verseoftheday

I want to know Christ - yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:10-11 NIV I'm not gonna pretend to understand all of this...but I'm not sure if Paul has it all figured out either... Somehow knowing Jesus is wrapped up with ressurection power, suffering (not ordinary suffering, but suffering like Jesus did), somehow becming like Jesus in his death...if Paul doesn't have the details squared away then I think it's OK that we don't either...sometimes there are mysteries...and that's OK, things to wrestle with God about, and that's OK, Paul gives us permission here... Somehow, it's all going to be made right, sin and its effects on us and this world will be undone. Somehow, all will be made new... in the meantime we just get glimpses... #mysteries #somethingtochewon #glimpsesofhowitshouldbe

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. Psalm 23:1 NIV A shepherd operates in almost a different world to the sheep, sees things the sheep can't see, thinks about things in a way the sheep can't, looks at circumstances in a different way to the sheep... We like to think we can fathom it all, figure it all out...but if the Lord is our shepherd, then maybe there's more mystery than we know, He sees our circumstances in a different way...sees our world, us, in ways we can't fathom, loves us in ways we can't quite grasp...but shouldn't stop trying too... #somethingtochewon #mystery #psalms #psalm23

"See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind...  I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more." Isaiah 65:17, 19 NIV What's broken in this world will be unbroken, the things that hurt, the losses, disappointments, grief... somehow washed away... We will be fully known by God - we will be His delight! The barriers between us and God will be removed, the distance between Heaven & Earth will be closed, and God will put everything right. How does that work? What will it look like? I don't know...its so easy to think selfishly about heaven...how's it going to be for me, what am I going to get...but God's going to rejoice over us and take delight in us says it's more about the fully restored relationship with our Creator... #youarehisdelight #hope #onedayallwillbemadenew #mysteries

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, :Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side..." John 20:26-27 NIV Mysteries. When Mary first met the resurrected Jesus, he said "don't touch me", a week later he says "touch me!" His body is clearly physical yet he enters the room without opening the door... What happened to Jesus berween "It is finished" & "Peace be with you"? Mystery. Is this what our ressurected bodies will be like? Still carrying our scars but not burdened with them? Mystery God has left some things vague & mysterious... and some things crystal clear... like... all of this is for the object of His Great Love. Us. #dearlyloved #easter #mystery #itsalovestory