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

D3LM3

Camino tales

People of all ages love to listen to stories (well most of us anyway). As children we are encouraged to use our imagination and to place ourselves into the stories we read or listen to. As I mentioned yesterday, I am super excited to enter into the story of the Camino de Santiago and to listen to the stories of thousands of pilgrims who have walked the path before us. 

Of course, literature is full of classic stories of Pilgrimage, and one doesn't have to physically walk the miles in order to experience something of the journey. Two of the more popular books in this regard, Canterbury Tales (by Geoffrey Chaucer) and Pilgrim's Progress (John Bunyan) tell of people making a journey of spiritual discovery. And of course, the Scriptures are also filled with accounts of the Israelites walking to the Promised Land, recounting stories of life, faith, trial and joy - all as the travel along the ancient paths to their end goal. 

If you didn't know this already, The Canterbury Tales, were crafted by Chaucer as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims travelling towards Canterbury. They were on a journey to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket, which was housed in the famous Cathedral. Apparently, the prize for the best tale was a free meal at the Tabard Inn at Southwark on their return.

To be honest, I am not really interested in any particular prize (not that there is really a prize), except for the joy of completing the walk, encountering fellow pilgrims along the way, enjoying God's presence and discovering more about myself. 

I will let you know if I get the prize in the end.

"We are invited to make a pilgrimage – into the heart and life of God." - Dallas Willard

I want to enter the story of the Camino, so that I can reconnect with my part in the Greater Story. 

Living in Grace

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A picture that speaks a 1000 words

In the late 1820's many people in Denmark were wrestling with faith and what means to follow Jesus, especially in the light of a broken world. In response to this longing, a sculptor by the name of Bertel Thorvaldsen was commissioned to design some statues to put into the Cathedral in Copenhagen. One of these is the now famous ‘Christus’, which is a statue of Christ (see above). 

Legend has it that when Thorvaldsen first modelled the statue in clay, he designed it so that the arms and hands of Jesus extended higher up – almost towards the heavens. However, during the night, a dense mist rolled in from the sea and soften the clay. When he arrived in the morning, the hands of Jesus had shifted downwards and consequently made the whole attitude of Christ look so much more inviting. Thorvaldsen decided he liked this newer portrayal of Jesus and left the hands as they were. 

As we enter into the final days of Holy Week, let us use this image of Christ as a reminder that God is always inviting us - always drawing us near to himself. 

Matthew 11:28 - Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Living in Grace

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Set up house!

When Jesus instructed his disciples to 'remain in his love', what do you think he meant? 

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” - John 15:9

There are a few different ways of looking at this concept of 'remaining,' but the one that strikes a chord with me is the idea of setting up a house. When you go camping for a weekend, you don't really plan to settle in that campsite, but you are fine with using it for a few days. You can live without a few things, but you may not really want to set up home there. 

However, when you decide to set up home, you plan for the long haul - you create a garden, you hang up pictures, you paint the walls a colour you enjoy, you buy flowers for the dining-room table, you get a few pets, and you decide to tell your friends your new address. 

This is how I see the concept of remaining in the love of Jesus. I must decide to 'set up home' in the presence of Christ. I must decide to be part of His life for longer than a weekend. I must choose to become a more permanent feature in the Jesus' company.

Living in Grace

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The Root

"... consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you." - Romans 11:18

This verse reminded me of a profound truth. 

Christ is meant to be the one who keeps us rooted to the Father and to our faith. We are not the one who supports God - rather, it is God who supports us.

Let us stop trying to support the "root" and rather receive our strength and support from the Living God.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Peace

"And he will be our peace" - Micah 5:5a

Perhaps the most elusive of the four Advent gifts is PEACE. We can experience the other three in small doses during the year - Faith, Hope and Love, but Peace seems to easily slip from our grasp. It is my prayer for each one of us that we would experience Christ this festive season, because ultimately He is our Peace. 

True peace is not some emotion we experience once in a while, but rather a deep seated treasure we can KNOW in our innermost being. And we get to experience this through a person and not from anywhere else.

John 16:33 - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace."

May Christ be your peace.

