verseoftheday

I love the Lord, because He hears my voice and my supplications. Psalms 116:1 NASB Yahweh. God. From outside time and space. Who is. Who created all that we see and live in with the power of His word. He hears your voice. I was visiting family a week or so ago and there was lots of talking and noise, and in all the noise I said something to my cousin,  and my Aunty who is 93 and effectively blind now,  heard my voice and knew my name. Our God hears your voice. He knows your name. It may not seem that He does, and He may not do what we want when we want it, but we're not Him. We're part of the result of his Words. (I have no idea how that works) And We're important to Him Yahweh While He is from before, from outside, He entered in, bent down, made Himself small...and knows your name. And hears your voice. #known #important #loved #thisisourGod #psalms #psalm116

Friday! Proverbs! Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. Proverbs 19:1 ESV What a strange comparison. A poor person in our culture is never "better". Solomon is clear though that being poor with integrity is better. Integrity here carries these meanings: "full, integrity, perfection, simplicity, uprightly at a venture" To walk with integrity, even if it means to be poor (even if it costs), is more important than the opposite: to speak lies, to manipulate others for your own gain. Interesting that when we say we are followers of Jesus, we are following someone who apparently had no earthly assets. And walked in complete integrity. Maybe Solomon was realising that some of the people who claimed to be his friends were really just after his stuff, that people weren't straight up with him because if his wealth and power. Or maybe, he was looking forward to Jesus. The one who walked in perfect...

The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. Mark 6:26 NIV The King's wife hated John the Baptist. Her daughter danced at a party and I guess in a had-too-much-to-drink moment made a rash promise. He could've just said "don't be stupid, here's a pony, or ice cream, or some earrings". But his pride got in the way. Herod couldn't admit he made a mistake. He couldn't allow his guests to think for a moment he was weak or wrong or made a dumb call. Pride. Really, what was the worst thing that would've happened if he'd said no? Where does my pride get in the way? What I wear How I look What I drive Have I got the right phone, profile pic, etc etc Who are the "guests" that I'm trying to impress? Where does my pride get in the way? There's places and times that I'm just like Herod, and nothing like Jesus. Lord, help me to walk in Jesus steps, not ...

...Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him. Mark6:20 NIV In the middle of the story of Herod, his wife, and the eventual murder of John the Baptist is this glimpse into Herod's mind. Herod had all the power. Yet he respected John because it was clear that his words and his life and actions matched. He lived with integrity And he spoke the truth. Truth that intrigued and puzzled Herod. Herod was well on the way to faith in Jesus. For John, speaking the truth was more important than being in Herod's good books, being close to the powerful, saying what Herod wanted to hear. And for John, the consequences were fatal in the end. For John, his faith in Jesus, his calling to represent him, was worth living for in every context of his life And, Jesus was worth dying for. May my life and faith be more like John the Baptist today. #gospelofmark #faith

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8 ESV Draw near to God. And He will show you where you fall short of the mark. As we draw nearer to God, our sin becomes clearer to us. Remember that James is writing to Christians, people who need to keep cleansing areas of our lives, not to gain salvation, but because of it. And as we draw near to God we start to see more clearly where we are double-minded. Wavering. Where our faith needs shoring up. Where our thinking is faulty. The action here is to purify. To remove impurities. To live by, and live out Kingdom values. These things are processes that take time, and begin with drawing near to God. So let's start, restart, there, knowing that we are dearly loved children, that nothing can separate us from His love, start there as we draw near... #james #Godsgym #drawnear #childofGod #dearlyloved

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8 ESV Monday! Time to hit the gym! Three things that we might "be" in this verse: -Far from God -Sinning (literally falling short of the mark) - double minded (jumping between the things of the world and the things of God) And three steps to take: - draw near to God. Without this the other things become just surface activity. Jesus took time alone with the Father. When do I do that? Take regular quiet time to talk to God. To meditate on His word, to let His truth sink in and rest in my soul. To listen. To wait. To draw near. Yes sometimes that happens in church when we're together, but if we're feeling far away from God, James says "draw near", get close. I'm going to work on that today, find some space to draw near. #james #Godsgym #drawnear #childofGod #dearlyloved

