verseoftheday

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy... And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work... So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart... God knows how much I love you... I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding... Philippians 1:3-11 NLT Yesterday someone kindly asked me "how was 2020 for you?" What would your review include? Paul is old when he wrote this letter. He's also in prison, but there's a looking back here as he starts his letter.  And its all about people. He prays for others with joy. He knows that God is at work in them, and through them. He loves people. He wants nothing more than to see people grow and learn to love. Paul's reflection was all about people.  I'm not sure my reflection was others focussed l...

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn't own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn't care about the sheep. John 10:11-13 CSB Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Sheep. Wolves. There are wolves.  Wolves who would snatch us away.  Wolves eat sheep.  There are those who just want to use you, consume you, use you up for their own benefit. Wolves scatter the sheep. Take them away from their community, away from safety, isolated.  I wonder who the wolves are that Jesus was thinking about.  Who are they today? Wolves cause hurt, suffering and destruction. The Good Shepherd does not run, but protects the sheep by giving his own life. On the cross he was hurt, suffered, destroyed, for us. That's love.  He wins by giving.  Some days I wish he would just come in pow...

I am the good shepherd.   The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn't own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn't care about the sheep. John 10:11-13 CSB Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Sheep. Wolves. Hired hand who is supposed to care for the  sheep. I'm OK being a sheep in this story from Jesus. He's the One who brings the all-around more-than-expected life, and gives himself so that I am safe. But from my "sheep" perspective, it's hard to tell the difference between the Good Shepherd and the Hired Hand.  But when the wolf turns up, the Hired Hand gaps it.  The Hired Hand is prepared to sacrifice the sheep to save themselves. The Hired Hands appear to be the cultural/religious leaders (see Ch9). I wonder who they are today? Perhaps the voice of the world that tells us what succes...

"A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.  I am the good shepherd.   The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:10-11 CSB We have an enemy who wants only to steal, kill, destroy. Do you see him at work in your life?  Sometimes I'm my own worst enemy, the thoughts I allow to rumble around, the choices I make, the attitudes I hold.  Sometimes it's the actions of others, the pressing in of the world. But we also have an enemy who is at work. But we have the anti-thief.  Who is also a shepherd. A shepherd so good, that in the face of the theif he does not give up his sheep, does not stand by and let them be consumed or taken away.  He lays down his own life for his sheep.  Sacrifices himself, to save them.  To save us.  To give us life. This all-around more-than-expected life that he has for us. Jesus has laid down his life so that we can live o...

A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I have come  so that  they may have life  and have it in abundance. John 10:10 CSB Jesus came to counter the thief.  There are those who choose to steal. To take what is not theirs. To kill. To kill hope. To destroy.  Jesus is the anti-thief. He came to give. He arrived to be Hope. His mission is to restore.  So that we might have Life! This word translated "abundant" is "more than", "all-around". Jesus came so that we might have this all-around, more-than-expected life. One day we'll have that in all it is meant to be, and for now, we can step away from the thief, and walk with the anti-thief, the giver of Life.  Step with Him into this all-around, more-than-expected life that He has for us. #sunday #christmas #worship #thisisourGod

In him was life,  and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness,  and yet the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:4-5 CSB This is the beauty and the hope of Christmas :) Let the light in. Let the light in to our hearts, to the inner recesses...let the light in to our thoughts, our motives, our beliefs and our choices. Let the light into our circumstances. The darkness did not overcome. Will not overcome. This word for overcome also carries the meaning of comprehend. The darkness just doesn't get it. Even as it's in retreat it doesn't "get" the light. The hope and beauty of Christmas. The light has come. Let it in. Let it shine through you today. #lovewins

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;   and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,  Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,  on the throne of David and over his kingdom,  to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV Wrapped up in this tiny helpless baby who in his humanity only knows how to cry, and feed, and poop, is the One who will carry all these titles. The One who's government, who's rule, who's dominion, will increase and increase.  Who is peace. There will be justice. Things will be put right.  Our God is going to bring this about, is bringing this about, in the Kingdom of the heart. As we let His government increase there, let His peace grow more and more. The zeal of the Lord of Ho...

