verseoftheday

Sunday Psalms; Not sure if the psalmist was ill when writing this, or had other things going on, but he felt awful.  It's OK to write to God, to call out to Him and at Him when we feel terrible. Here's a few snippets from Ps 38: I am hunched over, completely down;  I wander around all day long,  sad.  My insides are burning up;  there's nothing in my body that isn't broken.  I'm worn out,  completely  crushed;  Everything I long for is laid out before you, my Lord;  my sighs aren't hidden from you.  My loved ones and friends keep their distance from me in my sickness; those who were near me now stay far away.  But I wait for you, LORD! You will answer,  my Lord,  my God!  Dont leave me all alone, LORD!  Please, my God, dont be far from me!  Come quickly and help me,  my Lord,  my salvation! Psalms 38:6-9, 11, 15, 21-22 CEB Maybe there's something in this song that connects. It's OK to express just how things are to God.  And not just Him. This song is an

I'm so happy that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have arrived; they've made up for my missing you. Indeed they've provided my spirit and yours with a much-needed rest. Therefore, give them proper recognition. 1 Corinthians 16:17-18 CEB Who are these people? Stephanas. Fortunatus. Achaicus. We know that Stephanus' household were among the first to become Christ followers and have committed to serving others (see v 15). And we know that they've turned up to wherever Paul is writing this letter from.  And it's clear that they're a real boost to Paul's mood.  Ordinary people just turning up.  Most of us aren't going to be like Paul, but we can all be like Stephanas, Fortunatus, & Achaicus, and turn up, be an encouragement, everybody needs that sometimes.  Perhaps today as we ponder who these people were, what their lives were like, how many others just like them are tucked away behind the Bible's stories and never get a mention, the ordinary

Friday! Proverbs! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. Proverbs 27:6 NLT The problem is I like the accolades.  And I don't like the wounds.  The problem with the "kisses", the good words, the rewards, the talking up, is that if they're from an "enemy" the heart behind them is not actually for you, it's probably for themselves. They're saying good things about you or to you not for your good, but for theirs. So that they can gain something.  Ugly isn't it. My problem is that I've done this. So in a way, this Proverb is that friend that wounds, that speaks the truth even though it hurts.  Proverbs aren't weapons to be used against others, but the cord that opens the curtain and lets the light in, tools that prise open the closed doors of our hearts.  As we sit with this Proverb today, let the light in... #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #itsaheartthing

Be alert,  stand firm in the faith,  be courageous,  be strong.  Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 CSB I wonder why Paul is telling this church to do everything in love? I wonder if because so much if what we do is out of obligation, living up to others expectations. And Paul wants us to be grounded in love. That's our start point, our foundation.  And why the calls to be alert, stand firm, for courage and strength? That's not the way the world should be that we need to be all those things, but it's the reality.  What part of your faith do you need to stand firm in today? Where do you need to keep alert? It's a sad reality that we have to be strong and courageous, and that can be tiring, wearying.  And all of that standing and courage is to be done in love. We just can't do that without God's resources, without the Spirit's power, without the foundation of Jesus love, grace and acceptance on which we stand.  Whatever is in front of you today, lea

Concerning Apollos our brother: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the brothers and sisters, but he didn't want to go now. He'll come when he has an opportunity. 1 Corinthians 16:12 CEB Well Apollos did seem to have the opportunity but for some reason he didn't want to take it.  Paul was the person with authority, the person with zeal, the who pushed on through shipwrecks and bearings etc. And Apollos still said to Paul "no that doesn't work for me right now". We might call this putting in a boundary, and then protecting that boundary.  We need boundaries where the other person has power. The power of position, words, religion, physical strength, financial. Sometimes it's the "everyone's doing this" power of the culture, or the fear of missing out, or the voice in our head to "honour our elders/parents/love your enemies" that gets hijacked to kind of "force" us to "go to Corinth" like Paul really wanted

Joshua set up at Gilgal those twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan. He said to the Israelites,  "In the future your children will ask their parents, 'What about these stones?' Then you will let your children know: 'Israel crossed over the Jordan here on dry ground.'" Joshua 4:20-22 CEB Our God gave this instruction to set up reminders, so that people wouldn't forget.  Today our reminders are all around with poppies and memorial services and early morning helicopters as reminders of those who gave their lives for our country.  Reminders of injustice, of wanting to put things right, of the cost of doing that. Reminders that peace is costly.  Reminders that people everywhere matter, and that standing up for others, for what we believe is right, has a price.  Reminders that this world in all its wonder and beauty and diversity and colour has a dark side too.  Perhaps today there's some time to think about the reminders that are important for you. 

