My helper - your helper!

"So, we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. 
What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6 and Psalm 118:6)

Taking a scripture verse out of its context can be a dangerous thing, as we don't allow it to speak to us with the whole weight of the words either side of the verse. 

Take today's reading as an example. The message is clear enough in that we can affirm that God is our helper and therefore, we don't need to be afraid of the threats of other people. However, this is only half the truth - there is a lot more to glean from the verse...

...verse 6 starts off by stating: "So, we can say with confidence...". We should be asking, what is the "SO" referring to? And to get the answer we need to read the preceding verses, particularly verse 5.

"For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (NKJV)

Our confidence comes from this amazing promise: God says he will never leave us, nor forsake us, which opens our hearts and mouths to proclaim with great confidence: 

God has got my back and so I don't need to be afraid of the hollow threats of people.

Living in grace

D3LM3 

Wisdom has no expiry date - it remains a gift throughout the generations

Wisdom is something that is timeless. And when we read the Bible, we note that there are thousands of words of wisdom, instruction, good news and grace. The book of Hebrews ends off offering the early believer's wisdom about contentment and money. In my opinion these words are timeless. They have spoken the Truth to countless generations of Christians, and they will continue to speak long after we have gone. 

Hebrews 13:5 - "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:5)

I have left the Old Testament references in this post, because the readers of Hebrews would have known Deuteronomy and Joshua off-by-heart. This challenge was not something new to them, it was just that they were struggling to live it out. The same can be said for us. Knowing something to be wise and true, is one thing - but living it out, is the hard part!

Thought: Are you wrestling with contentment at the moment? How do the quotes from Joshua and Deuteronomy help you?

"Wisdom has no expiry date!"

Living in Grace

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Putting things together

As his final words to the first century Hebrews, the writer reminds them that God is the one who can put all things together. This is something we also ought to remember - when it seems that all is lost, we must remember that Christ is the one who can make us whole again. In Him, all things can be made new.

"May God, who puts all things together, makes all things whole,
Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus,
    the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant,
Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd, up and alive from the dead,
Now put you together, provide you with everything you need to please him,
Make us into what gives him most pleasure, by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.
All glory to Jesus forever and always!" - Hebrews 11:19-21 (The Message)

"You don't need another person, place or thing to make you whole. God already did that. Your job is to know it." - Maya Angelou

Living in Grace

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Keep on loving one another

In his final charge to the Hebrews the writer makes a number of profound statements in chapter 13. The very first words he utters are: "Keep on loving one another" (v.1). While these words may not seem earth-shattering for us, they are still very important for all believers to hear. 

Jesus had already told his disciples that the world would witness our love for each other and know that we belonged to him. He said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

Sometimes I feel that if we could just put this into practice more often, our communities would be very different. I like what C.S. Lewis says about loving each other:

"Do not waste your time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbour,  act as if you did! As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.” 

Action: Who is God calling you to love today? 

Living in Grace

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Strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees

In sharing on Hebrews 12 this week, I definitely feel that verse 12and 13 are my highlights. I offer them to you and pray that they may be a blessing to you.

"Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. (NIV)

"So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. (NLT)

"So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!" (The Message)

I pray that God would strength your tired hands and shaky knees. May you know his strength as you walk forward in faith. 

If you would like to listen to the audio podcast of the Bible Study, you are welcome to click here.

Living in Grace

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Robert Falcon Scott and the Apostle Paul

On this day (12th November) 1912, the diary and body of Robert Falcon Scott were found in Antartica. He had been dead for 8 months already, but no one could retrieve his body because of the extreme weather conditions. 

One of the intriguing things about Scott is how he faced his last few days on earth with fortitude and bravery. There was a certain peace in his heart about the inevitability of death. These are some of his last words, as longed for his loved ones to be taken care of:

"We shall stick it out to the end, but we are getting weaker of course and the end cannot be far. It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write more. For God's sake, look after our people."

His words remind me a little of the writings of St. Paul. Even when Paul was in prison, he wrote letters filled with hope and always thought of others. Take for example these words from the first chapter of Philippians.

