verseoftheday

Friday! Proverbs! A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike - restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one's right hand. Proverbs 27:15-16 BSB This proverb has been translated as "nagging wife is like a dripping tap" but that domestic context and the negative connotation of that doesn't seem to be there in the original.  The person who came to mind when sitting with this proverb this morning, and listening to the constant rain on my roof, was Dame Whina Cooper - if you haven't seen the move "Whina" of her life then please do.  She was contentious. Contending for her whanau, her people, for the land, for a place. She did not stop, did not give up.  She stood for what was important.  That's the essence of this proverb.  Contend. Stand. Don't give up on what's really important. Be like the rain. Our society's, communities, our nation's need people who will contend for what is importan...

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 I've been thinking about injustice this week.  Paul is railing here against injustice. It's easy to quickly go to the "victory" side of his writing here, the "not" side.  But there's something wrong when people are "afflicted in every way". There's something wrong when people are "struck down".  There's something wrong when people have to stand up to persecution because it's unjust, there's something wrong when we feel anxious.  Whatever the injustices are that you're facing, this passage tells you that you're not alone. Whether it's the injustice of cancer or Illness, of abuse, bullying, of the death of someone you love, of systems that seem to work against the very people they're supposed to help, the injustice of ...

Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.  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 4:7-9 CSB This extraordinary piece of writing is connected to what Paul said about where the power comes from and who he is in all this trouble: A jar of clay, an ordinary vessel, an ordinary person that is afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, & struck down. Maybe you can relate.  To be not crushed not in despair not abandoned not destroyed the power for those 'nots' is from God.  Paul needed God's power to stand.  And we do too.  You don't have to do this in your own strength, your own power. A simple prayer: "Lord, I'm stuck" "Lord I'm despairing" Acknowledge who He is, our need, and then step out, step forward, press on, get up, change your t...

Again you've heard that it was said... But I tell you, don't take an oath at all:  ... Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black.  But let your 'yes' mean 'yes,' and your 'no' mean 'no.' Anything more than this is from the evil one. Matthew 5:34, 36-7 CSB It must've been some kind of practice back in the day with people claiming all kinds of authority when making commitments, making all kinds of claims over areas that they had no power at all...and then Jesus says you can't even control whether your hair keeps it's colour or not! So simplify your life.  Don't get caught up in all these power claims of the world, you don't need them.  This is about Jesus telling his audience (& us) that it's easy to get caught up in the way culture, society, those around us, the voices of our upbringing, what is popular at the moment, sways and influences us.  The world around you says...but I [Jes...

There is a river -  its streams delight  the city of God,  the holy  dwelling place  of the Most High.  God is within her;  she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns. Nations rage,  kingdoms topple;  the earth melts when he lifts his voice.  The Lord of Armies is with us;  the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah Psalms 46:4-7 CSB So many pictures and they're a bit confusing... The stream that delights the City of God - is that Jesus? Is that the church? Us? Is God in city? Or the river? Maybe both. What does "the earth melts" mean? The Lord of Armies yet Jesus rode in to Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey and died at the hands of a coalition of the Roman empire and the people his people.  Why isn't this clearer? Wondering if it's because it's a song. Songs aren't always clear. Songs move things around in us. Songs connect things in different ways, speak to us in different ways. (Do you ever wish you cou...

For the leader. By the descendants of Korach.  On 'alamot [high-pitched musical instruments?] A song:  God is our refuge and strength,  an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we are unafraid,  even if the earth gives way,  even if the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea, even if its waters rage and foam,  and mountains shake at its turbulence.  (Selah) Tehillim (Psa) 46:1-3 CJB I appreciate how this version of the Bible includes the instructions as part of the Psalm, part of the song.  Songs are meant to move us, to connect with our spirit, our emotions. This one invites us in by labelling it "a song". What happens when you read it like a song? Let pictures come up? What stirs in you? What is it that you like about the song? (right now, I like the repeat of "even if...") What don't you like? (I wish God was an actual city of refuge that I could hide away in) Songs are meant to be sung and mixed in with who we are, our world, life...

