLT Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress.  My problems go from bad to worse.  Oh, save me from them all!  Feel my pain and see my trouble... Maybe this feels familiar - David's problems mounting up, feeling alone in it all. Unseen. Unheard. And yet he is not alone, not unheard [15] My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies. ... [21] May integrity and honesty protect me,  for I put my hope in you. Psalms 25:15, 21 NLT Just like us David's emotions are telling him something, but his conclusion from them ("for I am alone") isn't the last word, isn't the whole story. Even in his distress, David keeps turning towards God.  His song invites us to do the same, whatever we're facing today, to continue to put our hope in Him... #psalms #songs  #redemptivestrands #hopeishere #weareBeloved  Here's an occasional reminder that if you no longer want to receive verseoftheday that's all...

[6] Remember,  O Lord,  your compassion and unfailing love,  which you have shown from long ages past.  [7] Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.  Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord.  [8] The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. [9] He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.  [10] The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands. Psalms 25:6-10 NLT This is the heart of this song, the part to play on repeat...can you feel the redemptive pull? David knows God, knows His character, His love, and at the same time knows his own humanness... What is the repeated phrase? "unfailing love" This is the redemptive tide that is always in play. "unfailing love" When we miss the mark "unfailing love" When we need help "unfailing love" When we need a Saviour "unfailing love" #psalms #s...

Psalms 25:3-5 NLT No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,  but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. Show me the right path, O Lord;  point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me,  for you are the God who saves me.  All day long I put my hope in you. Psalms 25:3-5 NLT There's days I want God's guidance but I'm not sure I often follow David's lead here when he asks God: - Show me... - Lead me... - Teach me... - All day long I put my hope in you... Even in times when Shame wants to intrude, when fear of disgrace would hold us down, hold us back...all day long I put my hope in you, for no one who trusts in You will ever be disgraced. While we might experience shame, disgrace, in the Big Story, that has already been absorbed by Jesus. So... - Show me... - Lead me... - Teach me... - All day long I put my hope in you... #psalms #redemptivestrands #hopeishere #weareBeloved 

Sunday Psalms; O Lord,  I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. ... [21] May integrity and honesty protect me,  for I put my hope in you. Psalms 25:1-2, 21 NLT This song starts with "O Lord,  I give my life to you" Maybe we said this to God once, a month, a year, a decade ago, maybe we said it at a baptism, a crisis, a moment of spiritual experience. Yet here it is in David's opening of his song, his poem. I'm wondering if this is an invitation to me to start my day, my week, stating out loud where my hope is, in who my trust is. Faith, hope, trust are not once-and-done actions, or even quiet things, but maybe like David need to be regularly spoken or sung out loud? What is this song inviting us towards? "O Lord,  I give my life to you... I put my hope in you." #psalms  #redemptivestrands #hopeishere 

The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. Proverbs 10:11 NLT Can we see Jesus in this Proverb? His words are The life-giving fountain. When we look at Jesus life story all along the the way were people who's words and hearts held a violent intent - towards Jesus, towards anyone who stood in their version of success. King Herod. The Pharisees  His own people who rejected him. Judas Iscariot. Pilate. The crowds who called for Barrabas to be released. But Jesus continued and continues to speak Life. Whether things are great, a bit "meh", or we're really under pressure, anytime is good to lean into the life-giving fountain that is Jesus. "Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!  Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'" John 7:37-38 NLT #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #itsaheartthing  #speaklife