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

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The Shadow of Joy

If we look with great care in the New Testament, we will see that JOY is littered all over the life of Jesus. If you start in Matthew’s version of the birth narratives, you will see how he writes about Jesus' birth:

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

And then, if you then move to Luke’s account...

Luke 1:44 – “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, my baby leaped for Joy.” (Even John the Baptist danced for Joy when he realized that Jesus was close by).

Then we hear the message of the angels when they speak to the shepherds...

Luke 2:10 – “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

We can even take a giant leap to the end of Jesus’ life, to that scene at the Resurrection, where the women come to anoint his body with spices. They are frightened yet still filled with Joy.

“So, the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet also filled with great joy...” – Matthew 28:8

Thought: Do you see what I mean? Jesus’ life is covered in JOY. 

Wherever Jesus went JOY was there. It is as if Jesus’ shadow was JOY itself.

Living in Grace

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Living in Wonder

While researching for our Advent services I came across a lovely prayer by Rebecca Barlow Jordan, 

"We confess that our hearts are too often filled with wonder of a different kind: wondering when the bills will be paid, wondering when the terror will stop, wondering when rest will come. We even wonder if the message of peace is still true."

These words really left an impression on me. We have entered the Christmas season, which many of us realise should invoke feelings of Divine Wonder, but if we are honest, we are still clouded by the wonders of the world. The wonderings of our temporary world - money, security, food, relationships, education, work etc. Of course these are all necessary for us to live, but I believe that our 'Wonder' should rather be focused on the God of all creation.

Exodus 15:11 - “Who is like you among the gods, O Lord— glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders?

Luke 5:26 - Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”

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Do no harm!

In reflecting on John Wesley's Rule of Life, we note his 3 major calls: "Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with Jesus." 

Tackling the first of these, what would this mean for us, on a daily basis? 

'Do no harm!'

The bible has a lot to say on this matter, and so I leave you with these texts and ask us all to make our own reflections on how we can live this out.

“By doing no harm; by avoiding evil of every kind.” – John Wesley

^“When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them.” – Luke 9:54

·    Romans 13:10 - Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore, love is the fulfilment of the law.

1 Corinthians 11:17 - In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.

·     Revelation 7:3 - “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” 

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Things that will destroy us

Luke 9:25 - "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?"

When asked about the things that can destroy our lives, Ghandi made these suggestions:

"Politics without principle,
pleasure without conscience,
wealth without work,
knowledge without character,
business without morality,
science without humanity,
worship without sacrifice." 

If we compare his thoughts with those of Jesus, we will see a strong connection. All of the things that are mentioned by Ghandi are the idols that many people cling to (politics, pleasure, wealth etc.) - but what benefit are these to us, if we forfeit our souls in the quest for these things?

Living in Grace

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War and Peace

In searching for some words of wisdom to mark the transition into 2024 I stumbled upon the wise words of Benjamin Franklin. “Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man (and woman).” 

For me, his words sum up the overall spirit of starting another year. We are deeply aware of our faults and short-comings, and we desire to change them. However, change is not an easy exercise for us all, but there is always the motivation to become a better human being. I also believe that seeking 'peace' with our neighbor's is a great way to minimize conflict and anxiety.

As followers of Jesus, we remember that Jesus actually put us onto this same path nearly 17 centuries earlier than Mr. Franklin. Jesus said:

"He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” - Luke 10:27

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” - Mark 11:25

I pray that 2024 holds much Hope, Peace, Love and Joy for you all.

Living in Grace

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God with us

"God with us in our nature,

In our sorrow,
In our lifework,
In our punishment,
In our grace,
And now with us,
Or rather with Him,
In resurrection,
Ascension,
Triumph,
And Second Advent splendor." - Charles Spurgeon 

Forgive my lack of creativity, but it has been a long and tiring Holy Week. I am sending you all this lovely prayer/poem written by Charles Spurgeon and pray that it may offer you some joy today.

Luke 24:6 - "He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:"

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God's promises through a sign

God often follows up his words with a clear and definite sign. This is to make sure that we are 100% sure of his divine purpose and promises.

One of the best signs God ever gave was the one mentioned by the angels when Jesus was born. Let me take us back to the birth narratives of Jesus and let’s see what Luke wrote:

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12).

