To walk, act, think, speak and live

Gracious God, help us,

To walk in your light;
To act in your strength;
To think in your wisdom;
To speak in your truth;
To live in your love;
Amen.

It is no secret that I love reading and am inspired by Christians who have left behind amazing legacies for us to witness. This prayer (above) is another beautiful prayer from William Barclay, and it really speaks to me today. I think the simplicity of the words help us to digest the power in their meaning. 

I invite you pray this prayer again slowly. Take it one sentence at a time. May it add blessing and grace to your day.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Out of the blue

The saying, 'out of the blue', was first recorded in print in the mid 1800's and has always referred to some event that happens unexpectedly, like a bolt of lightning coming from blue skies. Most of us have enough life experience to realise that these kinds of things happen to us - we have a certain amount of control over events in our lives, but there are also some things that 'come out of the blue!'

I guess the real question is how we handle these moments - how prepared are we for these things? The early Christians experienced similar occurrences and they had to rely on God's grace and strength to get them through their challenges. 

1 Peter 4:12 - "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you."

Luke 24:4 - "While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them."

Question: How do you handle these events that happen 'out of the blue?'

Living in grace

D3LM3

"Help us always" - A prayer for this time!

"Help us always,

To praise rather than criticize;
To sympathize rather than condemn;
To encourage rather than to discourage;
To build up rather than to destroy;
To think of people at their best rather than at their worst." - William Barclay

Romans 12:12-13 - Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

May you have a bless day,

Living in grace

D3LM3

A prayer for today

The following prayer of Saint Cyril has been slightly altered to make it sound a little more user friendly. I pray that it may be a blessing to you. I hope I have managed to keep the original spirit and meaning of his ancient words. 

"O God of love, who has given us a new commandment through your only Son,
that we should love one another, even as you loved us, the unworthy and the wandering,
and gave your Son, for our life and salvation;
we pray that you would give us, as your servants, in all our time in this life,
a mind that forgets past evil, 

a pure conscience, 

sincere thoughts and a heart to love all;
for the sake of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lor and Saviour. Amen."

2 Chronicles 6:14 - “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven and earth. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Singing a song

I know that some of us can't sing so well, but that shouldn't prevent us from singing of God's strength and love. You may be wondering, 'what on earth is Delme rambling on about?' Well, let me share this verse with you and I am sure you will understand:

"I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.
O my Strength, I sing praise to you;
you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God." - Psalm 59:16-17

In a very simplistic sense, singing is an expression of something happening in our hearts. The Psalmist invites us to hold onto the faith of our hearts and to offer it to God in song. He teaches us to look beyond our fears and anxieties and to believe in God's great strength. 

I am sure that God is not too worried about what our voices sound like - He just loves to hear us sing! 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Reaching down to take hold of us

"He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of the deep waters." - Psalm 18:16

These words from David immediately reminded me of the incident in the Gospels where Jesus reaches down to Peter and rescues him from drowning. What started out as a moment of courageous faith for Peter, turns into a desperate plea for help. Jesus obliges and reaches out to help Peter but uses the incident to remind him to lean fully into the power of Christ. 

"But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” - Matthew 14:30-31

As we take steps of faith today, let us not be afraid of failing - Jesus is with us all the way and he will reach down and help us up when we get in over our heads.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

God's way is in the whirlwind and storm

In a week where we have witnessed huge storms and massive sea swells in the Cape, I have been interested in this verse from the prophet Nahum. He said: "His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet." 

What could he mean by saying these words? 

Is it possible that Nahum is reminding us that God speaks in the midst of our storms and the whirlwinds we encounter? I do believe there is a lot of truth in this sentiment. 

We can hold onto the promise that despite all that happens to us (and around us), God still makes a way for us.

What do you think?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

What tests your patience?

What tests your patience?

Or should I rather ask: Who tests your patience? 

If I am honest, there are many things that seem to test my patience at times. But then I think of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) I realise that the Spirit has a long way to go before I am fully refined. It is humbling to contemplate that God must be tired of being patient with me :)

Paul encouraged the Church to live in the power of the Spirit in order that they may grow in endurance and patience. He writes:

"...so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience..." - Colossians 1:10-11

May God continue to be patient with us & may we be given the grace to be patient with others.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Who means the most to you?

If I had to ask each of us to answer this question, what would your answer be?

Who means the most to you at the moment? 

Listen to the answer that Henri Nouwen gave: 

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.” 

Who would that be in your world right now? 

Psalm 18:18 - They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Kindness

I am flabbergasted at how unkind the world seems to be becoming. Maybe it has always been this way, but our modern society has certainly picked up the baton and is carrying it on. Of course, social media and technology has played a huge part in giving unkind people greater opportunities to vent their rage at the world, but it really saddens me. 

Have you been on the receiving end of unkindness lately? It really hurts, doesn't? I pray that as we experience this pain, that we can remember our call to be kind to one another. May the Spirit of Christ fill our hearts and lives, so that we can truly love each other.  

Proverbs 3:3 - Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.

2 Corinthians 6:6 - We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.

Ephesians 1:7 - He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

My Redeemer lives

Even when all seemed dark and depressing around him, Job was able to proclaim:

I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. (Job 19:25)

There is so much depth in this single sentence and it reminds us of God's promise to come to us in our times of need. It is one thing to be able to say these words when all is going well, but it is something entirely different when we are staring at the cliff face.

In the Complete Jewish Bible, it comes across in a slightly different way, but still holds the good news:

“But I know that my Redeemer lives, that in the end he will rise on the dust."

May these words offer you the hope you need today.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Stumbling along the path

"You suffered throughout your life, O Lord Jesus Christ, that I might be saved. And yet, even now, you continue to bear with me, as I stumble upon the path and constantly go astray. As often as I become impatient and wish to abandon your way, you encourage me and stretch forth your helping hand. Each day I increase your burden; yet while I am impatient, your patience is infinite." - Soren Kierkegaard

As I was reading through these words from Kierkegaard, I was arrested by the words 'as I stumble upon the path.' It reminded me of how I often long for my faith journey to be a strong powerful sprint, but in the end if seems to be more of a slow, stumble along the way. 

However, I am reminded that it is God's infinite patience that keeps me heading towards him. In his mercy he carries me home.

Psalm 37:24 - "Though we stumble we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Surely God is my help

 

"Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." - Psalm 54: 4

These words from David have been living with me for a few days. They are beautiful, reassuring and filled with great promise. I pray that they may also be a blessing to you.

"But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life." - New Revised Standard Version 

Living in Grace

D3LM3