Put the Light On!

Stumbling in the dark is not without it's dangers. Stubbing your toes, walking into coffee tables or walls, feeling your way from room to room and praying that you will find the matches. This happens when our physical worlds are plunged into darkness, but is it not the same kind of scenario when spiritually or emotionally we feel the darkness descend? It's hazardous territory.

Thankfully, 'Light' and 'darkness' are very popular themes in the scriptures. Take this one for example:

"You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness." - Psalm 18:28

Live in the light of God's grace!

Ukwesaba (Fear)

Nganginikeza umfana wami inkulumo encane enemandla-wayedlala ibhola lezinyawo ntambama and ngangizama ukumkhuthaza ukuthi ayithokozele enze kangcono. Ngokushesha,wathi kumina, “Baba angikusabi ukulahlekelwa nguwena manje!”Nokho, angikwazanga noku khuluma! Ngangingasho ukuthi kumele anqobe umdlalo, Ngangizama ukuthi agxile emdlalweni. Kwasobala, wayesecabangile emqondweni wakhe ukuthi wayezowujabulela, kodwa ukuthi wayengasabi ukuhlulwa!’

Ngike ngahlatshwa phambilini ngabantu abaningana abasaba izinto ezahlukene, ukwesaba kuyefana kubantu, singcina sesilwa nokusaba okwahlukene. Pho yini oyesabayo? Uma ufuna ukusazisa, sicela uye lapha bese ulandela lokhu okuhlanganayo. Kuzokuthatha imizuzwana ewu-20.

Ngiyazi ukuthi ngike ngakubhala lokhu phambilini, kodwa kubukeka vele kufanelekile:

Amahubo 46:2 – “ngakho-ke asiyokwesaba nakuba kuguquka umhlaba, nezintaba zidilikela ekujuleni kolwandle…”

Jeremiya 39:17 – “Kodwa ngiyakukukhipha ngalolo suku, kusho uJehova; angeke unikelwe esandleni sabantu obesabayo.”

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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

Do Something!

Oscar Romero of El Salvador was assassinated in 1980 for speaking up for his faith. In part of a beautiful poem, he wrote these words:

"This is what we are about:
We plant seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects beyond our capabilities."

Do something for God today. Plant the seed; water the seed or lay some foundation. It may not be complete, but God will help to bring the appropriate harvest.

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

Ukuhamba ema-Thempelini (Walking Temples)

Kunalendima emangazayo ku 1 Korinte 6 njalo mina iyangimangaza.

Anginaso isiqiniseko sokuthi imangaza mina ngoba (1) uNkulunkulu ubenakho ukusebenza kanjena noma (2) ingoba Amakholwa engenakho ukuqikelela ukuthi anamandla angakanani aphila ngaphakathi kwethu – Ngikhuluma ngomoya oyingcwele ophila ngaphakathi kwethu ngabanye.

Ifunde bese ubona ukuthi ucabangani…

“Awaits yini ukuthi umzimba uyithempeli lomoya oyingcwele, okunina, eninamukela kuNkulunkulu? Nokuthi anisibo abenu, ngokuba nathengwa ngenani elikhulu. Ngakho-ke mbongeni uNkulunkulu emzimbeni wenu.”-1 Korinte 6:19-20

Ingabe uNkulunkulu uyagula, unobuhlakani noma ulunge kakhulu ekuvumeleni thina ukuba asibusise ngomoya oyingcwele? Akengizwe owakho umucabango!

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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

Give Me Sense

Some things just make sense. For example, when you buy a steaming hot cup of coffee from a take-away and the lid says, "Be careful. Hot Coffee!" That makes sense to most of us, but clearly someone has got 'burnt' before, hence the need for the warning.

God's word and commands also make sense and they are given to us to prevent us from getting 'burnt.' Sadly, many people think they know better and have chosen to ignore God's direction. That doesn't make sense to me, but then again, people are people!

Listen to what Psalm 119:73 says,
"You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands."

Just like the message on the hot coffee is to protect us, so it is the same for God's word. God wants to lead us into a life that is 'best for us.'

May we have the sense to follow God's commands, and may we always remember to 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

Worship

Millions of Christ-followers will have worshipped Jesus this Sunday. Many of this number might have been distracted and left their church buildings feeling empty. I have been greatly challenged by this quote from Louie Giglio:

"When God is not greatly praised, it's only because we don't think he's that great of a God. When our worship is small, it is because our concept of God is small. When we offer God little-bitty sacrifices, it's because we have somehow reduced him in our hearts to a little-bitty God. Our vision has become clouded, our hearts distracted. As a result, our lives shrivel into insignificance and meaninglessness. We just bump along in this mass of humanity, having no real clue what life is all about. We fret. We get depressed. We worry and get bent out of shape. We go down all kinds of dead end paths as we try to accomplish everything by ourselves. Sometimes leading to irreversible destruction."

What will our response be?

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" - Luke 4:8

Live in Grace!

(Image from http://2.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

Umthandazo ka-Jesu (The Jesus Prayer)

Yini oyithandazayo uma uzizwa ukhathele noma ungekukhuthazeka? Kuleli sonto, ngizithole ngithandaza Umthandazo kaJesu njalo. Ulula, kodwa ujule kakhulu.

“ Nkulunkulu Jesu Krestu, Ndodana ka-Nkulunkulu, yiba nobubele kumina, nase zonweni.”

Kungani ungaziniki umzuzwana mase ngokuthulile uthandaze lomthandazo.

Ukuphila emseni,
Delme

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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