Two young persons shared the preaching duty this Sunday: Lael who has just graduated from high school and her brother Samuel who is on his way back to university. Listen to how young people experience and see God.
Something that I have been learning recently is to come as I am.
I am learning to come when I struggle, for He is the helper.
I am learning to come when I am confused and uncertain, for He is the counsellor. I am learning to come when it feels like I am falling, for He is faithful to catch me.
I am learning to come, regardless of circumstance, because His grace is faithful to overcome every grave.
In Matthew 11:28-30 it says “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Our days, and our destiny cannot be determined by our brokenness. We cannot let ourselves be governed by our lack.
Where do we let our faith rest? — In the gnawing of the grave, or in the great hope of grace?
Jesus spoke to the disciples in Mark 8 when they had forgotten to bring food with them on a boat:
“The disciples began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all? When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?” “Twelve,” they said.
“And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?” “Seven,” they said.
“Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.”
Do we understand yet?
Do we know that He is enough, that His grace is victorious every time?
Do we let our faith reside in His unshakable faithfulness, or do we set our sights on the wounds and pains that life has given us?
Our God is an extravagant God, the God of more than enough.
It matters not how we come, only that we do.
He loves the wounded places of our hearts, the corners covered in dust and brokenness, those tender and intimate spaces.
He loves to walk into those avenues and to redeem them.
He loves the weak, for in them His strength is made perfect.
He is near to the broken-hearted, he blesses the poor in spirit and holds close those who mourn.
We get to come to Daddy God, and release our faith in His wholeness, in His nearness.
We don’t speak to our days and destinies out a place of weariness and brokenness, we don’t anchor our faith to the grave, but we cling to His vibrant and extravagant grace.
We can let loose the sails of our hearts, freely cast our faith on Him. There is enough. And He is faithful.
So we will come and come again, and let our faith run free.
There is hope for the yearnings of our hearts. -- There is grace for the dreams sprouting in us.
We can feed them with the faithful promises of God, we come and bring them as we are, for it is His grace that makes us whole.
Philippians 1:6 “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
So come as you are. Bring what you have, every beautiful and broken piece.
Let His faithfulness fulfill you, as your faith resides in the shadow of His wing.
Lay down the burdens, and let the revelation of His goodness anchor you, and become a foundation for all the dreams and desire in your hearts.
He is a good Father, and there is always enough for the seeds He has planted within you to grow and prosper.
I am learning to come when I struggle, for He is the helper.
I am learning to come when I am confused and uncertain, for He is the counsellor. I am learning to come when it feels like I am falling, for He is faithful to catch me.
I am learning to come, regardless of circumstance, because His grace is faithful to overcome every grave.
In Matthew 11:28-30 it says “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Our days, and our destiny cannot be determined by our brokenness. We cannot let ourselves be governed by our lack.
Where do we let our faith rest? — In the gnawing of the grave, or in the great hope of grace?
Jesus spoke to the disciples in Mark 8 when they had forgotten to bring food with them on a boat:
“The disciples began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all? When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?” “Twelve,” they said.
“And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?” “Seven,” they said.
“Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.”
Do we understand yet?
Do we know that He is enough, that His grace is victorious every time?
Do we let our faith reside in His unshakable faithfulness, or do we set our sights on the wounds and pains that life has given us?
Our God is an extravagant God, the God of more than enough.
It matters not how we come, only that we do.
He loves the wounded places of our hearts, the corners covered in dust and brokenness, those tender and intimate spaces.
He loves to walk into those avenues and to redeem them.
He loves the weak, for in them His strength is made perfect.
He is near to the broken-hearted, he blesses the poor in spirit and holds close those who mourn.
We get to come to Daddy God, and release our faith in His wholeness, in His nearness.
We don’t speak to our days and destinies out a place of weariness and brokenness, we don’t anchor our faith to the grave, but we cling to His vibrant and extravagant grace.
We can let loose the sails of our hearts, freely cast our faith on Him. There is enough. And He is faithful.
So we will come and come again, and let our faith run free.
There is hope for the yearnings of our hearts. -- There is grace for the dreams sprouting in us.
We can feed them with the faithful promises of God, we come and bring them as we are, for it is His grace that makes us whole.
Philippians 1:6 “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
So come as you are. Bring what you have, every beautiful and broken piece.
Let His faithfulness fulfill you, as your faith resides in the shadow of His wing.
Lay down the burdens, and let the revelation of His goodness anchor you, and become a foundation for all the dreams and desire in your hearts.
He is a good Father, and there is always enough for the seeds He has planted within you to grow and prosper.
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1. Living under God's grace
2. Embrace God's love 3. Remember that God is in control 
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2 Corinthians 12:9 Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.
Ephesians 3:19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Philippians 4:6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Psalms 118:6 The LORD is for me, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? |
2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
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