A Prayer in preparation for Holy Week

Here is a challenging prayer from Ignatius of Loyola. I trust it may guide you in your reflections and preparations for Holy Week. 

"Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
Permit me not to be separated from Thee.
From the wicked foe defend me.
At the hour of my death call me.
And bid me come to Thee.
That with Thy saints I may praise Thee For ever and ever. Amen."

"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." - 1 Corinthians 2:2

Living in Grace

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The mystery

“God seems to do nothing of Himself which He can possibly delegate to His creatures. He commands us to do slowly and blunderingly what He could do perfectly and in the twinkling of an eye.” - C.S. Lewis

It is often a great mystery as to why God would choose to include us in his work on earth. Surely God can do it a whole lot better than we can? Yet, we are still invited to be co-workers with Christ; partners with God in making his kingdom a reality.

"The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labour. For we are co-workers in God’s service.” – 1 Corinthians 3:8-9

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Importance

Philosophers could argue over the question of 'importance' and never really come up with a solid answer. 

What is important for you, may not be important for me. 

Who is important for me, may not even appear on your radar. 

Sadly, sometimes the church gets caught up in side-issues; things that are not as important the gospel. Political parties make a habit of losing focus and becoming distracted. Families can be the same and even schools and other communities. 

Staying focused is hard, but important!

"I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said." - 1 Corinthians 15:3

"It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow." - 1 Corinthians 3:7

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Whose Adventure?

"But man wished to conduct his adventure on his own, in his own way, instead of entering into God's adventure." - Paul Tournier

The Genesis account of creation reminds us that God invited us into his adventure, but we chose another way - we thought ours would be better. In the end, we came to the harsh reality that God's adventure is always better than our own. 

Just to clarify, God's adventure is not boring or second rate, compared with humanity's adventure - God's choice is always more exhilarating and exciting than we expect. Aesop apparently said that "adventure is worthwhile" and I would agree with him. However, I would add - "God's adventure is always worthwhile!" 

Question: Whose adventure are you living out?

1 Corinthians 1:8-9 (The Message) - God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.

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Who said this? - "Life is not easy for any of us."

 

“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.” – Marie Curie

In celebration of Women's month I have been scrolling through many quotes from remarkable women. Marie Curie is no stranger to any of us, as we remember her significant work in the discovery of radium and research into radioactivity.  Amongst other achievements, she is the first women to be awarded the Nobel Peace prize.

Her quote for today made we think on how God has created each one of us with unique gifts and talents. When these talents are offered up to the Lord, I strongly believe that God will help us to use these gifts with the world.

What gifts are you hiding from the world? 

1 Corinthians 1:14 -  I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.

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Strength together

 

The word 'Comfort' has many different meanings, which include: "easing the distress of someone" or "freedom from pain". However, I came across this definition which really speaks to me - Comfort means "strength together." 

If you have ever needed comfort then I sure you can relate to the idea of someone drawing alongside us in order to offer us solace and strength. We can rise from our periods of pain and despondency when we know that another person is there to assist us. 

Surely, part of the calling of being 'church' is that we comfort one another?

In our mutual journey of faith, we draw comfort from the words, actions and prayers of those around us. If we withdraw from community and fellowship then there is a danger that we have no one to comfort us.

Henri Nouwen wrote: "Comfort is the great human gift that creates community. Those who come together in mutual vulnerability are bound together by new strength that makes them into one body."

1 Corinthians 12:26 - If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.

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Retro days and enjoying the moment

For those of you who haven't seen the 2 minute vlog I put together on the old Cassette tapes and the simple lesson we can learn from them, you are welcome to watch it here.

However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard,and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God." - 1 Corinthians 2:8-10

God bless you and have a wonderful day.

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If for some reason you can't access the video then search "Delme Linscott - Enjoy this moment" on Youtube.  

Bound together during crisis

                                                

The one thing that Covid-19 has certainly done for us is to remind us that we are connected to each other in many ways. The fact that we are all experiencing some suffering and hardship during Lockdown makes us a little more sympathetic to our fellow human beings.

Reinhold Neibuhr wrote a beautiful prayer that captures our deep sense of community and how we should seek to deepen our understanding of one another. Enjoy this prayer:

"O God, who has bound us together in this bundle of life, give us grace to understand how our lives depend on the courage, the industry, the honesty, and integrity of our fellow men; that we may be mindful of their needs, grateful for their faithfulness, and faithful in our responsibilities to them; through Jesus Christ our Lord."

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." - 1 Corinthians 12:27

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Message for Lockdown

I write these words two hours before our family, along with millions of fellow South Africans move into uncharted territory as we start our 21 day period of Lockdown. The world has changed so rapidly in the last month, that I doubt I even need to explain the term 'Lockdown' to anyone. The new normal for everyone on our planet includes new words such as, 'social'distancing', 'flattening the curve' and of course 'Lockdown.'

