verseoftheday

"Your slave is in your hands," Abram said. "Do with her whatever you think best." Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.  The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; Genesis 16:6-7 NIV Abram, Sarai, & Hagar. Hagar, powerless, used, abused... hurt and on the run. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. When we have power and authority we can't lose sight of the person who might be affected by our decisions. Who went after Hagar? God did. The father to the fatherless, the binder of broken hearts, went searching for Hagar, the powerless, marginalised, damaged...this is who God's heart is for...and who ours needs to be too... And. If you're feeling like that, God is for you :) #lovepeople #dearlyloved

Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, "The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her." Abram agreed to what Sarai said... Genesis 16:1-3 NIV What was Sarai thinking? Seems that the importance of having an heir, the importance of the cultural norm of bearing a son, overwhelmed her judgement and her faith. Before we judge her too quickly, don't we do some of the same things? Why can't I be 30 and single? Why does working long hours/ being "busy" give credibility? Only paid work is valuable... There are pressures that are subtle and some that are really in your face, but they can lead us to make poor decisions, just like Sarai... Jesus said to love God, and love people. If we keep that as our guide, then the cultural pressures lose their power... #inthistogether

Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, "The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her." Abram agreed to what Sarai said... Genesis 16:1-3 NIV Abram not only made dumb decisions on his own, but also when they were the ideas of others. No mention of seeking God now. Keep seeking God. If we're struggling with what next, where to, why doesn't God answer...keep seeking Him, keep coming back to church, worshipping together. Abram & Sarai had been there for 10 years, he was 86 years old...they just decided to make their own way... I'm the same. God sort this out for me. Now is good. And if you don't, well I'll just forget what I know about you, your call on my life, living in a way that honours you...I can't wait for you God, get with my programme... When God isn't answering, keep seeking Him anywa...

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6 NIV From the earliest of times it's always been about faith. About what we believe. Abram had uprooted his clan, followed God's call, for years moved all over the Middle East...but what did God really value? His faith. That he believed God No matter what his circumstances. No matter that God's promise may have seemed impossible. He believed God. What we believe is important. That God is who he says he is, that we can know him by knowing Jesus, that the Bible is him revealed to us, that it's faith that makes us right with him...now part of his family...and nothing, nothing can snatch us from him... And one day, all will be made new. No matter our circumstances No matter if it seems impossible. #believe #faith

A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful. Proverbs 14:25 NIV In 1 John 2, John speaks of Jesus as our witness, advocating on our behalf, speaking the truth of our position. This witness speaks not only the truth about us, but is absolutely compelling. His testimony cannot be reduted, rebutted, or undone. It's on the back of not just what he says, but what he did. That's what makes this witness credible. Jesus is our truthful witness, and its our life that he saves, so we're free. Free of the penalty of sin, free from the mistakes we've made, free from the past. Free to live. Free to be thankful, free to worship. Jesus stepped in when we couldn't, did what we couldn't, so that we are free. How good is that! #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #childofGod #accepted #dearlyloved

A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful. Proverbs 14:25 NIV Sometimes we are our own false witness...we have that tape running deep inside which says... I'm not good enough, a failure, too tall/short/ugly, unlovable, damaged...and we allow it to keep us down, stop us from taking risks, stop us from living... But Jesus says "I died for you. And you know what? You were worth it" When a child makes a mistake, it doesn't change their position in the family. They're no less loved, no less belonging (ok so not great English but you get it right?) Maybe that internal message pops up only rarely, or maybe it's everyday, but when it does, we need to actively replace that false witness with the truth #childofGod #accepted #dearlyloved

