Final Countdown

So December is upon us - 11 months of 2009 have already passed us by and we are into the final countdown before Christmas and the New Year.

How has this year been for you so far? Have all the hopes and dreams you started out with, faded or disappeared? Have some of them materialised?

Regardless of the past 11 months, we can still make this year a memorable one - we still have 31 days to 'live intentionally.' Here is a quote to keep us all focused on making the "festive season" a God-inspired month...

Albert Einstein - "Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."

We remember that Jesus' life was always one lived for others. It is our turn now!

Grace to you,
D3LM3

Father George Zabelka

Over 60 years ago Catholic Air Force Chaplin, Father George Zabelka blessed the men who dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Over the next two decades, he came to the realisation that he had been terribly wrong in lending moral and religious support to the bombings. In a speech, just before his death, Father Zabelka left this message:

"All I can say today is that I was wrong. Christ would not be the instrument to unleash such horror on his people. Therefore no follower of Christ can legitimately unleash the horror of war on God's people...All I can say is: I was wrong!
...to do otherwise would be to bypass the first and absolutely essential step in the process of repentance and reconciliation: admission of error and admission of guilt."

Now there is a thought - someone who is willing to admit they make a massive mistake. When last did we admit to making wrong choices & judgements? When last did we get to say 'sorry' and really mean it?

Living in Grace
D3LM3

P.S. I got this quote from Shane Claiborne's book 'Jesus for President.'

Great leaders

"He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander." - Aristotle

Could this be why Jesus is considered to be the greatest leader of all time?

Philippians 2:8 - And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Don't just follow any person - follow the best Leader!

Following Grace,
D3LM3

God is Greater

This week has brought it's own share of issues for me to face. Some of them have been easy to deal with, whilst others will still need more time and prayer! These 3 words have been ringing in my spiritual ears all week - "God is Greater!" (1 John 3:20)

In the next chapter, John adds these words - "Greater is He who is in me, than he that is in the world.” – 1 John 4:4

I see these words as a Promise - they give me hope. They remind me that what you and I face, may be difficult and perplexing, but God is Greater than these things. If I don't believe in this, then where do I turn? If the Lord can't stand alongside us and help us to defeat the 'giants' before us, then where is my hope?

When Elijah taunted the prophets of Baal, it was because he knew that God was Greater!

When David walked out to meet Goliath, it was because he knew the same thing to be true.

When Daniel refused to bow to a foreign king, he understood the same truth.

When you face your challenges today - what will go through your mind?
I am defeated? OR 'God is Greater!?'

Grace and peace
D3LM3

P.S. - Have a look at the photo and remind yourself of the 'greatness' of God.

Practise what you Preach!

I preached on "3 simple words" last Sunday morning and I used 1 John 3:11-24 as the main focus. Reflecting on these verses I highlighted 6 examples of "3 simple words" that challenge us in our Christian journey. Here they are:

"Love one another" - v.11
"Death to Life" - v.14
"God is Greater" - v.20
"He knows everything" - v.20
"Confidence before God" - v.21
"Live in Him" - v.24

Here's the thing - I have had to deal with every single one of these 6 'phrases' in the past 5 days. It is one thing to preach about a good idea, it's another thing to LIVE out what we believe in.

So, my challenge has been - "Practise, what you Preach!"
What about you? Do you "practise what you preach" and how easy is it for you?
In my experience, it is harder to "Live out" than to "Speak out!"

Live it out,
D3LM3

Halfway Mark

My friends reached the halfway mark of their Cycle Tour today. They managed a mammoth 575 km's in 4 days - that is impressive! So, tomorrow they will enjoy their rest day, up at Kosi Bay, before they start all over again and spend the next 4 days heading back to PMB. This quote is for them:

“Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” - William Carey (this is one of my favourite quotes!)

Oh, and here is another quote, to inspire us all to do great things for God ...

"I long to accomplish great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker." - Helen Keller

May we embrace this gift called 'Today' - there will never be another like it!

Living in God's Grace,
D3LM3

3 Never's

Driving to work this morning, East Coast Radio were having a 'phone-in' where they asked people to share the 3 things they would NEVER do. There were some interesting thoughts coming from the listeners and it got me thinking about what my "3 Never's" would be...

1. Never take my family for granted.
2. Never underestimate the power of God.
3. Never say "I can't!"

Continuing with our thoughts from yesterday (3 simple words), perhaps Jesus would also have 3 thoughts for us & all of them include the word 'Never.'

1. Never will I leave you, nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)
2. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8)
3. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life - (John 8:12)

What are your 3 "Never's?"

Living in Grace
D3LM3