A service for Valentines Day?

While fetching one of my kids yesterday, I explained that I needed to drop him off at home quickly, so that I could rush to the evening service. Without thinking, he replied: "Since when did we start having services for Valentine's Day!?" 

After chuckling to myself, I told him that it was not a service for Valentine's Day, but rather an Ash Wednesday Service. To which he responded: "Oh yes, I forgot!" 

And so, in our brief conversation, we stumbled across some powerful realizations:

1. Ash Wednesday is NOT like Valentine's Day in many ways, but it does celebrate the greatest act of Love ever revealed to humanity. 

2. Love is not something we only 'speak of', but rather what we show with our actions. "For God so loved the world that He gave us His Son..." (John 3:16).

3. Lent is an important time in our Christian journey, precisely because our lives are so hectic, that we easily 'forget' to lean into the promises of God.

Question:

What are taking up (or giving up) in Lent, in order to help you remain focused on Jesus Christ?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Who could Stand?

 

<sup>As many of us have already noticed there are a myriad of opinions on Covid-19 at the moment and some Christians have added their weight behind God punishing the world for her sins. I will not make any comments on this, except to point out what the lectionary Psalm for this week says:

"</sup>If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,    so that we can, with reverence, serve you." - Psalm 130:3-4

I see this as a clear reminder that if God was in the business of recording my sins, then I would be first in line to receive eternal punishment. And dare I say, you could be standing in the same line with me. Not one of us would stand as being innocent.

However, the Psalmist is quick to point out that with God there is FORGIVENESS and this is the best gift of all. In our season of Lent we should hear the joyful song that offers to fill our hearts with Hope and Awe - "I am a sinner who receives God's amazing grace!" 

From this acknowledgement of Mercy I then choose to live a life of reverence and service to my Saviour.

Question: Does this following verse sound like a God who would delight in destroying people?

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." - John 3:16-17

Prayer: Lord, keep me from pronouncing judgement on other people, lest I implicate myself in these charges. Guide us as we seek to offer your Love and Hope to those who have forgotten you or who are searching for redemption. Amen.


Living in Grace
D3LM3 


"If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings,
    who would stand a chance?
As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit,
    and that’s why you’re worshiped." - The Message

Pale Blue Dot

Thirty years ago, on Valentines day (1990), Voyager 1 took the remarkable image of the earth from 6.4 Billion kilometers away - look at where the arrow is pointing in the picture. It was called the 'Pale Blue Dot' by scientist Carl Sagan and it remains a humbling reminder of how small, yet precious the earth is.

As far as we know the earth is the only planet that can support human life. We may try and send people to live on Mars and the Moon, but that is still a long way in the future. We should recgonise the gift we have been given and remember how amazing our God is.

So for this Valentines day let us focus on the remarkable LOVE we have been given by God and that our planet was considered so special that God sent his Son to reveal his glory to us.

John 1:9 - "The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world."

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Living in Grace
D3LM3

A twist of fate?

When Guido (Guy) Fawkes and his co-conspirators failed in their plot to blow up the English House of Parliament in 1605, they inadvertently spared the life of King James 1. In doing so, they allowed James to continue his sponsorship of the translation of the Bible into English. This work began in 1604 and finished in 1611 - the end result was the King James Version of the Bible.

So in a strange way, Guy Fawkes' failure allowed the success of the KJV to prevail. Call it a twist of fate or just God's Providence - the end result was a version of the Bible that has spoken to many believers for centuries.

The other interesting outcome is that millions of people set off fireworks on the 5th November without knowing who Guy Fawkes was and why they are celebrating this occasion :)
Life is certainly interesting!!

John 3:16 (KJV) - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Living in Grace
D3LM3

It Changes Everything!

It changes Everything!
You may be wondering what "it" I am speaking about - well, this "it" is LOVE. When we come to a deeper understanding of God's love for us, it is this LOVE that can change everything in our lives. If you don't want to take my word for it, then ask the billions of people who have had their lives changed by the indescribable love of God.

We sang a version of the well known song, 'Love Changes Everything' in our service on Sunday.It was Michael Ball who sang the original (I think) and these were some of those words:

 Love, love changes everything
Hands and faces, earth and sky
Love, love changes everything
How you live and how you die
Love, can make the summer fly
Or a night seem like a lifetime
Yes love, love changes everything
Now I tremble at your name
Nothing in the world will ever be the same.

Jesus' Love changes everything about our lives.

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

Living in Grace
D3LM3