Friday! Proverbs! A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful. Proverbs 14:25 NIV This is a verse that encourages those in medicine, science, law, teaching...pastors... parents... and friends... Eg when we see the truth of someones medical condition it can save their life. When we see the truth of someone's heart attitude, it can save their life And ultimately if we see the truth of our own spiritual condition, we realise that everyone is in the same spot, and it's only Grace that saves. The Truth saves, and in the same way, diluting, skirting, or being a false witness to the truth does not. Paul says to speak the truth in love. Love doesn't change the truth, but love finds a way to make truth save... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars... Genesis 15:5-6 ESV Where was Abram? Inside. Where it's warm. Comfortable. God took him outside...where it's chilly, and dark. And said look up at the night sky...yes it's dark but look towards the light...look and wonder... Sometimes God calls us (& sometimes we just find ourselves) out of the comfort and warm and in the cold and dark...but He says look up, look toward the light and wonder... #wonder

And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." And he believed the Lord , and he counted it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:5-6 ESV What was God doing? Come outside Abe. Have a look. Look. And wonder. Wonder about the promise. Wonder about the beauty. Wonder about what you can see...and what you can't Wonder at the hands behind it all Wonder that I've called you. Wonder that I love you. The night sky was there the previous night, and the next night, but Abram really saw what was in front of him that night...what's in front of us that we've lost our sense of wonder? That points us to God but we've lost sight of it? Maybe it's the stars, creation, people, new life, music, art, design, colour... What's in front of us? #wonder #life #promise

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." But Abram said, "O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" Genesis 15:1-2 ESV Abe had just had a successful hostage recovery mission, & knew God was with him. And God says Fear Not I'm your shield. I'm beyond military might & I'm on your team. And Abe says But what about an heir? How are you going to work this out? I can't see how. I'm getting really old...and it's all going to Eliezer. But. What's our But with God? I know you're good but... I know you can heal but... I seem to be stuck with a second rate outcome. An Eliezer. But. Abe doesn't know how this ends, doesn't know if this is the end. Just like us. What is it that we "But God" about? Do we still trust him to be our shield regard...

So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord . Genesis 13:18 NIV God asked Abram to move...then he was forced to move because of famine, then expelled by Pharaoh... We move for all kinds of reasons...education, work, relationships, travel, ministry, family...usually for us its our choice... One of the repeating things in Abram's journeys is his focus on worship. He built a reminder of who God is, a place to meet with Him. When we move, what are our priorities? Whether we move by choice or not, is finding a place to meet with God our priority? Would things be different if finding a place of worhsip, a community of worshippers was our priority? #lifesajourney #worship

So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left. Genesis 13:8-9 NIV Abram had all the rights here. He was the senior guy. And what does he choose to do? To maximise the value of his business by taking the best land? Exercise his authority and power by choosing first? No, he says there's plenty here for everyone having it all, having the best is less important to me, showing grace, being generous is more important... How come? The day before he'd been to church to worship God. When we do that it should change us. Change our priorities, our attitudes towards money, business, people, relationships. Will we let Him do that today? #sunday #worhsip #worshipchangesus

From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord . Genesis 13:3-4 NIV Ever felt like life's going in circle? Abram did. He landed back in a place he'd left quite some time earlier. Was this where his journey was supposed to end? Was this where God wanted him? Did he think "I'm getting to old for this..." "Why doesn't God make this clearer?" Who knows what was going on in Abram's heart and mind... except this: He called out to God. He went to church. And prayed. When our life is going in circles, not making any progress, when God seems silent...go to church, pray, call out to Him #journey

Friday! Proverbs! The wise accumulate wisdom; fools get stupider by the day. Proverbs 14:24 MSG Sometimes you've just gotta love The Message :) Wisdom grows, compounds, builds on itself...accumulates...leads to good choices & good outcomes. Foolishness. Just goes nowhere. It's the source of wisdom then that should interest is most - where can we get it? If the God of the Bible is who he says he is, and maiden himself known, then that should be our start point. Our foundation. Our source. His word revealed in the Bible. The word revealed in Jesus. Wisdom just doesn't arrive in a lump one day, but it increases as we choose to walk with God, in the good and the tough times, in joy and sorrow... Wisdom accumulates. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

"Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you." Genesis 12:13 NIV Ok so we may have been a bit hard on Abram yesterday...he's in his late 70's on the move and responsible for his whole clan, displaced because of famine, and now faced with a life-or-death situation... that's real pressure...I don't know how I'd respond with all that going on... Have you ever read an author so much, or watched a movie so often that you just respond to situations with a quote, or just know how a character would respond because we've absorbed them so much. We need Jesus' character and values to be so absorbed into us, that when we're under pressure Jesus response comes out. We know how he'd respond and we choose to do the same... #somethingtochewon #goeasyonAbe

As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, This is his wife. Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you. Genesis 12:11-13 NIV It started well with Abram telling his wife how beautiful she is, but went down hill from there. Ever made a mistake? Well we're in good company... Abe was trusting God in the journey, but when he was confronted with the Egyptians he was afraid and cooked up his own scheme. His integrity and trust went out the window, because he couldn't see how God could make a way... and I can be just like that, trusting at home but not work for example... Lord, help me to walk in integrity, to follow you in every area of my life, to always trust you no matter what. Amen. #trust

Now there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down into Egypt to live temporarily, for the famine in the land was oppressive and severe. Genesis 12:10 AMP Abram and his family became economic refugees. Not too different to many of the people trying to escape famine and poverty around the world. As the water supply dwindled, and the land could no longer support their animals, and finally the people, they were forced to move. Uproot his family and move them all to another country. But wasn't Abe following God's direct & clear call? Why should he suffer? God's people it seems, are not given a free pass on suffering and hardship. I want a free pass. Get out of jail free card. God let me skip the tough bit. I've been good... Jesus dealt to the ultimate consequence of my sin, but no where does he say this world won't hurt. Actually, the opposite. We can, in the famine, the dislocation, whatever we go through, choose to remain faithful...that is not the ti...

Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God... Philippians 4:6-7 amp This was the first verseoftheday on Nov 12, so this is an annual re-visit  I need an annual reminder of the antidote to worry & anxiety. Prayer. God wants to hear from us...& he wants to hear from us no matter what is going on. The suggestion though is to start with thanksgiving. Despite my circumstances what can I be thankful for? And He wants to know what's going on in our hearts, our deepest hurts...so talk to Him. And He whispers to us... "I love you" #dearlyloved #childrenofGod

Friday! Proverbs! All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23 It was Jesus toil, but more than that, it was his hurt and his pain that brought a profit, but not for him, but for us...his pain was all for us... Every where we look there are glimpses of the gospel, the good news. The gospel was not a proclamation of what was coming, but what had been done. Done for us. And when we're in a world of pain, it's to the gospel, the cross, God with us, dying for us...that's our place of hope. Not a place of just talk, but a place of toil, pain & hurt that gives us life... #thisisourGod #hope

Friday! Proverbs! All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23 This word for 'hard work' here has 3 words attached to it; pain hurt toil Clearly the translators have picked toil as their meaning 'cos it makes sense - work hard and you'll get something good, might be a profit, a good grade, or just the good feeling from working hard. But what if the author meant 'pain' or 'hurt'. All pain, all hurt, brings a profit. From our vantage point we have Paul who said "in all things God works for the good of those who love him", & Jesus who said "in this world you'll have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world" Pain & hurt as well as toil can bring us profit... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem... So he built an altar there to the Lord... From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent...There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord .  Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. Genesis 12:6-9 NIV We often hear life referred to as a journey. Abram was on a journey. Doesn't seem that he knew the destination, or that he was doing any great work for God along the way... But he did do two things as he journeyed: 1. He worshipped God 2. He prayed Maybe wherever we are on this journey we call life, if we regularly stop and worship (might be in church, and/or with other people, or on our own) and 6th pray. Maybe our journey would be a bit different if we did that a bit more along the way... #dontwaittilsunday #lifeisajourney #stoptoworship #pray

"...I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. Genesis 12:3-4 NIV Well OK if the Creator of the Universe stopped by and told me he was going to deal to anyone in my way, and that I was going to bless all the people on earth somehow, well I'd pack up and go too...fully confident... The thing is...he says "I love you, I love you enough to enter the story, enought to  die for you, enough to be making a place for you, enough to send my Spirit to you, enough to give hope, enough to give you confidence to know that God is on your side..." Abram's circumstances weren't great... 75yrs old & wandering around in the desert with his family with no idea where he was going or what the future held. Our hope is not found in our circumstances, but in who ...

