Deceit: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Deceit

                So many lies twist 

                a foundation of words

                away from God's truth

                so deep we cannot understand

                and recognize the deceit

                an ongoing bitterly round

                still He will protect

                always when we realize and He

                abounds with grace and love a

                sacrificed life His path.

Psalm 27:13: "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."

Reflection: Intentions: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. What did it cost you in relationships to step away from friends and communities to walk with the Lord? 

        2. What parts were sorrow and what were reliefs?

        3. How did the Lord enable you to see the lies and false intentions?

Share: What are some key triggers you can identify now as false even from others who do not realize they are being deceived?

Intentions: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1st John 2:18-19: "Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even how many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that this is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out; in order that it might be shown that they are not of us."

Intentions

Sometimes to pull away and separate from friends and community can be a relief, or sometimes heartbreaking.

Yet either can also be His purpose so that we can step into His path and see through His lens.

Whatever it costs.

He will reveal false motives. He will restore each one from the buried lies that separate us from His truth.

From the young to the elderly He is always present to bring honesty and love, mercy and forgiveness, healing and restoration.

Whatever is the cost.

He paid the price for us to give us the gift of goodness.

Your thoughts,

Choose: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Choose

                Sometimes in whispers

                Sometimes in loud blasts 

                The world lures ideas and

                thoughts to follow life

                by fleshly desires and 

                boastful success.

                Until the emptiness

                unravels exposing its lies

                yet truth can still be found always

                your hope into eternity.

                Standing on His words

                Standing on His eternal will.

Psalm 27:12: "Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries; For false witnesses has risen against me, And such as breathe out violence."

Reflection: Worldly: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions 

        1. Have you been caught up in a worldly desire that brought you failure? What lured you in?

        2. What enabled you to see the emptiness of these things?

        3. How do you now recognize God's will instead--even when it seems unimportant?

Share: What blessing have you received from choosing His "things"?

Worldly: 1 John: prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1st John 2:15-17: "Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of  the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever."

Worldly

How often do we become caught complaining about things that really mean nothing? 

How often do we see through a worldly lense because it is on normal common ground, but forget to seek His heart?

Lord, we ask to see through Your sight only, so that we can focus clearly; love others through Your eyes; see the choices before us before we act; and commit only as  You lead.

Lord, we ask You to keep teaching us through Your graceful vision to follow Your will only.

Your thoughts,

Daily: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Daily 

                All ages from

                childhood to elderly

                the reminder of grace

                repeats over and over.

                A blessed gift

                that too often we

                forget to hold onto

                and let words weaken our hearts.

                Always He gives a strong

                foundation that will not bend

                reminding of love and strength

                every day beginning with forgiveness.

Psalm 27:11: "Teach me Thy way, O Lord, And lead me in a level path, Because of my foes."

Reflection: Writing: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. How often do people sigh because you tend to repeat ideas and words often? Or how often do you sigh at people who continue to repeat to you? 

        2. Do we repeat for the things that matter? How do these words of repetition in this passage affect you?

        3. Notice that all ages are given the 'because'. What common thread do you recognize for yourself as a forgiving reminder?

Share: What "because" in this passage do you most relate to on the list? Why?

Writing : 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1st John 2:12-14: "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning, I have written to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God abides in you, and you have over come the evil one."

Writing

Repetition for reminders? Because we SO easily forget?

Because we are all facing many levels throughout our lives and need to acknowledge Your unbreakable foundation?

Thank-you, Lord, for forgiving us our sins--again and again--for being our Father who guides us in an ongoing relationship of mercy, love, and kindness.

Thank-you for knowing each one of us so deeply, and teaching us to know our beginnings.

Thank-you for abiding in us and giving us Your strength to overcome evil.

Thank-you for writing Your truth and love of life into our every days.

Your thoughts,

Fraud: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Fraud          

     

                When deceit and lies

                attack or come to light

                anger, darkness, grief

                wounds from within.

                Then hatred-anger

                grows into more darkness

                germs spread

                throughout our hearts and words.

                His light never dissolves

                even when only a flicker

                every moment a choice a help to

                handle deceit with courage.

                When we Abide

                in healing light.

Psalm 27:10: "For my father and my mother have forsaken me, But the Lord will take me up."

                

Reflection: Attitude: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

        1. In what ways do our interpretation of dark and light towards others agree with the Lord's? Especially when in anger or hatred?

        2. How can we walk away from areas of rejection without carrying any darkness?

        3. In what experiences of His guidance used for us can we also act towards others?

Share: How do you turn to His light in all circumstances now? How do you handle situations without the darkness?

Attitude: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1st John 2:9-11: "The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes."

Attitude

Lord, we hope that we have been able to walk away from hatred now that we have received Your gift of hope and light.

Yet there are still so many rejections and anger that are hiding in us.

Only Your love and mercy to us can teach us how to recognize, let go, and step into healing for both as needed.

Please continue to show us how to recognize our attitudes when silently against someone, and turn to You immediately for guidance and light. And how to prepare for other blindnesses still ahead.

We ask for Your light to keep leading us to Your truth and healing in all circumstances.

Your thoughts,

Solid: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Solid 

                Commandments given so many

                centuries ago still hold a

                foundation of solid words,

                forever truths.

                Darkness continues to attack twisting

                deceit into false perspectives.

                Yet truth commandments still guide

                our walk step by step.

                Externally and internally His light

                exposes lies and brings truth into action.

                Commandments an ongoing gift of mercy

                covered with wisdom and grace.

Psalm 27:9: "Do not hide Thy face from me, Do not turn Thy servant away in anger; Thou hast been my help; Do not abandon me or forsake me, O God of my salvation."

                

Reflection: Grounded: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. What is your first reaction to any commandment, even from the Lord? 

        2. Do you perceive it as a blessing or a conflict in your daily life? Why?

        3. How do His words of light open your attitudes and actions to navigate through darkness?

Share: When have you received His truth in action by a commandment He gave you?