The Rock

Jesus needed to remind his disciples that the nation had abandoned 'The Rock' of their salvation. In charging Peter (Petros) to lead the new band of believers, Jesus promised to build his church on Peter's profession of faith (Matthew 16:18). In the background to this moment, Matthew counted on the Israelites remembering the words from Deuteronomy 32, which spoke of the Lord being their Rock.

"He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.
Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong;
how just and upright he is!" - v.4

"They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Savior. 16 They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols.
17 They sacrificed to false gods, which are not God—
gods they had not known,
gods that recently appeared,
gods your ancestors did not fear.
18 You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth." - v.15-18

Thought: God's faithfulness is presented like a 'rock' for us - immovable and secure. 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

20 years on

Today marks the anniversary of my Ordination (20th August 2006). I am grateful for God's grace that has sustained us over the years of ministry. The journey began many years before Ordination, as I candidated for the Ordained ministry in 1999, while serving as a Youth Pastor (1995-1999) and then served as a Probationer minister from 2002-2006. 

These years of ministry have taken us into amazing communities, and we have met some incredible people over this time. I would be lying if I said that all has gone smoothly, but I am convinced that God has guided us and given us the strength to serve Him. I am also indebted to the love and support from Kim and my boys, as well as my wider family. Ministry is not something that I could do alone and they have all encouraged me so much.

Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 

The future lies in God's hands, and I pray that I may still stay faithful to Christ and serve him in whatever capacity I can. Thank you for your support in this small part of my ministry too. 

Soli Deo Gloria.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

A Guardian Angel

We have all heard stories of a "guardian angel" - a heavenly being that protects us from harm. I am not sure if you believe in these angels or not but take a read of Psalm 34 and see if this may change your mind at all.

The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. (New King James)

"For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him." - New Living

"God’s angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray." (Eugene Peterson)

Thought: May God protect you and guard your heart as you follow in his ways.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

He will take great delight in you

"The Lord your God is with you, 

 the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.” - Zephaniah 3:17

Sometimes I feel that we rush through reading the Scriptures and in doing so, we miss some beautiful promises. Take today's reading for example - it is just 1 verse, but it contains at least 5 promises. 

As you read through this verse a few times, why don't you take hold of the promises that God is speaking into your life.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

There is a way in the desert

The words of Isaiah (43:16-21) speak of the hope we can have in God. No matter how bad things look at the moment, God can always make a way through the desert. 

This is what the Lord says—
    he who made a way through the sea,
    a path through the mighty waters, 
¹⁷ who drew out the chariots and horses,
    the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
    extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

¹⁸ “Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
¹⁹ See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?              
I am making a pathway in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

You loved us first

Dear friends, please enjoy this deeply moving prayer by Soren Kierkergaard, entitled: "You have loved us first."

"Father in Heaven! You have loved us first, help us never to forget that You are love so that this sure conviction might triumph in our hearts over the seduction of the world,
over the disquiet of the soul,
over the anxiety for the future,
over the fright of the past,
over the distress of the moment.
But grant also that this conviction might discipline our soul so that our heart might remain faithful and sincere in the love which we bear to all those whom You have commanded us to love as we love ourselves."

1 John 4:10 - This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Who are you?

When Jacob was wrestling with the angel in Genesis 32, we note that the angel starts up a conversation with him:

27 “What is your name?” the man asked.

He replied, “Jacob.”

28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”

This may seem like a random question to ask, especially as the angel must have already known Jacob's name. However, we feel there is something deeper at play in this exchange. Is it possible that the angel was wanting Jacob to own up to who he truly was - he was the deceiver - the one who grabs the heel. And when Jacob accepts who he is, the angel moves him into a new dispensation - he is ready for change.

Sometimes we think that we need to change BEFORE God loves us. In fact, God already loves us, and when we accept this, we can begin the important transformation in our hearts and lives.

Living in Grace

D3LM3