A genuine prayer to help us stay grounded in this mad world

Our world is a mad place and unfortunately it just seems to be getting worse. Social media doesn't seem to help either as it spreads more anger and bitterness than most of us can handle. 

Even amongst Christ-followers, we are fed a whole lot of 'fake' versions of what it means to follow Jesus. For this reason, I find the Prayer of Saint Francis to one of depth, truth and sincerity. These words are based on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) and in my opinion, are a Christ-like way of living.

"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."

Thought: If you have time, read through Matthew 5-7, and see the connections between the prayer and the words of Jesus.

Living in Grace

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Longing for ...

There is a beautiful song which reminds us of all the things that we long for but seem to never find. It is entitled: Christ be our Light and is written by Bernadette Farrell. Each verse of the song speaks of these gifts that we long for:

• Longing for light, we wait in darkness
• Longing for truth, we turn to you
• Longing for peace, our world is troubled
• Longing for hope, many despair

And each time she laments the things that still elude us, Bernadette brings us to the prayerful chorus:

"Christ be our light, shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church."

I pray that as we all begin the remarkable journey of Lent, that Christ would shine his light on our path.

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THEN ....

I find it interesting that when Isaiah speaks about True Fasting, he mentions that this involves heart-felt action and care for the poor. He calls on Gods-people to feed the hungry and to help those in trouble. Once we have done that, THEN our light will shine out from the darkness.

"Feed the hungry and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon." - Isaiah 58:10

Sometimes we reverse the sequence, and we pray that we will have enough 'Light' to shine for God. It seems to me, that in doing what God has asked us to do, will reveal this Light.

So, when Jesus said: 'You are the light of the world' (Matthew 5:14-15), perhaps he was telling us to love boldly, and THEN this would be the light of Christ shining all around us.

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To walk, act, think, speak and live

Gracious God, help us,

To walk in your light;
To act in your strength;
To think in your wisdom;
To speak in your truth;
To live in your love;
Amen.

It is no secret that I love reading and am inspired by Christians who have left behind amazing legacies for us to witness. This prayer (above) is another beautiful prayer from William Barclay, and it really speaks to me today. I think the simplicity of the words help us to digest the power in their meaning. 

I invite you pray this prayer again slowly. Take it one sentence at a time. May it add blessing and grace to your day.

Living in Grace

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Singing in the dark

"But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely." - Psalm 59:16-17

You can only sing of God's strength if you have witnessed his saving power at some point. Even though King David was facing one of his sternest tests, he was able to boldly proclaim that he trusted in God to be his fortress and refuge.

Whatever you may be facing at the moment, remember God's great goodness in the past and then trust him for what lies in the future. 

I guess it is sometimes like singing in the dark. We don't sing because we can see all around us - we sing because of who lives inside of us. 

"I will sing of your love" (v.16)

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The Lord is ....

In times of great uncertainty and distress it is good to hold onto the promise that God IS our guiding Light and the One who comes to our rescue. There is no question about it - this is a true reality of Christ's birth, and the miracle is that we are invited to be a part of this gift. 

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid? - Psalm 27

May you know the guidance of the Light of the World this Christmas season and may you find God's strength carrying you into the New Year.

Living in Grace

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Invisible Light

“Light,

Light,
The visible reminder of Invisible Light.” - T.S. Eliot

“I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.” - John 8:12 (The Message)

This is such a beautiful promise for us all to digest again. Jesus is the Invisible Light, that T.S. Eliot speaks of and Light of World, that John mentions. May the light of Jesus fill your heart and soul this year. 

Karoline Lewis - "John understands that God’s promise to be with God’s people wherever they go has now taken on a different representation in Jesus."

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What shadow do you cast?

In reflecting on the presence of Jesus this Christmas, I have noted how wherever he went, Joy seemed to follow him. It was as if JOY was his shadow. 

John 15:11 - I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Somehow, we seem to believe that all shadows are sinister or dark, yet when I think of how the shadow of a tall building or tree gives respite to those of us baking in the sun, then shadows become a gift. Not only does Jesus give us the gift of himself, but his shadow brings along further gifts of Joy, Peace, Hope and Love.

Matthew 2:10 – “When they saw the star they were filled with joy!” (NLT)

“There is strong shadow where there is much light.”  - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

If your life cast a shadow, what kind of shadow would it be? 

