Father, Forgive Them

What is the hardest part of forgiveness for you?
Which do you find harder to forgive - the harsh words or the actions of others?

Jesus sets before us an extremely hard example, when he utters the words from the cross, "Father, Forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing!" - Luke 23:34

He was choosing to take the sins of everyone upon himself and was pleading for the Father to have mercy on the very people who were destroying him. That is a tough act to follow.

Who are we needing to forgive today?
Do we have the courage to forgive?

We live in the shadow of His 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

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

IPoint Yokungabuyeli Emuva - Crossing our Jordan

UJulius Ceasar wawela I- Rubicon ngo 10th January 49 BC, wenza isinqumo sokudlula point yokungabuyeli emuva, ukwenza kwakhe ngokuqaphela okuhleliwe kwakukwenza impi eRome futhi umlando wawungasayo phinde ushitshe.
Into efanayo yenzeka kuma ISraelities mhla bewelela ngaphesheya komfula I-Jordan (Joshua 3) - impilo yayingasayo phinde ifane kubona futhi.

Nginesiqiniseko sokuthi bobabili u-Ceasar no Joshua babenokungabaza okwesikhashana, nokwesaba, nokungaqini. Khona manjalo bawelela ngaphesheya komfula. Uma sinokubuka izinto kabanzi ngo- 2010 sizofinyelela ezindaweni zezinqumo. Sizothatha isinqumo sokuya ngalena noma sime kwi shore ephephile.
Kungathathani kuthina ukuthatha isinqumo sokwenza into ewubungozi emfuleni? Isithembiso, ukusaba, ukuba phambili. Kunjani lokhu…..

“Qina ubenesibindi.” - Joshua 1:6.

“Angifune lungelo kumina-ngizinikele mina uqobo futhi angisalanga nalutho okungokwami” - Jonathan Edwards.
Ngiwela umfula woza ungijoyine
Ukuphila emseni.

Listening to the Voice of God

How hard is it for you to hear from God?

Come on now, don't evade the question!
... give yourself a score between 0 and 10.

I know that honesty hurts sometimes, but if we admit that it is hard to hear from God then maybe we can get to the root of the reasons for this.

Russel Norman (one of our Young Adults from my church) preached an awesome sermon on Sunday where he reminded us that one the reasons we fail to hear from God is 'Busyness.' He is spot on!

For me, when I am busy running around doing 'things for God', I end up being distracted and then slowly cutting out God's voice.

"I think God's going to come down and pull civilization over for speeding." ~ Steven Wright

Is this what happened to Solomon and David? Were they so busy running their Kingdom's 'for God' that they stopped listening to God for direction?

What do you think about 'busyness' and hearing God's voice?

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

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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme recently completed his first book ‘Living Oceans Apart.’ You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

How STRONG Are You Feeling

"Are you feeling strong?"

This is a weird phrase that has crept into our modern language over the years. If you were learning English, you would be forgiven for thinking that it has something to do with physical strength. However, it normally refers to how 'well' we are feeling. Technically, we should ask "Are you feeling well?"

So, let me ask us again - "Are you feeling strong?" No matter your answer, here is a verse which speaks of the promise of Godly strength...

"The Lord gives strength to his people;
The Lord blesses his people with peace." - Psalm 29:11

May you know God's strength and peace today.

May you be held in the 'strong arms' of Grace.

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

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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme recently completed his first book ‘Living Oceans Apart.’ You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

Time for a service!

All cars need to have regular services in order for them to function effectively. If we don't take them for these services then they will start to perform below their optimum.

The same applies in our spiritual lives. We need to discern the signs of our own spiritual well-being and if we need a little fine-tuning, then it is best to do this soon. This is what I did a couple of weeks back – I went for a spiritual check-up. Two days of spiritual restoration where I cleared my diary and spent time with Jesus renewing my soul.

Exodus 33:14 - The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

How is your spiritual engine going?

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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme recently completed his first book ‘Living Oceans Apart.’ You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

Unika uNkulunkulu yedwa udumo (Soli Deo Gloria)

Mhlawumbe useke wasizwa lesisisho phambilini. Mina ngiseke ngasizwa kodwa sengikhohlwe incazelo yaso yangempela. Uma ngibheka encwadini ye-Zenzo 3, lapho uPetru noJohane bephilisa indoda eyisishosha eyayihleli ngasemnnyango wethempeli othiwa omuHle; impendulo yendoda ngesikhathi nibonga ithi “ Ukunika uNkulunkulu yeda udumo.” Kutshengisa injabulo ngesimangaliso “egxuma, wema wahamba,” Efuna ukunika uNkulunkulu udumo ngalesisimangaliso esenzekile kuyena.

Abaqophi u Johann Sebastian Bach kanye no George Handel babejwayele ukubhala lamagama (SDG – Ukunika uNkulunkulu yedwa udumo) ekugcineni kweziqephu zabo. Into eyabafikela ngokushesha sebeqede iziqephu zabo ukuthi fanele banike uNkulunkulu udumo. Singakwazi ukufunda esidimeni sabo. Kuyahalisa ukuba siphile izimpilo zethu siphilela abanye abantu, kodwa ekugcineni umuntu ekudingeka simphilele nokuba sifune kuye ukuphila uNkulunkulu. Uvo lwakhe yilona lodwa olubalulekile.

Uma uNkulunkulu ekukhetha ukuba akusebenzisele into eqinile kulelisonto ungakhohlwa yilesisho (SDG – Ukunika uNkulunkulu yedwa udumo). Udumo kuNkulunkulu kuphela. Sengathi ungabusiseka.