verseoftheday

Ephesians 4:11-14 ESV And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ... These gifted people are to equip us, equip us for work (!), and to build up the church...so is the unsaid piece that we (the church) need to listen, learn, and do the work? "Church" is so much more than  rocking up on a Sunday... Maybe you have one of these gifts...might be time to use it... #somethingtochewon

Matthew 5:44-47 ESV But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that...For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?...And if you greet only your brothers... It's so easy to love people we like, people who are like us, think like us, live like us...but Jesus words challenge us to live and act beyond our comfort zone...Heard a story last night of a christian from Israel being greeted in a church in the us, until he said he was from Israel but was not Jewish but Palestinian, and the greeting turned to disdain... #whereistheloveinthat #wordsofJesus #lovepeople #lovepeopleevenwhenitshard #beattitudes

Matthew 5:44-45 ESV But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. So that. Why love our enemies? Why pray for those who give us a hard time for being a christian? So that we might become more like our heavenly father. So that we might understand a bit more of what God feels like when he loves us yet we reject him So that we will choose to love even when it's hard...even when it's costly... #beattitudes #lovepeople #lovepeopleevenwhenitshard #wordsofJesus #sothat

And the prophecy states that you're the most important, most talented, most intresting, and most extraordinary person in the Universe. OK so this is a quote from the lego movie,  but I hope it makes you smile on this Monday morning... Psalm 139:13-16 MSG Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out...body and soul I am marvelously made... #you'reawesome #dearlyloved #haveagr8week #legowisdomlol

John 1:5 ESV The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Jesus. God. Eternal. Creator. Life. Light. Winner. Jesus is the light that overcomes darkness. Just as He shines in the dark, so should we. He is not overcome... #onedayallwillbemadenew #jesusatthecentre #sunday #worship #turnyoureyesuponJesus

One Another # 13 James 4:11-12 ESV Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law...There is only one lawgiver and judge... But who are you to judge your neighbor? Some do not's in here...don't slander, don't judge, don't speak evil of one another...'cos it is so easy to do...on limited info we judge, we gossip...I think I'm just lazy...it's so much easier to judge than understand...or listen...or empathise...to love... If I took the time to hear my neighbours story,  to understand what it is to walk in their shoes, would I be so quick to judge? #oneanothers #lovepeople

Friday...and if you thought you were gonna take it easy today... Proverbs 10:4 ESV A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. Easy to see the wisdom of this in relation to money...sometimes we just need to get up earlier and work a bit harder...but...what if poverty here is poverty of the mind, of the spirit, of the soul...and rich is wealth of wisdom (isn't that at the heart of Proverbs? ), richness in experience, relationships (esp with God)...if that was the case, what should you and I be putting our effort into? #realpoverty #diligent #somethingtochewon

Matthew 5:44 ESV ...But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... I was encouraged last night to do that, pray for my enemies...actually pray for someone who is against you, who has a grudge, who is grating...will they change? Or will I change? #tryit #James1v22 #beattitudes #wordsofJesus #lovepeopleevenwhenitshard

Matthew 5:43-45 ESV You have heard that it was said,   You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. Love my enemies. Pray for my persecutors. Kind of easy to say if all is going well and you aren't being hated or bullied or attacked...the key words are "so that" - Jesus doesn't ask us to do this as a punishment or sacrificial or religious thing...it's about us becoming more like the character of God. He loved his enemies. Prayed for his persecutors. Died for them. For us. For me. And this is how we become like him. #beattitudes #wordsofJesus #lovepeople #lovepeopleevenwhenitshard #sothat

After praying for a little light to be shed on Sunday...and getting yesterday's message in the morning, at night church in pn this was my take home point... Ephesians 6:8 NLT Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free. God sees the good we do, whether it's rewarded or acknowledged now or not, live right - not to gain salvation - but because it's right before God...and we are all the same in God's sight (slave free old young rich poor men women employed unemployed etc etc etc) The distinctions we have between us disappear... (except perishing or being saved) so doesn't that make life simpler? We can get on with loving and serving those in front of us...no distinctions... #lovepeople #light