"I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus."

Thought: Do you find it easy to pray for others even when you are going through tough times yourself?

Living in Grace

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P.S. Just out of interest, you may like to know that my maternal grandfather's name is also Robert Scott. Perhaps that helps explain why I am interested in this bit of historical trivia today :) 

Remembrance Day and the 1000-year-old Rose

The 11th of November is marked as Remembrance Day and most of us are aware of the history attached to this auspicious day. It is always a good practice to pause and remember the impact of war; to be thankful for the freedom's won; to mourn the millions of lives lost; to ponder whether we have learnt anything from these cataclysmic events; to pray that we will never allow them to occur again.

I recently finished a remarkable book on the Second World War, and I came to learn about the 1000-year-old rose (see the picture attached). This rose is also known as the Rose of Hildesheim, and it grows on the apse of the Hildesheim Cathedral, a Catholic cathedral in Hildesheim, Germany. Some scholars believe it may have been alive even as far back as 815 AD which is truly phenomenal. 

The reason I am mentioning this remarkable rose is because during the Allied bombing of Hildesheim in 1945, a large portion of the Cathedral was destroyed, including the visible part of the rose. All seemed to be ruins, until a while later, the rose began to grow and blossom again. It stands over 20 meters tall to this day. 

As a Christian, I believe that we should reflect on the tragedy of war, death and disaster with a different perspective. Of course, we are not immune from the pain and heartache of this broken world, but we should always hold onto the hope of the New Life in Christ. The Resurrection speaks to this truth, every day of our earthly existence.

Let us remember, that just when all seems to be lost, Christ can still bring renewal and life. 

Titus 3:5 - "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit." 

Living in Grace

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Motivation

Motivation is a strange thing. Sometimes we wake up feeling motivated for the day or some meetings we know are coming up. However, the very next day, we can wake up and feel flat - there is zero motivation to do anything. 

So, if our motivation is not going to come from how many hours sleep we had last night, where is it going to come from? Perhaps it needs to come from another person? Someone who knows us and who wants the best for us. Someone who believes in our potential and can see that we are struggling. What do you think of that?

The same reasoning applies to our faith. Read this verse: 

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works." - Hebrews 10:24

The writer clearly believes that acting in love and doing good for others is an important part of following Christ. However, in the same breath, he also implies that this doesn't always come naturally for us. One day we may feel excited to do this, but the chances are, that we may not feel like it on another day. We need Christian friends to help motivate us towards these end goals! 

Thought: Who needs some motivation today? How can you 'spur' them on towards love and good deeds?

Living in grace

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Holding Fast

On more than one occasion, the writer of Hebrews encourages his listens to hold onto their faith. Clearly this was something that they were struggling with and needed to be motivated to keep the faith. 

"Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise." - Hebrews 10:23

I am convinced that these words ring true for many of us today too. We profess our faith in Jesus Christ, but there are many things and people that can cause us to waver. Let us remember that the 'hope we affirm' is not in our own ability, but rather in the greatness of God. 

The Lord is the one we can trust to keep his promises. Other people and institutions will disappoint us, but Christ remains faithful.

David Wilkerson - "Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail-his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world."

Living in grace

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What is Faith?

In answer to the question, What is Faith? there are thousands of responses. The Bible gives us many insights into the experience of faith, as well as examples of many faithful people. If I asked you the same question today, what would your response be?

What is faith?

Hebrews 11:1 gives us one of the clearest answers to this question. It says:

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." - NRSV

Putting this into contemporary language, J. Packer writes:

“Christian hope expresses knowledge that every day of his life, and every moment beyond it, the believer can say with truth, on the basis of God's own commitment, that the best is yet to come.” - J. I. Packer

Living in Grace

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Overcoming the worst in ourselves

In a blog post attributed to the late Frederick Buechner, I stumbled across these words:

"'Fight the good fight,' he says (1 Timothy 6:12), where it's not the fight to overcome the best of the competition that he's talking about, but the fight to overcome the worst in ourselves."

