Cost: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Cost

                To step into each day

                in godliness requires

                a deep conviction

                and trust to see

                through our hearts

                as He leads.

                Yet in this atmosphere

                is a silent peace

                waiting to guide

                with hope and healing

                no matter the cost.

Psalm 89:50: "Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Thy servants; How I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples."

                

Cost: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

                Cost

                Her people pay now 

                to draw water from

                their own wells

                work in fields to

                earn day's wood

                twigs for night warmth.

                Once the owners

                now laborers on

                their own land.

                Given to aliens

                dressed in strange

                garments. Foreign voices

                command heritage.

Psalm 37:36:"Again I passed by, and they were no more; thought I saw them, they could not  be found."

Refining Words

ROLE

High priest Caiphas

spoke God’s word

of truth despite

selfish plan instead now

adhered to true sovereign's will.

Could not see beyond

human power yet performed

his role in history

and lost soul’s desire.

Heart can only serve self or Son.

John 11

Refining Words

MESSAGE

Each word a message

to speak whether

from heaven or earth

needs be told in honesty

to spread hope that all

may hear truth lived

in obedience, in action,

in trust. No time for

jealous comparisons. Eternal

life the cost, the charge.

Sent to prepare.

John 3

Kingdom Manna

Cost

Luke 11:8, “I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.”

Persistence is a quality trait most of us deem positive. We admire those who persevere through difficult times and conquer their circumstances. We recognize that often perseverance in vocation leads to great success. So we acknowledge and encourage persistence.

Unless it’s being directed against us personally. As in a child’s repeated requests for an early snack, a co-worker’s continual request for an update on our part of the project, or a friend’s constant request for conversation during an unusually busy day.

‘Pest’ becomes our silent judgment on their perseverance. “How can I get them to stop’ becomes our question. And yet we comply. Out of love, for sanity’s sake, or out of consideration. Remembering that on some days it’s us who are knocking incessantly. On Jesus’ door.

Understanding our needs, He always answers. Undertaking on our behalf, he supplies our deeper hungers, the ones underneath our requests. Unceasingly He loves us exactly where we are.

Please continue to listen, Lord.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 36:10

O continue your steadfast love to those who know you,

and your salvation to the upright of heart.

Kingdom Manna

Matthew 5:10, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Threatened by winds of

change, words of life,

a hope apart;

control fades from selfish power.

Fear attacks

persecutes faithful

witnesses.

Attempts to crush

their voices with

cruelty.

Stop the sound,

stifle the whisper.

Silence. Wells deepen drawing

strength from the Word.

Life in surrender

shatters tyrant by forgiveness.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 119:161-162

Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart

stands in awe of your words.

I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.

Kingdom Manna

Cost

Luke 9:62 “Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

“What if…” is an excellent question for fiction writers to use to explore potential characters and plots. It opens countless possibilities. When we live each day questioning our faith, however, we become ineffectual fence sitters. Our commitments lag. Our indecisions surface. Our doubts multiply.

The further Israel moved into the unfamiliar desert, the more endearing Egypt seemed. The memory of better food and routine days pushed the harshness of their slavery to the background. They accused Moses of leading them to their death. They balked at this leadership, complained loudly, grumbled. And lost their entry into Canaan. Israel could not move forward into new beginnings until the generation of doubters and unbelief died.

What areas am I sabotaging in my walk with You, Lord, because of hidden doubts and rebellion? Where am I second-guessing decisions as an excuse for procrastination instead of admitting I’m just plain scared of the possible desert ahead?

The plower needs to keep a fixed eye on a marker to keep the rows even. A glance in any other direction causes a crooked path. Keep my days focused directly on You.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 90:12

So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.

Kingdom Manna

Cost

Luke 18:29, And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no on who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,..”

Divided loyalties. They have the capacity to extend from anxiety over choices and priorities, like two important events scheduled on the same night, to deep wells of guilt over decisions. Especially if our decision equally separates two people we love.

We face emotional pain, doubts and turmoil. Feelings of inadequacy loom; ‘If only I’d planned better, prepared properly, I would not be the cause of such disappointment.’ Why then does Jesus so strongly call us to such a choice? Why does He ask us to divide ourselves from the same people He has surrounded us with?

Despite my love for my family and friends, I do not always know what choices are in their best interests. What successes or failures will bring them into a closer walk with God? Or when my motives have an underlying bias toward my own self-interests or needs. And neither do they for me.

With Jesus only can we decide rightly. With Him alone will we have the security of choosing rightly. When we all put His priorities first, we together move closer to His kingdom.

Lord, help me to center all my loyalties in You and trust in You alone for the outcome.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 119:121

I have done what is just and right;

do not leave me to my oppressors.

Kingdom Manna

Cost

Luke 7:28, “I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

The least is the greater. As a phrase it reminds me of math homework where we had to identify the concepts before we could work out the numbers. And I was never able to figure them out.

I can get a glimpse of the idea if I think of cooking. Too much salt or pepper or sugar or any spice can ruin a delicious meal. ‘Just a pinch’ is written on many recipes. But it sounds so trivial compared to Jesus’ affirmation of John, and of his life’s work, of his faith.

To his own disciples John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease”, when explaining his ministry in relation to Jesus. John saw only joy as the people turned more and more to Jesus.

If I am willing to stand back, as John did, I have the privilege of watching Jesus accept my least efforts and cover them over with His greater good. To see Him combine them with other ‘leasts’ and do a work in our lives beyond our comprehension. Although I still don’t understand Lord, help me to live out its truth.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 31:19

O how abundant is your goodness that you have laid up for those who fear you.

and accomplished for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of everyone!