Remembrance Day and the 1000-year-old Rose

The 11th of November is marked as Remembrance Day and most of us are aware of the history attached to this auspicious day. It is always a good practice to pause and remember the impact of war; to be thankful for the freedom's won; to mourn the millions of lives lost; to ponder whether we have learnt anything from these cataclysmic events; to pray that we will never allow them to occur again.

I recently finished a remarkable book on the Second World War, and I came to learn about the 1000-year-old rose (see the picture attached). This rose is also known as the Rose of Hildesheim, and it grows on the apse of the Hildesheim Cathedral, a Catholic cathedral in Hildesheim, Germany. Some scholars believe it may have been alive even as far back as 815 AD which is truly phenomenal. 

The reason I am mentioning this remarkable rose is because during the Allied bombing of Hildesheim in 1945, a large portion of the Cathedral was destroyed, including the visible part of the rose. All seemed to be ruins, until a while later, the rose began to grow and blossom again. It stands over 20 meters tall to this day. 

As a Christian, I believe that we should reflect on the tragedy of war, death and disaster with a different perspective. Of course, we are not immune from the pain and heartache of this broken world, but we should always hold onto the hope of the New Life in Christ. The Resurrection speaks to this truth, every day of our earthly existence.

Let us remember, that just when all seems to be lost, Christ can still bring renewal and life. 

Titus 3:5 - "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit." 

Living in Grace

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Time of renewal

"The key to continual and deeper spiritual renewal and revival is the continual re-discovery of the gospel." - Timothy Keller

We are accustomed to noticing the change in seasons and sometimes it is not too hard to recognize what is happening in nature. Green leaves beginning stretching out on the end of naked trees; shoots of new life suddenly appear on barren fields; warm weather or spring rain washes away the memories of cold winters. Our world is filled with reminders of change.

But, what about our Spiritual renewal? 

Do we need to wait for something drastic to happen before we change our lives, or can we faithfully tune into the work of the Spirit and allow God to bring refreshing into our weary bones? It is my prayer that I would be more open to the work of God's spirit as He moves in our midst. 

Titus 3:5 - "...he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit."

May the change in seasons bring you the joy of the Spirit, the Hope of Christ and the peace of God.

Living in Grace

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The Camino de Santiago

The idea of walking the Camino has been in my mind for a while now and I am so excited to have the opportunity to fulfil this dream. This week is the week that we get to tick 'The Camino' off our bucket list.

In truth, I can't tell you exactly when I first heard about the Camino de Santiago, but the very idea of going on this pilgrimage has remained in my heart for ages. Every person I have spoken to, who has walked a part of the Way, has beamed when relating their own experiences and I hope to be one of those people in the future.

For those of you who may not know too much about El Camino, it is quite simply a pilgrimage (usually walking) that ends up in the city of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. This is the place where the remains of James (Jesus' disciple, the son of Zebedee) are supposedly buried.  When translated, the name Santiago de Compostela means 'Saint James, in the field of stars.'

Sounds simple hey? Well, not exactly ....

In order to officially complete the pilgrimage, you need to walk a minimum of 100km's on any of the official routes and end up in Santiago. We will be walking on the Camino Primitivo route, which is the original pilgrim route in Northern part of Spain, and we should be covering a distance of close on 250km's. 

For us, the idea is to walk, to pray, to contemplate, to listen and to connect with God again. I know that one doesn't have to travel half-way around the world to do these things, but there is something special about doing it in the footsteps of millions of others. 

I will try and write a little more in the next few days, before we leave, but I would appreciate your prayers as we head out into this great adventure. It is my prayer that we would have our own Emmaus Road encounter (Luke 24) - and meet Christ as we walk and reflect. 

In 1604, Sir Walter Raleigh wrote: 

"Give me my scallop of quiet,
my staff of faith to walk upon,
my scrip of joy, immortal diet,
my bottle of salvation,
my gown of glory, hope's true gage,
and thus I'll take my pilgrimage."

Living in Grace

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Like wineskins in the smoke

"Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees." (Psalm 119:83)

This is such an interesting image to contemplate. 

Perhaps we can't relate to the habit of carrying our water/wine in wineskins anymore, but we can still picture the practise of the Israelites doing this. When the Psalmist uses this simile, he refers to the idea of an empty container that has shrivelled up through contact with smoke in the home. 

And this is how many people feel at the moment, especially as regards their spiritual and emotional lives. We feel as if we are empty - and that our lives are shrivelled/dried up by the constant demands of the world around us. 

Thankfully, there is some good news. When we feel like this, we must remember the words of the Lord and turn our eyes to Jesus. As we allow the 'Living Water' to fill us, so our hearts will be revived, and we will be able to face the challenges of a new day.

John 7:38 - Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.

Living in Grace

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Hiding Place

Chuck Swindoll wrote: “In place of our exhaustion and spiritual fatigue, God will give us rest. All he asks is that we come to him...that we spend a while thinking about him, meditating on him, talking to him, listening in silence, occupying ourselves with him - totally and thoroughly lost in the hiding place of his presence."

Which part of these words from Chuck Swindoll ring true for you today? Perhaps the Psalmist would argue that the idea of God's presence being a hiding place would be his thought for the day.

"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." - Psalm 32:7

Living in Grace

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Still I rise

Maya Angelou wrote these words at a time of great struggle and pain in her life. What I love about the sentiment of her writing is that every one of us can relate to parts of her experience. Although the discrimination and rejection she went through are unique to her situation, they provide a link with all human suffering. Despite all of this, she still had the courage to state: STILL I WILL RISE!

“You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.”

May you and I learn to RISE with Jesus Christ - he is the one who helps us overcome!

Living in Grace

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Radical implications

There are so many radical implications of Jesus' resurrection, for his disciples, but these are the vital paradigm shifts that take place following Jesus' appearances. 

He changes their fear to courage.

He challenges their doubts in order to move them deeper into faith.

He reveals the truth of his bodily appearance in order to remind them that He has not abandoned them.

He reminds them of their call to mission.

He empowers them with the gifts of 'peace' and the 'Spirit.'

36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. (Luke 24)

As we reflect on these implications how many of these are still vital for us in our own personal faith?

I would guess that they are ALL necessary for us.

What do you think?

Living in Grace

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A dangerous prayer

I feel that the Covenant Prayer is arguably one the most challenging and dangerous prayers we could ever pray. Born out of the Wesleyan revivals in England, this prayer has been adopted in most Methodist communities around the globe. It is a prayer that we should never 'just' pray, but we should seriously reflect on the words and only when we are ready should we speak the words. 

Of course, this is not just a prayer for people who align themselves with the Methodist tradition - any believer can pray these words. After all, this Covenant prayer is a prayer of recommitment and surrender to the ways of Jesus.

I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to do what you will,
rank me with whom you will:
Put me to doing, put me to suffering:
Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,
exalted for you or brought low for you:
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing:
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours. So be it.
And the Covenant now made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. AMEN

Living in Grace

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Letting go

For me, New Year is always a moment to reset my spiritual attitude and heart. I don't believe that the world around me is going to change in anyway (sadly), but there is something in the changing year that brings a degree of optimism and hope. I am not sure how it is for you?

On some level there is the hope that all the negative events, sad moments and tough times will be shelved into the archives, or at least pushed further back into our memories. There is also the longing for something new, fresh and dynamic, that will launch us into the possibilities of the next 365 days.

On a spiritual level, it also reminds me of my own journey with Christ. That there was a moment, when I chose to let go of my past and embrace the future with Jesus. The old has gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17) Of course this doesn't happen over-night, but it does bring me joy to remember that I am no longer my own, but am 'in Christ.'

I pray that you will have a blessed 2021 and that whatever happens we would keep our eyes on Jesus.

Living in Grace

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A fresh look at Lent

On Wednesday, the 26th February, we begin our journey towards the Cross and Resurrection. This special season of Lent begins with a service known as Ash Wednesday and includes a time of personal reflection, challenge to 'give up' some things and a reminder of our need to Confess our sins to Jesus.

I recently wrote an article for Scripture Union Magazine on Lent and so if you would like to check it out, please click onto this link. For those of you who would like the shorter version, I used an acronym for LENT, which includes the following 4 thoughts on what this season means for me.

L - Life (Despite the gore of the cross and Jesus' torture there is a strong thread of LIFE running through the Passion of Jesus)

E - Endings (Even though we fear endings, they are necessary for new things to be birthed in our lives)

N - New (Jesus takes the old ways and improves on them - He offers us a New Covenant and a New relationship with the Father)

T - Transformation (Lent challenges us to be transformed and to look at how we can allow God to change us).

If you want the full story you will have to click onto the link to read the whole article - it is not long, I promise :)

Living in Grace
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Renew my will

The simplest prayers are often the best. When Charlotte Elliot wrote these lines for her prayer, little did she know that they would carry so much challenge and depth to them.

