Joy McCourt

  • joymccourt
  • Toronto
  • How you think about *yourself*, too

    Steve pointed out in his sermon today that God can also transform the way we think about ourselves, too--moving past any cruel things that may have been said to us (whether as children or later) to a…

    Created about 1 month ago

    Romans 12:2 (NLT)

  • Something from nothing!

    Hebrews 11:3 (ESV)
    By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

    Created about 1 month ago

  • What's the fruit?

    Do my actions and the results of my actions prove my claim to know God?

    Created about 1 month ago

    Titus 1:16 (ESV)

  • A remnant saved

    Even though judgment and destruction are coming, God promises salvation to those who repent. They probably still had to deal with some of the fallout of the judgment (famine, etc.), but were not utterly…

    Created about 1 month ago

    Amos 5:3 (ESV), Amos 5:4 (ESV), Amos 5:5 (ESV)

  • Defended...but not necessarily the way we think

    Paul says he'll be defended from every evil attack & brought safely into the kingdom, even as he admits his time is running out. Seems he knew his chains were going to lead to dying for his faith. Thus,…

    Created about 1 month ago

    2 Timothy 4:6 (NIV), 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV), 2 Timothy 4:18 (NIV)

  • Chosen, so extra accountable?

    Interesting verse. Is this like "the Lord disciplines whom He loves"? Or are God's people here extra accountable for their actions because they should know better and/or because it's like a bride spurning…

    Created about 1 month ago

    Amos 3:2 (NIV)

  • He HAD to die.

    Galatians 2:21 (NIV)
    I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

    Created about 1 month ago

  • Crucified with Christ...

    Galatians 2:20 (NIV84)
    I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

    Created about 1 month ago

  • Enlarge my world.

    (Mostly from Mark's sermon today) Paul has not yet had the chance to meet the church to whom he is writing, yet he cares about them deeply, prays daily for them, and longs to be able to go to them in…

    Created 3 months ago

    Romans 1:9 (ESV), Romans 1:10 (ESV)

  • The context of "Fear not"

    Jesus here tells his disciples (& us) not to fear, because we are of great worth to the Father, but there is context to it. He has been instructing them to be bold in proclaiming the message they have…

    Created 4 months ago

    Matthew 10:31 (ESV)

  • As for me and my house

    Joshua 24:15 (ESV)
    And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

    Created 5 months ago

  • Good response to rejection

    Samuel responds to this rejection by going to the Lord in prayer. His feelings were likely hurt, but his response was to find out from God what he should do. What a great example to us!

    Created 5 months ago

    1 Samuel 8:4 (ESV), 1 Samuel 8:5 (ESV), 1 Samuel 8:6 (ESV), 1 Samuel 8:7 (ESV)

  • did Moses consult the LORD?

    There's no actual record of it if so; maybe it's just not recorded, or maybe Moses was close enough to God to know what He would say about this? Moses' consultation with God was recorded when it came…

    Created 5 months ago

    Numbers 32:31 (ESV)

  • In spite of all their sin...

    ...God was still FOR Israel, fighting on their side...but for His glory & out of His unfailing love, not because of any merit of their own. They sometimes followed instructions or repented properly, but…

    Created 5 months ago

    Numbers 23:22 (ESV), Numbers 23:23 (ESV)

  • The Sabbath was made for me.

    Keeping the Sabbath is not a point of legalism, but rather is something of benefit to us. I need to find a way to build rest and reflection back into my "day of rest" & not have it taken away by errands/etc.…

    Created 6 months ago

    Mark 2:27 (ESV)

  • Even leaders stumble

    Here even Moses -- who was used of God to perform great miracles in Egypt -- begins to doubt the ability of the Lord to do what He says He will do. Just because someone is in leadership and has seen…

    Created 6 months ago

    Numbers 11:21 (NIV84), Numbers 11:22 (NIV84)

  • "At no cost"???

    Um, guys, you were slaves. You paid for your keep with back-breaking hard labour, and likely shortened lives... Sometimes what God asks us to do may seem hard, but it is still better than any supposed…

    Created 6 months ago

    Numbers 11:5 (NIV84)

  • Leviticus 19:18

    Leviticus 19:18 (NIV84)
    “ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

    Created 6 months ago

  • Be fully convinced, and do not sin

    Romans 14:1 (ESV)
    As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

    Romans 14:3-5 (ESV)
    Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.

    Created 6 months ago

  • Know His will? Better do it!

    Luke 12:47-48 (NIV)
    "The servant who knows the master's will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.

    Created 6 months ago

  • Life is not stuff.

    Luke 12:15 (ESV)
    And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

    Created 6 months ago

  • Treasures that last (and don't) and our hearts

    Luke 12:33-34 (ESV)
    Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

    Created 6 months ago

  • Seek the kingdom and don't worry

    Luke 12:29-31 (ESV)
    And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.

