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Showing posts from August, 2025

Sunday Psalms: [1] I give thanks to you with all my heart, LORD. I sing your praise before all other gods. ... [3] On the day I cried out, you answered me. You encouraged me with inner strength. Psalms 138:1, 3 CEB Back to songs of praise, this one about giving thanks, being grateful, starting with being grateful for our God. Things change when we start and/or end our day with gratitude, with thanks. And then in v3 we have this song writer's answered prayer. This person's circumstances didn't change, nothing was "fixed", but something shifted inside. Some inner strength was discovered, unlocked, found, kindled, by thankfulness and prayer. So often I want things changed on the outside and God wants to work on the inside, wanting to see me find those inner resources that He has made me with, made us with. Thankfulness & prayer. Take the next step. #psalms #psalms138 #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #takethenextstep

Take hold of my instructions; dont let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. Proverbs 4:13 NLT Can we hear Jesus in this Proverb? Jesus speaking in parables and stories, Jesus patiently explaining their meaning to his disciples, Jesus speaking the "Sermon on the Mount", Jesus sharing a meal with people, Jesus meeting the woman at the well...the rich young ruler...the Pharisees and church leaders...Peter on the beach with breakfast... Jesus speaking life and instruction and inviting his listeners to let the truth in... And that invitation continues to this day. Take hold of Jesus words, guard them, for they are the key to life. #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #itsaheartthing #keystolife

Friday! Proverbs! Take hold of my instructions; dont let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. Proverbs 4:13 NLT The word "instruction" is "musar" which carries several meanings; discipline, instruction, correction, chastisement. It seems to lean towards the "setting me straight" kind of instruction, the kind that points out the right path, that warns of the dangers of following a different path, that is honest and upfront, the kind of instruction I may not like, (the instruction I get from my GP after he's seen my blood tests). Take what God has to say and hold it close, let it instruct. One of my favourites is 1 Cor 13:4 Love is patient. This instructs me when I'm rushing, got behind, someone holds me up, is moving too slow for me, isn't keeping up, can't keep up, "love is patient". When it's my mistake, my misstep, a problem of my own making, "love is patient", I get to give myself that gift. ...

Mark 4:30-32 NLT Jesus said, "How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade." Mark 4:30-32 NLT Another story about a garden, seed, plants, growth, and this time includes a place of refuge, home, safety, for the creatures in the story. Then Mark gives us this gem: Mark 4:33-34 NLT Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand. In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them. Maybe we're not supposed to "get" all that the parable is about at the first listen (we get the luxury of reading these parables). Maybe we're supposed to sit with them, look for connections between...

Mark 4:26-29 NLT Jesus also said, "The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he's asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come." Mark 4:26-29 NLT What are we supposed to pay attention to here? What would Jesus have wanted those hearing him to "get" from this story? What does he want us to get, or invite us into? Perhaps it's in a world where we want certainty, to know how everything works, where logic and reason is valued above intuition or values or emotions, where mystery is not something to accept or sit with, Jesus offers us some mystery...the Kingdom grows how it grows, a bit mysteriously, a bit underground, ye...

Mark 4:24-25 NLT Then he added, "Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given - and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them." Mark 4:24-25 NLT Sometimes I wonder how much notice I take of Jesus words, his parables and stories. Here he is inviting his listeners to pause, to wait, to pay attention. I wonder what Jesus would be wanting me to pay attention to from what he has said? What does he want me to take seriously today? This invitation is in the middle of parables about soil and seed and plants, and lamps and lights, and growing things, harvesting and gardens. Perhaps the invitation is to sit with these stories and allow them to speak into our lives today, our circumstances today...to pay attention... #gospelofMark #GoodNews #invitation...

1 John 3:2-3 NLT Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3 NLT There is something purifying, cleansing, uplifting, healing, in letting the truth into our bones. There's something in knowing that we belong, that we're held inseparable in God's love, that we're chosen, and held not by our strength, our goodness, our deeds, but by His. Jesus said it's the truth that sets you free. Where does this truth set you free? Free from the "should's", free from the people pleasing, free from the fear of what others might think or say, free from the fear of rejection... What does it set you free to do? To step towards? What does it cleanse you from? As we sit today in this belongingness, what washes away? What nee...