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given... Isaiah 9:6 ESV From Sam Allberry this week: We weren't expecting it. We weren't interested.  We weren't involved.  We didn't ask. We didn't deserve. We didn't help. We didn't even imagine. And yet: "To us a child is born;  to us a son is given." To us. For us. A gift.  Whether you're giving a little something today or tomorrow, receiving something today or tomorrow, consider our God who stepped in, stepped towards us, and take a moment to be thankful to Him. For the gift that is beyond our imagination. #christmas #jesusatthecentre

For you have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders,  the staff of their oppressor,  just as you did on the day of Midian. For every trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire.   For a child will be born for us,  a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders.  He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Eternal Father,  Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:4-6 CSB We love verse 6 because it's all about a baby. And it's a beautiful picture, a child being born for us. But this is a baby being born into a world of oppression and war. A baby who is going to shatter oppression. Release those who are held down. This is about a baby who is going to light the fire in which the boots that have trampled others will be burned.  This is not some nice thing that is going to happen that Isaiah is looking forward to, but an act of, the beginning of, rebellion. If...

You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy.  The people have rejoiced before you as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice when dividing spoils. For you have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as you did on the day of Midian. Isaiah 9:3-4 CSB Somehow Isaiah is looking back, looking forward, and speaking to us at the same time. At Christmas we are invited to look back at a small baby who changed the world. To not just look back, but to rejoice, because hope was born that day. The yoke of sin has been broken. The power of sin over our lives is shattered because of the life and death and resurrection of that child.  The sins of others. The impact of the world. Just as at that first Christmas we got a glimpse of what was to come when Jesus was born, now we get glimpses of what is to come when all things are restored.  When we think of someone in our lives and give a small gift, give a word of en...

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;  a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. Isaiah 9:2 CSB Last night we were walking down the street and met our neighbours (who were out wondering what the Police were doing in our neighborhood) & they told us that tomorrow night for the first time in 800 years Jupiter and Saturn will be so close they'll seem like one, and some think this was the star of Bethlehem that shone to show the way to Jesus. Our culture loves to find ways to explain away God's work. To shrink Him down to natural events, to explain Him away. But Isaiah talks of something unmistakable. A light for those walking in, living in, darkness. A great light. Like the sun rising after being in the dark all night.  Light that clears the darkness. It's no wonder the people of Jesus time were expecting someone to come boldly, with power.  And Jesus did.  But his kingdom is of the heart.  And that's where his light shines, ...

We are afflicted in every way but not crushed;  we are perplexed but not in despair;  we are persecuted but not abandoned;  we are struck down but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 CSB Isn't it Christmas? What's with the "afflicted"?  The "struck down"? Because there are those in our community, in your orbit who this week will feel abandoned. Those who literally will be abandoned. Those for who memories of loss, of hurt, of abuse, of grief will be afflicting them. There'll be those who may have lost their jobs, lost their way, lost their hope. When Jesus was born, so was our hope. Our God entered into the story to make a way, to become the way, to restore all things. And He calls us to follow Him, to enter in, to step towards the afflicted. To not abandon, but to stick with the persecuted. To bring healing and hope to those who are struck down. Keep your eyes and ears and heart open for those in your orbit this week. Hope was born in a manger, but didn...

Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. Proverbs 21:9 NIV Better.  Better for who? Often the Bible addresses those with power, and in the culture this proverb was written to the men had the power.  Perhaps if "better" for the relationship, better for the wife in this, better looks like taking that power and not exercising it, but walking away. Perhaps if you're the one with power it's better for you too. Better to go find somewhere quiet and think about what's really important. Christmas is all about Jesus coming as a baby, bringing hope into the world in a new way, an expanded way. But rather than come with power he became small and powerless. Completely dependent on his Mum and Step-Dad. He gave up his power, made himself small, for us.  He used his power to wash his disciples feet. To wash ours.  #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #redeemingpower #morethanourfeethavebeenwashed

Friday! Proverbs! Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. Proverbs 21:9 NIV I've heard this proverb used as a weapon against women (anytime it's in a joke it's not a joke).  This chapter of proverbs is full of serious topics & proverbs is about wisdom & inviting us to go deeper, to see Jesus in this... 1. He's telling the guy to leave. Go somewhere quiet and have a think.  Don't escalate things. 2. My experience is that more often than not it's my fault there's tension in a relationship.  Going somewhere quiet, having a think, examining my heart motives. 3. Jesus is often pictured as a groom seeking the best for his bride (us, all of us) And we were and are quarrelsome and contentious.  But Jesus came as a servant, seeking us out, and sacrificing himself for us. Yes it might have been better to stay away, but we were and are too important, too wanted, to leave alone, so he entered in. Stepped towards. Listen...