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light Ephesians 5:8-9 NIV It doesn't say that we lived in darkness, but were darkness. But no longer. Something fundamental has shifted and we are now light. Not due to ourselves, but to Jesus. Changed. And then Paul calls us to live as children of light. We are light And now live as children of light It's like we've changed family. No longer Now How do we change our family? By being adopted. How do we get to be adopted? We're chosen. Why are we chosen? Why was I chosen? Because I am loved. So, now that I'm in the family of light, live like it! Believe it. Rest in it. Take comfort, courage and hope in that. Secure Safe Nothing can separate you from God's love. No thing. #nolonger #childrenoflight #dearlyloved

And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household." ...And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. Mark 6:4,6 ESV Ever looked at the night sky and been amazed? Just mavelled at it? Jesus didn't marvel at much, but here he did. Here he was amazed at the unbelief of his own people. His own family Did he stay and try and convince them that he was who he said he was? This same Jesus who came to seek and save the lost decided that the best thing to do was move on. That must've been some unbelief! 1. May Jesus never marvel at my level of unbelief. And 2. Jesus had a mission and was not going to achieve that if he got stuck in Nazareth. Sometimes you just have to move on. #gospelofmark #wordsofJesus #nazarethisnotmyhome

Friday! Proverbs! A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 ESV End of another chapter in Proverbs! Thanks for hanging in there :) I think this Solomon was looking forward to our FB, Instagram age where  "friends" are plentiful, but real relationships are getting rarer. Where we can seem all good on the outside, the face we show the world, but if we don't enter in to those small number of close friendships, then we can be in trouble. Where we can look popular and successful, but are actually lonely and hurting. Maybe even those who should be your allies, your family, for whatever reason, just aren't. And Solomon's solution: But there is a friend. Does he mean those one or two or three people who become sojourners through (parts of) your life with you. Those who are there for you no matter what you need, how silly it might seem, who will stand with you in the fire. That friend. ...

And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household." Mark 6:4 ESV Ever been let down, rejected, by those who should have been on your side? Jesus knows what that's like His hometown. Think small community where everyone knows everyone. His relatives. The wider family. His own household. The people he'd been brought up with. Jesus knows what it's like to not be accepted for who you are. To not be seen. To not be known. To be lost in a place you shouldn't be lost in. He knows. If that is your experience you have a saviour who knows. And. This is not the way it should be. Jesus rejection here was a taste of the ultimate aloneness he faced on the cross, so that we will only know God's love, so that we will be accepted. Seen. Known. Loved. #gospelofmark #nazarethisnotmyhome #heavenismyhome #dearlyloved #childrenofGod

Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him. Mark 6:3 NIV You can almost feel the indignation rising. Who does he think he is? And they took offense at him. Offense here is "skandalizo" They wanted to scandalise Jesus. This word means to set a snare for someone, to trap them, to cause them to stumble. His people from his home town were so small minded that they missed Jesus completely. They saw Jesus actions, but completely missed his heart, his intention. mmm I think that's me too. So wrapped up in my small world that I miss the big story that Jesus calls me into. Lord, help me to see your heart, heart for people who are lost to you. Help me not to be stuck in Nazareth. Stuck in small mindedness. Help me to live in the bigness if who you are. Amen #gospelofmark #nazarethisnotmyhome

Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things... What's this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" Mark 6:1-3 NIV Haha I love this tall poppy dialogue! It gives a glimpse of Jesus family, but a glimpse into my heart. I remember that person as a snotty nosed kid. How did they get so smart? That guy? Successful? You can feel the envy rising in the people who knew Jesus growing up. I too get to choose to be resentful, envious, or celebrate, be grateful, encourage and bless. One of the cool things about God's upside-down kingdom is that the people we saw as children can grow up to become our teachers! God can w...