Yesterday I prayed for a little more light...at Hutt City Baptist Sunday morning... 1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. No matter who we are, our backgroud, experiences, culture, ethnicity, age, social status etc etc etc there is only one division between us that counts, one differentiator that matters. Perishing Or Being Saved That's it. The simplicity of that was light to me. Before God we are all the same apart from that. Perishing Or Being saved. #keepitsimple #keepingitreal #light

John 1:4 ESV In him was life, and the life was the light of men. Jesus. God. Eternal. Creator. Life. He is life. Life that gives light. Keep your eyes on him, Get to church today if you can...and my prayer is that you will see a little more of Jesus light, understand a little more of the life he gives, as you and I choose to worship him today. #jesusatthecentre #sunday #worship #turnyoureyesuponJesus

Romans 14:13 ESV Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer... OneAnother#12 The context is about preferences...and how we make judgements on people about stuff that just isn't important. It's too easy to look on the outside and completely miss someone's heart... Then there's the rest of the verse... ...but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. But rather. Here's the positive action you can take...choose not to judge others on stuff that isnt important, and choose to live in a way that won't give others cause to trip up. A good challenge here. Are there things that I do, places I go, movies I watch, words i say etc, that are causing others to trip up? #somethingtochewon #oneanothers

Friday! Where has this week gone? Today's Proverb 10:3 NLT The lord will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked. 7:15 am and -1 degree...and what does this mean? Christians go hungry? So if the cravings of the wicked aren't satisfied - I get that - if your heart is not oriented towards God then what you have is never enough...so that puts the godly not going hungry in a spiritual context. If our hearts are oriented towards God, if our desires line up with his, if we let the reality of our redemption sink in...if we choose to serve God and love people...then that spiritual hunger will be satisfied. We will have peace in our souls regardless of our external circumstances... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Luke 9:20 NIV But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am? We were at a funeral yesterday and on the way home I was thinkin 1 it's a reminder of my mortality.  One day that will be me being farewelled. 2 when they describe my life will the things I hold to be important be reflected in the way I actually lived my life? 3  will I have done anything significant? It's not the events,  the stuff i own, the places I lived that will any lasting significance...but if one person can say their eternal destiny was changed, if one person can say they learned more of God's grace and purpose, if one person can say they were loved... We all have time to realign the actual with what we want to hear at our own funeral. Who do you say that I am? #thatsabitdeeplol

Hebrews 6:12 NIV ...imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Through. Faith and patience.  But I want answers and action! I want it now. God answer me, bring healing, change,  revenge (!)... Through. Faith and Patience. I'd never seen those two things together before...keep the faith, reinforce God's truth in your life, and be prepared to wait... and "Imitate those..." those who have been before us, learn from the experience of others, ask, read,  search... #through #wasn'texpectingthat #keepthefaith #bazinga

Psalm 66 V 9 Praise our God, all peoples...For you, God, tested us; ...we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. Through. The psalmist starts with praise for God...perhaps because he knows the ending, but he describes testing, refining, trials, struggles...but God brought him through...not rescued out of,  no miraculous change in circumstances,  but through. That place of abundance...I wonder what that means? #through #sometimeslifeisnoteasy #praiseGodanyway

Psalm 33v11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Through. We want answers today. We want to see God fix things, solve things, make things right...by lunchtime would be good...but His time frame is different to ours...we forget this story of God and His people that we are part of, this redemptive and restorative story, has been in motion for hundreds of years, for generations...but the purposes of his heart remain the same...He loves us, wants us to love Him, and make Him known... #through #loveGod #lovepeople

John 1:2-3 NIVUK He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. Jesus. Eternal. Creator. #sunday #worship #jesusatthecentre

1 Peter 4:9 ESV Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. One Another # 12 Invite people in. Feed them. Warm them and nourish them. This has nothing to do with how flash the food is or how opulent the surroundings, but everything to do with our hearts...how welcoming are we? Hospitality is more than food. It's spiritual and emotional nourishment. Cos often that's what we really need. Why would Paul add...do it without grumbling?  Again it's a heart thing. Don't be hospitable because you have to,  out of duty...just give and share if you can cos you want to. #lovepeople #oneanothers #behospitable