"Renew my will from day to day,
Blend it with Thine, and take away
All that now makes it hard to say,
Thy will be done."

We say the words of the Lord's prayer so often that we can easily forget the meaning of the words:
"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done!"

Mark 3:35 - "The person who obeys God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Living in Grace
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The River of Life

Today's passage from Ezekiel 47 is one of my favourites and it almost seems out of place in the context of the entire book. Or does it?

Most of the messages (of Ezekiel) have been hard, challenging and a little depressing at times, but this chapter speaks of Life, a miraculous River and refreshing. The image of the river flowing from the Temple reminds me of Pentecost in some ways - how the Spirit of God brings change, renewal and hope to a people who are in desperate need of God.

I invite you to read through these verses, but as always take a moment to read the entire chapter if you can.

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. ⁷ When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. ⁸ He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. ⁹ Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. ¹⁰ Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. ¹¹ But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. ¹² Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

May the spirit of God fill you today.


Living in Grace
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Get Energized

"God energizes those who get tired,
    gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
    young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
    They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,    they walk and don’t lag behind." - Isaiah 40:29-31 (Message)

God will give you the strength you need for today. Plug into the Power of the Spirit. 

"He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint." - New International Version

Living in Grace
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As clean as a whistle

I heard this phrase on the way into work this morning - "It will be as clean as a whistle!" I haven't heard it for a while, but it reminded me of how God promises to make us clean from our lives of sin. We may not end up being as 'clean as a whistle', but we can be purified by His love and mercy. His blood was spilt so that we could be made clean.

Matthew 8:2 - "Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

Acts 15:9 - "He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith."

If you have a moment you should also read Psalm 51. It is a wonderful Psalm about forgiveness and being made clean by God.

Living in Grace
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Just out of interest, there is some debate as to the origins of this phrase 'as clean as a whistle.' A lot of people want to know why a whistle is used in a sentence about cleanliness? It may have had some origins in a poem by Robert Burns, but it could also refer to the fact that if a whistle is 'blocked' then no sound will come from it. It needs to be clean in order for there to be sound coming through.

It has also been suggested that the original phrase was actually 'as CLEAR as a whistle.' Which would then make more sense I guess. When we hear a whistle we know what it is referring to - the whistle of a train or even a referee's whistle. Each whistle has a meaning and it communicates to us what we need to hear. 

Emmaus Walk

In one of his post Resurrection appearances Jesus encounters the 2 men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24). As Jesus shares about his life and death, the two men suddenly become aware of who he is and their lives are changed. It is such a wonderful story to read and if you haven't read it before, please read it today - I have attached it at the bottom of this post.

Today, I have the privilege of going on an Emmaus Walk and will be sharing with many wonderful people from around Kwazulu Natal. The Emmaus movement began as a weekend of spiritual renewal, offering people a chance to encounter Jesus, along similar lines to the 2 men in Luke 24. It is such a blessed weekend and we would covet your prayers for all of us who are leading/attending this time away.

If you have even been on an Emmaus Walk please reply to this post and let me know of your stories from the weekend - I would love to hear them.

May we all walk close to Jesus today and tune our ears to hear his voice.

Living in Grace
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On the Road to Emmaus

¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles^[a] from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from recognizing him.
¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
¹⁹ “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴ Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Loved me back to Life

I know that it may be considered a crime to mention the lyrics of a Celine Dion song, but when I heard Loved me back to Life on the radio, I immediately thought of how the song could reflect a powerful testimony. Sure, this was not Celine's intention in writing the song, but is it not true that when Jesus is invited into our lives, that He loves us back to life? Often we feel spiritually empty, dry and dead, but the Spirit of God offers us life. Jesus loves us back to Life again.

Jesus promised that he came to reveal true life to us - "I have come that you may have life and have it in abundance." (John 10:10)

If you are feeling down and out at the moment, why don't you pause for a while and ask Jesus to 'love you back to life!?'

Living in life-giving Grace of Jesus
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Sustained

If you are needing sustenance and you look to a Red Bull or an Energy bar for your help, they will sustain you for a limited period of time. What you really need is God. God has promised to sustain us through all things. If you don't believe me, then read it for yourself...
 

•Ruth 4:15 - He will renew your life and sustain you…

•Nehemiah 9:21 - For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen.

•Psalm 3:5 - I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.

•Psalm 18:35 - You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great.

Turn to Jesus today. Ask Him to sustain you.

Living in Grace
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•Psalm 3:5 - I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.

•Psalm 18:35 - You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great.