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God... James 4:7-8 ESV Monday! Time to hit the gym! James is all about action this morning. Submit Resist Draw near It's about who we submit and draw near to, and who we resist. The word for resist is "anthistemi" To stand against To hold your ground Refusing to be pushed back. Our enemy is a liar, a wolf in sheep's clothing, deception is his native language. He operates in the dark, in isolating. So we stand our ground in community with others We stand our ground by letting the light in. And we stand our ground by knowing, living and speaking the truth. That truth is found by drawing near to God. Submit to God Resist the devil Draw near to God #Godsgym #james #drawneartoGod

And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over." Mark 5:34 NLT Ch5 is an amazing day or so in Jesus life. Just had the storm. There's a demon possessed man A sick girl who died A sick woman who was healed. There's crowds, boats, walking around Jesus demonstrated his authority over nature, the spiritual, health, and even death. Some people were terrified and wanted him to leave, others crowded around, some bowed before him. Yet in the middle of all the drama, in the middle of the noise and jostling of the crowd, there's a moment when everything slows down, like in a movie when  all fades into the background and there's a focus on these two people. She's terrified, face down, and Jesus words are full of compassion: Daughter. My child. I see you I know you It's OK I love you I see your faith. In all the noise and drama, Jesus is personal. You think he doesn't see you, know you, care ...

The poor man utters supplications, But the rich man answers roughly. Proverbs 18:23 NASB Jesus became the poor man. Gave up power. Surrendered his authority. Shrunk himself to become one of us...the creator of the universe confined himself to a human body and walked the roads, talked, listened...he came with "earnestly and humbly" to make a way, to become the way for us to be made right with God. And he let the rich of this world abuse, humiliate and crucify him... Why? The only crazy outrageous reason is love. Only love. Only love that is well, just, massive. Beyond. Love that compelled Jesus to become the poor man. And he asks us to follow him... #lovepeople #grace #upsidedownkingdom #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Friday! Proverbs! The poor man utters supplications, But the rich man answers roughly. Proverbs 18:23 NASB Supplications? I looked it up! "the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly." Which one are you? The poor who ask or beg earnestly or humbly? Or the rich who are rough in response? Or neither? Or both? This is about power. The poor person here does not have power but does have a need and is seeking help. The rich person can help. But doesn't. He chooses to use his power to belittle, to make himself look bigger, and the poor person feel smaller. I've done that with words, jokes, sarcasm, and maybe ways that I cannot see or recognise. While this proverb speaks to how life often is, it is not a prescription for how we should try and live. There is no love here, no grace here. Grace Love Love changes everything. Love says I'll give up my power for you. #lovepeople #grace #upsidedownkingdom #proverbs #wisdom #somet...

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to God. James 4:6-7 ESV Humble. I'm good with that. There's something heroic and good and even celebrated (ironic as that seems) about being (known as being) humble. That's an OK word. But submit. That just goes against my... well...me. I just don't want to. The word here translated submit is "hupotasso" to line up under. When Jesus was 12 and the family went to Jerusalem for the Passover and he stayed behind teaching in the temple and his parents didn't get it cos he was 12. But he submitted to them. Lined up underneath. Hupotasso. Willingly. Underneath their authority and direction. Willingly. James says willingly line up under the "Theos", the God of John 1, the God who created and sustains all. Willingly submit to Him And yes, that may well put me in conflict with me, because part of my hea...

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6 ESV Midweek gym session! James could be quoting Proverbs 29:23, but seems to be Psalm 138:6 This grace we looked at yesterday does not appear to be available to the proud, the arrogant. Remember that James is writing to believers here. Some of whom he is now describing as proud and arrogant. I wonder where James would put me? In the proud and arrogant camp? Or wirh the humble crew? Some days, some moments I am firmly in the proud and arrogant camp. I can be there on my own, and it seems like this is where the fun is, the action, the good times... But it's hollow. Empty. God opposes me here (& that's not a place I want to be) Lord, today, I want your grace. Grace that is found in humility. I need your help to be that person today who walks, works, loves, humbly. I can't do that without you. I need you with me on this. Thanks Amen #jam...

