Courage: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

                                                Courage

                                                Chains of fear

                                                crush our ability to

                                                choose hope

                                                chaos drowns us.

                                                Courage enables us when we

                                               

                                                choose His grace, not our own efforts.

                                                Chains dissolve

                                                comfort envelopes as

                                                cries heard as He

                                                carries each of us.

Psalm 18:9: “He bowed the heavens also, and came down With thick darkness under His feet.”

Pardon: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

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Pardon

She heard the truth

heart melted

knew no other course

no guarantee of pardon

onslaught due. Or

risk death as traitor

heart cried

He alone is God.

Stepped out in faith

entered priestly line.

Psalm 104:32, “He looks at the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smoke.”

Reflection: Courage: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1. We may not be in a position of literal death as Rahab was but what are some ‘deaths’ we might face today standing for God’s truth?

2. Does the responsibility of a family, or employees, or co-workers add more pressure to the choice, or more responsibility to choose the more difficult way?

3. What about the seemingly small choices. How painful can they become when repeated over and over?

4. Jesus also advised His followers not to throw pearls before swine. How can we tell when being silent is the better decision?

Share: Have you been in a position where standing by God’s truth put you in a precarious situation?

Courage: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:31, “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.”

Courage

“We have heard how the Lord…” she told the spies that hid in her home.  And she was not the only one who believed. “Our hearts melted,” she continued, and “our courage fled,” because they all recognized God’s sovereign power.

Yet she alone is named as choosing to act on her belief and saved her entire family.

Not knowing if she would be killed as a traitor first. Not knowing if the spies would pass on her message. Not knowing if their leaders would honor their promise. Or if her own family would despise her choice for them.

Yet her heart yearned to obey God’s truth.

His words called to a deep hunger in her heart. She wanted to live by soul truth regardless of the consequences. She knew she would be considered exempt from Israel’s promises.

Yet she stepped out of prescribed boundaries to try.

With fear shaking her nation she made a commitment to honor “the Lord your God” and her own family by doing everything possible to save them too. “However, Rahab the harlot and her father’s household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers..  .”

Yet even later her name stands in Jesus’ genealogy as the mother of Boaz.

Lord, please give us the courage to act on Your truth when we recognize it and not let fear keep us from being in Your kingdom family. Help us to trust beyond immediate risk and yearn for Your truth with our actions.

Your thoughts,

Reflection Listen: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What are some reasons we hesitate before accepting or acting on things we know to be true?

2.     In which areas of our lives do you think peer pressure, or the possibility of misunderstanding, keeps us from living out our belief?

3.     Is there any situation in which silence in the face of truth is appropriate?

4.     Jesus spoke truth to Pilate but stayed silent before Herod. What was the difference between the two?

Share: What barriers make it difficult for you to listen to God’s words?

Hear: Word Ambassadors:Prayers and Poetry

My apologies for the long delay. And thank you for your prayers for myself and my family as we dealt with cancer. The blog will continue to discuss what we began last year’s August if you would like to reread the introduction for this portion of the series. What does it mean to be sent back into the world as Jesus said only now as ambassadors for God. How does He define the role of envoy or messengers of His words? What does He mean by all the world and the whole creation?

Hear: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2:22

“You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say! Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, works and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know---.”

Peter called out a challenge to the Israelites to acknowledge words of truth.  To be accountable. To not hide from the scriptures and prophecies that to them were as natural as breathing. Words from history. Words from worship. Words from Yahweh Himself.

He called on them to take a stand on a personal faith. To own their heritage as individuals and not simply as theoretical bystanders.

He called on them to step out from the curious crowd and to act on words they already knew. Attested to by God in ways they were privileged to understand and connect the dots that to many in the crowd seemed confusing.

He called on them to respond to truth with honesty. To have the courage to follow. Regardless of the Roman occupation. Regardless of the betrayal of their own spiritual leadership.

If we substitute “Christians” for “Israelites” what will we hear? Will we remember what we know?

Lord, please give us heart and soul courage to come before You with honest hearts, and be willing to listen and to obey and to follow Your words of life.

Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:22

“God blessed them saying, ‘Be fruitful, and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.’”

Listen: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

                       

                        Listen

           

Once before he argued

denied and ran away.

Bereft then in a grief

mixed with guilt.

Met and forgiven.

Now begins to become his

given name Jesus declared Rock.

Standing with eleven.

Facing crowds with courage

Shouts for their attention—Listen!

Reflection: Peter: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How difficult is it for you to share God’s truth with those around you? Why?

2.     What kind of fear can get in our way?

3.     By what means can we speak His truth in silent words when unable to directly address those around us?

4.     Do you remember the first time you heard God’s truth spoken to you? What was your first reaction?

      Share: How has the Lord given you courage this week?

Be Strong: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Be Strong

First came words of counsel

direct details, ordinary expectations

proceed.

Follow footsteps as taught,

push forward.

Second came words of courage

obey your laws,

firm steps.

Take care to remember

fail not promise.

Final came words of command

be strong, be courageous

no fear.

Resist trap of dismay

now enter land.

So he listened to God’s words

stepped out in faith

secure.

submissive to God’s will

strength supplied.

Reflection Command: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Are you waiting to step into a ‘new land’? What is holding you back?

2.     Do you tend to rush into new opportunities without counsel, or do you need to have all the steps mapped out before you trust. Or somewhere in between?

3.     How has your style affected your trust in the Lord’s presence?

4.     What is the most recent command He has given you? Are you ready to obey?

Share: What words of promise sustain you when dismay paralyzes your obedience?

Wandered: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

 Wandered

Constantly alert to danger

sounds of pursuit

drummed a march in their ears

continuously moving

backtracking

setting false trails

 adept animal mimics

 held

faith in heart

a conscience hold on reality

despite cave dwellings.

