Waits: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

                 Waits

                Anger spent

                Grief empty

            

                Sorrow marked

                She stands in quiet

                Soul still waits now

                Solution only by

                God Emmanuel

                Advocate.

Psalm 37:18: "The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will abide forever;"

Reflection: Wisdom: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions: 

                1. What yoke are you carrying right now?

                2. How hard is it for you to wait for God in silence? Why?

                3. What do you think is the difference between actively or passively seeking God?

                4. Do you think one is more acceptable than another? Why?

Share: How has suffering shaped you?

Wisdom: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Lamentations 3:25-27: "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good the he waits silently For the salvation of the Lord. .. ".

Wisdom

How many ongoing times do we speak out of our own definitions of our words instead of seeking the Lord's purpose and delivery?  Or ask for His wisdom to guide us?

Too often we immediately begin with out interpretations instead of praying silently before we communicate, and forget to listen for His words to share.

Lord, we need Your guidance to keep us listening in silence and talk only as You prompt from Your Holy Spirit. We ask for this in our prayers too, so we are focused on Your will for ourselves, our families, and all others You lead us to pray for.

Please show us how to be still and listen first for Your voice daily in all circumstances.

Your thoughts, 

Mercy: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

                Mercy 

                She remembers

                God's faithfulness

                mercy new every morning

                hope flickers again

                chooses to wait

                upon ceaseless love

                knowing He alone must

                be her only portion,

                past destroyed by her

                broken promises

                future still ahead

                will she be forgiven?

                Clings to light of mercy.

Psalm 37:17: "For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord uphold the righteous."

                

Reflection: Wrapped: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions:

                1. Do you recognize the Lord's loving kindnesses every day?

                2. What examples do you remember from Scripture stories in which  God's beloved are utterly shattered and seemingly ruined beyond repair?

                3. How would you describe the portion He has given to you.

Share: Where so you most desire to share this hope to another one this week? Write down your prayer request.

Wrapped: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Lamentations 3:22-24: "The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease. For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him.'" 

Wrapped

New every morning.

He gives His embracing compassion to each of us. When we listen He guides us to also extend compassion to others around us daily.

He will fill us and give us the kindness of hope in all situations. His hope that comes from His heart, and not our meager definitions of what that might look like.

Thank you, Lord, for inviting us into Your presence. Please keep our eyes, our thoughts, our hearts, and our souls wrapped in You.

That we may become faithful moment by moment. And yields all things as You lead.

Your thoughts,

Hope: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

                 Hope

                Homelessness a continual

                reminder plays like a

                movie reel mocking

                

                her previous splendor

                rancid bitterness coats

                mouth, seeps into soul

                hears wind's lament

                reaching every corner

                mourning her sword, yet

                hope a brief flicker when

                realizes she still breathes.

Psalm 37:16: "Better is a little that the righteous person has than the abundance of many wicked."

Reflections: Watch: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions:

                1. What is the difference between whether your thoughts remember or your soul remembers?

                2. Like a broken movie, from what images can you not escape?

                3. In what ways does bowing down our souls bring hope?

                4. What do you need to remember right now?

Share: What ways do you hope for God to intervene and fix your broken reel?

Watch: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

 Reading: Lamentations 3:19-21: "...Surely my soul remembers And is bowed down within me. This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope."

Watch

Our soul remembers.

Thank you Lord, for this reminder--each day--that we need to focus on Your ongoing presence and not let fears take over.

You are our strength when we no longer have any left.

And you will lead us foreword on Your path in Your time.

Whatever each day brings we give thanks to You for carrying us through. And also for holding on to our families. Please restore each one of us to a true relationship with You, and daily walk in Your light.

Your Thoughts,

Bereft: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

                 Bereft

                Waves of desolation

            

                pour through broken

                walls bereft of

                protection

                without peace

                heart and soul

                lose all hope

                realize glory abides

        

                only in God's care.

Psalm 37:15: "their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken."

Reflection: When: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions:

        1. Do you think it is possible to have happiness without hope or hope without happiness? Why or why not?

        2. Is either possible without soul peace? How do you define soul peace for yourself?

        3. Has your experience ever felt out of sync with Scripture promises you believe to be true?

        4. Have you experienced a time when soul peace sustained you through a difficult time? How?

Share: How might you pass that hope on to someone whose strength has perished?

When: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Lamentations 3:16-18: "... And my soul has been rejected from peace: I have forgotten happiness. So I say, 'My strength has perished, And so has my hope from the Lord.'"  

When

Forgotten. When we set our minds and hearts on our personal desires we often turn outward instead of inward, and then lose hope and strength when our ways causes everything to crumble.

When we look only at our own desires and not seek the Lord's. Or even ask for direction.

We do not have ongoing strength on our own. Only His power can bring wholeness.

When we turn our hearts and minds and desires to focus on His purpose then we may be able to grasp a tiny seed. And focus on His prayers--His intent.

Lord, please lead us by Your Ho;y Spirit  that we may trust with commitment. Not our version of desires, but the ones You choose from Your strength.

Your thoughts, 

 

Taunts:Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

                Taunts 

                Winds carry to her

                taunts of caravans

                passing by.

                Whistle tavern songs

                rapping baudy

                proposals.

                Wide spread

                tales of laughter

                parodies.

                Whisper longing

                to stop enemy's

                parade.

Psalm 37:14: "The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to kill those who walk uprightly;"