But he gives us more grace. James 4:6 NIV James has just let rip about the way our hearts get led by what's easy for us, what's pleasurable, how we want what others have, and how much we complain... And then this. "But he gives us more grace" It's like playing Australia at rugby. Overwhelmed until beaten. Beaten by grace It's being really hungry, feeling like you can never be satisfied, and course after course arrives...until you're beat. Beat by grace. No matter what, there's more grace. James is a realist about who we are and the battle that can rage in our hearts...and says, that's OK, it's part of being people. Not yet unbroken people Not yet unhurt people Living in a not yet unbroken world, so for now, there is this one thing. Grace. Unmerited, underserved favour. The heart of God found in our living Hope. Jesus. Be beaten by His grace today. #grace #beatenbygrace

Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV Maybe today you need reminding that you're dearly loved. A child of God. If so, just stop there, write those words down, and step into today confident in that. Maybe today you need to walk in the way of love. There's a giving up for others thing going on here. Meditate on that and ask God what that should look like for you today Or maybe it's this bit you need today: Jesus loves you. That love moved Him from heaven to earth to give His life for you. Rest in that today. That says you're valuable. Wanted Loved beyond measure Whether you feel it or not, this is the action the One who loves you took. Rest in that today. #lovewithoutmeasure

The disciples were absolutely terrified. "Who is this man?" they asked each other. "Even the wind and waves obey him!" Mark 4:41 NLT The storm stopped. In an instant. The waves stopped. It's dead calm. In the middle of the night In the middle of the lake I imagine the clouds clear completely and all there is is stars... And Jesus. And the boys thought they were afraid in the storm...now they're terrified! They've seen power at work that they cannot understand or fathom. They have a man in the boat who can control the wind. And the waves Absolute authority and control. What's their question? "Who is this man?" What we've seen doesn't fit with Jesus being a good teacher, chatting about seeds and plants and a new kingdom. There's something more here! And it's scary! Our culture would like to contain Jesus too. Contain him as just a good teacher who talked about loving one another. But there's more to...

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 NASB Our words are important. They do have power. Speaking words of Life doesn't always mean that everyone will like or even agree with what we say. Jesus spoke plenty of words that left people hurt, disappointed, angry. For the hurt, the lost, the outcast, His words were full of compassion, grace, forgiveness. Speak the truth in love. Love and truth both have their Genesis, their origin, in God, not in me. My version of both is always going to be a little off, a little distorted, so the more we can get back to, closer to the source, the more our words really will speak life! #loveGod #lovepeople #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #speaklife

Friday! Proverbs! Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 NASB Words have power. They exclude or include, love or hate build up or tear down wound or heal. We know this because we've heard them from others. We've also heard good words spoken with evil intent: eg "This is what love is" Our words are not independent of our heart intent... The thing with words is that we get to choose every one that we say (or type, or write) I've said words that speak life, and words that speak death...what words am I going to choose to speak today? Tomorrow. From here on. And yes there is fruit from our words. Good fruit or rotten fruit. Nutritious, life-giving fruit, or empty, poisonous leading-towards-death fruit. I get to choose my words today "Lord, help me choose words that speak life today. Amen" #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #speaklife

Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" The disciples were absolutely terrified. "Who is this man?" they asked each other. "Even the wind and waves obey him!" Mark 4:39-41 NLT I don't think calming the storm was what Jesus was about that day...but now the disciples are in the dark in the middle of the lake in complete calm No wind. No waves. Maybe they're looking up and see the stars...and the only noise is their beating hearts and water dripping onto the deck... And Jesus questions hanging in the air. Why were you afraid? I was with you the whole time Where's your faith? It needs to be stronger than this, you're going to face worse than this. And what were the disciples afraid of now? The Word spoke. And creation obeyed. Maybe Jesus wanted them to have faith without the signs, without the show of power and authority. When Jesus asks a q...

Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39 NLT In a moment the wind stopped. The waves stopped. The noise stopped. The boat stopped. All you could hear was water dripping from the rigging onto the deck... The danger was gone, the alarm bells in their heads stopped. And so did their progress. Jesus asked them to go to the other side for a reason. He was asleep in the storm for a reason. And now everything has stopped. The storm will no longer take them to the other side, they're going to have to row. Jesus led his team into this storm so he likely had something for them to learn. Not every storm is like that but God can still work something good from it, teach me something in it... #somethingtochewon #stornsoflife #gospelofmark