Saturday! Proverbs! If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted as a curse to him. Proverbs 27:14 CSB I wonder if God just smiles when He thinks about this Proverb is sitting in the middle of the Bible! I also wonder if it stretches to my neighbours dog who likes to bless the neighbourhood early in the morning... This word bless also means to kneel, so it does seem to carry a religious meaning, so if I'm doing something and it's annoying the people I live with or those around me, even if it's something spiritual or religious, then I need to find another way, place or time.  This is love your neighbour 101. This is basic "love is kind". Beneath the humerous surface of this Proverb is a nudge at my heart. My loud and boisterous "Good morning!" before the other person is really awake might be funny once a year, but it soon becomes unfunny, unloving and unkind, and displays a heart that says "I'm better tha...

Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 CSB Clay jars. Ordinary.  Everyday.  Treasure.  And extraordinary power. ("hyperbole" "dynameos") Paul seems to be saying that he and Timothy are ordinary people, but there's extraordinary things going on which are beyond the ordinary.  And there's this treasure. What's the treasure? He's been unpacking it over the last chapter or 2: 2:14 the fragrance of Jesus 3:4-6 all their competence comes from God 3:7 from death to life in the Spirit, in Jesus v14 3:17 freedom in the Spirit 3:18 transforming to be like Jesus 4:1 received mercy 4:5 Jesus is Lord 4:6 it's God's light that shines in us This treasure.  Treasure that you and I share in too, treasure that grows to meet all people as we go about in the ordinary... #corinthians #treasure #youareBeloved

For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus's sake. For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:5-6 CSB I wonder what was going on in the church for Paul to write that first bit? Celebrity pastors? People making church all about them? There's something astray in the heart...and Paul takes us back to Genesis, to the light that emerged from the dark, is the same light that shines in our hearts, and somehow finds its way from our heart to Jesus' face.  There's an untangling from the selfish ambition of verse 4, and an entwining with God's creative endeavour and the light of that finding its way through us to Jesus in verse 5.  This gives an inkling of what we were made for, and what is to come... #corinthians #intriguing #somethingtochewon #light #youareBeloved

"You have heard that it was said, Don't ______. But I say to you...in his heart" Matthew 5:27-28 CEB Jesus moves the goalposts. Changes the game.  Makes the law impossible to meet and the consequences outrageous. He seems to be doing two things: Helping us to see that we simply can't be righteous enough to be holy.  Even though we might obey the rules our hearts and minds can and do so easily go to places that are not in line with Gods plan for our thriving.  We all need Grace.  Even the best person you can think of.  We all need Grace.  It's not the outward compliance with the law that has the last word, it's the inner person, our motivations and desires that can be good, can mostly be good, can almost always be good. Almost.  Grace says "I love you human, knowing that you are just that, human, and together we will gently work on motivation and thoughts and wants and that's OK, but that big question of 'am I good enough for God?', I've go...

Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone's conscience by an open display of the truth. 2 Corinthians 4:2 CSB Not sure what Paul was referring to here that he was putting aside, renouncing, not participating in any more, but there are times when we need to do the same, recognise our actions, choices, thought patterns for what they are and declare "no more".  It may even be the way we've used the Bible, as a weapon to separate, to elevate "me" over "you". Paul's keen on the truth being out in the open (but again I'm not sure of his context writing here to the Corinthians), but letting God's truth in. We can do that through studying His word, prayer both alone and in community, working through our stuff with trustworthy people...we can do that because of v1; "because we were shown mercy" God's arms of grace are ...

Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. 2 Corinthians 4:1 CSB What is this ministry? Paul has just written of it in Ch2, it's the living letter of Jesus, it's living not in their own wisdom but in the Spirit, it's knowing that the reflection of God's glory, his righteousness found in Jesus is what makes us able to see God to be right with him, its that gift that leads to freedom, the transforming, the shaping and changing of us as a result...that ministry... Yes the world, people who we thought were or should be allies, may be against us.  Even our own bodies may seem to battle against us.  In the losses and grief's and hurts of life we do not give up. That's Paul's encouragement. He doesn't give up becuase of the mercy he has received, he does not forget it.  This life does hurt. It would be easy to give up.  God is good. His mercy does endure forever. You are beloved. Little by little God is changing and s...

