Out of the blue

The saying, 'out of the blue', was first recorded in print in the mid 1800's and has always referred to some event that happens unexpectedly, like a bolt of lightning coming from blue skies. Most of us have enough life experience to realise that these kinds of things happen to us - we have a certain amount of control over events in our lives, but there are also some things that 'come out of the blue!'

I guess the real question is how we handle these moments - how prepared are we for these things? The early Christians experienced similar occurrences and they had to rely on God's grace and strength to get them through their challenges. 

1 Peter 4:12 - "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you."

Luke 24:4 - "While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them."

Question: How do you handle these events that happen 'out of the blue?'

Living in grace

D3LM3

A treasure of common sense

"For the Lord grants wisdom! 

From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
He guards the paths of the just
and protects those who are faithful to him." - Proverbs 2:6-8

As I begin the New Year, I often look for inspiration to motivate me in my faith. I find it hard to beat the words of wisdom contained in the chapters of Proverbs. Today's reading speaks very plainly about the wisdom that is given to us by the Lord. 

I hope and pray that I have enough common sense to trust in the Lord this year and to keep my eyes firming fixed on him.

What words of wisdom will you be turning too in 2023?

It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense. -Robert Green Ingersoll

Living in Grace

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Old habits die hard

The phrase 'Old Habits Die Hard' is an expression that has remained in common use for many centuries. There is a lot of debate as to who initially coined the phrase, with some people giving Benjamin Franklin the honour, as he wrote the words in a published article in 1758. Others claim that it may have been in use as early as the fifteenth century, but there is no concrete proof of this.

Anyway, regardless of its origins, we all understand it's meaning: Any established habits are hard to break. 

It is interesting that if I asked us if this phrase was used in a positive or negative context, most of us would lean towards the negative. I certainly relate this expression to the bad habits that I have a tendency to keep repeating - these old habits are hard to shake off and change. 

However, what if we took the expression solely in a positive perspective? The good habits that we have created over time (that are now viewed as old or established) are equally hard to break. They will not easily die off, if we keep nurturing them.

As we start 2023, I feel it is good practise to reflect on all our habits - both healthy and destructive - and to ask God to help us with each of these. The healthy habits need to be maintained, but the destructive ones need courage to quit or to change. 

Proverbs 18:9 - "Slack habits and sloppy work are as bad as vandalism." (The Message)

Questions:

1. What healthy habits do you need to feed and grow this year?
2. What destructive habits must you stop?
3. What new habits can you create, that will become 'old' and resilient habits for future years?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

From Strength to Strength

Words and phrases creep into our common language over time and we forget their origins. In Psalm 84:7 David uses the following phrase:

"They go from strength to strength;"

It mainly relates to how the Israelites get stronger and stronger, after a period of trial and grief. However, it can also be very meaningful for us today - that when we bring our needs and troubles to the Lord, he helps us grow from strength to strength.

We may not be as strong as we would like to be at the moment, but we must ask the Spirit of Christ to lead us forward. Let us remain connected to the VINE and trust that the Spirit of love will flow through our lives and give us strength.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Don't call it friendship

 

What would you call Friendship? 
Is it eating together and keeping company with one another? Is it having similar interests or common goals? Is it speaking the same language or even coming from the same neighbourhood?

There is an African saying that argues that it is actually none of these at all. The saying suggests that we should only call it 'FRIENDSHIP' when we have wept together. Sharing the pain and trials of another person creates a bond that is hard to put into words.

 
"Eat and drink together:
talk and laugh together:
enjoy life together:
but never call it friendship 
until you have wept together." - An African Saying

"One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." - Proverbs 18:24

What do you think?

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Terra Incognita

The phrase "Terra Incognita" means "unknown territory."
Although we may have everything planned out for today, we are still heading into unknown territory. For me, it is only God who can know and control the future, but I keep forgetting that and believing that I am the master of my own destiny.

Perhaps as you are reading this you are heading into some other form of 'unknown territory'. It may be in your career, family situation, relationships, church setting or whatever - if this is you, then I remind you to lean upon God at this time. Even though the way may be unclear for you, God will always be your companion if you invite Him to draw alongside you.

Deuteronomy 19:7-8 -  ⁸ “And if the Lord your God enlarges your territory, as he swore to your ancestors, and gives you all the land he promised them, ⁹ you must designate three additional cities of refuge. (He will give you this land if you are careful to obey all the commands I have given you—if you always love the Lord your God and walk in his ways.)

Living in Grace
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Mark my words!

