Prey: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Prey 

                Always alert

                requires discernment

                to recognize the subtle

                murmurs that pull us 

                away from our purpose

                our work gifted

                to us for each one

                to share truth and hope

                as led by timeless mercy and love.

Psalm 89: 30: "If his sons forsake My law, And do not walk in My judgements,"

                

Reflection: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. When have you poured out all your stress and fears to Him and then taken it back? Why?

        2. When have you poured out and then let go?

        3. In what ways have you received His tenderness by trusting in His timing? Whether long or short?

Share: How has receiving His tender mercy now enables you to face worries that attack?

Worry: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter:5:6-8: "If you bow low in God's awesome presence, He will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in His hands. Pour out all your worries and stress upon Him and leave them there for He always tenderly cares for you. Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour."

Worry

How often do we instinctively still not "leave the timing in His hands" until we reach rock bottom?

He offers us ongoing mercy and forgiveness and guidance. Yet we still allow stress and worry to take hold of us even though we also know that His grace abounds.

Lord, please continue to teach us to pause and pray, to keep alert to listen and follow, only into the direction You say.

We so easily manage to drift away even though we don't mean to or don't even realize we are. In all situations and circumstances may we learn to lean only on You and act only on the words You give as our next step.

Please keep us on Your path--in Your direction--overflowing with Your purpose--especially when we cannot see it. May we learn to recognize the stabs of worry immediately and return to Your words instead.

Your thoughts,

Care: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Care 

                All relationships

                carry struggles

                trying to blend

                often from opposite

                opinions even in love.

                And more difficult with

                conflict from others like

                tyrants sometimes

                abounding with stress

                arrows into our hearts.

                Almost forget

                Christ's presence bearing

                truth His words

                always offering light

                always caring for each one of us.

                All in His mercy.

Psalm 89:29: "So I will establish his descendants forever, And his throne as the days of heaven."

                

                

                

Reflection: Control: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions 

        1. How often have you been in situations when someone continues to control you?

        2. In what situations have you attempted to control others? For what reason?

        3. How did either affect your attitude, compassion, or resentment, towards others or yourself?

Share: What was your first recognition of the Lord's presence supporting you?

Control: 1 Peter:Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter 5:3-5: "Don't be controlling tyrants but lead others by your beautiful examples in the flock. And when the Shepherd-King appears, you will win the victim's crown of glory that never fades away. In the same way, the younger one should willingly support the leadership of the elders. In every relationship, each of you must wrap around yourselves the apron of a humble servant. Because: God resists you when you are proud but multiplies grace and favor when you are humble"

Control

Being a humble servant is not seen as a strength in our world but instead often as a weakness or disdain. In every part of our thoughts and actions and choices we are expected to be in control of ourselves, and often others around us.

Me first is the expected ground rule. So opposite the humbleness Jesus walked consistently. In strength and mercy and truth.

Every day He offers us the gift of walking with Him--in His purpose--in His support.

When we lean into His nudges and directions we find true control with our decisions and with our heart.

Thank you, Lord, for Your generous gift of Your presence in all situations. Please teach us Your definition of living honest humility.

Your thoughts,

Dependence: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Dependence 

                Does not leave us empty

                Daily gives His words to

                Discern the steps ahead

                Depending on truth as our guide

                Deep in our hearts provision

                Does never forsake us

Psalm 89:28: "My lovingkindness I will keep for him forever, And My covenant shall be confirmed to him."

                

Reflection: Shepherds: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions 

        1. What kind of compassionate shepherd tenderly spoke His love to you?

        2. In what ways did this serve and teach insight and protection to you that brought healing?

        3.How do you recognize His call to responsibility?

Share: What opportunity to serve His call has  given you joyous pleasure?

        

Shepherds: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter 5:1-2: "Now I encourage you as an elder, an eye witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who shares in the glory that is about to be unveiled. I urge my fellow elders among you to be compassionate shepherds who tenderly care for God's flock and who feed them well, for you have the responsibility to guide, protect, and oversee. Consider it a joyous pleasure and not merely a religious duty. Lead from the heart under God's leadership--not as a way to gain finances dishonestly but as a way to eagerly and cheerfully serve.

Shepherds

Compassion: too often so self-absorbed we forget to offer the committed tenderness and hope and comfort that His shepherds fed and protected us daily when we wandered away in mistakes, or selfishness, or lies that enticed, or stumbled paths, or fear.

Dependence: an ongoing gift of His presence, His love, His scriptures to show us repeatedly when we walk His path we are restored. His gift to walk His path holding His hand is daily given. To each one--each stray sheep who is hungry or lost or caught in danger.

Responsibility: to be open to opportunities to pass on His Words, guidance, love, mercy and truth as guided by our Holy Spirit. To teach --to pray--to commit as He leads daily.

Lord, please keep us feeding from Your words into our hearts that You have nourished us, both a gift to our lives and to share with others as You guide.

Your thoughts,

Salvation: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Salvation 

                Enfolded in Him

                by His love and mercy

                blessed by grace

                every moment a trust.

Psalm 89:27: "I also shall make him My first-born, The highest of the kings of the earth."

                

Reflection: Virtues: 1 Peter : Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. When have you resisted God's judgement?What were the consequences? 

        2. When did you recognize it contains His grace?

        3. How do you look for His righteousness now?

Share: What truth gives you clarity when false thoughts attempt to lure you?

Virtues: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter 4:17-19: "For the time is right for judgment to begin in God's own household. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate of those who refuse to obey the gospel of God? And: If the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the wicked and godless? So then, those who suffer for following God's will should enfold their lives into the Creator, who will never fail them, and continue to always do what is right."

Virtues

Ongoing mercy--His gift of never-ending love and forgiveness.

He holds us up even when we continue to fail so much on so many levels. Yet keeps us in His life to follow Him. Showing us the way back no matter the circumstances.

He will enfold--He will keep us in His will and guide us especially when we don't see.

Ongoing mercy--when we listen to His truth He will show us how to clean out our thoughts and hearts from false attitudes and anger.

Lord, please show us how to follow only You as Your Spirit leads us--in faith and in trust each day. May Your truth so fill us up that we only hear and speak Your thoughts and words.

Your thoughts,

Dissolves: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Dissolves

                Childrens' rhymes of

                sticks and stones 

                attacking with hurt

                continues through all our lives

                sometimes subtle

                and brutal to obtain power.

                So often forget

                as His child

                courage is a reality

                spirit leads us into

                a privilege in insults to

                carry His truth.

                An ongoing relationship

                cannot be broken

                suffering not failure

                always being protected by

                care and love

                stones dissolve.

Psalm 89:26: "He will cry to me, 'Thou art my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation."