Blessed is ....

At the bottom of my diary this week, I saw the following quote:

"Blessed is the person, who sees the need,
recognizes the responsibility.
and actively becomes the answer." - Willam Arthur Ward

These are wise words indeed, but are surpassed by the words of Jesus, who said:

7 "Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God." - Matthew 5:7-9

Thought: Can we be the answer to someone's need? 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

An Ascension Blessing

As we mark Ascension Day today (18 May), I wanted to remind us of the beautiful fact that Jesus' last act, before ascending to heaven, was to bless his disciples. He had already spoken to them and given them their purpose, and now he wanted to offer them God's grace and love. 

"Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy." - Luke 24:5-52

 B.W. Johnson - "The last act of the Saviour upon the earth was a blessing.

As we remember this important milestone in our faith, I also offer you my own special blessing. May you receive it as an act of God's love for you.

"May you be blessed enough to see God's hand at work in every moment;
May you know the joy of friends and family, to accompany you through the valleys and hilltops;
May you experience moments of divine peace, as the storms rage around you;
May the voice of Jesus guide your very steps, even those that seem unsure;
May the Spirit of Christ embolden you for every task that lies before you;
And may the love of God surround you every moment of your life."

Matthew 5:5 (The Message) - “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

·    Living in Grace,  

    D3LM3

    P.S. Remember that I will be walking the Camino in the next few days, so you may not receive blog posts for a while. Do not stress, I will be writing again soon :) Grace and peace. 

What would a happy life look like?

What would a happy life look like for you?

Many people would choose to have a life free from troubles and hardships, but this is very unrealistic. In fact, I would suggest that this kind of life doesn't exist at all - well, maybe in fairy tales, but not in real life. 

"A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships." - Helen Keller

Helen Keller's insight helps us to see beyond the difficulties and to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Striving to find contentment and 'peace' in the midst of troubles has to be one of the hardest exercises we will ever undertake. 

If the quote (above) hadn't come from someone like Helen Keller, I would have struggled to believe it, but because she has discovered the 'truth' in this regard, I have to sit up and pay attention. How do you feel?

Ecclesiastes 7:14 - When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Inheritance?

 

⁸ Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance,
    the ends of the earth your possession." - Psalm 2:8

I heard an entertaining story about a Portuguese aristocrat who left his fortune to seventy strangers. Thirteen years before his eventual death, Luis Carlos da Camara chose at random, seventy people in the telephone directly and made them all beneficiaries of his estate. You can imagine their shock, surprise and obvious scepticism at being told they had just inherited a lot of money. It was totally unbelievable for them.

In a similar way, we are little taken aback that God promises to ‘make the nations our inheritance’ and to give us the ‘ends of the earth.’ It seems unlikely and too much to comprehend. Yet, as his chosen people, God does promise us the gift of eternal life, which is far greater than any earthly treasures or inheritance. God loves us so much that he was willing to give us the very best he has to offer, which included his only son, Jesus.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Resurrection blessing

If I asked you if you knew what the Resurrection Blessing was, what would your answer be?
Do you know what it is? Yes? No?

Even if you haven't heard of it put in this way before, the Resurrection Blessing refers to these incredible words of Jesus...

"Peace be with you."

They are 4 simple words, that carry a huge amount of blessing. I believe that these words changed the lives of the disciples and they can change ours too.

PEACE
BE
WITH
YOU

John 20:19 - [Jesus Appears to His Disciples ] That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said.

John 20:21 - Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

16 - Saint Patricks Day

I am taking the liberty of skipping a few days in our countdown to Easter, just for the sake of St. Patricks Day. It seemed too good an opportunity to miss, especially as Patrick was such a key figure in the life of the Christian faith, most evident in his Irish Legacy. His blessings and quotes are many, but I am leaving us with two today. As we read them, may we also bless others with the same sentiments:

"He who loses money, loses much; He who loses a friend, loses more; He who loses faith, loses all."

 "I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard."

And of course our Scripture comes from Psalm 16, which also speaks of BLESSING.