Sunday Psalms; For the Choir Director; according to "the Lilies". A Maskil of the Sons of Korah. A love song.  My heart is moved by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; Psalms 45:1 CSB Not only is this Psalm marked as a love song, it's even got the tune identified. No doubt today you'd hear this song on the radio or Spotify or wherever you find your music today.  The thing I love about this is that the writer is writing about what has or is moving their heart. That's where the freedom is; What is moving your heart? Today it could be grief, loss, hurt, struggle, fear.  It could be beauty, compassion, success, growth, gratitude, safety, love.  What is moving your heart today? This Psalm gives us the freedom to think on it, process it, write about it, write about how we feel, express it in some way through music or art or words or some form.  Give expression to what moves your heart.  And share it.  This love song got into the biggest selling ...

"You have heard that it was said to those who lived long ago, Don't commit murder, and all who commit murder will be in danger of judgment. But I say to you..." Matthew 5:21-22 CEB "But I say to you" Jesus moves the law from the outside world of actions to the inside world of the heart.  He's not changing anything just making its intent known. I'm so quick to make judgements about what people do and say assuming that I know and can make sense of their whakapapa, their history, upbringing, relationships, experiences, thoughts and emotions. I can't make sense of my own most of the time let alone what someone else does. "But I say to you" lets us know that there is so much more to people, to us, to you and me, than adherence to a set of rules, whether they're God's, our culture, our society's.  "But I say to you" lets us know there's more for us to discover, to learn, to grow in, and to grow into.  "But I say to ...

Friday! Proverbs! Take the garment of the person who secures a loan for a stranger;  take his pledge for a foreigner. Proverbs 27:13 CEB Some things come across as strange when we live in a world of plenty. Consider for a moment the effort and resources required to make clothing from scratch rather than K Mart.  If you had a spare garment that you weren't wearing, or a coat to keep you warm it would be incredibly valuable. Valuable enough that you'd pay back your loan to redeem your coat.  And a "foreigner" may have a different set of values to someone raised in your culture, so holding security for a loan to someone who may not get the way your society works makes sense. So how do we make sense of this? Why is this Proverb here? Is it to help me realise that not everyone sees things the same way I do? Is it about being wise? Was it placed here just so from our vantage point it stands in contrast to Jesus who gave up his garment, who didn't just loan something of ...

The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Lord's Spirit is, there is freedom. All of us are looking with unveiled faces at the glory of the Lord as if we were looking in a mirror. We are being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to the next degree of glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 CEB This is what our God is about, bringing change one degree, one step, one percent at a time.   Change that makes us more like Jesus.  Transformation. We are beloved. And we are changing. It may be thoughts, actions, patterns that we need to put down, patterns that may have served some good purpose once, but are not a reflection of Jesus. And it's new patterns, thoughts, truth, choices, that we can pick up that are the fruit of the Spirit. This is the Spirits work in us, one degree, one step, one moment, one choice at a time.  What is it that the Spirit is prompting? (This is deep personal work that we can invite others into.) A...

But whenever someone turns back to the Lord, the veil is removed. The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Lord's Spirit is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:16-17 CEB Coming back to Jesus. The people Paul is writing to seemed to be stuck in a world of rules and obeying the rules made you righteous, right with God.  Any mistake, misstep, bad decision, error or slip was condemning.  This veil that covered Moses face when he saw God on the mountain so that the people didn't see God reflected in his face, this veil is used as a picture of what stops us seeing Jesus.  Being good enough in my own effort, my rule keeping, my righteousness is the veil that stops us seeing Jesus.  It's like being in prison, because where the Spirit is, there is freedom.  (Not freedom to do whatever desires might pop into my heart but) freedom from having to strive to be enough, righteous enough, good enough to be loved by God, accepted by Him, welcomed by Him. Jesus is our righteousness, ...

