Who is in charge?

I was getting rather stressed about today - how was I going to fit everything into the hours that I had? I felt flustered and a little out of control. My groans and prayers were on my lips as I went to sleep last night, and before I could even open my eyes this morning, I realised that God had undertaken to answer them. 

As I turned on my phone this morning, a message came through asking to postpone one of my appointments - and another message offered some help during the recording of my sermon - and one of my appointments went way better than I have thought, freeing up time for unexpected surprises and delays. While, all of this was happening, I was reminded of this ONE IMPORTANT fact:

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, by God directs our steps" - Proverbs 19:21

This left me with the humble reminder that I am not in charge - God is! Hopefully I am able to remember this lesson the next time I feel as if the edges of life are falling apart.

Can you relate to this at all?

Proverbs 19:23 - The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The dangerous dandelion

“Pride is the dandelion of the soul. Its root goes deep; only a little left behind sprouts again. Its seeds lodge in the tiniest encouraging cracks. And it flourishes in good soil: The danger of pride is that it feeds on goodness.” - David Rhodes.

What do you make of this quote? Is there some truth in the fact that Pride grows well in the soil of good soil - or at least soil that is encourages growth?

I know that for many people, moments of pride can come during times of great triumph and when one feels invincible. When are you most susceptible to feelings of pride? 

Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The place of honour

“It is better to deserve honours and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.” - Mark Twain

As you read this quote, think on it in line with the following challenge from Jesus:

Luke 14:7-10 - When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honour, he told them a parable. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honour, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place.

But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.

Is there a clear message in this for us as individuals or even as communities?

Are we as 'the church' also guilty of this in some way?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Who is watching who?

"On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely." - Luke 14:1

The great irony of Jesus sharing a meal with the Pharisee was that although he was being watched very carefully, Jesus was equally observant about their behaviour. This is why he asked them a very challenging question concerning the man who had dropsy (v.2-3). Matthew Henry comments on this verse by arguing:

"Even in the common actions of life, Christ marks what we do, not only in our religious assemblies, but at our tables." 

This challenges us to include Christ in all aspects of our lives and not just at the 'religious' moments in our communities. We may be able to fool some people during our religious moments, but we can't fool God when we live the rest of the week. 

"The one you are looking for is the one who is looking." - St. Francis of Assisi 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Relying on God

"Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” – C.S. Lewis

Who do we turn to when we need help? Do we find it hard to rely on God or on the promises of the Scriptures? John reminds us that we can rely on God - especially on the love that God has for each one of us.

1 John 4:16 - And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

Lean into God's love and grace

Living in Grace

D3LM3

PLEASE NOTE: You can now sign up for the emails to come into your inbox again :) A big shout out to my friend Tyron for helping me again - he is a legend.

Follow this simple step: Go to www.delmelinscott.blogspot.com and you will see the block to subscribe - type in your email address and then look for the confirmation email sent through to you (be aware it may be sent through to your junk/spam folder.) THANKS for your support. 

What is the answer?

How often have you scratched your head wondering what the answer, to a troubling scenario, could be? As hard as you try, you just can't seem to come up with a suitable and satisfying answer? Is it possible, that as Christians, we are missing a valuable point? Listen to what C.S. Lewis writes:

“I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?”

Perhaps, the reason why we are not getting the answer we desperately seek, is because God wants us to know that he is the answer...period!

1 Chronicles 22:19 - Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

PLEASE NOTE: You can now sign up for the emails to come into your inbox again :) A big shout out to my friend Tyron for helping me again - he is a legend.

Follow this simple step: Go to www.delmelinscott.blogspot.com and you will see the block to subscribe - type in your email address and then look for the confirmation email sent through to you (be aware it may be sent through to your junk/spam folder.) THANKS for your support. 

Patience and Encouragement

My apologies for not writing over the last few days, but life has been very hectic. We had a blessed time sharing at the Namaqualand Mission last weekend, and we were privileged to see God working in amazing ways. Immediately after this fantastic weekend, I packed up and headed up to Gauteng where I have been attending the Superintendent's training course at Emseni. Our days have been filled with lectures, sessions and training, so time to write has been very limited.

Here is a reading which has been brought to my attention this week. I offer it to you as a word of encouragement.

