Finding your way in the dark

 

Finding you way in the dark is not an easy exercise. 

When the lights go out due to unexpected power failures, load-shedding, or no money in the meter, then you have to resort to stumbling around in the dark. Of course the better you know your home, the easier it is to work out where you are and to make a plan. This reminds me of a lovely quote:

Alexander Maclaren, the 19th Century Scottich preacher said that, "Those who know the path to God, can find it in the dark."

When our lives are filled with sudden darkness, let us not lose hope but rather find our way back to the heart of God. Walk the well trodden path and know that God is still at Home.

Luke 15:20 -  “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming, and was filled with loving pity and ran and embraced him and kissed him."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Hold unswervingly

 

^"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." - Hebrews 10:23

This was one of the verses from our Sunday message today. There is so much power and truth in this short verse, that I think we should pause and contemplate it in more detail. These are the things that stand out for me:

1. I need to hold onto Jesus's promises...

2. Hope is not just a vague ideal, but something (someone) we need believe in ...

3. God keeps his promises...

4. God is Faithful when all else is crumbling around us...

So as you head off into the new week why don't you take this verse with you? God bless you.

"Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise." (NLT)

"So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word." (The Message)

Living in Grace

D3LM3

 

Teach us to pray

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, he gave them the wonderful words of what we refer to as the Lord's Prayer. Part of our trouble is that these words have become too familiar over the years and we miss out on the uniqueness of Jesus's teaching. Why don't you read these words today with new insight and focus:

"Father, may your name be honoured.

May your Kingdom come soon.

Give us our food day by day.

And Forgive us our sins - 

Just as we forgive those who have sinned against us.

And don't let us yield to temptation." - Luke 11:2-4

 

Why don't you use these words as the basis of your prayers today?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

News Flash

 

I am so excited to let you all know that I have put together a new Ebook called "70 Days of Wisdom - A reflection on the book of Proverbs." 

For those of you who faithfully read this blog you would remember that I posted some insights - reflections on Proverbs earlier on during lockdown. So, what I have done is to edit these and to add in a few more 'brand-new' reflections on the book of Proverbs. I am just releasing this in the Ebook format for now - mainly due to Covid-19, but you can easily get hold of it by following these easy steps:

1. Go to www.amazon.com

2. Type in my name and a list of my books should come up.

3. 70 Days of Wisdom should be the first one to appear and you can click to order.

If you don't want to access the Ebook, then we can sign up to my Patreon site (www.patreon/delmelinscott) and then I can send you a PDF copy nce you are registered.

Failing that, you will have to wait a few months to see if I can get some copies printed.

Thanks again for all your support and encouragement friends. I really couldn't write if it weren't for your interaction and willingness to read these posts. God bless you.

Check out the promo Video here.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

A new perspective

I was bemoaning standing in a long queue this morning, as I waited to renew my car license, when suddenly I felt a little prompting to 'Be Thankful.' The more I thought about it, the more I realised that if I was able to renew a license that I was one of the fortunate folk who owns a car. That in itself makes me one of a small percentage of South Africans who have that privilege - about 30% of South African households own a vehichle between the members of that house. So, in the end, I waited out the rest of my 'penance' with a renewed peace and a spirit of thankfulness.  

Sometimes we just need a little prompting to change the way we see things. Perspective is a great way to change the way we see the world.

"So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective." - Colossians 3:12 (Message)

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Catherine Booth

                                             

As we move closer towards the end of Women's month this August, I felt it was appropriate to share some incredible words from Catherine Booth. She was the driving force behind the Salvation Army with her husband William, and certainly had many of her own spiritual gifts. It is recorded that one man was so impressed with her preaching and persuasion that he remarked:

"If ever I am charged with a crime, don't bother to get any of the great lawyers to defend me; just get that woman (Catherine)."

Catherine was not just someone who spoke about doing things, but she also followed up with her lifestyle:

“You are not here in the world for yourself. You have been sent here for others. The world is waiting for you!”

“If we are to better the future we must disturb the present.”

“The waters are rising, but so am I. I am not going under, but over.”

Be inspired by this woman of grace and conviction. Go with God!

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Dealing with the right things

During my research for the message this week, I came across this post from Warren Wiersbe:

"During the early days of the Salvation Army, William Booth and his associates were bitterly attacked in the press by religious leaders and government leaders alike. Whenever his son, Bramwell, showed Booth a newspaper attack, the General would reply, "Bramwell, fifty years hence it will matter very little indeed how these people treated us; it will matter a great deal how we dealt with the work of God." 

It is such a reminder that when we step out and do the Lord's work we may not always receive the support we expect, but we must trust in God's provision and strength.

Living in Grace

D3LM3 

The deafening noise!

                                                            

We have been opening up our church on a Thursday for a time of quiet reflection and prayer. It has been a wonderful way of listening to the Lord and feeding our spirits. 

However, today things were different! The municipality has been fixing burst waters pipes and the roads outside our church for a while and today was the the day the jackhammers came to town! Wow, it was loud! Even the sound of music couldn't drown out the noise and I have to admit finding 'peace' was tough! And so this got me thinking:

"How does the noise of our lives distract us from listening the voice of God?" 

