verseoftheday

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. Proverbs 17:3 NIV Can we see Jesus in this proverb? He entered the crucible for us. He entered the furnace on our behalf. In the garden, on the cross, in the grave, his heart was tested in ways we can only guess at. He was melted down. Burned up For us. Our only response is to believe, to accept his grace, and to reflect his love in this broken world. And to worship #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #thatiswhatlovelookslike #dearlyloved #lovedaylightsavingtime

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. Proverbs 17:3 NIV Why not something more ordinary, like boiling water? Why use silver and gold? Why not brass or something ? Because the writer is making a comparison with your heart - and these were the most valuable things that were in front of him. Silver & gold. What is your heart? The essence of who you are... spirit, soul, mind... Our thinking, feeling, believing, the sum of our experiences, our dreams, our hopes...our loves ... who we are. Who I am Who you are When you are has immense value. You don't think so? That value took the Son of God to the cross. #thatiswhatlovelookslike #dearlyloved #valued

Friday! Proverbs! The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. Proverbs 17:3 NIV A crucible is a container where metals (in this case silver) are subjected to very high temperatures. A furnace is a place of extreme heat. But what's the purpose of the heat applied to those metals? To melt them, so that they can be reshaped, reformed, made into something else. Something useful Something beautiful Crafted Invested in Sometimes it seems that God puts the heat on us. Tests our heart. (I don't think this is saying that every bad thing that happens to us is a test from God. Testing of the heart could just as easily be with good things) The Bible that the writer of proverbs read features God who is jealous for his people, and jealous for their love. That they would choose Him above the idols competing for their affection. What's competing for my affection? What's competing for yours? Often they're good things. Kind of pu...

(the gifts you sent) They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:18-20 NIV Paul is winding up his letter to the church with thanks. Is it a bit over the top? I got an email the other day and the closing line was "May God bless your work tenfold". Over the top? These are encouragers, heart warmers, connecting the person, their actions and point us back to God. Their point is to leave us warmed. Encouraged Strengthened. When people get a communication from me are they warmed? When people leave my place are they encouraged? "A blessing does something. It's the leading edge of love." Your words matter. They bring light in the darkness, replace the cold with warmth #speaklife #beanencourager #blessings #yourwordsmatter #lovepeople

Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. Philippians 4:15-17 NIV I wonder what the back story is here...Paul working hard out for the church's and these guys were the only appreciative ones. I wonder how long it took to send a gift and get feedback? Weeks? Lessons for me? When I'm prompted to give I should give. There's something that goes on in the kingdom when we give. Paul's desire is that more is credited to their account - is that a reimbursement of what they've given? Or is it something deeper? Be like the Philippians. Give generously. Time, talent, money, resources, words, actions, let your life speak of God's g...

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Philippians 4:13-14 NIV Even though Paul had this contentment thing sorted, he was not alone. Others shared in his trouble. The next few verses show the church has sent him financial support and they sent people. They helped with his practical needs. And they sent people to walk with him in his trouble. Isn't that the same for us today in our times of "trouble", what we need: 1. Eyes on Jesus I can lose sight of God in my trouble and need you to hope for me, to lead me back 2. Practical help I might need help with a task, money. Food. A visit. 3. People to walk with me We aren't designed to do this life alone. Lean into others. It's OK. It's OK to ask :) We may be on the receiving end like Paul, or the giving end like the Philippians, or maybe  both at the same time. #community #lovepeople

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. .... I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11, 13 NIV Let's not rush past this contentment thing...Paul uses food as his example...he must've known what it was like to have no food, perhaps in prison, when shipwrecked? In our modern culture going hungry is something we generally have to manufacture - a fast, or the 40hr famine. What are the circumstances then that make us not content? Failure. Not feeling we measure up to others expectations. Being left out. Ignored. When others are doing "better" Fear of the future There's something that pushes our discontent button. Paul's solution is the same. Get your eyes back on Jesus, who he is, what he did, give our stuff to him, look to him for strength, live out kingdom values, live in the hope he gives...and contentment will come. #thesecret #jesusatthecentre

...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13 NIV I have often read v13 in isolation - I can do all things... - but the NIV links this to the verses above, about the secret of being content. That secret is Christ. Who strengthens me. He is the secret that is the source of contentment regardless of today's circumstances. God in flesh The Word Forgiving Restoring Healing On the cross In my place, taking what should be mine. And now advocating for me. On my team That love is what brings contentment regardless of my circumstances. That love. That person. #sunday #worship #thisisourGod

