A Christmas Prayer

Every year I try to find a Christmas prayer that will help in my preparations and there are a lot of lovely prayers out there. However, there is one that keeps on cropping up, and it comes from an unlikely source - it is from Robert Louis Stevenson. I offer it to you again and pray that you may have a blessed Christmas. 

“Loving God, 
Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift
and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing 
which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning 
make us happy to be your children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, 
in Jesus’ name.” – Robert Louis Stevenson 

John 8:12 - Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Living in Grace

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The Waiting is almost over

The waiting is almost over. Christmas is about to dawn again, and we eagerly await the birth of Jesus.

What is the longest you have waited for something to happen? A few hours? Days? Weeks? Months or Years?

How about 84 years? Well, this is how long we believe that Anna waited for the coming of the Messiah. 

"Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem." - Luke 2: 36-38

"During the night we must wait for the light." - Francis de Sales

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Faithful

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments." - Deuteronomy 7:9 

God is faithful. 

God keeps his promises. 

God shows up, when all else looks grim and bleak.

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again." - John 3:16-18 (The Message)

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Forever

In a world where nothing is built to last, it is important for us to reflect on the gift that God gives to us - it is a LOVE that will last forever. If you don't believe me, please read the words of Ethan, in Psalm 89.

¹ I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever!
    Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.
² Your unfailing love will last forever.
    Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.

³ The Lord said, “I have made a covenant with David, my chosen servant.
    I have sworn this oath to him:
⁴ ‘I will establish your descendants as kings forever;
    they will sit on your throne from now until eternity.’”  - Psalm 89

Thought: Let us be mindful of the precious gifts that last more than one Christmas season.

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To You

"To you, O Jesus, I direct my eyes;
to you my hands, 

to you my humble knees;
to you my heart shall offer sacrifice;
to you my thoughts, who my thoughts only see;
to you myself–myself and all I give;
to you I die; 

to you I only live." - Sir Walter Raleigh

May we strive to spend the remainder of this Advent season with our gaze only looking 'To Jesus.'

Job 22:26 - “Then you will take delight in the Almighty and look up to God."

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A gift that changes us from the inside

I am often amazed at the perception that Jesus wants to be a killjoy of sorts. It actually saddens me when I hear people speak of God in this way. Take this passage as an example - does this sound like someone who wants to squeeze all the joy out of our lives?

"I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." - John 15:11-13

Jesus loved his followers so much that he wanted to FILL us with joy. And not just a little bit of joy, but rather that our lives overflow with his Joy.

I believe it is this gift that truly changes us from the inside out. 

Living in Grace

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The Shadow of Joy

If we look with great care in the New Testament, we will see that JOY is littered all over the life of Jesus. If you start in Matthew’s version of the birth narratives, you will see how he writes about Jesus' birth:

Matthew 2:10 – “When they saw the star they were filled with joy!” (NLT)

And then, if you then move to Luke’s account...

Luke 1:44 – “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, my baby leaped for Joy.” (Even John the Baptist danced for Joy when he realized that Jesus was close by).

Then we hear the message of the angels when they speak to the shepherds...

Luke 2:10 – “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

We can even take a giant leap to the end of Jesus’ life, to that scene at the Resurrection, where the women come to anoint his body with spices. They are frightened yet still filled with Joy.

“So, the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet also filled with great joy...” – Matthew 28:8

Thought: Do you see what I mean? Jesus’ life is covered in JOY. 

Wherever Jesus went JOY was there. It is as if Jesus’ shadow was JOY itself.

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Living in Wonder

While researching for our Advent services I came across a lovely prayer by Rebecca Barlow Jordan, 

"We confess that our hearts are too often filled with wonder of a different kind: wondering when the bills will be paid, wondering when the terror will stop, wondering when rest will come. We even wonder if the message of peace is still true."

These words really left an impression on me. We have entered the Christmas season, which many of us realise should invoke feelings of Divine Wonder, but if we are honest, we are still clouded by the wonders of the world. The wonderings of our temporary world - money, security, food, relationships, education, work etc. Of course these are all necessary for us to live, but I believe that our 'Wonder' should rather be focused on the God of all creation.

