Reflection: Shall Come: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection:

1.     In what ways do we sometimes take our provisions for granted?

2.     How do we tend to react when they are reduced or lost completely?

3.     In what ways does diminishment of any kind also affect our trust in God’s provision?

4.     How have you experienced peace and joy after a season of trial?

Shall Come: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Jeremiah 31: 12, “And they shall come and shout for joy on the height of Zion, And they shall be radiant over the bounty of the Lord—Over the grain, and the new wine, and the oil, And over the young of the flock and the herd; And their life shall be like a watered garden, And they shall never languish again.”

Shall come. With joy.

Too often we immediately focus only on losses with a sense of defeat and complaint, and forget to recognize that the Lord never abandons.

He gives ongoing provision in all circumstances and offers us each hope to hold on in trust in times of emptiness. His bounty of presence will carry us through both the drought and the abundance.

May we each hunger for spiritual fellowship and overflowing bounty and realize that in Your Spirit our hearts will never languish again.

Shall we come into each day with gratitude?

Your thoughts,

Gathered: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2: 46-47

“Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”

Kindness—generosity—praise—joy—in their gathering together brought the attraction of others. Created a curiosity that sought a reason or a story or a longing. Gave the new community the opportunity to share their gifts of grace and new foundations of their lives.

Life a warm fire on a cold night they lit a light of welcome.

Do we?

How often do our own emotions or barricades build silent walls? Maybe we don’t even realize it—do our best—then wonder why a visitor did not return or a family left.

A family dispute in the car—an unsettling situation at work that week—an anxious wait for a test result---can automatically turn us inward—unable, or unwilling, to share our grief as much as our joy.

Yet at the gathering here in Jerusalem the people were still under Roman rule with backbreaking consequences. Many were now exiled from their own families due to their decision to follow Jesus. His close family and friends still missed His presence. The onlookers knew much of these sorrows. So the people watching them wondered, how could they gather in praise?

How can we still gather in praise and joy in the midst of deep conflict and grief?  Extend open welcome and generosity.

Christ centered—together—sharing openly our heartaches and blessings—extending kindness by God’s grace.  Offered to each generation. Offered to each who seeks.  Recognizing another longing heart.

Opportunity to listen with care.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 27:5

“For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

he will set me high on a rock.”

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.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you awake most mornings with a sense of delight or a sense of gloom? Why?

2.     If a sense of gloom or boredom, what promises of the Lord would help you create a new way to greet each day?

3.     How much of our attitude towards others and circumstances do you think is a reflection of the way we see ourselves?

4.     In what area of your life do you need God’s sustaining strength now?

Share: What specific joy have you received from the Lord this week?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

“Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.” Psalm 126: 6

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 1:2, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.”

  

“Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” Prophecy and promises. Beginning and middle and end continue in the call to shout out the good news—the gospel.

Jesus Christ has risen.

Saviour of the ages. Prophet’s Messiah now present among the people. Emmanuel among us. God here walking and talking and healing and forgiving sins.”

Jesus Christ has risen.

Spoken word. Shout it from the rooftops. Declare it far and wide and high and deep. Spread it through all the generations. The heir has come. “Let the earth rejoice.” Hope and faith welded together.

Jesus Christ has risen!

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 71:23

“My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to Thee;

And my soul, which Thou hast redeemed.”

Kingdom Manna

Found

Luke 15:10, “Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Joyous choir. Sweet refrain.

A lost savior found.

Lifted voices chorus praise.

Revel hearts sing a melody.

Stray one safe.

Laud hosannas ring.

Host of Heaven celebrate

a child’s return.

Listen creation. His psalm.

Answered again.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 148:2

Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!

Kingdom Manna

Found

Luke 15:7, “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

Right living. Right attitudes. Right connections. All give us a breath of confidence and satisfaction. ‘All is right with the world’—we think.

Trials, temptations, trouble tend to lead us to frustration and despair. ‘Why me? What have I done to deserve this?’ We calibrate our worth according to the quality of our days.

Restoration comes to mind. How can I make this right and make life run smoothly? But I am still looking at surface issues. Unstable options. Outer conditions.

Turn to Me, Jesus says, and I will give you life. Right standing. A moral issue. An inside condition. Repent.

Ready to listen, I recognize I let my definition of righteousness cloud my real needs. Salvation. My walk with You, Lord. Recognition dawns. I am the sinner.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 51:12

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Kingdom Manna

Hour

Matthew 25:1, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.”

Procession of light and laughter waiting to lead the bridegroom to his bride. A special task. The bridesmaids either had to time their welcome to the burn of their torches or bring extra oil should he be delayed. They could only bring enough extra for each torch. To share meant the torches wouldn't last the return trip and the groom would greet his wife in a diminished ceremony. And the bridesmaids, not alert, not ready, would miss the feast, closed off from the celebration.

Missed sharing. Missed joy. Missed faith. For lack of oil. For lack of preparation.

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Prepared for us. Ahead of our time, above our understanding. A light that cannot be extinguished, a lamp that burns continuously. And ceaseless oil.

Manifest Your kingdom to me, Lord, I pray. Keep me attune to Your world and Your ways so that I don’t grow weary and dull and forget to prepare for Your coming.

Bringing a heart of joy and gratitude to meet You.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 132:17

There I will cause a horn to sprout up for David;

I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one.