verseoftheday

Matthew 26:52-54 NLT "Put away your sword," Jesus told him.  "Those who use the sword will die by the sword. Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?" Matthew 26:52-54 NLT Jesus connects his team to the Bigger Story and purpose of his life, reminds them that he has all the power, all the authority to change the situation, but chooses not to. There's something way more important than his comfort or his success (he is a Rabbi).  Our culture messures us, and we often feel like we have to measure up or we are failures in some way. As 2024 winds down, how does Jesus rejection of the measures of success of the culture he lived in resonate with us? One of his team has pulled out his weapon and caused harm & havoc & Jesus tells him to put it down, that's not the way of the Kingdom. What do we...

Matthew 26:48-50 NLT The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal:  "You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss." So Judas came straight to Jesus.  "Greetings, Rabbi!" he exclaimed and gave him the kiss. Jesus said,  "My friend,  go ahead and do what you have come for." Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.  Matthew 26:48-50 NLT Even though Jesus knew Judas was going to do what he did, knew what would unfold from that moment, Jesus didn't intervene, stop him, or even make it difficult for him. Somehow in the middle of this betrayal Jesus still lived out a life of Grace, compassion, mercy.  This is something that seems beyond our human ability to do. Jesus must've keep holding on to the Bigger Story, the Love Story, that meant that at a human level what Judas did was a big thing, but in the Big Story was just another step to Jesus making a way for us.  Because God so loved the world. Jesus accepted the betray...

Sunday Psalms; Psalms 119:41, 45 NLT Waw Lord,  give me your unfailing love,  the salvation that you promised me. ... I will walk in freedom,  for I have devoted myself to your commandments. Psalms 119: 41&45 NLT The psalmist is looking forward to "more". There's more to come.  The Christmas story is full of the promise if more. When we get to the end of the year, we look forward to more, different, putting behind us something from the past, letting something go. And then the psalmist tells us about freedom. Freedom that is found in following our God's way of being in the world, of listening to the designer, of hearing his heart...that's the place of freedom when we discover in God's story His heart for us. His heart for justice. His heart to be known. His heart to love. A story that led to Christmas, and to the promise of "more". The best is yet to come. #psalms #psalm119 #onedayallwillbemadenew  #thebestisyettocome #thereismore #youarealreadyBe...

Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. Luke 2:21 NLT Jesus parents (Mary was Jesus mum, but what is Joseph? Step-dad?) followed the cultural and religious practices of their time, and they followed the instruction of the Angel, and named him Jesus. And what was going on that first Christmas? Probably ordinary life. Recovery Rest Family  Feeding Sleeping Thinking about all that has happened and wondering about what is next Ordinary life. Ordinary Life was happening all around Jesus.  Do you wonder what it was like for Jesus who was the agent of creation, who saw all that we call reality unfold, to now be completely dependent on others...to be ordinary... God became ordinary.  When we go and visit another country, live in another culture, learn a new language, we take with us our own language, skills and experiences. Yet Jesus was born into our world. He is one of us. Why? Because Lo...

All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.  Luke 2:18-19 NLT The shepherds talked about the first Christmas to anyone who would listen, and Mary didn't. She meditated on what was going on, the story she found herself in, and no doubt worked on being a first time Mum, figuring out what their new baby needed, quietly going about being a parent. There's a freedom here for us in how we express our faith, there may be times when being like the shepherds is where we are at, talking about our experiences with God, and other times quiet contemplation, reflection, thought are where we are at.  What do you need today? To express something, talk to someone, quietly consider, or something in between, something else? The first Christmas gives us the gift of freedom to be who we are in the story we find ourselves in. #Christmas  #gift #whatgiftdoyouneed

Luke 2:20 NLT The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.  Luke 2:20 NLT Next day, normal life returned.  Back to work, back to looking after their sheep. But something must have shifted for those shepherds who'd had a supernatural visitation, experienced a real heavenly choir, gone into town and checked it all out and were now heading back to work, praising God. Glorifying Him. Because it was all true. Whether we're back at work, study, back to "normal", on holiday somewhere exciting, relaxing or very ordinary, we get to take with us into today what is true, the Gift that will last, will shift things in us and in our world, the truth that it was just as the Angel had said: Our Saviour arrived.  The Messiah. Lord. And everything changed, because God somehow became one of us. Whether ordinary life returns today, tomorrow, next week or next year, we get to take the Truth of...

