Something to shout about

When something good happens in our lives it is important to shout out the news of this great joy. Many people do this via social media nowadays, but we can also simply tell others the news via the trusted means of our voices. 

Zechariah speaks out the good news of God's presence amongst us when he says:

“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you." - Zechariah 2:10-11

I take solace from the picture of God always living amongst his people. And when this happens we KNOW that God has sent help our way.

Question: How do you feel about Zechariah's good news? Does it change the way you view life when you know that God lives amongst us?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Words fit for a King

Sometimes we find ourselves lost for words and it is not for a lack of words to use, but rather a moment where we just can't seem to place them in the right order - we struggle to express how we are feeling. 

In this season of Advent I would like to explore a theme entitled: Words fit for a King. My motivation for this is that we should seek appropriate words to express our praise and worship of King Jesus. Thankfully there are many people who have already gone before us and they have given us a great head-start. This week we explore the words of the ancient prophets who conveyed their longing for the Messiah in very eloquent and expressive language. 

Jeremiah wrote of a desire for a King who would rule with wisdom, righteousness and compassion.

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness." - Jeremiah 23:5-6 (KJV)

Eugene Peterson puts the last part of these verses like this: This is the name they’ll give him: ‘God-Who-Puts-Everything-Right.’ (The Message)

Thought: As you express your heart to God today, what does it mean to trust in a God who is able to put everything right? 

If you would like to listen to the sermon from Sunday you can click onto this link.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Dealing with disappointment

As I write these words most of our lives have been turned upside down again. There are many of us who have just had the wind taken out of our sails. Covid-19 has played another hand and it has caused major disappointment for families who were planning on spending precious time together. None of us really expected the new variant of the virus to strike so quickly, but it has. And so now we deal with the disappointment. The question is how do we cope?

In truth, I am probably not the best person to answer this question, as usually I am bad at dealing with sudden disappointment. However, I am grateful for the words and wisdom of those who have also experienced this emotion and have discovered the capacity to handle it. 

“If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment.” - Henry David Thoreau

"Disappointments are inevitable; discouragement is a choice." - Charles Stanley

I think this quote is very helpful for us in today's climate. We very easily slip into discouragement, but I pray that we don't allow our disappointments to way to heavily on our hearts. May we turn to Christ and seek His peace.

Proverbs 23:18 - You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Do not give in to fear

To mark the beginning of 16 days of Activism in South Africa I wanted to share this beautiful quote from Rosa Parks. As you read this please reflect on your own fears, convictions, ministry and the hurdles you need to overcome.

“I learned to put my trust in God and to see Him as my strength. Long ago I set my mind to be a free person and not to give in to fear. I always felt that it was my right to defend myself if I could. I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear." - Rosa Parks

This made me think about Jesus' final moments again. Was he afraid? Was he tempted to give into his fears? 

If we understand his humanity, then I am sure there would have been a part of Jesus that encountered fear, but at the same time, Jesus would have known the peace that passes all understanding. The Father gave him strength to overcome the greatest challenge in his life.

And God can do the same for us too.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Still I rise

Maya Angelou wrote these words at a time of great struggle and pain in her life. What I love about the sentiment of her writing is that every one of us can relate to parts of her experience. Although the discrimination and rejection she went through are unique to her situation, they provide a link with all human suffering. Despite all of this, she still had the courage to state: STILL I WILL RISE!

“You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.”

May you and I learn to RISE with Jesus Christ - he is the one who helps us overcome!

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Remembering C.S. Lewis

Forgive me for being a day or two late, but the 22nd November marks the anniversary of the death of C.S. Lewis. Needless to say he left a huge legacy in the literary arena, as well as in the church context. To honour his life and his contribution, I have chosen a few of his lesser known quotes to share with you. 

May God bless you as you read these today.

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: “What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”

“Crying is all right in its own way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do.” 

“We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.” 

Which is your favourite C.S. Lewis quote of all time - please share it with me. Thanks.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Stronger together

Times are tough for everyone at the moment and this is when we need to stick together, especially with those we love and those in the body of Christ.

"Separate reeds are weak easily broken, but bound together are strong and hard to part." - Unknown

The writer of Ecclesiastes would give his approval of this sentiment as he once wrote:

"By yourself you’re unprotected.
With a friend you can face the worst.
Can you round up a third?
A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped." - Ecclesiastes 4:12 (Message)

What do you feel about this?

Living in grace

D3LM3