Stopped in our tracks

Leading on from my thoughts yesterday, about Saul's Damascus Road experience, I wanted to add the following insight: 

It is easy to see Saul's blindness as a punishment from God, but what if this was actually a moment of God’s mercy? I am sure that God had been trying to get Saul's attention for years, but it was in this particular divine interruption, that we clearly see God's intention. God was calling Saul to see things differently - to realise that the followers of Jesus were not the enemy. 

Thought: Sometimes, God has to stop us in our tracks to help us see what we’re missing or to note what God wants to do in our lives.

Acts 9:11-12 - And the Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street and find the house of a man named Judas and ask there for Paul of Tarsus. He is praying to me right now, for I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him so that he can see again!”

Living in Grace

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Watch where you are walking

When you are out walking or running it is important to make sure you are watching where you are going. This is not just in terms of your overall direction, but also to be aware of where you place your feet. It may seem like a simple process to follow, but it can be so tricky at times. If you look too far into the distance you can step into a hole or catch your foot on a rock. It takes skill to keep both the distance, and the path, firmly in your eyesight. 

Is this perhaps what the writer of Proverbs 4 is suggesting?

"Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil." - Proverbs 4:25-27

Thought: How are you managing with your spiritual walk at the moment? Are you perhaps looking too far into the distance and missing the individual steps you need to take right now? OR, is your vision so consumed with a small step in front, that you have forgotten to look to where you are heading?

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

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God's purpose fulfilled

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me. The LORD will fulfil his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. (Psalm 138:6-8)

When the Psalmist remembers the favour of God, he is adamant that the Lord will fulfil his purpose in his life. He even goes on to plead with the Lord not to forsake the 'work of his hands.' 

Do you still believe that the Lord has a purpose for your life? What is that purpose and how are you allowing God to work in your life?

How does the last line of the reading make you feel?

“The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.” – Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Living in Grace

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The Bigger YES

"You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically to say 'no' to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside." - Stephen Covey

As I read today's quote I am struck by how Jesus applied this principle in his life and work. He knew what he had been called to do and what his father wanted from him. Nothing was going to take him away from the path that lay before him, even if some of his followers were well meaning in their suggestions and remarks.

Matthew 16:23 - Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

What is your bigger YES? 

How difficult is it for you to remain focused on your goals?

Living in Grace

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Waiting on God...

It is impossible to reach a milestone in your life - for example like our church Centenary - without thinking of the 'what next' question? We take very little time to savour the joy of a moment before we start thinking of what lies down the road. While this is a good practise in some respects, it does make us a slave to our own agenda and sense of timing. Waiting on God is a hard discipline to get right.

“Wait on the Lord" is a constant refrain in the Psalms, and it is a necessary word, for God often keeps us waiting. He is not in such a hurry as we are, and it is not his way to give more light on the future than we need for action in the present, or to guide us more than one step at a time. When in doubt, do nothing, but continue to wait on God. When action is needed, light will come.” - J.I.Packer

Isaiah 40:31 - "...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."

Living in Grace

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Re-imagining Church - part 2

Last month I wrote an article for Scripture Union magazine on Re-imagining Church. As I began to explore this huge topic I realised that I have undertaken a task that was larger than I initially thought. Thankfully, SU was gracious enough to let me explore the subject in a second part, which was released yesterday. If you would like to read the article please simply click this link. 

I do believe it's a worthwhile read and I would love some of your comments on what I have wrestled with in writing. Thanks and God bless. 

Stanley Hauerwas says it best when he writes,

“God’s truth is credible to the world only when it sees a community shaped by the truth … if the Gospel is to be heard, it must also be seen.”

Living in Grace

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Providence

The timeless issue of Providence has reared it's head again as I have been reflecting on Esther's story. I have to admit that it is not always as simple as some make it out to be. Just as we seem to find a suitable answer for God's Providence, then we are thrown a curve ball of sorts. In order to try and wrestle with Scriptures like the following one, I have turned to a few famous authors to seek their collective wisdom:

Acts 24:2 - Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence... (KJV)

This is what these authors say:

"He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God's providence to lead him alright." - Blaise Pascal

Providence is wonderfully intricate. Ah! You want always to see through Providence, do you not? You never will, I assure you. You have not eyes good enough. You want to see what good that affliction was to you; you must believe it. You want to see how it can bring good to the soul; you may be enabled in a little time; but you cannot see it now; you must believe it. Honor God by trusting Him." - Charles Spurgeon

Nothing whatever, whether great or small, can happen to a believer, without God's ordering and permission. There is no such thing as "chance," "luck" or "accident" in the Christian's journey through this world. All is arranged and appointed by God. And all things are "working together" for the believer's good." - J. C. Ryle

What do you make of Providence? And is there a connection with Predestination in this?

Living in Grace

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Nostalgia

Have you ever caught yourself dreaming of the 'old days', when life seemed a lot more simple and a great deal less stressful? I think nostalgia is a natural thing for all of us, and remarkably time seems to blur the searing pain of our traumatic memories. I guess the trouble with nostalgia is if we end up getting 'stuck' in the past - we are then not free to embrace the opportunities of our present circumstances. 

