Making the journey together

A large part of the Christian experience can be nurtured privately, but it was never meant to be undertaken in isolation. We need each other as we make the journey of faith together. We need someone else to nudge us forward in encouragement, or to keep us accountable to our disciplines and to pray for us when we find prayer too difficult. 

2 Corinthians 13:11 - Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

As we embark upon the spiritual journey of Lent this week, I invite you to commit to a practice that will nurture your relationship with God and others. If you don't have something to guide you and you would like something, please drop me a message and I will send you an invite to be a part of our community's 40 Days Together devotions. 

Helen Keller - Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

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

D3LM3

A prayer for a friend

Have you ever wondered what prayer you could offer up for a friend going through a tough time. Well, you don't have to wonder any more :)

Here are some beautiful, life-giving words, that would be appreciated by anyone needing some encouragement. They are from Ephesians 3:16-17: 

"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong."

Isn't this fantastic? We are asking God to share from his bountiful, unlimited resources, empowering our loved ones with the Holy Spirit. And that Christ would make his home in their hearts, as they trust in God to guide them through these challenges. 

Lastly, we are asking that all of our roots would settle into God's great love and keep us strong in the midst of the storms.

Action: Why don't you pray this prayer for a loved one or friend today?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

He will hold me fast

Keith and Kristyn Getty wrote a beautiful song called "He will hold me fast." It really is an inspirational song and fills one with lots of hope. If you would like to listen to the song or forward it unto someone in need, then here is the link. 

The chorus reminds us all of the wonderful promise that Jesus will hold us fast, no matter what is happening around us. He is our strength and our anchor.

"He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast,
For my Saviour loves me so,
He will hold me fast."

1 Thessalonians 5:21 - Hold on to what is good.

Isaiah 41:10 - Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Let us spur one other on

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." - Hebrews 10:24

Spurring one another on is an interesting thought, especially if we think about what a ‘SPUR’ really is. A horse SPUR is a device with a small spike on the end or a spiked wheel, that is worn on a horse rider's heel. It is used for urging a horse forward or encouraging it to listen to instructions. 

I am not sure if we would like one another to use a spiked wheel to encourage us in our faith, but I think we understand the sentiment. There are times when we need our Christian family to strongly keep us focussed and on track.  

Another definition of the word 'spur', is perhaps a little less painful - it is to “give an incentive or encouragement to (someone).”

Thought: Who needs an encouraging word today? How are you able to spur someone onto 'love and good deeds?'

Living in Grace

D3LM3

If God is for you ....

"A Young William Wilberforce was discouraged one night in the early 1790s after another defeat in his 10-year battle against the slave trade in England. Tired and frustrated, he opened his Bible and began to leaf through it. A small piece of paper fell out and fluttered to the floor. 

It was a letter written by John Wesley shortly before his death. Wilberforce read it again: 

"Unless the divine power has raised you up... I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that (abominable practice of slavery), which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. 

Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. 

But if God be for you, who can be against you? 

Are all of them together stronger than God? 

Oh, be not weary of well-doing. 

Go on in the name of God, and in the power of His might." - Daily Bread, June 16, 1989.

I have deliberately made this quote appear over a number of lines, as I think that each sentence is filled with power and promise. Is there perhaps a word that stands out for you today. Hold onto that for your 'food' for the day.

Romans 8:31 - What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

What's your catch phrase?

Many of us have a little phrase or a few words, that have become our catchphrase. We are known by these words and often people even associate us with the message behind these words. In the Bible, it could be argued that Isaiah was known for his "do not fear" mantra, and one just needs to read a few verses to confirm the truth behind this: Isaiah 7:4, Isaiah 35:4 and Isaiah 40:9. 

Another Old Testament prophet was well known for his "take courage" catchphrase. Haggai used this sentiment a number of times in the short book, of the same name.

"Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts." - Haggai 2:4-5 (NRSV)

Thoughts:

1. Do you have a catchphrase?

2. What do the words of Haggai stir up inside of you today?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Patience and Encouragement

My apologies for not writing over the last few days, but life has been very hectic. We had a blessed time sharing at the Namaqualand Mission last weekend, and we were privileged to see God working in amazing ways. Immediately after this fantastic weekend, I packed up and headed up to Gauteng where I have been attending the Superintendent's training course at Emseni. Our days have been filled with lectures, sessions and training, so time to write has been very limited.