They were terrified,  but the angel reassured them.  "Dont be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others - the armies of heaven - praising God and saying, "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased." Luke 2:9-14 NLT The shepherds got a shock, experienced something unexpected, were afraid, and yet it turned out to be the best thing ever. In the unexpected, the shocks, the goodness, the planned, whatever life holds, may we hold the words of the angel, that there is Good News, a Bigger Story, that our Saviour, Messiah, Lord, has arrived.  We don't have a baby wrapped snugly to check out this story, but we do hav...

Matthew 26:42-43 NLT Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, "My Father!  If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it,  your will be done." When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldnt keep their eyes open. Matthew 26:42-43 NLT We celebrate Christmas because Jesus entered the Story. God, eternal, larger than Life, The Creator of it all, shrunk himself into the vulnerable form of a baby and became one of us. God with us. The Gift. And here The Gift is let down, alone, and facing what he came to do, The Gift is giving Himself, so that we, his people who can't even keep our eyes open, will be OK. In all our frailty & weakness, we are loved. We are His Beloved.  That's the Story.  Christmas  Easter  Communion Hope Hope arrived as a baby, lived among us, and gave His Life so that we can truly Live. #wordsofJesus #redletterBible #Christmas #hopeishere

Matthew 26:36-38 NLT 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 Zebedee's 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 I'm not sure if Peter, James & John were close enough to hear Jesus second request, or if they noticed his distress and went to him, but Jesus is suffering, and in his pain he wants his trusted people there. Close. While our culture paints Christmas as this universal time of joy and family and fun, for many it's not. Family is not a safe place. Christmas is tainted by violence, abuse, abandonment, betrayal, loss, and grief.  Jesus wasn't afraid to tell his trusted people what he needed, & he was OK to express all his emotions with them. Joy and sorrow travel hand in hand in this life.  Jes...

Sunday Psalms: Daleth I lie in the dust;  revive me by your word. I told you my plans,  and you answered.  Now teach me your decrees.  Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,  and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds. I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word. Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions. I have chosen to be faithful;  I have determined to live by your regulations. I cling to your laws. Lord, don't let me be put to shame! I will pursue your commands,  for you expand my understanding.  Psalms 119:25-32 NLT This part, Daleth, has some gems for us: The first one is about sorrow, loss, grief, sadness; "I lie in the dust" "I weep with sorrow" Intwined with choosing to be faithful, following God with all he has, the writer also has this deep sadness.  At the same time. And that's OK. It's called being human. The 2nd gem is this; "Keep me from lying to myself" - I'm good at t...

Matthew 26:33-35 NLT Peter declared, "Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you." Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, Peter - this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me." "No!" Peter insisted. "Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!" And all the other disciples vowed the same.  Matthew 26:33-35 NLT Why do I comnect with Peter's story so much?  Because I'm just like him. Just like the disciples who all agreed too. This is our passionate yet flawed humanity at its best, desperately wanting to do what's right.  And Jesus is up front with Peter and tells him he's going to fail.  The unsaid part is that this is why Christmas, why Jesus entered the Story, and why there's going to be betrayal, denial, death, and resurrection. Because Love. Because God's Outrageous Love sees all our weakness and Loves anyway.  Unfailing Love knows our humanness and ...

Friday! Proverbs! These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. Proverbs 1:1-6 NLT It could be helpful if every book in the Bible started with a commentary of who wrote it and it's purpose! These Proverbs come to us with purpose: The learning, the insight, the wisdom gained, or increased, has a "so that" attached - so that we might live disciplined & successful lives - and what does that look like? Doing what is right. Doing what is ju...

