Be careful before we complain

It seems that God's people love to complain. In Isaiah's time, they also complained ... a LOT! And when God heard their complaints, he passed on this message through the prophet:

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, “God has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me”? Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind. (Isaiah 40)

These were the 2 thoughts that struck me in Eugene Peterson's paraphrase.

God has not lost track of you!

God Lasts!

Thought: Before we complain to God, perhaps we should stop and take stock of what God has done for us.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The genuine heart of God

For some people, they struggle to see God as a loving God. They have either had very bad experiences with parents or perhaps even with some churches, and so their picture of God is very harsh. When we look through the Bible, we can understand how we could see God in this way, but there are equally many scriptures that reveal the true heart of the Father.

Take for example, a few of the following verses. They speak to me of a God who cares, and who has a genuine heart of compassion for his people. 

Luke 13:34 - “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 

Luke 15:1-3 - Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Isaiah 40:11- He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

Thought: Does this help you see God in a different way? 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Engraved on my hands

 

¹⁵ “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
    and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
    I will not forget you!
¹⁶ See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands

These prophetic words of Isaiah are fulfilled in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus Christ and serve as a wonderful reminder that God always remembers us. In modern times many people choose to get parts of their bodies tattooed with the names of their children. In this act, they are choosing to hold their kids always before them.

This is perhaps a similar picture of what Isaiah is pointing to. How do you feel about this? 

“Remember this: God never forgets. His love is a constant reminder that, no matter our struggles, He is with us.” – Max Lucado

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Why do they wait for the thermals?

A question for today: Why do eagles wait for the thermals in order to soar and fly?

Answer: They have been taught from a young age to conserve their energy and to know that they are created to use the winds to their great advantage. They are not designed to flap their wings all the time.

"But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind." - Isaiah 40:31 (The Message)

In the same way, I believe that God has designed us to rely on His Spirit, so that we may soar and live for his glory. Sadly, there are many times when I forget this and I flap my wings too much, trusting in my own perceived strength and less on God's gift to me.

Prayer thought: It is tempting to be 'busy' the whole time, believing that our work is for God's glory, but sometimes we need to WAIT for the right moment and the right thermal. Our waiting my seem frustrating, especially when we see others flying/flapping all around us, however if we want to reach Godly heights, we must wait for his Spirit.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Why fixing the potholes was not what John was implying.

Avoiding potholes, while driving in some South African towns, is par for the course. You become very good at dodging them or driving around them. If you notice municipal workers starting to fix these potholes, then usually one assumes that an important politician is about to make a visit. 

In Luke's gospel he quotes from the book of Isaiah, speaking about preparing for the coming of the Messiah: 

"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" – Luke 3:4-6

Before an earthly emperor or King would come and visit his subjects, a courier (messenger) would head out with an advance party to get people to be ready. One of the things they would do is prepare the roads for the king so his journey would be more pleasant. In other words, they would fill in the potholes, fix the roads, clean the curbs and so on. 

I do not think that John was going to be literally fixing potholes for Jesus, but rather that he would be calling people to: “prepare your hearts and lives for the coming of the king. Forget about the roads, rather mend and repair your hearts.”

Thought: Next time you swerve to avoid a pothole ask yourself: "Am I doing all I can to prepare my heart for the coming of the Christ?"

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Word for the month .... and maybe the whole year!

I stumbled across this profound Scripture during the week, and I think that this will be my 'Word' for the rest of January, and maybe even for the rest of 2024. I share it with you and pray that it may also encourage you:

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” – Isaiah 42:16

It spoke to me in a number of ways:

1. It reminded me that God will lead me, even along unfamiliar paths. There will be plenty of those during this year, I am sure of it!

2. Christ will shine a light on the path and will help me to walk on the uneven paths. The rocky trails will seem a lot smoother, if I learn to walk with Jesus.

3. Jesus will not forsake me. 

May you have a blessed week.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Waiting, waiting, waiting!

It seems that the Lord is trying to teach me (and a few of you) the valuable lesson of waiting. I am not a patient person, so this is a tough lesson to be learning again! I had hoped that by the time I was in my 50's I would be a lot better at this discipline, but alas, it seems I am not! 

Thankfully, the Bible speaks on this issue in many places, and I am grateful for the words of advice that can help me in my wrestling. So, if you find yourself in a similar boat, I offer you some words of solace and may God grant us all the ability to 'wait patiently.'