The words in italics are the ones that stood out for me. How often is it that I need to overcome the worst in myself, in order to fully rely on God's grace. The worst in ourselves (which I believe is our deepest sin) threaten to keep us away from the loving embrace of our heavenly father. And the lies of the evil one add weight to the battle we fight - he tries to feed our minds and hearts with these lies, in order to keep us from running to the arms of Jesus.

Thought: May you rest in the strength of Christ, as you fight the good fight of faith. Remember that Jesus is already aware of the 'worst in us' and he died for these sins. Lean on his mercy and grace.

John 16:33 - "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Living in Grace

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Will and Testament

I found the following verse to be very helpful as we contemplate the death of Christ. Often, we wonder why it was necessary for Jesus to die, in order for us to receive the promised inheritance of grace and mercy. This scripture helps us understand:

"Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead. The will goes into effect only after the person’s death. While the person who made it is still alive, the will cannot be put into effect." - Hebrews 9:16-17

Very simply - we could only enjoy the great benefits of our eternal inheritance once Christ had died. The Divine will and testament only came into being, once Jesus had died on the cross.

Charles Spurgeon put it like this: “If there be a question about whether a man is alive or not, you cannot administer to his estate, but when you have certain evidence that the testator has died then the will stands. So is it with the blessed gospel: if Jesus did not die, then the gospel is null and void.” (Spurgeon)

Living in Grace

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Semper Reformanda

One of the slogans of the Reformation was semper reformanda ("always reforming"). Perhaps a better translation of these 2 words would be: "always being reformed." 

What I like about this is that it reminds me of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. God is always trying to transform and renew us - we can choose to resist these moments of refreshing and change, or we can embrace them.

2 Corinthians 3:18 - "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

"There is no justification without sanctification, no forgiveness without renewal of life, no real faith from which the fruits of new obedience do not grow." - Martin Luther
"Sanctification is not my idea of what I want God to do for me; sanctification is God’s idea of what He wants to do for me." - Oswald Chambers

Living in Grace

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An empty, open hand

"Faith is like an empty, open hand stretched out towards God, with nothing to offer and everything to receive" - John Calvin

In this week, when we remember the significant changes brought to the Church, through the Reformation, I thought I'd share a few inspiring words from John Calvin. Although he is not everyone's favourite, John did have a remarkable impact on the Church and Theology. Here are a few more of his insights:

"Humility is the beginning of true intelligence."

"People will never worship God with a sincere heart or be roused to fear and obey Him with sufficient zeal, until they properly understand how much they are indebted to His mercy."

Matthew 9:2 - Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

Living in Grace

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Paying the debt

Hebrews 7:22 - "Because of this oath, Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God."

The understanding of a guarantor is of 'someone who commits to pay back a debt if the original borrower can't pay it back.' Another name for this person is a 'surety.' The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the one who guarantees the New Covenant with his Father. 

In order to try and explain this in another way, the author Max Lucado shares this story: 

"A man had a daughter in college. He had set up a checking account for her so that she would have some money at school and could be responsible to pay her bills through this account. He was trying to help her learn how to manage a budget. He gave her some money to start the account, and she put money into her account through an on-campus job she had. He was also on the account as a guarantor to the bank since his daughter was still a minor. 

One day the bank sent him an overdraft notice on his daughter’s account. The amount of the overdraft was $25.37. What should he do? Let the bank absorb it? They won’t. Send her an angry letter? Admonition might help her later, but it won’t satisfy the bank .... He knew he could transfer the money from his account to hers. That seemed like the best option. So, he did. He replenished her account and paid the overdraft fee as well.

He then called her. He told her about the overdraft. She said she was sorry. But she told him she had no money to repay him at that moment. She was broke.

After a pause she began, “Dad, could you….” But before she could continue the sentence Dad said, “Honey, I already have.” 

Isn’t that amazing. Dad had met her need before she knew she had one."

And this is the story of the Gospel. While we were still caught up in our sinful lives, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8). He became the sacrifice and the guarantor, both at the same time. 

