Your helplessness is your best prayer

"Listen, my friend! Your helplessness is your best prayer. It calls from your heart to the heart of God with greater effect than all your uttered pleas. He hears it from the very moment that you are seized with helplessness, and He becomes actively engaged at once in hearing and answering the prayer of your helplessness." - Ole Hallesby

In our willingness to admit that we can't solve everything, we humbly offer ourselves to the mercy of God. This helplessness is not a defeat, but rather an offering to the Great Helper. 

My helplessness opens the door for God to do his best work. My stubbornness in trying to always be strong, sends to God the following message: "I don't need you!"

Matthew 9:36 - When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Psalm 10:12 - Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.

Thought: May our helplessness be a prayer to Jesus.

Living in grace

D3LM3

The scary part of love is that it makes you vulnerable

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” - C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

When Jesus loved his disciples, he made himself vulnerable before them. 

When Jesus loved the world, he unselfishly chose to make himself vulnerable, even though it cost him his life.

Most of us have offered love to someone else and then have been wounded in the process. If this is you, I urge us not to withdraw into the cocoon of our own lives, because despite our pain, there are still others who would be blessed by your life and heart.

Psalm 34:18 - The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

For the wobbly and weak-kneed

"Jesus comes not for the super-spiritual but for the wobbly and the weak-kneed, who know they don’t have it all together, and who are not too proud to accept the handout of amazing grace." - Brennan Manning

I have slowly grown tired of the kind of faith that seeks to glamourize only the 'super-spiritual' Christian leaders. Of course, we can all learn so much from fellow pastors, leaders and colleagues, but nowhere in the gospels does Jesus give acclaim only to the super-spiritual. Jesus welcomes the weak-kneed, and those who feel wobbly. And for that, I am extremely grateful. 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Words that have the power to change our lives!

"When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” – Luke 3:21-22

A comment on these verses, from David Lose, has been lingering with me this week. He says: "The words from heaven, "You are my beloved child” – still have the power to change lives."

It was this pronouncement over the life of Jesus, that affirmed his identity (the Son of God) and publicly gave him authority for his ministry. All who witnessed this moment would have known that there was something unique and special about Jesus. 

However, if we heard these same words spoken over our lives, how would this change us? To hear that we are the daughters and sons of God - wow, what a gift!

As we go about our business today, let us live with these words as a promise to each of us: We are the children of God, and we are loved by God.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

In the midst

This short statement has been running round inside my head for a few days: "In the midst." And as I start to ask questions, I realize that perhaps this is a reminder for us all. As we head into 2025, we will soon begin to feel the weight of life but let us remember that God has promised to be with us 'in the midst' of all things.

Psalm 138:7 - Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 - You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

May God bless you and keep you in the palm of his hands. 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The 12th day of Christmas into Epiphany

For many people the festivities of Christmas Day are almost a distant memory, but for those communities who mark the 12 days of Christmas, this week is important. Not only is the 5th of January the 12th day of Christmas (for obvious reasons), but it is also the eve of Epiphany. The Easter Orthodox Church celebrates this date as the birth of Jesus and they offer gifts to one another, in the tradition of the wise men. 

This reflection is not a critique of any Christmas tradition, but rather just to remind myself (and others), that the Gift of Jesus' birth is not a "one day" event, but rather a miracle that gives us hope and life throughout the year.

May Christ be real to you this Epiphany and may the gift of his life resonate throughout 2025.

"Star of wonder, you have led us,
along with so many,
to the Child of the Light.
Continue to guide us on our journey
to be Followers of the One,
the Creator and Redeemer
and Sustainer of us all.
For it is in Christ's name that we pray. Amen." - Beth Richardson

Matthew 2:11-12 - 11 Entering the house where the baby and Mary, his mother, were, they threw themselves down before him, worshiping. Then they opened their presents and gave him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 But when they returned to their own land, they didn’t go through Jerusalem to report to Herod, for God had warned them in a dream to go home another way.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

A short Christmas blessing for you all

As we welcome the gift of Jesus, I know that everyone responds to this miracle in different ways. Regardless of how you celebrate Christmas, please receive this short blessing as my prayer for you. Thank you once again for your support in taking the time to read these reflections.

"May you be filled with the indescribable JOY of Christ,
The unshakeable HOPE that comes from knowing Jesus,
The PEACE that passes all understanding,
and the unconditional LOVE of God, that shakes the whole world. Amen."

Luke 2:9 - "Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Living in Grace

D3LM3