verseoftheday

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray... Matthew 19:13 ESV The word in Greek used here for "pray" is "proseuxomai". Are you ready for this? It's made up of two words; pros, which means towards, to exchange And euxomai, to wish, pray. It literally means to exchange wishes. With Jesus. I wonder what wish Jesus would want to exchange with me today? What about you? #thewishexchange #pray

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray... Matthew 19:13 ESV Clearly this was not something unusual going on here, but was Jesus' regular practice. To touch people. And to pray. Sometimes the people we pray for are a long way away, and it's a bit tricky to reach out a hand, but when we're with people maybe this should be our regular practice too... Reach out a hand - and pray :) Touch is important for our  thriving and sometimes, some people are starved of it. Touch is something you give that costs you nothing :) And pray. I like to pray for me, my stuff, but Jesus' practice was to pray for others...may that be our practice too :) #lovepeople #pray

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray... Matthew 19:13 ESV This little story doesn't talk about the faith or otherwise of the parents or those bringing the kids...but at the very least they must've recognised something good was going on with this Jesus guy...and they wanted their kids blessed by Him... It does tell us about the universal desire to make things better for the next generation(s) ... there's this underlying gnawing in everyone that there's more to this life...that something must live on, and even if we can't see it, can't quite grasp it, maybe the next gen can...maybe this hope in the Divine, in Purpose, in Eternity is what was in those first century parents mind...and the answer was right there in front of them... #jesusatthecentre

Jesus replied, "Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended..." Matthew 19:8 NLT Last week as I mowed the lawn there was some growth from the rain, but the ground was hard. Rock hard. It's still the ground, but almost impossible to plant or grow anything new in it. The Greek word used here for hard hearts is sklerokardia kardia is heart sklero is hard from lack of moisture The people's hearts got hard from a lack of moisture...the Bible talks about annointing with oil...God's Spirit is associated with this...Jesus talks about being "living water". This is what is needed to soften our hard hearts...the oil of God's Spirit, the living water that is Jesus...then, just like the ground, we become more fertile, more pliable, more useful for new growth...we won't need God's concessions, but will live more and more as He intended... #wordsofJesus #softheart #newgrowth ...

Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: "Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?" "Haven't you read the Scriptures?" Jesus replied... Matthew 19:3-4 NLT When I'm faced with a tricky question the first thing I do is wonder if I have an answer from my experience, something I've seen work. Jesus is faced with a tricky question, a moral question. What does he do? Goes back to the Bible. Not only does he seem to have quite a good knowledge of the Bible :), he challenges those questioning him...haven't you read the scriptures? We face moral, ethical dilemmas and questions all the time...how well do we know what God says about the things we wrestle with? Have I read God's Word for myself on this? #wordsofJesus #somethingtochewon

Friday! Proverbs! Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. Proverbs 14:34 NLT How do we "make America great"? How do we really become "Godzone"? What does God call us to as communities of people? How we look after the poor, the vulnerable, those on the margins, the orphan and widow...He's interested in justice... He's about serving, not getting, giving not accumulating, blessing, honouring, growing, thriving... Maybe we've only got a small amount of influence on the world around us, but our choices make a difference...how we choose to live, work, love... The world is, and can be, a better place because we're in it... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #inthistogether

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. Titus 3:4-5 NIV mercy noun compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. God's holiness, his purity, could not live with our unholiness, our impurity. But mercy triumphs over judgement. Mercy is not a feeling or a value, but an action. Action that took Jesus to the cross for us. For me. Occasionally we get a glimpse of that mercy where someone is wronged, harmed in some way, and they forgive. Jesus did more than that. He not only forgave, but took our punishment as well! It would be like going to jail in place of the person who stole your car... Mercy. Mercy triumphs. Love wins #dearlyloved #saved #free

