verseoftheday

The arrogant dig pits to trap me...help me, for I am being persecuted without cause. They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. In your unfailing love preserve my life... Psalm 119:85-88 NIV That's pressure. Stress. Whatever was going on it felt like he was at the end of what he could endure. But. He was sticking with God. Sticking with His ways & acknowledging God's unfailing love...regardless of the circumstances...the pressure...the stress... So...when the pressure is on keep doing what's right,  and always, always remember that you're a dearly loved child of God. #psalms #psalm119 #theroad #inthistogether #dearlyloved #childrenofGod

Friday! Proverbs! Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe. Proverbs 11:15 NIV Life lesson right here...don't guarantee a loan or loan people money who you don't know well...your money is not safe. Be prepared to never see it again. In our culture this includes investment advisors! #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #moneymanagement101

I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. Philippians 2:23-24 ESV Paul - who used to lock people up for just being Christians - is in jail. And he's thinking about how he can encourage the people at the church by sending Tim back to them...Paul has completely absorbed the otherness orientation of the gospel. "...I trust in the Lord..." no matter what happens. No doubt he has seen people tortured, & lose their lives while in prison with him. Yet his faith is unwavering whatever his future holds. May our faith be as firm no matter what we're facing... #faith #unwavering

I have no one else like Timothy... But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. I hope to send him to you... Philippians 2:20, 22-23 NLT Saw the movie Search for the Wilderpeople last night and one  thing in that film is the strength of relationship that grew between people who were from different generations & backgrounds, and we see that here with Paul & Tim. Great friends can be the most unlikely, but we all need them Paul & Tim shared a common purpose too, of sharing God's good news & that's what our church's and our lives should look like...connecting with people and making God known... #loveGod #lovepeople #inthistogether #greatkiwimovie

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 2:26 NIV Abraham and Rahab. Only in the Bible would you find people as diverse as these 2 on the same page...both examples of faith in action. It's not about who we are, how big or important we see the things we do for God are, but that we are doing something...that our faith is finding an expression in action. In deeds. In something. Does your faith feel dead? Then maybe action is needed first...and as we do, as we look outside ourselves, as we work out our faith in the world, in the lives of others, in giving of ourselves, time, energy, resources, skills, talents, then our faith will come alive! #james #keepingitreal #faithandworks #inthistogether

...the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 NIV Today we have a tangible reminder of the sacrifice of others to bring us peace...and the life we enjoy in NZ And yet we so easily lose sight of that...so easily forget...we forget that love is the ultimate thing, we forget that everyone has value, purpose & significance, that the world has the resources to support everyone but our selfish hearts get in the way...we forget so easily. Sacrifice. For us To bring healing Peace Life #anzac

So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: Go through the camp and tell the people, "Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own" Joshua 1:10-11 NIV Three days. And then you'll get to the other side. The promised land will be yours. With Jesus it was three days...to make a way to the ultimate promised land - life with God Get your provisions ready...your going to need resources for the journey...I wonder what spiritual resources Jesus used up for us to make a way...to be the Way - for us #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #gaveitall #theWay

Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 AMP Don't be dismayed. Discouraged It's so easy to be dismayed. Sometimes it's little things that knock us off balance...and sometimes it's the big, hard stuff...but for the 3rd time Josh is told to be strong, courageous, & to live with vigor...because what's coming is going to be tough, challenging...but...God is with you. Doesn't say that the circumstances will change, that suddenly it's going to be easy... but He is with us. So no matter what, live with vigor, courage, no matter what you face today or tomorrow & know He is with you #with

Friday! Proverbs! Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14 AMP Sometimes you just need help. Help to clarify your thinking, find a solution, work out a way forward...and sometimes just to know your not in this alone...it's ok to ask... Safety in numbers? Having too many people give you counsel can be confusing but if more than one is telling you the same thing and it lines up with Gods word then... Our ultimate counsel should be the Word and the prompting of God's Spirit in our hearts - in that is the ultimate safety plan :) #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:7-8 NLT Strength & courage, Yes. But wait, there's more. Study God's word Meditate on it. Think about it...mull it over... Follow God's word. Do what it says...and when we do that our measure of what prosperity and success looks like may well change...

