Status and State

"Christ’s death changes our Status; His Resurrection changes our State."

We are reminded that when we surrender our hearts to God, we become friends of Jesus. No longer are we enemies, but we are friends! This gift is given to us through the death of Jesus on the cross. This refers to our change in Status - sinners changing to become FRIENDS.

However, there is another important stage that we need to go through and that is a change in our State. We have to allow the Spirit of God to continually work in us, to shape us into the image of Jesus. Our state then changes on a daily basis. 

In my opinion, too many people get stuck in the 'change in status' stage. The joy of being a friend of Jesus, should not stop us being changed into the likeness of Jesus.



Romans 5:9-11 - ^“And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”
  
Enjoy being a friend of Jesus, but don't stop the Spirit from changing you into the person God created you to be.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Some you win, some you lose!

A usual sporting weekend for me involves "my" teams winning and losing their matches. Some of them win (the Springboks and the Sharks this weekend), while some of them lose (Man United and the Proteas). Other weekend's it may happen the other way around - I guess that is just life. It is really rare that all of them win on the same day:)

In a similar way, our lives involve moments of winning and losing. Almost daily we may feel as if we are 'winning' or 'losing' in our spiritual lives, or relationships, or health or whatever. The great challenge is to ask ourselves how we handle both the losing and winning? If losing destroys us, then we diminish the hope of celebrating the next victory.

If you feel as if you have been on the losing end for too long, then take heart - God is with us. God has already given us the victory and we can overcome. Winning is just around the corner.

Ask the Spirit of God to give you strength to handle the 'losses' as well as to be 'gracious' in the moments of victory.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

C.S. Lewis's encounter with God

On the 28th September 1931, C.S. Lewis left home an atheist. A short while later he had a spiritual conversion. He was riding in the side car of his brother's motorcycle, on a journey to the zoo, when he came to the realisation that he needed Christ. This is how he remembers that moment:

"When we set out, I did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God; and when I reached the zoo I did."

He had his own Damascus road experience, just like Saul (Acts 9). He remembers that a conversation he had the week before, had had a huge impact on his decision to follow Jesus. The person he had been speaking to was none other than J.R.R Tolkien.

Sometimes friends can have a massive influence on our faith. It may just be a word we speak or a prayer we pray - but it can all make a difference.

May you encounter Jesus afresh this week.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Divine Perspective

I was reminded again yesterday that we have so many blessings, yet we often feel as if we are 'disadvantaged.' If we own a car, own a home, have some food to eat, have an education, own a computer, TV and cellphone, have access to running water and electricity (etc) - we are probably living in the top 2% of the world's population. We are wealthy in comparison with the other 98% of planet earth - that is hectic, hey?

Is it perhaps time to change our perspective?
Let's not look at what we don't have, but rather be grateful for what we do have.

"If you were to spend a month feeding on the precious promises of God, you would not be going about with your heads hanging down like bulrushes, complaining how poor you are; but you would lift up your heads with confidence, and proclaim the riches of His grace because you could not help it." - D.L.Moody

May God bless you
Living in Grace
D3LM3

Calling

 I have been reflecting on our 'callings' this past week - perhaps is has to do with the Ordination service on Sunday. I am convinced that God calls us to follow him and also calls us to serve him in a particular ministry. It is part of our responsibility to wrestle with the appropriate response to God's call and then be obedient to that call.

What is God calling you to do?
Are you willing to follow Him?


"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith." - 2 Thessalonians 1:11

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Honest?

How honest are we in our prayers?

One of the hardest lessons I have had to learn in prayer, is to be brutally honest with God. This is not only in expressing my feelings to him, but also in bringing my life into God's presence. It does sound weird when you speak to God about these things, but I think it is so vital for our spiritual well-being.

Why don't you try it today? As a way of starting, reflect on this quote and express your doubts, anger and pride to God.

"Almighty, forgive my doubt, my anger, my pride." - Dag Hammarskjold

Lord, in your mercy...
...hear my Prayer!

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Running to finish the race

When we run the Christian race, we must run in order to finish the race. It is the Spirit of God that helps us to finish the race. May the Spirit change us on a daily basis. Are we willing to allow God to do this in our lives or do we shut ourselves off from His guiding voice?

"Finish then, thy new creation;
Pure and spotless be
Let us see thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in thee;
Changed from glory into glory
Till in heaven we take our place
Till we cast our crowns before thee
Lost in wonder, love and praise."

