verseoftheday

Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord! Psalms 117:1-2 ESV Ever wanted to memorise a whole chapter of the Bible? This could be the one! This is a great song to sing when things are going well, when the job is landed, the exam went well, the child is born healthy. It's still true that His love is steadfast and for us, and His faithfulness endures forever when we face tragedy, loss, when we're hurt, lost, in despair. Even when it doesn't feel like it and our circumstances scream that it's not true, His love is steadfast and for us, and His faithfulness endures forever. The psalmist didn't have Jesus to look back to, but we do. We get to see steadfast love and faithfulness become one of us. We see steadfast love and faithfulness full of compassion to those hurting, bringing healing and hope We see steadfast love and compassion d...

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away. After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray. Mark 6:45-46 NASB We've got 10,000 people miraculously fed. If ever there was an opportunity to build Jesus popularity, his support base, his donors, his "church", political movement, his followers, it was then. Work the crowd. What does Jesus do? Sends his team off in the boat, sends the crowd home, and goes to pray. Alone Up the mountain In this desolate place, as the crowd is wandering back home, Jesus goes up the mountain. Jesus Kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world. It wasn't then, and it's not now. His kingdom is a kingdom of the heart. And that takes time alone with our heavenly Father. If Jesus went missing to pray, then it's OK for us to do that too. #pray #upsidedownkingdom #sunday #worship

...he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. Mark 6:41 NIV Jesus could've fed everybody in lots of ways. Everyone could've just felt full, and their nutritional needs met. Or bread and fish could've just appeared in front of the groups of people. But in this instance anyway, Jesus wanted his team involved, not watching from the sidelines, but sleeves rolled up and serving. Literally. Serving food. Jesus was at work, he did the miracle, and everyone got involved. He wants us involved. Not to be bystanders in his story of restoration and redemption. When we are prepared to get involved in Kingdom work, to serve, we get to see Jesus at work and participate with him. How can I today simply give some bread? Encourage someone, invite someone, bless someone somehow. Just ask God to bring a person to mind today. #sunday #worship #loveGod #lovepeople #serve

I love the Lord, because He hears My voice and my supplications.  Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live. Psalms 116:1-2 NASB He hears my voice My supplications. My requests. He has "inclined His ear to me" Is that because He is a bit deaf? No it can't be. This word translated "inclined" is like stretching out a tent, or bending. Our God, Yahweh, is moving towards you, bending down. Closer. Towards. And David's response to this revelation? Always, no matter what, I'm going to keep calling on God. When things are good, and when they make no sense. When there's joy or sorrow. Struggle or victory. Because I believe that God is who He says He is. He's personal, and bends towards me And He knows my voice. I'm going to stick with Him. There is no other. #psalms #songs #sunday #worship #thisisourGod

And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over." Mark 5:34 NLT Ch5 is an amazing day or so in Jesus life. Just had the storm. There's a demon possessed man A sick girl who died A sick woman who was healed. There's crowds, boats, walking around Jesus demonstrated his authority over nature, the spiritual, health, and even death. Some people were terrified and wanted him to leave, others crowded around, some bowed before him. Yet in the middle of all the drama, in the middle of the noise and jostling of the crowd, there's a moment when everything slows down, like in a movie when  all fades into the background and there's a focus on these two people. She's terrified, face down, and Jesus words are full of compassion: Daughter. My child. I see you I know you It's OK I love you I see your faith. In all the noise and drama, Jesus is personal. You think he doesn't see you, know you, care ...

The disciples were absolutely terrified. "Who is this man?" they asked each other. "Even the wind and waves obey him!" Mark 4:41 NLT The storm stopped. In an instant. The waves stopped. It's dead calm. In the middle of the night In the middle of the lake I imagine the clouds clear completely and all there is is stars... And Jesus. And the boys thought they were afraid in the storm...now they're terrified! They've seen power at work that they cannot understand or fathom. They have a man in the boat who can control the wind. And the waves Absolute authority and control. What's their question? "Who is this man?" What we've seen doesn't fit with Jesus being a good teacher, chatting about seeds and plants and a new kingdom. There's something more here! And it's scary! Our culture would like to contain Jesus too. Contain him as just a good teacher who talked about loving one another. But there's more to...