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy... Titus 3:4-5 NIV I like to think that my goodness saves me...but if it did, I'd never be able to be sure how good is good enough, and what would happen if I slip up and do something wrong, say something...think something... How would I be sure I was good enough? So good that it's not us. Not what we do, have done, will do that saves us, but what Jesus did. He lived the life we couldn't live, and died in our place. It's His Righteousness, His Goodness that saves. And so we're free! Free to live! Free to live in the light of the salvation that's been won for us! #dearlyloved #saved #free

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy... Titus 3:4-5 NIV When God's love and kindness appeared, in person, he saved us! It's done. We certainly don't have to save ourselves (no matter how much we'd like to, or our culture tells us we should...) No. Jesus has done it for us. And it's all about Love. All of us have something, someone, that we'd give up everything for, sacrifice, do whatever it takes...the object of our love. We're the object of God's love. You and me. And the saving has already been done. How good is that? :) #thisisourGod #kindness #dearlyloved #saved

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy... Titus 3:4-5 NIV Kindness and love appeared. Appeared? They appeared in the person of Jesus. Kindness and love are not ideas or nice words, they are who and what God is, and they appeared, were made visible in the person of Jesus. We want to in know what kindness is? What love is? Look at Jesus. #thisisourGod #kindness #lovepeople

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy... Titus 3:4-5 NIV Kindness appeared. This word for "kindness" here carries the meaning of useful kindness, kindness that meets a real need. Jesus came in kindness that met what we really needed. Kindness that took Him to the cross. Kindness that bore the weight of my sin. Kindness that was prepared to do whatever it took to save me. Kindness with scarred hands and scarred feet. And in some way in resoinse to that, He wants us to be Kind. To live a life of Kindness that meets real need. #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #kindness #bekind #lovepeople

Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known. Proverbs 14:33 NIV What happens when we look for Jesus in this proverb? It can only be that He is the discerning, that in Him wisdom reposes, in Him wisdom rests...rests after his work is complete. After It Is Finished. And where does that leave us? Among the fools :) But even among the fools wisdom lets herself be known...we get glimpses, bits along the way, of who God really is...snippets of His Wisdom One day all will be revealed and we'll see the fullness of who God is... #amongthefools #wisdom #glimpses #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Friday! Proverbs! Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known. Proverbs 14:33 NIV Wisdom reposes...that seems an odd word...but seems to mean to find it's home, to settle in, to rest after working...so Wisdom finds its place, its rest in our hearts only after work. Wisdom doesn't just arrive in our lives, we aren't born with it, but it rests in our hearts after life's experiences, the struggles, joys, wins, losses, grief and celebrations. But we've still got to be discerning. Have our eyes open, our ears open, our hearts open for wisdom to find it's place... And the twist at the end? Even the fool gets a taste, a sample of wisdom's goodness... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down... Mark 6:51-52 NIV Max Lucado wrote a book called "You'll get through this". "Youll get through this. It won't be painless. It won't be quick. But God will use this mess for good. In the meantime don't be foolish or naive. But don't despair either. With Gods help you'll get through this." When we're in the storm it can seem like it will never end. It can feel overwhelming. Jesus climbed into the boat with humanity, to bring peace. One day we'll all know that, no matter what storms we've had to row through... #storms #stormsoflife #dontdespair #onedayallwillbemadenew

He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them... Mark 6:48 NIV In this storm the disciples were stuck on the boat together, but they did seem to stick together, rowed all night... When we're in the storm,  lean in to your community. You may discover resources & people that you didn't expect... And if someone you or I know is in the storm, maybe we should jump in the boat with them...it's too easy to think they've got family or friends around them, or someone else will row all night with them...but maybe they won't. I'm quite good at the half hour row, but in for the long haul? Row all night? God's love for us doesn't wane. He's with us when we trip, slip back, even push Him away. I need to love like that. #storms #stormsoflife #leanin #stickwithyourmates #love

Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Mark 6:50 NIV Don't be afraid. The word here is "phobeos". The things that debilitate us with fear. The thing that stops us in our tracks. Our phobia. My phobia. It might not bother you, but it scares me...stops me. Jesus says I can see you, I'm with you, have courage. I Am is with you, for you. So don't be afraid. Don't be bound up, held back, stopped in your tracks, I Am is on your team. #thingstorememberinthestorm #wordsofJesus #IAm #takecourage #nofear

