It never comes to an end!

When you saw the title of today's post what came to your mind? What feels as if it never comes to an end for you? Is it one of these: 

War? Hatred? Corruption? Trouble? Suffering? Crises? 

Well, the answer I wanted to offer us today is very different. I will let Jeremiah tell you:

"The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!” - Lamentations 3:22-23

Eugene Peterson puts a slightly different slant on it, when he writes:

God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
    his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
    How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).
    He’s all I’ve got left.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Hope, with a track record

 

The phrase, 'track record', usually refers to a record of someone's past performance and this is often used as an indicator of likely future performance. It is believed to have originated from the sport of Horseracing, where a horses past performances on the track, would give punters a good idea of their future racing potential.

In Eugene Peterson's paraphrase, he uses the phrase to speak of someone whose past attitude gives us a warning of his future behaviour: 

Matthew 5:25-26 - "...Or say you’re out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you’re likely to end up in court..."

So, when Anne Lamott offers her thoughts on a definition of 'faith', it is striking that she suggests that it is "hope, with a track record.' 

Our faith in Jesus is not based on our feelings or opinions, but rather on His track record. When we see that we have placed our Hope and Trust in him, and Jesus hasn't let us down, then we find it a little easier to have faith in him (in the future). 

 "Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." - Psalm 62:8

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Magnificent failure?

"If Jesus could enter this world and be unflinchingly courageous in this extreme adversity, be such a magnificent 'failure', then I can also live with meaning and love in whatever comes my way." - Eugene Peterson

When we look to Jesus we see in him so many moments of inspiration for our lives. 

We remember that He is our salvation and our strength, but Eugene Peterson offers us fresh insight into something else. When we note that Jesus appeared to be a 'failure' in the public eye, but still showed unflinching courage in the face of his death, I hope we feel renewed encouragement to keeping going. Life can throw us many curve balls, but with the resilience of Christ, we can persevere. 

Mark 16:6 - But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

All people that on earth do dwell - Psalm 100

 

"All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice:
Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell;
Come ye before him and rejoice."

These are words of the hymn written by William Kethe. He was a minister from Scotland, although he spent many years living in exile in Europe. During his time in Geneva, he helped translate the Bible into French, working mainly on the book of Psalms. This version of the hymn is actually based on his interpretation of Psalm 100.

I am sure that modern Psalm translator Eugene Peterson would have been influenced by the poets of old. These are Peterson's words to sum up Psalm 100.

^1-2 On your feet now—applaud God!
    Bring a gift of laughter,
    sing yourselves into his presence.

³ Know this: God is God, and God, God.
    He made us; we didn’t make him.
    We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.

⁴ Enter with the password: “Thank you!”
    Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
    Thank him. Worship him.

⁵ For God is sheer beauty,
    all-generous in love,
    loyal always and ever.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Standing Fearless

I remember once being enticed to do a bridge-swing. It was a long time ago, but I am sure that the reason I attempted this feat was because there was a lady I was trying to impress. Needless to say, my bravery was a facade and jump off believing I was going to die. Thank goodness I survived to tell the tale! The one thing I can say for certainty is that NEVER stood at the edge of that bridge feeling 'fearless.' I was a nervous wreck.

So, here is reason for the story (above). When I read Psalm 46 from Eugene Peterson's Message, this is what he says:

God is a safe place to hide,
    ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
    courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
    the tremors that shift mountains. (v.1-3)

The only time we stand 'fearless' before anything that makes us afraid, is when we know that we are in God's care - no matter what! God is the safest place to hide and to trust in his goodness.

May we stand at the edge of our troubles and put in our faith (as weak as it may be) in the hands of God.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

P.S. It is with sadness that I learnt of Eugene Peterson's death yesterday. He died at 85, after a long battle with cancer. I will share some thoughts on his life later in the week.