Sunday Psalms; Psalms 137:1-4 CEB Alongside Babylon's streams, there we sat down, crying because we remembered Zion. We hung our lyres up in the trees there because that's where our captors asked us to sing; our tormentors requested songs of joy: "Sing us a song about Zion!" they said. But how could we possibly sing the LORD's song on foreign soil? Psalms 137:1-4 CEB And we're back with lament...lament and sadness for the loss of place, of land, of connection. Lament for loss of freedom. Lament for what was. It's OK not to be OK when something, or someone, important to us, is lost. It's OK to cry. This song laments the culture that the writer finds him or herself in that doesn't want to tolerate sadness and loss, just wants songs of joy to be sung... So this song invites us to just be real about what is wrong, what is going on in our outer world that isn't right, that isn't just, and the impact on our inner world. It's OK not to ...

My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths. When you walk, you won't be held back; when you run, you won't stumble. Proverbs 4:10-12 NLT Can you picture Jesus speaking this Proverb? Can you hear his voice, inviting us in, inviting us to trust him... Can you get Jesus metaphor, he knows you may be able to physically walk or run, but there's a deeper thing he is opening up here... I will teach you. I will lead you. Listen for my voice. As we listen...what opens up? #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #invitation #weareBeloved

Friday! Proverbs! Proverbs 4:10-12 NLT My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths. When you walk, you won't be held back; when you run, you won't stumble. Proverbs 4:10-12 NLT The word used here for "long, good life" is "rabah", to increase, grow, includes the idea of abundance, if we follow wisdom's path our days will be more abundant - this idea is connected to where we walk: Straight paths How we walk and run: Not held back Not stumbling Wisdom will help us choose where to walk, where that path might be taking us. Ever been on a path of action or made choices that you know are unhealthy? Wisdom helps us choose another path. What holds you back? Thoughts? Memories? Fears? Wisdom helps us see those things in a new light. What trips us up? Makes us fall? Wisdom helps us see those things so that we can avoid, get over, make a way, without them tripping us...

Isaiah 54:2, 12-14 NLT Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense! ... I will make your towers of sparkling rubies, your gates of shining gems, and your walls of precious stones. I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace. You will be secure under a government that is just and fair. Your enemies will stay far away. You will live in peace, and terror will not come near. Isaiah 54:2, 12-14 NLT As we live in this world, our hope is held in what is to come...the picture here includes a rebuilding of the place we call home, peace for our families, justice from those in power, enemies banished, and peace. Peace on the inside. The things we hope for, strive for, the needs we have that are not fully met, will be. Destruction, dismay, ruin, these things are all banished, made new. It seems that Isaiah is inviting us to be OK with putting down roots here, knowing that there is a Bigger Story that we're part of, th...

Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 1 John 3:2 NLT If we're feeling a bit lost, when this world seems too much, when we're struggling to find hope, John reminds us of at least these 3 things: Dear friends - we're in this together with all our limitations and doubts and insecurities and questions - we're not alone. We are already God's children - of this there is no doubt, whether we're close, living under the same roof, across town, or living in another country across the globe our belonging does not change. Proximity to God right now does not determine family status. There's more to come - when Jesus returns there's another transformation coming for us - just what that looks like is a mystery, but there's more. #lettersfromJohn #testimony #light #hopeishere #belonging #the...

Mark 4:21-22 CSB He also said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn't it to be put on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light." Mark 4:21-22 CSB This parable follows on from the farmer, the seed, the soil and the fruit. Are these ideas connected? When you hear Jesus words about a lamp being brought in, what is it being brought into? What's the space Jesus wants us to see? Is that space the world and Jesus is the light? Is it about his people? Is Jesus wanting to shed light on corrupt and broken world and religious systems? What about that space being me, my heart, will, choices, direction, desires. Is Jesus getting personal with his disciples and wanting to shine His Light in every corner of us? Is it all of these things? Or something else? (Does he want us to be the lamp?) Mark has recorded these parables for us to mull over and see where they m...

