Leliefontein Mission work party (Namaqualand)

A few of us from the Fish Hoek Community had the privilege of being involved in a working mission up to Namaqualand last week. For some of you who were wondering why I was quiet for a week, this is my excuse :) The picture in this post is of the front of the church, which is still being repaired as I write this devotion. 

We went up to the oldest Methodist Mission Station in the country, which is at Leliefontein, as they are marking their 210th birthday in October. Our work was mainly focused on painting, repairing, building, cleaning and generally helping the community fix up their Church and Manse. The work was hard, but deeply rewarding. We were all grateful for the chance to stand on the historical ground and to honour those who have gone before us. 

I was reminded again, that in serving God and other people, we are given a special gift - it is a blessing that you cannot buy, but it is felt through the joy and appreciation of God's people. When you help others, who are struggling with their own trials and who aren't able to 'pay' for your help, it truly humbles you and reminds you that you do these acts of service unto the Lord. 

Luke 22:27 - Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.

Living in Grace

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Forgiveness is hard

"To err is human; to forgive is divine." - Alexander Pope

These words from Alexander Pope ring true for many of us, because choosing to forgive is not always easy. In fact, sometimes forgiveness seems to be only something that God can truly practice - a Divine act of God. 

Jesus told his disciples a remarkable parable about the unforgiving servant and this illustrated how easily we are willing to receive God's forgiveness but are not so willing to show mercy to others.

"Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.” - Matthew 18:32-35

Thought: How willing are you to forgive those who have hurt you? 

Living in Grace

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Living Water

As we move deeper into the season of Spring, I wanted to share this moving prayer, which is being used for the Season of Creation 2026. This year's theme is based on "The Living Water" (Ezekiel 47) and it is a timely reminder for us to honour what God has entrusted into our care. 

Living Water

Holy God, whose Spirit hovered over the waters at the beginning, we gather as part of your community of all creation, thirsty for your grace. We give thanks for the gift of water, the veins of our common home, that sustains the cedar and the whale, the pasture and the city. We are grateful for the local waters that nourish our homelands and our fellow creatures. We give thanks that in your well-watered garden, every drop is a sacred testament to your love.

Yet, we confess that we have treated this gift as a mere commodity. We have choked the seas with our waste and watched the warming tides rise in judgment. We lament the cracked earth of the drought-stricken and the salty tears of the climate refugee. Melt our frozen hearts, O God, and let the waters of repentance flow.

Lord of all Life, you promised that wherever the river flows, everything shall live. Stir in us a calling to care for the waters — to protect the watershed, defend the rights of water, and honor the dignity of the thirsty. May your Word be a spring within us, gushing forth for the healing of the nations.

May God our Father who brought water from the rock sustain us in the desert. May Christ our Lord who is Living Water refresh us for the work of restoration. And may the Holy Spirit carry us on currents of grace until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amen.

If you are interested in the Season of Creation, you can find all their resources on this website.

Living in Grace

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A Prayer for Spring and for our Youth

"Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come; the cooing of doves is heard in our land." - Song of Songs 2:12

Here is a lovely prayer to celebrate the change in seasons, as well as asking for God to watch over our young people.

"Loving God and Father,
We worship you as the creator and sustainer of all that lives;
Lord, once again it is Spring.
All around us pulsating, sparkling life 

is breaking out in a thousand various forms.
Everything is so breathtakingly beautiful
that is releases a pang of joy in my deepest soul.
Your earth is awakening from its winter sleep!

Saviour, touch my heart too and bring my barren everyday life
to new life and growth.

This month we pray for our youth and children,
the most precious blossoms of our time.
Protect them in these times
of shifting values and spiritual threats.
Keep them strong against the evil powers
that seek to drag them down.
Help them to strive with all their might
for what is good and noble.
May the older generation encourage them
with practical examples of faith, hope and love.
Help them to be immovable in their faith in the knowledge
that Christ himself, their Master and Example was once young.
Bless, O Lord, graciously and abundantly
the great work done by parents, ministers and teachers
who support young people along the road of life.
In Jesus name. Amen." (based on a prayer by Rev. Solly Ovrech)

Living in Grace

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When I am ...

There are a number of beautiful Celtic Prayers in circulation, but I came across an unfamiliar prayer today. 

"Lord, when I am disturbed
When I am distressed
When I am divided
When I am disgusted.
I come to you for healing
I come to you for peace
I come to you for restoration
I come to you for dignity.
Help me, Lord,
To do what you would have me do, to become the person you want me to be." - One in Him (Celtic Prayer)

Thought: I found it interesting that the word 'disgusted' caught me unawares. And of course, there are times when I feel 'disgusted', however I had not linked our need for 'DIGNITY' to this emotion. Which part of the prayer took you by surprise?

Psalm 56:3 - "...when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you."

Living in Grace

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Help of the helpless

"O Lord, the help of the helpless,
the hope of the hopeless,
the Saviour of the storm-tossed,
the harbour of voyagers,
the physician of the sick;
we pray to you.
O Lord, you know each of us and our petitions;
You know each house and its needs." - St. Basil

Psalm 10:17 - "Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them."

Living in Grace

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We are not worthless...

“…even in its ruined condition, a human being is regarded by God as something immensely worth saving. Sin does not make it worthless, but only lost. And in its lostness it is still capable of great strength, dignity, and heartbreaking beauty and goodness.” – Dallas Willard

I love what Dallas Willard says in this quote. So many times, we right people off because of their sin and proclaim them as worthless, yet in God's eyes this is not true. Of course, our sin does make us lost and adrift from the Lord's path, but God is always calling us back to himself. 

Luke 19:10 - "For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost."

Living in Grace

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