verseoftheday

Mark 10:46-48 NLT Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him.  A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" "Be quiet!" many of the people yelled at him.  But he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Mark 10:46-48 NLT I wonder how often in my life I have been one of the crowd who may not have said it out loud, but certainly said it inside "just be quiet". Bartimaeus was on the margins of society. He wasn't included in the group - he was on the roadside. Begging to survive. Living with disabilty. Alone. Not like the group.  And somehow he knew about Jesus. He had enough connection with others to know Jesus royal line, and that somehow Jesus might be able to help him.  Perhaps he had a perspective about Jesus that others didn...

Romans 9:2-3 NLT My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed - cut off from Christ! - if that would save them.  Romans 9:2-3 NLT We've just seen in Ch8 of Paul's letter that nothing can separate him from God's love, so what he is offering here can't really happen - it's like a saying, a metaphor, for wanting something so desperately, so intensively for his people, that he'd give his most treasured thing. This is love. And this is the love that Jesus did live out for us - gave up what was most precious for us. And this is the love that saves us. And it's the love we're invited to live out too...however sporadically and incomplete it might be, but to love others and want to see them follow Jesus too. To know Him And to be known (Whether we feel it or not, know it or not, even believe it or not, we are, Beloved) #letters #redemptivestrands #hopeishere #weareB...

Psalms 31:5 NLT I entrust my spirit into your hand.  Rescue me,  Lord,  for you are a faithful God. Psalms 31:5 NLT Even though David's circumstances are trying to tell him that God isn't faithful, isn't trustworthy, David chooses his stance. He cries out for rescue. But no matter what happens, he puts his trust in our God. Where do I need to entrust my spirit into God's hand? Maybe today it's the reminder that God is faithful. Faithful in our story. #psalms  #songs  #redemptivestrands #hopeishere #weareBeloved 

Psalms 31:7, 9-14 NLT I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,  for you have seen my troubles,  and you care about the anguish of my soul. .... Have mercy on me,  Lord,  for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes.  My body and soul are withering away. I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness.  Sin has drained my strength;  I am wasting away from within. I am scorned by all my enemies and despised by my neighbors - even my friends are afraid to come near me.  When they see me on the street,  they run the other way.  I am ignored as if I were dead,  as if I were a broken pot. I have heard the many rumors about me,  and I am surrounded by terror.  My enemies conspire against me,  plotting to take my life.  But I am trusting you,  O Lord,  saying,  'You are my God!" Psalms 31:7, 9-14 NLT Ever been somewhere and someone you know sees you and avoids you? It's here in the Bible. Ev...

Sunday Psalms; Psalms 31:1-2, 5, 9, 14, 16, 21, 24 NLT [1]  O Lord,  I have come to you for protection;  don't let me be disgraced.  Save me,  for you do what is right. [2] Turn your ear to listen to me;  rescue me quickly.  Be my rock of protection,  a fortress where I will be safe. ... [5] I entrust my spirit into your hand.  Rescue me,  Lord,  for you are a faithful God. ... [9] Have mercy on me, Lord,  for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes.  My body and soul are withering away. ... [14] But I am trusting you,  O Lord,  saying,  "You are my God!" [16] Let your favor shine on your servant.  In your unfailing love, rescue me. ... [21] Praise the Lord,  for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.  He kept me safe when my city was under attack. ... [24] So be strong and courageous,  all you who put your hope in the Lord! Psalms 31:1-2, 5, 9, 14, 16, 21, 24 NLT Maybe some of D...

The labor of the righteous leads to life, The wages of the wicked to sin. Proverbs 10:16 NKJV Can we see Jesus in this Proverb? When we look back on this Proverb from our place in time, Jesus is The Righteous One, and it's his labour, his life, his work, that leads to Life. Jesus labour led to Life In the Beginning.  And it is Jesus labour that makes the way to Life for us.  As followers of Jesus our lives are held in His, so while this Proverb has 2 categories, our lives and our labour is redeemed by Jesus labour - so our life to can lead to Life. How we live here matters. How you and I stand here, wherever that is today, whatever we face today, matters.  #proverbs  #wisdom  #somethingtochewon #itsaheartthing #speaklife 

Friday! Proverbs! [16] The labor of the righteous leads to life, The wages of the wicked to sin. Proverbs 10:16 NKJV Read this Proverb in different versions and there's a wide range of expressions in English. I wonder if we try too hard to find literal meanings, or connections that make direct sense in our culture 3000 years since these were written. Perhaps Proverbs like this are here to invite us to think about the things we do that lead to Life, and the things we do that take us away from Life? What goes on in our hearts, our minds, that moves us from Life? And what moves us towards Life? Where can I make a shift today? Towards Life for me? For those around me? For those in my community? Where can I speak Life today? #proverbs  #wisdom  #somethingtochewon #itsaheartthing #speaklife