Imitating God by doing this one thing...

 

There are many books published on how we should imitate the ways of God. These can include things like, obeying the Commandments; or knowing the Beatitudes, or something similar. 

However, I came across this thought from the author Peter Scazzero recently - it is a brilliant take on following God's example.

"We imitate God by stopping our work and resting."

In light of the lectionary reading from 1 Kings 19 (last week), these words challenge us all, especially as we try to live in a fast-paced world. Elijah was forced to imitate God because of the state of his mind and heart. We shouldn't wait until we are forced into this habit!

Thought: How else can we imitate God's ways?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Probing questions

When a rich young man came to Jesus to seek his advice, Jesus didn’t hide from his challenging questions, but he also didn’t make it easy for him. In an ironic twist, Jesus knew what this young man was hiding in his heart and so Jesus challenged him to give that "idol" up. 

Even when the young man refused Jesus' challenge, we note Jesus' response:

"Jesus looked at him and loved him." - Mark 10:21

If God asks us probing questions it is not to be malicious in any way, but rather to get us to see what God already sees. If there are issues in my life that prevent me from living an 'abundant life' then I would want a gracious God to speak into my life.

What about you?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Reformation Day - making a statement

Reformation Day marks the moment that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenburg. This was the 31st October 1517 and the date was not as random as we may believe. 

The church was about to put on display a number of relics the following day (1st November - All Saints Day) and this had begun to concern Luther. His well timed action was done to stir debate and to put his mark in the sand. Luther was saddened at how the church had begun to put more emphasis on 'objects' and 'relics' instead of the person of Jesus Christ. Luther felt the church needed more than a wake up call - it needed REFORMATION!

As we remember significant dates in the history of our faith we should always be asking the question: What needs to be reformed in our lives and in that life of the Church?

Here are a few of Luther's lesser known quotes to mark this occasion.

"God does not need your good works, but your neighbour does."

I have no use for cranks who despise music, because it is a gift of God. Music drives away the Devil and makes people joyful; they forget thereby all wrath, unchastity, arrogance, and the like. Next after theology, I give to music the highest place and the greatest honour."

“The Church’s true treasure is the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Saying Yes!

Bob Goff writes, “I think God sometimes uses the completely inexplicable events of our lives to point us toward him. We get to decide each time whether we will lean in toward what is unfolding and say yes or back away. The folks who were following Jesus in Galilee got to decide the same thing each day because there was no road map, no program and no certainty. All they had was this person, an idea and an invitation to come and see….So the next time God asks you to do something that is completely inexplicable…(that) requires a decision or courage that way over your pay grade, something that might even save lives, say “Yes!”

This quote challenges me on many levels, but the few that are most relevant at the moment are these thoughts:

• Do my present circumstances point me towards Christ?
• Following Jesus implies that life is going to be a little "unplanned" at time.
• What do I need to say 'Yes' to in order to help others?

What strikes you about the quote?

Revelation 22:20 - He who testifies to all these things says it again: “I’m on my way! I’ll be there soon!” Yes! Come, Master Jesus!

Living in Grace

D3LM3

If I cannot find .....

Oh my goodness - what a challenging, real, powerful piece of writing. Please don't "enjoy" it, but rather be moved by the words!

If I cannot find the face of Jesus in the face of those who are my enemies,

If I cannot find him in the unbeautiful, 

If I cannot find him in those who have the “wrong ideas,”

If I cannot find him in the poor and the defeated,

how will I find him in the bread and wine, or in the life after death? 

If I do not reach out in this world to those with whom he has identified himself, 

why do I imagine that I will want to be with him, and them, in heaven?

Why would I want to be for all eternity in the company of those I avoided every day of my life? - Jim Forest

Matthew 9:13 - "But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Being lead where you don't want to go

I have been reflecting on Luke 4 this week, and have been a little challenged by the first 2 verses:

"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, ² where for forty days he was tempted by the devil."

Is this something that Jesus was keen for, or did he just allow himself to be lead into the wilderness because he knew there was a greater purpose? Many of us are not that keen to be lead to places that we don't want to go to - especially if we are going to face challenges along the way. However, I guess this is part of being a Christ-follower. We allow God to lead us, even if it means we encounter obstacles along the journey.

What are your thoughts on this?

"Success is due to our stretching to the challenges of life. Failure comes when we shrink from them." -  John C. Maxwell

Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/challenges.html

Living in Grace
D3LM3

8 Miles to Save a Rhino

How far would you go to save someone? What would you be prepared to do if you knew that something was on the brink of extinction? It's a tough question I know, but one we need to think about, as we may be confronted with it pretty soon.

Over the weekend of the 7/8 February 2015 I will be swimming in the 8 Mile Challenge at the
Midmar Mile. I am honoured to be joining about 100 swimmers who are swimming for various charities - I will be swimming in aid of "Save the Rhino" foundation.

Last year 1215 Rhinos were poached in South Africa (according to today's Mercury Newspaper), which is 100 times more than 2007. To put that in perspective - that is 3 Rhino's a day. We can't let this continue and so I would like to do my small bit to make a difference.