Friday!!! Hope you have had a great week :) Proverbs 10:2 ESV Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. How true is this...have you ever gained from doing something illegal? Stealing?  Ripping someone off? We see high profile fraudsters going to jail, sports match fixing, doping...but at a personal level...if we gain something in the wrong way, it's always a bit tainted and doesn't deliver the satisfaction we were looking for...and that is compared with righteousness...with doing the very best we can to live work and play in an honest truthful fair way...even if the "profit" is not as good... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #keepyourpathsstraight

Hebrews 13:12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Through.  Though Jesus blood we are made holy. He did not shy away from the difficult, the suffering, the pain, to make me holy. Through. Jesus went through it all. And me? I just want to avoid "through". I want nice. Pleasant.  Easy. Maybe I need to embrace "through" knowing Jesus has been there and will travel with me... #choose #through

Ps 23v4  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Through. Funny looking word haha...but one that is important one for us...There is no removing us from the darkest valley,  or suddenly flood it with light...There is a choice by David not to fear...to hold firm to God, to trust Him even in the dark...and know that He will walk with us through whatever it is, no matter how dark it gets... #choose #nofear #through

Matthew 5:38-42 NLT But I (Jesus) say...If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.  If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.  Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow. Is this where the saying "go the extra mile" comes from? Jesus people were living under Roman rule...and when your enemy requires something - do it - and more! Who is your roman soldier today? Your boss, lecturer, parent...? This whole passage is a huge challenge to my generosity...give...don't turn away...no wonder people found Jesus teaching too challenging... #servantheart #wordsofJesus #gotheextramile #beattitudes #toohardfortuesday #day602

Ephesians 4:4-6 MSG You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. I like the way the Message emphasises the oneness of our call. It's a call to strengthen and develop unity in the church and our christian community.  How can you and I be part of that? This version does miss though the "one glorious hope" that we have of our future with God. Don't lose sight of that... #makeeveryeffort #one #oneness #hope #hopeunshaken #worthyofourcalling #haveagr8week

John 1:1 NIV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jesus. From before time as we know it, fully God... Meditate on Him today...get to church if you can...worship Him...God who's story this is, of which we are a part...creator, eternal...yet...personal #sunday #worship

Romans 12:10 NIV ...Honor one another above yourselves. One Another #11 Honor one another. Not part of my usual vocabulary...but it's all about holding others in high esteem, to have respect for others. How good am I at that? Or do I find it easier to find fault, to see the mistakes, the errors, rather than the good in others...the heart intent... Just another part of the otherness culture that the Bible encourages. The last bit is the kicker that is so counter cultural...above yourselves.  That is really challenging. #oneanothers #honor/honour #otherness

Friday! We have been right through Proverbs 29,  so will start in Proverbs 10:1 ESV The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. A lot of Proverbs is about comparing wisdom and foolishness. Wise choices and poor choices. Often we don't think about the impact of our choices on others (in this case parents). Most of us have a desire to make our parents proud of us (although sadly some parents don't make that easy) Wise choices, following the path of wisdom...where does that come from? It's often referred to as the way of the Lord. Living out everyday God's values and truth. His word is truth. The beginning of wisdom. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #keepyourpathsstraight

Ephesians 4:1, 3 NLT ...I ( Paul ), a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God...Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. This passage is all about us and the community we have in the church Make every effort. No half hearted, do things out of duty stuff, but really work hard at unity. Whether it's the church you are in now or find yourself in in the future. And it's not a job for the Pastors or Elders but for all of us. How can i contribute to unity and peace in my church? #makeeveryeffort #unity #peace #worthyofourcalling

Matthew 5:38-39 ESV You have heard that it was said,   An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.  But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. What!?! But I want things to be made right! I want justice, on my terms...now! Interesting that this is not about a cause, not about where someone else is hurt, but it's personal. When someone hurts me, offends me (a slap on the face isn't actually going to cause any real physical damage is it) it's time to live the servant life, to extend grace, to live as Jesus lived... #whosaiditwaseasy #beattitudes #wordsofJesus #lovepeople #lovepeopleevenwhenitshard