^"May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Romans 15:5-6

God bless and I hope to write again soon.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Encourage one another

We are heading up to Namaqualand this weekend. A group of us are heading up from our Church community and we are looking forward to sharing with God's people in the Namaqualand region. 

We go up to these church communities to encourage, share and pray together. Our presence in these far flung locations is not to claim any superior knowledge of Jesus, but rather to remind one another that we are part of the same family of Jesus, and that we 'see each one of them.' It can be a very lonely experience, to be a follower of Jesus, in places that are seldom frequented by others. 

It is our prayer that we may bless one another with the love of Jesus. Please pray for us all.

“Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.” - Frederick Buechener 

2 Corinthians 13:11 - "...encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you."

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.

Who needs your encouragement today? 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Here is the world - Beautiful and Terrible things will happen. Don't be Afraid.

 

Frederick Buechner passed away this week at the age of 96. He was a remarkable preacher, theologian, writer, novelist and so much more. His words will live on long after he has been laid to rest. I would like to share a few of this thoughts with us today. May they inspire us all to live fuller lives.

"Go where your best prayers take you."

“Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.”

And this one, which I used in a blog a few months back...

“Life is grace. Sleep is forgiveness. The night absolves. Darkness wipes the slate clean, not spotless to be sure, but clean enough for another day’s chalking.”

May Frederick rest in peace.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Unfailing Love

We have all come to experience the limitations of human love and commitment. Even the best of relationships contain moments of hurt, mis-understanding and fragility. So when the Bible speaks of God's love that is UNFAILING, this should immediately get our attention. 

This is an image of God, who despite our reactions, will continue to love us and 'be for us.' 

When you think of God's unfailing love, is there something that resonates with you? 

Exodus 15:13 - “With your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed. In your might, you guide them to your sacred home."

Nehemiah 1:5 - Then I said, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands,

·       John 1:17 - For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 

In the words of Chris Tomlin -

"And You never change God,
You remain The Holy One.
My unfailing love
Unfailing love."

      Living in Grace

      D3LM3

Don't count on your Warhorse!

                                                     

^"The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory— for all its strength, it cannot save you." - Psalm 33:16-17

When we turn to signs of human strength and power to gain our glory or salvation, we will only set ourselves up for disappointment. Every ruler on earth, no matter how successful they were or how good/evil, they all had to relinquish their thrones and kingdoms in the end. Every one of them! Look at this brief list as an example:

•   Alexander the Great
•  Napoleon
• Julius Cesar
• Genghis Khan 
•  Hannibal
• Charlemagne
• Attila the Hun
• Sun Tzu

·       We can add many modern people onto this list – even those who have made the world a troubled place in the last 100 years.

If our strategy is to try and build up the biggest, strongest, mightiest Kingdom in all the world, we should learn from history. No matter how much gold went into establishing these kingdoms, or the cost of human lives, or the number of horses and weapons in their armoury - it was all handed over to someone else in the end.

Where are we putting our faith and trust?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Do you want to be noticed or overlooked?

Would you rather be noticed by God or overlooked by God?

It may seem like a strange question to ask, but when we read the words of the Psalmist they speak of how God watches over us. This idea can be very reassuring for some people, but for others it can also be very disconcerting.

Psalm 34:15 – The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right…

Psalm 33:13-15

The Lord looks down from heaven
    and sees the whole human race.
From his throne he observes
    all who live on the earth.
He made their hearts,
    so he understands everything they do.

I am very happy to know that God watches over us. There was a time when it used to make me feel very inferior and nervous, but now I feel the 'glow' of knowing that God loves us enough to care for us. Of course, we know that God doesn't only live in the 'clouds' but that God is Omnipresent, but it is the simplicity of the image that should bring us comfort. 

Thoughts? 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

If we fall, we can rise again

"No one has ever fallen so grievously that he may not rise again. Conversely, no one stands so firmly that he may not fall. If Peter (and Paul and Barnabas) fell, I too may fall. If they rose again, I too may rise again." - Martin Luther.

These humbling words from Martin Luther remind me of two valuable lessons:

1. No one is exempt from trials and testing.

2. When we fall, we must know that God's grace can raise us to life again.

Lamentations 3:31-33 - "For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.

 

Living in Grace

D3LM3