Then they were willing to take him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading. John 6:21 CSB Wouldn't that be great if Jesus would just fix everything. Like now. No more rowing. No more rowing in the dark. No more rowing in the dark in the storm  Just instantly to the shore.  I wonder what that would do to my heart? How long would it be until the Creator of the Universe becomes my personal genie...how long it would take before I didn't like the shore that I'd landed on because there's a better one up the coast... how long until instantly isn't fast enough... how long until my testimony is "come to Jesus - he gives you everything you want". John is all about the signs here.  Someone who can walk out in the dark and find you in the storm, some one who can either shrink time, or move a boat full of people across the sea in an instant, are signs. Signs that Jesus is who he says he is. That he is worthy of worship. He also seeks us ...

But he said to them,  "It is I.  Don't be afraid." Then they were willing to take him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading. John 6:20-21 CSB In the dark. In the storm. Miles from shore. Feels a lot like 2020! Someone appears out of nowhere walking on the water.  Unexpected. Strange. Scary. And then he speaks. "It's me". They recognise the Word when he speaks, and then they were willing to take him on board. Jesus has tracked them down in the dark, in the storm, miles from shore, and spoken. And he does the same for us.  Read his word. Listen to it. And as he speaks, welcome him on board.  He doesn't force his way in, but when we're in the dark, in the storm, miles from shore, Jesus does track us down,  can turn up in the unexpected, unrecognised,  listen for him, and welcome him on board. #gospelofjohn #signs #notalone #with

But he said to them,  "It is I.  Don't be afraid." Then they were willing to take him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading. John 6:20-21 CSB Not only was Jesus wandering around on the sea in the middle of the night with the sea churning, freaking out his team who did not recognise him at all until he spoke, the whole boat got moved to the shore in an instant! Lots going on! But Jesus team recognised him when he spoke.  John in Ch1 introduces Jesus as The Word.  His words are important. "It's me. Don't be afraid" Where is it that Jesus words speak into your life right now? Where do we need to hear "It's me. Don't be afraid". Maybe it's the storm that's churning on the outside, relationships, work, study, finances, business, people. Jesus says  "It's me.  Don't be afraid". Maybe it's the uncertain future. Jesus says  "It's me.  Don't be afraid". Maybe it...

And when they were filled, he saith to his disciples,  "Gather together the broken pieces that are over,  that nothing may be lost;" John 6:12 YLT98 We're all broken pieces somewhere. We're all at risk of being trampled by the crowd, discarded by the world. Used. We've all a bit fragmented. Some just more than others. But. Our stories are still being written. God's story of redemption and restoration is still being written (even though He's given us a glimpse of the end when Jesus is so close that he will wipe our tears, when all will be made new). That basket of fragments of broken bits is us, the church, community, whanau. Us. There's no perfect whole loaves in that basket.  We're in this together, called to bear one another's burdens,  to bear with,  to walk together,  to love one another well. So that none will be lost. None are discarded. At this time of year we get to celebrate Christmas so that we get to celebrate Easter, so that none wi...

After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea.  He was coming near the boat,  and they were afraid.  But he said to them,  "It is I.  Don't be afraid." John 6:19-20 CSB It's me.  Don't be afraid.  With me, you're safe. Even in the storm. In the dark. When you've been rowing all night. Sometimes Jesus wants to meet us there. In the dark. In the storm. When we're tired and it seems never ending... These guys were familiar with the lake and the boat and rowing and wind.  Seeing Jesus was scary. Sometimes the storm can be a familiar place, even though it's not great, and yet maybe Jesus wants to meet us there.  When things are churning. "It's me. Don't be afraid" Meeting Jesus in the storm frightened them. Maybe it was the unexpected, or the way he appeared walking on the water (who does that?) It doesn't appear that they were afraid when Jesus multiplied the bread and fish...but they were here....