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A lamp that lights the way

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." - Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

"By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path" (Message)

"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." (NLT)

No matter what version you read this verse in, it says the same thing. God's Word sheds just enough light for us to take small steps of faith. And this is all that we need at the moment. 

The circle of light, that would be cast from an ancient oil lamp, wouldn't have been close to the brightness of our modern LED lights, but they would have offered sufficient light to give the 'holder' confidence to step forward.

As we turn to God's Word, his wisdom and guidance, shine enough light for us to walk in faith. We can't see the whole pathway, but we can trust that God will lead us down the path, step-by-step.

Living in Grace

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Brighten up your corner - Inspirational poem

In conversation with a friend last week, he mentioned an inspirational poem to me. As I read it, I realised it was the perfect ending for the sermon I was writing. Having shared the poem on Sunday, a few people have asked for the words. So, here they are - it is a poem entitled: "Brighten up your corner." Enjoy and please pass on to someone in need. 

We cannot all be famous
Or be listed in "Who's Who,"
But every person, great or small,
Has important work to do.

For seldom do we realize
The importance of small deeds,
Or to what degree of greatness
Unnoticed kindness leads.

For it's not the big celebrity
In a world of fame and praise,
But it's doing unpretentiously
In an undistinguished way.

The work that God assigned to us,
Unimportant as it seems,
That makes our task outstanding,
And brings reality to dreams.

So do not sit and idly wish
For wider, new dimensions
where you can put into practice,
Your many good intentions.

But at the spot God placed you
Begin at once to do,
Little things to brighten up
The lives surrounding you.

If everybody brightened up

The spot where they're standing,
By being more considerate,
And a little less demanding.

This dark old world would very soon
Eclipse the evening star,
If everybody brightened up
The corner where they are! - Helen Steiner Rice

So, the challenge lies before us!

How can we lighten the dark corners of our world? 

What can we do to bring Christ to those who need Him?

Isaiah 60 - Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.

Living in Grace

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You can't capture it!

I came across this picture when I was busy preparing for the Tenebrae service last week. What struck me about it was that the candle seems to be "captured" in the cage, but the bars can't keep the light from shining through. This is the gist of what I preached on that evening - that even though the Romans and religious authorities tried to hide Jesus' Light, he was still able to shine into the lives of the people.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (NLT) (John 1:5)

May the Light of Jesus shine in your hearts and lives today.

Living in grace

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Christ in our Chaos - new book release

I am pleased to announce that my new book Christ in our Chaos is officially released today. This book has been awhile in the making and has been greatly influenced by the stress, turmoil and chaos of the past 18 months.

It is my prayer that God would use this material to help many people to see that Christ is still present with us, even in our times of great trial. If you would like to order a copy of the book please check out all the details on the website www.livingingrace.co.za - This is mainly for people living in South Africa.

If you have family or friends living abroad, who may benefit from reading the book, you can also order it on Amazon. It can be sent to them either via Kindle or print on demand. Thanks for your ongoing encouragement and support of this ministry. 

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The Contrast

"Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

However many years anyone may live,
let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember the days of darkness,
for there will be many.
Everything to come is meaningless." - Ecclesiastes 11:7-8

In these 2 verses there is a great deal of contrast in the images that Solomon shares. Perhaps this is why it is so revealing and challenging at the same time. Do you notice how he speaks about 'sweet light' and then 'days of darkness?' He also contrasts joy and meaninglessness. 

Solomon's overriding message to the next generation was clear - Life is a gift and we have little control over how things turn out, so let us enjoy what gifts God gives to us. 

This is so relevant for what we are experiencing at the moment during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. There seems to be no certainty anymore - darkness contrasts with moments of light and our joy is often threatened by meaninglessness.

The opening words of verse 7 are key for me today - each sunrise is pleasing to the soul - it reminds us that God has given us one more day to enjoy.

I am grateful for the purpose and love of Christ. It is in Jesus that I live, breathe and have my being.

Living in Grace

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Finding your way in the dark

 

Finding you way in the dark is not an easy exercise. 

