verseoftheday

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes... Romans 1:16 NIV Peter said that he would never deny Jesus, but then went on to do it 3 times. At least once today someone will ask me what I did on the weekend or how my weekend was. Am I going to say that the highlight was going to church on Sunday? And what I learned? Easiest thing to do...yet sometimes the hardest. Am I ashamed? Actually I agree with Paul. The gospel is the answer to the spiritual hunger in the world and is freely available to all who ask... And we have all been called to represent that gospel, that good news in some way...big or small, in the world we live in. How was your weekend? #Romans #faith #nofear #noreasontohide #lovepeople

Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight..he will not quarrel or cry out, no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break...In his name the nations will put their hope. Matthew 12:18-21 NIV Mowed the lawns on Friday & as I did that I knocked a couple of flowers, damaged the stems...bruised them. Jesus came for the bruised. The damaged. The marginalised. The hurt. He was broken to bring healing. Not in a loud way. Not with shouting and winning arguments... But quietly and gently from within... Feeling bruised? God is not about breaking you, but restoring... Hope Hope for us, & hope for this world... #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #hope #jesusatthecentre #onedayallwillbemadenew

...I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:11-12 NLT Paul had some goodness to share and he was as keen as a bean to get to Rome and share what God had on his heart. Paul was a writer, but he was hanging out to meet. To look people in the eye. To see how they really are. And he really wanted to hear how their faith journey was going. How are you? Good. How are you? Good. Paul was interested in what's really going on - how's your heart. Let's talk a little about how God is working with you and how he's working on me. Let's keep it real. Let's meet. And check in. Let's get beneath the surface...and let's us encourage one another... #Romans #keepingitreal #encourageoneanother

Friday! Proverbs! Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace! Proverbs 12:20 NLT But I don't plot evil! But I do think things about people that would hurt them, I do say things about people that just aren't necessary, I do talk myself up & put others down because it makes me look better...because my heart is deceitful... How different is my heart when I celebrate the good that happens to you, when I can be genuinely happy with your success (without comparing) when I genuinely forgive, when I plan for peace, to make things right...to encourage, to empower, to offer strength when I have it, compassion when you need it...this is the kind of thing that fills your heart with joy... And we get to choose. Choose what thoughts we dwell on, what words we say...what actions we take... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #choose #speaklife

When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord...Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God's love for them.  But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, Salvation comes from the Lord Jonah 2:7-9 NIV CH Spurgeon said "To trust God in the light is nothing, but trust him in the dark - that is faith" Jonah trusted in the dark. Not only that, but he had some kind of epiphany about the useless things that seemed so important, that distracted and dragged him away from God's love. In the dark, he gave those up and refocused his life on God... repurposed what remained...(he didn't know he was soon heading back to the light...) #lessonsfromJonah #faithinthedark #whataremyidols

From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: "In my distress I called to the Lord...I called for help...  You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me...I said, I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple. Jonah 2:1-4 NIV Jonah was in a tough place. Out of his depth (lol) - but he was in a place that he'd had no experience of. He was in real trouble, fearful...upset...lost...without hope...yet...his cry continued to be to God. Yet he turned to Him Even when it seemed God had turned his back. Yet. If you feel like Jonah today, do what Jonah did and cry out to Him. Even if it seems God has turned his back... #lessonsfromJonah #weareallJonah

The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do..." "Pick me up and throw me into the sea, he replied, and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you" Instead, the men did their best to row back to land... Jonah 1:11-13 NIV Even though the men on the boat were knew their problems were all with Jonah, they still wanted to save him. There is goodness and good people in this world even if they don't share our faith. There is compassion and love that flows through people because it's designed into us all by the Creator - and it points us back to Him And it reflects God's view that every life is precious... Glimpses of the Kingdom #lessonsfromJonah #dearlyloved #childrenofGod

...such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship... Jonah 1:4-5 NIV These guys were facing imminent death. They knew that their boat was on the brink of destruction and that would be the end. If we just work harder, do good, throw the cargo we thought was important overboard, we can save ourselves. But we can't. Grace is a gift that doesn't rely on our goodness, the things we do, but only on what Jesus did. Jonah was prepared to give his life to save a few sailors, but Jesus did give his life to save us all. Freely. Nothing we could do. That's love. #grace #itsagift #dearlyloved #lessonsfromJonah

Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him... Matthew 12:15-16 NIV Jesus backed away from a confrontation with the Pharisees about who he was and left. Just walked away. Note: We don't have to win every battle, every argument. Jesus walked away from the high profile "important" people and hung out with the "ordinary" the everyday people... And there, he brought healing. Simply. And to everyone. A glimpse of the Kingdom that he was launching where pain is gone, where there is restoration, where truth prevails, where Jesus is at the centre, with us, the ordinary... Glimpses of how it should be...may today you and I catch a glimpse of the Kingdom... #sunday #worship #hope #jesusatthecentre #thekingdomcome

But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish... ...After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose... Jonah 1:3-4 NIV When we turn from God, when we choose another path, when we go against what we know is right...God sends a warning. In this case a big unmissable storm. When I rebel, that storm may be my conscience, may be what someone else says to me, some passage of scripture or God's still small voice...but somehow God let's me know. He sends a warning. So what's your Nineveh? A place? A person you need to forgive? A habit you need to break? A weakness that needs to become a strength? Nineveh. Unknown. Scary. Tarshish. Apparently much more pleasant. No matter how hard or scary the road to Nineveh is, God is with you... #lessonsfromJonah #choose #with #theroad #inthistogether

Friday! Proverbs! The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18 NIV reckless heedless of danger or the consequences of one's actions; rash or impetuous. How often do I say things that are just reckless? (All the time...) Words that don't consider you, where you're at right now, what you might be going thru... Words that are just rash...just fall out of my mouth without thought or filter...'cos I'm not thinking about you and how my words might cut like a sword... Lord help me today to bring words of healing, words of life, prompt me to hold back and listen, listen to the heart. Amen #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #grace #speaklife

God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart... Romans 1:9 NLT Sometimes it seems that Paul is just laying it on a bit thick, it's just words... but then if you look at his background he was a high performer, focussed (see Acts 9:1-2) so if he says he's praying a lot for these people...then I think he was. Sometimes I say I'm praying for someone (it's an easy thing to say and makes everyone feel good) but don't actually pray :( Prayer for Paul was a habit & a constant part of his life. I need to be like Paul. His prayer focus was the needs of others. Prayer was part of his mission. So pray for people when you're with them, write your prayers and send them (even by txt is good) have a list, keep a journal, whatever works for you...just make it part of your mission... #Romans #famousfor #praylikePaul

I thank God through Jesus for every one of you. That's first. People everywhere keep telling me about your lives of faith... Romans 1:8 MSG Have you got a "heroe of the faith"? Someone who's an example? A motivation? One person for me is a person who's faith was consistent in all aspects of life. Work Personal Church They were all integrated and a whole. Merged. Seamless. Sometimes I wonder if I'm known for different things at work, at play, at home... Would the people I work with be surprised to see me in church? Does the way I live in all areas match what I believe? Am I famous for, known for, different things in different areas of life? Or am I heading towards a life of faith that is seamless. Merged. #Romans #famousfor #whatamIfamousfor

Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world. Romans 1:8 NLT Reality TV, YouTube, snapchat...Facebook. We kind of want to be famous...even just a little bit. Paul says the church in Rome is famous for its faith. What's my church famous for? What are we known for? 'Cos my church, my small group, it's just a reflection of me... Am I famous for being exclusive? Gossip? Religion? Or am I famous for my faith? Generosity? Welcoming? What do I want to be known for? (If someone was to review my snapchat life, my FB life, what conclusions would they come to?) Lots of questions...but it's so easy to lose sight of what's really important as our culture tries to squeeze us into its mold #Romans #famousfor #loveGod #lovepeople

The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh... But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord... He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish. Jonah 1:1-3 NLT Ever been called by God to go? Jonah had a big C Call, to go and preach, to be a missionary in a really hard place, but I've had a few small c calls... like to change my attitude towards someone. To look out for the needs of others. To not be so grumpy Or what about to be holy, not to gossip...to be kind...to give...to forgive Whatever it is, when God calls, better to go with Him than the other way...when you want to go left & He calls you to go right...go right #weareallJonah #lessonsfromJonah

How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. I'm single-minded in pursuit of you don't let me miss the road signs you've posted. I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I wont sin myself bankrupt... Psalm 119:6 MSG Got stuff to sort out in your life? 1. Get into God's Word for yourself. Do your own learning 2. Choose to follow God & His ways regardless of the consequences. It might be embarrassing, might be costly, but do it anyway 3. Hide God's Word in your heart. Read it. Memorise it. If we can get to church today, before we go, let's  ask God to speak to us through the word, the song, the people, His Spirit...look out for His road signs :) #psalms #psalm119 #theroad #inthistogether