A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. Proverbs 17:2 ESV Can we see Jesus in this proverb? He's certainly not the son who acts shamefully. He's the son who gave up his position as first born son, gave up his rights, his power, his honour, to become the servant. The wise servant. The unruly son. If left to my own choices I would've ruined everything the father had made. We are the  unruly sons (& daughters) who squander and waste the fathers inheritance. His creation. And we're saved by the servant. Saved by his choice. His wisdom His love So that we get to share in the inheritance of the Father. Too much of a stretch? It does make you think about our position now as sons and daughters of the King... #dearlyloved #nothingcanseperateusfromthatlove #childofGod

Friday! Proverbs! A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. Proverbs 17:2 ESV In a culture where sons were everything, especially the first born son, this must've been a shocking thing to read. The servant will be in charge. Elevated over the son. And why? Because of his character. This was written about 3,000 years ago yet speaks to our culture today, where those with privilege, wealth & power "act shamefully". In God's economy it's all about character. Who you are, and who you're becoming. It was like that 3,000 years ago and is the same today. What does my character say, and how is that evidenced in the way I live? #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you. Philippians 4:9 AMP Paul is writing as a pastor, perhaps towards the end of his life...the scary thing with this verse is that we all have people who we have some influence over, who look to us for something (esp if you're a parent!) & can we say what Paul said? Does my life speak life? Paul was in prison. He had some kind of disability that affected his everyday life He'd been shipwrecked, arrested, beaten. I don't think it's that stuff he wants us to replicate. For Paul it always comes back to the cross.. To Jesus. Paul says: I strive to follow Jesus I strive to be more like him. To make him known In what I say And how I live And that how I live is the same as what I say. In the big things & the everyday #speaklife

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NLT This "catch all" phrase: - excellent - worthy of praise It's like a plea. There's so much that is mediocre, so much in this world that is just awful, but if we fix our thinking on what is truly good, the things that are worthy of praise we'll start to see the world, our circumstances, and our selves, differently. What will you see? The genius of God's creation. The wonder and beauty of people. The glory of who God is. The outrageous gift that grace is What will you see? When you focus on what is excellent. On what is praise worthy. Paul tells me where to fix my thoughts. I just need to follow his instruction, to keep choosing to, until it becomes me. #fixyourthoughts #choose

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable...think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV Whatever is admirable - this is literally a "good report", what we hear about others, what good things others are doing for God's kingdom, what good reports from the lives of others...the problem we have that Paul didn't is Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook etc. We are bombarded with reports of the lives of others...but they're almost always the gloss, the highlight reel...never the whole truth, and sometimes none of the truth Here's my report from yesterday: I was able to give a little help & encouragement to a small new work of God I was able to face and talk about a small fear that I have I felt like I let someone dear to me down My report is a mixed one, but Paul encourages us to fix our thoughts on the good reports - because in them is hope. #hopeiscomingf...

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely...think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV Lovely Are cats your thing? Or the cute things kids do? Or a dropped goal to win a test match. That would've been lovely... This word lovely here is "prosphilies" Pro "extending to" Phileo "affectionate, caring" What is worthy of our personal affection. What we prize. What is it that you prize? What do I prize? Now if I put that thing I prize back into the verse, does it fit? If not, maybe I'm prizing the wrong things... The people God has put in my life. I prize them. And yes they're "worthy of my personal affection". Absolutely. And this morning as I think of those people, fix my thoughts on them, I bring them to the throne of Grace... #thinkonthese #lovely

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure...think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV 100% Pure NZ We know it's not true, and when we search for that Pure thing we find it's not. It's always tainted with something. Except God. He is 100% Pure Holy. And He lived that out, represented that Pure, that Holy, in the world in the person of Jesus. He lived the life we can't. And then, the Cross. Where all that is not Pure, all that is not Holy, came crashing down on and in Jesus. The only reason why is Love. His love for us. One day we will see those scars and know what he went through, what he suffered, for us. In the meantime, think on, fix your mind on, what is Pure. There's only One. #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #pure