Here is a reading which has been brought to my attention this week. I offer it to you as a word of encouragement.

^"May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Romans 15:5-6

God bless and I hope to write again soon.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Gone up in flames

                                                            

After discovering that twenty years of his work had literally gone up in flames William Carey wrote these words to Andrew Murray:

"The ground must be laboured over again, but we are not discouraged. We have all been supported under the affliction, and preserved from discouragement..."

And then he quoted from Psalm 46:10, where the Lord Himself says,

"Be still and know that I am God."

William Carey had spent 20 years translating parts of the Bible into various Indian dialects as he served as a missionary in India. Bearing in mind this was in the early 1800's, he had no computer backups at all. He must have been devasted - I know I would have been!

However, he had learnt a simple trust in Jesus and believed that even through trials God was still present. This is such a valuable lesson for me. What do you feel?

Have you ever faced a discouraging time only to see God's hand move in a different direction?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Anti-dote for Anxiety

"Anxiety weighs down the heart,
    but a kind word cheers it up.” – Proverbs 12:25

In these days of uncertainty and lots of anxiety, I believe Solomon's words offer us a beautiful anti-dote to help fight off anxiety. The lovely thing about sharing 'kind words' is that anyone can offer a kind word to someone else. 

Who needs your words of encouragement today?

"Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much." - Blaise Pascal

Living in Grace

D3LM3

In this together

I have often wondered why the 12 Step Program is used so successfully with organisations like AA and others. A thought occurred to me this past week, while preparing a sermon on 'Living in Community', that it surely has to do with a deep sense of mutual struggle and empathetic understanding. In groups like this there can be no pretense and everyone knows your pain, so this often drives us to greater care, sincere encouragement and a collective feeling of 'we are in this together.'

Sadly, the same thing is not always evident in our churches, but it should be. We are all in this 'life' together and we all have struggles and pain, yet somehow we arrive at church with great pretense and our personal spiritual masks firmly in place.

Please read this well known verse very slowly and see what God is revealing to you today.

“A new command I give you:
Love one another.
As I have loved you,
so you must love one another.
By this everyone will know
 that you are my disciples,
if you love one another.” - John 13:34-35

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Showing Sympathy

 

One of the advantages of being involved in community is that when we suffer through hard times there are people to walk alongside us. If we need encouragement, then we know we will be encouraged; likewise if we are needing sympathy, then others will show us sympathy.

It would be very sad if during our darkest times we had no one to put their arms around us and to remind us: "God is with you - and so are we!"

In his letter to the early church, Peter encouraged the Christians to show sympathy to one another:
"...Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble."

As Jerry Ellis states - “We are all fragile threads, but what a tapestry we make.” 

Our tapestry shows off the array of it's colours when believers walk alongside each other.

Who can you show sympathy to this week?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Godfriend

"We need companions on the journey, godfriends.... who will keep us to a chosen narrow way of pilgrimage, who themselves are becoming friends of God." - Jim Cotter

I really like this idea of a 'godfriend' and Jim Cotter is right - we all need someone to walk alongside us as we follow Jesus. Just as I am seeking to become a friend of God, so I can help you along the way and then of course I can also count on your encouragement.

So who is that godfriend for you?

James 2:23 - "And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend."

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Be our strength

I stumbled upon this scripture this morning. I found it helpful and would like to share it with you all. I am grateful for the small ways in which God speaks to us. May it offer you some consolation and encouragement.

Isaiah 33:2 - Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.

Helen Keller once remarked: Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.

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

Prayer: God, please give me the strength I need for today and the Hope that will see me through until tomorrow.

 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

We all need ENCOURAGEMENT at times

·  

I have never heard someone says these words: "Please don't encourage me - I have had enough encouragement for today!" 

     Truth be told, we can all do with a little more ENCOURAGEMENT at times, because we certainly have lots to discourage us. When Paul was nearing Rome, he had a lot of people come alongside him and offer him words of strength and help. The very sight of these people encouraged him for his final part of the journey.

    Acts 28:15 - At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 

   Maybe there are some people in your life who could do with a word of 'cheer' today. Even if it takes a little effort, why don't you message them.

God bless

  Living in Grace

D3LM3