Matthew 26:31-32 NLT On the way, Jesus told them, "Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,  'God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there. Matthew 26:31-32 NLT Not only have the disciples gone through all this anxiety around betrayal, now they're being told by Jesus that Zechariah's prophecy includes them and they're all going to abandon Jesus. There's no mention of them confronting Judas, so maybe they're all a bit shocked, processing what they're hearing, and now Jesus is not only talking about dying but being raised from the dead & meeting them afterwards...in Galilee...which is 150km away, a 3 day walk at least. Confused? Lost? Angry? Afraid? And yet this thread of hope is always there, resurrection, meeting again. This is the Hope that arrived on Christmas morning, a baby who is Hope, who will h...

Matthew 26:27-30 NLT 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. Mark my words - I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom." Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.  Matthew 26:27-30 NLT A prayer of thanks. A promise. And a song. In the midst of betrayal Jesus starts with prayer, giving thanks.  He then reiterates his purpose, that our God keeps his promises, and that he is the fulfillment of God's promise, He is The Way. And Jesus gives hope. There's going to be Life after death, Life that includes the good things that we enjoy, and that day is coming. I wonder what song they sang together...what thoughts the disciples had as they sang... Prayer Promise Song Seems like a good way to start...

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 26:26 NLT The Passover meal has been prepared at the home of someone who super naturally knew that Jesus and his disciples were going to turn up. It seems like they're about to share the meal and after recently reminding the disciples that his death is imminent, Jesus drops the bomb that someone in the group will betray him, and then after letting everyone wonder if it's them, confirms it's Judas.  And then he blesses the food, gives the bread that he has broken to each person, and says "take it, eat it, this is my body"! No one is going to want to eat that bread. There's going to be betrayal and it must have felt like each of them would be part of it.  And yet here is Jesus, blessing this kai and giving it...the thing you don't want to be part of you're being invited...

Matthew 26:20-22 NIV When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you,  one of you will betray me." Matthew 26:20-22 NIV Truly. So be it. So let it be. Amen.  Yes the word Jesus uses is "amen". Jesus drops this bomb onto his team and it lands on all of them.  I wonder if this statement of Jesus to his closest people is a reminder to us of our humanness, frailty, that any of us could so easily be the person who betrays Jesus in some way. Perhaps today with all the noise in our world, all the colour and tinsel of Christmas assaulting our senses, Jesus is making this statement in a new way. Where am I apt to betray Jesus? This statement wasn't made to just one of the disciples, but to all & Jesus words took them all by surprise. Jesus statement was inviting his disciples into a Bigger Story, bigger than them, bigger than Christmas...and He invites us in too... #wordsofJesus #redletterBib...

Sunday Psalms: Psalms 119:16-19 NLT Gimel Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word.  Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. I am only a foreigner in the land.  Don't hide your commands from me! Psalms 119:16-19 NLT Part 3 of 22 of Psalm 119...and I'm wondering how often I come to God's Word, to church, to meet with an image bearer of God with the psalmist request: "Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions" Open my eyes to see. Open my eyes to see. The psalmist places himself as a foreigner in an unfamiliar culture, land, language, environment, place. Like being in another country.  In that unfamiliar place there's more to see, there's hidden things here as a foreigner that I don't quite get, as a traveller I see or hear but don't yet understand. Open my eyes to see. Open my eyes to see. Maybe we can accept the invitation offered here to ask for our eyes to be opened in some place, in s...

Matthew 26:17-18 NLT On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?" "As you go into the city," he told them, "you will see a certain man.  Tell him,  'The Teacher says:  My time has come,  and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.'" Matthew 26:17-18 NLT Jesus is way ahead of his team, has somehow super naturally communicated with a person in the city that the Passover meal is going to happen at his place with at least an extra 13 people. There was a Bigger Story at play here that the disciples couldn't see.  Jesus is way ahead of us too - preparing a place for us. At Christmas we celebrate Jesus birth, The Gift, and yet the people in the middle of that story can't have seen or known fully what they were part of. Yet they kept stepping forward in faith, having been visited by angels and dreams, perhaps just like ...