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? James 2:25 NIV Just when you think you've got God sorted and can understand Him, there are these quirky things that just make you think..."in the same way..." here Paul says Rahab's faith is the same as Abraham's. Abe - a pillar of faith, first missionary & father of nations, & Rahab, who sold her body to pay the rent. God loves us, no matter who we are, or what we've done. He loves to see us step out in faith no matter what our circumstances... #james #keepingitreal #faithandworks

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope... 1 Thessalonians 4:13 NIV Grieve, cry, weep, mourn...yes...if we've lost someone we care about Paul doesn't say don't grieve. Just don't grieve like those who have no hope... v14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. Our hope is in the One who came and lived among us, became death for us, broke sin & deaths curse on the 3rd day, started the process of restoration & that one day...all will be made new. So yes we grieve, but not without hope :) #hope

Don't you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith". He was even called the friend of God.  So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. James 2:21-24 NLT God may call you to do something, go somewhere, that makes no sense to the world. Rather than "bigger, more, me" we choose "simple, contentment, others" Faith is important. But faith needs an expression...what we do... #james #keepingitreal #faithandworks #friendofGod

No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. "Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people..." Joshua 1:5-6 NLT So why did Joshua have to be strong and courageous? We know God is on our side, that one day all will be made new, that nothing, not even death can separate us from God's love for us...but here and now, just like Joshua, we need strength and courage...because we still have to face the world and it's hurts and struggles. Josh was told "I'm with you, but you've got work to do. It's going to be challenging and hard, but I'm with you" #with #onourside #thisisourGod #sunday #worship

I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke, but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees. How long must I wait? When will you punish those who persecute me? Psalms 119:83-84 NLT God when will you fix it! Maybe you've never been persecuted but something is going on that hurts, something that you want God to intervene in...the psalmist is right there...you can feel his hurt - he's feeling shrunk into a dried up shell of who he should be...tired of waiting... But there's 2 things he chooses to do. Keeps crying out to God. He never stops believing God is there, that He's good & is ultimately on his side And he keeps choosing to believe in God's word, his truth. The Word. The embodiment of God's love and grace. Jesus. #choose #hope #faith #inthistogether

Friday! Proverbs! It is foolish to belittle one's neighbour; a sensible person keeps quiet. A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. Proverbs 11:12-13 NLT I wonder what Solomon would say about Twitter or our media full of trivia about our "neighbours", our obsession with celebrities. And then there's the way I talk about other people...& just how easy it is to gossip... On a 1-10 scale how trustworthy am I with something told in confidence? When i start with "Don't tell anyone else this..." is a sign I  may be talking too much... So don't run down others (belittle our neighbour), speak well or say nothing...and keep confidences... #betrustworthy #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

...I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up... I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus..? Philippians 2:19-21 NLT I imagined Paul as a powerful figure surrounded by supporters and people eager to hear him...but...Paul is in jail, feeling down, & with only one person who really gets it, only one who is really on his team - Tim. We can be Tim. Everyone needs to have someone on their team, gets their passion for the things of God...but esp our church leaders, pastors, worship teams etc but everyone really... Who can you and I be Tim for? #iamTim #onyourteam

If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. Philippians 2:19 NLT Imagine having to send a runner to communicate with people...to find out how they are, to connect...and all we simply need to do is txt or call or message. Paul was going to send Tim a long way...who's a long way from you who comes to mind now that you need to connect/reconnect with? Do it now. Paul is in prison, & is at the very least unhappy, down, depressed even...interesting that what he asks for to lift his spirits is not release from his circumstances but to hear how others are living their lives for God... #somethingtochewon #beablessing #lovepeople

Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God... Philippians 2:16-17 NLT Paul's faith was so clear, his eyes on God so fixed, that no matter what happened to him, even his death, he saw it all as service to God. Wow. (He was already in prison so death may have looked likely) But he saw his service to God on exactly the same level as everyone else's...it's not about who does more or "better" bit that we're all serving God where we are... #inthistogether #faithfulservice

Do everything without grumnling or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation." Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. Philippians 2:14-16 NIV Just like a parent, Paul when he gets to heaven, wants to point to his children and say look at these wonderful, loving people - stars in a dark & damaged world - these people hung in there when it was tough, persecutions, jail, even dying for their faith - it was all worth it when I look at them. Is this dialogue happening in heaven about us? About me? Am I holding firm? #holdfirmtothewordoflife