I am reminded of your sincere faith... For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God... for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:5-7 ESV What is this spirit that God gives? Power: "Dynamis" the ability to get things done, might, strength Love: "Agape"  the love that puts the other person first Self-control: "sophronismos" self control, self discipline Imagine a perfect melding together of the power to get things done, the self discipline to get on and do, and the love that directs towards others! This spirit Paul says to Timothy is found in fanning into flame your gifting...why wouldn't we want that!?! Maybe because the person who perfectly demonstrated that ended up in pain, humiliation and failure, crucified on a Roman cross. Out of that power, love and self control came resurrection and hope. The Living Hope! As you fan into flame, step into your gifting, may you know a...

Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.  But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Mark 4:16-17 NIV We need to let the Word take root And Break the rock that our heart may have become. Mine can be as hard as granite in an instant. In a moment it can go from moderately kind and generous to as hard as granite. Instantly selfish. Ever experienced that? Maybe it's just me... What is it that wears away, breaks down the hardest of rocks? Water. Jesus is the Water of Life, the Living Water, who works away at my heart of rock, sometimes blasting with high pressure, and sometimes gently working away... and as my heart is softened the Word no longer bounces off, but sinks in, becomes part of who I am... #gospelofmark #wordsofJesus #wateroflife #sunday #worship #thisisourGod

For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart These, O God, You will not despise. Psalms 51:16-17 NKJV David, the writer of this song, had been confronted about his own actions, his sin. And in that could see more clearly who God is, and what God was about. Not the external practices. The heart. The inner person. The good things we might do, go to church, read our Bibles, serve, give...all good things...but our God wants our heart! Our inner self Not broken in a vindictive way, but seeing more clearly who God is, and who I am in relation to Him And that no amount of church going, or daily devotional reading or helping others or giving our money or time or anything else, good things that they are, is what our God is after. It's what we treasure most. Hold onto most tight. Our heart We know too, that in this battle for our hearts affection, ...

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-oving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17NIV Yes I want that! Where can I find it? That package is not found somewhere, but it's a person. James paints a picture of Jesus for us Read it again :) He is the wisdom that came from heaven and entered the story. Here's the meaning of that first word: pure "hagnos" pure (to the core); pure inside and out; holy because uncontaminated (undefiled from sin), i.e. without spoilation even within (even down to the center of ones being); not mixed with guilt or anything condemnable. I just know that this is not me. At the core there is always something that spoils...but Jesus? This is who He is! And when he touches us, this is what we get...His purity becomes ours. How we are seen by the Father because of what Jesus did And one day all that is spoiled and contaminated at our core will be ...

The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? Proverbs 18:14 NIV We've considered faith and hope as "anti crushers" of our spirit. The third leg of that stool is Love. Who we choose to love. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was he picked the 11th. Love God Easy for Jesus to say. He'd been with God, and knows. Is. Jesus is also the full representation of God, so when we love Jesus, well, we're there. Jesus has been revealed to us so that we can know him. God with skin on. Today, know too that you and I, we are loved. Loved by this God with skin on who loves us from eternity. Who loves in action Who knows us, and loves us anyway. It's this love that is the ultimate anti-crusher of our spirit This love. #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #faith #hope #love

Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand... ...Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. Mark 3:3, 6 NIV The word translated here "shriveled" is "xeros" It means dry, where the land has shrunk and withered. Land that has shrunk and withered can produce nothing. Useless And what does it need to be restored? Water. Jesus is the living water. Jesus speaks and what is dry and withered and useless, is restored. When we are dry Withered Useless Jesus is the living water, the restorer of broken things And as Jesus soeaks Life into this man, Jesus' people, and his people's enemies, get together to plot his downfall. Literally the whole world is against him. Because he loves. Because he restored When we feel dry, withered, useless, Jesus is the living water, that is available to us only because of the cross. #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #livingwater #restorerofbrokenthings

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 NIV Create: this word means to shape, like to shape a stick into an arrow, to pare it. David is asking God to reshape his heart. To reshape it, to create something new, clean, pure. To pare something, to shape something, you often use a sharp tool. And who is David asking? Yahweh Only God can do this work in our hearts. His Spirit His Word His people Our circumstances God can use all these things to shape us, to pare our hearts, to make something new, clean, pure. Will we pray as David did? Lord, do what only you can do. Clean my heart. I know that I'm made right by the cross, but there's still stuff in me that's not great. Shape me, pare away the rubbish. I know it might hurt, but go ahead anyway. Create in me a pure heart Lord. Amen #psalms #psalm51 #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #creatorofcleanhearts

