Fill my heart with Grace

"In your mercy, fill my heart with Grace. How can I endure this life without your strength and mercy?" - Thomas a Kempis

We sometimes believe we have all the resources we need for life, yet we seem to lack something. Perhaps the necessary ingredient we need is one of these 3:

• Grace
• Strength
• Mercy

This is the prayer of Thomas a Kempis - he asks God to fill his heart with grace. He also recognises that he can't 'survive' without God's strength and mercy. Is this perhaps our story too? If it isn't one of these 3 resources that you need, what is it? Why not ask God for help today?

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Choosing God

Is there anyone who serves me with the same care and devotion given to the world and its leaders?
To gain a few dollars, a long trip may be taken;
for eternal life, many will barely lift a foot from the ground.

These are the words of Thomas a Kempis as he challenges the apathy of our faith. We are willing to do many things for 'worldly treasures', but often we are not prepared to go the distance for God. Quite a challenging sentiment and worthy chewing on today.

Psalm 94:12-15 (The Message)
"How blessed the man you train, God,
    the woman you instruct in your Word,
Providing a circle of quiet within the clamor of evil,
    while a jail is being built for the wicked.
God will never walk away from his people,
    never desert his precious people.
Rest assured that justice is on its way
    and every good heart put right."

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Speak Lord

The season of Lent helps us to tune into the voice of the Spirit., but we need to be intentional about listening for the voice of God. It is much easier to listen to the words of others or even of the ‘biblical prophets’, but it is the voice of Jesus that we need the most.

Perhaps a simple, but profound prayer during this season is Samuel’s prayer:

“Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” – 1 Samuel 3:10

Thomas a Kempis wrote:

“The Prophets may speak words, but they cannot give the Spirit.

Their language is beautiful, but if you are silent it will not set my heart on fire.

They give words, but you give the words meaning.

They present mysteries, but you unlock what it hidden.”

Listen for the still small voice of the Spirit today.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Lent 1 - Spiritual Comfort

We often use Lent as a time to give up various vices and in the past I have given up things like coffee, chocolate and coke. This year I would like make my priority "taking up" something meaningful, so I have gone back to one of my favourite books 'The Imitation of Christ' (by Thomas a Kempis).

I hope to read a portion of this book every day and then to reflect on it using Scripture where possible. For those of you who are familiar with the book, it is divided into 4 parts - so I will be starting in the 3rd part for my Lenten journey.

"This is what your Beloved is saying: I am your salvation, your peace and your life. Keep beside me and you will find peace. Abandon all the things that pass away, and seek the things that are eternal." - Thomas a Kempis

May we walk closely with Jesus and may we experience His deep peace, despite what may be happening all around us.

Philippians 4:7 - "Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

Living in Grace
D3LM3

It's all about Preparation

We use the phrase "It's all about preparation" in the context of sport or business, but I believe that it's equally compelling to use it in this season of Lent. Today marks Ash Wednesday, which is the starting point in our journey towards Easter. Like I have mentioned before, we are not required by God to observe Lent, and no one is going to rate you a second class Christian if you choose to ignore this season, but let me share why it has become a meaningful time for me (and many others).

I find that life is so rushed at the moment and my spiritual life feels the squeeze of thousands of other demands. Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday are watershed moments in our Faith and I feel it is a shame to allow them to creep up on me without any warning. In truth, I could easily allow the rush of life to accelerate me into the Easter Weekend, without pausing long enough to reflect on the cross and the empty tomb.

But, if this happens then I feel like something is missing. My spirit needs time to wrestle deeply with the suffering of Jesus, the stories of 'Holy Week', the mystery of the Resurrection and the miracle of grace. So, this is why I value "preparing for Easter" (Lent) and reflecting on the Good News of the Cross/Resurrection in bite sizes - over 40 days or so. Lent becomes a discipline for me - a helpful spiritual practise choosing to push pause on a few of my other demands and distractions.

I don't observe lent to be seen as a Saint, I observe lent to be more in tune with my Saviour. But it is most effective for me, when I spend the time preparing!

Joshua 7:13 - ‘Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, “Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: there are devoted things among you, Israel. 

Let me know your thoughts?

Living in Grace
D3LM3

An honest look at ourselves

We are always eager to see the wrong in others, but the greatest challenge of our 'new life' in Christ is to see the sin in ourselves. 

e not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/thomas_a_kempis.html#bdP2mDi8uSCm5Juk.99

"Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be." - Thomas a Kempis

Jesus said it like this:

"For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. ‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?" - Matthew 7:2-4

Worth thinking about I think?

Living in Grace
D3LM3

 not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/thomas_a_kempis.html#bdP2mDi8uSCm5Juk.99

Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/thomas_a_kempis.html#bdP2mDi8uSCm5Juk.99

Responding to a Call

“There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow human beings. There is no greater contribution than to help the weak. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well.” - Walter Reuther

I have been thinking long and hard this past week ... (hope you haven't seen to much smoke coming from my little brain) ... about the issue of 'Calling'. What does it mean for us to be called by God and where will this lead us? 

In a simple way, I see that God calls us to follow him (Mark 1:17) and then also to be willing to share in His work on earth. This 'second' calling will be different for each one of us, but I strongly believe that each one of us is given something to do for God. It is a wonderful privilege to be in partnership with our Lord, as he seeks to renew our communities. 

So, what has God called you to do? Are you willing to step out in faith and follow His lead?

Let me know what you feel on this topic.

 ·      Ephesians 4:1 – “As a prisoner for the Lord then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

Living in Grace
D3LM3