A person's steps are made secure by the LORD when they delight in his way.  Though they trip up, they won't be thrown down, because the LORD holds their hand. Psalms 37:23-34 CEB This is a long (almost rambling) song, but there are some gems! This part acknowledged that things will trip us up, if we haven't had a "curve ball" (something we haven't experienced and don't know how to deal with) yet, we will. But even in that, we are held. Even in that God is with us.  The heart of the Psalmist encouragement is to walk in step with God all the time, "delighting" in his way.  If we're finding that difficult, start with "delighting" in things that God has made...open our ears to the birds, to the sound of the river, the sea, open our eyes to the sunrise, the trees, the sky, look for Him in the eyes of a friend... "Delight" is not a word that I hear often. I wonder if we need to hear more of it? #psalms #psalm37 #delight #getsome

Sunday Psalms: Don't get upset over evildoers;  don't be jealous of those who do wrong, because they will fade fast, like grass; they will wither like green vegetables. Trust the LORD and do good;  live in the land,  and farm faithfulness. Psalms 37:1-3 CEB This song (can you imagine singing this?) is not saying there shouldn't be accountability or that we shouldn't work for justice, but taking our focus off the evildoer, not giving those who do wrong any space in our hearts or minds.  And how do we do that? Focus on God. Who He is. Live.  "Farm faithfulness". Farming takes work, planning, preparing, planting, tending, harvesting, protecting. It's good work  Work with you and God and your trusted community. It's work that bears good fruit, and that fruit will appear even if we can't see it today.  Trust the LORD  and do good;  live in the land,  and farm faithfulness. #sunday #psalms #psalm37 #youareBeloved

If Timothy comes to you, be sure that he has no reason to be afraid while he's with you, because he does the work of the Lord just like I do. So don't let anyone disrespect him, but send him on in peace so he can join me. I'm waiting for him along with the brothers and sisters. 1 Corinthians 16:10-11 CEB I love Paul's heart shown here in his concern for Timothy.  But I do wonder why Paul felt he needed to write this: "Make sure he has no reason to be afraid" "Don't let anyone disrespect him". What was it with Timothy that Paul would be so concerned? Regardless of what it was this is Church Basics 101: Be a place of safety.  Be a place where people are accepted and valued.  2 Tim 1:5 tells us that Timothy comes from a family on his Mum's side of multigenerational faith. But that doesn't tell Timothy's whole story becuase something in his story, his appearance, his way of doing things, his language, accent, ethnicity, family, something

Friday! Proverbs! A public correction is better than hidden love. Proverbs 27:5 CEB The culture I predominantly live in is all about the individual.  Me. This proverb starts with us. A correction in front of others. It's about a collective culture. Hiding what's going on in our heart is unhealthy for us. The community.  The implication is that the desire that I have, what's going on in my heart, that's hidden, is somehow inappropriate, needs correction in some way.  (Let's not get carried away here with movie story lines and romantic love. This is about what's going on in our hearts. My heart wants power, control, things done my way, pleasure, wealth, etc. Our hearts want all kinds of things). A correction in front of others as unpleasant as that might be, is better than hiding what's going on in our hearts.  I think this Proverb is suggesting that's a better way for us to live. What do you think? #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

I'll come to you after I go through Macedonia, and because I'm going through Macedonia, I may stay with you or even spend the winter there in Corinth so that you can send me on my way to wherever I'm off to next. 1 Corinthians 16:5-6 CEB What is this doing in my Bible? Isn't the Bible all about theology and big things? And yet here we have Paul just being very ordinary, providing ordinary connection with people he knows and who know him. And do you notice that Paul isn't sure how long he'll stay or where he is going next. How often are we expected to have a grand plan for our lives and execute it with precision to stay in "God's will" or meet our parents or our peers or our societies expectations of us.  And here's Paul not sure if he'll stay a week or 3 months or where he's heading. Having plans is good, but it's not everything for everyone for all the time.  Paul here shares some very ordinary insights into ordinary parts of his l

"Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad." Matthew 5:4 CEB Ok so the word be "made glad" here is "parakaleo" which means to call to or for, to exhort, to encourage.  To call someone from close beside.  Up close. Personal. It's like Jesus is saying "when you grieve, when something or someone is lost, I'm there, I'm close, and I'm calling". What does someone who is close call when you're grieving? They speak your name. Jesus is saying he's going to be with us in our grief.  Blessed are those people who grieve, because I'm going to be close, with you, speaking your name, putting courage in you.  I am with you.   Jesus knows what grief is and says he'll be with us in ours.  #wordsofJesus #redletterBible #with

For thus said the high and exalted One, Inhabiting eternity, and holy [is] His name:  "In the high and holy place I dwell,  And with the bruised and humble of spirit,  To revive the spirit of the humble,  And to revive the heart of bruised ones" Isaiah 57:15 YLT98 If this is God in His dwelling place (isn't that a wonderful phrase "Inhabiting eternity"), he's there with people, and he's actively doing something. Reviving Restoring  Bringing back to Life all the bruised, the hurt, the damaged parts of those inhabiting eternity with Him.  This is resurrection. May all the bruised, the hurt, the damaged parts know the healing revival of our God in the here and now, at least in part. Can you sense the Love and Grace that is the high and holy place?  Rest in that today.  "Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs." Matthew 5:3 CEB #upsidedownkingdom #resurrection #youareBeloved

"Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs." Matthew 5:3 CEB Hang on a sec - isn't the Bible all about hope? You may be more familiar with this version of what Jesus says: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs." Matthew 5:3 CSB This word for poor is "ptoxos" which means to crouch like a beggar, to be bent over, deeply destitute.  When we realise just how destitute we are in our own righteousness before God, that's when we actually get to inherit the kingdom.  When I realise that my cause is hopeless without the one who is speaking, without Jesus, that's the path to happiness.  When I go "all in" with Grace, that's the path to happiness.  What an upsidedown kingdom we're part of, and Jesus invites us further into.  It's hard to capture though isn't it?  It's humility, being humble, but it can't be a "look at me I'm being humble"! It

Sunday Psalms: But your loyal love,  LORD,  extends  to the skies;  your faithfulness  reaches  the clouds. Your righteousness  is like  the strongest mountains; your justice  is like  the deepest sea.  LORD,  you save  both humans  and animals.  Your  faithful love  is priceless,  God! Humanity finds  refuge  in the shadow  of your wings.  They feast  on the bounty  of your house;  you let them drink  from your river  of pure joy.  Within you  is the spring of life.  In your light,  we see  light. Psalms 36:5-9 CEB So many pictures in this Psalm, this song. Pictures of love, faithfulness, righteousness and justice.  Pictures of who God is, and who we are in relation to Him.  Which one grabs your eye? What do you need today? This song wants to engage our imagination - will you let it? Can you find a moment to sit with the picture that jumps off the page for you, grab a pencil and doddle a picture, or write some words that flow from or connect with the word picture of the Psalm? Give it

Jesus said to her,  "Don't hold on to me, for I haven't yet gone up to my Father.  Go to my brothers and sisters and tell them,  'I'm going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" John 20:17 CEB Here we have the first missionary journey after Jesus's resurrection, the first proclamation of the gospel, the first spark of the New Testament church that flows to us today.  And Jesus didn't give that spark to a person with power or influence, someone who's word would be accepted, but to someone small in the eyes of the world. Someone who's life had been entwined with Jesus life.  Mary, go to my people and tell them.  Just like the dawn is breaking and everything is new, so is Life.  You no longer have to live in the shadows, everything is shifted, you go and tell my people.  No longer is it about the power structures of this world, the culture, you are valued and valuable, you go and tell my people that I'm going back to m

Friday! Proverbs! Fury is cruel,  and anger a flood,  but who can withstand jealousy? Proverbs 27:4 CSB It's so easy to put anger at the top of the list of problems in this world, but anger is a secondary thing, we get angry because, angry at. Yes its a heart issue, but anger is not usually at the heart, but a response to something else. Jealousy is right there at the bottom though.  I want what you have.  I want something, someone, simply because I don't have it.  Because you have it.  I compare, wonder, allow the seeds to sit and germinate in my heart.  How ugly is that? And who can withstand it? That's the question this proverb asks.  Jesus is the one who can, who was offered the world, and refused to let anything other than love germinate in his heart. This is not easy, which is what this proverb acknowledges too.  As we love God and love people our desires shift, our heart shifts, and little by little, what seemed unable to be withstood can be.  Easter is about the tra

Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you crying?  Who are you looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she replied,  "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him." John 20:15 CEB Always good to consider Jesus questions: Why are you crying? Who are you looking for? Mary was looking for dead Jesus. She was mourning her teacher who had died and wanted to be close to him. To process her grief and loss.  It's Sunday and Jesus is already a figure from history.  When we go looking for dead Jesus, just like Mary, we won't find him. He's no longer there, but not moved, not carried away somewhere else, but returned from death to life.  Mary's expected storyline was interrupted by the living Jesus, the resurrected Jesus. What is it in our storyline that the resurrected Jesus wants to disrupt? Maybe it's a big thing, or just the smallest of changes in direction, or thought, or action, or choice.  Mary was looking for

Mary Magdalene left and announced to the disciples,  "I've seen the Lord." Then she told them what he said to her. John 20:18 CEB Jesus could've let the world know any way he wanted that he was indeed fully alive, that what he promised had happened, that he was who he said he was and that a new era of life had started.  He could've turned up in Church, to crowds, to those in power, even to the 11 disciples.  But he didn't.  He was OK with being mistaken for the gardener in the cemetery, to meet with a person who had no standing, who's word in law had no weight.  Jesus' upsidedown kingdom was launched in the quiet dawn of a cemetery by the least likely to be believed person who got to speak the first gospel message.  It was Mary who said "I've seen the Lord". If you ever feel like you're the least likely person, have been crying recently, maybe even spending time in the cemetery, mourning, in grief, Jesus is right there, speaking your

As soon as she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn't know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her,  "Woman, why are you crying?  Who are you looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she replied,  "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 20:13-16 CEB Do you have a favourite Easter account?  This is mine.  There's angels (see v11-12). The greatest event in the history of the world has just happened and it gets announced here. God is at work in massive ways, and it is expressed in the small, the personal.  Just a few days ago it was Jesus in tears in the garden, and now it's Mary. And in the midst of her grief and tears and loss, in the not-even-recognising Jesus moment, Jesus is there, and uses her name.  He is patient, kind,  Love has made a way, made the way, and is now here, gently inviting Mary, and us, to see him. And as Mary he

Mary stood outside near the tomb, crying.  As she cried, she bent down to look into the tomb.  She saw two angels dressed in white, seated where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and one at the foot. The angels asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" She replied,  "They have taken away my Lord, and I don't know where they've put him." John 20:11-13 CEB Mary was crying.  It's Sunday morning and Mary is not celebrating, but crying.  It's easy to get caught in the expectation that everyone should be celebrating on Sunday morning, but we're complicated people and sometimes tears fit better with where we're at.  And that's OK. Have you noticed that Mary doesn't seem surprised at the angels? And Mary has been caught up in the story that Jesus body would be stolen. The religious leaders had done a good job and this was the outcome.  An empty tomb. Someone's taken the body. Even though there's angels there, it's easier t

Sunday Psalms: I entrust my spirit into your hand.  Rescue me,  Lord,  for  you  are  a  faithful God. Psalms 31:5 NLT Jesus had drunk from the cup he so desperately didn't want to taste on Friday. He not only stared into the abyss, he stepped into it.  He submitted himself to death for us.  Because Love.  Love was his mission and calling and we, his world, his people, are the reason for his love.  The loved.  Beloved.  And he was rescued.  Death became Life Darkness became Light Love won. God's Love somehow defeated death and darkness in the person and body of Jesus.  And that is the hope that we now hold, that death and darkness in us has been defeated, and will be defeated, not by us and our actions or goodness, but by Jesus's actions and goodness, and the power of God's Love.  Love that will pull us through death to life too, love that will extinguish all that is dark in us, love that both has already won, and will win.  Today in the now and the not yet of Resurrect

The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him,  "Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: 'After three days I will rise from the dead.' So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, well be worse off than we were at first." Pilate replied,  "Take guards and secure it the best you can." So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it. Matthew 27:62-66 NLT Something was niggling away at the religious leaders minds, and they just couldn't let it go.  They call him a deceiver, an imposter, someone who would lead others astray, but for all their confidence in how right they were, Jesus words were messing with them: "After three days I will rise from the dead". While most of the world carried on their normal Satur

When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified - one on his right and one on his left. Luke 23:33 NLT God of Moses & Miriam, who brought your people through the wilderness: lead us through the wilderness of our wounds by the light of the Wounded One. For though our anxiety leaves us lost, alone, and ashamed and we curse the chaos in our very selves, the only way out  of the country of our wounds is through, and Christ's courage to let chaos nail him through can make these wounds the path back to our promised land. Amen. KJ Ramsey The Book of Common Courage. May we create space to reflect on the chaos, the nails, the courage, the wounds, and the hope that is found in all of that today. #easter #thewayisthrough #hope

