Offer what you have

Reading through Trevor Hudson's chapter on "What is in your hand?" has been a deeply revealing time for me. Using Moses story from Exodus 4, where God challenges Moses to look at what he already has in his hand, Trevor invites us to do the same thing. Take a look at the ordinary, everyday 'tools' or 'gifts' that we have in our lives at the moment and then to allow God to use them for his purpose and glory.

I find that we so often look around at others and envy their gifts, abilities and talents, neglecting what God has placed into our hands. We spend so much time longing to be like someone else, when we could be offering God what we have. I strongly believe that every single one of us has been given some precious gift (yes, even you) and we honour God when we offering this back to him.

So, please take a minute and do this simple exercise. Write down every thing that you are good at and don't be humble about this. List the things that others see in you and which people have already affirmed in your life. When you have created this list, then say this prayer:

 “Dear God, thank you for this _______________ ability. I give it to you. I commit myself to develop it as much as I can. Will you please use it to make a difference in the lives of others.” (Trevor Hudson)

Ephesians 5:2 - "...and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

1 Peter 2:5 -  "...you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

 

The sacred blessing

There were only a few things that Jesus instructed his disciples to do after he had gone. One of those was to share in a meal of Remembrance, which is called by many different names - Holy Communion, The Lord's Supper, The Eucharist, Mass, A Love Feast and so on.

Believers approach this awesome meal from different angles, all seeking to express our devotion to Jesus. Some communities make the Lord's Supper open to all people and allow it to be instituted by any believer, while other churches require an Ordained person to bless the elements first. I am not going to get into the different theolgies today, but I want to invite us into a reflection on how we 'personally' experience this meal.

I think the following thoughts may be a helpful starting point:

"If the Lord's Supper were served in only one place, by only one ordained person in the world, many would make a sacred pilgrimage to experience it. But Communion celebrations are offered everywhere... This Communion is health to my soul and body." - Thomas a Kempis

As I read this I reflected on how I easily forget the massive gift Communion is to me. It is always a reminder of God's grace and mercy, revealed in the person of Jesus. I pray that the next time I share in this 'Gift' that I am touched by the Love of Jesus again.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Reflection from Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale is a well known figure and one could argue that the Nursing profession was forever changed through her brave actions. In an age when women were not allowed to work in certain professions, her actions allowed nursing to become a respectable career for thousands of women. She firmly believed that God had called her to serve people as a nurse and she was willing to overcome many obstacles to pursue her calling.

Towards the end of her life she made the following reflection on her unique calling:

“If I could give you information of my life it would be to show how a woman of very ordinary ability has been led by God in strange and unaccustomed paths to do in His service what He has done in her. And if I could tell you all, you would see how God has done all, and I nothing. I have worked hard, very hard, that is all; and I have never refused God anything."

Here is another thoughtful word from her:

"Were there none who were discontented with what they have, the world would never reach anything better."

 

Let us not underestimate what God can do through us. If we are willing to serve with God, He is willing to equip us for the task.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

It perishes!

 We had to replace a washer in the cistern the other day - it had perished. At first we couldn't figure out what the trouble was because it still looked fine. However, when we took it out and had a closer look, we realised it had perished.

This little incident reminded me that all things in this 'earthly' life will perish and fade. They will not last forever. However, as Christians we are offered the chance to experience something that is imperishable - something that lasts forever. His name is Jesus.

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors." - 1 Peter 1:18

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." - 1 Peter 1:23

"So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable." - 1 Corinthians 15:42

Spend less time stressing about the things that will fade or perish and more time on the things that will last forever.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Is God a Sphinx?

The Sphinx is a mythical figure appearing in both Greek and Egyptian traditions, although the Egyptian Sphinx is considerably kinder than his Greek counterpart. One of the roles of the Sphinx is to act as a guardian over tombs or holy places. We often see the famous photo's of the Great Sphinx of Giza protecting the Pyramids in the background.

Sometimes we are tempted to think that God is a Sphinx and that all he does is stand lifelessly guarding our world. He is there, but has no power to intervene or to actually do something. Although how God chooses to work, is a mystery to me, I do believe that He is alive.

"Christians believe in a God who speaks. Ours is not a silent God who sits, sphinx-like, looking out unblinking on a world in agony ... He speaks because he loves us. Love always seeks to communicate." - Donald Coggan

Exodus 33:11 - "The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend."

How do you feel?

Pray to the Lord, believing that he is not just ignoring your prayers, but is actively listening to every word that you are speaking.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Sharing the load

I was reminded again this morning of the importance of community. We meet at McCafe every Tuesday morning at 6am for coffee and a devotion. The group of guys that meet together range in ages, work experience, family situations, years of faith and so on. The one thing that we all have in common is a deep desire to be real in our Christian lives. We seek to be accountable to God and to each other. We don't want our faith just to be a "one hour Sunday thing", but rather to be an integral part of our existence. We are all far from perfect, but we know that we don't have to be perfect for God to love us.


The gift of meeting with other believers is that we get to share the load together. If I am feeling weak this week, I know that I can lean on my 'brothers in Christ'. If one of my friends is struggling this week, I allow them to lean on me - it is all about community and grace.

Who do you share your Christian experience with? Are you part of a small group or do you have spiritual friends who keep you on the right track? If you find that you are going it alone at the moment, I urge you to find a group to join. Community moves us out of our comfort zones into a place of deeper growth and accountability.

Philippians 2:1-3 - "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves."

 "God has given us two hands - one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing." -Billy Graham


Living in Grace
D3LM3

Silence is not an option

There comes a time when we just can't remain silent any longer. This could apply to a whole lot of things in our communities, world and even our churches. I know that Desmond Tutu has many detractors, but the one thing we can never accuse him of is "remaining silent." He has always been outspoken on things that have distrubed his Christian principles. He was once asked if he enjoyed his role as a modern prophet and this was his reply.

"...I do not do it because I like to do it. I do it because I am, what I believe to be the influence of God's hand. I cannot help it when I see injustice. I cannot keep quiet."

If we turn to the Bible, we see that both Job and Esther reached a crossroads in their lives where they also realised they couldn't remain silent.

Job 7:11 - “Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul."

Esther 4:14 - "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Is God prompting you to speak up on some issue or on behalf of someone in need? Ask for His strength to help you through this challenging time.


Living in Grace
D3LM3