Complete: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Complete

From the first

glimpse of possibility

light gave a promise.

From dawn to dusk

variated shades

mark days with hope.

At the beginning

life.

At the finish

eternity.

Alpha and Omega complete

finished Word.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11: 1

Thank you for walking this faith journey over these past several months. Please join me for a new series of reflections beginning next week.

Reflection Alpha and Omega: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you see your faith as strong or fragile or both?

2.     What contributes to either version?

3.     Take each line of the Psalm above and use it as a prayer statement over the next week.

Share: Which one speaks deepest in your faith walk?

Alpha and Omega: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Revelation 22:12-13, “See, I am coming soon, my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Like physical life, faith begins in hope and in many ways remains unseen until after the fact.  There is a worship song that contains the line, “From life’s first cry till final breath...”. We recognize the fragility of new birth as well as ending days and we protect both milestones of those we love with tender care and constant love.

Not that we ignore the in between years but often allow self-sufficiency and concrete visible reliance to support us. Unless asked we respect each other’s right to self—both positively and negatively—choice. But it can be a very lonely and barren life that excludes love and friendship, family and community. And lack of accountability can lead to deep physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering.

From the moment we recognize and accept Jesus’ gift of life He never leaves. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit seal us with His name and we are life breathed into His kingdom. Yet often we continue to carry our self-sufficiency with us and do not recognize, or are willing to accept, that this new life cannot reach its fullness apart from Jesus. He is our beginning and our end spiritually. 

Apart from His mercy and His breath in us we cannot reach or become the person He has created and called us to be. It’s not a one-time step but a moment-by-moment way of breathing in new life: the beginning and ending of each day, each season, each choice or decision, each crossroad, and each relationship.

Without His word alive within we do not have the capability to do the work He appoints. We are unable to return our lives as an offering. Unless we accept His gift of life—His mercy—His ongoing Presence in our lives—His provision for us to not only receive eternal life but the addition of rewards as well.

Thank you, Lord, that You are our beginning and our end for all the days that exist. Thank you for Your gift of faith to enable us to walk a road we rarely even recognize.

Than you for Your Grace that does not ever abandon us.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 19:7-9

“The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether.”

Protect: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Protect

Promises made in haste

often broken,

chisel rims in

relationships

divide motives

build barriers.

Promises made in love

offer hope,

consistently fulfill

replenish

divine words

build communion.

Reflection Promises: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How have broken promises affected your spiritual relationship with Jesus?

2.     Have you found it difficult to acknowledge and accept Biblical promises? Why?

3.     Or have they been a relief for you? How?

4.     Have you made a promise to a loved one or to the Lord that you still need to fulfill? What do you need to be able to fulfill your commitment with love?

Share: What scripture promise continues to sustain you in difficult times?

Promises: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 12:2, “and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Personally we have all made promises that we could not keep. Perhaps made in haste and forgotten, or deeply sincere but without the means or the authority needed to see them through to completion.

We have also all had promises broken to us, and so we are either leery of promises or consider them casual commitments when others make them. Especially from those in power.

Publicly our world history is replete with misused and manipulated promises made in almost every field of our lives: political, educational, financial, and spiritual as leadership at all levels break their words. Abuse their positions.

When Jesus went to the cross the disciples thought He had broken His promises made when He began His ministry. That the authorities had won. His hope, spoken from Isaiah, given at the beginning of public ministry, now merely dust. 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are downtrodden, To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19)

Purpose shattered.

When in reality, Jesus completely fulfilled all the promises God has made to His people forever. Past, present, and future promises all completed by Jesus’ grace and mercy.

Words now concrete—irrefutable.

Jesus fulfills His promises through absolute authority. Protects His promises. Exercised through immeasurable sacrificial love.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 93: 1-2

“The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty;

The Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength;

Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.

Thy throne is established from of old; Thou art from everlasting.”