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said,  "Sit here while I go over there to pray." He took Peter and Zebedees two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed.  He told them,  "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Matthew 26:36-38 NLT Anguished. Distressed. "My soul is crushed". If we've ever felt that way, Jesus knows too what it's like.  He's been there too.  "My soul is crushed." And in that moment Jesus is aware of what he needs and is OK to ask it of his people: "Stay here and keep watch with me". Sometimes that's what we need when we're distressed, anguished, feeling crushed, that someone who knows us, someone who cares, will sit with us. There's no fixing going on. Jesus, in his distress, simply asks two people he knows well to sit with him.  If it's OK for Jesus to ask his friends for what he needs

So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there. When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the Twelve.  ... Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. Matthew 26:19-20, 30 NLT The Passover meal that had all the drama of betrayal, the identification of Judas, and the genesis of what we often call "The Lord's Supper" or "communion", ends with a waiata, a song, a hymn.  This may well be the last song that Jesus sung.  I wonder what it was.  And I wonder how it closed off their time together - there'd been real distress amongst the whole group, and before they go to wherever it is they were going for the evening or to sleep, they sung a song.  Maybe there's something important here that when our heart, mind, spirit has been in turmoil that singing can bring us back to equilibrium, it can help to restore shalom. It doesn't say "Peter led them in a song" which is something that might be exp

Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn,  "Am I the one, Lord?" ... As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it.  Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying,  "Take this and eat it, for this is my body." Matthew 26:21-22, 26 NLT They were all distressed. Judas had just been identified as "the one".  Everyone was off balance, not quite sure what was going on. And what does Jesus do? Apart from continuing to eat dinner he instigstes what we often now call "communion".  In the midst of what must've been sacttered thoughts and emotions amongst the disciples, including Judas, Jesus brings the focus back to who He is, and what He is about to do. And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it.  He gave it to them and said,  "Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many." Mat

When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the Twelve. While they were eating, he said,  "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me." Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn,  "Am I the one, Lord?" ... Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, "Rabbi, am I the one?" And Jesus told him, "You have said it." Matthew 26:20-22, 25 NLT The week before Jesus's death and resurrection kicks off with dinner.  And whatever the conversation had been, it suddenly takes a different tack as Jesus drops this in: "One of you will betray me". This prompts so many questions; Why did he make it open for everyone? Why put everyone through that self doubt? More than self doubt but distress. They were all upset that after three years with their rabbi, their teacher, he's saying it could be me!  It could be me who betrays him.  I wonder if I was at that table what my response would be in that moment? Am I the one? Could it be

Sunday Psalms; Sin whispers  to the wicked,  deep within their hearts.  They have  no fear of God at all.  In their blind conceit, they cannot see  how wicked  they really are. Psalms 36:1-2 NLT I thought Psalms were all uplifting and songs we could sing together in church, but here we are being confronted with the workings of the human heart, and it's not pleasant.  And while it's easy to allocate this description to a narcissist, or someone so far from God, I know that sin whispers in my heart too.  There's times when I can't see how mean or angry or selfish I've been, or am in the moment.  And when I've followed sins whispers I'm not thinking of God at all.  So, yes, this song, this Psalm, this poem rings true for me (I can't imagine singing it tho!) Sitting with this poem does give me the opportunity to wake up to the whispers of sin, to be aware, and in that awareness is the opportunity to flush those whispers before they take root, to not allow the

From then on Jesus began to preach,  "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near." Matthew 4:17 CSB From then on...from when?  It seems to point back to v12 when Jesus heard that John had been arrested. The one who was making a way, preparing people for Jesus, was now arrested.  And this seems to trigger a change in what Jesus has to say.  He says that now is the time to change. The word used here, repent, is "metanoeo" which means to change my mind, change my inner purpose.  And why does Jesus start telling people to do that? Because the Kingdom of Heaven is close, what you've been waiting for, hoping for is actually right here.  Jesus says "it's me". And for that to be a reality for you, to see the Kingdom, to really see me it's going to take a change in thinking, a change in being, a change in heart.  A change in allegiance. Something shifted in Jesus ministry when John was arrested and he moved to the beach (see v13), and he says o