Tilt

Last week I was driving from Petrol station to Petrol station trying to fill up with petrol. I eventually managed to find one that had unleaded petrol, but I was getting worried for a moment. While I was driving around something made me tilt my head left and look at the petrol gauge from a side view - it definitely looked a lot better. The gauge showed I had a quarter of a tank. However, when I carried on with my experiment and tilted my head 'right' the gauge was in the red. Both were inaccurate - the truth lay somewhere in the middle.

When you are facing a situation, which way are you looking at it? If our perspective is tilted to much to the one side we may panic unnecessarily. However, if our perspective is at the opposite extreme, we may think all is fine, when we need to be preparing for action.

Let's seek the balance.

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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

We All Need Help

This is a picture of a boat station at Lizard, the Southern most point in England. It was from this point that many passengers and sailors were saved when their boats/ships sunk of this treacherous coastline.

It seems a little 'worse for wear' nowadays, but it still stands to remind all of us that people need help sometimes. In the midst of unexpected storms we may need someone to reach out and help us.

Thank God that He has given us his son Jesus, as the perfect Saviour.

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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

Comfort Zone

In 'God is closer than you think' John Ortberg shares about a principal called 'Habituation'. It sounds awfully confusing, but it is actually very simple to understand.

Habituation refers to how something that is new and exciting eventually becomes ordinary and loses it's 'new appeal.' This happens in relationships, it can happen with new cell-phones or gadgets, it also happens with work. The initial 'wow' factor vanishes and we move into a kind of comfort zone.

The real danger comes into play when our faith develops 'habituation.' This results in a sense of 'spiritual comfort.' We lose the passion we once had for the Good News and the things of God.

Revelation 2:4 - "You have lost your first love."

Has this happened to you?

If it has, then ask God to make your faith 'fresh' again. Ask the Spirit to breathe newness into your soul.

(Image from http://4.bp.blogspot.com)

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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

Pause

When you are watching a DVD and there is an interruption, who pushes pause on the remote?

When life is hectic and you feel as if you are juggling too many things, who gets to push pause?

In the first instance, it doesn't matter who pushes pause, as long as you don't miss the important part of the movie and to be honest, time doesn't matter.

In the second instance, we are the only people who can push pause, but we seldom do! We don't push pause because we are worried we will miss something or we say we 'can't afford to stop' or who will do my work for me?

But, here's the thing - if you burn yourself out, because you don't want to push pause, someone else will end up having to do your job, look after your kids, step in for you at Church, finish that task etc.

PUSH PAUSE! You have the remote in your hand!

"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." - Mark 6:31

May we live in grace!

(Image from http://1.bp.blogspot.com)

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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

Tomorrow is Today

I have been reminded again of the urgency of 'the moment.' It came via a blogpost from Seth Godin. In his post he quotes these monumental words from Martin Luther King Jnr.

"We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with a lost opportunity. The tide in the affairs of men does not remain at flood -- it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is adamant to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, "Too late."

Wow, wow, wow!

The Scriptures say this in a similar way:

Hebrews 4:7 - "God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

Do it NOW!
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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N

We heard a catchy song the other day by Noah and the Whale called L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N - It's a really great song, but it has a sad story behind it. Some of the lyrics go as follows ...

"L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.
What you don't have now will come back again
You've got heart and you're going your own way."

Whenever you are feeling down, remember that with God on your side. Life does go on. The Lord gives us hope even in the darkest of times. Keep going and have faith.
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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart,’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

The God of Surprises

My family live in a beautiful part of England! The city of Bath is truly amazing and well worth a visit if you ever pop over to the UK. It is filled with so much history, going back even to the time of Christ. One of the things that made Bath world famous was the warm water that bubbled up from under the city, first discovered 2000 years ago by the Romans. Almost all roads led to Bath in those days and there are traces of the Romans all over the place. The water was thought to have healing powers and so it attracted rich and poor, who were all keen to live longer and to be healed from their ailments. You can still taste some of this water today if you like, as the Bath Spa continues to tap the same water source that drew the Romans to the city, all those years ago... however, it does not taste great! Why is it that all medicine tastes disgusting?!

