verseoftheday

But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, but all the leaders answered, "We have given them our oath by the Lord , the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now." Joshua 9:18-19 NIV Josh's team was deceived (because they didn't ask God first) & made a deal,  commitment, a covenant. There was public dissent. Pressure. The people were unhappy, but the leadership not only stuck to their promise, but stuck together. Not just a practical leadership lesson whether that's at home, at work, at church, but also a picture of how God stuck with his promises, his covenant, even though it hurt, even though it cost him. Jesus stayed on the cross for me, when he could easily have walked away... #joshua #leadershiplessons #promises #covenant

And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. Matthew 14:24-26 ESV They didn't recognise Jesus. Maybe it was the circumstances - just when the night was darkest, maybe they just didn't expect anyone to save them...or maybe they really didn't recognise him... How often do I miss Jesus? Maybe I'm not looking, not expecting to see Him, see his hand at work in my life. Sometimes he uses what's there (the loaves) & just multiplies it, & sometimes the miraculous (let's not bother with a boat) But he does do the unexpected, works in ways we may not anticipate, answers prayer in his way, and can be seen when we least expect him...in a way we may not recognise... #lookingforJesus #unexpected

...but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. Matthew 14:24-25 ESV The fourth watch... after 3am... when the night is darkest When they'd been working all day and now up all night in the storm... when their own resources felt depleted When not only the night, but the situation seemed darkest... Jesus came to them. Out of the dark. This week Lynne has mentioned 2 people who had been on her heart - & after contacting them found they were in the middle of the storm - if God places someone on your heart, go to them, be Jesus hands and feet, reach out... And no matter what the storm, we get to choose to hang on to the hope that Jesus is coming for us. Out of the dark. #hope #hopeiscomingforyou #thisisourGod #faith #faithinthedark #sunday #worship

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. Proverbs 13:11 ESV From the air, vapour. A breath. And yet that's what we both fear and so often put our faith in... We fear a new president, yet his life is just a breath... We put our faith and hope in... when I get that job, when I get married, when I finish my degree, when I have a child, when I win the lottery, when my body is healed, when my parent accepts me, when... when... when... Vapour A breath What, or who, we put our faith in, our hope in, our trust in... is important. Put it in the One who gave up the glories of heaven to slog it out here with us, who became one of us, who knows and understands... and who made a way #faith #hope #jesusatthecentre

Friday! Proverbs! Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. Proverbs 13:11 ESV When we have to work hard, save, then we value what we've worked for, & you don't have to look hard to find stories about people who have won or made large sums and lost it, blown it, or its ruined their lives... or read about some of the misery of the rich & famous... The word translated  "gained hastily" has an interesting meaning. From the air, vapour. It's like if money just appears out of the air we spend it or consume it so easily...but it also carries the meaning of "vanities" & used in other parts of the Bible in relation to idols... when money and wealth is an idol, the important thing, in the end it's going to dwindle away to nothing. Like vapour. What we really invest in is the only thing that will last... #loveGod #lovepeople #proverbs #wisdom #somethingtochewon

...but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. Matthew 14:24 ESV "A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for" Don't live in fear of the storm, 'cos they're going to come...sometimes from our choices and decisions and sometimes they're dropped on us...sometimes we can see them brewing on the horizon & sometimes they just happen... So. Prepare Train Provision yourself But most of all have a clear sense of purpose about your life, who you are in God's sight, that your significance and position as a dearly loved child of His cannot be shifted by all the forces of any storm... then the storms of life have a different look to them... #faith #faithinthedark #thisisourGod

...He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee] ... But the boat [by this time] was already a long distance from land, tossed and battered by the waves ... Matthew 14:22,24 AMP In the dark In the storm It often feels like we're on our own... But usually we're not! The boat had the other disciples, maybe some crew, other passengers...sometimes when we're in the storm we've got to put our hand up and ask for help, support, encouragement, resources...and we might just find someone else who's in, or been in, the same boat... It's OK to ask for help. It's OK to say I'm struggling with this. It's OK to ask someone to walk with you for a while #stormsoflife #inthistogether #faithinthedark