And when they were filled, he saith to his disciples, Gather together the broken pieces that are over, that nothing may be lost; John 6:12 YLT98 Do you ever read the Bible in a different translation and something just jumps off the page? Jesus is telling his disciples to collect the leftover food, but in this more literal translation he says to gather up all the broken pieces. Ever feel like you're a broken piece? Somehow not as complete or good enough? Jesus heart is for you...gather up the broken... His call to his team is to go and do that; gather up the broken.  Go looking. And bring them in. And why? So that none will be lost. This is our God's heart for those who feel like leftovers,  discarded,  broken...  fragments. His heart is to gather you in...to bring you near. #dearlyloved

Friday! Proverbs The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright. Proverbs 21:8 ESV When I'm guilty of something, the path I walk gets crookeder and crookeder.  I deceive myself that what was wrong was OK. And I'll keep up the pretense. And I'll push the problem on to someone else. Make them look like they've got the problem, they were wrong. And my path gets crookeder and crookeder. The "conduct of the pure" is so much simpler. If only I could live there all the time. Eph 1:4 tells us that our God envisioned us from before time, chose us in Him, and saw as holy and blameless.  He saw us how we were meant to be.  And He made the way for us to get there - faith in Jesus, the saving grace of Jesus life, and death, and resurrection. And then there's just 2 things to do: Love God Love others We are held blameless and holy through faith in Jesus and as we draw nearer to God, to the Pure, we become bit by bit, more pure. And as we love p...

When evening came,  his disciples went down to the sea,  got into a boat,  and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already set in,  but Jesus had not yet come to them.  A high wind arose,  and the sea began to churn. John 6:16-18 CSB Maybe this is what it was like heading into 2020! Going about business as usual and we all walked into the storm of 2020. Storms come in all types. Health. Finance. Relationships. Decisions we make. The actions of others. The economy. Our boss. And then there's the storms that we carry with us...our thoughts, memories, beliefs...and those things can churn us up. And it can feel like we are the only one.  Alone. But the disciples were in this together, so if you're in a storm, heading into one or just beetling along like we all were 12 months ago, don't go it alone.  The storms will come whether we want them or not. So expect them. Prepare. Don't go it alone. We're in this together. No matter how dark it ...

When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. John 6:16-17 CSB Was this what they'd decided with Jesus before the miracle/sign of feeding the 10,000 people? Or as there was no sign of Jesus the boys made a plan and got on with it? Have you ever been in that place where it's "Lord I could really use some help/guidance/direction about now" and there's silence. Jesus is up the mountain somewhere. If we've got an agreed direction, then push on with it. If not, then choose to do the best thing with your team (maybe there's not 12 of you together but there's always someone to check in with and/or to journey with you (if you're feeling alone, maybe it's time to put your hand up)) The disciples kept moving. Even when Jesus was up the mountain. Maybe there is a theme here as Bible characters who kept moving come to mind... ...

When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,  "This truly is the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore, when Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. John 6:14-15 CSB The people saw the sign, and they saw Jesus for who he was.  (my Bible makes a ref back to Deut 18 and God saying he will raise up a prophet from God). They had seen past the sign to where the sign was pointing. The people were so convinced they wanted to make him King. They would've been snapchatting eating bread and fish, #makeJesusking would be everywhere. Hard to resist the pull of the crowd. But that's just what Jesus did - he just headed up to the mountain on his own. I wonder what the people did? Their hope for a saviour had just disappeared. Maybe some got angry at the disciples, but my guess is that they all eventually wandered home disappointed and a bit disillusioned. Jesus wasn't ...

When they were full, he told his disciples,  "Collect the leftovers so that nothing is wasted." So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten. John 6:12-13 CSB What's with the leftovers? (What were they going to do with them?) You'd think that if Jesus could feed everyone there'd be just enough, but he got his team to go and collect what was left. Was it to make sure that the disciples really got that this was a miracle? John calls these "signs". Signs pointing to Jesus and to his kingdom.  After everyone close to you has been fed, and there's a basket of leftovers in your hand, what's in your mind? We could feed more. There must be more hungry people somewhere...maybe we should go and find them and offer them this bread. It's the opposite, or maybe an expansion of the manna in the wilderness when the instruction was to collect just enough for what you n...

