verseoftheday

Romans 7:25 - 8:2 NLT Thank God!  The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.  So you see how it is:  In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.  Romans 7:25 - 8:2 NLT After this long discussion about the power of sin, about the value and the shortcomings of the law, about his own humanity, Paul points us to Jesus and to this place where because of Jesus, because we belong to Him, we can put down this voice of condemnation. I got asked yesterday "how's your inner voice? What's it saying about you today?" "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." Maybe it's just me that has this inner voice that takes a different view to that which Paul invites us towards...maybe if God doesn't...

Romans 7:14-15, 21-25 NLT [14] So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. [15] I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate.  Romans 7:14-15 NLT Paul reminds us of his own humanity here.  Even though he has had this "road to Damascus" spiritual experience and met Jesus, he's not "perfect", there's still an internal battle at times, and he still does things he knows are wrong. [21] I have discovered this principle of life - that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. [22] I love God's law with all my heart. [23] But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. [24] Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?  [25] Thank God!  The answer...

[1] The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. ... [5] You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.  You honor me by anointing my head with oil.  My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,  and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalms 23:1, 5-6 NLT The redemptive strand has an end point - reconnection with God. David's song takes us on it's own journey; Starts with Yahweh as Shpeherd - The Eternal Light & Love is like a shepherd towards his sheep. There is rest, renewal, guidance, even in the darkest of places, He is with us. And then this picture of a feast, of a God who pursues us, of overflowing goodness that does not end. The redemptive strands flow through this song, through the realities of life, to a place of reconnection. A place where the disconnections of the Genesis story, from God, creation, each other, and ourselves, are reversed. A place where we will be ...

Psalms 23:1, 4 NLT [1] The Lord is my shepherd; ... [4] Even when I walk through the darkest valley,  I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalms 23:1, 4 NLT The Lord, Yahweh, The Shepherd, His rod and staff protect and comfort. It's not just our own strength we have to rely on, but His. It's not our just own capacity, but His. Because there is the "darkest valley" that we have to navigate.  We are not immune from the evils of this world, the actions of others, the frailties and limitations of our own humanity, the lies of the Enemy. David knows that. And his song invites us to join in the way through that he has found...leaning into Yahweh, remembering that even in the darkest valley, where there seems to be no light, The Lord, Yahweh, is still his Shepherd. #psalms  #songs #psalm23 #redemptivestrands #hopeishere #weareBeloved  #thewayisthrough

Sunday Psalms; The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows;  he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Psalms 23:1-3 NLT What jumped off the page today was "he". We want the rest of "green meadows", somewhere flourishing. We want the peace found near the water.  We want the strength and guidance, but each of these for David comes from The Shepherd, the Lord, Yahweh, YHWH, He is the one who is the agent, the means, the way; He lets me rest He leads me He renews  He guides I'm wondering how often that I've replaced the "He" with an "I". "Father in heaven, help me put down my idea of rest and let me find yours. Renew in me what needs renewing. Help me put down my ideas for a moment and seek your guidance, let me hear your voice today. Amen." #psalms #songs #dangerousprayers  #psalm23 #weareBeloved 

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. Proverbs 10:9 NIV When we look for Jesus in this Proverb, he is the one who walks in integrity. Even though he was misunderstood. Even though he was rejected. Even though he was abandoned. He was always held securely by the Love of the Father. Who did Jesus call out? The hyper religious who wanted the rules to save them. They couldn't do it with integrity because it ended up being about power, power over others. As followers of Jesus we are held in the same way that Jesus was (& is).  We are held securely by the Love of the Father, even if we're abandoned, rejected, misunderstood. We are in fact, beloved. #proverbs #wisdom  #somethingtochewon  #itsaheartthing #beloved

Friday! Proverbs! Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. Proverbs 10:9 NIV Mmm interesting comparison this Proverb draws...walking securely vs being found out... The security that comes from walking with integrity is that there is no fear of being found out...it's a security of the mind, which would seem to equal peace. Peace of mind, peace of heart when we walk with integrity. Proverbs is not a weapon to beat ourselves or anyone else up with, so what is this Proverb inviting us towards? To keep moving towards living in integrity. If that's our trajectory, then we are stepping towards more peace of mind, more peace of heart. It allows me to put down the comparison to others, and to live more and more in line with my values, with what's important, with God's call. As we sit with this Proverb today, what's the invitation to step away from, and to step towards? "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but w...