Psalm 16:7-8
"I will bless the Lord who guides me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
I know the Lord is always with me.
    I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me."

Be Blessed.
Living in Grace
D3LM3

Remain standing

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." - James 1:12

Did you notice that?
James says we are BLESSED when we persevere under trial. In other words, when we hold fast during times of pressure and stress, God considers us Blessed. This can be seen as a test in some ways, designed to make us stronger and more prepared for the next part of our faith journey. Our prize in the end is a crown - a reward that lasts forever.

So, if this is you at the moment, then I invite you to persevere. Face the challenges head on and don't back down, because God will be with you always.

"Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life." - James 1:12 (Message)

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Hand upon you

"You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me." - Psalm 139:5

This verse was part of our readings on Sunday and it brings such a vivid word picture to mind. It is made all the clearer when you read this insight from Robert Alter, who says that this verse should rather say ... “You set your palm upon me". Of course in Hebrew culture the significance of blessing was very huge and the act of laying a palm on the head of someone else spoke of grace and mercy. It was a great sign of blessing. 

And so, as we go about our daily tasks, let us remember that our Lord chooses to lay his palm upon our heads in a sign of peace and love. He desires to bless us and not to curse us.  The additional statement that reminds us that God 'hems us in' then doesn't seem to be as scary - it is news of God's favour - the ultimate Good News.

"To give someone a blessing is the most significant affirmation we can offer." - Henri Nouwen

Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/blessing

Living in Grace

D3LM3 

18

As you begin this new gift that God has given us all, may you be reassured of the presence of God with us at all times. I was reading Psalm 18 and thought that these words would be a great way to start the new year.

"I love you, Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
 my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." - Psalm 18:1-2

Later on in the same Psalm we see this incredible words of encouragement and promise.

As for God, his way is perfect:
    The Lord’s word is flawless;
    he shields all who take refuge in him.
³¹ For who is God besides the Lord?
    And who is the Rock except our God?
³² It is God who arms me with strength
    and keeps my way secure.

May the Spirit of God arm you with whatever strength you need for today and for the year that lies ahead.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

A Prayer from Saint Patrick

In order to get into the spirit of celebrating the life of Patrick of Ireland, I am including a few thoughts and prayers from the great man of God. Enjoy them and may God Bless you.

"I bind unto myself today,
the power of God to hold and lead;
his eye to watch, his might to stay,
his ear to harken to my need;
the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward,
the word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard."

"Before I was humiliated I was like a stone that lies in deep mud, and he who is mighty came and in his compassion raised me up and exalted me very high and placed me on the top of the wall."

"If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God so as to teach these peoples; even though some of them still look down on me."

"I am certain in my heart that all that I am, I have received from God."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Before I was humiliated I was like a stone that lies in deep mud, and he who is mighty came and in his compassion raised me up and exalted me very high and placed me on the top of the wall.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/saintpatri189990.html

You are ...

In our modern cultures we have forgotten to see God in everyday things and ordinary people. Our ancestors were much better at taking time to see the Divine in their lives and thus were better off than us (in some ways). Here is another ancient blessing/prayer that may help us see 'Immanuel' with us this Advent season.

You are the peace of all things calm
You are the place to hide from harm
You are the light that shines in dark
You are the heart's eternal spark
You are the door that's open wide
You are the guest who waits inside
You are the stranger at the door
You are the calling of the poor
You are my Lord and with me still
You are my love, keep me from ill
You are the light, the truth, the way
You are my Saviour this very day. (Irish Blessing)

Hebrews 13:2 - Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Blessing - Advent 1

In a world where so many people demand things, it is refreshing to know that God is still generous and gracious. In order to celebrate God's merciful nature, I have chosen to share a few blessings and prayers with us all over this Advent season. May each one of these offer you much love, hope and peace.

Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me,
Be thou a smooth path below me,
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me,
Today - tonight - and for ever
--- Columba (521-597) Irish monk and missionary in Scotland

John 10:11 -  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Hey Jude

I love the opening words of Jude's letter. This is such a brilliant prayer and hope for other people.