So, since we have such a hope, we act with great confidence. 2 Corinthians 3:12 CEB This hope isn't in Paul's ability, qualifications, learning as good and useful as those things are they do not generate hope. It's the Spirit of God indwelling.  We have been sealed by the Spirit and He lives in us (Eph 1:13, 2 Cor 1:22). God, in some way, lives in us.  "You weren't written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God. You weren't written on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. This is the confidence that we have through Christ in the presence of God. It isn't that we ourselves are qualified to claim that anything came from us. No, our qualification is from God." 2 Corinthians 3:3-5 CEB And Jesus, resurrected, having been through death for us, qualifies us.  We're good.  We're enough. Because Jesus.  Some days this is as clear as a winter's morning, and other days it's as clear as mud, we can't grasp it or hold it...be...

You weren't written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.  You weren't written on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:3 CEB Not written on stone. Change is possible.  Your story is not fixed by others, not determined, not written on stone to stay as a monument or permanent reminder of the past, your story is living, moving, beating, full of life (even if some days it doesn't feel that way). Your story isn't bound by the pen and ink of people, because the Boundless, the Eternal, the Life is involved.  You are so much more.  Will you and I let His love, His grace, determine our worth today? Will we let Him shape our responses, light our path, determine our steps? You weren't written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.  You weren't written on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. #corinthians #youareBeloved

Sunday Psalms: Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep?  Get up! Do not reject us forever. Why do you  look the other way?  Why do you  ignore our suffering and oppression?  We collapse in the dust, lying face down in the dirt.  Rise up!  Help us!  Ransom us because of your unfailing love. Psalms 44:23-26 NLT Ever thought about talking to God like this? Maybe you have, perhaps there's been times when you've really wanted to...this ending to this song is in our Bible for a reason... It's human to want things fixed.  Injustice. To have shalom.  To have shalom restored.  To know peace. To have God act and intervene on our behalf, to just make things RIGHT.  It's OK to express how you feel...do what the psalmist did and write it down.  These are songs to God. Write a song.  This one, 44, tells a story, and when we read it we get the opportunity to relate to the writer and see how their experience might connect with ours, how t...

"But I warn you - unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!" Matthew 5:20 NLT I can't think of an equivalent group of people in my world to the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees. Perhaps if you put in a room the pastor or priest you respecte the most, the Christian authors you most admire, the person you know who knows the most about the Bible and the person you know who lives the most honourable life, and wrap them all up together, and Jesus says you have to be more righteous, just be better, than that.  The gap is too great, the standard too high, and we're lost.  But for Grace.  #wordsofJesus #redletterBible #Gracemakesaway #gracewecanrestin

Friday! Proverbs! A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.  The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. Proverbs 27:12 NLT This proverb doesn't mean that we should be able to anticipate every bad thing that might happen, but does seem to say that we should keep our eyes open to danger, trouble, problems. When I avoid or delay going to the dentist, the Dr, get our car serviced, I am the person going blindly on.  When I think I can be healthy and ignore my diet or never exercise I am being a simpleton! When I ignore the weather report or the accountants advice, or keep spending on things I don't really need I may well suffer the consequences.  I wonder if this proverb would also like us to consider our moral choices.  What about the danger to our spirit, our walk with God? Where am I being wise?  And where am I just going blindly on? #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

You are our letter,  written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 2 Corinthians 3:2 CEB Have you written a book? Ever wanted to? Ever wondered about what lives on after we don't? Paul just sums it up beautifully here: "You are our letter" The people are his living letter, his living testimony. He's saying "You are our book, our living testimony, our legacy that lives and breathes and takes up space in the world." Don't worry about the fame or the legacy of a book or programme or business, property or trust fund, simply love people and they will take you with them...into the future in a living and dynamic way. What do you think? #corinthians #lovepeople #livinglegacy #youareourletter

"Don't even begin to think that I have come to do away with the Law and the Prophets.  I haven't come to do away with them but to fulfill them." Matthew 5:17 CEB All that Old Testament law isn't just a bunch of rules and tick boxes and ways of making us feel bad because we can't do it all, aren't good enough, don't measure up. They're pointing us somewhere.  Pointing us to Jesus. All those prophets and their stories, their revelations, their wrestling with God, with his people, with themselves, they're pointing us somewhere. Pointing us to Jesus.  Jesus makes a massive claim here, he's not claiming to be another prophet, but the fulfillment of the prophets. The embodiment of all of that revelation of God, his heart for people, his desire to commune with us, his holiness, justice, all of it, jammed into a person.  #wordsofJesus #redletterBible #Jesusatthecentre 