There are many biblical sayings that have become part of our modern language. The phrase "mark my words" is one of them.

1 Kings 22:28 - But Micaiah replied, “If you return safely, it will mean that the Lord has not spoken through me!” Then he added to those standing around, “Everyone mark my words!”

Matthew 26:29 - "....Mark my words."

I guess the saying came from a time when people literally "marked" (recorded) words onto a tablet, as as a form of official documentation. This was done so that people could witness to a certain event or fulfilment of a prophecy or command. In today's language we could use it as a form of challenge, saying to people things like: "If you don't do this, then you will end up in trouble. Just mark my words!"

Marking words, could also be done in a helpful way, as we pass on important advice to loved ones or to those in our communities.  If you wanted to pass on some very important words to a friend or loved one, so that they would remember them (or mark them), what would you say?

Living in Grace
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Turn over a new leaf

The saying, 'turning over a new leaf', implies that someone is changing their lifestyle - and usually this is for the better. For example, it could be someone who struggles with alcohol, who decides they need to stop drinking in order to get their lives back on track.

The thing with this saying, is that some people mistakenly think that the 'leaf' refers to a leaf from a tree, but it doesn't. The 'leaf' that needs to be turned over is the leaf of a book - so it is referring to a page. When you turn over a new leaf, you turn over to a blank page, in order to start on a fresh page.

I like this illustration, because it reminds me that with Jesus, I begin everyday with a fresh leaf and I can choose what to write on that page. God's grace is so radical that it allows me to re-start my journey, even if I have messed up the day before.

Colossians 1:6 - This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

Perhaps for a few of us, it is time to turn over onto a new leaf today. I invite you to do that - start afresh and allow the Spirit to help you write your story.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Where there is a WILL, there is a ....

Fill in the missing word:
"Where there is a WILL, there is a ....
....WAY!"

How many of us have heard this saying over and over again, yet when we are in a tight situation we are willing to give up? This saying speaks of determination, commitment, perseverance and courage. It says that when we are desperate enough for something, we will find a way to make it happen.

Take for example, Zaccheus (Luke 19) - he was so desperate to meet Jesus that he ran ahead of the crowds and climbed up a tree. He was willing to risk looking foolish, just to catch a glimpse of the Messiah.

The same can be said of the 4 people who brought their paralysed friend to Jesus. There was no space in the house, but they were determine to let their friend encounter Jesus, so they took the roof apart and lowered him down into the house.

"Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on." - Mark 2:4

What is tugging at your heart today? Are you willing to do something courageous to try and make this happen?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The boomerang and the Critic

What goes around, comes around!
That's how the old saying goes and there is a lot of truth in this sentiment. When Jesus gave his famous sermon on the mount, he challenged people to treat others with respect and to be wary of criticising others too quickly. I have always been challenged by this message and I don't know how you feel about it?

It is especially hard when you see someone making the same mistake, again and again. When do you draw the line better speaking the truth (in Love) and seeming critical?

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole travelling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbour." - Matthew 7:1-5 (The Message)

Let's be wary of the 'criticism boomerang' - it may just come back to hit us in the back of the head.

Living in grace
D3LM3

Elbow grease

I was busy cleaning the grimy bits off the frying pan yesterday (as all good husbands do) when I suddenly thought of that old term "applying some elbow grease!" It was clear that the grime was only going to come off with a little hard work. However, in the end it was worth all the effort.

And so the question applies to us today - is there some 'elbow grease' needed in our faith adventure? Our spirituality will go through times where we need to work a little harder than usual, but in the end it will be worth it. Thankfully, we don't need to earn our salvation, but there are times when we do need to be discipline in making sure that we 'work out our salvation.'

Are you experiencing some tough times at the moment. May God grant you the strength to persevere unto the end. Remember that our Faith is worth the effort.

Philippians 2:12 - "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling..."

Living in Grace
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All at Sea - Lent #17

Job was all at sea! He didn't know whether he was coming or going. He couldn't take the situation anymore and his friends advice wasn't really helping. Sometimes we also feel "all at sea." We don't know whether we are coming or going and nothing seems to help. Job expresses his anguish in the following way...

Job 19:21-22
“Have pity on me, my friends, have pity,
    for the hand of God has struck me.
Why do you pursue me as God does?
    Will you never get enough of my flesh?

If you are feeling all at sea at the moment (or if you know someone who is battling) then the following words from Solomon will offer us some hope.


Proverbs 18:10 - The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

In the midst of the storms of life run to the safety of the Lord.

Living in Grace
D3LM3