Late or right on time?

"There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. 

In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling short-changed. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready." - Romans 5: 3-8(Message)

I really enjoy Eugene Peterson's paraphrase of these verses from Romans. It gives me the peace that Jesus is always showing up in our lives, at just the right time! If you read it in different versions, you will get the same confirmation, but with a slightly different emphasis.

"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners." - Romans 5:6

Living in Grace

D3LM3

God's timing

Many of us have a constant need to know what's going on and when! However, LIFE has an uncanny way of keeping these two things a mystery for us. Perhaps this is why Jesus reminded his disciples of this powerful truth:

Acts 1:7 (Message) - He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit.

We need to be content with the gift of the Spirit (which should never be seen as the second prize by-the-way). He will lead us into the knowledge of all things. Timing is the Father's business.

As I write these words, I am busy recovering from my first case of Covid, so these words are intriguing for me. Is it just a case of 'God's timing' or 'it was eventually gonna happen?'  

Makes one think, doesn't?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

P.S. I apologise for the lack of blogs over the last couple of days, but I have barely made it off the bed. I appreciate the prayers and support. Stay safe. 

The Lord goes before us

Deborah said to Barak, "Get ready! Today the Lord will give you victory over Sisera, for the Lord is marching ahead of you.” - Judges 4:14

I was reminded of this verse this weekend, as we shared on Sunday about the brilliance of Deborah. She was the only female Judge to have presided over Israel and she left a huge impression on the people of her generation. She was a wise, God-fearing, adviser for the people and she knew how to lead her people into battle. 

Her words in Judges 4:14 should serve as a reminded for all of us that God goes before us into the battlefield. When we fight for Truth and Justice, God will lead the front line. God will also go before you to assist you on the battleground. So, don't be afraid of the future - God will go with you.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Faith tested

It is easy to speak and even preach about Faith. It is an entirely different thing to 'Live' out your Faith. Do you remember the words that Paul used to describe faith? This is what he said:

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." - Hebrews 11:1

So my Faith is being tested in the surest possible way. We leave for our Sabbatical in a few days and we still haven't received our visa's back. So, what's Faith again? Trying to have the confidence that what I hope for (...my visa's in my hand) will actually happen - an assurance of what I can't see right now. Oh boy - faith is hard, but thankfully not impossible.

May God grant you enough faith today, so that you can believe that the impossible will actually happen!

Living in Grace,
D3LM3