verseoftheday

Friday! Proverbs! Proverbs 7:1-3, 23-25 NLT Follow my advice, my son;  always treasure my commands.  Obey my commands and live!  Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.  Tie them on your fingers as a reminder.  Write them deep within your heart. ... He was like a stag caught in a trap,  awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life. So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words. Don't let your hearts stray away... Proverbs 7:1-3, 23-25 NLT This Proverb uses an example of someone being caught in a trap, led astray. This is not written to a naive child, but to us. What is it that seems good, but when we line it up against God's Truth is a trap, is going to take us in an unhealthy direction, take us away from God's best for us. Start with what we already know in God's Word, and hold onto that...let what we already know to be true be our guide... #proverbs #w...

Jude 1:1-2 NLT This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love. Jude 1:1-2 NLT What jumps out at you from Jude's greeting? For me it's not the bit about who Jude is...it's this: Called by God. God loves you. Held by Jesus. What a place to be.  Perhaps I need to turn off the news feeds, the noise, the bombardment of messages we allow into ourselves and sit with these things that Jude's ancient letter invites us into: Called by God. God loves you. Held by Jesus. Which one of those truths do you need to rest in today? Called by God. God loves you. Held by Jesus. Pick one. Called by God. God loves you. Held by Jesus. #Jude #letters #speaklife  #takewhatyouneed

Mark 7:24 NLT [24] Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn't want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn't keep it a secret.  Mark 7:24 NLT Boundaries. Jesus needed them. In his humanity he had limits just like us. Just like us. (And just like us he found it difficult to keep them when others needs keep pushing in). If we feel guilty for some reason about wanting to have boundaries in our relationships with people, remind yourself that it's Biblical! Jesus did it. Went off and prayed on his own. Wanted to be unknown for a bit. Let people leave unhappy. Stood up for injustice. Told the Truth. All types of boundaries. What do you need for your well-being today? #gospelofMark #GoodNews  #invitation 

Mark 7:5, 14-15 NLT [5] So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him,  "Why don't your disciples follow our age-old tradition?  They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony." ... [14] Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear.  'All of you listen," he said, "and try to understand. It's not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart." Mark 7:5, 14-15 NLT The Pharisees had travelled to meet with Jeuss and  noticed that the disciples weren't following their traditional rules of handwashing. Jesus gave them a telling off for how hypocritical they are about their own rules. And then calls in the people to listen: It's a heart thing. I'm interested in your heart. The rules, the traditions may all be good, helpful, worth keeping, but they aren't the thing.  The heart is the thing Jesus was interested in.  And in the emphasis on keeping the rules, the Pharisees ha...

[53] After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. They brought the boat to shore and climbed out. The people recognized Jesus at once, and they ran throughout the whole area, carrying sick people on mats to wherever they heard he was. Wherever he went - in villages, cities, or the countryside - they brought the sick out to the marketplaces.  They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed. Mark 6:53-56 NLT What a beautiful account of people responding to the needs of others, running to get them, carrying the sick, bringing them to Jesus. "And all who touched him were healed". While we may have experienced healing in some way, one day, we will see Jesus face-to-face too. And his touch will heal us. Heal you. heal me. All that is broken will be unbroken. All that is unhealed, restored, replenished, renewed. All that is hurt, unhurt.  One day all will be made new. This is the redemptive strand held in this...

Sunday Psalms; When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers - the moon and the stars you set in place - what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?  Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority - the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals... Psalms 8:3-7 NLT Have you ever looked up at the night sky in wonder as David did? Looked at some aspect of creation in detail, held a newborn child, looked at the expanse of the world from a mountainside, a high point, and wondered about why God cares about you? David did.  And here in this song is the answer he got. Humans are amazing. God has made us different form all other creatures, and closer to God than we realise. As Genesis says, made in His image.  Crowned with glory and honour. Perhaps "glory and honour" doesn't sit too ...

Love is patient,  love is kind.  1 Corinthians 13:4 CSB (Proverbs 7:1-4) "Father in heaven,  help me to follow this instruction in the most excellent way. Help me to guard this truth as I guard and protect my own eyes. Maybe I need to mark ot on my skin, write in my journal, have a reminder somewhere, but most of all Jesus, may Your Spirit write it deep within my heart.  Spirit help me to love Your Word, to be as close to Your truth as the best and closest way a family sbould be.  Help me to slow down for others, to wait, so that being patient is who I am. Help me to be kind in my actions, and in my thoughts, and in my first response.  May love is patient, love is kind, be held in the deepest parts of me. So be it. Amen" #proverbs #wisdom #dangerousprayers #speaklife