Living Grace

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How long would you be willing to wait?

How long would you be willing to wait for the fulfilment of a promise? Most of us struggle to wait even a few days or weeks, but what would you do if these weeks turned into years? I think about how Moses needed to wait around 25 years for the fulfilment of God's promise:

"For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

“I will certainly bless you,
and I will multiply your descendants beyond number."

Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised. - Hebrews 6:13-15

John Ortberg - Biblically, waiting is not just something we have to do until we get what we want. Waiting is part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be.

Thoughts: How long have you waited for the fulfilment of a promise?

Living in Grace

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Empty Vessel

Martin Luther once wrote a moving prayer which is filled with honesty and vulnerability. I am sure that his words will resonate with many of us. It is entitled Empty Vessel.

“Behold, Lord, An empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it.
I am weak in faith; Strengthen thou me. I am cold in love;
Warm me and make me fervent That my love may go out to my neighbor.
I do not have a strong and firm faith; At times I doubt and am unable to trust thee altogether.
O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in thee.
In thee I have sealed the treasures of all I have. I am poor;
Thou art rich and didst come to be merciful to the poor. I am a sinner;
Thou art upright. With me there is an abundance of sin;
In thee is the fullness of righteousness….. Amen.”

2 Corinthians 4:7-8 - "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair..."

Action: If you find Martin Luther's prayers helpful, please pass onto others.

Living in Grace

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Surviving the Hurricane

As South Africans we don't come across Hurricanes in our weather patterns, but we are obviously aware that friends around the world have to take precautions against these devasting weather conditions. 

We may not face physical storms in our lives, but we will inevitably find ourselves in a spiritual or emotional Hurricane at some point in time. This is when we truly must 'batten down the hatches and draw close to God in prayer.' I love how Eugene Peterson renders Psalm 57 - it really resonates with me. 

"Be good to me, God—and now! I’ve run to you for dear life. I’m hiding out under your wings until the hurricane blows over. I call out to High God, the God who holds me together. He sends orders from heaven and saves me..." - Psalm 57:1-3

Living in Grace

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A prayer for a friend

Have you ever wondered what prayer you could offer up for a friend going through a tough time. Well, you don't have to wonder any more :)

Here are some beautiful, life-giving words, that would be appreciated by anyone needing some encouragement. They are from Ephesians 3:16-17: 

"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong."

Isn't this fantastic? We are asking God to share from his bountiful, unlimited resources, empowering our loved ones with the Holy Spirit. And that Christ would make his home in their hearts, as they trust in God to guide them through these challenges. 

Lastly, we are asking that all of our roots would settle into God's great love and keep us strong in the midst of the storms.

Action: Why don't you pray this prayer for a loved one or friend today?

Living in Grace

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Faithful to the Lord

"For he (Jesus) was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully when he was entrusted with God’s entire house." - Hebrews 3:2

This passage speaks to us of two directions of faithfulness:

1. To God - who has called us.

2. To others - who are placed in our lives.

Both of these require God's inner strength and a willingness to humbly serve. Sometimes we think that these will only be done in bigger dramatic ways, but actually, they should be a lot more simple and practical. I like what FB Meyer suggests:

“Don’t' waste your time waiting and longing for large opportunities which may never come. But faithfully handle the little things that are always claiming your attention.” - F.B. Meyer.

Living in Grace

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Moving towards Courage

"But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.” – Hebrews 3:6

I had never really considered 'Courage' to involve some kind of movement or action. By this I mean that an obvious end-result of courage is usually some kind of action, but are there some steps we can take to get this courage? If you look at the following verses, you will note that there seems to be some action involved:

Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

1 Chronicles 17:25 - “You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So, your servant has found courage to pray to you.

Matthew 14:27 - But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

All of these scriptures seem to suggest that we can position ourselves to "be courageous"; "find courage" or "take courage."

I am not 100% sure what this looks like, but I am sensing that our confidence in Christ's promises has something to do with our willingness to move towards Courage. What do you make of this? How can we move towards this Christ-like Courage? 