Exodus 15:11 - “Who is like you among the gods, O Lord— glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders?

Luke 5:26 - Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”

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Paying Tribute

Paying tribute to someone is usually something that you say to show respect or affection for someone. We find that this happens a lot during a service of memorial. However, it also used to happen when a nation was conquered by an enemy. They were forced to pay a 'tribute' to their new rulers. 

One of our well-known hymns reminds us of this task of paying tribute to our Lord Jesus.

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
to his feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
evermore his praises sing.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King!

The Psalmist wrote of this same concept when reflecting on the hope of a Messiah. He said:

"The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands will bring him tribute.
The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts." - Psalm 72

The question that remains for us, is "what TRIBUTE do we bring to Jesus this year?"

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Forever Kind

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." - Psalm 118:1

The opening verse of Psalm 118 is a popular refrain throughout the Old Testament. It is repeated in the last verse of the same Psalm, as well as in many other Psalms (106, 107 and 136). I don't believe it is hard to comprehend what the writers want us to understand - God's love will endure, so let us give thanks for this gift.

The Hebrew scholar, Robert Alter, wrote his own paraphrase of the Psalms and put a different slant on these words. He wrote: "Acclaim the Lord, for He is good; forever is His kindness."

How do you feel about that? Not only is the Lord loving towards us, but part of his nature is also kind. 

Ephesians 2:7 - "in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."

Thought: May you experience the kindness and love of Christ today.

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Please save us!

I know that it may seem strange to be referring to Easter while we are in the middle of the season of Advent, but as Christians we always need to see the connection between the birth of Jesus and his crucifixion. Psalm 118 is Messianic in language and is used in both liturgical seasons.  

"This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. 

Please, Lord, please save us. 

Please, Lord, please give us success.
Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
The Lord is God, shining upon us." - v.24-27

These words are sung when we remember Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, as well as when we ponder the Incarnation of Christ. God hears our cries for salvation and sends his son into the world. 

Thought: Is there someone you know who may need your prayers today?

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Hope has two beautiful daughters

Hope has two daughters, according to St. Augustine. One of the daughters is named Anger and the other, Courage. 

"Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are." - Augustine

This is such a powerful way of looking at Hope, and it presents a challenge to all Christ-followers. When we hope in something, it is easy to allow any unfilled expectations to push us towards 'Anger' and blame. 

On the other hand, 'Courage' allows us to move forward, trusting that God hears our prayers and has already begun to answer these cries. 

The first week of advent is focused on Hope, and I pray that we would allow God's grace to transform our anger into courage and love.

"Show me your ways, O Lord, 

teach me Your paths;
Guide me in Your truth and teach me, 

for You are my Saviour,
and my HOPE is in You all day long." - Psalm 25

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Let every heart prepare Him room

Isaac Watt’s grand hymn: Joy to the world. The Lord is Come! is one of my favourite Christmas songs. In the opening verse of his song Watts makes a powerful call for all of us to prepare room in our hearts for the birth of Jesus.

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.”

As Advent begins, how will we make space for the Lord? 

What have you found helpful in your spiritual journey?

Living in Grace

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L’ amour de Dieu est folie

The French Easter Liturgy says: “L’ amour de Dieu est folie” – which simply means 'the Love of God is foolishness (folly).' 

And in some ways, it really is. 

God's love for us is mysterious, amazing, ridiculous, confusing, and life changing. As we slowly move closer towards the season of Advent, let us remember that God's love is truly remarkable. 

God loves us, despite how we treat each other and even how we treat God. It is foolish in some ways - why would you keep loving someone, who doesn't love you in return? I don't have words that adequately describe this gift, but I am deeply thankful.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him." - John 3:16-17

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A Selfish Prophet

"But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore, I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, one who relents from doing harm." - Jonah 4:1-2

The story of Jonah really gives us insight into the heart of people. Jonah was 'exceedingly displeased' that God had shown mercy to the people of Nineveh. He was happy when God showed him a lot of grace, especially when he had messed up, but Jonah couldn't stand the fact that God chose to forgive his enemies. I think we can safely call him: The Selfish Prophet.

