Stumbling along the path

"You suffered throughout your life, O Lord Jesus Christ, that I might be saved. And yet, even now, you continue to bear with me, as I stumble upon the path and constantly go astray. As often as I become impatient and wish to abandon your way, you encourage me and stretch forth your helping hand. Each day I increase your burden; yet while I am impatient, your patience is infinite." - Soren Kierkegaard

As I was reading through these words from Kierkegaard, I was arrested by the words 'as I stumble upon the path.' It reminded me of how I often long for my faith journey to be a strong powerful sprint, but in the end if seems to be more of a slow, stumble along the way. 

However, I am reminded that it is God's infinite patience that keeps me heading towards him. In his mercy he carries me home.

Psalm 37:24 - "Though we stumble we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The gift of walking

A number of people have asked me what I have been doing during my sabbatical. My answer could include a lot of details and personal information, but the one thing I can confirm is this: I have done a lot of walking!

It seems that walking has been very good for my soul and my health. I have covered a lot of distance over the weeks of my sabbatical and each step has brough refreshing to my spirit. Of course, walking does tire you out physically, but it has the marvelous benefit of making you feel more alive and more in tune with God.  

If you enjoy walking, then you will know exactly what I mean - and it seems we are in great company too. Apparently, God was going for a walk in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were busy hiding from him (Genesis 3). Jesus was walking by the shore of Galilee when he encountered James and John (Mark 1).  

Soren Kierkegaard wrote...

“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of wellbeing and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it.” 

Other well-known figures who speak highly of walking include: Stephen King, Anne Dillard, Charles Dickens, Bill Bryson, Thomas Jeferson, Hippocrates, and many, many more.

In time, I will share of my walking stories with you all, but in the meantime, may you be blessed! 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Prayer is listening!

"A person prayed - and at first they thought that prayer was talking. But then they became more and more quiet until in the end they realised that prayer is listening." - Soren Kierkegaard

"Be still and know that I am God." - Psalm 46:10

Do you find it easy to 'be still' in your prayer times?

What can we do to enable more 'listening' in our devotional lives?

Living in grace

D3LM3

Thinking leads to actions

"Our life always expresses the result of our dominant thoughts." - Soren Kiekergaard

Proverbs 23:7 - "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."

It is so true that the more we dwell and think on certain things we slowly start to act more inline with those thoughts and ideas.

So, what are you thinking about at the moment?

Is it changing your actions?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The ladder

In his philosophical take on faith, Soren Kierkegaard spoke about how we are united with God. He notes: "we become united with God NOT by climbing a mystical ladder to heaven, but by God's descending to our level and claiming us for his own."

I think this is such a beautiful picture of Grace. We often misunderstand our spiritual quests as the work we do in order to reach God; however, we forget that the work has already been done by Jesus, who climbed down the "ladder" (the Incarnation) so that God could be with us.

If you faith seems as if you are constantly trying to climb another rung on the ladder, to get closer to Jesus, perhaps take a break and allow Christ to step into your world.

John 1:14 -  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Living in Grace
D3LM3