Reflection: Creation: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What makes you feel separated from God? From others?

2.     In what ways do you think you separate yourself from others? From your own heart?

3.     Do you think of Christ as being the center of all creation always? How does that change our perspective within our diversity?

4.     What word do you hunger to hear from Jesus today, knowing that His word is not void?

Share: What word would you like to share with someone who is isolated?

Creation: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Romans 8:39

“Nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Seen and unseen. All creation.

All creation is in the Lord. Whole in Him.

We divide and separate, measure and attempt to control amongst ourselves but in Him we are all one. With each individual unique and beloved.

So far beyond our understanding. There are believed to be 9,000 to 10,000 species of birds and 10 quintillion insect species. Each one is also distinct. All forms of life are infinitesimal to our limited insight. Only the Lord see each fully and clearly.

We cannot comprehend the vast expanse of all life in its fragility and beauty.

And yet, although we stand in awe at creation’s staggering diversity, we continue to divide and separate from each other setting up barriers of judgment and prejudice towards those we don’t even know.

Separated internally and externally. Hardened hearts. Self-oriented.

All can dissolve under His mercy and forgiveness that daily challenges us to choose His promised grace in all situations and to all people.

Accept that nothing can separate us from His ongoing, consistent, generous, designed, personal love. And live into joy.

Thank you, Lord for Your everlasting presence and purpose in our lives even in our stubborn isolation.

Psalm of Worship: Isaiah 55:12

“For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”

Conquers: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

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                       Conquers

                        Conviction pounds a

                        cornerstone into place

                        begins to build regardless of

                        belittling words

                        flung over and over stirring

                        fears and fumbled replies.

                        Like Noah’s ark spanning

                        long days—years—timeless

                        expectation across centuries

                        Emmanuel conquers.

                       

Reflection: Conviction: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How do you define conviction?

2.     Can it be separated from action? How or why not?

3.     Do you believe this verse with complete conviction? Why? Why not?

4.     How would you interpret it to a confused believer?

Share: What promise are you waiting on as a cornerstone?

Conviction: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Romans 8:38

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers.”

Heart and soul convinced. We have experienced His saving grace multiple times. We have seen others brought to life from a season of ashes. We are now convinced.

And yet how often do we still stumble and wonder if this time we will be able to walk the path before us. Worry—exhaustion—fears again challenge our actions.

How can we merge our beliefs and our doubts into trust?

And stay the course without faltering?

His Word again is our conviction. Jesus walked the path before us to prove His conquering power. He is our steadfast cornerstone that does not crumble. And He holds each one of us through all the struggles we endure. Both in life and in death.

Anchoring our tears in His ongoing Presence.

Lord, please give us Your courage and strength when we face a battle and doubts attempt to undermine Your power.

Psalm of Worship: Isaiah 55:11

“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Foundation: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

                        Foundation

                        As more than conquerors

                        brings a heart to safety

                        gives peace that digs

                        deep into our souls

                        as a guarantee

                        for next skirmish

                        that comes.

                        A relief not to trust

                        in ourselves but rely

in His power

                        as our strong foundation

                        regardless of shaking ground

                        challenging us to doubt

                        we remember He hears.

Reflection: More Than: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you see yourself as a conqueror or a victim?

2.     How far do you struggle on your own stamina before seeking Christ’s help?

3.     What is the difference between boldness in Christ or success at victory?

4.     How does Jesus enable us to be “more than” conquerors in Him? What is the extra?

Share: In what way do you need to be bold this week?

More Than: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Romans 8:37

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Have your circumstance ever so overwhelmed that you became a passive bystander frozen in exhaustion?

Or struggled over and over and see no release and finally give up trying? Both in heart and in action.

Hear His promise. More than conquerors. More is possible. Even when we can’t even see a victory.

Or even in seeming defeat. Our lukewarm hearts keep us focused on the loss or impossibilities instead of on His steadfast love.

Hope in His purpose—His vision—His sometimes invisible plan—is the strong foundation we are promised to be able to become “more than.” Not to surrender to our weaknesses but to acknowledge them and deliberately choose to rely on Jesus’ power. He will carry us through when we trust. Even in a surface defeat. His salvation over rides all battles.

Lord, please guide us from being a victim or passive bystander, to conquer in Your love and Your Spirit’s power.

Psalm of Worship: Proverbs 8:36

“But those who miss me injure themselves; all who hate me love death.”

Counted: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

                       Counted

                        Self-centered or self-slaughtered

                        which path gives sheep

                        safety under the Shepherd’s hand.

                        To wander off or stay close

                        a stubborn decision each day

                        trusting in His field of choice.

                        Whether in famine or fruitfulness

                        counted as precious lambs

                        worthy of His sacrifice.

Reflection: Choice: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     For whose life purpose do you feel you step into each day?

2.     Is it to face a battle, or a challenge, or survival? For whom?

3.     How willing are we as Christians to be a “sheep for slaughter”? How willing are you to have your life destroyed to follow Him?

4.     In what way could you perceive being killed for His sake a positive blessing?

Share: What loss have you experienced that turned into a blessing?

Choice: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Romans 8: 36

“As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’”

Since nothing can separate us from the Lord, are we then willing to be used in any way possible that others too may know Him? To be slaughtered? Not a word or action we normally chose to embrace. But a reminder perhaps that each life costs dearly—first in physical birth, then in life daily, and finally into eternity.

Sin and suffering are common ground for everyone.

What might be the extra cost to choose to follow Jesus’ way? Freely chosen.

What false baggage might we learn to discard in order to live with authenticity from the inside out? Winnowed into a more truthful disciple ready to serve wherever called?

Choosing to live our faith openly in truth and trust with hope and integrity can mark us as a target. To challenge—to ridicule—to attack. But also as witnesses to His salvation.

Counted among His sheep. Cared for by His love. Committed to His will. Life.

“And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”  1 John 5:14

Lord, please give us the boldness to willingly be used by You each day for Your purpose, regardless of the circumstances.

Psalm of Worship: Proverbs 8:35

“For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.”

Separate: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

                       Separate

                       

                        Nothing

                        nothing

                        can separate us from

                        Christ’s love

                        so why do we tremble so,

                        shivering in doubt,

                        allow fear a residence

                        and distress to shake us

                        can you hear His heart

                        call ever beating

                        nothing

                        nothing

                        can separate us from

                        Christ’s care.

Reflection: Nothing: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     When hardship or distress comes do you find yourself drifting from God’s presence or clinging closer?

2.     What doubts do you find creeping in?

3.     What faith promises do you find gives you His strength?

4.     If nothing can separate us from Christ, what keeps us from believing and trusting in all circumstances?

Share: What word has given you hope most recently?