Somethings don't change!

"But Lord, you remain the same forever!    Your throne continues from generation to generation." - Lamentations 5:19

Kingdoms come and go. Princes, Rulers, Queens and King, all lead for a time, but they are also displaced by new leaders. Nothing lasts forever. However, in the midst of a life of uncertainty, Jeremiah reaches out to the only One who remains constant - God. In a sense, Jeremiah says to us, "somethings may change, but our Lord never does!"

And so as we live in an age of unexpected twists and turns, I also ask us all to rely on the One who remains the same.

Thank you God that You are unchanging.

Living in Grace
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You may not get what you ask for!

Prayer is a complex thing. We ask God for things, believing that these 'things' are best for us, but we can never fully appreciate life from the vantage point that God has. So, sometimes we have to process our disappointment and trust that God has a better plan.

I came across this lovely quote when I was preparing for Sunday's message. It speaks about how God answers our prayers, but not in the way we expect. I would love to know your thoughts on this. Drop me a line when you can.

I asked for strength that I might achieve; he made me weak that I might obey.

I asked for health that I might do great things: he gave grace that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy; he did not give them so that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness that I might feel a need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life; I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I received very few of the things I asked for; but I received the things I had hoped for.” - Haddon Robinson.

Matthew 7:9-11 - “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

As we edge closer to Easter, remember that even Jesus needed to surrender to the plans of his Father - it was not Jesus' will to suffer, but he trusted in the wisdom of his Father.

 

Living in Grace
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Persevere

An elderly lady was once asked by a young man who had grown weary in the fight, whether he ought to give up the struggle. 
"I am beaten every time," he said dolefully. "I feel I must give up." 
"Did you ever notice," she replied, smiling into the troubled face before her, "that when the Lord told the discouraged fishermen to cast their nets again, it was right in the same old spot where they had been fishing all night and had caught nothing?" - Source Unknown.

Did you notice that? If not, then read Luke 5 to see it again.
Even though the disciples had tried something, Jesus still wanted them to persevere. He wanted to teach them to be obedient and to trust in his direction. Perseverance is sometimes about trusting that we were right the first time and that the thing we are attempting is worth another go.

Remember that our Faith is never going to be an easy commitment to live out. We are going to have days were we feel like giving up. Hang on for one more day and listen to the promptings of Jesus.

Thought: Can you imagine what would have happened if Jesus had given up just before he had completed his Life's work?

Living in Grace
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No more music

Can you imagine a world of no more music?! I don't think we could cope with that, do you? Music is a massive part of all of our lives. Most of us enjoying listening to it throughout the day and many talented people love playing their own music. Life would be hollow with no music!

Jeremiah laments that things were so bad in Judah that even the young people stopped playing their music... if you don't believe me, read for yourself:

"Music from the young is heard no more." - Lamentations 5

Our youngsters at home are at the age now where they love turning the music up louder and louder - it is hard to imagine our home/cars without the young ones playing their music. However, sometimes life can get so tough that it seems as if the music has died. Silence seems to rob us of the gift of song.

Easter teaches me that even when the enemy believed that God would sing no more, Jesus proved him wrong. 

Even though things may be tough for you today, please don't stop the music from playing. Remember the song of our Lord always reminds us that "God is Faithful and His love lasts forever."

Living in Grace
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Restored

I have been asked why I am using a lot of readings from Lamentations of late. The answer is simple really - I have been reading and reflecting on these 5 chapters from Jeremiah, as part of my own Lenten experience.

This book is about the cry of God's people, when they realised they had messed up.
It is about being down and out, but realising that God has not given up on us, even if it seems that way at first.
It is about a deep seated hope that we can be RESTORED, no matter our state of heart.

This is the essence of the Gospel, isn't it. Once we were lost, but now we have been found. Once we were blind, but now we see again. Remember along the way that God may seem to have lost interest in us, but this is NOT the case. God is in the business of restoring us.

Psalm 51:12 - "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you."

Living in Grace
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Disgrace

"Remember, Lord, what has happened to us;
 look, and see our disgrace." - Lamentations 5:1

There is something tragic about one person calling another person a 'disgrace.' That word DISGRACE speaks so much shame over a another person. When Jeremiah was pleading with God to remember what had happened to them and for the Lord to notice their disgrace, he could have been saying, "Hey, God see how much SHAME is upon us!"

Lent reminds me that even when I am ashamed of myself, for whatever reason, Jesus has offered me the chance of redemption. Jesus doesn't see me as others do. 

“Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.” - Brené Brown

Living in Grace
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Gold loses its appeal

"How the gold has lost its lustre,
    the fine gold become dull!
The sacred gems are scattered    at every street corner." - Lamentations 4:1

When things hit a wobbly in our lives, even the finest things seem to lose their lustre. This is what Jeremiah is getting at when he writes Chapter 4 of Lamentations. The suffering of the people is so immense that even precious items (gold, gems) seem to be dull. Materials things have lost their attraction and all the people long for is some hope.

"The miserable have no other medicine
But only hope." ~William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

Do you know someone who is facing a tough time at the moment? Perhaps we could be an answer to their prayers - maybe we could offer them the hope of Jesus.

Living in Grace
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