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." - Psalm 27:14

“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about." - Acts 1:8

Psalm 37:7 - "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;"

Isaiah 26:8 - "Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Single-Minded

Isaiah 38:3 - “Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.”

Remaining Single-minded is hard in this day and age. There are so many distractions, opinions, noises and voices out there that keeping focused is certainly a tough ask. So, how do we do this? How do we remain single-minded on the things of God. How do we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus? 

I guess there are a myriad of opinions on this, but I have found that keeping a daily time with God is the most helpful in this regard. Another helpful habit is to check in with other believers, in regular worship, prayer and fellowship. 

Question: What is preventing you from keeping focused on Jesus at the moment? How can we change this, even if it is just one small change? 

Proverbs 4:25 - Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Remember, remember the 11th of November!

As I child, I distinctly remember the phrase, "remember, remember the 5th of November." This was always said in conjunction with Guy Fawkes, and it was such a catchy little ditty that I still remember it to this day. 

However, as today is Remembrance Day, I would like to offer a variation of the phrase and encourage us to sing: "remember, remember, the 11th of November!"

It is always good to pause and remember all who can gone before us, especially those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. In many ways, War reminds us of the evil of humanity (on one hand), while also teaching us about the resilience of human beings. Sadly, we never seem to the learn the lessons that War teaches us and, even today, we feel the global impact of another war - the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

“There are perhaps many causes worth dying for, but to me, certainly, there are none worth killing for.”
― Albert Dietrich

Remembrance Day is also a moment where I stop to consider what Christ has done for me. Jesus took the worst that humanity could throw at him - including my sin - and paid the ultimate sacrifice, in my place. For this, I am deeply grateful and indebted to him. As I remember this, I pray that my response is not one of apathy but rather is motivated to honour what He has done for me. 

Wouldn't it be a miracle if all humanity could remember the pain, loss and destruction of War and then commit to never repeat that evil again? 

Isaiah 2:4 - "He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

A Royal Crown

In a week where the world has begun to mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we are reminded that we are also considered to be 'royalty' in the eyes of God. We may not get to sit on the earthly throne of Buckingham Palace, but we will be honoured in the presence of Almighty God. 

"You will be a crown of splendour in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God." - Isaiah 62:8

"You will also be [considered] a crown of glory and splendour in the hand of the Lord, And a royal diadem [exceedingly beautiful] in the hand of your God." (Amplified Bible)

Thought:

1. What prevents us from feeling like 'royalty' in the eyes of God?

2. What responsibility do you think comes with being a royal child of God?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Whose way is the best?

I was reminded again this week of a wonderful promise of God and how I am often blind to the ways of our Father. When things don't seem to be working out as I think they should, I am easily tempted to feel frustrated and disillusioned. However, God has already given us these words as wise guidance:

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Here is another way of putting this same truth.

“I don’t think the way you think.
    The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
        God’s Decree.
“For as the sky soars high above earth,
    so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
    and the way I think is beyond the way you think. (Eugene Peterson)

My humble advice to us all is to rather trust in God's ways - they are better than our own.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Human rights

In response to the South African national holiday, Human Rights Day, I found a few quotes from the scriptures, which would be good to read in light of our Christian response to the rights of all people. This is usually a sensitive topic as we all have varying opinions on our rights, but hold these verses up to the debate and see if they add any wisdom.

"Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees,
2 to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,
making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.
3 What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar?
To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?" - Isaiah 10:1-3

1 Corinthians 8:8-9 - "But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak."

Lamentations 3:34-36 - "To crush underfoot all prisoners in the land,

35 to deny people their rights before the Most High,
36 to deprive them of justice—would not the Lord see such things?"

As Christians, how do we view 'our' rights in the context of a fallen world? What action should we take to protect the rights of the marginalised and poor?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Perfect Peace

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal." - Isaiah 26:3-4

As we reflect on this scripture, we are reminded to keep our minds focussed (steadfast) on the Lord. This implies that when we are prone to let our minds wander, or the stress of life causes us to be 'all over the place', that we then choose to fix our eyes on Christ. Once we have developed this habit, we will begin to know the perfect peace that God offers us.

Prayer: Thank you Lord that you offer to be my steadfast rock and firm foundation. Forgive me for the times that I forfeit your Peace by refusing to trust in your plan.

"Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." - Unknown

Living in Grace

D3LM3

What is Just?

"See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice." - Isaiah 32:1

A simple response to the question: "What is just?" could be something like - To be just is to be fair and unbiased. It is to judge everyone with the same measuring stick.

