A service for Valentines Day?

While fetching one of my kids yesterday, I explained that I needed to drop him off at home quickly, so that I could rush to the evening service. Without thinking, he replied: "Since when did we start having services for Valentine's Day!?" 

After chuckling to myself, I told him that it was not a service for Valentine's Day, but rather an Ash Wednesday Service. To which he responded: "Oh yes, I forgot!" 

And so, in our brief conversation, we stumbled across some powerful realizations:

1. Ash Wednesday is NOT like Valentine's Day in many ways, but it does celebrate the greatest act of Love ever revealed to humanity. 

2. Love is not something we only 'speak of', but rather what we show with our actions. "For God so loved the world that He gave us His Son..." (John 3:16).

3. Lent is an important time in our Christian journey, precisely because our lives are so hectic, that we easily 'forget' to lean into the promises of God.

Question:

What are taking up (or giving up) in Lent, in order to help you remain focused on Jesus Christ?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Only a shadow

On the day when the world turns Red to celebrate Valentines Day, it is good to remind ourselves of God's relentless love for us. Jesus' love for humanity was not something he offered for 'one day only', but rather for all eternity. Our love for each other and God, is only a shadow of God's love for us.

"My own belief in you, my Lord, is only a shadow of your faith in me,
only a shadow of all that will be when we meet face-to-face...
The love I have for you, my Lord, is only a shadow of your love for me,
only a shadow of all that will be when we meet face-to-face." - Father Carey Landry

John 13:34 (Living Bible) - “And so I am giving a new commandment to you now—love each other just as much as I love you.

May the shadow of Christ's love overwhelm you today, so that you may love others in turn.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Love shows up

In a week where millions of people will spend a lot of money trying to reveal how much they care for their loved ones, I want to teach you a little secret. You actually don't have to spend much money at all. The Bible teaches us this simple truth - LOVE SHOWS UP! Jesus showed up when all seemed lost and he made his love clear to everyone. Our response is to 'show up' in our love - shown towards God and others. 

The writer of Psalm 30 expressed his understanding of God's love in this way:

² Lord my God, I called to you for help,and you healed me.
³ You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
    you spared me from going down to the pit.

 

⁶ When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”
⁷ Lord, when you favoured me,
    you made my royal mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.

⁸ To you, Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:

¹¹ You turned my wailing into dancing;
    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
¹² that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
    Lord my God, I will praise you forever. (Psalm 30)

 

In every way possible, God shows up!

How will we respond?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The month of love

February is known as the month of love! Valentines Day steals the limelight in this month and draws the world's attention to love. As much as we should pass our feelings and sentiments of love onto others, I do believe that we shouldn't limit this only to February. Perhaps this is the mistake we make - we assume that by sending gifts, buying flowers and writing romantic poetry (in February) we are somehow making up for the rest of the year.

As Christ-followers we are asked to love on a daily basis and this is the tough calling. Loving our neighbour for one day is doable. However, loving others for 365 days is the real test of our character. 

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:37-40

Psalm 25:6 - Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.

“February - the month of love..?!!
No wonder the shortest one in the calendar.” - Dinesh Kumar Biran

Living in Grace

D3LM3