verseoftheday

How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye', when you can"t see past the log in your own eye? Matthew 7:NLT When we see our own sin as logs, and others sin as specks, then we won't walk away in judgement, or look down from some lofty vantage point, or stand back, uninvolved... but we can run towards others in love...we'll jumpi in, we'll have compassion, want to know their story, & walk together in community... Ethnicity, vocation, education, age, culture...whatever the barriers between us, melt away when we know that we're all saved by grace. Grace alone. Grace. #kingdomvalues #lovepeople #inthistogether #grace

"These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain;  their teachings are merely human rules." Matthew 15:8-9 NIV After giving the Pharisees a right lecture about what honouring your parents looks like Jesus ends with this scorching quote from Isaiah... Our society is caught up in what's on the outside...appearances... location... what you own... But with Jesus it's always the heart It's not about always getting it right, looking right, being right...but is our heart oriented towards God? That's all he wants. #wordsofJesus #kingdomvalues #itsaheartthing

Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, 'Honour your father and mother...'' Matthew 15:3-4 NIV Not only did Jesus go to the Bible, He goes to the big stuff... You're so worried about ceremonial hand washing but what about the big 10? How're you actually going with those? Don't major on the minors. How easy to get upset about "the rules" and completely miss the big ticket things... Jesus knew that no one could perfectly keep the law - not then or now - we can't make ourselves righteous... we need another way. Washing your hands before dinner is an easy tick the box thing. Honouring our parents starts with our heart - & that's what Jesus is really after... #wordsofJesus #kingdomvalues #itsaheartthing

But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. Matthew 19:30 NIV Today we think about & celebrate the birth of our country...so often those celebrations are overshadowed by what people want... The Bible story too follows the birth of a nation, a nation of God's people who are to represent Him to the world...then God enters the story in a new way and becomes one of us, walks alongside & knows just what it's like to be fully human...and launches a new thing - a kingdom where everything is upside down, where it's not about what I want or can get, but it's a kingdom founded on, steeped in, love. A kingdom where the marginalised are wrapped in, the hurt are comforted, the weak are strengthened, the lost are found...and those seen as poor, worth less, will be seen in a new light...where the last shall be first #waitangi #wordsofJesus #kingdomvalues #youarepriceless

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35 NIV 'Tis the season for NY resolutions...things we want to change, resolve to do better at... Jesus gave us the ultimate resolution. He said there's a new season in life coming, one where I'm not going to be around, but I want you to resolve to represent me like this: Love as I love. And you're going to see what that really means any day now as I'm going to give it all up for you. I love you. You're so worth it to me. I'm leaving, but for this new season, this should be your resolution : Love One Another This Love might take you to hard places...require humility, sacrifice, giving...but it's so worth it :) #wordsofJesus #kingdomvalues #oneanothers #lovepeople #2017 #eleventhcommandment #resolution

...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. Joseph, son of David, the angel said, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit... ...When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. Matthew 1:20, 24 NLT Not only was Joe sensitive to and putting the needs of others first, he also chose to obey God's call. Joseph had his life sorted and his plan in place, but God had something else for him...an adventure that he couldn't have dreamed of (on his own) In the midst of the noise of Christmas don't miss God's call...maybe it's something small and easy or like Joseph a major shift in our life plan... #christmas #belikeJoseph #kingdomvalues

...Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ... Philippians 3:19-20 NIV The return. While Paul is a citizen of a different Kingdom, he was looking for the King to return...to complete the restoration programme that he started on the cross...when heaven meets earth...when the King returns. And when He does, our place in the Kingdom is already secure, so today, like Paul 2000 years ago, we don't need to have our minds stuck in the values of this world, but in the Kingdom to which we belong. Our allegiance has shifted. We've taken the oath. We are citizens of a kingdom that has love as its cornerstone - and love is a person... #jesusatthecentre #kingdomvalues #childrenofGod

But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven... PHILIPPIANS 3:20 AMP It's easy to take our citizenship for granted...but if I'd just been granted citizenship to this country how would that feel? Maybe like this is now Home. I belong here. I'm accepted here I'm wanted here As a citizen I'm protected and secure... And maybe that changes the way I see people around me and how I treat them and the place I live... We are citizens of heaven. We belong Accepted Wanted Secure Loved That citizenship can't be lost or taken away from us, and the borders to the Kingdom are open for all who chose to come in... That changes the way we see the people around us and the place that we live... #kingdomvalues #dearlyloved #childrenofGod

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,  and upon finding a single pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:45-46 AMP The Kingdom is searching... A merchant knows what he's looking for, an expert in finding the items of highest value to him...the thing of beauty... And when He finds it - he gives everything up to pay for it. You. You are that pearl - that item the Merchant places His highest value on...He sees beauty in you No matter how you see yourself today, how you might feel, our God places great value on you. He's prepared to pay everything for...you. And He did. #wordsofJesus #kingdomvalues #youarepriceless #dearlyloved #sunday #worship #thisisourGod

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough." Matthew 13:33 NLT It's great having some yeast in the packet in the cupboard...but it's not fulfilling it's purpose sitting in the packet with the rest of the yeast...that only happens when it's out getting worked into the flour...the Kingdom is at work IN us and it's at work THROUGH us as we live our lives...out where the baking happens, where the heat comes on, where you can be kneaded and pushed around... where life can be messy...out making a difference not sitting in a nice package in the cupboard... #yeast #kingdomvalues #redeemedforapurpose