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation." Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky... Philippians 2:14-15 NIV So that. This is God giving us the reason why He wants us to live in certain ways. So that. He wants us to shine like stars! Not because of what we own, what we look like, how we make a living, where we live, but how we live in this world. He wants us to be His kids - without fault - stars... God wants you and me to shine...maybe just not in the way the world does... #dearlyloved #childrenofGod #stars

Do everything without grumbling or arguing... Philippians 2:14 NIV A favourite verse for parents...but what's the context? Talking to the church about imitating Jesus in our relationships with one another, humbling ourselves, giving up the glory, the limelight, not having to take the credit or the kudos...making God bigger...and working out our salvation - living our faith in the marketplace, the office, the classroom... Paul says I know you'll drift into arguments about small stuff...the colour of the blah blah, & I know you'll complain about the music or the pastor or or or...so here's the thing - do life, church, community without grumbling, complaining & arguing... Me: But Paul, I like arguing and I'm good at grumbling. Paul: Just don't. Love ya :)

Friday! Proverbs! Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. Proverbs 11:11 NIV Whether it's politicians bickering and arguing, or maybe it's closer to home where there is arguing and fighting...our words are important and they can bless or destroy...bless or destroy countries, cities, families & individuals... So when I play back the tape of the things I've said in the last hour, the last day...the last week...have I been part of destruction or blessing...? Some of each...our words are important so choose to speak blessing that will build up and encourage those around you...your church...city...world... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #choose

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds". Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. James 2:17-18 NIV Our faith, what we believe about who God is, what Jesus did, creation, the fall, redemption and restoration...what we believe must impact how we see the world, how we view other people, and how we live... If God's highest value is love, then so should mine be...and love is a verb...it's actions and "deeds"...our love for others is our faith in action, no matter the size or impact of those actions...no matter whether we think they are significant or not... #james #keepingitreal #lovepeople

Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed", but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:15-17 NIV This letter is written to the church...so globally and locally our church should be doing something to practically meet the needs of the people in and around it, so encourage your church to do that, be part of the solution...but that doesn't let us off the hook as individuals...we need to be part of the solution to the problems people face today. Don't wait until you have more to give or share or help with... #lovetheoneinfrontofyou

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? James 2:14 NIV What we believe leads to actions and choices in the the way that we live, what we spend our money on, where we invest our time...what we give... So can you be a christian and the message of the gospel not be seen in some way? The gospel is others oriented. Jesus did nothing because he had to, but because he chose to, in love. And James challenges us about how much we really believe, because it should be seen in what we do... #james #keepingitreal #somethingtochewon

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:12-13 NIV The law that gives freedom is the law of love that Jesus not only taught, & lived, but is. Where love is the highest virtue. Forgiveness Another chance Let him who is without sin... That law where mercy triumphs The mercy of God sending Jesus to atone for me The mercy of Jesus willingly taking my punishment The mercy of his Spirit to keep working in and working on my failures... Since mercy triumphs in God's economy then how should it look in mine? Judgement is so much easier... #mercy #mercytrumpsjudgement #thisislove #thisisourGod

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord , meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Psalms 1:1-3 NLT There's something peaceful about being by a river, and the lush growth of trees and foliage points to life! Inner peace and real life comes not from the thinking of this world, but from being connected to the river of life himself - Jesus - and his living word. #jesusatthecentre #sunday #worship

Therefore, my dear friends...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13 NIV What's the "therefore" there for? To point us back to the early verses of Phil 2 which is all about our heart attitude being the same as Jesus: giving up any glory humility giving it all up for us in love Then Paul says this how you work out your salvation...something you have but keep on living. Why? Because God wants to keep working in us...working on us...AS we live out the values Jesus modeled.  So choose the heart values Jesus did and somehow God will keep shaping us for his purposes... Am I willing? #heart #shapedbyGod

"...Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah" When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter... "what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call" Acts 2:36-39 NIV But wait there's more to easter...God's Spirit is a gift for all of us when we take that step of faith in Jesus as Lord and saviour. #jesusatthecentre #crushedforyouandme #risen #giftoftheHolySpirit #easter #believe #faith #hope #love