Immediately he spoke to them and said, 'Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid." Mark 6:50 NIV It is I ego eimi I Am. In the storm, in the darkest part of the night, when the disciples are at their limit Jesus says "I Am" is here. The eternal I Am is here. The creator I Am is here. The covenant making, covenant keeping I Am is here. In the storm Jesus wants us to know Who He Is. When we know who he is, we take courage, and there is no need to be afraid... #storms #stormsoflife #IAm #takecourage #nofear

...Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Mark 6:48-50 NIV The disciples had been alongside Jesus, seen the miracles, but still didn't get who he really was... Jesus response? He says 3 things in the storm... The first is "Take courage" The word here is "tharseo" which is about bolstering something from within, being warmed up from within, to be warm hearted... In the storm Jesus says it's not the turmoil, the drama, the pressure, the circumstances on the outside, but be warmed from within, be strengthened from within. I know about the storm. I can see you. I'm with you. Take courage #storms #stormsoflife #with #takecourage #wordsofJesus

He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake... Mark 6:48-49 NIV In the storm In the dark Been rowing all night Jesus went out to them...just before dawn when the night seems darkest, Jesus went out to them. I want to see Jesus walking on the water at the beginning. I don't want to struggle through the night, fight the waves, row for my life...but that seems to be the disciples experience... Jesus comes and finds them because he knows where they are, can see them despite the circumstances, and turns up in an unexpected way... When we're in the storm, know that Jesus sees us, can find us, and just may turn up in an unexpected way... #storms #stormsoflife #unexepected

Friday! Proverbs! The wicked is overthrown through his wrongdoing, But the righteous has hope and confidence and a refuge [with God] even in death. Proverbs 14:32 AMP Well that's a heavyweight proverb...but one that reminds us of the hope that we have, even when we face death. Refuge Confidence Hope If we were relying on our own righteousness, our own goodness, I'm not sure we could have real confidence...we're the "wicked" referred to in the first part of the proverb, but it's through Jesus righteousness, through the life he lived, the death he died for us, that we can have Refuge, Confidence & Hope...no matter what we face today. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

...He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them... Mark 6:47-48 NIV How do we get stronger? Smarter? Get qualified at something? Achieve almost anything worthwhile? We go to the gym, go to school, study, read, learn, strive, even choose the difficult over the easy because it's got a longer term benefit...but for some reason we don't seem to want or expect that in our Christian walk, we don't want to strenghten our spiritual muscles, or test ourselves in the hard places, invest in difficult people or situations...but that's where our faith is strengthened...in the testing. The disciples were in the storm, in the dark, rowing all night... when we're in the storm, in the dark, rowing all night, maybe that's when we get to strengthen our spiritual muscles, to test our faith, to find out a bit more about ourselves... #storms #stormsoflife #Godsgym

Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them... Mark 6:47-48 NIV The disciples...for all their failings and shortcomings, when they were in the storm, in the dark, they kept heading in the direction that Jesus sent them... My first call on God when under real pressure, testing, struggle, is for Him to fix it, to calm the storm, to get me out, to make it all better... James 1v3 says that perserveance leads to maturity... I want that too...so...the way to maturity is via testing, struggles, things that require perserveance... so...maybe as James says (Ch 1v2) that I should welcome testing?? #storms #stormsoflife #stormsarewelcome #youcantbeserious

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida... Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them... Mark 6:44-48 NIV The disciples had done exactly what Jesus had asked, and yet, now they were in the dark, in the storm... We can be in the middle of God's will for us, following his call, and still be in the storm. In this instance Jesus sent them out knowing they'd be in the storm... The storms of life are going to come, whether we venture out into areas where storms are expected,  or whether we try our best to avoid them, insulate ourselves from them, the storms of life will hit us... But as in this account, when we're in the storm, there's hope...who could see them miles out from shore, in the dark, in the storm? #storms #stormsoflife #Jesusseesus