    Created 6 months ago

  • Treasures that last (

    Luke 12:33-34 (ESV)
    Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

    Created 6 months ago

  • Don't worry about what to say

    Luke 12:11-12 (ESV)
    And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say,

    Created 6 months ago

  • Acknowledgement/denial

    Luke 12:8-9 (ESV)
    "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God,

    Created 6 months ago

  • I am crucified with Christ...

    Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
    I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

    Created 6 months ago

  • Baptism unites us w/Christ

    Romans 6:3-4 (ESV)
    Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

    Created 6 months ago

  • Not pride, but protecting the message

    I used to think that in this verse Paul was just being proud and vengeful (well, I didn't use those words, but something about the attitude I read into this rubbed me the wrong way). I think differently…

    Created 6 months ago

    Acts 16:37 (ESV)

  • Remember Him

    Psalm 16:8 (ESV)
    I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

    Created 6 months ago

  • equal value

    Because everyone's life, whether rich or poor, is worth the same?

    Created 6 months ago

    Exodus 30:15 (ESV)

  • Never learn?

    They'd already been spared some of the later plagues, rescued from slavery, seen bitter water made sweet, & provided with the quail & manna, & these folks are still complaining. At least this time they…

    Created 7 months ago

    Exodus 17:2 (ESV), Exodus 17:3 (ESV)

  • Always near

    God never left them.

    Created 7 months ago

    Exodus 13:22 (ESV)

  • all for His glory

    God could have supernaturally transported the Israelites out of Egypt from the get-go...but He didn't party because He wanted the Egyptians to be witnesses of His might. Who knows but that He would have…

    Created 7 months ago

    Exodus 7:5 (ESV)

  • Feeling hopeless

    The psalmist here sounds completely without hope. There is a "but" in this psalm (v. 13), but it still doesn't seem to be an expression of great faith; the psalmist pours out his feelings about how badly…

    Created 7 months ago

    Psalm 88:1 (ESV)

  • Cloudedness of selfish thinking

    Why on earth would these workers think the landowner would give them any rights to his property if they killed his son? Sometimes we can be very, very foolish in our pursuit of sin. It truly is wiser…

    Created 7 months ago

    Luke 20:14 (ESV), Luke 20:15 (ESV), Luke 20:16 (ESV)

  • A different kind of kingdom

    The kingdom of God is not a separate physical country; its citizens are scattered throughout the people of every physical nation.

    Created 7 months ago

    Luke 17:21 (ESV)

  • unworthy servants

    Jesus does call us friends rather than servants, and does invite us to join Him at the feast of the kingdom of heaven, but it's still true that we can't expect to be lauded for our good works. We cannot…

    Created 7 months ago

    Luke 17:7 (ESV), Luke 17:8 (ESV), Luke 17:9 (ESV), Luke 17:10 (ESV)

  • Earned a Badge — Created 10 [Public] Notes

    2011-11-06

  • Judge me first

    The psalmist calls upon the Lord to judge his enemies, but humbly opens himself up for examination & judgment as well. Good pattern to follow. Also good that he wants God to be the judge rather than himself.

    Created 7 months ago

    Psalm 7:8 (ESV)

  • Be received, & receive others, with joy.

    The father in Jesus' parable of the prodigal son doesn't pass judgment on his son when he returns...rather, he celebrates having him back. While there well may be consequences for our actions, we should…

    Created 7 months ago

    Luke 15:31 (ESV), Luke 15:32 (ESV)

  • Luke 12:47-48

    Luke 12:47-48 (NIV)
    "The servant who knows the master's will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.

    Created 7 months ago

  • Earned a Badge — Created 10 Bookmarks

    2011-11-03

  • Fear whom?

    I used to think this verse told us to fear Satan, but I think it is actually telling us to fear God.

    Created 7 months ago

    Luke 12:5 (ESV)

  • Started Following austin-hung

    7 months

  • Run the race

    1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV84)
    Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

    Created 7 months ago

  • First love

    Revelation 2:4-5 (NIV)
    Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.

    Created 7 months ago

  • Take up your cross

    Luke 9:23 (ESV)
    And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

    Created 7 months ago

  • If it's not from faith...

    Romans 14:23 (ESV)
    But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

    Created 7 months ago

  • No stumbling blocks!

    Romans 14:13 (ESV)
    Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

    Created 7 months ago

  • Earned a Badge — Created 10 Highlights

    2011-11-01

  • Earned a Badge — Created Your First Bookmark

    2011-10-28

  • Earned a Badge — Shared a Bible Reference

    2011-10-28

  • Earned a Badge — Created First [Public] Note

    2011-10-28

  • Started Following ashegroup

    7 months

  • Started Following EmmaHung

    7 months

  • Started Following brent2096

    7 months

  • Started Following Sermonatorwebster

    7 months

  • Earned a Badge — Subscribed to First Reading Plan

    2011-07-24