But thank God, who is always leading us around through Christ as if we were in a parade. He releases the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere through us. We smell like the aroma of Christ's offering to God... 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 CEB An aroma is an interesting thing isn't it.  What comes to mind for you? Fresh bread? The sea? Curry? Freshly mown grass? After the rain? Is it a place, a favourite food that is being cooked? An aroma kind of permeates a space, it's just there, and it's good.  Paul is using this analogy of an aroma being us.  And who we are, is like the aroma of who Jesus is.  Permating the places that we live, work, study, do business in, where we play and re-create. I wonder what the aroma is that I bring, or what lingers after I leave?  Some days it's definitely not the aroma of Jesus!  As we let Him in more and more, may His aroma be what we bring and what we leave in the spaces we inhabit.  #corinthians #aromaofJesus #letHisar...

On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he gave a feast for all his servants. He elevated the chief cupbearer and the chief baker among his servants. Genesis 40:20 CSB As this is the first time we've had a holiday (are you having a "day off" today?) that is connected to the Kings Birthday, this is the first Kings Birthday I could find.  Started out OK, but Pharaoh went on to have the old chief baker killed.  I don't know of most people celebrated birthdays but this king did.  It was all about maintaining power.  Power. Where one person is higher, and the other, or others are lower.  After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed... Matthew 2:1-3 CSB Another birthday, and another upset king.  For even the Son ...

Sunday Psalms; Psalm 43 is like an extension of 42 and ends with the same refrain at the end: Why, my soul,  are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil?  Put your hope in God,  for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalms 43:5 CSB There is a similar call for God to rescue the writer from deceitful and unjust people, a cry to God because he feels abandoned.  And then there are these beautiful phrases: For you are the God of my refuge. Psalms 43:2 CSB Send your light and your truth; let them lead me. Psalms 43:3 CSB Trust and hope can be rare commodities when things are not going well. When we're let down, betrayed, hurt by others actions and choices. When there's loss, grief, turmoil, disappointment.  Hold on to what is True. And even in those times, let God's light and truth lead.  Being led implies movement. Movement can be small, almost imperceptible some days, we might only notice it looking back.  Refuge. A place of rest and safe...

You are the light of the world.  A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 CSB let your  Jesus says that you are the light of the world.  Not one day down the track when all your imperfections are sorted and you're a "better" person. The word for "good" here also means beautiful.  He says "I see you."  "You are the light of the world." "So don't hide away, let the good things, the beautiful things you do be seen, the good work you do, the way you work, the way you treat people, it all points people in the right direction, towards me" Jesus doesn't put you under a basket hidden away, we do that.  It seems that the most honouring thing we can do for Jesus ...

Friday! Proverbs! Be wise,  my son,  and bring my heart joy, so that I can answer anyone who taunts me. Proverbs 27:11 CSB Wow.  I wonder what's going on in the writers life to need to write this!?! It does tell us something about life, wisdom, joy and what's important - it's more than the here and now, the immediate. It's about the next generation, about those who we may have encouraged or taught or loved along the way. This proverb is pointing to a long view.  Investing. Investing in people.  And that requires a view that is not about the instant, the immediate, the quick fix.  There's been a series of adverts about cheese and that good things take time, and those ads stood in contrast to a culture that is all about the immediate. Joy and wisdom are not commodities that can be found, created, purchased in the immediate.  They need space, time, relationships...these things take intention. We're the only ones who can choose these things. #proverbs #wis...

You are the salt of the earth.  But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again?  It's good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people's feet. Matthew 5:13 CEB Jesus is using this analogy of salt to describe some aspect of the people he is talking to (& by extension, us). Salt. The salt of the earth.  There's something there that's so important, that makes a difference, that brings flavour.  And if it's lost, well, were discarded.  Have you ever wondered what Jesus meant when he says we're the salt?  The flavour  The zing  The life Salt brings out the flavour of the other ingredients. Maybe that's what this is about...Jesus calls us to bring out all the goodness and flavour in those around us.  #wordsofJesus #redletterBible #somethingtochewon