¹ From: Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and a brother of James.

To: Christians everywhere—beloved of God and chosen by him. ² May you be given more and more of God’s kindness, peace, and love." - Jude 1:1-2

It takes an unselfish person to pray for blessings for others. In this verse, Jude asks that his friends would be given more of God's kindness, peace and love. What a lovely thought! 

If you could pray a prayer for your friends, what would you ask for?

Why don't you pray that prayer now?

Living in Grace
D3LM3

May the Fourth be with you

Star Wars fans introduced an unofficial 'Star Wars Day' on the 4th May many years ago. To mark this day, fans use the catchphrase 'May the Fourth be with you', as it has an obvious link to the famous line from the movies - 'may the Force be with you!'

This reminds me a lot of the greeting that Christians give to each other in our gatherings. We often conclude our time together by passing on a blessing. These words have their origins in the letters of Paul.

2 Corinthians 13:14 - May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Philippians 4:23 - May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

2 Timothy 4:22 - May the Lord be with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you.

So, as you go about your tasks today, I pray that the 'Lord would be with you.' 
And if you are a Star Wars fan, may the force also be with you :)

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Blessing in disguise - Lent #23

Have you ever experienced something that appeared to be disastrous, frustrating and even painful, yet in the end it ended up being a 'blessing in disguise?' I guess there are a whole lot of examples that one could think of in this regard:

• You make a wrong decision that appears disastrous, but leads to something surprising.
• You run late for work, which makes you frustrated, only to discover you missed an accident by a two minutes.
• There is an illness in the family that leads to a greater sense of love and unity in the family - it brings everyone together like never before.
• You have your phone stolen and the insurance company pays you out for a new one.
• A relationship comes to an end, but then you discover a whole lot about yourself?
• You have to endure another evening of load shedding, only to enjoy quality time with the family.
• It seems as though Jesus has been killed on the cross, but 3 days later He rolls back the stone and conquers death.

I love the way that St Paul remind us that God always brings purpose out of our problems.

Romans 8 - "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death." - v.1-2

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory." v.28-30

Anton St.Maarten - "It is vital that we turn each and every dark tear into a pearl of wisdom, and find the blessing in every curse.”

Living in Grace
D3LM3

May the beauty of the Lord rest upon you

If you want to encourage and bless someone today, why don't you forward them this awesome verse from Psalm 90:17. I am attaching it in this post, from a few different versions. May it be a blessing to you and others today.

"May the favour ^(beauty) of the Lord our God rest on us;
    establish the work of our hands for us—    yes, establish the work of our hands." - (NIV)

"And may the Lord our God show us his approval
and make our efforts successful.
Yes, make our efforts successful!" (NLT)

"Lord our God, treat us well.
    Give us success in what we do;    yes, give us success in what we do." - (NJKV)

That is my prayer for you today. Go with God.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Be grateful

"You only realised what you had when it's gone!"

How many times have you heard this saying before? A few, I am sure. Even though we may have heard this saying a number of times before, we still need to be reminded to be grateful. So why don't you take a moment to thank God for everyone/everything in your life - offer them all up to God in prayer.

Perhaps even send them a message of appreciation too!

"He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan..." - Luke 17:15-16

"I have given you everything you have and I want you to be grateful. This will check pride." - Thomas a Kempis

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Berakhot

There is a particular Jewish word that I feel is important for us to know and use in our daily language. It is the word “Berakhot.”  

 In essence, it means offering a blessing for any good thing that we may encounter.

So if we reflect on our lives right now, we could offer ‘Berakhot’ for any number of things. These could include: family, friends, spouse, kids, grandkids, health, a job, church group, a pet, a beautiful day, a rainbow, sunrise, a surprise phone call – the list is endless. 

Despite the many challenges we daily face, I am sure that we can find one thing to thank God for.

May you offer ‘berakhot’ to God today.

Living in Grace

D3LM3