Reflection: Fellowship: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions 

        1. How do you define or experience a powerful fellowship that lasts forever?

        2. In what ways do you see that gift of relationship with the Lord? How does that deepen your trust?

        3. What gift of His presence do you feel is anchored in your heart?

Share: What is one experience of His joy that you can share with others?

Fellowship: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1st John 1:3-4: "what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write so that our joy may be made complete."

Fellowship

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of fellowship that You give us with You, and then with these blessings with others around us.

That we may receive Your words and Your truths daily.

That Your Holy Spirit will write on our hearts and give words to hear Your voice and to be led too share with others.

To share in multiple ways as You offer; in speech or writing or music or any other connection You guide us by.

To proclaim You and Your light.

To live into Your truthfulness.

Your thoughts,

Portal: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Romans 8: 4

“So that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Fulfillment. Decision. Choice. Hesitate. Why?

The requirement has been fulfilled—a done deal—whether we participate or not. Grace still waits for our willingness to commit. No coercion. No forced action.

The door is open and the good news is cried out to all who will hear. And yet we often linger, wait a bit longer to choose whether to accept, to enter into a new relationship that will upend our lives forever.

Still in shock at the magnitude of love? Still trying to absorb a gift that cannot be grasped and managed into our self-control? Still clinging to the possibility that we can be fixed by our own determination?

So we hesitate at the gate. Wondering. Hoping. Waiting for courage to accept.

Maybe we take the first few steps thinking we can do both. Listen to wisdom prompts but then adjust them to our personal style—still be in charge. Limited by the power we can recognize. We try to hide pieces of our hearts, just in case this new relationship fails.

Except then we are still not walking in fellowship freedom because we know not to fully trust ourselves and we don’t know how to trust the unknown path before us.

A daily crossroad. A daily decision. A daily opportunity. Walk in the Spirit.

Lord, show us how to listen and to trust where Your Spirit leads.

Psalm of Worship: Proverbs 8:3

“Beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out.”

Fellowship: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

            Fellowship

            Life nurturing foundation

            flowing as living stones

            words of truth giving

            perspective. Fellowship

            sustaining hope consistently.

            Cost of communion

            piercing reminder of gift.

            Prayers led by Spirit

            for power, guidance, wisdom.

            Life devoted to redemptive love.

            

Reflection: Foundation: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     In what ways does your fellowship of believers sustain you? Sustain each other?

2.     Which of these foundations are you most comfortable with? Which are you most uncomfortable with?

3.     Why do you think we need to remember the cost of communion?

Share: Which of these foundations do you most need?

Foundation: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2:42

“They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Foundations upon which to build. Not rigid rules to coerce participation. Instead, a fluid, organic, gathering out of respect, love, and search to worship. 

Devoted. A strong ongoing hunger to know God’s word and seek its truth and power in every aspect of life. To return to it again and again to ground actions with heart and heart into actions. Under His authority.

Fellowship. No one left alone, isolated, or ignored. Singles, families, strangers, travellers all found a safe haven to gather and share life burdens, hopes, and calling. To seek discernment. To be embraced.

Breaking of bread. Reminder of redemption, cost of new life, center of purpose, soul alignment to everlasting truth regardless of present history. Together—communal. Confidence in trial.

The prayers. Prayers of the past promises to seek once more. Prayers of protection from immediate dangers. Prayers to become attuned to God’s design, heart, purposes His way.  Prayers for healing minds, souls, and bodies. Clarity for daily decisions and choices.

Grace grounded in Christ. Community grounded in His love. Consistent throughout all generations. Ongoing invitation. Holy Spirit present.

Lord, thank you for Your foundations where we can find hope and encouragement in relationships through You to each other.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 27: 3

“Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;

though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.”

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 33:11b, When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

Joshua hungered too, to know You Lord. To hear Your voice, to fellowship, to grow in knowledge of You. He waited. Joshua would not depart.

Relationships take time. Trust needs to grow. Insight develops slowly. The demands of the day clamor for attention, and I hurry through scripture and prayer. Then wonder why my search for You is so broken. Joshua would not depart.

Just a little while longer, Lord. Show me how to balance my life so that I can stay in Your tabernacle, learning of You before rushing into my responsibilities. Jesus said His sheep knew His voice. Lord, I desire to be close enough to have my ears rubbed, as one of Your sheep. Joshua would not depart.

Reach out Lord and pull me into Your quiet. Rest me in Your peace and raise me in knowledge of You. Lord, I long, like Joshua to not depart from Your tent, until You say go.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 63:1

O God, Thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly;

My soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee,

In a dry and weary land where there is no water.