4000 posts - What a remarkable journey, taking it one day at a time!

 

Today, marks a huge milestone for me and the 'Living in Grace' ministry. When I started out writing my thoughts and reflections in 2007, I never dreamt that I would one day reach 4000 blog posts. I am truly humbled by God's grace and guidance over the past 17 years; as well as being deeply encouraged by your willingness to read, comment and share my 'ramblings.' So, I thank you from the depth of my heart for being a part of this ministry.

As I reflect on the writing journey, I feel that it has only been possible by taking it one day at a time. I know that it sounds like a cliche, but this has been my reality. In the ideal world, I would love to have a few days each week to sit and write, but my life doesn't give me that gift at present. However, by choosing to be intentional for 20 minutes day, I have witnessed how God can add the collective minutes (and blog posts) into something unique. 

I am grateful for God's grace in my life, and I hope that I have been able to convey some of this amazing grace to you and your community. This verse has meant a lot to me over the past 17 years and share it again with us all:

"From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace" - John 1:16 (ESV)

May God bless you abundantly, as you choose to follow Jesus, ONE DAY AT A TIME. Thank you once again for giving of your time to read these posts. 

"The life of faith is lived one day at a time, and it has to be lived - not always looked forward to as though the "real" living were around the next corner. It is today for which we are responsible. God still owns tomorrow." - Elisabeth Elliot

Living in Grace

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Open to God

We are edging closer and closer to the anniversary of Pentecost. Undoubtedly this moment in history changed the Church completely. In fact, we could argue that the disciples could have drifted back to their old lives, if it weren't for the outpouring of God's Gift of the Holy Spirit. Thankfully, this didn't happen, and we are able to share in the magnificence of the Spirit.

As we await Pentecost let us ask ourselves if we are open to the Spirit? Do we believe in the power of the Paracletos to change us, equip us and strengthen us?

"God waits to dwell in us and to fill us with yet more grace, more love, more wholeness and with his own fullness. But the God of the Bible never bulldozes his way into a person's life. He loves us enough to wait until, out of our own free will, we invite him to come to us." - Joyce Huggett

1 Corinthians 1:24 - "But God has opened the eyes of those called to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, to see that Christ is the mighty power of God to save them."

Living in Grace

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Do you belong?

We are created to belong! I firmly believe this truth. 

We are created to be in community and to be known and loved by others. This is also why it is important for us to remember that we are invited to be part of God's community - to belong to God's family. When Paul wrote to the church in Rome, he reminded them of this beautiful gift:

"So, you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. " - Romans 8:15-16

The author and speaker, Brené Brown, puts it in a slightly different way, but it is equally compelling: 

“A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. When those needs are not met, we don't function as we were meant to. We break. We fall apart. We numb. We ache. We hurt others. We get sick.”

Question: Do you feel that you belong? Why or why not?

Living in grace

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Ascension Day reflection

As the global Church marks Ascension Day today, it is worthwhile spending some time reflecting on the significance of this occasion for each of us. Here are a few of my thoughts (but not exhaustive) on this momentous moment. But, before I share my thoughts, let's remind ourselves of what the Bible says about Ascension.

Luke 24:50-53 - "Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. 52 So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. 53 And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God."

1. Jesus blesses his followers before he goes!

2. The disciple's despair is changed to joy when they receive the blessing.

3. The disciples keep asking Jesus questions that show they haven't understood his mission. However, Jesus keeps steering them back to the point.

4. Jesus promises them the 'power' of God to help them fulfil their mission.

5. The Ascension is both and ending and a beginning. It is the end of Jesus' physical presence on earth, but it is the beginning of disciple's new mission. 

Thought: What does Ascension Day mean for you?

Living in Grace

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Acts 1:6-11 - "So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

The desire to change

“Most of us were taught that God would love us if and when we change. In fact, God loves you so that you can change. What empowers change, what makes you desirous of change is the experience of love. It is that inherent experience of love that becomes the engine of change.” - Richard Rohr

Reading this quote reminded me of the work of the Holy Spirit. God is love and so one of the functions of the Spirit is to remind us of this love; to fill us with God's love and then to allow this to become the catalyst for change. 

Perhaps we need to experience more of God's love, so that we would then feel the desire to change. There are a few examples of people in the Bible who encountered Jesus (Divine Love) and immediately desired to follow him. 

2 Corinthians 3:18 - And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Living in Grace

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It is better for you

There are some people who promise much but deliver very little. And when we have been disappointed with broken promises before, it is very hard to try and trust in any future promises. I was thinking about this when Jesus turned to his disciples and said:

"But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you." - John 16:7

It is not that Jesus had broken any promises to his disciples, but they would have been wary of what he was implying. How could it be better for them, if Jesus was no longer going to be present with them? They couldn't imagine what he was meaning - it made no sense! They had never experienced anything like this before, so it is little wonder that they struggled to see the good news in Jesus' promise.

However, as time passed and events unfolded, the disciples came to understand that Jesus was correct. It was better for them that he returned to the Father and they were gifted with the Holy Spirit. 

Sometimes, we have to hang on in faith, until the reality of the PROMISE is fulfilled.

Thought: Are there any promises in the Scriptures that you struggle to understand or even believe? What makes them hard to consider?

If you are interested in listening to my recent sermon on this topic, please click onto this link. 

Living in Grace

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Don't let yourself be disturbed!

 

Have you felt yourself becoming restless and disturbed lately? It could be down to a lot of different reasons, but we can easily become anxious and worried about many things. Life is complex and we are facing may tough situations all around us. 

When Jesus was preparing his disciples for his imminent departure, he encouraged them not to be afraid. He says to them in John 14:1 - "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and also trust in me."

In the Complete Jewish Bible, the verse reads like this: "Don’t let yourselves be disturbed. Trust in God and trust in me." I like the variation in this translation because it really speaks to me. 

I pray that whatever you may be facing at the moment, that you would Trust in Jesus, and allow God's Spirit to keep your heart from becoming too anxious and disturbed.

Living in Grace

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