Question: How do we feel when others are offered grace? Is there a part of us that struggles with being jealous at all?

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Second Chances

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: ² “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” - Jonah 3:2

This scripture is a marvelous reminder that God gives us second chances. I am sure that we have all been beneficiaries of a second chance, at some point in our lives, and it is an amazing feeling. 

Jonah wisely used his second chance and was obedient to the call that God gave to him; however, he wasn't exactly happy about it. His attitude was quite poor actually, and yet God still dealt with him graciously.

Let us remember that in Jesus Christ, we all have a second chance. 

"God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him." - John 3:17

Question: What have you done with your second chances?

"Live as if you were living a second time, and as though you had acted wrongly the first time." - Viktor E. Frankl

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Like water evaporating in the Summer heat

" My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat." - Psalm 32:4

This image that David paints for us is one that I can clearly picture. South African summers can be extremely hot, and water easily evaporates in the intense heat. The warm days also drain our energy and make us feel lethargic. 

The reason for David's strength 'evaporating' had a lot to do with his own decisions and unwillingness to turn back to God. However, when he eventually confessed his sins and experienced the mercy of God, it was like his strength was renewed and restored.

Isaiah 40:29 - He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

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We don't have to live in doubt!

When Jonah warned the people of Nineveh of God's judgement, they responded in these words:

^"Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened." - Jonah 3:9-10

I was struck by their sense of doubt - "Who knows? Maybe God will forgive us?"

Friends, I feel that we don’t have to live in wonder or doubt – will God forgive my sins? God has already forgiven our sins - this was done with Jesus' death on the cross. Jesus said that the work was finished and our sins were atoned for. 

It is up to us whether we choose to receive this gift and then to live as if it were true. Let us also remember that our God is gracious and compassionate.

Psalm 86:15 - But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Living in Grace

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Seaweed headgear

 

5 “I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me.
Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.
6 I sank down to the very roots of the mountains.
I was imprisoned in the earth,
whose gates lock shut forever." - Jonah 2:5-6

The picture of Jonah struggling in the ocean depths with seaweed wrapped around his head is pretty hilarious, in some ways. Many of us have encountered slimy seaweed while we have been swimming but having it wrapped around our head is next level. 

It speaks of being washed and tumbled in the powerful ocean depths. 

It speaks of finding oneself in the midst of tough times. 

It speaks of desperation.

Have you ever felt like this? How have you coped? It is noticeable how Jonah still finds the courage to pray to the Lord and to ask for help. Is this something we still do?

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Which way are you facing?

"Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple." - Jonah 2:4

There are some religions that encourage people to face East when they pray as it has some connection with the new dawn. The Jewish faith chooses to face towards Jerusalem, and we see that this has been practiced for thousands of years. Daniel was one of the Old Testament prophets who prayed in this way.

In Daniel 6:10 it says, “when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to this upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

As followers of Jesus, we believe that God is omnipresent, so we don't need to face a certain direction when we pray. However, it can sometimes help us to 'spiritually 'gaze in a direction, as it may give us more focus. 

The only thing we need to be sure of is that we 'turn our eyes towards Christ.' 

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in his wonderful face,
And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of his glory and grace.”
– Helen Howarth Lemmel

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Don't be a copy!

 "You were born an original. Don't die a copy." - John Mason

This is the short quote that stands at the bottom of my diary for today. These words immediately reminded me of two wonderful passages in the Bible.

"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." - Ephesians 2:10

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it." - Psalm 139:13-14

Thought: We spend so long comparing ourselves to others, when we should be living out the person who we were created to be.

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Let us remember

"God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob." - Exodus 2:24

In a week that focuses on 'Remembrance', (both the call to mark Remembrance Day, as well as some people choose to remember Guy Fawkes), it is important for us to note that God always remembers his people, and so we are challenged to remember Jesus and his call on our lives.

Luke 24:8 - Then they remembered his words.

Acts 20:35 - In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ 

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We pay the price!

