Pride and Joy

I have seen many 'back to school' photos on social media this week. All of them speak of the excitement and joy of parents as they send their children back to school. Some of these kids are just starting out, while others are ending their school careers. The one thing that is common to all of them, is the sense of love and pride that each parent has for their kids. 

We are reminded in our current Church season of the baptism of Jesus, and we come to a beautiful picture of another proud parent - our heavenly Father. If we read Eugene Peterson's take on Mark 1, you will note that he helps us to see the joy and pride of the Father, as he blesses Jesus.

"At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God’s Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. Along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.” - Mark 1:9-11 (The Message)

Have you ever considered that God would speak those words over your life? We are God's pride and joy. How does that make you feel?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

A prayer for our children

As another school year begins, I wanted to write a prayer for my own children. I pray that this may help and encourage you too. God bless.

Dear Lord,

As our children begin another year of school, we pray that you would fill them with confidence, peace and the willingness to learn. 

We pray for their teachers, coaches, mentors and friends, and that each of them would be able to positively contribute to the growth of our kids. 

We acknowledge that not all learning is academic, and that our children need to understand the value of listening to others, coping with disappointment, helping those who struggle, encouraging a wary teammate and, that genuine kindness can break down many barriers.

Gracious God, we ask that you place your great arms of protection over our kids, and that you would give them strength to overcome the obstacles in their paths. 

We also ask, that where we cannot be, that you would keep watch over their lives. 

Give them courage to stand by their faith, principles and convictions. 

Lord, help us to nurture our kids as best we can, and to allow them just enough freedom to spread their wings, but enough guidance to make wise decisions. 

As they begin this new year of studies and adventures, we intentionally place them into your loving care.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Back to School - some thoughts

As our children head back to school for the start of a new year we are often filled with mixed emotions. On the one hand there is a little relief that the long holidays are over (if we are being totally honest :), but there is also a nostalgia that stirs in our hearts. 

Our emotions are a mixture of pride in our ever-growing kids, but also a sadness that they are no longer the little toddlers they once were. We are also anxious about what the school year holds for each of them, and we hold very real questions in our hearts too: 

• will they settle down and make friends? 
• will they cope? 
• will they study hard? 
• will they adapt? 
• what issues will prove to be a distraction for our kids? 
• who will be a positive influence on our kids? 

As I reflect on our youngest son starting grade 9 this year, he is the last of our 3 boys still at school. Our older sons have now finished and will both be studying at university. All I can think is this: Time certainly flies. It seems like it was just yesterday that they were starting out at Grade 1.

So, as the school year begins, let us pray for all children and teachers returning to the classroom. Let us hold them all in our hearts and ask God to strengthen all involved in the education of our young people. There is so much 'wrong' in our country at this time, but we can still pray that the next generation are prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. Let us pray that many of them will be our true future leaders.

Lord, in your mercy. Please, hear our prayer!

Nelson Mandela - "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." 

Psalm 86:11 - Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Back to school

The importance of learning is clear to all of us. For this reason we send our kids to an academic institution to further their studies and to gain valuable knowledge (and hopefully some wisdom). All of this involves numerous sacrifices on the behalf of the parents, as well as the students. Completing an academic milestone takes times, resources, effort and perseverance. 

As we send our kids 'back to school' this week, I am reminded of our call to keep studying the word of God and to keep growing in our faith. Learning to be a follower of Jesus will take our entire lifetime, but we need to be committed to the process.

So what are we doing to further our 'spiritual education?'

What tools help you to discover more about God and our journey of discipleship?

Psalm 111 - "Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with everything I’ve got— Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation. God’s works are so great, worth a lifetime of study—endless enjoyment! Splendour and beauty mark his craft; His generosity never gives out. His miracles are his memorial— This God of Grace, this God of Love."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Another Milestone

Today we had the privilege of attending our eldest sons Valedictory Service. This was his last official school function before he sits to write his Final exams and it was a bitter-sweet moment for us as parents. When your children start out in life you are very quick to record the milestones along the way:

the first time they crawl, or walk; 

their first teeth, and then when they lose a tooth;

their first day at creche, and then primary school, first school concerts and sports matches;

their first awards and disappointments;

then finishing primary school and starting high school;

getting a learners driving license, finishing their last sports match, or official day at school....

All these milestones are marked along the way and they form part of helping our kids grow up and prepare for the world around them. It is a bitter-sweet moment because we have spent 18 years praying and hoping, encouraging and guiding them, but our work (in it's present role) is fast coming to an end.

 However, despite the sadness and nostalgia of this moment, we are deeply grateful for being parents. We know that there will be plenty more Milestones in his future and we entrust him into the safe hands of our loving Saviour. 

Psalm 25:6 - Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God; Rebuild the ancient landmarks!

What milestone are you currently experiencing in your life?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

 

Reorientation

 

Children and families have begun the process of "reorientation" this week as they head back to school, work and further studies. Reorientation simply means to "familiarise ourselves with something again" or to "change direction or focus".

I believe that this is also such an important task for all Christians to undertake. Just as starting a new year comes with its own set of challenges, so the process of doing a spiritual reorientation will also take something out of us. Are we willing to do this?

Joshua 3:4 -  "Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before."

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Birth pains and new beginnings

Our kids started new schools today and there was a great sense of nervousness in our house this morning. If you have ever relocated then you know exactly what was happening in our home - moments of excitement, silence, anxiety, questions and finally moving towards the car for the trip to school.

New beginnings can be tough. They can move us way beyond the comfort of the 'ordinary' and the 'usual status quo.' However, they can also teach us many things and fill us with new possibilities and joy.

In fact, this whole experience reminds me of 'birth pains' (not that I had to go through them personally, but I watched Kim go through the pains :). The joy of new birth is always preceded by pain, anxiety, worry, questions, excitement and finally that moment when all the action starts.

That fragile moment that separates pre-birth from birth; or from pre-change to change, is the occasion for FAITH. Moving from one place to the other, with no certainty of the outcome, is definitely an act of TRUST. It is all about believing that God has your back and that God will make a way.

Don't be afraid to go through 'birth pains', especially when we can trust in the grace of God.

Hebrews 11:8 - "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Back to school

My kids are heading back to school tomorrow and so the house has become very quiet all of a sudden. It doesn't matter how long the holiday has been, but most people dread going back to work/school after some kind of a break.

However, we all know that learning needs to be an ongoing exercise - we can never know it all and so we need to steel ourselves to be perpetual students. For me, the Christian Faith is exactly like this - we need to wake up each morning willing to learn something new. The Spirit of God desires to reveal more and more of himself to us and we should be ready for this.

 Colossians 3:10 -You are living a brand new kind of life that is continually learning more and more of what is right, and trying constantly to be more and more like Christ who created this new life within you.

So, even for those of us who finished school a long time ago, it is still a 'back to school' day for us. We can learn something.

 "Learning never exhausts the mind." - Leonardo da Vinci

Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_learning.html

Living in Grace
D3LM3