"Silence! Be still!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39 NLT I'm not sure this great silence and stillness is what the disciples wanted. They just wanted Jesus to do something. Maybe just some help with the baling. Or some reassurance that they were going to get through this. The noise and drama of the storm felt like it was going to destroy them. Jesus was with them the whole time, and led them into this storm... On Sunday Ps J Faiz said this about getting out of the storm: "We want to get out of the storm for us. Maybe God wants you in the storm for someone else." Let that sink in...maybe there's things we can only learn in the storm, that we can never learn when there is no rain, no wind, no noise, no pressure, no uncertainty, no pain... Faith, hope and love. Yes these can be found in the calm and the still, they can also be found in the storm #somethingtochewon #glimpsesofhowitshouldbe #gospelofmark #wordsofJ...

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39 NLT Sometimes I wish this would just happen now. Jesus just say stop. Stop the craziness of war. The shooting of innocent people. Stop our children, our wives and partners from being hurt. Stop the hunger and despair. Stop the noise of this world that threatens to derail, and the selfish thoughts that bubble up in my own heart... Silence. Be still. Jesus team got a taste of that. In the middle of the night, in the middle of the storm, in the noise, and the fear... Silence Stillness For them it was found in Jesus, and for us, He is where the noise and madness of this world is silenced and stilled. We can get a taste, a glimpse of how it should be. A glimpse of the day when all tears will be wiped away, when what is hurt, will be fully unhurt, when what is broken will be fully unbroken. #onedayallwillbemadenew ...

I am reminded of your sincere faith... For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God... for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:5-7 ESV What is this spirit that God gives? Power: "Dynamis" the ability to get things done, might, strength Love: "Agape"  the love that puts the other person first Self-control: "sophronismos" self control, self discipline Imagine a perfect melding together of the power to get things done, the self discipline to get on and do, and the love that directs towards others! This spirit Paul says to Timothy is found in fanning into flame your gifting...why wouldn't we want that!?! Maybe because the person who perfectly demonstrated that ended up in pain, humiliation and failure, crucified on a Roman cross. Out of that power, love and self control came resurrection and hope. The Living Hope! As you fan into flame, step into your gifting, may you know a...

I am reminded of your sincere faith... For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God... for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:5-7 ESV Paul is writing to Tim, someone he loves & knows really well, & speaks into his life... I know you're a Christian. God has given you a gift. But something is holding you back. This spirit of fear, of timidity. What's with that? See that fire that's just embers, blow on it, and it will spark to life. Step into your gift. Don't wait. What are, or would, those who love you and know you well say to you today? Do you need to step into your gifting? Is something holding you back? The word for fear here is only used once in the Bible. Fear, timidity, reticence. I'm holding back, keeping God at bay in this area If we blew on the embers, something ticking quietly, something from God in your life, in your heart, what would spark up? Blowing on the e...

Friday! Proverbs! From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Proverbs 18:20 ESV Really? Ok so if you're a teacher or pastor or lawyer then your words do put food on the table. Even if you're a builder,  farmer, student or nurse you still need words to communicate with customers, suppliers, employees, tutors, patients. Our words are important But this proverb focusses on satisfaction. Our words are what satisfies. Our words whether we say them out loud or in our head, speak life into us, or not. Our words satisfy, meet, our deep needs. There's a song I'm listening to at the moment that has a line: "I am who I am because the I AM says tells me who I am" If I find those words that the I AM says about me, and speak those words out loud, something shifts inside. Could feel a bit like meeting those deep needs within... #dearlyloved #childofGod #important #known #delightedin #chosen ...

Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, "Teacher, don't you care that were going to drown?" Mark 4:38 NLT We all have a version of this question...don't you care? The storm is too big. Too overwhelming. We're out in the dark and the boat is taking on water I'm going to drown Don't you care? This is early days in Jesus ministry, and I don't think the disciples really got who Jesus is. In the dark In the storm, it's easy to lose sight of who Jesus is. It's OK to cry out. To ask Him Sometimes the answer may be in the Jesus of Genesis 1, or Isaiah, or Job. Or the Psalms Or the quiet voice of the Spirit Or the open loving arms of a saviour who stopped at nothing to rescue. The Cross answers the "don't you care" question. #faith #hope #love