Have a heart

"Give me, Lord
A stout heart to bear my own burdens,
A tender heart to bear the burdens of others,
And a believing heart to lay all my burdens on you, for you care for us." - Lesslie Newbigin

The ancient philosophers understood that the heart was the seat of all emotions. Everything flowed from this small organ in the center of our chests. Jesus added even greater value this notion, when he commanded us to 'Love God with all of our Hearts.' 

How do we use our hearts? Are we able to have stout, tender and believing hearts today?

Matthew 11:29 - Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Living in Grace

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How much can you squeeze from a single grape?

In preparation for our Sunday services, I was looking for a little inspiration on the prayer front. I was helped by a wonderful book "Prayers for Today" (compiled by Kurt Bjorklund). In one of the chapters, I found this delightful prayer.

"Lord, how much juice can you squeeze from a single grape?
How much water can you draw from a single well?
How great a fire you can kindle from a tiny spark?
How great a tree you can grow from a tiny seed?

My soul is so dry that by itself it cannot pray;

Yet you can squeeze from it the juice of a thousand prayers.

My soul is so parched that by itself it cannot love;

Yet you can draw from it boundless love for you and for my neighbour.

My soul is so cold that by itself it has not joy;

Yet you can light the fire of heavenly joy within me.

My soul is so feeble that by itself it has no faith;

Yet by your power my faith grows to a great height."

- Guigo the Carthusian (12th century monk)

Living in Grace

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Good things, hard things, best things!

 “There are the good things of this world, the hard things of this world, and the best things of this world—God’s love, glory, holiness, beauty. The Bible’s teaching is that the road to the best things is not through the good things but usually through the hard things. . . . There is no message more contrary to the way the world understands life or more subversive to its values.” - Tim Keller

These words were written by Tim Keller as he preached on our call to persevere. I had to read it through a few times before the message sunk in. In reality, most of us are very pre-occupied chasing the good things in this world, as we believe these will satisfy our deepest longings. Jesus never shied away from the 'hard things' because he knew that the 'Best Things' lay beyond our journey through struggle.

What do you think of this?

1 Timothy 6:10-12 - "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses."

Living in Grace

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A reading to uplift your spirits today

Here is a reading to uplift your spirits today.

"1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore." - Psalm 121

God bless you today.

Living in Grace

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As Iron Sharpens Iron

 

"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." - Proverbs 27:17

This illustration is a very powerful example of how we can help each other remain 'sharp' in our Christian faith. If one piece of iron is not regularly sharpened, it will eventually become so blunt/dull that it will not be effective anymore. 

What is remarkable about this Proverb is that it implies a benefit for both parties - the two iron instruments keep each other sharp - it is not just one of them that reaps a reward. They both remain sharp from regular contact with each other.

Thought: Who is able to keep you spiritually sharp? Who do you help to keep doing the work of the Lord?

Living in Grace

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Be careful before we complain

It seems that God's people love to complain. In Isaiah's time, they also complained ... a LOT! And when God heard their complaints, he passed on this message through the prophet:

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, “God has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me”? Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind. (Isaiah 40)

These were the 2 thoughts that struck me in Eugene Peterson's paraphrase.

God has not lost track of you!

God Lasts!

Thought: Before we complain to God, perhaps we should stop and take stock of what God has done for us.

Living in Grace

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The Eyewitness

A witness is someone who has seen an event and is able to describe it to others. Yes, we know that witnesses may see the same event and yet describe it in two different ways, but this does not deny that the event took place. In trying to understand the dynamics of this event, or identify the people involved, we must engage with their version of the story. When John claims that he saw Jesus, this should make an impression on us - let us read what he says:

1 John 1:1-4 - "We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. ² This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. ³ We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. ⁴ We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy."

Is it not remarkable that we have the words of someone who claims to have 'seen' Jesus and 'touched' him? John was so close to the Messiah, that he was truly able proclaim that He was the Christ.

“I would have preferred someone else to have been in charge of rescuing this story, but once again life has taught me that my role is to be a witness, not the leading actor.”
― Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Midnight Palace

Living in Grace

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