Jonah willingly paid the price of his fare, so that he could sail to Tarshish. In a similar way, when we choose to run away from the Lord, we also pay a price.

"But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord." - Jonah 1:3

The price we pay for our disobedience to the Lord can range from, the consequence of our sin, becoming fearful, a lack of peace, dis-contentment, hardness of heart. 

In my opinion, all of our choices include some kind of cost - it is just that disobedience has a high cost than following the calling of God.

Thought: Can you think of a time when you deliberately ran away from God's plan for your life? What price did you pay?

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Please send someone else!

When God called Moses to serve him and to go and speak to Pharoah, Moses sheepishly asked the Lord to send someone else.

¹⁰ Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

¹¹ The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? ¹² Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

¹³ But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”  -(Exodus 4)

In a way, Jonah did the same thing. When God called him to go and preach to the Ninevites, Jonah ran in the opposite direction. You can read this story in chapter 1 of Jonah. 

So, what about us? When God calls us to a task that seems bigger than our abilities, how do we respond? What do we say?

Living in grace

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I cling to You.

"Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.

I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely" - Psalm 63:7-8

When we reach out to God and cling to him, we must remember that God is also reaching out and holding us at the same time. As a child clings tightly to her mother, she doesn't yet know that it is the strength of the parent that is doing most of the holding. Believing that it is her strength that is making the feeble grip hold, she will soon realise that the overwhelming love of the parent is actually holding her safe and sound.

Living in Grace

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New life emerges .... slowly

 

The Message – “Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he spoke to them of becoming a new creation. That when we encounter Jesus, the old is gone and the new has come. However, sometimes I wonder why it takes so long for the this 'new' creation to appear in my life and then I begin to wonder if I there is something wrong with me. I am not sure if you can relate to this at all?

For this reason, I love Eugene Peterson's take on 2 Corinthians 5, where he speaks of how the new life in Christ 'emerges'. And this is when I think of how a butterfly emerges from the Cocoon, slowly. This takes time (anyway from 5 to 21 days apparently). 

So, when we allow the Spirit to transform our hearts and lives, let us realise that this takes time - we emerge from our old life, into the new creation of Jesus.

Living in Grace

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Love on its knees

I was reading an old book called Prayers for Busy People, written by Rita Snowden, in 1978. She mentions in the opening pages, a quote from Dr Harry Fosdick, who speaks about Intercessory prayer as 'love on its knees.' 

Don't you love that? Love on its knees.

When we pray for other people, we are offering a form of love on our knees. The posture is humility, and we are showing our concern and love for people who desperately need our prayers. 

The next time you start to intercede for someone, think about this beautiful gift. You are offering other people your love (and God's love), while on your knees.

Living in Grace

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The Lord is our strength and shield

 

Thank you for encouragement and willingness to read my ramblings - I do appreciate you and it is your interaction that keeps me writing. Every now and then one reads a passage of Scripture that hits the mark, and you don't need any further commentary. Psalm 28 is one of those passages and I offer it to you today. May the Spirit of Jesus speak to your heart. 

"I pray to you, O Lord, my rock.
Do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you are silent,
I might as well give up and die.

Listen to my prayer for mercy
as I cry out to you for help,
as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary.

Do not drag me away with the wicked—
with those who do evil—
those who speak friendly words to their neighbors
while planning evil in their hearts.

Give them the punishment they so richly deserve!
Measure it out in proportion to their wickedness.
Pay them back for all their evil deeds!
Give them a taste of what they have done to others.

They care nothing for what the Lord has done
or for what his hands have made.
So, he will tear them down,
and they will never be rebuilt!

Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy.

The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

The Lord gives his people strength.
He is a safe fortress for his anointed king.

Save your people!
Bless Israel, your special possession.
Lead them like a shepherd,
and carry them in your arms forever."

Living in grace

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Dealing with Disappointment

Dealing with Disappointment!

How do we deal with one of life's guarantees? Having to experience disappointment is the one thing that we will all go through in life.  It is not easy, but we will all need to embrace it at some point in our lives. 