There have been so many good quotes, wise sayings, video's and even songs written in preparation for this event, that I almost felt I didn't need to add to their collective wisdom. However, I have noticed a few things of late and so wanted to add a few thoughts to the mix. Here goes...

...Some people are behaving as if they have been possessed and this is not a good sign (we haven't even started three weeks of Lockdown yet!). Just wait until you see me in 3 weeks, especially after trying to keep a 9 month old puppy in Lockdown - I will certainly look a lot less saintly.

I understand that people respond to crises differently, but there are some selfish people in the world at the moment.  Please let us not be "those people." This time of crisis is impacting all of us and we all need to come together to support one another. My actions may not seem harmful to others on the surface, but this virus has already taught us that it only takes one person to infect hundreds of other people.

Be kind to yourself and to those who are closest to you. None of us has experienced this before, so we don't have a blue print to work from. Kindness will go a long way to make this time bearable for all of us.

Let us be grateful for the fact that we have modern technology and so we can still be in contact with those we love. Let us use this technology to our advantage and to reveal God's love to a world looking for answers.

I am always weary of taking scripture verses out of their original context, but I think these words found in John 20 can speak into our times: "Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” - John 20:26

Friends, our time in Lockdown is not a time where Christ will be "locked out" of our lives. Just as the disciples were scared in the days after Jesus crucifixion, so we may be a little afraid at this time. Let us not allow fear to grab hold of us, but rather to trust that Jesus comes into the midst of our fears and closed doors.

On a personal note, I don't know what the next 21 days will hold for everyone, but for me I certainly hope that it will include some of the following:

Creating memories with my family
Reflecting on my relationship with Jesus
Redefining my dreams and goals
Catching up on odd jobs around the house
Continuing to work and do ministry (albeit in a different way)
Reading new books
Running around the house 5000 times in order to try and keep up my training
Being present with my kids and Kim
Keeping contact with friends
Remembering those in need and helping where we can
Etc
Etc

May God bless us all during these interesting days and please remember this:

“What God has planned for people who love him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. It has never even entered our minds!” (CEV - 1 Corinthians 2:9)

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A new kind of Gathering

“Someday, O Israel, I will gather you;
    I will gather the remnant who are left.
I will bring you together again like sheep in a pen,
    like a flock in its pasture.
Yes, your land will again
    be filled with noisy crowds!" - Micah 2:12

I wonder what Micah had in mind when he pictured the people of Israel being gathered together again. Was it just an image of what he had already seen, or was it something that was totally new and almost unbelievable?

When we gather together this Christmas period, whether it is with family and friends, or even in our Church communities, take a moment to imagine what our Heavenly gathering will look like. I echo Paul's words (1 Corinthians 2:9), where he says:

“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
    the things God has prepared for those who love him.

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Order in our worship

At first glance, Ezekiel's words can seem like a long list of "religious rules" and perhaps even a little confusing for us. However, there is reminder for me in these instructions and that is how our worship can benefit from order. Of course, we need to balance 'order'  with 'freedom', but Ezekiel's vision certainly helps people know how to approach God in their worship times.

“‘When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed festivals, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which they entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate. ¹⁰ The prince is to be among them, going in when they go in and going out when they go out. - Ezekiel 46

Over the centuries the Christian church has vacillated from the extremes of stifling order in our worship into times of chaotic freedom. It is our role as Christian leaders to discern the move of the spirit and not to restrict God's movement, but also to allow for sincerity in our worship. It is not an easy thing to do, but it seems that even Paul tried to manage this: 

1 Corinthians 14:26 -[ Good Order in Worship ] What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

Any thoughts?

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Building Rome

They say that "Rome wasn't built in one day", so how long did it really take to build the great Eternal City? The answer is not that simple, because technically Rome is still being built - so that would make it around 2750 years for this 'long' work in progress. But, that is not really the point of the proverb, is it? Here is what I make of that lovely old adage:

In order to build the Roman Empire, the people (and leaders) of Rome, had to have a dream of something bigger than themselves. And once they had that vision, they began by laying one brick at a time. Each foundation was a step closer to the dream of a beautiful City and ultimately a magnificent Empire.

So, without getting into the pro's and con's of the Roman Legacy, let us take that simple saying to heart today - If we want to do something amazing for God and to create a Legacy that out-lives us, then we need to 'own' the dream/vision and start by laying one brick at a time. There is no faster way to complete the task - there are no short-cuts to achieve the tasks that lie before us.

1 Corinthians 3:10 - By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.

 

Question: What is your ROME? 

 

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To be Hopeful

To be hopeful in difficult times is not easy! However, as Christ-followers we are given extra incentive to be hopeful because of the great promise we have been given. Our troubles will last a moment compared with the future that is in store for us.