Living in Grace

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Consider the birds

Following on from yesterday's post, where we spoke about being focused on Jesus, we take note of another place in the Bible, where this word is used. The writer to the Hebrews made use of the word 'katanoein', which is the same word Jesus used when he spoke to his followers:

"Think about the ravens! They neither plant nor harvest, they have neither storerooms nor barns, yet God feeds them. You are worth much more than the birds!" - Luke 12: 24

This is a call for us to do more than simply allow our brains to tick over, but rather it is a challenge to 'look and learn.' It is an invitation to 'consider' the example of the ravens or to be focused on what God does for them. Once we have done this exercise we will learn another spiritual insight, which will help us move forward in our faith.

Action: Are you able to find 2 minutes to 'consider the birds of the air' and to reflect on what this says to you about God's love for all of us?

Living in Grace

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Be Focused!

 

"And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest."

- Hebrews 3:1

When we want someone to take note of something important, we may ask them to 'listen carefully' or 'be focused.' The writer of Hebrews wants us to concentrate on the message he was to share with the people. He wants them to think carefully - he wants them to fix their attention on Jesus.

What does this mean for you today? How do we think carefully on Christ? Do we easily lose focus on what Christ has done for us?

Henri Nouwen - "Pay attention to the people God puts in your path if you want to discern what God is up to in your life." 

Living in grace

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The Pioneer

A Pioneer is someone who is the first to venture into an unknown area, territory, or even field of study. There are countless examples of people who have had the courage to be pioneers. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus was the Pioneer of our salvation - being the first to confront death and overcome its sting. Through his efforts we can follow in his footsteps without fear of the unknown.  

Hebrews 2:10 - In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.

We are then called to focus our attention on Him, and to Trust in all he has done for us.

Hebrews 12:2 - fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Living in grace

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Greater than the angels

The topic of Angels has become quite popular in recent times and of course the Bible refers to angels in many places. In fact, a quick search in BibleGateway will show 290 references to angels. Clearly God used angels as his messengers in many different situations, however the book of Hebrews reminds us that Christ is to be revered more than the angels. 

5 For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus:
“You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.
God also said, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.”
6 And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, 
“Let all of God’s angels worship him.” (Hebrews 1)

Angels were seen as messengers of God, but they are never referred to as family - yet, Jesus is called God's Son. In essence, He is both the Message and the Messenger. 

Thought: Let us remember to give thanks for all God has created, but to worship only the Creator!

I also wanted to thank you for taking the time to read my posts - recently I noted that I have had over One Million views/reads on these posts. A lot of these are from folk like yourself who often read the posts - I truly couldn't do it without your support. Thank you. 

If you feel you would like to contribute towards this ministry, you can do so via my Patreon page. You can just click here to find out how. Thanks. 

Living in Grace

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Two contrasting views on wisdom

The author of Proverbs tells us that: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10). 

These words are replicated in Psalm 111:10 - "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding."

I fully agree with this sentiment - by having a healthy reverence (fear) for the Lord, we are showing a level of wisdom that is humble and healthy. 

However, I came across a quote from Theodore Isaac Rubin, who writes: "Kindness is more important that wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom."

What do you make of these thoughts? Is it more important to be kind, than wise? Is this even something to compare? What do you think?

Living in Grace

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Filling our horizon

"No believer can cope with adversity unless Christ fills our horizons, our priorities and dominates our experience." - Raymond Brown

I think that these words are so profound and make sense to all who have ever encountered adversity. When troubles come our way (which they always do) the usual temptation is to fill our view with the largeness of the trial, instead of allowing Jesus to fill our horizons. 

2 Corinthians 4:18 - So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Hebrews 12:2 - We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Question: How can we allow Christ to 'fill our horizons' and to help us overcome the adversity in our lives?

Living in Grace

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Deluxe version?

If you were asked the question: "Are you are Christian?", most of us reading this post would answer 'Yes!'

