What are you surrendering to?

“Everyone eventually surrenders to something or someone. If not to God, you will surrender to the opinions or expectations of others, to money, to resentment, to fear, or to your own pride, lusts, or ego. You were designed to worship God—and if you fail to worship him, you will create other things to give your life to. You are free to choose what you surrender to, but you are not free from the consequences of that choice.” Rick Warren

I find these words to be deeply challenging, and I invite you to spend some time meditating on what Rick Warren is saying. We may not like to use the word surrender but try using this phrase instead - "give in to."

What am I giving in to at the moment? Am I finding that my time and energy is being spent on doubts and fears, worry, anger, ego, social media or someone else? 

Once we answer this question, we may have a clearer idea of what we are surrendering to.

James 4:17 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Within, without

What happens when we spend time in the presence of God? Do we hear a still small voice? Do we encounter the living God? Does God inspire us to sing, write, pray or act?

During a time of personal devotion Howard Thurman wrote this response to God's prompting:

"There is a sense of wholeness at the core of man
That must abound in all he does;
That marks with reverence his ev’ry step;
That has its sway when all else fails;
That wearies out all evil things;
That warms the depth of frozen fears
Making friend of foe,
Making love of hate,
And lasts beyond the living and the dead,
Beyond the goals of peace, the ends of war!
This man seeks through all his years:
To be complete and of one piece, within, without." (The Inward Journey)

Which sentence speaks to you today?

Mine is "that warms the depth of frozen fears."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Fear of the light

There is a name for people who are afraid of the LIGHT - it is called "photophobia."

I know a number of people who are scared of the dark, but how many people do you know who are afraid of the light? There is of course one person who hates the light - he does all he can to stay away from the light of Christ and he does all in his power to keep us from the grace of God. However, we need to remember that Christ has already won the battle - the enemy will have to stay in the dark!

James 4:7 - Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”- Plato

Living in Grace
D3LM3

It all starts with a Statue

These are my personal musings on the issues facing our country at the moment. Sometimes I speak in the voice of others...you may have to read this piece of prose more than once to comprehend my deep concern for the hearts of our people.

It all starts with a Statue!
I don't like you and what you represented so I will happily try and remove you from my world - so I remove your statue.
But, what have I really done?

Mr Cecil Rhodes (et al.) you lived in the past and represented an evil policy that hurt and broke me. You left me disadvantaged, poor and angry. I cheered when the new government came into power, because I had dreams of a new beginning and great opportunities, but they too have left me feeling empty and disillusioned. Now I need a new way of venting my frustration and to feel a little taste of victory - so let me tear down your statue!

But tomorrow when I wake up and realise that my heart is still broken, what then?
I will start to look for another statue.
And then another....
And another....
But, when all the statues are gone, I will STILL be left with a gaping hole in my spirit.
What then?

There are no more statues to tear down, so I will turn upon YOU.
I don't like what you represent. I am fearful of you and what you can take from me. I shouldn't speak the word out aloud, but really what I feel is 'Xenophobia' - I fear YOU as the "other" person, the stranger, the one I can't understand.
I fear you.

So, I will tear down your shops and homes - I will take your food and clothes. I will kill you if I have to, because I feel the need to get rid of anyone that robs me of MY rights.
I deserve that job!
I deserve that house!
I deserve that food!
It should be mine and not yours!
I fear that you will take it all away from me and that for a second time I will be robbed!

But, when I have destroyed your property and maybe taken your life, what then?
What will have changed?
Would I really have found some peace?

If I find 'peace' for a moment maybe I will even erect a statue in my honour.
It will stand as a symbol of my victory and the pain I have caused others.
It may stand for a few decades, but soon someone else will feel the need to tear that statue down.
My statue will fall.
It will FALL!

Angry descendants of "those foreigners" will come seeking justice for the Xenophobic attacks on their ancestors.
Will they not have a right to take down my new statue? After all my statue will insult them and all those innocent victims of my acts of violence and Xenophobia.
They will seek revenge.
And they will destroy the new statue.

But what then?
They too will wake up with pain in their belly and a gaping hole in their spirit.
They too will realise that revenge leaves only a bitter taste in the mouth.
What then?

It all begins with a Statue!

............................................

Is this why Jesus urged us to forgive one another. He knew that the cycle of revenge would never be satisfied. Jesus' word on mercy and forgiveness is NOT an easy word to receive, but in the midst of a mad world, it will be the only thing that puts out the fires of hatred.

Matthew 6:14-15 -“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.

Psalm 130:3-4 - If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that’s why you’re worshipped.

Matthew 5:43-44 - “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Tossed by the wind

I have always been drawn to the opening words of James' letter. There is something profound in the way he speaks of perseverance, wisdom and the testing of our faith. 

However, the one 'stand out' image that he uses, is the one of being tossed around by the waves of the sea. He uses this in conjunction with our doubts. One just needs to swim in the shore break to know how powerful the waves can be - they can literally toss you all over the place. Doubt is exactly like that - one minute we feel fine, and the next we feel as if we are being overwhelmed with fear. Wind and waves can beat against our lives and make us feel desperate.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do." - James 1:2-8

May we rest in the 'stable' presence of Jesus Christ. May His love and grace keep us from being overwhelmed by fear and doubts.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Sleepless nights

"I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. 
Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. 
 I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely." - Psalm 63:6-8

What keeps you awake at night?
Is it troubles or thoughts of the future?
Is it complicated relationships or issues with your friends?
Do you stress about the country or your personal finances?
Do you wonder about life, death and faith?

If some of these things keep you awake at night, why don't you try King David's solution. He meditated on the things of God - he remembered that he could rest secure in the shadow of God's wing. It is much easier getting to sleep, when we surrender our worries to God. He never sleeps or slumbers, so why not ask God to keep your anxious thoughts for you? Surely, it's worth a try.

Living in Grace
D3LM3