Opinion: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Opinion

Click clack confidence

beats a path across

the room, up the stairs

matching inner hum.

Footsteps in sync

catches glimpse of a frown

step falters slightly,

shrug, resume, then a repeat.

Halts for a moment

takes stock

resumes pace now as

unobtrusive shuffle

confidence pierced.

Reflection Shame: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

 

1.     Have you ever chosen to accept shame regardless of your innocence? Why?

2.     Was your decision influenced by the Holy Spirit or by peer pressure? How did that affect your faith and your heart?

3.     Who has the most influence on your personal reputation? Why?

Share: What has helped you to cope with false opinions?

Shame: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 12:2, “disregarding its shame,”

The time had come. Time to complete His heart’s goal. Time to return to glory, to His Father’s side. Time to bridge the chasm of separation. Time to bring redemption and reconciliation. Time for timeless Grace.

Public shame and personal reputation were of no account. Slander, lies, deceit, unlawful trials, illegal beatings, could not deter Him or prevent Him from reaching His purpose. For us.

Yet, how easily do we get pulled away from a purpose, or a call, or even a nudge by the Spirit, when ridicule or sarcasm whispers their influence? It doesn’t even need to come from others. Often we talk ourselves out of an action when we consider all the personal and public inconvenience that might be involved.

Verbal and non-verbal disapproval. Actual shame and embarrassment. Misunderstanding from those closest to us. Humiliation.

So we fold. And then are in shame before the Lord’s presence. Because we didn’t cling to His voice alone. And we failed Him.

And then His Spirit brings us back to the cross where He disregarded shame and we are redeemed again and again.

Lord, please give us Your strength to put all personal reputation aside when You ask. Disentangle us from our-self-first and put You first. Please put Your heart’s desire into our hearts that we might be messengers of Your grace.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 69:18-19                                 

“Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it;

Ransom me because of my enemies!

Thou dost know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor;

All my adversaries are before Thee.”

Passion: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Passion

Pure love alone

breathes mercy

gift of reconciliation

perfect love

beyond comprehension

crumples our hearts

passion alone

brings power to

change lives.

Reflection Sacrifice: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you find it emotionally too painful to consider Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for you alone?

2.     Do you believe that He would have gone to the cross for you alone? Why or why not?

3.     What keeps you hesitant to seek His forgiveness day to day? Or what keeps you anxious to seek His forgiveness day to day?

Share: What sacrificial gift of love have you received that changed your life?

Sacrifice: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 12:2, “endured the cross,”

When we see sacrificial acts given among us we are often humbled at the capacity of love shown. Especially when between strangers. And sometimes the question lingers how?

We get a glimpse of potential human compassion, of grace and mercy, and perhaps hope that when called upon we too can give beyond our measure.

Then we turn to Jesus’ sacrifice and that can become too painful to face. Because He endured His sacrifice for everyone. For all our sins. For my sins—the sin still alive and active in my everyday. So instead of gratitude I often turn away in shame and embarrassment that I have accepted His gift so carelessly. And miss His ongoing grace that restores—every time I ask.

Lord, please forgive us our part in Your suffering. Forgive our ongoing disobedience to Your healing grace. Instead of emotionally tuning out when we come to a time of sacrifice help us to care with Your heart and see through Your eyes of love.

Only in Your name can true love be given. Only in Your name can we become truly compassionate towards others. And recognize the truth behind the wonder.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 72:17-19

“May his name endure forever; May his name increase as long as the sun shines;

And let men bless themselves by him; Let all nations call him blessed.

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who alone works wonders.

And blessed be His glorious name forever;

And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.”

Closure: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Closure

Joy of expectancy.

A return home,

carried Him beyond

the suffering

anticipation toward

curtain’s closure

the end reconciliation.

Joy of expectancy.

Reflection Expectant Joy: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Make a list of the most challenging experiences of your life: physically, relationally, and spiritually.