But, if we were asked: "Are you a disciple of Christ?", there would be a few of us who may be tempted to say, "I am not that radical as yet!"

In truth, the Bible speaks very little about being a 'Christian' (it is only mentioned 3 times), whereas the Scriptures speak a great deal about being a 'disciple' of Christ (this is mentioned over 260 times). 

So, the challenge is clearly there before us - we have not been called to merely claim that we believe in Jesus, and that a few committed people are called disciples - as if they are the deluxe version of the ordinary Christian. We are all called to be DISCIPLES of Jesus. There is no wriggle room in this decision.

Dallas Willard says - "If we intend to become like Christ, that will be obvious to every thoughtful person around us, as well as to ourselves." 

"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" - Matthew 28:19

Living in Grace

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Watch where you are walking

When you are out walking or running it is important to make sure you are watching where you are going. This is not just in terms of your overall direction, but also to be aware of where you place your feet. It may seem like a simple process to follow, but it can be so tricky at times. If you look too far into the distance you can step into a hole or catch your foot on a rock. It takes skill to keep both the distance, and the path, firmly in your eyesight. 

Is this perhaps what the writer of Proverbs 4 is suggesting?

"Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil." - Proverbs 4:25-27

Thought: How are you managing with your spiritual walk at the moment? Are you perhaps looking too far into the distance and missing the individual steps you need to take right now? OR, is your vision so consumed with a small step in front, that you have forgotten to look to where you are heading?

Living in Grace

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Being a beginner

Somehow, we have picked up the notion that being a 'beginner' is a negative thing - but, if we stopped for a moment, we would realize that this is a stage we all need to start from. 

You can't walk, until you have begun to crawl; you can't speak a language fluently, until you have begun to learn some words; you can't pick up an instrument and suddenly have the skills to play it perfectly. We are all beginners at some point in our lives.

Perhaps this is what puts many people off from following Jesus. We assume we should be able to read and understand the scriptures immediately; we think we should be able to pray like the saints; we believe that our Christian faith is a failure if can't perform miracles. 

In some ways, I feel as if I am a 'Christian' beginner, on a daily basis. I know that I should be growing and maturing, but then I feel as if I have taken many steps backwards. 

Thought: What about you? In what ways do you still feel as if you are a beginner? 

Hebrews 5:14 - Milk is for beginners, inexperienced in God’s ways; solid food is for the mature, who have some practice in telling right from wrong.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Remain brave and strong

I have enjoyed reading some of the thoughts of Hildegard of Bingen lately. She lived in the 11th century and was a woman of very deep faith. Hildegard spoke from her own circumstances and was convinced of God's presence with us at all times. These words struck me today:

"Even in a world that's being shipwrecked, remain brave and strong." 

Her words echo the words of Paul, when he wrote to the church in Rome to encourage them to hold onto the promises of God.

"Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises." - Romans 4: 20-21

May we remain brave and strong, as we hold onto the promises of Jesus.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

A glistening mirror of divinity

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) is remembered on the 17th of September, and she was indeed a remarkable woman. It is said that kings and queens, bishops and popes, sought the counsel of this women of God.

But the Benedictine nun was perhaps most knowledgeable about admiring and appreciating every creature that God had created. She loved Jesus and saw God's handiwork all around her. Among her most inspirational quotes are the following:

“The Earth sustains humanity. It must not be injured; it must not be destroyed.”
“Every creature is a glittering, glistening mirror of divinity.”
“Creation is the song of God.”

Romans 8:39 - "No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thought: In this season of Creation (Spring in the Southern Hemisphere) let us remember our Creator. 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Generations come and go

"Generations come, generations go, but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises, the sun sets;
then it speeds to its place and rises there.
The wind blows south,
then it turns north;
the wind blows all around
and keeps returning to its rounds.
All the rivers flow to the sea,
yet the sea is not full;
to the place where the rivers flow,
there they keep on flowing." - Ecclesiastes 1:4-7 (Complete Jewish Bible)

As we take a few moments to ponder these words from Ecclesiastes we are reminded of some wonderful truths:

People come and go, but God remains forever.

