Don't fall into the trap

Many of us fall into the trap of trying to do things in our own strength. As followers of Jesus, we are equally tempted to do the same. Very slowly our pilgrimage of faith becomes an exercise in human achievement and effort, and we forget the power of God's Spirit. 

"Trying to do the Lord's work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you." - Corrie Ten Boom

Zechariah 4:6 - It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Response: Take a moment to ask God to grant you his strength for the tasks that lie ahead. 

Living in Grace

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Light is about to break upon us...

“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us..." - Luke 1:76-78

In these moving words from Zechariah, I have noted a number of powerful thoughts:

1. John's mission is to show people how to find salvation through the forgiveness of sins. Our salvation will not come from our righteousness, but rather through the grace of God and the righteousness of Jesus.

2. We may not understand why God allows things to happen, but it is important to remember that God is full of tender mercy.

3. The beautiful morning light is about to break upon us - the time to celebrate the birth of Christ is very close.

As time draws us closer to the birth of our Lord, may we look out for His Light and Mercy. 

Living in Grace

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Silence is golden

Silence is Golden!

Why is it that we can often hear God more clearly when we actively seek silence? Is it perhaps that the noise of our own agenda's fade into the distance, or that our daily distractions slowly drown out the voice of God? 

As we move into the last week before Christmas, let us reflect on the 9 months of silence that Zechariah was forced into, and ask how this changed his heart and soul. Remember it was a moment of doubt that caused Gabriel to mute Zechariah's lips and how might those 270 days have shaped his spiritual life forever?

"Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God." - Luke 1:62-64

Even though God had chosen John the Baptist for his unique role as the fore-runner for Jesus, John still needed a wise earthly father to guide and walk alongside him. Is it possible that Zechariahs time of golden silence was crucial in preparing John too?

How might silence help you prepare for Christmas?

Living in Grace

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What would it mean for you to hear these words?

What would it mean for you to hear a messenger of God speak these words into your life?

·       “God has heard your prayer…” - Luke 1:13

       I am sure that these words would fill our hearts with great delight, just as they must have encouraged Zechariah and Daniel. We pour out our hearts to God with the deep hope that God will answer those prayers, but there are times when we feel a little despondent in the slowness of God's action. 

      Can you remember a time in your life when you prayed and prayed for something, only for there to be a period of complete silence? What motivated you to keep on trusting in God's goodness? Was there someone who encouraged you to keep believing? 

      I am sure that Zechariah may have been close to giving up, but he held onto his knowledge of God's goodness. in the end he must have been ecstatic to hear the whisper: "God has heard your prayer my friend!"

      Living in Grace

     D3LM3

I 

Something to shout about

When something good happens in our lives it is important to shout out the news of this great joy. Many people do this via social media nowadays, but we can also simply tell others the news via the trusted means of our voices. 

Zechariah speaks out the good news of God's presence amongst us when he says:

“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you." - Zechariah 2:10-11

I take solace from the picture of God always living amongst his people. And when this happens we KNOW that God has sent help our way.

Question: How do you feel about Zechariah's good news? Does it change the way you view life when you know that God lives amongst us?

Living in Grace

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Not my might

 ^"So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty." - Zechariah 4:6

It is hard to discern the difference between working for what you believe God has called you to do, and then allowing the Spirit to do his work. It is tempting to try and do things in our own strength, but then we leave no room for God to work according to his timing and plans. 

In whatever we do, let us remember that the Spirit of God is so much stronger than we can comprehend or even see. Trust in God to work in His power and His ways.

It is not MY might, but the strength of God that gets things done. 

Living in Grace
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 ^"It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies." - New Living Translation

Among - New Advent word

“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you." - Zechariah 2:10-11

Zechariah's prophecy came true in the most profound of ways. Jesus came to live AMONG us. The King of kings and Lord of lords, joined us in the midst of our world and revealed the love of God to all humanity. It is a pity that we miss out on the true nature of God, by getting images of people who insist that God is full of hatred. Advent reminds us that God is LOVE.

May the light of Christ fill your heart with joy today.

Remember God may not take our trouble from us, but He will be with us in the midst of it all.

Living in Grace
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Imagine the world was like this?

And they reported to the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace.” - Zechariah 1:11

Can you imagine if the world was like that? Wow, it would be amazing!

But, it is not and it doesn't look like it will be "at peace" until Christ comes again. In the meantime, we need to ask ourselves what role we will play in creating peace? We may be frustrated and anxious by what we see around us, but we can still make a difference where we live and work. It really is up to us. We too can be angels of peace.

"Each of us has something beautiful to do for God." - Mother Theresa

Living in Grace
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Some adVICE from me

So, let me tell you this funny story...

On my day off last week, I was doing some woodwork in the garage with Josh. He was helping me potter around and we were having great fun. He asked me to help make something for him and so I needed to drill a hole into a block of wood. I didn't have a vice to hold the wood in place, so I did what any man would do - I improvised. I put the block of wood between my feet and started to drill the hole into the wood. Of course, you can gather what happened next.....

....yes, the drill slipped and I managed to put a hole into the side of my foot. Needless to say there was a lot of blood and I had to rush myself off to the doctor, feeling quite foolish and sore! A few stitches and injections later I returned home and have now vowed to buy a vice!

Here is my reflection on this incident. Sometimes we need someone to hold us tightly and to protect us. A vice does a good job of keeping wood firm and secure, so that you can avoid injuring yourself, while you work on the wood. There are moments in our lives, when we need to rest securely in the loving arms of the Lord, so that he can hold us tightly. His reassuring presence keeps us from all harm and reminds us that he is with us at all times.

Listen to this adVICE....

1 Samuel 25:29 - "Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God."

Zechariah 10:12 - "I will strengthen them in the Lord and in his name they will live securely,” declares the Lord."

Living in Grace
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