May you hold onto the precious signs God has given to each one of us. May they give us all the strength we need to endure and to follow the ways of Jesus. 

Living in Grace

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Unusual Kindness

Alan Brehm - "We find what we're looking for in life when we give ourselves away in kindness and compassion for others, rather than trying to take as much as we can get for ourselves."

I know I have said this before, but it bears repeating - "our world is in need of more kindness!" We have become self-absorbed and consumed with trying to 'get' for ourselves, that we have overlooked those in need of God's kindness. 

When Luke recounts what happened on the island of Malta, he notes that they were treated with unusual kindness.

"The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold." - Acts 28:2

What may have shocked Luke and Paul the most was that they didn't expect the locals in Malta to be kind to them. Perhaps they had already pre-judged them? Kindness offers us a chance to re-evaluate the way we think and feel about people. 

If God treats us with unusual kindness, then perhaps we should learn to offer this same kindness to others. 

Living in Grace

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Looking up

How often do we look up to the Lord when we pray? 

I know that God is not limited to our geographic perceptions, but there is something profound in looking to the heavens when we pray. It is interesting that the Bible only mentions are few occasions where Jesus looked up to heaven when he prayed - one of these events (the feeding of the 5000) is recorded in 3 of the Gospels: 

Luke 9:16 - Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people." (Mark 6 and Matthew 14).

Why do you think he made a point of doing this on this occasion?
 

Other passages include:

Mark 7:34-35 - He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (Which means “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak plainly.

As we follow Jesus today, let us remember to keep looking up. It is in keeping our eyes fixed on Him that we will be able to face all the challenges that lie ahead of us.

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Money is like sea water

The Roman's had a proverb that went like this: "Money is like sea water - the more you drink it, the thirstier you become." 

In our generation we see this proverb coming to life, although I think this has been true of all generations. Greed is at the heart of many public ills and is certainly prevalent in most governments. It is ironic that the more we pursue "greed" the thirstier we become.“

"Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.” – Erich Fromm

I believe that if we had the privilege of hearing Jesus preach in our modern churches he would use the same words he used in the first century: 

"Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” - Luke 12:15

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Sumballo - The great comparison

As we contemplate all that the birth of Jesus means for us, let us also spare a thought for Mary, who had been given the greatest task of all - carry the Saviour of the world in her womb for 9 months. 

In his gospel, Luke tells us that "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19) and who can blame her for needing a little time to think about what had just happened. In the greek lexicon we read that the English word 'ponder' is one of the meanings of the word sumballo. 

Why this is most interesting for us is because it implies that when you ponder an event, you place two different scenarios next to each other. And this is probably what Mary was doing - pondering how things would have worked out for her family if God hadn't chosen her to carry Jesus, and then also reflecting on what their lives would be like now that God had intervened.

As we celebrate Christmas let us also do our own sumballo - let us ponder what our lives would be like if God had not sent his son into the world. And when we come to that place of overwhelming gratefulness, let us hold this treasure in our hearts.

Have a blessed Christmas. 

Living in Grace

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Shining and guiding

If one had to ask an audience about the greatest gift Jesus offers humanity, it would probably be a unanimous answer of 'Salvation.' While I believe that this is the correct answer, we mustn't forget that this great gift comes with a whole lot of extras attached. For example, Luke tells us that the Messiah will 'shine' on those living in darkness and those living in the shadow of death, as well as guiding our feet into the pathway of peace. 

"...to shine on those living in darkness   and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” - Luke 1:79

If you find yourself living in the shadows today, then look out for the light of Christ.

If you are needing to know the right path (the path that will bring you peace), then listen for the guiding words of Jesus.

Living in Grace

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Silence is golden

Silence is Golden!

Why is it that we can often hear God more clearly when we actively seek silence? Is it perhaps that the noise of our own agenda's fade into the distance, or that our daily distractions slowly drown out the voice of God? 

As we move into the last week before Christmas, let us reflect on the 9 months of silence that Zechariah was forced into, and ask how this changed his heart and soul. Remember it was a moment of doubt that caused Gabriel to mute Zechariah's lips and how might those 270 days have shaped his spiritual life forever?

"Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God." - Luke 1:62-64

Even though God had chosen John the Baptist for his unique role as the fore-runner for Jesus, John still needed a wise earthly father to guide and walk alongside him. Is it possible that Zechariahs time of golden silence was crucial in preparing John too?

