Month: November 2014

“But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!”

Jude 1:20-21 MSG – A verse of the day from the Bible presented in Eugene Peterson’s contemporary version called The Message. Accompanied by a personal reflection below.

The imagery of keeping your arms open and outstretched is a dynamic one that reflects an openness of heart and mind, and a willingness to receive whatever it is that God has in store for you.  Also, in a day and age when self-reliance has almost become second-nature, the exhortation to stay “right at the center of God’s love” would mean being willing to stay still for a minute — or long enough to experience the assurance of God’s grace and provision for your needs.

“This is God ’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.””

Jeremiah 29:11 MSG – A verse of the day from the Bible presented in Eugene Peterson’s contemporary version called The Message. Accompanied by a personal reflection below.

Do you wish to claim this promise also?  I know that I do!  I wish to be taken care of; I wish to never been abandoned; and I wish to realize the future that I hope for.  And this is a God who is getting up close and personal with you and me — to calm our fears, and to build our confidence.  If this isn’t love, I don’t know what is!