"The hopeful person sees success where others see failure, sunshine where others see shadows and storms." - O.S. Marden

For the Apostle Paul LOVE was the foundation of his HOPE. Not human love, but the LOVE of God. It was this love that gave him hope in every circumstance.

"Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." - 1 Corinthians 13:7

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But not today!

Here is a lovely take on life - enjoy! The poem is called "But Not Today!"

"I shall grow old perhaps, but not today, not while my hopes are

young, my spirit strong, my vision clear, because life has a way

of smoothing out the wrinkles with a song.

I shall grow old, perhaps, but not today, not while my dreams

remain a shining shield, my faith a lance, and 'neath a sky of

grey, my colours wave upon the battlefield.

I shall grow old, perhaps, but not today, not while this pen can

write upon a page, and memories turn Winter into May, shall this

stout heart be brought to terms by age?

I shall grow old, perhaps, but not today, and scorning Time who

would enlist my tears, I stand convinced there is a better way,

of occupying all the coming years.

I shall grow old, perhaps, but not today, in my own style and in

my own sweet time, no night so dark there does not fall a ray of

light along the pathway that I climb.

Just say of me, when my last hour slips like one bright leaf to

softly rest among the others..."Life was Summer to the heart, of

one who died believing she was young."- Grace E. Easley.

1 Corinthians 12:31 - So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

 

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You can't do it on your own

The message of the world is: "You can do it alone! You are strong enough! Believe in yourself!"
While, there is a lot of merit in having a positive attitude, the message of the Gospel is that we CAN'T do it alone.
We need one another.
We need to rely on Jesus.
Our Salvation is not dependent on our own ability.

All these things are not a sign of weakness, but rather of trusting in the strength of God and of being part of the body of Christ. 

Jean Vanier once marked - "Life comes from the recognition that I CAN'T do it on my own."

Next time you are tempted to 'go it along' ask yourself if that is for the best? Is this what God would want from you? Is there someone you can ask to help you?

1 Corinthians 12:27 - Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

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Surprise

Luke 1:63-64 - Asking for a tablet, Zachariah wrote, “His name is to be John.” That took everyone

by surprise. Surprise followed surprise—Zachariah’s mouth was now open, his tongue loose, and

he was talking, praising God!

If we insist on putting God into our own little "box", then we should not expect to be surprised

by God's AWESOMENESS. Sometimes we limit God so much. Wouldn't it be wonderful to expect

God to show up and 'surprise' us every day?  Take the gathering of over 1 million Christians

outside Bloemfontein this weekend, as well as the thousands of other people gathering to pray

around the country. Wasn't that a 'God' moment - a surprise of sorts? Of course it was.

1 Corinthians 2:9 - "However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and

what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—"

Have a wonderful day and may God surprise you.

Living in Grace

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50 years is a long time

Today we celebrate with my parents who have reached their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Indeed it is an impressive milestone and we are thankful for their lives.

1 Corinthians 13:13 - "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Just as a reminder how different things were in 1966....

Bread cost around 20c a loaf
Filling up your car cost around R4
A Kilogram of Lamb cost less than 70c
There were no cell-phones
There were no TV's
There were no computers
There were no digital camera's
There was no internet and no email.

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The World Changed today

The 24th June 1916 will always be remembered as the day that changed the world. It was on this day, exactly 100 years ago, that the Allied artillery began their week-long bombardment of the German lines, in what is known as the battle of the Somme.

Clearly, it was a day that changed the world in so many ways. We can't look back at the history of Europe and the world without reflecting on how this day change millions of lives. Of course, the 24th June 2016, may also be remembered as a day that shaped Europe (and the world), with Britain choosing to Exit the European Union. Time will tell what impact this has on our future.

More importantly, we need to ask how today has changed your life? Is today a gift to you from God, or is it just another day on your calendar? It is worth thinking about.

1 Corinthians 10:11-12 - These are all warning markers—danger!—in our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes.

Matthew 27: 9-10 - "Then Jeremiah’s words became history: They took the thirty silver pieces, The price of the one priced by some sons of Israel, And they purchased the potter’s field. And so they unwittingly followed the divine instructions to the letter."

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Just plant the seed

We are results-driven world. We want to see these results instantly. Football coaches are fired for not delivering instant success. Schools are tested on their ability to produce immediate success. Churches are scrutinised for not bursting at the seems in a short space of time. We all want to see our hard work produce some fruit, but what happens when this takes time? What do we make of these words from the Scriptures:

1 Corinthians 3:5-7 - What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.  I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.  So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

"Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." - John 12:24

Perhaps all that God requires of us today is that we plant a seed in the life of someone else. That could be a seed of Love, Hope, Peace, Joy or Grace. Of course the greatest seed we could plant is the reason for our salvation - Jesus. That seed may take a long time to grow, but we need to plant it.

Living in Grace

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