How might silence help you prepare for Christmas?

Living in Grace

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Being mindful of God

What do the words 'being mindful' mean for you? 

In their simplest form they speak to me of having something 'fill' up your mind, or allowing someone to come to the forefront of your thoughts. When you are mindful of something/someone you are thinking of them a lot. This is what Mary describes when she sings her Magnificat - she is overwhelmed that God has been thinking of her:

"...for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant." - Luke 1:48

Not only is God mindful of us, but he also invites us to be mindful of him. This is what the season of Advent helps us to be conscious of - we allow our thoughts and hearts to be filled with the things of Jesus. We TAKE NOTICE of what is happening in the Spiritual realm and try to tune into what the Lord is saying to us.

What is occupying your thoughts at the moment?

“Be happy in the moment, that's enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.”
― Mother Teresa

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What would it mean for you to hear these words?

What would it mean for you to hear a messenger of God speak these words into your life?

·       “God has heard your prayer…” - Luke 1:13

       I am sure that these words would fill our hearts with great delight, just as they must have encouraged Zechariah and Daniel. We pour out our hearts to God with the deep hope that God will answer those prayers, but there are times when we feel a little despondent in the slowness of God's action. 

      Can you remember a time in your life when you prayed and prayed for something, only for there to be a period of complete silence? What motivated you to keep on trusting in God's goodness? Was there someone who encouraged you to keep believing? 

      I am sure that Zechariah may have been close to giving up, but he held onto his knowledge of God's goodness. in the end he must have been ecstatic to hear the whisper: "God has heard your prayer my friend!"

      Living in Grace

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I 

No Fear

In 1989 Brian Simo created a clothing brand that became very well known. It was called "No Fear" and part of the appeal came from the fact that most of us desire to live our lives without fear. I remember owning a cool beanie with the No Fear logo on it and there was a part of me that felt more confident every time I put it on. However, this name goes deeper than it may seem. There is something spiritual about having No Fear. 

When the angel Gabriel spoke to Zechariah and Mary, one of the first things he said to them was 'Do not be afraid" - have NO FEAR. I think this is word for many of us at the moment. We can hold onto the promise of God's strength in our times of trial and uncertainty. 

Having No Fear is not about putting on an item of clothing, but rather about reminding ourselves of the great promises of God. 

Luke 1:13 - But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. 

Living in Grace

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Love and hate

What do you make of these words from two hugely influential people:

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." - Martin Luther King Jnr.

Jesus said it like this:

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." - Luke 6:26-28

Is there room in our hearts for both?

I don't think so.

Living in Grace

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Father, forgive them

 

The last 7 words of Jesus, spoken from the cross, have all been well documented. In many Christian communities Holy Week gives us a chance to go deeper into these special words. It is believed that the first of these Seven Words are recorded in Luke:

"Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)

As we hold these words close to our hearts, it is imperative that we allow God's Spirit to take us to the core of our being. What did these words mean for the original listeners and what could they possible mean for us today?

Jesus' prayer was more than likely aimed at everyone standing at Calvary that day and then they also echo down through every generation since.

God is invited to forgive the hatred of the Jewish religious leaders
God is invited to forgive the complicity of the Roman soldiers
God is invited to forgive the disciples who abandoned Jesus in his last hours
God is invited to forgive anyone who chooses to ignore the sacrificed given for them
The father is asked to forgive us when we carry on with our lives as if nothing happened on the cross.

As we experience Holy Week this year, may the words of Jesus connect with our innermost being.

"To err is human; to forgive, divine." - Alexander Pope

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Making preparations

We prepare for all the big events and functions in our lives without even giving it much thought. 

We prepare for the big Christmas dinners;
We prepare for the family weddings;
We prepare the children to write their school exams;
We prepare for sporting events.

The list goes on...

In a real way, preparation is part of our lives, so it leaves me wondering why we struggle to make room in our lives for Spiritual preparation? 

This is one of the reasons why I love LENT - it keeps pulling me back to the question: "Does the Cross and Resurrection make a difference in my life? And if the answer is 'YES', then what will assist me in preparing my heart for this incredible gift?"

Even Jesus made preparations ...

Luke 22: 8 - Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

"He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.” - Luke 22:12


As Benjamin Franklin once said: "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail!"

Living in Grace
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