However, how many times have we found ourselves saying?: That is unfair! Life is unfair!

We can't change the way other people judge us or view us, but we can rely on the Messiah to treat us all with righteousness and justice. Matthew proclaimed this of Jesus when he said: 

“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations." (Matthew 12:18)

How can we respond to this knowledge today?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

We need some more Wonder!

Perhaps we all need a little more 'Wonder' in our lives at the moment. 

You may think I have lost my mind (again), but let me explain. When Isaiah challenged the Israelites about their relationship with God he said this (Isaiah 29:13-14): The Lord says:

“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

Therefore once more I will astound these people
with wonder upon wonder;
the wisdom of the wise will perish,
the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

It seems to me that God wants us to move from our rote words and worship, thinking that we have God all figured out. Our complacency moves us into a space of boredom, where we leave no room for awe and wonder.

How would God astound you at this moment in your life?

What would leave you in awe and wonder?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Father to the fatherless

Fathers have been getting a lot of bad press over the last while and although there are a number of bad apples in the bunch, there are still many fathers who do an amazing job of loving their kids. 

I guess the same could be said for God in some ways. The image of God as a father has come under pressure in some quarters, but we can't ignore that God reveals himself in many ways just like a perfect father would. There are attributes of God's personality that are surely revealed in both masculine and feminine ways, but the unique gift of the 'father-heart' of God is still a beauty to behold.

On this Father's Day let us hold onto all the best qualities of a father and remember to look for them in the person of Yahweh. 

Psalm 68:15 - A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

Isaiah 22:21 - He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah.

Pliny the Elder - "No mortal man, moreover is wise at all moments."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The deafening noise!

                                                            

We have been opening up our church on a Thursday for a time of quiet reflection and prayer. It has been a wonderful way of listening to the Lord and feeding our spirits. 

However, today things were different! The municipality has been fixing burst waters pipes and the roads outside our church for a while and today was the the day the jackhammers came to town! Wow, it was loud! Even the sound of music couldn't drown out the noise and I have to admit finding 'peace' was tough! And so this got me thinking:

"How does the noise of our lives distract us from listening the voice of God?" 

"What loud noises make it hard for us to prayer and focus on the things of Jesus?"

Acts 21:40 - Paul stood on the stairs and motioned to the people to be quiet; soon a deep silence enveloped the crowd, and he addressed them" (LB)

Isaiah 17:12-13 - Oh my! Thunder! A thundering herd of people! Thunder like the crashing of ocean waves! Nations roaring, roaring, like the roar of a massive waterfall, Roaring like a deafening Niagara! But God will silence them with a word… "

Jeremiah 51:55 - For the Lord is destroying Babylon. He will silence her loud voice.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The Canopy

                                                             

The scriptures capture some beautiful images of God's love and protection for all God's children. Isaiah is one of those prophets who used many creative 'pictures' to share the message of God's mercy with the Israelites. Reading through Isaiah 4, I came to these verses which I want to share with you today:

"Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain."

What do you think of that? 

I love the image of the canopy - God's glory will be like a canopy protecting us from the sun (heat) and hiding place protecting us from the storms of life.

"If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. If you look at God you'll be at rest." - Corrie Ten Boom

Living in Grace

D3LM3

It Slipped my Mind

                                                

I am sure that we have all used this idiom before - "It completely slipped my mind!" In fact, I just used it a few minutes ago and this is what prompted me to write this post. I am not sure of the origins of this idiom, but according to google it first came into use in 1340 - that is a long, long time ago.

I was intrigued with the 'slip' part of the idiom and apparently it originated from a connection with when you are walking and you slip. When this happens you end up falling over. And so, when something 'falls' from your memory it was said to 'slip your mind.'

There are a number of times in the Scriptures where people forgot the Lord and allowed important things to slip their minds. Take poor Joseph as an example - "Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him (Genesis 40:23). The Israelites also forgot the ways of God on more than one occasion - "But they forgot the Lord their God" (1 Samuel 12:9).

I am most grateful that even though we may forget God at times, that the Lord never allows us to fall from his memory. That is incredible news for us today.

Isaiah 49:15 - "Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

What is best for you.

 

How do you know what is best for your life?
How do you know what is best for your children's lives?
These are tough questions to figure out, especially when the future seems a little unsure.
I don't believe we can fully see the entire picture, but we can put our trust in God to help us. As Isaiah comments: The Lord teaches us what is for the best.

"This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." - Isaiah 48:17

Helen Keller - "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart."

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

Living in Grace

D3LM3