verseoftheday

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:30-31 ESV Peter had been living with and travelling with Jesus. He'd seen miracles...and was walking on the sea! Jesus & his message was not what was expected. And then the circumstances of the moment got to him. Our culture seems to want a small god who fixes things we want fixed when we want them fixed...a god of our own making... And Jesus is not like that. And then the circumstances of the moment can seem overwhelming and we lose sight of Jesus in the storm...and we have doubts. In that moment "Lord save me" may be our only way forward Acknowledge Jesus as Lord and sovereign. That He is the way and our lives are in His hands. And that only He can truly save Then our doubts can melt away... #turnyoureyesuponJesu...

But when he saw [the effects of] the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Matthew 14:30 AMP Peter suddenly realises that the environment he's in is pretty hostile...he'd moved from the relative safety of the boat...to being completely exposed to the storm - & it freaked him. Life can do that to us. A change in circumstances, health, financial pressure, exam time, relationship stuff...loss, grief, loneliness,  earthquakes...actual storms... & we lose our confidence, lose our nerve... we get scared... We see the brokenness of the world - the effect of the wind -  & start to sink. In that moment Peter knew the only place, the only person who  can really save, is Jesus. #saved #turnyoureyesuponJesus

Hebrews 12:2 NASB ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith... Last night at Church we said goodbye to our Pastor...change can be hard, whether we choose it, or it happens to us, but this verse came up a couple of times as he always pointed us to Jesus. The Author & Perfector He was there in the beginning, the agent of creation He was there in the middle of time, when he took on the sin of the world & made the way He'll be there at the end when all will be made new If you're facing change, contemplating it, worried about it...first...fix your eyes on Jesus It's in Him, in His story, that gives us perspective...and peace #turnyoureyesuponJesus

Genesis 12:13 ESV Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake. Abram thought he could save himself In a spiritual sense we can fall into that thinking as well...I have to be busy for God, I've gotta do...if I'm good enough I'll be good enough for God. To be accepted. But unlike Abram who threw Sarah under the bus to save himself, Jesus sacrificed himself for us. He made the way. Out of love. For us. For me. Loved Accepted Belong When the pressure comes in this life we, just like Abram, can lose sight of that... #dearlyloved #belong #turnyoureyesuponJesus

John 14:5-6 NIV Thomas...Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way? Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life... One of the most powerful and pivotal statements in the Bible...how do we get to your Dad's place? I am. The way. We aren't following him, because he is it. He isn't pointing us in a direction because he is the direction Look out to the needs of others Look up to where our future lies Look to Jesus. The Way. The centre of everything.  The question for Thomas, for us...do you believe what Jesus says... #choose #believe #stepstopeace #wordsofJesus #turnyoureyesuponJesus

Psalm 25:15-16 ESV My eyes are ever toward the Lord , for he will pluck my feet out of the net. David was in deep trouble. He had sinned against God, & his people. Yet his orientation was still towards God. Don't take your eyes off Him, no matter what you're going thru. V16   Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Even tho he was looking to God, the answers weren't there immediately. He felt alone, discouraged,  and out of God's sight and grace. It's in those moments that we need to keep the eyes of our heart towards Jesus. Reminding ourselves of his truth, grace, compassion, love, even tho we may not feel it... #turnyoureyesuponJesus #psalms #keepingitreal

Where would I be If not for your grace Carrying me Through every season Where would I be If not for Your grace You came to my rescue And I want to thank You For Your grace Grace that restores Grace that redeems Grace that releases Me to worship Grace that repairs Visions and dreams Grace that releases Miracles (Israel Houghton) God, who stepped down into history, who made a way, who answered the questions; Do I matter? Am I loved? He answered those questions on the cross. Whether today you need restoration,  redemption, release or repair, His Grace will carry you. #sunday #worship #hymns #turnyoureyesuponJesus

John 1:5 ESV The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Jesus. God. Eternal. Creator. Life. Light. Winner. Jesus is the light that overcomes darkness. Just as He shines in the dark, so should we. He is not overcome... #onedayallwillbemadenew #jesusatthecentre #sunday #worship #turnyoureyesuponJesus

John 1:4 ESV In him was life, and the life was the light of men. Jesus. God. Eternal. Creator. Life. He is life. Life that gives light. Keep your eyes on him, Get to church today if you can...and my prayer is that you will see a little more of Jesus light, understand a little more of the life he gives, as you and I choose to worship him today. #jesusatthecentre #sunday #worship #turnyoureyesuponJesus

Mark 4:18-19 NIV ...others like seed sown among thorns, hear the word;  but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. # 2 the deceitfulness of wealth. Nothing over promises and under delivers like money. Yes we need it to function in our society but as our culture in NZ has become more and more secular, money seems to have become our only measure of success. Here Jesus says its deceitful. It lies. It's not wealth itself, or the  other stuff in itself (#3)... it's the lies, the promise of happiness and joy that wealth & possessions  makes that chokes the Word and makes it unfruitful. #turnyoureyesuponJesus

Mark 4:18-19 NIV ...others like seed sown among thorns, hear the word;  but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Sometimes I feel that God's word is being choked off in my life...that there is no fruit, looking a bit like my plum tree is now...3 things Jesus talks about here that do that: 1. Worries of this life. What does this look like for you? What are your top 3? Exams,  getting a job,  getting married, finances, disappointment,  loss, health...etc...Jesus says don't let concerns for these things choke off God's word and it's ability to work in your life, or your ability to bless others. The thorns may still be there,  but our eyes are on Jesus

Hebrews 12:2 ESV ...looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith... Jesus started it all, but continues to work for us, with us, in us through the Spirit to make our faith perfect, complete...and we will be with Him face to face... Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth Will grow strangely dim In the light Of his glory And grace #namesofJesus #turnyoureyesuponJesus #sunday #worship

Psalm 121:1-2 ESV I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? Just like the psalmist we all go through tough times...maybe this is you today...looking for help. David looks to the world, the created...stuff... And then he says:v2 My help comes from the Lord , who made heaven and earth. Looking to the Creator...it is not the things of this earth that will give real hope and satisfaction...it is knowing the creator. #turnyoureyesuponJesus #hope #lifegroupfaveverse