Then Jesus took the loaves,  and after giving thanks he distributed them to those who were seated - so also with the fish,  as much as they wanted. John 6:11 CSB Come on John, can't you tell us a bit more of how that all happened? Did a stockpile of bread arrive? Did Jesus feed everyone? All 10,000? Did one person take a couple of loaves and pass one on, and still have two? I want to know how miracles work. Maybe because I want to reduce them to something I can understand, just like I try to make God small enough to understand sometimes.  As someone (who was that?) once said if our God is small enough to understand, he's too small to worship. Sometimes I wish he would work the miracles that I want.  But if Yahweh did what I wanted, that would make Him smaller than me. And He is not. The scale of this miracle points us to our miracle working God, yet it's so personal, it points us to a God who loves us, who wants us to draw near.  Sometimes, all I get to do is wo...

Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread wouldn't be enough for each of them to have a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, "There's a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish - but what are they for so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place; so they sat down. The men numbered about five thousand. John 6:7-10 CSB 5,000 men, maybe 10,000 people all up. That's a crowd! 5 loaves & 2 fish. The size of the problem made the resources that they had seen so small. Ever had that happen? In the middle of that Jesus asks his team to just do something so ordinary. Just ask everyone to sit down. If I was one of the disciples I think you'd have heard "why bother - there's nothing here - let's split this kid's lunch between us and get moving" Maybe Jesus wanted them to go into the crowd, to see people, to ask them jus...

Friday! Proverbs! The violence of the wicked sweeps them away  because they refuse to act justly. Proverbs 21:7 CSB This word "violence" carries the meaning of havoc, devastation, ruin. This is a warning to those who have ruined the another's life through their actions.  Their choices. Their selfishness. This is warning to those who have ruined another person's Iife through their words. And there's a warning here for those who stand by, who don't act justly. The Bible is not a fun book sometimes, but it is real.  It's so easy to look at this proverb and see it applies to others.  But it applies to me too.  The only thing that stops me from being swept away, is Grace. Jesus stepped in and acted. And he calls us to follow him and to choose to act justly, even though it is costly, because we follow a saviour who gave it all up for us. In this unjust world,  He is the place we can find rest. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

Now the Passover, a Jewish festival, was near.  So when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward him, he asked Philip,  "Where will we buy bread so that these people can eat?" He asked this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do.  Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread wouldn't be enough for each of them to have a little," John 6:4-7 CSB A denarii is about a day's wages, so he's calculating about 7 mths income needed. That's a lot of money for bread. That's a lot of people. An overwhelming number of people. Maybe 200 denarii was what the disciples had between them or maybe Philip was just good at math. But the thing is that he'd missed Jesus question. Jesus asked about where the bread was going to come from. Philip went straight to the cost and how its too much. They were on a mountain somewhere. There was no source of food  When faced with what seems overwhelming, I go with what I know to fig...

Jesus went up a mountain and sat down there with his disciples. John 6:3 CSB This is for you if you think your worth is tied completely to what you do. This is for you if you feel guilty for resting. This is for you if you think that hanging out with your friends is not important. Being with people is important. Resting is good. It's OK to stop. Jesus did. I wonder as they sat on that hill who was just watching the clouds go by, who was talking, who was listening, who was making the coffee...who was thinking about the next thing, what the plan was, who was happy to be with Jesus... Maybe it was a few minutes that they stopped. Maybe all day.  Today may you and I find some time to stop. It's OK to stop. To rest  Resting is good. To be with people, with someone. We all need community. #gospelofJohn #itsOKtostop

After this,  Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias ). A huge crowd was following him because they saw the signs that he was performing by healing the sick.  John 6:1-3 CSB After this...after giving a long speech to the religious leaders about how the Old Testament scriptures pointed to himself, that they were missing the signs because they were so caught up in their rules and their power structures.  After that, people, ordinary people, saw what Jesus was doing, and wanted to draw near. They saw the signs that Jesus was posting, and rather than want to get rid of Jesus from their lives, the crowd, the ordinary people, wanted more of him. We get to choose too.  Is Jesus challenging maybe not the religious structure in my world, but the one in my heart.  The one where I set the rules.  His signs are about flourishing, healing, nourishment, and just like this crowd of ordinary people, we get to choose to come nearer. To follow Jesus. To see the signs t...