When the lights go out due to unexpected power failures, load-shedding, or no money in the meter, then you have to resort to stumbling around in the dark. Of course the better you know your home, the easier it is to work out where you are and to make a plan. This reminds me of a lovely quote:

Alexander Maclaren, the 19th Century Scottich preacher said that, "Those who know the path to God, can find it in the dark."

When our lives are filled with sudden darkness, let us not lose hope but rather find our way back to the heart of God. Walk the well trodden path and know that God is still at Home.

Luke 15:20 -  “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming, and was filled with loving pity and ran and embraced him and kissed him."

Living in Grace

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A Lantern

Lazarus Spengler was a 16th Century reformer, who supported Martin Luther during the tumultuous days of the Reformation. He is also known for helping design the "Luther Rose" which became symbol of Lutheranism. 

At one point he wrote: "For my feet your holy word is a lantern, a light that shows me the way forward; as this morning star rises upon us we understand the great gifts that God's spirit has certainly promised us, and in these we have our hope." 

Of course, his words are just an echo of the words of Scripture, where the Psalmist once sang:

"Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path." - Psalm 119:105

May God continue to be your lantern during these days of challenge and uncertainty.

Living in Grace

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Light in your eyes

A person's eyes can convey a message even before they have uttered a single sound. Have you ever seen that happen before? When reading through Proverbs today I was looking for words of comfort and hope and I found them in v.30 - it is the light in God's eyes that brings eternal hope to each one of us. Good news is such gift for all of us.  

“Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.

Whoever heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home among the wise.

Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.

Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,
    and humility comes before honour.” – Proverbs 15:30-33

In these dark days, let us hold onto the hope that comes from knowing Jesus. He is the Good News we need for our hearts and lives.

“The good news is as epic as it gets, with universal theological implications, and yet the Bible tells it from the perspective of fishermen and farmers, pregnant ladies and squirmy kids. This story about the nature of God and God's relationship to humanity smells like mud and manger hay and tastes like salt and wine...It is the biggest story and the smallest story all at once" - Rachel Evans 

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Power restored

Living in South Africa has many challenges and the latest one was dealing with power outages and load-shedding. One could almost hear the collective sigh when the lights went out in your community, as well as the loud cheers when the power was restored.

In chapter 4, Micah speaks about a different kind of restoration. It is the restoration of the kingship and how the 'royal might and power' would come back to the nation.

"As for you, Jerusalem,
    the citadel of God’s people,
your royal might and power
    will come back to you again.
The kingship will be restored
    to my precious Jerusalem." - Micah 4:8

Advent is a time to remember that no matter how dark things are at the present time, the LIGHT of the world has dawned upon us and all good things will be restored in the end.

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Let there be light

 

In our cold winter's mornings it is so helpful to have electricity to light up our rooms. Getting dressed for work or school is tough without any light. In fact, having Light makes all the difference for our entire daily routine.

And so, I believe that having the Light of Christ makes an even bigger difference in our lives. Knowing that the darkness we encounter will be overcome by the Light keeps us living in Hope. Whatever is making your life seem dark at the moment, turn to Jesus and ask him to shine his light into your heart. 

Genesis 1:3 -  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

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Send me something

 
 

If you could ask God to send you any 2 things, what would those two things be? In Psalm 41 the Psalmist asks God to send him two incredible gifts - these things are indispensable in our following the ways of God.
 


"Send me your light and your faithful care,    let them lead me..." - Psalm 43:3

What could you do with LIGHT and CARE? Wouldn't they help you?

What is stopping you from asking God for these 2 gifts today?

Prayer: Thank you Lord for your promise of care and light. 

Living in Grace
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Dear Jesus

If you have ever wanted to pray, but haven't known really what to say, then use this prayer as a starting point. It is truly a great prayer.

"Dear Jesus,

Help me to spread Your fragrance everywhere I go.
Flood my soul with Your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly,
that my life may only be a radiance of Yours.

Shine through me, and be so in me that every soul I come in
contact with may feel Your presence in my soul.
Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus!

Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as You shine,
so to shine as to be a light to others; The light, O Jesus will be
all from You; none of it will be mine;
It will be you shining on others through me.

Let me thus praise You the way You love best,
by shining on those around me.
Let me preach You without preaching,
not by words but by my example,
by the catching force of the sympathetic influence of what I do,
the evident fullness of the love my heart bears to You.
Amen." - Prayer written by John Henry Newman

Living in Grace
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