"What loud noises make it hard for us to prayer and focus on the things of Jesus?"

Acts 21:40 - Paul stood on the stairs and motioned to the people to be quiet; soon a deep silence enveloped the crowd, and he addressed them" (LB)

Isaiah 17:12-13 - Oh my! Thunder! A thundering herd of people! Thunder like the crashing of ocean waves! Nations roaring, roaring, like the roar of a massive waterfall, Roaring like a deafening Niagara! But God will silence them with a word… "

Jeremiah 51:55 - For the Lord is destroying Babylon. He will silence her loud voice.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The Land Between

                                                

For those of you who have tuned in to our recent sermons you would already know that we tackled the theme of "The Land Between". This took a closer look at the theme of finding God during our times of tough transitions and was based on a delightful book by Jeff Manion. I have writtten a short article on this topic for Scripture Union, which is a lovely summary of this theme. If you would like to read it please click on this link -  and while you are there, please also read some of the other awesome articles that are on the Scripture Union site.

Here is a short snippet from the article to whet your appetite:

"Our unique journey through the wilderness of uncertainty during Covid-19 has moved many of us into deep places of reflection, trying to find God in this time of drastic change. We may even be asking “What is God doing in our lives through this time of transition?” As we step out onto the soil of this ‘land between’ we recognise that this time has the potential to grow things in our lives or to sadly destroy us. We are left with the work of discerning which ‘crop’ we want to grow from the soil of this season."

God bless

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Freezing cold

                                        

The last few days have been freezing cold in the Western Cape. What struck me today was that although our modern weather apps give us warning of rain, cold fronts and bad weather, we still experience the extremes of our climate. We can prepare for it, but we still struggle through it!

In a spiritual sense, we don't have 'Apps' to tell us that we are going to be facing storms or inclement weather, but we do have warning signs that things may be strained. It is in these moments that we need to do some introspection and to be honest where we stand with God. I have found that these are moments where we can experience profound transformation.

Related to the theme of cold and freezing are these 2 verses:

Revelation 3:15 - I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

Job 37:10 - God’s breath sends the ice, freezing wide expanses of water.

Thought: When we are physically cold, we do something to make ourselves warmer. When we are spiritually lukewarm what do we do in order to change that?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The best of God

                                                            

I was truly surprised by the story of Arthur Blessit, who has been carrying a Cross around the world for 53 years. It is a remarkable account of how one man decided to dedicate his entire life to glorify Jesus and to spread the Good News where ever he goes. At one point in his testimony Arthur shares these words:

·      “At the cross the worst of man meets the best of God.”

     This reminds me of the words of Paul in Ephesians 1:7 where he writes: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace."       

    As we contemplate the cross of Christ this week let us remember that the worst of our sins have been covered by the blood of Jesus and we have been given a new hope.

    Living in Grace

    D3LM3

 

Plus Ultra

In Matthew Henry’s reflection on Ezekiel 47 he mentions that the image of the water flowing from the Temple is a picture of God's overwhelming grace moving further and further out into the world. He says "Grace in the soul is still pressing forward; it is an active principle, plus ultra—onward still, till it comes to perfection."

The phrase 'plus ultra' means 'further beyond' and is now the national motto of Spain. I think this is a lovely picture of how God's love and mercy will go further than we can ever imagine and we should never limit the action of God's love.

What does it mean for you to think of God's love beyond what we can comprehend right now?

How can we take God's love 'further beyond?'

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Make the right change

                                                

I was reflecting this week on how sometimes we procrastinate in make a change in some areas of our lives - either through laziness, ignorance or just simply disobedience. If you want to watch me confess one of my embarassing moments along these lines, then please click this link (or check it out on Youtube). 

This is the reading I mentioned in the video. It is from Jeremiah 8:4-6:

 “‘Do people fall down and not get up?
    Or take the wrong road and then just keep going?
So why does this people go backward,
    and just keep on going—backward!
They stubbornly hold on to their illusions,
    refuse to change direction.
I listened carefully
    but heard not so much as a whisper.
No one expressed one word of regret.
    Not a single “I’m sorry” did I hear.
They just kept at it, blindly and stupidly
    banging their heads against a brick wall. (The Message)

Living in Grace

D3LM3

P.S. - The video is just over 2 minutes long :)

A new foundation

                                                

It saddens me when people abuse the grace God has given to us. I see this happening in many ways, but the one that causes me the most frustration is when people adopt this attitude: 

"God loves me and will forgive me, so I can do what I like!" 

This is not only a false understanding of God's holiness, but also his Love. From a human perspective can you imagine the consequences for a child who says to their parents: "I know you love me and won't discipline me, so I am going to do what I like!" That certainly would never fly in our home and I don't believe God would let it slide either. I like the words of the Life Application Study Bible that say:

 “God’s grace does not cancel our duty to obey Jesus: it gives our obedience a new basis.” 

Our obedience to Jesus is based on our reaction to his immeasurable grace. The way we respond to God's overtures of love is show it by our actions.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” 

Living in Grace

D3LM3