God directs the winds, and we have no control of the weather.

The balance of the sea, land and rivers, is so precise that it shouts to us: "God is a genius!"

The older I get, the more I admit that I actually comprehend so very little. This is indeed humbling. It reminds me that I am not in control, but that I can surrender my life to the One who is in control.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

A weekend prayer - from Columba

Here is a short prayer for us to use over this weekend. May God bless you.

"Alone with none but Thee, my God,
I journeyed on my way:
What need I fear, when Thou art near,
O King of night and day.
More safe am I within Thy hand
Than if a host did round me stand.

The Child of God can fear no ill,
His chosen dread no foe:
We leave our fate to Thee, and wait
The bidding when we go.
'Tis not from chance our comfort springs,
Thou art our trust, O King of Kings." - Saint Columba

May our King of Kings surround you with his grace and love.

Revelation 17:14 - "Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.”

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Passwords of Praise

I was reading through Psalm 89 in the Message, and I was delighted to read how Eugene Peterson described the worship of God. He says:

"Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise,
    who shout on parade in the bright presence of God.
Delighted, they dance all day long; they know
    who you are, what you do—they can’t keep it quiet!
Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us—
    you’ve been so good to us! We’re walking on air!
All we are and have we owe to God,
    Holy God of Israel, our King!" - Psalm 89: 15-18

I was struck by the expression: 'blessed are those who know the passwords of praise.' I have so many passwords for bank accounts, email accounts, online shopping, phones etc, but do I know the passwords of praise? And what would these passwords open up for my life?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

When we need a Guardian

I was reading through Psalm 121 in the Complete Jewish Bible, as it offers some fresh insight into familiar passages. While doing this, I was struck by the use of the word 'Guardian', which is repeated a few times. In simple terms, a Guardian is someone who takes care of another person who is not able to care for themselves in the present moment. Usually this in the case of a child, who has a Guardian until they reach a certain age.

However, is this also not true of our relationship with God. Sometimes we are not able to take care of ourselves, and we need to be reminded that we have a God who is willing and able to be that Guardian for us.

He will not let your foot slip —
your guardian is not asleep.
4 No, the guardian of Isra’el
never slumbers or sleeps.

5 Adonai is your guardian; at your right hand
Adonai provides you with shade —
6 the sun can’t strike you during the day
or even the moon at night.

7 Adonai will guard you against all harm;
he will guard your life.
8 Adonai will guard your coming and going
from now on and forever. (Psalm 121)

Living in Grace

D3LM3

A safe Harbour

Harbours are built to shelter boats/ships from the chaos of the sea. They provide rest and refuge for the vessels, and allow the sailors chance to catch their breath, re-stock the vessel, and prepare for the next journey.

What if we saw the presence of God as one of these safe places - a refuge - a harbour? 

What if we realised that God allows us moments to withdraw from the chaos of the sea and to rest in the still waters?

Read what Psalm 107 says: 

23 Some went off to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world.
24 They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action,
his impressive works on the deepest seas.
25 He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves.
26 Their ships were tossed to the heavens
and plunged again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits’ end.
28 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
29 He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves.
30 What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbour!

Thought: Do you need to pull into the harbour of God's grace today? What is stopping you?

Living in grace

D3LM3

When I am afraid

If you have ever felt afraid, then these verses from Psalm 56 are for you. David reminds us to shift our focus from the things that make us afraid, to the One who has conquered ALL things.

"But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
I praise God for what he has promised. 

 I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?" - Psalm 56:3-4

Rudyard Kipling - "Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Whatever

This last week has been really hectic, but also very rewarding. I was part of a mission group that traveled up to Namaqualand to share in ministry over the weekend. It was a blessed time indeed. This is also why I haven't had much time to write any devotions, so thanks for your patiece.

Today I was reminded of thus wonderful passage from Philippians 4. I pray that it also encourages you in your faith journey. 

Philippians 4:8-9 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. [9] Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice."

Living in Grace 

D3LM3