How it works is that we swim in all 4 races on the Saturday and then all 4 events on the Sunday. Basically we swim a mile, jump into a boat and go back to the start and then swim another mile. By the end of the weekend we would have each completed 8 miles and hopefully raised enough money to make a difference.

If you would like to support me in this event please get in touch with me directly via email - it would be awesome to have you support. You can even get your companies or businesses to support the "Save the Rhino" foundation, by pledging towards the swim. Even if you can't help with a financial contribution, please pray that God gives me strength during the weekend :)

 "Only when the last of the animals, horns, tusks, skins and bones are sold, will mankind realise that money can never buy back our wildlife." - Wild at Heart

God bless you
Living in Grace
D3LM3

Shatter my ideas, O God

I have become too comfortable with my ideas about God. When I fall into the comfort zone of faith and practise, I am on dangerous ground. If I assume that God will "do this" or "do that" according to my design and my ideas then I am making God into my subject, when all along, it is I, who need to be God's child and servant.

Advent is the season of preparing for the coming of the Messiah. It is not just about feeling good or singing nice songs - it is about wrestling with our understanding of Christ and asking the Spirit of God to change our false notions of his Greatness.

The following quote from C.S. Lewis is deeply profound, challenging and inspiring.


My idea of God is not a divine idea. It has to be shattered time after time. He shatters it Himself. He is the great iconoclast. Could we not almost say that this shattering is one of the marks of His presence? The Incarnation is the supreme example; it leaves all previous ideas of the Messiah in ruins. And most are "offended" by the iconoclasm; and blessed are those who are not. But the same thing happens in our private prayers.
~ C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

 May Advent be a wonderful season of reflection and "uncomfortableness."

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Dumb-founded!

Let me tell you a true story. This really happened to me and I still find myself shaking my head in disbelief.

The other day, I went to visit the now 'newish' Library in the centre of PMB. I have to confess that I had never been to see the Library, so I went, half out of interest, and half out of needing to do some work.

As I sat working on my laptop I realised that I needed to plug in before the battery ran dead. So, after spotting 5 empty cubicles on the bottom floor, I politely asked one of the Librarians if I could use one of the plug points. She looked at me as if I had just asked her for a million bucks or else it may have been that she swallowed something very sour! Anyway, this is what she told me,

"No we can't allow you to plug your computer in - if we do then the municipality will have to pay a huge electricity bill every month." (By this she implied that every person in PMB would want to follow suit...)

I tried hard to act like a good Christian, but my mind was swimming as I walked away. I thought of the students who may want to study there, but could only do so if they used pen and paper, or had a mega long battery life on their laptops. As I walked out, I noticed dozens of PC's, with empty chairs staring at them - what about all that wasted electricity?! But, hey what do I know!

So, needless to say, I nearly choked on my cornflakes this morning, when I read about the municipality wanting to put a 1200% electricity price hike on small businesses. The cheek of it! The municipality won't give it's citizens access to a plug-point (for 15 minutes), because it is going to cost them too much money, but hey they feel quite comfortable ripping honest citizens off .... to the tune of 1200%!!!!

Something is rotten in Denmark and I think that it is really starting to stink!

That's my rant for the month. I would be interested to hear your thoughts. Maybe I am just having a bad hair-day, but feel free to comment.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Going deeper

Listening to John van de Laar's testimony at our breakfast this morning I was reminded of God's call to take us deeper.

Deeper into our relationship with Jesus.
Deeper into the exploration of our call.
Deeper into community with others.

Deeper. Deeper. Deeper.

Yet, even the invitation to go deeper challenges me to move out of my comfort zone. It unnerves me, because it asks that I let go of "my" need for control.

Ezekiel 47:5 - "He measured off another thousand cubits, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross."

Why not take a step of faith and go deeper with God today?

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Phone, Facebook and Twitter

I stumbled across this inspiring quote today. It made me smile, but I fully appreciate the serious truth in these words.

God has no phone, but I still talk to him.
He has no Facebook, but I am still his friend.
He doesn't have Twitter, but I still follow Him.

Do you own a phone?  
Are you still talking with God?

Are you on Facebook?
Would you include God as one of your friends - bear in mind that all your Facebook friends would then read Jesus' posts too?

Do you Tweet?  
Would you be happy to allow God to follow you and read your Tweets?

(if you are not on Facebook or Twitter, then ask your grandchildren to help with my last 2 thoughts:)

Worth thinking about!

Be blessed

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Lord, make me uncomfortable

I don't think many of us are willing to start our prayers, "Lord, make me uncomfortable...." - It seems a weird prayer to pray. However Richard Rohr has this very challenging blessing, which he invites us to pray.

"God, bless me with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that You will live deep in my heart.

God, bless me with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people and the earth so that I will work for justice, equity, and peace.

God, bless me with tears to shed for those who suffer so that I will reach out my hand to comfort them and change their pain with joy.

God, bless me with the foolishness to think that I can make a difference in the world, so that I will do the things which others say cannot be done.  Amen."

Join me in praying this prayer today.

Come on, be daring for a change:)

Living in Grace

D3LM3