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

D3LM3

Gaze and Glance

A reader once wrote to Joni Eareckson Tada and said:

"Many believers gaze at their problems and glance at the Lord. But I tell you to gaze at the Lord and glance at your problems."

I think this is such fantastic advice. It is not wishing those problems away, or even pretending that they don't exist, but it is teaching us to keep our eyes focused on God - the One who will help us deal with each problem.

Psalm 27:4 - One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 63:2 - I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory.

2 Corinthians 4:18 - So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Confident of these things

I was thankful for the inclusion of Psalm 27 in the lectionary reading for Sunday. It reminded me that we can be confident in the goodness of God. This has been very helpful, especially in light of all that is happening around us at the moment.

"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. " - Psalm 27:13-14

I believe that a person can only say these things if one has experienced them in the past. We can know God's strength and power, when we are willing to wait on Him. 

May God's spirit strengthen you and enable you to Take Heart.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

A word for the season of load-shedding

I found it quite ironic that the reading that came to mind in this week of load-shedding, happens to be speaking about LIGHT. Thanks to David,  the great poet, songwriter, king and shepherd, we have some hope for when times are dark - which in South Africa is at least twice a day at the moment :)

"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 27:1

Eugene Peterson adds his insight to this wonderful verse:

Light, space, zest—
    that’s God!
So, with him on my side I’m fearless,
    afraid of no one and nothing.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

27 - Stay with God

"Stay with God!
    Take heart. Don’t quit.
I’ll say it again:
    Stay with God." - Psalm 27:14 (Message)

Lent is not only a season of preparation, but also a time to remind ourselves to 'Stay with God.' The 40 day journey keeps us connected to Jesus in order that we may gain the greatest benefit from the Easter story. Easter teaches us that God never quit on us! So now we can respond to God's grace by staying close to the heart of God. 

Many of you may know Psalm 27 through the opening words of verse 1....
"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?"

God is our Salvation!
God is our Light!
God is our Stronghold!
So let us Stay with God.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

The one thing I want from God

^{If you could ask one thing from God, what would you ask for?
King David asks for something unusual ( in some aspects), but his request reminds me of the important things in life.
 
"}The one thing I want from God, the thing I seek most of all, is the privilege of meditating in his Temple, living in his presence every day of my life, delighting in his incomparable perfections and glory. ⁵ There I’ll be when troubles come. He will hide me. He will set me on a high rock ⁶ out of reach of all my enemies. Then I will bring him sacrifices and sing his praises with much joy." - Psalm 27:4-6

So, after having read this, what would you NOW ask for?

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Remain Confident

"Though a mighty army surrounds me,
    my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
    I will remain confident." - Psalm 27:3

It is not easy to remain CONFIDENT in the face of adversity, but it is my prayer that we can all remain confident in the strength that Christ gives us. Let us not be confident in the ability of people, but rather in the Grace of Jesus.

Psalm 57:7 - My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises!

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Look to the Lighthouse

“Anxiously you ask, 'Is there a way to safety?

 Can someone guide me? Is there an escape from threatened destruction?'

The answer is a resounding yes! I counsel you: Look to the lighthouse of the Lord,

There is no fog so dense,

No night so dark,

No gale so strong,

No mariner so lost,

But what its beacon light can rescue.

It calls, “this way to safety; this way to home.” – Thomas Monson

Psalm 27 - The Lord is my light and my Salvation...

If you are feeling a little lost today, then I urge you to stop and look to the 'Lighthouse of the Lord.' It is always God's desire to show us the way home.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Head and Shoulders

"God holds me head and shoulders
    above all who try to pull me down.
I’m headed for his place to offer anthems
    that will raise the roof!
Already I’m singing God-songs;
    I’m making music to God." - Psalm 27 (Message)

There are many people who try to pull us down and to drag us into their mess, but God desires to hold us 'head and shoulders' above these people. I don't see this as an act to keep us away from those in need, but rather to protect us from people who want to harm us.

May you enjoy the view from the shoulders of the Lord.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

This helped us a lot

With the ordeal of rushing Nathan into hospital over the weekend, I discovered (again) that the Scriptures are not just "nice", but that they are "LIFE." It is easy to read the Bible and to be distant from the events and context of the various passages, however, when you are going through something similar, the Bible makes so much more sense.

So, instead of just reading Psalm 27 and Lamentations 3 - imagining the tough times these people were going through - we were able to relate to their words in a new way.

I offer you these two passages today - may they help you as much as they spoke into our lives.

God bless you.

May you live in the shadow of God's grace
D3LM3

Lamentations 3:22-26
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
²⁶ it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.

Psalm 27

 
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?

² When the wicked advance against me
    to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.
³ Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.

⁴ One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
⁵ For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.

⁶ Then my head will be exalted
    above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.

⁷ Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;
    you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Savior.
¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
¹¹ Teach me your way, Lord;
    lead me in a straight path
    because of my oppressors.
¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

¹³ I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.