This last weekend, my son and I got to experience this firsthand. We had just disembarked from the train, when we heard that the Cape Town Marathon had been cancelled. Initially all of the runners thought it was some kind of hoax, but as we walked towards the start line, we realised it was true. We could not believe it. The disappointment in the air was palpable, and very soon the adrenaline seeped out of our bodies. The race was done, even before we started.

So, how do we all deal with disappointment? Eliza Tabor once wrote:

“Disappointment to a noble soul is what cold water is to burning metal; it strengthens, tempers, intensifies, but never destroys it.”

Well, I trust that this will be true in some way. However, the Bible writers add something else to the mix.

Romans 5:4 - "And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."

1 Samuel 15:11 - Samuel was angry when he heard this. He prayed his anger and disappointment all through the night. (The Message)

I like this attitude - praying our disappointment. If anyone knows the impact of disappointment it is God. We can take all of our 'deferred hopes' to him and trust that he will revive our spirits.

Living in Grace

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A prayer for Mental Wellbeing

A friend of mine wrote a brilliant article about Mental Health Awareness. If you would like to read Chris's full article, please check it out on this platform.

Here is a prayer that he also wrote.

"Dear Heavenly Father,

We come to you with an open heart and mind, seeking peace, calmness, and clarity. We pray for improved awareness and understanding of mental health, wellness, and wellbeing – and for the strength to navigate life’s challenges.

May we be gentle with ourselves, embracing our thoughts and emotions with kindness and compassion. May we find solace in the present moment, letting go of worries about the past or future.

We pray, Heavenly Father, that you will grant us resilience, hope, and courage to face each day with confidence and positivity, and that we are surrounded with love, support, and understanding from those around us.

We ask this in Your name, Amen." - Dr Chris Luman

Please pass this onto someone who may need this today. I believe it is so important to speak about our Mental Health. Thank you. 

Living in Grace

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Practice what you preach

There are countless examples of people who have preached a good life but have not actually followed through with their words. Putting faith into practice, is a sure way of showing others the authenticity of being a follower of Christ. 

In his final charge to Timothy, Paul reveals how his life is a testimony to his words. 

"Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, and my suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them." - 2 Timothy 3:10-11

Thought: How closely do we live up to the words we preach?

Living in Grace

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The challenge to change ourselves

"When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves." - Viktor E. Frankl

These words leave us with a big challenge. Frankl was writing this reflection after he had lived through the horrors of the concentration camps. I can only imagine that this would have been incredibly difficult to put into practice. 

As I was reading his words, I thought about the 2 criminals who were crucified alongside Jesus. Both of them found themselves in situations they would never be able to change. One thief remained bitter and angry; the other thief, allowed his heart to be changed and acknowledged Jesus as his Saviour.

How do you deal with difficult situations?

Living in Grace

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When the storms rage

"But I called on your name, Lord, from deep within the pit.
You heard me when I cried, “Listen to my pleading!
Hear my cry for help!”
Yes, you came when I called; you told me, “Do not fear.” - Lamentations 3:55-57

There is something beautiful and reassuring about the knowledge that God comes to our rescue. He hears all of our prayers, and he chooses to answer in his time. 

“Sometimes the Lord calms the storm. Sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms his child.” - Unknown

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God's strength

"God’s strength behind you,

His concern for you,
His love within you and his arms beneath you
are more than sufficient for the job ahead of you.” - William Arthur Ward

"The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.
So, it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord." - Lamentations 3:25-26

May you know the love and strength of Jesus in all that you do today.

Living in Grace

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Hope, with a track record

 

The phrase, 'track record', usually refers to a record of someone's past performance and this is often used as an indicator of likely future performance. It is believed to have originated from the sport of Horseracing, where a horses past performances on the track, would give punters a good idea of their future racing potential.

In Eugene Peterson's paraphrase, he uses the phrase to speak of someone whose past attitude gives us a warning of his future behaviour: 

Matthew 5:25-26 - "...Or say you’re out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you’re likely to end up in court..."

So, when Anne Lamott offers her thoughts on a definition of 'faith', it is striking that she suggests that it is "hope, with a track record.' 

