Grace: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Grace

                Darkness lingers

                within and without

                watching for

                deceit and danger.

                To undo His gift of

                fellowship and love

                forever offered.

                To undermine restoration

                lies dissolved

                by truth

                bound by grace

                love is His foundation.

Psalm 27:4: "One thing I have asked from the Lord,that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all of my days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to meditate in His temple."

Reflection: Darkness: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

        1. Which darkness do you battle with the most: worry, irritation, fears? Or??

        2. What do you turn to do first when any dark begins to attack--whether sneaking up or a sudden hit?

        3. How have you learned to recognize lies?

Share: What word has the Lord given you to be a foundation when you sense iniquity coming?

Darkness: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1st John 1:6: " If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." 

Darkness

Lord, despite all Your mercy, grace, healing, and guidance we too often fall back into the dark with worry and irritation and fear.

Even though we  know You are present.

Even though our hearts know You will protect.

Even when we freeze into our anxiety.

Please keep showing us how to turn to You first and not let the darkness into our thoughts, and especially not into instant wrong reactions. Regardless of the situations.

Instead to turn instantly to You only.

Instead to walk in Your inner light with faith.

Instead to trust fully with love and confidence as You give to us.

Your thoughts,

Cosmic: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Ephesians 6:12

“For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

Does it feel like a surprise or shock that our personal struggles could be cosmic based? That, like Job, we may be in a battle zone that not only is far beyond our understanding, but also far beyond our capacity to see beyond our despair, sorrows, and fear. Whether for ourselves alone, or for others around us.

How can we stand firm in His protection? How can we support each other in the face of devastation?

Job’s friends tried to explain his situation in an attempt at support as well. They asked him to check for sure that he hadn’t committed a sin, or was hiding one. They tried some platitudes of their day. They attempted to analyze some scripture as a condolence.

I think we do the same to each other silently or openly when we face devastation. We attempt to offer words of hope both to our friends and ourselves and mostly end up not in tune with God’s words at all. No matter how much we care.

Because we can’t see the whole picture. We can’t see the implications of past and future. We often can’t deal with the present. Whether a personal struggle or a cosmic attack we cannot battle on our own strength. We cannot face battle with only human alliances. We cannot depend on our limited perspective.

We can accept the Lord’s provision of His armor and hold onto His promises.

Lord, please give us strength and courage to trust beyond sight in Your power and glory and victory regardless of the battle.

Psalm of Worship: Isaiah 55:6

“Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near;”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Comfort

Engulfed in darkness

no glimmer of promise

instincts assert command

body, mind, stilled

into submission.

Enveloped by circumstances

heartbeat races, grasps connect to

insight radar, whether by

courage or fear reaches

internal light that

holds foundation firm

comfort His surety.

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     The medical professions has sometimes referred to the fight or flee reaction many people have to danger—at least a physical threat. Which is yours?

2.     How can fight or flee help us in emotional attacks? Or hinder us?

3.     Is it possible to fight or flee without physical reaction? How can we help ourselves or others through that internal fear?

4.     Do you think the psalmist is only addressing physical danger? Why or why not?

Share: What is your immediate action when you sense darkness approaching your heart?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.”

Have you ever noticed how often in movies or novels that characters (and especially children) instinctively begin to hum or chatter when they find themselves in a dark place? We don’t often go into the dark unarmed. Even when we appreciate the beauty found in a dark night, listening for nocturnal nature, admiring the stars or soaking in the quiet.

Yet behind the scenes a touch of fear stays at that which we cannot see, that which we cannot identify or see coming. Like the darkness of soul or mind or body that suddenly engulfs us changing our present into a closure, our future into chaos.

The prophets remind us that in God there is no darkness at all—neither physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, or any other form we find ourselves walking through. He readily gives us His strength to make choices, decisions and reactions when we falter. And gives us hope to not be crushed by the darkness that lurks around us.

Lord, prepare our hearts to turn instinctively to You when the shadows form. Help us to walk in praise and thanksgiving knowing You are present and walking alongside.

“Prayer was not separate from poetry and song.” Esther de Waal

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 107:14-15

“He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,

And broke their bands apart.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,

And for His wonders to the sons of men!”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

     Darkness

     Dark so dense not

     a ripple of shadow

     moving registered

     motion.

     Dark so heavy not

     a wave of sound

     vibrations echoed

     through.

     Dark so full not

     a taste of hope

     yearning touched

     morning.

     Until word spoken

     with authority cut through

     marrow and bone forever

     creating a path,

     “Let there be light.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How do we manage to confine ourselves by darkness, instead of letting God’s word speak?

2.     Why do we sometimes not recognize when darkness has crept into our souls?

3.     Do we really trust that when God speaks—light follows?

4.     What are some ways we can accept His light for ourselves or for others?

Share: How has God spoken light into your day, today?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Genesis 1:3, “Then God said, ‘let there be light,’ and there was light.”

As I stood silent in the lava cave with my flashlight off I could hear a drip of water just overhead to my right, but I could not see it. I could smell the damp cold air, but I could not see the puffs of my breath. I felt a brief surge of air upon my legs sent by a sightless breeze. I put my hand directly in front of my eyes, and I could not see it.

Total, complete, darkness.

A few minutes later I heard voices coming down the tunnel ahead. As they approached a curve leading to the area where I stood a faint gray shadow edged into my vision. Although I could still see nothing at all the blackness had eased its degree. The closer the light came down the passage the more gray my sight recognized, however, I had no clarity until I turned my own flashlight back on.

Total, complete, light.

As I stood silent surrounded by its brightness the cave reflected back moving shadows. Eerie shapes and forms reverberated off the rock floor and walls and ceiling. But I stood in a pool of brightness and I could see everything around me clearly.

Total, complete, clarity.

A word spoken by scripture. A verse sung in a hymn. A prayer voiced in compassion. A long dormant idea illumined. A puzzling incident revealed. God’s light seeps in, gradually, just around the edges, or sometimes as a flash of inspiration. But when He speaks we receive when we watch.

Total, complete, insight.

Lord, please speak Your light into our hearts fresh each morning as a Son rise—You Lord in us each morning, just as You bring in the dawn.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 27:1

“The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?”

Tabernacle

Lamps

Extinguished light plunges

into darkness stumbling,

sprawling over obstacles,

caught in traps.

Despair loiters

crushing human spirit.

Golden light flames

overhead spotlighting

path, footprints,

marking individual step

enters searching hearts.

Burns a holy wick,

hope lingers.

Proverbs 20:27, “The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord searching every innermost part.”

Tabernacle

Lampstand

Pure hammered gold

lampstand of

one piece shining

in the tabernacle.

Perfectly formed

petals, calyxes,

open to receive

spring’s word

working resurrection.

Power, majesty

beginning, middle, end

“I am the Light”

spoken.

John 1:5, “And the light shines in the darkness,…”