2012 Bible Bites

This time last year I wrote a post about some of the things I had gleaned from writing Tiny Bible Bits on Facebook. After another year, here's some musings which I think were noteworthy...

Of course, I've already posted the series I did over Easter and Christmas.

Joshua 1:2, 5, 9 - Even when things weren't peachy, God provided strength and courage by saying He would be with Joshua and His people.

Luke 15:28 - Even with the older bitter brother the father invites him in. God does the same thing with us.

John 1:4-5 – The world can be a dark place... This is no more evident than the cross of Jesus. But the darkness will not overcome... This is no more evident than the resurrection of Jesus.

Jeremiah 6:16a - Stand. Look. Ask. Walk. Rest.

1 John 4:1-3a - Give special consideration to the messages you hear about whom Jesus was and what He came to do. A wise idea, if you hear something about God which is new, is to run it past some older, wiser believers and see that they think.

1 Samuel 11:1-2 - This is what sin desires for us. It wants us to be in the wrong place… at the wrong time… doing the wrong thing.

Revelation 19:6-8a - Jesus loves the church. Jesus died for the church. Jesus installed the church as the source of spreading His message and extending His care throughout the world. Jesus is working at making this bride complete, pure and blameless. As difficult as it might be, perhaps we should stop slapping the church around and stand up for it when others do so in our presence.

James 2:7-8 - Our patience should be flavoured with expectation.

Isaiah 64:8 - God I am your pot. Shape me and work in me as you see fit.

Jonah 4:5-8 - Can what you value be destroyed by SUPERWORM?

Hosea 11:3 - God is taking care of us, working behind the scenes, but we pretend this is not the case. How open are your eyes to what God is doing in your life?

Proverbs 16:17 - When you think of the places you go, the people you send time with and the things you feed into your mind; are you travelling down wise paths?

1 Corinthians 1:22-25 - Faster. Higher. Stronger. World Records. Perfect 10’s. Gold Medals. Nothing short of victory. This is the message of the Olympic Games. The greatest, most transforming event in the history of the world is defined by foolishness, defeat and forsakenness.

Mark 6:31 - When life gets buys, Slow Down, Hang With God.

Acts 23:16 - Paul was an uncle, who knew?

Luke 14:27-28, 31 - Jesus says that following Him will have a cost. It will change the way you make decisions, the way you treat others and the way you view the world. It makes sense to weigh the cost before deciding to follow Jesus. When we share the message of Jesus we should tell people the cost of putting Him first in their life. The good news? The cost is worth it.

1 Corinthians 6:18a - Are you toying with someone or something which you should be fleeing from?

Psalm 40:1-2 - The challenge for us, like my daughter, is the waiting between the time of our cry and God’s response.

2 Corinthians 2:15-16 - Christians should reek of Jesus. For some, this will be attractive. They will see the way you live and be drawn in. For others, this will irritate them. A Christian will remind them of something vital which they are missing.

1 Samuel 8:19-20 - Do you sometimes want to be more like “the others” who don’t follow God? Are you jealous of how they behave or where they find their security?

Galatians 4:18 - Passion can be a good thing. Provided you are passionate about the right things. Allow your appropriate passions to stay alight no matter who you are surrounded by.

Job 2:11-13 - Despite whatever else they got wrong Job’s friends exercised the power of presence.

Matthew 25:40 - When you look at those you (or society) label “the least” do you view them the same way which God views them? If you did, how would this affect the way to treated them?

Romans 12:18 - How might you need to change YOUR actions and responses to further the peace process in your relationships?

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 - Weigh up the way you use the gifts, talents and skills which the Holy Spirit has (and is) developing within you and consider if you exercise them with love for others as you primary motivation. If it isn't, go bash a cymbal for 30 seconds and see how much you enjoy it... Better yet, do it with another person nearby and ask them what they thought.

Mark 9:24 - Despite his lack of absolute knowledge, Jesus honours the faith which the man DOES possess, not punishing him for the areas where he is lacking. Thank God that He doesn't rate us on how much we know.

Psalm 127:1 - If I want to make a God inspired difference in this world, I need to go beyond my own measures. I need to rely on God for the results.

Matthew 4:18-22 - It is easy to imagine that the decision to leave their fishing nets wasn’t an easy one. It was their livelihood. They were a part of a family business. Jesus didn’t lay out a perfect blueprint for where they were going. But they followed Him anyway.

Philippians 4:12-13 - You can’t defy gravity. You can’t become invisible. You can’t communicate with marine life like Aqua Man. You don’t get superpowers when you convert. We should remember that our union with Christ helps us live how God wants and make the changes in this world which God desires. When these things get difficult, we should go to The One who will grant us to strength to endure.

1 Kings 19:11-12 - If you’re wondering what the future might hold, take a step away from the interruptions and really listen for God’s tender whisper.