There is another person who has added to the historical story of Bath and that is none other than Jane Austen. The picture in the blog is from one of her residences, when she lived in the city. I am sure that you all know who Jane Austen is, but in case you don't have a clue Jane is the English novelist who wrote Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Emma, Pride and Prejudice and many more. She lived in the city in the early 1800's.

One of the awesome things I like about Bath is that no matter how many times you walk in the city you keep stumbling upon surprises. It happened to us today - we walked past the magnificent Abbey and came upon an ancient fountain that we had missed every time previously... except today, that is. It was brilliant - I love surprises.

Anyway, remember that no matter how familiar things may be in our homes, places of work, worship and even in our communities, that God is the God of surprises. God wants to bless us with new discoveries every day. Look out for them and let me know when you find one!
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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart,’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

Music That Moves You

Why is it that sometimes I wake up in the morning and I have a song in my mind? Does it also happen to you? I am not one who wakes up to the radio, but I do find it strange that a song immediately pops into my head. This song normally lives with me the rest of the day - weird, isn't it?!

Music is powerful.
Music can fuel our emotions.
Music can change our moods.
Music moves us.

The Bible speaks about music in a number of places, but the Psalms are the obvious epicentre of these lyrics and songs. Listen to what the Psalmist says:

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord..." - Psalm 98:4-5

May you be moved by music today.
May the 'love songs' of God speak to your spirit.


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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart,’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

No One Noticed!

How long would it take before people realised you weren't doing so well or even worse, that you weren't breathing anymore? Minutes, hours, days?

In the last few days I have stumbled across a few sad stories of people who have died in their homes or in one case, a fire in his home, and all of these people were not 'missed' for months! One old lady was only found years later. That's tragic, don't you think? I understand that some people like to keep to themselves or perhaps they don't have any family close by, but to be dead and this to go unnoticed - that's horrific.

Wouldn't it be bleak if the church died and no one noticed? Wouldn't it be heart-wrenching when a Christian community, that used to be the life and soul of a town, ceased to exist and people hardly missed a step? My prayer is that our churches are so needed, essential and life-giving that we (and the rest of the community) would fight to keep them alive and well! What do you think?
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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

Take Off Your Shoes

God instructed Moses to take off his shoes as a sign of awe, reverence and worship. This must have been humbling for Moses, but he wasn't going to argue with God. In truth, Moses was probably looking for some way to respond to the holiness of the moment - so if God was asking for 'no shoes', then Moses obeyed.

When last did you take off your shoes as a sign of awe, wonder and amazement?

Ah, but you are arguing that you have not seen God in the burning bush lately - which is true, but God has revealed his glory all around us! Perhaps we have been looking in the wrong places.

"Earth is crammed with heaven,
And every bush is aflame with God
But only those who see, take off their shoes." - Elizabeth Browning

Sense God's Grace today.
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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

Change

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." - Leo Tolstoy

If we could change the world by changing ourselves, would we try?

It is always easier to recognise the faults in others and to expect them to change these faults, before we are willing to change ourselves. This is especially true in our friendships and relationships. We say to ourselves, "I will be more loving or patient when my friend treats me differently." But Tolstoy argues that we need to begin with ourselves first.

Jesus agrees...
Matthew 7:3 - "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?"

May we change the world, by first changing ourselves.

May we live in grace!
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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

Rebuilding Walls

Visiting Castles and ruined Abbey’s always leaves me with more questions than answers. I love the fact that I have the privilege of standing on a piece of ground that has previously had knights, kings, servants and commoners all walking over it. It blows my mind. But, I always feel that I want to ask these historical people a million questions – what was life really like? What did you do for recreation? What was the food like? How did you cope without the internet?

Seriously though, when I see these former Landmarks in ruin I like to remember the story of Nehemiah. It broke his heart to see his home city broken and in ruins. He was moved to rebuild the city and the walls, thus bringing a nation back together again. Nehemiah had been given a mandate from the Lord and he was willing to do all he could to restore the city to its former glory days.

“So we rebuilt the wall ...for the people worked with all their heart.” – Nehemiah 4:6

What parts of our lives or communities may need rebuilding? Are we willing to be the ones to start the process? Just asking?
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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za