Trust is earned

When Jesus made the following comments to his disciples, he was implying that TRUST is something that is earned through acts of faithfulness. Well, that is how I read what he says in Luke 16

If you’re honest in small things,
    you’ll be honest in big things;
If you’re a crook in small things,
    you’ll be a crook in big things.
If you’re not honest in small jobs,
    who will put you in charge of the store?
No worker can serve two bosses:
    He’ll either hate the first and love the second
Or adore the first and despise the second.
    You can’t serve both God and the Bank. (Message - Luke 16:101-13)

How are you faring in the small things? Remember that the Lord is more concerned about the faithfulness and honesty in the small things FIRST. Once God knows our hearts, then he is willing to entrust us with greater tasks.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Titanic, Meteoric and Astronomic

"God’s love is meteoric, 

his loyalty astronomic, 

His purpose titanic, 

his verdicts oceanic. 

Yet in his largeness nothing gets lost; 

Not a man (or woman), not a mouse, slips through the cracks." - Psalm 36:5-6 (Message)

Don't you just love the way this Psalm speaks about the "Awesomeness" of God?

When last did you use the words: Meteoric, astronomic, titanic and oceanic all in one sentence. I think it's BRILLIANT.

May God bless you with his glorious riches today.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Flamboyant versus faithful

We live in an age where the ‘Flamboyant’ seems to trump the ‘Faithful.’ However, if you ask me which one I prefer I will always choose ‘Faithfulness’ over ‘Flamboyancy.’ The fashions and fads of this year will pass away over time, but it is the faithful things that pass the test of time.

There is a danger in that we chase after the ‘flamboyant’ because it seems more exciting than the Faithful, but in the end it too lets us down.

Exodus 34:6 - The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

Psalm 40:10 - I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

Don’t be mis-lead by the flamboyant. It often proves short-lived.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Respect to all women

On this National Women's Day let me add my voice of THANKS and RESPECT to all you amazing women out there. I know that us men joke about being able to "multi-task" and "survive" without the women in our communities, but we all know that isn't quite true. May God bless you all today.

Solomon realised the same thing when he wrote these words about finding a Godly women:
 
"When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
    and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
    and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
    her husband joins in with words of praise:
“Many women have done wonderful things,
    but you’ve outclassed them all!”
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
    The woman to be admired and praised
    is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
    Festoon her life with praises!"

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Do you want to know who are you?

Who are you?
Seems like a strange question to ask of us, because we all know what our names are, but that is not the original question. In my opinion, "WHO ARE YOU?", asks a fundamental question of ourselves - it asks us questions like:

"What makes us tick?"
or, "what drives you to do something?"
or, "what am I prepared to live/die for?"
or, "what do I value the most?"

Thomas Jefferson once said: "Do you want to know who you are?!
Don't ask. Act!
Action will delienate and define you."

Mark 8:29 - Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.”

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Jesus doesn't like religion either

To put Jesus in the same sentence as the word 'religion' is not really accurate, in my opinion. Jesus spoke out so strongly against the religious hypocrisy of his age, because he knew that the 'religious' structures had strangled the life out of the best relationship of all - a relationship with the Father.

Religion should be a vehicle through-which one lives out our relationship with God. In other words, Religion needs to be the servant of 'Christianity', not the other way round. I humbly suggest that when Religion becomes our master, we lose all "vital signs" of LIFE in our faith.

"A religion of rules and regulations, practised to achieve status and praise, is only an invitation to slavery and misery. Of itself, religion does not bring joy.” – Warren Wiersbe

I believe that any committed follower of Christ will seek to honour Jesus, and not necessarily religion. There are times in history, where the two (Christianity and religion) have been closely affiliated, but sadly at other times this hasn't been true. 

So, if  'religion' is stifling your faith, then perhaps we need to redefine what the limits of religion are.

James 1: 27 - Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

What is Joy?

We often misunderstand 'Joy' as being 'happy'. However it runs a lot deeper than simply being happy. Being happy is an emotional state of being, but Joy is a fruit of God's Spirit living within us. So, in a simplistic way - we can be filled with Joy, but not feel happy. It does seem strange, but I wonder how you feel about that?

Here are a few other thoughts on Joy:

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." - Galatians 5:22-23



“Joy is the by-product of obedience.” - Traditional. 

"Joy is prayer; 
joy is strength: 
joy is love; 
joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls." - Mother Teresa

May you experience God's JOY in your heart today
D3LM3