Friday! Proverbs! She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. ... When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. Proverbs 31: 20, 26 NLT This last part of Proverbs (v10-31) is an acrostic poem with each verse starting with the next letter from the Hebrew alphabet. So it's a whole story, snd plucking individual ideas from it doesn't seem to match the intent of a poem. 1. It's a poem, read it as a poem. 2. It's not a weapon, a set of "shoulds", laws, or ideals, it's a poem. 3. Poems (& proverbs) invite us into something, something deeper. It's a heart thing.  What could this poem be inviting us into? Inviting you into? When I read the whole poem it's a picture of shalom, of thriving, of flourishing - some things to step towards. From a New Testament perspective we, the church, are sometimes  pictured as the bride, so maybe this poem is a pointer to how we can be as the church, God's ...

Matthew 26:10 NLT But Jesus, aware of this, replied,  "Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me?" Jesus was just reminding his team that he was going to be crucified. The religious leaders were plotting to have Jesus killed.  The disciples were criticizing an act of generosity and love with some self righteous indignation. They still didn't get what Jesus was up to, they were right there and saw the miracles first hand and still didn't get who Jesus really is.  (It's not surprising we don't get him either) But this woman who entered Simon's home it seems without an invite, she knew what was ahead - it will be a wonderful story to hear of how she knew, what she wrestled with to choose the path she took. Her action of pouring the perfume, announting Jesus was in defiance of her religion, went against cultural norms, and was completely misunderstood by those closest to Jesus.  And yet Jesus praised her.  He saw her. Jesus sees us. Sees our a...

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, "As you know,  Passover begins in two days,  and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." Matthew 26:1-2 NLT "As you know..." I've told you before. Remember. This is going to happen. Be prepared. Don't be surprised. And yet it seems that Jesus team was surprised, weren't prepared, almost seemed to have forgotten what he had told them. Trauma can do that to people. Seeing your Rabbi, your teacher, your friend, the saviour of the world, healer of blind and lame and sick who seemed to be able to walk away from trouble when he needed to, is betrayed by his own people, arrested, sent to trial, tortured, and crucified by the government. They must've felt powerless, alone. The hope of a saviour being born seemed lost and gone. Because they couldn't remember, couldn't hold on to the Bigger Story that they were part of. And we're just the same. When faced with l...

Matthew 25:37-40 NLT "Then these righteous ones will reply,  'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you?  Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality?  Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?' "And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth,  when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,  you were doing it to me!'" Matthew 25:37-40 NLT If it was Jesus who was hungry, thirsty, struggling, he knew his people would be there.  It's not always easy stepping towards someone who needs help, but way easier when we know and love them. Jesus seems to be inviting his disciples, those listening, into a way of being in the world that is not afraid of stepping towards suffering, loss, hurt, need, into a way of seeing the small, the least, as seeing Jesus. Maybe that's what Chrismas is really all about. #wordsofJesus #redletterBible  #lovepeopl...

Beth. How can a young person stay pure?  By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you - don't let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.  Psalms 119:8-16 NLT I've heard some of these verses quoted as weapons, "see, you must..." But they're all about relationship first.  Just like the first stanza, read this thru a relationship lens and it makes sense. "I have tried hard to find you - don't let me wander from your commands." This isn't about the commands, but about seeking God. About relationship. The psalmist wants the relationship to be right with God not because of rules, but because of who our God is.  And it s...

Psalms 119:1-8 NLT Aleph Joyful are people of integrity,  who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws  and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations,  I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don't give up on me!  Psalms 119:1-8 NLT This is a long psalm! It has 22 stanza each one starting with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet...so this song is not put together by accident, but is carefully crafted. From this first stanza, Aleph, what stands out for you? Two things jumped out for me... 1. Obedience, following God's law includes a seeking of Him, a heart posture that is about getting to know God's heart - it's not ju...

Who can find a wife of noble character?  For her value is far more than rubies. Proverbs 31:10 NET Rubies are not easily found, often aren't on the surface, have to be mined... The "chayil", the strength, the moral courage, the gem that makes up the heart of this person might take some uncovering, just like a ruby. But it's there.  Worth looking for, worth mining for, the heart of the person. Our real gems get buried by life, experiences, the actions of others, the expectations of the world, maybe this poem is an invitation to let those gems in us come to the surface... (Just because something is difficult to uncover doesn't mean it's of no value.) We are Beloved and have value. Worth. Worthy. You are enough.  The gems are there. One day we'll be seen and known in all we were created to be, in the meantime there's gems within to be uncovered... #Proverbs #proverbs31 #poem #itsaheartthing  #somethingtochewon 