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. Proverbs 17:1 NIV The "house full of feasting" seems like a place of plenty, of surplus, of wealth. A place where the fridge is always full of food. A place where there is a fridge. Compared to the place where there's only bread - and even that isn't fresh. Better this place with peace, than the place of surplus with strife. Is the subtle message here that in the striving for the surplus, the place of plenty, in that striving we lose our peace? We lose what's really important? It's not about having plenty or not, but the life we live. A life full of strife, or one of peace. #choose #better #peace #peacemakers #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Friday! Proverbs! Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. Proverbs 17:1 NIV What's your favourite feast? We all have one...and I wonder if my favourite is more about the memory of the feeling it evokes rather than the food itself? But this proverb is not about the food, but about the heart. Our favourite food, the feast, is no good to anyone if there's strife, unresolved conflict, hurt, enmity. These are issues of the heart. The joy of the feast goes when we are not at peace with one another. We are called to do whatever we can to be peacemakers. It's not always possible, but we're called to try To choose "Better" #choose #better #peace #peacemakers #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right...think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV Whatever is right. Paul's letter to the church is full of encouragement and hope. Why is that? Because we need it. We stuff up, make mistakes, get stuck in sin. All of us. And the key thing Paul calls us to use here is our mind. What we think about, what we fix our minds on. It's not about what pops into our mind but what we encourage to stay there. To dwell on. Today it's what is "right". This is about what is just. Fair. Impartial. My natural bias is to what I think is fair for me! Hardly impartial. So this forces me to try & think from the only just/right perspective. God's. Hard to do, but He has revealed himself in his word, in the person of Jesus so we have some clues. Will I try to think like Jesus? #thinkonthese #truth #honour #right #jesusatthecentre

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble...think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV The NLT version says "Fix your thoughts on..." We get to choose what we fix our thinking on, and this is a great list... Whatever is true. Whatever is noble. Noble is not a word we hear a lot of. It is honourable, it's things that carry weight. So much of our media and entertainment is lightweight, & is not honourable to the people involved, we laugh at people's fails, their embarrassments, and call it entertaining. Paul says to fix our thoughts on what is noble, what gives people honour and dignity as they are image bearers of our God. We get to choose where to fix our thoughts. Choose well today :) #finally #thinkonthis #truth #honour #thesource #jesusatthecentre

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true...think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV Whatever is true. How easy it is for us to believe the not true, the part true, the lies. They're attractive. They seem good sometimes They seem like they have answers for us. They seem easier than the truth. Jesus said "I am the Truth". He is the representation of the Father. And his word is truth On those things we can rely. The Truth. What I feel, what my culture tells me, whatever or whoever prompts our values, choices, and actions, they may contain truth, but The Truth, our measure, our start place, our refuge, is the person of Jesus. He is Truth His word is true. Paul final exhortation, his desire for us, call to us is to think on the truth, meditate on it, get it into us. #finally #thinkonthis #truth #thesource #jesusatthecentre

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 NIV OK time to do some work... take a phrase, a verse, or this whole passage and personalise it for you, rewrite it as God speaking to you today. And/or write it into a prayer. Here's mine today: Lord guard my mind today. Guard it from thoughts that derail me from seeing you, the last word, the Living God. Help me to remember that You are near. Thank you that you hear my prayers. Amen. There are rich veins of truth in this passage for each of us. Dig yours out today :) #truth #thewordgiveslife

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 NIV We guard things that are important, of value, things that we treasure. What's so important here that the supernatural, beyond understanding, peace of God is treasuring? Your heart. Your very being. The inner part of you that makes you you. That unique spirit, soul, body, mind that makes you you. That's God's treasure. And the other thing is your mind, your thinking. So easy for our mind to be taken captive by our own sin, by the thinking of this world. God says your thinking is important and I want to protect it. Guard it. He's interested in us. The very core of us. That's who He loves. That's why He came. #dearlyloved #childrenofGod #sunday #worship #thisisourGod

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 NIV I always read this verse to be pray with thanksgiving to mean to pray believing that God has answered how I want him to answer. But when I checked that word for thanksgiving this morning it's this: "eucharistia" Yes it means thankfulness, thanksgiving, but it means "gratitude; actively, grateful language (to God, as an act of worship)" Again & again these v4-7 take us away from what we're praying for, and focus is on who we're praying to: Rejoice in the Lord The Lord is near The last word is God And eucharista-thanks as an act of worship. Kind of changes the way I pray...that petition from my place of deep need, but focussed on who I'm praying to...somehow my petition becomes part of worship :) #loveGod #pray #petition #itsaheartthing #worship

