Between me and all else! - Celtic Prayer

"I put between me and all evil,
The Saving Power of God.
I put between me and all darkness,
The Saving Power of God.
I put between me and all weakness,
The Saving Power of God.
I put between me and all terror,
The Saving Power of God.
I put between me and all destruction,
The Saving Power of God.
I put between me and death,
The Saving Power of God." - Celtic Prayer

This is such a wonderful concept to consider. When we believe that 'nothing can separate us from the love of God' (Romans 8), then this means that the power of God rests between us and everything else.

How does that sit with you? Be encouraged. 

God bless you today.

Living in grace

D3LM3

A great fear for all of us?

What is one of your greatest fears?

Tim Keller suggests that one of our fears could be: to be known, but not to be loved! His words may make a little more sense, when we read them in the context of his full quote.

“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial.
To be known and not loved is our greatest fear.
But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.
It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretence, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.” - Timothy Keller.

Is this perhaps what drew people to Jesus? When they encountered him, they sensed that they were fully known and loved. What do you think?

Romans 8:15 - So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.

Living in Grace

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A glistening mirror of divinity

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) is remembered on the 17th of September, and she was indeed a remarkable woman. It is said that kings and queens, bishops and popes, sought the counsel of this women of God.

But the Benedictine nun was perhaps most knowledgeable about admiring and appreciating every creature that God had created. She loved Jesus and saw God's handiwork all around her. Among her most inspirational quotes are the following:

“The Earth sustains humanity. It must not be injured; it must not be destroyed.”
“Every creature is a glittering, glistening mirror of divinity.”
“Creation is the song of God.”

Romans 8:39 - "No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thought: In this season of Creation (Spring in the Southern Hemisphere) let us remember our Creator. 

Living in Grace

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After Aldersgate

John Wesley's heart-warming experience in Aldersgate (24 May 1738) is well documented. However, what is not well known is it that although John's encounter with God gave him deep assurance of his salvation, he was not exempt from further trials. This is important for all Christians to know and understanding. Any encounter with God will deepen our faith and our experience of Jesus, but we will continue to live in a broken world. It is how we are now equipped and prepared for the new challenges that makes all the difference. 

Listen to how John Wesley describes his new attitude to challenges: 

"After my return home, I was much buffeted with temptations; but cried out, and they fled away. They returned again and again. I as often lifted up my eyes, and he sent me help from his holy place. And herein I found the difference between this and my former state chiefly consisted. I was striving, yea, fighting with all my might under the law, as well as under grace; but then I was sometimes, if not often, conquered: now I am always a conqueror." - John Wesley

Before Aldersgate, Mr. Wesley felt that he was striving and fighting in his own strength. After his Aldersgate experience, he allowed God to do the fighting.

Romans 8:37 - No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Thoughts: What can John's story teach us about our own journey of faith?

Living in Grace

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Do you belong?

We are created to belong! I firmly believe this truth. 

We are created to be in community and to be known and loved by others. This is also why it is important for us to remember that we are invited to be part of God's community - to belong to God's family. When Paul wrote to the church in Rome, he reminded them of this beautiful gift:

"So, you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. " - Romans 8:15-16

The author and speaker, Brené Brown, puts it in a slightly different way, but it is equally compelling: 

“A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. When those needs are not met, we don't function as we were meant to. We break. We fall apart. We numb. We ache. We hurt others. We get sick.”

Question: Do you feel that you belong? Why or why not?

Living in grace

D3LM3 

Children of God - we are no longer slaves, but family!

One of the most profound statements made in the New Testament is that all people can become the children of God. Paul writes this in Romans 8...

"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." - Romans 8:14-17

In modern times these words don't seem to have the same impact as they would have had on the first hearers of the Good News. In a time when only people of Jewish descent were seen as the children of God (sons and daughters of Abraham), Paul invited all people to open their hearts to the Spirit and to become heirs of God.

May you be encouraged by these words today - we are children of the living God.

Living in Grace

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If God is for you ....

"A Young William Wilberforce was discouraged one night in the early 1790s after another defeat in his 10-year battle against the slave trade in England. Tired and frustrated, he opened his Bible and began to leaf through it. A small piece of paper fell out and fluttered to the floor. 

It was a letter written by John Wesley shortly before his death. Wilberforce read it again: 

"Unless the divine power has raised you up... I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that (abominable practice of slavery), which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. 

Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. 

But if God be for you, who can be against you? 

Are all of them together stronger than God? 

Oh, be not weary of well-doing. 

Go on in the name of God, and in the power of His might." - Daily Bread, June 16, 1989.

I have deliberately made this quote appear over a number of lines, as I think that each sentence is filled with power and promise. Is there perhaps a word that stands out for you today. Hold onto that for your 'food' for the day.

