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

A New Yoke - what does this mean?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30

I was reminded today that when Jesus offered for us to take his yoke upon ourselves it was a radical offer. We usually imagine the idea of two oxen ploughing the fields, under the same yoke - one of them being represented by us and the other by Christ. Jesus takes up the greater strain of the yoke and we are given a moment to rest.

However, there is another side to the illustration. Rabbi's also referred to the teaching of the law as a 'yoke.' And that when we chose to follow God, we lifted the yoke upon our shoulders and learnt the ways of God. However, this proved to be a burden for many people, as they felt the desperate weight of their sins and the bondage of the law. Jesus' invitation to a new 'yoke' is therefore an invitation to a new way of following God -the way of Love, Mercy and Grace. 

May the words of Matthew 11 bless you with freedom, rest and peace, today. 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Teach, Instruct, Repeat

As one travels through the collection of Proverbs, we could be excused for thinking - Some of these instructions are repeated a lot! And that is true. You find a number of good proverbs come up again and again. Take these three from Proverbs 19 as an example:

^“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” – v.21

"The fear of the Lord leads to life;  then one rests content, untouched by trouble.” – v.23

 “A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth!” – V.24

Don't they sound vaguely familiar? 

Yes, they do and it is because Solomon (and the other authors of Proverbs) want us to understand the importance of these key truths. In their opinion, once people grasped these principles and follow God with integrity, life will be very different.

Sometimes we just need to hear things more than once in order to allow them to sink into our minds and hearts. What do you think?

"Righteousness means right living. It means treating people right. It means living with personal integrity." - R.C. Sproul

“When you wish to instruct, be brief; that men's [children's] minds take in quickly what you say, learn its lesson, and retain it faithfully. Every word that is unnecessary only pours over the side of a brimming mind.”― Cicero

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Train up a child

Over the course of this last holiday we have had the privilege of hosting a Children's Holiday Club. It was so heart-warming to see all the children having loads of fun and learning all sorts of things. The theme was 'Survivor', based on the hit TV series, and the kids learnt about how to 'Survive' as Christians in the 'jungle' of Life.

It struck me again how
important it is to teach Children the things of faith while they are young. As we get older we complicate faith and Christianity in so many ways, but the beauty of kids, is that they love God unreservedly.

• Proverbs 22:6 -Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

This is not a guarentee that our kids will walk in the ways of Jesus, but at least they would have heard of the Gospel and of God's grace.

A huge thank you to all the Leaders and to Kim who arranged it all - you all have outdone yourselves.

Luke 18:16-17
"Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Learning to Surf - Lent #6

Over the last two years the boys have really enjoyed their surfing. They have learnt remarkably quickly for kids who only get to the beach every now and then. One day when I was watching them stand up on their boards I thought to myself, "That looks ok - I am sure that I can do it!"

Well, needless to say, I wasn't that great at it the first couple of tries. I can honestly say that I managed to surf for 2 seconds and then I had a spectacular wipe out. In my defence, it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks!

I am convinced that kids learn things much easier than adults - this applies to all kinds of things - learning to swim, ride a bike, a new language, and of course surfing!So then the same applies to spiritual matters. The younger we can teach kids the ways of God and the scriptures the better. We should pass on the wisdom of God and the grace of Jesus to our kids while they are still willing to receive it.

For this reason, I love the following words of Solomon. He speaks so much sense:

Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
    pay attention and gain understanding.
² I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
³ For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
⁴ Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.
⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
    love her, and she will watch over you.
⁷ The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
    Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
⁸ Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.
⁹ She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.”

¹⁰ Listen, my son, accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.
¹¹ I instruct you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.
¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.
¹³ Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life. - Proverbs 4:1-13

God bless you,

Living in Grace

D3LM3