Living in Grace
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Love is on the way

When Jude wrote his letter to the church to offer them words of encouragement he said this:

".....writing to those loved by God the Father, called and kept safe by Jesus Christ. Relax, everything’s going to be all right; rest, everything’s coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!" - (The Message)

I really enjoy that phrase - love us on the way!
It reminds me of Jesus and how he is always right beside us and how he will give us the strength we need.

Living in Grace
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In Your Strength

 

Where do you draw your strength from? We all turn to something or someone to help us through each day. Some people turn to 'themselves', claiming that there is no one else to trust. I really understand this mindset, because in this way, we don't have to rely on anyone else. 

Some of us turn to other people and many times, they do offer us support and encouragement. However, we also experience the pain of being let down or disappointed by the frailty of people.

The writer of Psalm 21, mentions the phrase "in your strength, Lord" in his opening verse and as he closes the Psalm. He has made his decision - and it is rely on the STRENGTH of the LORD.

"The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.
    How great is his joy in the victories you give!" - Psalm 21:1

"Be exalted in your strength, Lord;
    we will sing and praise your might." - Psalm 21: 13

Living in Grace
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Messiah in the Mess

 

As we got to reflect on the deeper meaning of Christmas this year, I was reminded again of how God came into the middle of our world - into the brokenness of humanity to offer us hope and peace. It is such Good News to hold onto the promise of the MESSIAH being with us in the 'mess' of things. God didn't run away from the chaos, but chose to reveal himself in the midst of all our trouble.

May these words offer you hope and grace this Christmas season. Immanuel is with us.

Messiah in the Mess

Christ in the Chaos

Jesus in the Jumble

Baby in the Bedlam

Child in the Confusion

Saviour in the Shambles

Redeemer in the Wreck

John 1:14 -  So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

All Saints Day

The first of November marks 'All Saints Day' in many Christian circles and in order to celebrate with others, I am offering 3 delightful quotes from three remarkable people.

“We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become.” - Clare of Assisi

"Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent." - St. John of the Cross

"If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way." - St. Thomas Aquinas 

Each one of these speaks into different situations of our lives, but perhaps one of these is for YOU today. Enjoy.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

His Love never Quits

God's love never Quits! God pours out the abundance of his love for us every day. When all kinds of things around us stop working and quit on us, God's love never does. Advent is not a time when we welcome the love of God and then wave goodbye to that love - No ways. God's FAITHFUL love endures forever.

^1-3 Thank God! He deserves your thanks.
    His love never quits.
Thank the God of all gods,
    His love never quits.
Thank the Lord of all lords.
    His love never quits.

^4-22 Thank the miracle-working God,
    His love never quits.
The God whose skill formed the cosmos,
    His love never quits.
The God who laid out earth on ocean foundations,
    His love never quits.
The God who filled the skies with light,
    His love never quits.
The sun to watch over the day,
    His love never quits.
Moon and stars as guardians of the night,
    His love never quits.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Coming Home

"There is no place like home!"
I am sure you have said these words before. I know that whenever we go away for a day or two, we have a great time, but it is good to be home again. There is nothing like sleeping on your own bed!

But, do we really know where "Home" is? Of course I am not speaking about a physical place, but rather a spiritual place. When we rest in the arms of Christ, we can be "at home" even at place on the planet.

As you enter into the last few days of 2014, ask yourself, "Am I in the place I need to be? Do I feel as if I am at home?" If the answer to these questions is perhaps "No" then ask God to show you the plan he has for your life.

Psalm 84:3 - Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.

"To an open house in the evening
Home shall all men come,
to an older place than Eden,
To a taller town than Rome;
To the end of the way of the wandering star,
To the things that cannot be, and that are;
To the place where He was homeless,
And all men are at home." - G.K.Chesterton

Living in Grace
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The Star

 The Star of Bethlehem is traditionally linked to a prophecy in the Book of Numbers:

"I see Him, but not now; 
I behold Him, but not near;
A Star shall come out of Jacob..." - Numbers 24:17

It is this same star that is said to have guided the Magi to Jesus. Matthew records this in his Gospel:


 "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem  and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” - Matthew 2:1-12

This star is deeply symbolic for Christ-followers for a number of reasons - it reminds us that Jesus is a light in a dark world and that God will guide us, even when things don't seem to make sense. It also teaches me that even the stars can point us to our Saviour. 

So this Advent Season, may we follow the signs that point us to Jesus.  

Living in Grace
D3LM3