"I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:2-3 NIV Who gets to say this to someone? Who has the right? Not me, and no one I know. But God can...and he did. Maybe though we could all bless someone else, pray for them, pray with them,  encourage someone. Be on someone's side, fight with them, fight for them...use what we've been blessed with to bless others... Who could do with hearing a word of blessing, or courage, or strength from you today? Who needs to know you're on their team? #onyourteam

The Lord had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you." Genesis 12:1 NIV Sounds OK. Google maps, YouTube, learn a bit of the language, book some flights & hey Mum & Dad, we'll facetime every day, you can talk to the grandkids whenever you want... Mmm Abram lived in a clan based, patriarchal culture, where land was wealth. He was asked to walk away from everything important, his future, put everything at risk. And they may have literally been walking... And where? God says I'll show you later. Do you trust me enough to just go? Go without a plan? Without a backup option? Just go. Where is He asking you and me to Go? To forgive someone To support someone To be His hands and feet in the place you live, or across town, across the country or the world? To serve in your family, church, community? If He is calling will we just Go? #faith

"My kingdom," said Jesus, "doesn't consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn't be handed over to the Jews. But I'm not that kind of king, not the world's kind of king." John 18:36 MSG Today we "celebrate" the actions of a man who wanted to violently overthrow the government for religious reasons, Guido Fawkes. Actually its his failure to carry out his plan we celebrate. But we worship today, one who did succeed in his plan, and it was the opposite...to submit to violence, to receive the worst that people could throw at him, because his kingdom is not like the world's, and neither is he like the powerful. He came to usher in a new kingdom, but a new kingdom based in love. Love God Love others And we celebrate this kingdom not with fireworks, but with bread, with wine, with a cross. #thisisourGod #upsidedownkingdom

Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness. Proverbs 14:22 NIV God's plan was good. The only way that his holiness wouldn't destroy us, that his justice wouldn't overwhelm us, was for someone else to make us holy, make us righteous... A good plan. Unless you were Jesus. One day we'll find out in some way what it cost him. Like a child who, when grown, realises just what sacrifices their parents made for them...or when you see the night sky without any city lights and just gaze at the beauty...weak analogies sorry... And what is Jesus reward? Its us. He did it for us. Relationship. Love & Faithfulness. #somethingtochewon

Friday! Proverbs! Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness. Proverbs 14:22 NIV The word translated evil here is "rá" which is used in a whole range of contexts in the Bible and seems to carry a range of meanings, but the first time is in Gen 6v5 where people were drifting further from God and doing their own thing. So when our own stuff, what we want is our priority rather than what God wants, we drift away from Him. And the word "good" here is repeated right through Genesis 1 when God looked on each step of creation and saw it was good. Good to look at, taste, touch...good for us to thrive and flourish...so when we do good for others, that's where we really find out about Love & Faithfulness. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost..." Isaiah 55:1 NIV God's invitation is wide open. All that He has to offer is freely available. Our currency has no purchasing power here. Success, wealth, power, fame, money, property, education, appearance... living a "good" life, being a "good" person... these things cannot buy the living water...the goodness that God has on offer. As Isaiah has shown in the last few chapters, the price has been paid by the only one who could pay it, with a currency we could never earn - Jesus perfect life. How good is that! #theinvitation #itsfree

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 NIV Always a bit tricky to take a verse from the middle of a chaoter...but this statement of God's reinforces, restates, reframes, his heart for us. Nothing can shake his love for his people. And the covenant of peace? No longer and never again will we be enemies of God, because Jesus made the way for us, his sacrifice, he is the covenant that makes us right. So we can rest in that. No matter what the pressure or challenges you're facing, no matter how uncertain the future looks, you're secure in His love. His heart is for us. For you. #rest #secure #dearlyloved