2.     Next to each category write the characteristics that got you through. For example: determination, commitment etc.

3.     In each trial how much did your spiritual faith take a role either positively or negatively?

4.     When you look back at each in what ways has your perspective changed from then to now? Why?

Share: Have you experienced a sense of joy through a difficult season? How did it change the circumstances?

Expectant Joy: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 12:2, “who for the sake of the joy that was set before him,”

Athletes, musicians, and dancers are known, along with several other professions, for facing grueling schedules, as well as physical, emotional, and spiritual tension. The pressure has been known to make or break a career despite talent.

Yet for each one the initial choice is made to endure hardship for the hope of the prize or success. A choice to commit—yes—but how often with a sense of joy in the process?

Then there are so many who face daily struggles just to face the physically, mental and emotional needs of themselves or a loved one. Not a choice—but still a commitment. How often with joy when fatigue saps strength moment by moment?

Yet none of us come close to the cross—to the plan Jesus chose to endure—for each of us.

His faith vision looked beyond the immediate pain, beyond the devastation of sin’s legacy, beyond the present futility, towards goals that encompassed the imperishable. His ability to choose a higher value than immediate needs leaves us an example to follow when crisis of any kind debilitates our lives.

He continues to go before us and prepare our paths. He continues to stretch our thinking beyond survival, or hope in the end, to the experience of His joyful Presence now.

Yet how often do we truly look for His joy?

Lord, please enable us to mirror Your values in all circumstances, so that we can focus on the imperishable regardless of how difficult a season we are in.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 126:5-6

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.

He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,

Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Possibilities: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Possibilities

Questions lure the

reader into unfamiliar

territory:  will she succeed,

where did he go;

whether down to earth

reality or mind stretching

mystery we follow,

heartbeating romance

fantastic worlds

all pulse with

anticipation while

we forget we live

the most astonishing

story ever told

as daily faith.

Reflection Author: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How do you feel about the idea of Jesus as your author in your life? Is that a comfort, a challenge, or a concern?

2.     What possibilities would you be looking for eagerly if you knew Jesus wrote words just for you?

3.     Is it a relief to think that you can give over your weak areas of faith and ask Him for a revision?

Share: What do you consider to be your best faith story ever so far?

Author: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 12: 2, “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,”

Another translation says that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He writes His words for us to follow. He writes them to shape us individually. He has a completed ending in mind.

If we keep reading. If we keep looking for those story nuggets and not become overwhelmed by the obstacles. How amazing that we each have a unique role to play in our own stories and also the privilege of interacting with others as they read their plot lines, and dialogue, and themes.

More often we are disappointed by how many times we miss faith opportunities. Perhaps we didn’t understand the directions, or were too busy looking at someone else’s pages, or completely turned around.

Like characters in a novel we hit barrier after barrier. Yet the author writes us each a new chapter. Despite defeat another possibility arises, and, bit-by-bit, we begin to collect the words that strengthen our journey, our quest, and resist the stumbling stones that break off pieces of trust. Our faith deepens with each step.

And now we can become fully engaged, fully alert, running with anticipation at what the next scene will unfold. Trusting in the end. Knowing that He has written an ending with His love and His victory. A perfect ending. His way.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 119:105

“Thy word is a lamp to my feet,

And a light to my path”

Pace: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

                       Pace

Pace is necessary

to reach long distance

stretch—roads wind,

curve, buckle

throughout the route.

Breathe with rhythm

Spirit strength

infusing fresh energy

inhale—exhale beat.

Match soft shoe

choreography

practice until a reflex

                        dancing towards destination.

Reflection Run: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What dreams are you continuing to pursue despite hardship? What dreams did you set aside? What made the difference?

2.     Do you seek the Lord’s guidance every day or only when major changes arise?

3.     What do you think your first reaction would be if God asked you to completely give up the life you are living now and follow a different route?

4.     What would be your final answer?

Share: How do you reassess a commitment that doesn’t seem to make any progress? What question do you ask in prayer?