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Psalm 51:8 NIV This morning I was woken by wailing. Two cats outside my house. Sometimes we can be in a place where everything sounds like wailing Like cats fighting David was in that place. Everything was being filtered through how he was feeling and there was no joy No gladness It felt like God had allowed his bones to be crushed. I can't get up There's nothing good in my life But Who is David talking to? To God To Yahweh It's our God he cries out to It's our God he cries out to to restore To speak life into him again To get him up And we can do the same in our own hearts, and speak into the lives of others To let the Restorer of All Things restore us, may the sounds, the words we hear, not sound like cats wailing, but again be sounds of joy Of gladness #psalms #psalm51 #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #restores #speaklife

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10 NIV Can we see Jesus in this Proverb? Jesus would often withdraw, pull back from public ministry. He'd be with his team. But his well worn path? That was to be with the Father. He disappeared, off the grid, went AWOL to be alone with God. And pray. It wasn't a last resort, desperate measure, but a regular part of Jesus walk with God. His well worn path. Our God is relational. He wants to meet with us, hear from us in the good and the bad, the joys, the sorrows, and the ordinary, the everyday. Running to, towards, is a choice. Choose to run to God He is safe. A strong tower. Refuge. Not a static place, but a living refuge who delights to meet with you. #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #run #safe #breathe

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. Jude 1:24-25 NIV These verses start with a personal God who holds us from falling, lights our path, who presents us whole, renewed and delighted in, and ends with this massive picture of the Eternal. The I AM The One worthy of our worship. The One who always was & always will be And He is the One who holds us up, lights the way, walks with us through the valley... #faith #trust #hope #sunday #worship #thisisourGod

Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. John 4:13-14 NLT Let me just drink what you're offering and all my problems will disappear. Let me just drink that and I'll be sorted Eventually in this conversation, Jesus reveals that this is not about some potion, something that fixes...but about a person. Him Jesus I am the answer Unexpected? This whole conversation was unexpected, as this woman was at the well when she thought no one else would be there. What hurt was she carrying? Jesus met her in that, and gently told her that no matter what, He is the real answer The life giving answer. Today, now, in whatever we are carrying, He meets with us, and speaks Life #sunday #worship #thisisourGod #unexpected #nomatterwhat #theanswer

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. Mark 2:15 NIV Jesus said Follow me back to your house for dinner! It's not often we get a glimpse of the ordinary, the human Jesus, the person. Just like us he needed to eat Just like us he needed fellowship Friends People he could count on. Sometimes leadership can be a difficult and lonely place. It's easy to be critical of our pastors, our leaders. Easy to forget that they're just like us in many ways. Just like Jesus they need fellowship, friends. Encouragement Just like Jesus they need to eat :) Love people in the ordinary, in the everyday #lovepeople #gospelofmark #sunday #worship #thisisourGod

But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth. ACTS 1:8 AMP I so want to get things done with my power and ability. But for things of the kingdom, there's another part of God through who, with who, somehow, things of eternal value will get done. And what's the job? The task? To be Jesus witnesses. Surely that's easy enough that I don't need any help. When I hate (myself or someone else) He calls me to love. When I'm angry, He calls me not to sin He says I'm blessed when I don't feel it, loved when I don't experience it, delighted in when I don't deserve it...so yes maybe I do need some help. To bear witness in my life to the outrageous, crazy, love story that brought Jesus into creation to give his life for us. To bear witness to his resurrection. And how that changes ...

Jesus asked her "Who are you looking for?" She thought he was the gardener. "...tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him." "Mary!" Jesus said. John 20:15-16 NLT Sunday. Jesus wasn't where she thought he would be Jesus didn't look like what she expected She didn't expect to hear anything from Jesus, but he simply called her by name. After taking on death itself, Jesus knows her name. He doesn't launch into a talk about what's gone on, where he'd been, what He'd done, He just says her name. He is risen And he knows your name Nothing Jesus did, and nothing that was done to him in this last week happened by accident. It happened because he knows your name. He laid down his life because He knows your name. Jesus actions say "I love you" Friday says that there is still death, and evil Saturday says we can feel lost and hopeless But Sunday says there is hope! That all that is broken will ...