Friday! Proverbs! Who can find a wife of noble character?  For her value is far more than rubies. Proverbs 31:10 NET Prov 31:10-31 is an acrostic poem with each  verse beginning with the next letter if the Hebrew alphabet. So, it's clearly meant to be read and understood as a whole, it's a story on its own, a poem, so read the whole piece if you can. Poems invite us in to something, want things to open up for us. The poem starts with a question and an indication of value, a question about character. Some versions translate "noble character" as competent, virtuous, excellent, but the word here is "chayil": Chayil has a range of meanings including physical strength, moral valor, military might, and material wealth. It is often used to describe individuals of great capability or resources, whether in terms of physical prowess, moral integrity, or economic power. It is frequently associated with warriors, armies, and individuals of noble character or significant...

You are my God,  and I will praise you!  You are my God,  and I will exalt you! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever. Psalms 118:28-29 NLT This song ends as it began: "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good! His faithful love endures forever." Attached to that are these declarations, these choosings to say "You are my God". You are my God. We're invited by the songwriter to join in & declare: "You are my God". As we step into the day with that declaration, maybe some thing shifts a little in how we see today,  see our problems,  see people,  see the world. "You are my God" The One who IS Good. The One who IS Faithful Love. "You are my God". Perhaps the invitation is to see ourselves a little differently... #psalms  #psalm118 #declaration  #YouaremyGod #weareBeloved 

The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful to see. This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Please, Lord, please save us.  Please, Lord, please give us success. Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.  We bless you from the house of the Lord. Psalms 118:22-26 NLT What a jumble of ideas! Sometimes our thoughts and ideas about God, about the world, about ourselves, can be a jumble, and the song invites us to write ours too. To just let the jumble tumble out of our minds and find expression. It's OK if our ideas about God sometimes seem half formed, if there's mysteries, things we can't grasp or understand, just don't "get". It's OK to be in a bit of a mind jumble sometimes. The psalmist downloaded in writing, so finding a safe download place is a thing we can do too. It's OK because we are Beloved. #psalms #psalm118 #youareBeloved 

The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. Psalms 118:22 Peter quotes this verse in Acts 4. He has been challenged because he was involved in healing a crippled person, and he ties this verse in with Jesus. Rejected. And restored. And restored to something important. Perhaps today something is or has been crippling. Abuse, loss, grief, the decisions of others, mistakes, tragedy, the world pushing in...maybe it's rejection, fear, despair...we're in good company not only with the psalmist, with Jesus too.  And he was restored. We will be too. There is restoration, hope, healing to be found, and in the Big Story all things will be made new. We have much to look forward to. #psalms #psalms118 #hope #restoration #restorationofallthings #youareBeloved 

"His faithful love endures forever." In my distress I prayed to the Lord,  and the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is for me,  so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.  I will look in triumph at those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. Psalms 118:4-9 NLT So we start grounded in the truth that our God's faithful love endures forever. Then we hear about the psalmists broken heart, broken relationships, fears, and betrayal.  Maybe one or more of those os familiar territory for us. Hurt  Broken relationships  Fear Betrayal  And this song gives us some steps to take: - pray - listen - know that His Faithful Love endures forever, and in that truth we can find freedom - take refuge in someone  Bigger. Leave our fears of what people might think, might say, leave those fears with the...

Sunday Psalms; Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever. Let all Israel repeat:  "His faithful love endures forever." Let Aaron's descendants, the priests, repeat: "His faithful love endures forever." Let all who fear the Lord repeat: "His faithful love endures forever." Psalms 118:1-4 NLT Before the writer of this song heads off into the things that they want to share, the song starts with these 4 verses: Grounding verses. Grounding in truth. No matter what comes next; "His faithful love endures forever." Whatever we are facing; "His faithful love endures forever." Whatever our worries, anxieties, our fears; "His faithful love endures forever." Grounding in truth; "His faithful love endures forever." Planting ourselves on rock when the storms of life are crashing in; "His faithful love endures forever." Knowing that in the Big Story nothing can wash us away; "His...