Look at the birds

I love the fact that Jesus often used creation to bring people back to the center - back to the most important things in life. Matthew 6 gives us a number of great examples of this:

"Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? - Matthew 6:26-27

This is such a simple statement to make and yet it carries a deeply profound spiritual truth. When we pause for a minute to look at the birds, we should remember how they survive without all the trappings and frills we think we need. 

God cares for them - surely, we should remember that God cares for us too?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

A thought for Heritage Day - Jeremiah's prayer of confidence

The 24th of September is marked as Heritage Day in South Africa. It has obvious roots in celebrating the diversity of all our South African cultures and people. Many people choose to turn this public holiday into a day spending time with family, as well as enjoying a Braai (which is a barbeque for our overseas readers). 

A working definition in the Cambridge dictionary, helps us put some meat onto the bones of what 'heritage' truly means.... "Features belonging to the culture of a particular society, such as traditions, languages, or buildings, that were created in the past and still have historical importance." 

For us as people of faith, we are given many traditions and 'features' that shape our faith. Sadly, some of these are not always good, as Jeremiah pointed out so clearly: 

"Lord, you are my strength and fortress,
my refuge in the day of trouble!
Nations from around the world
will come to you and say,
“Our ancestors left us a foolish heritage,
for they worshiped worthless idols.
Can people make their own gods?
These are not real gods at all!”

The Lord says,
“Now I will show them my power;
now I will show them my might.
At last they will know and understand
that I am the Lord." - Jeremiah 16:19-21

Thought: What spiritual heritage are we leaving behind for our children and grandchildren? 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

We have no excuse

We have no excuse!

There are a lot of things that we like to make excuses about, and in so doing, we push our responsibility onto someone else. However, today I am not speaking about world events, local crises or anything else. I am wanting to draw our attention to these words from the apostle Paul.

¹⁹ They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. ²⁰ For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse for not knowing God." - Romans 1:19-20

I believe what Paul is getting at is that we have enough evidence of God's nature and qualities in the world around us - in other words, in the Creation. By looking around us, and up into the heavens, we have the "call to worship." 

All that has been given to us (Genesis 1) reveals something of who God is. Of course, Paul is not inviting us to bow down to the sun, moon and stars, but to allow them to grab our attention and then to Praise the Lord God.

So, if we took the time to stop and look around, we would have no excuse for not getting a glimpse of who God is.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Speaking without sound

David reminds us that God continues to speak to us, and he doesn't even need to use audible speech to do this. Read these verses from Psalm 19 to see what I am getting at:

1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.
2 Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.
3 They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.

I am convinced that God is trying to commune with us way more regularly than we are willingly to listen. 

How can we become more attentive to his words and voice?

Job 33:14 - "For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Walking without fear

One of the things that amazed us about walking the Camino in Spain was how safe it was. We were walking through all kinds of terrain and at all hours of the day, but we never felt unsafe. We even noticed pilgrims walking on their own, and when we passed them, we found ourselves wondering why this wouldn't be the case in South Africa? 

It is a sad reality, but hikers, walkers, runners are urged not to exercise alone, even in places with larger communities. And this week in South Africa, we understand why - we have heard the tragic news of 9 bodies being found in the Ekurhuleni region - all female and most of the ladies were out exercising at the time of their murder. This is totally devasting for the families and friends of these women, and absolutely shocking for our society. 

There are so many unanswered questions at this time, but this kind of tragedy should leave us all asking deeper questions. How can we raise awareness about GBV in one month and the next moment discover that the women in our world are still vulnerable? How can the church help raise awareness? What else can we do to be a part of the change?

I leave us with the words of our Presiding Bishop, Pumla Nzimande, who wrote in her letter yesterday:

"May the loss of these women not be met with another moment of outrage that soon fades, but with renewed determination and sustained action. May this moment deepen our shared resolve to build communities in which every woman and child is safe, valued, protected and free from fear. 

 Put away violence and oppression, and do what is just and right. (Ezekiel 45:9) 

 The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18)"

Living in Grace

D3LM3

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

D3LM3  

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

D3LM3