Wanderers: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:38, “of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.”

Merrill F. Unger refers to the time between the testaments as The Four Hundred Silent Years counting from the prophet Malachi to the arrival of the prophet John the Baptist. Most Biblical records for this era come from Jewish historians.

A the end of one portion of historical Jewish history, sometimes referred to as the time of the Maccabees (see post Destitute), they cleansed the Temple and, “They celebrated it for eight days with rejoicing, in the manner of the festival of booths, remembering how not long before…they had been wandering in the mountains and caves like wild animals.” According to the records this self-banishment lasted almost thirty years.

Their faith took them into this harried lifestyle with no guarantee that they would be rescued or ever able to return home. They fled in order to remain true to God in worship. They gave up everything they knew and loved to follow faithfully God’s words of truth.

And that day may come again to God’s people.

Would we be as ready to stand up with this level of courage? We who some days get upset over changes to our schedules, perceived intrusions in our lives, and fragile egos at hints of disagreement?

Not apart from the Word and the Spirit to sustain us.

During those silent years the words and stories of Yahweh as told by His prophets carried on through generation-to-generation waiting and hoping for Messiah. And each Lenten season we remember the real deliverance fulfilled.  We often choose to give up something during this season, either a habit that has become a hold on us, or time so as to spend more fellowship in prayer.

Sometimes though that focus on making it through Lent without … becomes our primary concern. Or during any other season of life when we face loss and can only manage to make it through the days. Instead, perhaps we should choose to celebrate that Jesus has won the victory for us and that regardless of loss or gain, He supplies true hope every day. His courage every day. His faith every moment.

Lord, please write your words into our hearts, so that we can pass on Your stories to the next generation so that they will know Your hope.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 55:6-8

“And I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.

Behold I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness.

I would hasten to my place of refuge from the stormy wind and tempest.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego

Three men whose

names are often set to song.

Their stories told from

early years.

Wide-eyed listeners breathless

with anticipation.

Feel the flames’

heat in rising cliffhanger.

They started with courage,

conviction to stand true

no matter the consequences.

Their beginning often blurred

behind victory.

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:31, “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.”

“We have heard how the Lord…” she told the spies that hid in her home.  And she was not the only one who believed. “Our hearts melted,” she continued, and “our courage fled,” because they all recognized God’s sovereign power.

Yet she alone is named as choosing to act on her belief and saved her entire family.

Not knowing if she would be killed as a traitor first. Not knowing if the spies would pass on her message. Not knowing if their leaders would honor their promise. Or if her own family would despise her choice for them.

Yet her heart yearned to obey God’s truth.

His words called to a deep hunger in her heart. She wanted to live by soul truth regardless of the consequences. She knew she would be considered exempt from Israel’s promises.

Yet she stepped out of prescribed boundaries to try.

With fear shaking her nation she made a commitment to honor “the Lord your God” and her own family by doing everything possible to save them too. “However, Rahab the harlot and her father’s household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers..  .”

Yet even later her name stands in Jesus’ genealogy as the mother of Boaz.

Lord, please give us the courage to act on Your truth when we recognize it and not let fear keep us from being in Your kingdom family. Help us to trust beyond immediate risk and yearn for Your truth with our actions.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 51:17

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     When you take on a project or responsibility, do you work better within a prescribed outline, or a creative freefall, or somewhere in between?

2.     What happens when you are required work outside your style?

3.     How do you cope emotionally and spiritually?

4.     To whom do you feel you are accountable for the end result? Does that ever determine your courage? Why or why not?

Share: What is the riskiest step of faith you have taken? 

Kingdom Manna

Tasks

Mark 15:43, “Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.”

It takes courage to wait in the face of an enemy. To approach anger or retribution or death just for asking. Instead of hiding and instead to plant oneself as visible and vulnerable.

It takes courage to wait in the dust of defeat. To maintain poise walking forward in public amid derision and ridicule of a collapsed mission.

It takes courage to wait in the cries of grief. To hold to hope or love or reconciliation when love is torn and bruised and buried. When death’s cold curtain removes all warmth from our hearts.

“Bold I approach th’ eternal throne,

And claim the crown, through Christ my own.”

Boldness bought by love and sacrifice. Boldness born of divine courage. Boldness by a torn curtain. By invitation.

Boldness beyond the quaking limbs crossing the enemy’s chasm. Found kneeling, before the altar. With trembling lips and Your call of promise, “Ask.”

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 31:24

Be strong, and let your heart take courage,

all you that wait for the Lord.

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus: 33:11a, Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.

There is a part of me, Lord, that yearns with envy at this meeting. To speak to You fully as a friend; to share, to laugh, to cry, to listen. To know Your word, Your counsel, Your wisdom with such detail, that in any given situation, I would know instinctively what You would say. To be a part of Your plans, to be trusted to know Your intentions, Your inner most thoughts.

Then a part of me shrinks in awe that Moses could stand before You with such confidence, listening to Your voice, committed to Your requests, in the presence of Your glory. Once You walked in the garden with Adam and Eve, before their disobedience, and spoke with them. They listened for Your voice and experienced the warmth of conversation with You. When they still knew no sin. And when sin entered, they hid from Your voice. There is sin hidden so deep in me I cannot recognize it, so how could I hear You speak to me as a friend? Like a startled rabbit, I would run askew, searching for my own hiding place.

“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” Jesus speaks to each of us as a friend, face to face. Inviting us into His plans, inviting us into dialogue.

O Lord, please give me the courage to come to You and listen to Your voice.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 9:10

And those who know Thy name will put their trust in Thee;

For Thou, O Lord, hast not forsaken those who seek Thee.