Beware of the leaks

As the winter rains start in the Western Cape, so we also begin to notice the places in our buildings where leaks have started to show. This can be a devasting time for people, as many don't know how they will contain their fragile coverings and homes. 

It struck me again this week, as I was trying to deal with a leaking washing machine, that unless we deal with these leaks when we first notice them, they will only get bigger and more destructive. 

I guess, the same would apply in our spiritual lives too - unless we take note of the places where we feel we are weak or cracks are beginning to show, then we could be in for some very difficult times.

"Laziness lets the roof leak, and soon the rafters begin to rot." - Ecclesiastes 10:18

Thoughts: Do you have some cracks beginning to show in your faith? What can you do to mend the problem areas? 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Seasons

What season of life are you in at the moment?
What season of Spirituality are you currently in?

Just as the weather patterns move us through different seasons in a year, so we must accept that our lives (and faith) move through seasons too. Of course, each season will mean different things for different people and that is okay.

For example, here in the Western Cape, our current season is Winter, which brings with it rain, wind and cold! Some people love this time of the year as it means a time to stay indoors, read, get warm and reflect. Other people hate this weather, as it makes them depressed, grumpy and wet. Each to their own, but we realise that we can't control the seasons - we just need to embrace them and enjoy (or endure) them.

So, when it come to our faith, I feel we need to apply the same reasoning. Some seasons come upon us without warning and we wish that they hadn't. We need to turn to God during the tough seasons and hold on for the promise of a better season. God is all these times.

Seasons will change, but God remains the same.

Psalm 104:19 - "He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down."

Living in Grace
D3LM3

32 - Evaporating

We had a few millimetres of rain the other day and it was such a wonderful relief to see the ground soak up the beautiful gift. When the rain had passed I noticed that the bird bath had filled up with sparkling water. However, within a few days the water had evaporated  and the bath was bone dry again. It reminded me of these words from Psalm 32.

"My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat." - Psalm 32:4

When we get caught up in busyness of life, ministry and other things, our strength evaporates very quickly. We need to be conscious of this and work out how we can restore the balance and 'fill the tank' with the water of God's grace. So, how are you going to do this today?

Prayer: Lord, when I feel that my strength has gone, please fill my heart with grace so that I can carry on. Amen.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Pray for RAIN!

Adversity has a way of uniting all people! If one takes a look at disastrous situations in our history, we will see how people have banded together to fight for a particular cause. On a spiritual note, we have seen how our country has prayed through many other difficult times - and sadly now we face another one. DROUGHT!

Some of you are acutely aware of the Drought situation in our Province of KZN, but there may be a few of us, who are blissfully unaware. We desperately need rain in the catchment areas and we need it quick. We also need people to aware of this situation and how thousands of lives are being impacted. So here is something I invite us to do:

1. Pray right now for rain.
2. Pray specifically for rain in the catchment areas.
3. Pray for people impacted by the drought, so that they may have courage and strength.
4. If you are not effected by the drought at the moment, then I ask us to send up an "arrow prayer" every time we open a tap in our homes or at work.

 Leviticus 26:4 - I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.

We have been living through a time of sorrow. Our seed remains seed. Our nostrils are dusty.”
― Warren Eyster

 Living in Grace
D3LM3

Drought - a crisis in our days

The province in which I live is experiencing a tough time of late - we are in the middle of a drought. Although Kwazulu Natal is a vast province, and Pietermaritzburg seems to be OK at the moment, the drought will impact us all. When people on our doorstep can't drink water or allow their livestock to drink freely, we should all be concerned. It will not just be the sugar-cane farmers, towns and other industries that will be affected, but we will all feel the knock-on effect soon.

As humans we forget too easily - It is hard in a time of plenty to remember what it was like to go without. And the opposite is also true - it is hard in the times of drought, to remember when water was abundant. Our own towns/ci
ties have suffered through droughts and floods before - so we should all do what we can to restrict our water usage at the moment and to mindful of those in need.

Despite the severity of what is happening at this time, I am grateful that God never has to place His Love on some kind of restriction. Can you imagine if God said to us, "I can only love you between 4 and 6pm, three days a week. The rest of the time, I will be loving other people elsewhere!" That would be heart-breaking for us all?

We are blessed that Jesus didn't just die for his disciples or for the Israelites, but that the gift of forgiveness was for all the earth.

Revelation 21:6 - To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.

Revelation 22:17 -  The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

John 4:14 - "but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Prayer: Let's pause for a minute and pray for RAIN. Ask God to do a miracle and to allow rain to fall over the places that need it the most.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Tears in a bottle

With the growing scarcity of water in our country, people are putting up JoJo tanks to capture whatever rain water they can. It is amazing how much water you can collect off your roof in a single rain-storm.

But speaking of collecting water, can you imagine if God collected our tears in a bottle/tank? The Bible actually speaks about how God actually does that for us.

Psalm 56: 8 - "You have kept count of my wanderings;
store my tears in your water-skin."

I find this an amazing thought - don't you?

There was a poem written by Deborah Ann Belka - it goes like this:

There is a bottle up in heaven,
filling up with all your tears.
Drop by drop the Lord collects,
the full harvest of your fears.

There is not a tear that falls,
where He is not aware.
For He understands each drip,
and the cause of your despair.

When tears of unhappiness,
are followed up with grief.
He garners them in His vial,
and sends peace for your relief.

He knows the real reason,
as He gathers up your pain.
And all your hurtful tears,
to Him become like rain.

He reaps each tender trickle,
with His mercies from above.
Collects them in His bottle,
and caps them with His love.

Living in Grace
D3LM3