Jesus also used this illustration: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough." Matthew 13:33 NLT Yeast converts sugar into carbon dioxide which is what makes our bread what it is. It's yeast that transforms bread from being flat and hard into the the tasty bread that we love... And that's what the Kingdom does...transforms us from the inside...takes what we have, our gifts, talents, character...our responses... our choices... even our dreams and desires... and transforms them to be more gospel flavoured, more kingdom shaped...still us, but a lighter, tastier version! #yeast #kingdomvalues

Jesus also used this illustration: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough." Matthew 13:33 NLT One of the properties of yeast is that it multiplies exponentially...1 becomes two...becomes 4... 16... And this is the way of the Kingdom - our job is just to bless, encourage, teach, share with, walk with, support, love, show grace towards, be Jesus to, point to God, pray for, pray with, live out our faith in front of...the 1 who is in front of us. And the Kingdom will multiply what we do...however small or insignificant we think what we do is...yeast is the tiniest of things...yet multiplies... So keep writing, singing, making art, giving food, preaching, messaging, giving, parenting, forgiving...1 person at a time... #yeast #kingdomvalues

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.  Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches. Matthew 13:31-32 NIV ...the smallest things we do, the seemingly most insignificant acts of kindness, of love, of support, that timely word, that warm smile, that listening ear...that hug when someone needs it....that sponsored child, that Sunday school class, that message shared...that welcome you gave, the song you sung, the meal you shared...the word of encouragement...the art you created, the song you wrote, the service you provided...the life you live...can become in God's economy shelter from the storm, a place of nourishment and support for many... Be faithful in the small things & let God grow something good from it... #wordsofJesus #kingdomvalues

Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.  When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared." Matthew 13:24-26 NIV Words that have the sound of truth...but aren't... maybe it's those words that have been repeated to us or about us so often that we believe they're true... Maybe its our thinking about success and what's important. Appearance. Wealth Fame The weeds the enemy plants look the same as the truth to start with, but over time will give nothing, will prove to be empty God and his word, embodied in the person of Jesus needs to be our source of truth & what He says about us is what needs to daily rest in our hearts... #dearlyloved #childrenofGod #redeemed #wordsofJesus #kingdomvalues

Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.  When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared." Matthew 13:24-26 NIV When the seeds of the enemy are planted they look just like the good seed...not only is this cunning, it's subtle. In our lives what could these be? Words that have the sound of truth but aren't... How about the cult of being busy. The subtle message is that being busy is good - a badge of honour, a mark of success. Yet Jesus always had time for people. What are my priorities? I don't want to miss the good because I'm chasing the weeds planted by the enemy... #wordsofJesus #kingdomvalues #lovepeople

But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 Amp Not only is there no law against these things, there's no scorecard either. There's no performance standard that we can meet. These things just appear like fruit in the orchard as we give ourselves more and more to God, ask His Spirit to permeate our thinking and decision making. There's no comparing with this fruit...and no guilt...no anxiety...no fear... And there's nothing to lose... #fruit #kingdomvalues #inthistogether

"And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands and grasps it; he indeed bears fruit and yields, some a hundred times [as much as was sown], some sixty, and some thirty" Matthew 13:23 AMP Grasps it. When we really get it. Our roots are deep in the word, & the weeds that would choke us off are at least held in check...then there's fruit. 2 things: The amount of fruit is different for different people. We don't have to look the same as anyone else And the fruit is not described. So I'm going to guess it's the Fruit of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness & Self-control That's the outcome, the fruit, the harvest...not a scorecard of souls won, church's planted, people helped this week...not performance...but our heart & how God is gently transforming us on the inside... #wordsofJesus #kingdomvalues #fruit

The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. Matthew 13:22 NLT I'm no gardener & sometimes can't tell the weeds from the good plants...Jesus highlights a couple of weeds for us... This life will have its worries. There'll be stuff that keeps us up at night - but don't let that overwhelm our faith  And then there's the lure of wealth - we think it, or what it can buy us - will solve everything - & it becomes what we value more than the Kingdom. We all have some weeding to do & sometimes we need help to see what the weeds are & to pluck them out before they take over & ruin the garden... #wordsofJesus #kingdomvalues

And whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. MATTHEW 5:41 AMP With all the noise around the US election, the Bible does have quite a bit to say about the earth's rulers and powers...& what Jesus has to say here is a favourite... Rome ruled the world in Jesus day. More powerful than the US today, & it had some interesting leaders too! A Roman soldier had the right to compel a civilian to carry his gear for a mile. Jesus said carry it for 2. Jesus response to the tyranny oppression and corruption of the Roman authorities was not a call to overthrow it or change it, but to love them into His Kingdom. He gave up His power to come in humility, in peace, & in love. It's those Kingdom values I don't want to lose sight of, to live by & to live out, no matter who is in charge of the country or the powers of this world. Jesus politics. To love. #wordsofJesus #love #kingdomvalues #gotheextramile

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven... Philippians 1:27 NLT If you get the opportunity to travel...go... And when you're away overseas you always know that you have a place called "home", a country you belong in...and when travelling in a way we represent our country & what it's about. Paul says to live as a citizen of heaven! A place to call "home", & a place we represent...represent what heaven is about...how well am I representing the kingdom? I've got a home...and one day I'm going there... #represent #kingdomvalues #loveGod #lovepeople #onedayIamgoinghome