Life is more pleasant when you have something to look forward to!

In a Peanut’s cartoon Lucy and Linus were sitting in front of the television set when Lucy said to Linus, “Go get me a glass of water.”

Linus looked surprised, “Why should I do anything for you? You never do anything for me.”

 
“On your 75th birthday,” Lucy promised, “I’ll bake you a cake.”

Linus got up, headed to the kitchen and said, “Life is more pleasant when you have something to look forward to.”

Advent is the season of the year that should heighten our awareness of the gift of Jesus. Not only does the expectation of Christ's birth (and second coming) make life more pleasant, but it should also give us a deep Hope and a Peace that passes all understanding.

Are you able to look forward to Christmas with the joy of the Lord in your heart? Remember, that we are not looking forward to the gift of a cake (When we turn 75), but we are peering into the future, waiting for the miracle of the Messiah.

“This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.
If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place.
It will not be delayed.” – Habakkuk 2:3

Living in Grace

D3LM3

A thoughtful prayer from Alan Paton

 

Below is a prayer from Alan Paton. I trust that you will find it helpful for today.

"Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others,
Open my ears that I may hear their cries,
Open my heart so that they need not be without relief.
Let me not be afraid to defend the weak, because of the anger of the strong,
not afraid to defend the poor, because of the anger of the rich.

Show me where love and hope and faith are needed,
and use me to bring them to these places.
Open my eyes and ears that I may, this coming day,
be able to do some work of peace for You."

Habakkuk 3:2 - O Lord, I have heard of your renown, and I stand in awe, O Lord, of your work. In our own time revive it; in our own time make it known; in wrath may you remember mercy.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Sure-footed as the deer

Have you ever wondered how you will face your next obstacle without stumbling and falling flat on your face? Well, if you answered YES, then these words from Habakkuk will give you some hope and guidance.

"Elohim Adonai is my strength!
He makes me swift and sure-footed as a deer
and enables me to stride over my high places." - Habakkuk 3:19 (Complete Jewish Bible)

The NIV puts it slightly differently, but it makes the same point. God is our strength and God gives us the ability to be sure-footed.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Yet, I will trust in God

It is hard to offer praise to God when we can't see a positive outcome from a bad situation. However, as we walk closely with the Lord we slowly learn to trust in God's providence and in his grand design. This trust is transformed into a deeper faith, where we are able to say: "Even though I don't see it now, I will trust in your goodness, O God!"

This is also what Habakkuk also came to understand. 

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior." - Habakkuk 3:17-18

Thought: Am I able to trust in Christ even when there seems to be no sign of life?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Patiently waiting

Patience has never been one of my best gifts - I get impatient easily and usually expect God to answer me according to my timeline and not his. Obviously, this doesn't bode well for me and so I realise that I need to take a leaf out of Habakkuk's book. 

Listen to what he says as he pours out his heart to God (Habakkuk 2;1).

"I will stand at my watch
    and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
    and what answer I am to give to this complaint."

As we position ourselves, waiting for the Lord's response to our prayers, may we not grow weary and lose heart. 

Grace and peace to you all.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

How long O Lord must I call for help?

With all that is happening in the world around us, and especially in the Western Cape with the Taxi protests and violence, we can easily identify with the words of Habakkuk: 

"O Lord, how long must I call for help before you will listen? I shout to you in vain; there is no answer. “Help! Murder!” I cry, but no one comes to save. 3 Must I forever see this sin and sadness all around me?

Wherever I look I see oppression and bribery and men who love to argue and to fight. 4 The law is not enforced, and there is no justice given in the courts, for the wicked far outnumber the righteous, and bribes and trickery prevail.

5 The Lord replied: “Look and be amazed! You will be astounded at what I am about to do! For I am going to do something in your own lifetime that you will have to see to believe." - Habakkuk 2:2-5

Habakkuk's complaint is understandable - when he looked at things that were unjust, wicked and evil, he asked why God didn't seem concerned. 

However, God responds, saying that there will be an answer and that this will take everyone by surprise. The solution will come from an unlikely source. 

Prayer: Lord, we seek a miracle from you in the ongoing strife in our land. As we seek your face, teach us not to lose heart and to trust in your divine wisdom and grace. Amen.

Living in Grace

D3LM3