Psalms 136:5-6 CEB [5] Give thanks to the one who made the skies with skill - Gods faithful love lasts forever. [6] Give thanks to the one who shaped the earth on the water - Gods faithful love lasts forever. Psalms 136:5-6 CEB This song invites us to look out, look up at the world around us, to look again with the wonder of a child, and give thanks. When I look out I see the range of hills that we name the Tararua Ranges. A landscape that existed before I arrived on this earth and will be here long after I've gone. Gods faithful love lasts forever. I look up and can see the sky...no clouds today ...breathe in the air...and give thanks to the one who made the earth's systems in such balance that we have seasons, and as I hear the birds in the trees as dawn breaks I give thanks to God who is Life, and whose faithful love lasts forever. Look up today, look out, what are we invited to give thanks for? #psalms #psalms136 #GodisFaithfulLove #speaklife

Sunday Psalms; Give thanks to the LORD because he is good. God's faithful love lasts forever! Psalms 136:1 CEB There's 26 verses in this song, 26 repeats of "God's faithful love lasts forever". "God's faithful love lasts forever". And 14 "Give thanks". The song starts with proclamations about God's character, moves on to how He intervened in the story of his people, rescued them when all hope seemed lost, and ends with how God's goodness benefits everyone. I'm wondering if we were to write our own song, what is it about God's faithful love that I would write? "God's faithful love lasts forever". What is it that I would give thanks for? What are the things that come up for you? Perhaps it's spiritual experiences, a sermon that changed things, a word, a verse, a passage of scripture. Perhaps it's a person, or people who have impacted you, an author, a friend, maybe someone who has passed, maybe someone ...

Isaiah 54:2, 11-12 CSB [2] Enlarge the site of your tent, and let your tent curtains be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your ropes, and drive your pegs deep. ... [11] Poor Jerusalem, storm-tossed, and not comforted, I will set your stones in black mortar, and lay your foundations in lapis lazuli. I will make your fortifications out of rubies, your gates out of sparkling stones, and all your walls out of precious stones." Isaiah 54:2, 11-12 CSB Everything will be made new, set right, put on a new foundation, rebuilt, remade, renewed. When we hold this hope, what changes for us today? Where can I take a step I've hesitated in, move when I've felt stuck? Where might I drive that tent peg in more deeply, commit to a community even though it's imperfect, incomplete? The hope we hold changes everything. #held #weareinaBigStory #takethenextstep

Friday! Proverbs! Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you. She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown. Proverbs 4:7-9 NLT The writer of Proverbs has been hammering away at "getting wisdom"! So I'm wondering if my "go to" for wisdom is to rely on what I already have, what I've learned, as if that's enough, enough for what I am facing or what I'm dealing with. Sometimes I can't locate that deeper wisdom that I may hold, becuase of all the noise around me. Getting wisdom doesn't stop at a certain age or stage, it's an ever growing resource, and Proverbs is imploring us to make the space, make the time, to gain it. Will we? #Proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #itsaheartthing

"The seed scattered on good soil are those who hear the word and embrace it. They bear fruit, in one case a yield of thirty to one, in another case sixty to one, and in another case one hundred to one." Mark 4:20 CEB Embrace it. Wrap the word in. Absorb it. Let it in to the deepest part of ourselves...that's the invitation here, the story Jesus is telling. Embrace the Word, and the fruit will follow. By itself. A tree doesn't labour to produce fruit, it happens from the DNA of the tree, the seed, the environment, the soil, the rain, the sun, and fruit happens. The point is not the 30, 60, or 100 - it's not about comparing, it's just that trees fruit differently, and difference is OK. Embrace the word & fruit will appear, it may not even be what you expect... #gospelofMark #GoodNews #invitation #rememberweareBeloved

Mark 4:19 CEB ...but the worries of this life, the false appeal of wealth, and the desire for more things break in and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. Mark 4:19 CEB Our friend Mark who wrote this couldn't even imagine the "worries of this life" could he? Would he understand grief and loss and losing the people we care about the most? Would he understand the threat of disease, or wars, or famine, or hardship? Would he know what it's like not to think you fit in anywhere, don't belong, are rejected, not enough? Maybe he would know what it's like to be treated differently because of your ethnicity or religion, and that any of these things can choke off the seed that has been planted in us that wants to thrive and flourish and bear fruit. Maybe he was never bombarded by messages to consume or buy, but he does seem to recognise the heart's desire for more & what that can do. Jesus does, because these are his words, not to comdemn, but to shine a...