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. Romans 1:8 NIV Paul is writing to a church - most of us don't get the chance to address a church, but we do get to greet each other. Before the greeting he's been doing something - praying. His prayer is thankful for the people in his life, & their area of strength (in this case - their faith) Before I can tell you I'm thanking God for you - I need to BE thanking God for you! Today's mission is to just thank God for some of the people in your life, name them & the strengths you see in them, how they've helped your journey, why they're important... Then sometime greet them with "I thank God for you because of your___" #Romans #lovepeople

Friday! Proverbs! Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. Proverbs 12:16 NIV So quick to get annoyed. That's me. And it shows on my face.  I'm annoyed & i want you to know it... Without thinking Without considering what's going on for you Without hearing your heart Without allowing the gospel of Grace, the Kingdom, of Hope permeate my life...and my reaction...that's what makes me a fool. And it's that Grace that allows me to overlook the insult too. If Jesus can, then I can learn to. If He can die for those who insult him, then I can let it slide...because I'm secure in God's love, chosen, dearly loved, my future is secure...it's OK #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #grace #lovepeopletothenextlevel

1. Grace 2. Kingdom of God 3. Hope "What exactly is our Christian hope? Where is life leading?  Without a biblically formed grasp on Christian hope we have a reduced gospel which almost inevitably climaxes in some form of personal escapism from a wicked world rather than the glorious climax of not just a reborn us, but a gloriously rebirthed creation. Our faith becomes introspective rather than all embracing, focussed on personal devotion rather than encompassing every aspect of life on this earth" Had to read this more than once lol...hope is more than being just about me...it's much bigger and all encompassing...it's the Big Story of God wanting all of us to know Him, it's the love story of the creator giving freedom, making a way by humbling himself, yet looking forward to a wonder filled new creation of which we have but glimpses today... #onedayallwillbemadenew #hope

1. Grace 2. Kingdom of God "The Kingdom of God  coming in Jesus was the good news that Jesus fleshed out and proclaimed. If we don't appreciate what he meant by that expression and how it relates to our life and our world today then we proclaim a half baked gospel and struggle to establish the relevance of Jesus beyond offering a personal spirituality.  We miss the immensity of Jesus' good news, miss the adventure of sharing in his mission and lose a vital point of contact with a sceptical world" The Kingdom is the answer to the world's problems, it should permeate our politics, our work, our relationships, our everyday choices...it let's us see hurt loss grief and pain in the context of the gospel and God's Big Story, not just me and mine...and it generates the urgency that Paul talked of at the beginning of Romans to connect with this world the Kingdom reality... #itsanadventure #inthistogether

Not verses, but next 3 days 3 things our Pastor shared on Sunday... 1. Grace "God's extraordinary, unlimited, love and good will towards all he has made, even the most disinterested and undeserving. Miss God's grace and he remains distant and demanding, our faith remains wooden and we easily become judgemental of others. Catch a glimpse of God's grace and we cant help but be grateful, can't help but worship. Know our lives touched by God's grace and its hard to be condemning of others.  Even just paddle in the shallows of grace and you cannot help but want to go into the deeper waters of God's extraordinary love" It's this grace that stops Christianity from being a religion, it's grace that allows me to be me, and you to be you & that's OK, it's grace that means God meets us where we are & journies with us...it's grace that gives us the right to choose...and it's grace that gives me hope #grace #hope

Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ! And I greet you now with all the generosity of God our Father and our Master Jesus, the Messiah. Romans 1:4-7 MSG You are who you are through Jesus. This is our identity & our security now & our security & hope for the future...no matter what. And the task is urgent. Today is the day to represent Him to the world...wherever we are. Greet the next person you meet with all the generosity of Jesus...if we can't manage that at least a smile :) God's love is directed towards all people - mine tends to be more selective - "Lord help me to see people like you do, and love them as you do..." #Romans #lovepeople

The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David's family line, and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 1:3-4 NLT Paul starts his letter with who he is, then gives us with absolute clarity, so there can be no mistake...who Jesus is. Jesus the man who came from human royalty, who is also God's son, the one who was raised from the dead. Fully human. Fully God. The trinity of God revealed. The power of the Holy Spirit shown. Jesus. Paul's Lord.  The same one we call Lord, the same one we come together to worship. The same one who was there at creation, who became redemption, and who's purpose is restoration... No matter what we face, it's Jesus we choose to follow, who we choose to call Lord... #jesusatthecentre #sunday #worship #thisisourGod

...Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God... sent out to preach his Good News. God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The Good News is about his Son... Romans 1:1-3 NLT Everything I've got to say to you is framed by the "big story"...it's not something new I've made up but goes back to Creation, the Fall, Redemption & Restoration... it's all about Jesus. He was there in the beginning & he not only made a way, he is the way. Why does Paul start here? Because our story is part of this Big Story, & we forget & put ourselves in the middle... when life seems to fall apart, when it makes no sense, when it's just unfair...we need to remind ourselves we're part of the Big Story #jesusatthecentre #itsalovestory

Friday! Proverbs! The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Proverbs 12:15 NIV Nice straight forward proverb. Don't always take your own advice! But let's put Jesus in this... and suddenly there's the Pharisees who think that there own righteousness can save them, that if they're good enough they'll be blessed... & Jesus says your listening to your own advice! Get back to the heart of God! And what is Jesus saying to you & me today? "Don't listen to your own advice. Don't second guess, don't waver...listen to me. I love you. I know you. My heart breaks for you. I died for you. One day I'm coming again for you. Whatever you face today...I am, the I Am, is with you..." #jesusatthecentre #believe #nomatterwhat #with #proverbs

Lord , sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed. Sustain me, and I will be rescued; then I will meditate continually on your decrees. Psalms 119:116-117 NLT Ever feel like your at the end of you're endurance, that your strength is gone...that hope is gone... the psalmist here is in exactly that place... And where does he turn? Not away from God but towards Him. He knows that ultimately all hope rests only in God - our hope for life eternal, our hope of when all things will be made new, our hope of the end of pain, hurt, loss & even death itself...and in the meantime he keeps calling out to the One (even tho it seems answers aren't forthcoming) he keeps searching God's word (even tho today it may seem lifeless and void) So when our own resources  are depleted...keep coming back to God... #hope

I, Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ on assignment, authorised as an apostle to proclaim God's words and acts. I write this letter to all the believers in Rome, God's friends. Romans 1:1 MSG On assignment. We all have one... it might have a permanent overarching component like being God's hands and feet in the world, and maybe there's today. What's my assignment today? Is there going to be a moment when I needs to show grace, to say or do something for someone... or maybe it's not to say the first thing that pops in my head because that's critical and ugly and doesn't speak life... Am I prepared to ask God right now for today's assignment? Lord what's your assignment for me today? #justdoit #onassignment #Romans

I, Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ on assignment, authorized as an apostle to proclaim God's words and acts. I write this letter to all the believers in Rome, God's friends. Romans 1:1 MSG OK so here we go: I am, thru faith in Jesus, declared innocent. I'm chosen, an adopted and dearly loved child of God, who's mission is to become more like Jesus, to love Him & represent Him in the world, and to love the people He's brought into my life. Just encourage you to write  your thoughts  down...there's something powerful in writing our position in God in our own words... #chosen #redeemed #forgiven #dearlyloved #childrenofGod

This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. Romans 1:1 NLT This is almost like a CV - this is who I am my qualification & my purpose. Have you ever tried to capture that for yourself? What would you and I write? Wanna try it? Who am I? Where am I with God? What qualifies me? What would God have me do? It's one thing to think about, another to write it down... I'll have a crack and send mine tomorrow... #Romans #purpose #somethingtochewon

Don't eavesdrop on others - you may hear your servant curse you. For you know how often you yourself have cursed others. Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 NLT We get so righteous and indignant when we hear what others say about us... their version of events is not ours, it's just not true... how dare they... But. Wisdom says I haven't always been fair when I've talked about others... I've stretched things to make me or my position look (even just a little) better... & so it is with the overheard conversation, the second hand report... So don't take everything you hear to heart. Don't take those comments others make too seriously.  (Unless there's enough truth to point to something we should address, but more often...let it go) Jesus knew what others were saying about him, and in the ultimate act, died for them anyway... #gatherwisdom #somethingtochewon #grace #forgiven

Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:20 NLT No matter who we are...none of us are perfect... Amongst all this wisdom none of us get it all right all the time... or know all the answers. We're  all fatally flawed. That not only (should) keep us humble...it should allow us to extend grace to others when they stumble or fall... We're all equally in need of grace...not just for salvation, but to make it thru this life... #gatherwisdom #somethingtochewon #lovepeople #grace