If we take a look at the example of Disciples for a moment - if they had remained stuck in the past (nostalgia), they would have missed the chance to change the future. Jesus had been preparing them for some amazing adventures in the future, which they would have completely missed if their heads had remained turned to the past.

Luke 24:18-24 - "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?”

“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. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 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. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

May the Spirit of Christ help us to look to the future with renewed hope and a thankfulness for the lessons of the past. 

Living in Grace

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Mountains of the Lord

I read a lovely book called "Mountains of the Lord" (Rob Taylor) and have posted a review on Scripture Union magazine about this book. If you have a moment please follow this link and read the review to discover more about this fantastic book. 

In essence, Rob takes a look at the significant Mountain top moments in the Bible and reflects on what each encounter means for the people of God. These include Moses on mount Sinai, Elijah on Mount Carmel, the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration and obviously, Jesus on Calvary. 

Psalm 43: 3 - "Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell."

Living in Grace

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P.S. For our Lenten journey which starts on Ash Wednesday (17th February) I will be sharing a variety of devotions written by people from our Church community - this will be a lovely way of hearing a different voice on a familiar topic. Watch this space :) 

Is the end better than the beginning?

"The end of a matter is better than its beginning,

and patience is better than pride.

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools." - Ecclesiastes 7:8-9

I am not sure if it is appropriate for me to argue with Solomon - after all, he was the King of Israel and the writer of some amazing books. BUT....

... I don't think that the 'end of the matter' is always better than the beginning!

I guess it does depend on the context, but I have seen some situations where things have begun incredibly well, but then ended up badly. A good start doesn't always equate to a successful ending.

One Biblical commentator has suggested that the reason why Solomon argues his point is that anyone can dream of something, but it takes a person of discipline to finish a project or vision. Now, if that is the context of what he is saying, then I am happy to agree with him. What do you think?

Living in Grace

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Dealing with the right things

During my research for the message this week, I came across this post from Warren Wiersbe:

"During the early days of the Salvation Army, William Booth and his associates were bitterly attacked in the press by religious leaders and government leaders alike. Whenever his son, Bramwell, showed Booth a newspaper attack, the General would reply, "Bramwell, fifty years hence it will matter very little indeed how these people treated us; it will matter a great deal how we dealt with the work of God." 

It is such a reminder that when we step out and do the Lord's work we may not always receive the support we expect, but we must trust in God's provision and strength.

Living in Grace

D3LM3 

Where there is no vision

"Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
    but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction." - Proverbs 29:18 (NIV)

This verse has been used in many different ways, but it speaks to the core nature of most people - when we don't know where we are headed or what the vision is, then we are subject to all kinds of persuasive alternatives. You may know this verse in this format:

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." (KJV)

This is true of countries, schools, churches, families and even our own person lives - if we have no focus or vision for the future then something slowly starts to die inside of us. There are too many people plodding through life hoping to get out unscathed. Sadly, none of us will leave this world alive, so we should embrace the vision that God gives to us and live this to His glory. 

Eugene Peterson wrote:

If people can’t see what God is doing,

    they stumble all over themselves;

But when they attend to what he reveals,

    they are most blessed.

“The most pathetic person in the world is some one who has sight but no vision.” - Helen Keller

“A vision we give to others of who and what they could become has power when it echoes what the spirit has already spoken into their souls.” - Larry Crabb

Living in Grace

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Building Rome

They say that "Rome wasn't built in one day", so how long did it really take to build the great Eternal City? The answer is not that simple, because technically Rome is still being built - so that would make it around 2750 years for this 'long' work in progress. But, that is not really the point of the proverb, is it? Here is what I make of that lovely old adage:

In order to build the Roman Empire, the people (and leaders) of Rome, had to have a dream of something bigger than themselves. And once they had that vision, they began by laying one brick at a time. Each foundation was a step closer to the dream of a beautiful City and ultimately a magnificent Empire.

So, without getting into the pro's and con's of the Roman Legacy, let us take that simple saying to heart today - If we want to do something amazing for God and to create a Legacy that out-lives us, then we need to 'own' the dream/vision and start by laying one brick at a time. There is no faster way to complete the task - there are no short-cuts to achieve the tasks that lie before us.

1 Corinthians 3:10 - By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.

 

Question: What is your ROME? 

 

Living in Grace

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Planning

I am setting aside the next two days to pray and plan for the rest of 2011. I am conscious that there are so many things I want to do, but I really want to do what God wants. It is easy to make our own plans and when they fail, then to blame God. I am hoping to avoid that this year.

Psalm 33:11 - "But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations."

If you are doing some planning and praying for 2011 may God grant you insight and direction.

Living in Grace
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God, be my Vision

I haven't made any resolutions for 2011 yet. I plan to spend a few days praying about what God wants from me this year, but what I truly seek is to honour God in all I do. I hope that the words of this powerful 6th Century Irish song will be my starting place.

"Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
naught be all else to me, save that thou art;
Thou my best thought by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light."

May God be your Vision and focus in 2011.

Living in His Grace,
D3LM3