"Don't you understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? The farmer scatters the word. This is the meaning of the seed that fell on the path: When the word is scattered and people hear it, right away Satan comes and steals the word that was planted in them. Here's the meaning of the seed that fell on rocky ground: When people hear the word, they immediately receive it joyfully. Because they have no roots, they last for only a little while. When they experience distress or abuse because of the word, they immediately fall away. Others are like the seed scattered among the thorny plants. These are the ones who have heard the word; but the worries of this life, the false appeal of wealth, and the desire for more things break in and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. The seed scattered on good soil are those who hear the word and embrace it. They bear fruit, in one case a yield of thirty to one, in another case sixty to ...

Sunday Psalms; Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD's name! All you who serve the LORD, praise God! All you who stand in the LORD's house - who stand in the courtyards of our God's temple - praise the LORD, because the LORD is good! Sing praises to God's name because it is beautiful! Psalms 135:1-3 CEB Suddenly the Psalms seem to have shifted. For weeks we have been in the songs of ascent, of journey, of taking the next step. And now the invitation is to praise, to sing, whether we're in the inner part of the temple where the priests are, or out in the courtyard, we're all in this together. And why sing? Because the Lord, Yhwh, is good, He, the Eternal, the self-existant is "na'iym", delightful, the One who all these songs of ascent have been moving us toward... So sing. Praise. This is not a "have to", but an invitation...so maybe it is just another part of the journey...the ascent... #psalms #psalms135 #weareinaBigStory

Isaiah 54:2, 10 CSB [2] "Enlarge the site of your tent, and let your tent curtains be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your ropes, and drive your pegs deep. ... [10] Though the mountains move and the hills shake, my love will not be removed from you and my covenant of peace will not be shaken," says your compassionate Lord. Isaiah 54:2, 10 CSB The world, your world, your piece of peace may not be what you'd like it to be, but in that we are invited to hold on to our Covenant God, who IS Love, who will NOT abandon us, no matter what our circumstances might try to tell us. And in that Covenant Love, perhaps something opens up in you, a vision to stretch out, or drive in deeper... We are held. By Compassion. Maybe today, it's about resting in that... #held #compassion #invitation

Friday! Proverbs! Don't abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you. Proverbs 4:6 CSB Why would we be encouraged not to abandon wisdom? Perhaps the path of wisdom seems more difficult, not as pleasant at times, might bring us into conflict with others, or into conflict with ourselves. Wisdom may well create a clash of values in us, and it becomes easy, attractive, to abandon the way of wisdom. This Proverb is pleading with us to stay the course with wisdom, to hold on. Where are we tempted to drop wisdom? Where does it seem difficult today to walk in wisdom? How does this Proverb encourage us to stay the course, to follow wisdoms path today? #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon #itsaheartthing #rememberweareBeloved

1 John 3:1a NLT See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! 1 John 3:1a NLT Children of God! If we could mash up the very best parts of being a child that we've all experienced, snd discard all the hurtful and harmful parts of our story, we might be getting somewhere close to what being called God's children means for us, being loved by our Heavenly Father. Those deepest needs that we have, those that weren't even close to being met, will be. We are seen. Known. Accepted. We belong. Nothing can separate us for God's Love. We are redeemed. Covered. Welcomed, and welcomed back, again and again. We get to meet with Him as children, learning, discovering, growing, changing, curious, and safe. Safe. He calls us his children. Because that is what we are... #lettersfromJohn #testimony #childrenofGod #dearlyloved

1 John 2:28 NLT And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. 1 John 2:28 NLT What stands out for you from this word from John? That we are dear children? That we can have, and hold fellowship with Jesus? That Jesus is coming again? That we can be full of courage and our source of courage is Jesus? Or that Jesus is our antidote for shame? "Aischuno", disfigurement, shrinking back, shame. If we think that God's Word doesn't see or address my shame, it does - and our hope and our help is in the person, Jesus. Fellowship with Him shrinks our shame - in Him, fellowship with Him, the closer we get and journey with Him, "in" him, His Love, His Grace, absorbs all that we hold as shame, and we get to walk a little more in the light, a little less hidden, a little more upright, with a little more courage...as we let Him retell our story... #lettersfromJohn #test...