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Listening

It has been coming to my attention over the last few days the great importance of Listening. We need to be prepared to listen to God and others. God first, but closely followed by listening to other people. Our listening is not so we can be swayed by their thinking or ways, but in order that we may hear the voice of God through them. When I am in tune with the Spirit, then I am able to listen to His promptings - which sometimes come from others.

"He who answers before listening - that is his folly and his shame." - Proverbs 18:13

Luke 10:39- "listening to the word of God."

Listen for the voice of God today.
Living in Grace
D3LM3

Long life to you

Here is a wonderful blessing that I came across today - may you also read these words as a blessing to you today.
"Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours." - 1Samuel 25:7

Living in grace
D3LM3

Ezulwini

Traveling up to the conference today we needed to get to Ezulwini (meaning - Heaven) but we got lost on the way. Heaven was a bit tricky to find! Jesus told his followers that Heaven was easily found for those who believed in Him. May you not get lost in discovering the joy of Heaven.  God bless you.

Living in grace,
D3LM3

Let us be the Remedy

Where there is pain,
let us bring grace.
Where there is suffering,
bring serenity.
For those afraid, 
let us be brave.
Where there is misery, 
let us bring relief.
LET US BE THE REMEDY

(words by the David Crowder Band)

I am in.
I want to be part of the Remedy - not part of the problem.
What about you?

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Prayer fluff

It is amazing how we are fooled into thinking that if we prayer "religiously" God will hear our prayers. If I use the right language, right posture, right sentence construction - then God will take the time to listen to us. In truth, I don't think God cares much about all the extra 'fluff" - God just cares that we come to him in our prayer time. He just wants to hear from us. So quit worrying about what to say and how to say it - Just say it!

"God knows what's in our hearts. We might as well get right to the point." - Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Faithful

As you start this week, may you know that God is Faithful!

Not God may be faithful - God IS ALWAYS faithful! 

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:9 – "God IS Faithful."

§   

     You may have to deal with people who let you down, but always hold in your heart that God is Forever Faithful (Semper Fidelis)

    Living in Grace

    D3LM3

Sweet Hour of Prayer

The poem Sweet Hour of Prayer appeared for the first time in print, on this day in 1845. The author, William Walford was a blind lay Preacher. He committed the Bible to memory and often had to 'record' poems and other literature in his mind, until someone was able to help him put it onto paper.

The language of this poem is a little dated, but it is deeply powerful. Enjoy and be blessed:

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”

Living in Grace
D3LM3

One minute can make a difference

On Monday evening I flew back from a Mission trip in Johannesburg. However, I was delayed between check in and boarding (for a few reasons) and got to the boarding gate a minute late. The doors had just closed and I wasn't allowed on. I was gutted! All I wanted to do was to get home, but my plans were dealt a huge blow. Partly frustrated with the airport and partly angry with my bad planning, I had to make a new plan. Eventually, I boarded a later flight and got home, many hours later than I should have.

Here is one thing I learnt about this 'travel' experience:

Sometimes we make bad choices that derail us from God's intented course for our lives. We can blame other people or circumstances, but at the end of the day, we have to accept some responsibility. God's plan for our lives is a good one (like coming home to the family), but we may not get there, if we insist on doing things our way. God's grace always gives me a chance to get back on course, but I may have to accept that some things may be lost (precious time) along the way. In the end, coming home is all that matters and I need to make a desperate plan to arrange this.

God has already given us his plan - His name is Jesus. Isn't it time to trust Him for your future journey?
I am just asking!!!

Living in Grace
D3LM3

No easy road

If we are looking for an easy ride in our Faith, then we may as well give up on following the 'Christian Way.' Following Jesus was never meant to be easy and if it is getting too comfortable for us, then we need to assess whether we are still on the right path.

David Livingstone once received a letter from the London Missionary Society asking him:
"Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to know how to send other men to join you." 

Livingstone wrote back, "If you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all."  

Don't follow Jesus because it's the comfortable choice - Follow Him because there is no other option!

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Butterfly Effect

The term Butterfly Effect refers to how a 'small change in one place can cause bigger changes in another place.' It can be used in all kinds of contexts, but I think that Scripture speaks of a similar thing when we are encouraged to have faith - even if it is as small as a mustard seed.

Jesus said that if we had faith (as small as a tiny seed), we could impact a mountain far away.

Why don't we allow God to take our small acts of faith today - and multiply them for his Glory.
Small changes now will bring HUGE changes later.

Living in Grace
D3LM3