...The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida... Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them... Mark 6:44-48 NIV The storm. The storms of life can hit us anytime, and in this case the disciples had just been part of a miraculous movement of God, where they'd fed 5000+ people with 5 loaves and 2 fish...and the next thing that happens (immediately Mark tells us) is they are in the dark, struggling in the storm. The storms of life can assail us anytime, so we shouldn't be surprised. #storms #stormsoflife

Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. Proverbs 14:31 NIV What happens when we plug Jesus into this proverb? The only place we can be is that we're the poor. We're in need. There are no levels, no differences between people, we're all in the same position, all in need. And Jesus, doing the will of the Father, honouring Him, is kind to us. So kind that he loves us. And that Love that took him to the cross. #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #thisisLove #inthistogether #dearlyloved

Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. Proverbs 14:31 NIV The not-to-do is oppress the poor. I don't do that. Do I? Do I give so much that it affects my lifestyle? Or just enough to make me feel OK? How do I treat those who work for me or are on lower pay? How do I see those in our society who are struggling financially more than me? It's so easy to blame them It's so easy to look "up" with envy and never look "down" with care. How much do I think about my purchasing decisions and where things come from... could I make some changes that would help others? Jesus, the one we follow, gave up the glories of heaven to come and join us, the poor, to be born in poverty, who's early life was as a refugee...this proverb asks us to think about how well we're following Him...about who the poor are in our orbit #loveGod #lovepeople #somethingtochewon

Friday! Proverbs! Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. Proverbs 14:31 NIV This proverb shouts at us the importance God places on how we see other people...I do want to honour God, & I don't want to show contempt towards Him. There's a to-do, and a not-to-do here. The to-do is to be kind. This word carries the meaning of showing favour, being merciful, being gracious, to yearn towards, to be inclined towards... To Be Kind not because I have to, not to make me feel good, but because it's right, and it honours God. Lord, help me to see people as you do, open my heart, make it bigger, help me to Be Kind, because that's your heart, and that brings honour to You. Amen. #loveGod #lovepeople #bekind

...But he said to them, Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them... "Put your finger here, see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." John 20:25-28 NIV Thomas got a new beginning in an unforgettable way...and Jesus words to Tom echo down the centuries to us...will we allow them to shape our year, our choices... Stop doubting. And believe. Believe that I am who I said I am, The Way, The Truth, The Life. Believe. Start again from today... #newbeginnings #wordsofJesus #livinghope #believe

He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." John 20:15-16 NIV She came looking for a body, but had an encounter with the living Jesus. Isn't that the way sometimes, we go to church, open our Bible, pray, with no expectation of meeting the living Jesus... But suddenly here he was - alive! Not just alive but personal. "Mary". She'd known Jesus, had seen at least from a distance his trial, his crucifixion and death, but here was a new beginning. #newbeginnings #wordsofJesus #heknowsyourname #livinghope

Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." John 21:16 NIV Our NY resolutions, new year, new me, etc is focussed on us. Me. While these are usually good things to do anyway, in this passage Simon Peter here is given a fresh start, a new beginning, but it's all about others. Jesus commissions him to take care of others... This new year, who is God placing in our hearts to reach out to, to invest in, to support, to encourage...to take care of? #newbeginnings #wordsofJesus #somethingtochewon #lovepeople

Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir",she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." John 8:10-11 NIV New Year's Day and we are often about new beginnings. We want to do things differently. This beautiful account is Jesus at the same time fulfilling the law, and showing grace. The word translated "sin" here is "hamartanoo" which is a term used by archers when their shot had not hit the target, they'd missed the mark... We miss the mark. And at NY we sometimes resolve to change that, but in this account it starts with Jesus, and no condemnation...but acceptance, grace...love. And then an opportunity to start again, to hit the mark. So start with Jesus. #dearlyloved #newbeginnings #graceandtruth #wordsofJesus #startwithJesus