Romans 8:31 - What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Living in Grace

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Perfected through adversity

Dr. Robert Frost wrote a book entitled Our Heavenly Father. In this little gem he penned these words:

"There is nothing more precious to God than our praise during affliction... What He does not protect us from, He will perfect us through. There is indeed a special blessing for those who do not become offended in God during adversity."

The words I have highlight truly struck me as profound. We long for God to protect us from all trials and adversity, but this was never promised to us. What God does promise us, is that he will guide us through the troubles and we will be 'perfected' by what is revealed to us during these times. 

Paul used different language to express the same sentiment.

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." - Romans 8:18

Living in Grace

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A better tomorrow

As you read through this powerful quote today, stop and reflect on the words that mean the most to you.

“Hope is faith in the immutable promise that miracles prevail when the darkness tries to win-out with cries of despair. Hope is a gift from God that helps us yearn, and live a life that believes and moves with the pledge of a better tomorrow. And what’s more, hope springs-forth resurrection life, and draws us near to the love of Christ, who is the light of God who walked out from the grave to make the way for everlasting life.” - Jason Bonniksen

As I read these words, I am moved by this phrase...

"the pledge of a better tomorrow."

Romans 8:19 - For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.

Living in Grace

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In you

"Lord Christ,
you are the still centre of every storm.
In you is calm,
whatever the wind outside.
In you is reassurance,
however high the waves.
In you is strength,
however, contrary the tide." - Eddie Askew

We are reminded today that "in Jesus" we find our rest, peace and strength.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..." - Romans 8:1

Living in Grace

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When all is lost

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote: “Oft hope is born when all is forlorn.” 

This simple quote brings together the hope of each one of us. When all seems lost and forlorn, that is when we are ready to receive the hope that comes from Jesus. 

"For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?" - Romans 8:24

Living in Grace
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Anticipation

A blessed Christmas to you all and thanks for taking the time to read these thoughts over the past months and years.

All the excitement and anticipation is now at an end - CHRIST is present with us in the celebrations of his birth. May you sense God's abundant love today. May all the preparation and hype of the Advent season not disappoint us today - this is the moment we have all been waiting for. The Messiah has come.

"That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens." - Romans 8:18-21 (MSG)

May our 'joyful anticipation' grow a deeper hunger within us - that we may desire more and more of the Lord.

Living in Grace
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The Hope

^"For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." - Romans 8:24-25

Advent is the season of HOPE. 
We wade through the busy shopping malls, packed highways, end of year functions - all in an effort to bring some kind of joy to others and ourselves. Yet, the very thing we all need is not an object, but a person. And in that person of Jesus, there is perpetual HOPE.

May you come to encounter the living God this Advent season.

Romans 5:5 - And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Living in Grace
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Afraid?

“I believe that it is not dying that people are afraid of. It is Something else. Something more unsettling and more tragic than dying frightens us. We are afraid of never having lived. Of coming to the end of our days with the sense that we were never really alive. That we never figured out what life was for.” – Harold Kushner

Don't be afraid to live today.

Let us not come to the end of our days and wish we had lived more?

Romans 8:11 - "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you."

Living in Grace

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Even when you don't know it

“Our hearts are constantly at prayer. Even when we think we are not praying, there is someone praying deep within us. When we allow Christ to make his home within our lives, his Spirit brings to us the deeper gift of prayer.” – Trevor Hudson

Often we complicate our prayer lives. We think we have to use a formula in order to please God, but I am coming to understand that all God requires of us is that we speak with Him. Let us allow the Spirit to bubble up from inside the wellspring of our lives and to glorify our King.

Today, as you go about your tasks try and be sensitive to the Spirit in you. Notice where he leads your thoughts and prayers. Even if you aren't aware of it, God is holding a 24/7 prayer meeting inside your very heart!

 ²⁶ Similarly, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we don’t know how to pray the way we should. But the Spirit himself pleads on our behalf with groanings too deep for words; ²⁷ and the one who searches hearts knows exactly what the Spirit is thinking, because his pleadings for God’s people accord with God’s will" - Romans 8:26-27

Living in Grace

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Adversity

We have become so used to preachers speaking about the 'prosperity' of the Gospel, that we quickly forget the suffering that comes with the package of following Jesus. For this reason, I love Francis Bacon's thoughts on this:

"Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament;
ADVERSITY is the blessing of the New."

Paul says the same thing, just slightly differently:

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." - Romans 8:17-18

In a nutshell - our sufferings are NOT a sign of God deserting us, but rather of our choice to be Christ-followers. When we choose Jesus, we choose to be united with God in our sufferings, as well as our Eternal glory.

Living in Grace
D3LM3