Our faith in Jesus is not based on our feelings or opinions, but rather on His track record. When we see that we have placed our Hope and Trust in him, and Jesus hasn't let us down, then we find it a little easier to have faith in him (in the future). 

 "Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." - Psalm 62:8

Living in Grace

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Running away with purpose?

Somewhere in our distant past we have been taught that 'running away is a coward's choice.' And there is some truth in this, I guess, but today's scripture offers us a different view.

"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." - 1 Timothy 6:11

Paul tells Timothy in this passage to “flee these things.” You will need to read the preceding verses to see what he is referring to, but in summary, he is urging Timothy to run away from temptations that will disrupt his faith - they are like a dangerous enemy. 

And we have another great example in Genesis 39, where we see how Joseph ran away from the claws of Potiphar's wife. His decision actually saved his life in the end. 

However, there is one more thing that we need to chew on. Paul is not only urging Timothy to run away from temptation, but he is telling him to run towards something better. He says to him, PURSUE (run TOWARDS) righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 

Thought: Sometimes we are called to be wise and run away with purpose. To run towards the things of God, and to leave behind the temptations of this world.

Living in Grace

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What does it mean to be 'rich?'

What does it mean to be 'rich?' Ask a group of people and you will get a number of different answers, all of them holding some form of truth. I came across a prayer written by Paul Brand that challenged the way I answered this question. In reflecting on the parable of the Rich Young Ruler, he wrote:

Dear Lord,

I have been re-reading the record of the Rich Young Ruler and his obviously wrong choice. But it has got me thinking. No matter how much wealth he had, he could not - ride in a motor car, have any surgery, turn on a light, buy penicillin (or anti-biotics), hear a pipe organ, watch TV, wash dishes in running water, type a letter, (use a computer), mow a lawn, fly in an airplane, sleep on an innerspring mattress, or talk on the cell-phone….

If he was rich, then what am I?

P. Brand, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, p. 61.

Thought: Is it possible that what we consider now as 'normal', was once a great sign of wealth for previous generations? Has our access to all of these things made us any happier?

"The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." - Luke 8:14

Living in Grace

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Those who are weary

"He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." - Isaiah 40:28-31

I think that we all know what it feels like to be tired and weak. When we get to this point in our lives it is usually as a result of having expended too much emotional or physical energy. 

In today's well-known passage (from Isaiah 40:30) we note that Isaiah also uses the word 'weary.' At first glance we can be excused for thinking it is the same meaning as weakness or tiredness. However, it is a different word, with a different meaning. According to the commentator, Motyer, it means “exhaustion because of the hardness of life.” 

Can we relate to that in any way? Have you ever felt exhausted because of the hardness of life? What hope does God give to us?

Action: Read Matthew 11:28-30

Living in Grace

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Why do they wait for the thermals?

A question for today: Why do eagles wait for the thermals in order to soar and fly?

Answer: They have been taught from a young age to conserve their energy and to know that they are created to use the winds to their great advantage. They are not designed to flap their wings all the time.

"But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind." - Isaiah 40:31 (The Message)

In the same way, I believe that God has designed us to rely on His Spirit, so that we may soar and live for his glory. Sadly, there are many times when I forget this and I flap my wings too much, trusting in my own perceived strength and less on God's gift to me.

Prayer thought: It is tempting to be 'busy' the whole time, believing that our work is for God's glory, but sometimes we need to WAIT for the right moment and the right thermal. Our waiting my seem frustrating, especially when we see others flying/flapping all around us, however if we want to reach Godly heights, we must wait for his Spirit.

Living in Grace

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It is easy to complain

It is very easy to make complaints against other people, as well as against the Lord. The commentator (Wolf) remarks:  “How easy it is to believe in the infinite power of God and at the same time to feel that He is unable to meet our personal needs!” And I am sure there are a fair number of us who can relate to these words. 

In trying to remind the Israelites that Yahweh was still sovereign, Isaiah challenged them: "Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”? (Isaiah 40:27)

He was imploring them to remember that God does still care for us. Although it may be easy to complain, let us hold onto all the promises that come to us from the Lord. Here is a powerful reminder of this truth. 

1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Living in Grace

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