As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains on you, and you don't need anyone to teach you the truth. But since his anointing teaches you about all things (it's true and not a lie), remain in relationship to him just as he taught you. 1 John 2:27 CEB This passage has been warning about false teachers trying to draw people away from the Truth. In v20 John mentions this annointing which the NLT translates as the Holy Spirit indwelling. The annointing keeps us in tune with Jesus. Does that make us infallible? Hardly. But it help us keep looking to Jesus, enquiring what Jesus would say, have us be in our world, and keep welcoming us back. Back home. Home to ourselves. Home to all He has made us to be. Home to shalom. Peace. #lettersfromJohn #testimony #light ##weareBeloved

Mark 4:2-9 CEB He said many things to them in parables. While teaching them, he said, "Listen to this! A farmer went out to scatter seed. As he was scattering seed, some fell on the path; and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on rocky ground where the soil was shallow. They sprouted immediately because the soil wasn't deep. When the sun came up, it scorched the plants; and they dried up because they had no roots. Other seed fell among thorny plants. The thorny plants grew and choked the seeds, and they produced nothing. Other seed fell into good soil and bore fruit. Upon growing and increasing, the seed produced in one case a yield of thirty to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of one hundred to one." He said, "Whoever has ears to listen should pay attention!" Mark 4:2-9 CEB Perhaps this is the first time you've read this, but if it's not, try reading it as if it is. Who are the characters in this...

Sunday Psalms; A song of pilgrimage. Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, Who serve by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands to the sanctuary And bless the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth. Psalms 134 NASB2020 I'm not sure of the stature of those who "serve by night" as it also means to be present, to abide, the implication seems to be that less important in the eyes of the world are present during the night in the house of the Lord. If today we're feeling ordinary, less than, then this song is for us. It starts with "Behold", "hinneh", lo, look, or perhaps it should say "Yo!" Look! In this journey, Look! Where are we heading? Towards the One who made Heaven and Earth. Yo, lift up your eyes, have another look, there's more to this world, more to this life, more to your life, we're heading towards the maker of it all, we are in a Bigger Story, so in this ascent...

Mark 4:1-2 NLT [1] Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. [2] He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables... Mark 4:1-2 NLT Jesus told stories when sharing with crowds of people. Lots of stories. The word used is "parabole"; Para is "close beside, with". Bole is "to cast" Teaching alongside, casting light. This is Jesus, alongside, with, casting light. Jesus isn't there with a list of rules, but alongside, with, casting light. Jesus doesn't bring a manual, a "how to" guide, platitudes or catchy sayings, he comes alongside, with, casting light. As we follow him, perhaps that's what he is inviting us into in this world, in the lives of others, to come alongside, to be "with", and to cast a little light. #gospelofMark #GoodNews #invitation #alongside #with #ca...

Friday! Proverbs! When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, He taught me and said to me, "Let your heart take hold of my words; Keep my commandments and live; Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth." Proverbs 4:3-5 NASB2020 If there are Proverbs for parents, perhaps this one could be at the top of the list; It encourages us to focus on the heart of the child. It encourages us to start early. It encourages us to have 1:1 time with a child. And it sets the goal for the child: acquire wisdom. We're not children, so perhaps today the invitation is to spend some 1:1 time with our Heavenly Father, and to reset our goals to include, or move up the list, acquire wisdom. Acquire wisdom. I can hear some thoughts coming back; "if you knew what I'm dealing with, what's in front of me today, I don't have time or space for acquiring nothing". So perhaps within all t...