Friday! Proverbs! The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord . Proverbs 16:33 ESV I don't know if Solomon threw this in as a brain teaser to close off the chapter or what... We get to roll the dice, but God  already knows the numbers that will come up! The only way this works is that we have free choice, and, at the same time, God knows the outcome. I don't know how that works, but it seems that it's true. We have free will. Yet God is sovereign. When life seems unfair, we can be assured that God is in control, that His purposes will be worked out, that we're not alone in this, we're part of His Big Story...and that means you're dearly loved. His Big Story is a Love story. According to Solomon here,  next time you roll a dice, He knows the number! #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #GodsBigStory #itsalovestory #dearlyloved

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 NIV We love a good formula. Could probably write a book on this one, complete with notebooks with tabs for each part...Paul's 4 step plan to peace with God...or something like that. But there's other formula's in other places so that indicates that these are useful guides for us to use to move us closer to God's heart. So feel free to write the book :) For now, think about this word "petition". A petition takes effort, passion, committment to write it up and get others on board. It's not something we do lightly or on the spur of the moment. A petition is for something that has really stirred our heart. We can't let it go It's driven from something deep within. A need for justice, change, deliverance. A place of deep need. That's what the "last word", the living God, wants to hear f...

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 NIV Sometimes people write things and it has no credibility. If you only knew my story would you really say that? Paul has a history. Personally responsible for inflicting suffering on others. Then there's the shipwrecks, the beatings, the imprisonment, and whatever the "thorn" was that caused him suffering. And he was currently writing from jail, and responsible for churches all over the place. So he had plenty of reason to be anxious. It's the last word of this verse that is most important. Who we're praying to. Who is with us. Not something created. The Living God who made it all. Let's start there with the last word. And Paul's history, present concerns, anxiety about the future, are seen in a different light...and so are yours, and so are mine. #loveGod

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 NIV Funny thing, I always thought this passage included getting what you want, what you ask for. Rejoice Live it out in the world Remember God is near Don't be anxious. Pray instead. And you'll get...peace. A supernatural peace. The other thing I think I expect is immediacy. Give me that peace right now. Instead Rejoice Live it out in the world Remember God is near Don't be anxious. Pray instead. Rinse and repeat. The only players here are God and me. My circumstances aren't mentioned, so they may not change, God doesn't change (although we can learn more about Him) so that ...

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but... Philippians 4:4-6 NIV Maybe you know V6 well, as it's so easy to jump straight there when things aren't good, when we're worried, anxious, under pressure. My encouragement is start with v4 Rejoice. In God. Remind ourselves who he is, what he did. Live out the grace we find there in the world. That's an others focus. Then know that God is with you. Look up. Look out. Look at who's with you. Then let's look at what's going on in our lives...maybe, just maybe, that will change the way we see V6 and the hope it holds :) May today, this week, you know the One who is with you, may we acknowledge his grace, his love, may we live that out in the world around us. Amen. #loveGod #lovepeople

The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5 NIV Not sure if this reminder is connected to the next verses about not being anxious, or the previous ones about rejoicing and being gentle (how we live) or whether it stands alone...maybe all three. The Lord is near. It's a reminder when I don't feel Him close. The Lord is near. When it's hard to believe, the Lord is near. When I feel alone. The Lord is near. When life hurts. The Lord is near When I need guidance The Lord is near When I can't hear Him The Lord is near When all is well The Lord is near When I seek Him in solitude The Lord is near When I go about my every day stuff of life The Lord is near When we gather to worship The Lord is near #sunday #worship #thisisourGod

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32 ESV Can we see Jesus in this proverb? Take a minute and read it again...what do you think? Jesus didn't come in might, in power in authority. He was born in the lowliest of places to a single mum. He didn't own a house that we know of, and his last trip to town was on borrowed transport He didn't have any "success" in the context of the culture and time in which he lived. In his humanity he wrestled with the enormity of what was in front of him, but kept to his mission and calling. And (just like his Father) he did get angry, but it was slow, not the quick anger I have because someone has annoyed or offended me, but the slow anger against sin, injustice, indifference and selfishness. And that took him to the cross. For me. Yes I see Jesus here. He left the "city", gave up the "might". For me He chose better And...