Reflection: Love: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

        1. When have you questioned the Lord's ongoing love for you? Why?

        2. How has it been difficult to consider love towards someone who has been harsh to you, or been a danger to you?

        3. When you have doubted the Lord's love have you lost hope?

Share: How have you found a way to extend to others by the Spirit's leading?

Love: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1st John 4:7-9: " Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him."

Love

We may never understand the pouring out of Your love and grace to each one of us.

Without Your love there is no hope.

Walking into Your mercy is the only way our hearts and souls can follow You and then extend Your love to others as Your Spirit guides each one of us. Personally.

Whatever form You choose to guide us brings healing and forgiveness and love eternal.

With each day we can seek fresh vision and courage to step into this Eternal ground and on Your priorities.

Whether we realize or not--may we walk with You forever?

Your thoughts, 

Loyal: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Loyal

                His love on solid ground 

                always ready--never empty

                yet too many lies within

                our thoughts or actions

                by others built barriers

                against trust and hope

                pulling us away except

                He stands firm to love us,

                lives within us, loyal forever.

                His Eternal solid ground.

Psalm 107:18: "Their soul abhorred all kinds of food; And they grew near to the gates of death."

Call: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

                        Call

                        We are quick to call out

                        complaint—condemnation

                        put each other into boxes

                        good—bad, in crowd—out.

                        Grace declares

                        everyone who calls

                        on His name alone

                        shall be saved—

                        no other measure.

                        Love searches darkness

                       

                        waiting to embrace

                        accepts all voices

that respond with hope.

            

Power: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

           

            Power

            Power spoken.

            God’s deeds

            proclaimed

            not world manipulated

            provision of heart

            redeeming love

            prophesied

            now a reality

            purpose revealed.

            Power His love.

Confusion: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Confusion

Above the raging storm

splitting trees,

sliding hills,

wind driven devastation

the sun reigns still and calm.

Within the swirling life

driving doubts

destitute choices

harangued with confusion

the Lord continually reigns with love.

Reflection Storm: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Have you ever been in a situation when suddenly in an instant you have become isolated either physically due to a storm, or emotionally due to a broken relationship?  What feelings began to overwhelm you?

2.     Did it create a crisis of faith for you or a deepening? What made the difference?

3.     How did you find the willpower or courage to take a step towards hope?

4.     In what ways has that experience given you faith in later upheavals?

Share: How do you find the Lord’s loving presence in the midst of chaos?

Storm:Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

1 Corinthians 13:13, “And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”

As a city child I had not fully experienced the power of a northern storm until one summer visiting with my aunt on a secluded lake in Ontario. We had watched the sun set when dark clouds rolled across the sky and blackened out any view. It was as if someone had thrown black paint across the window. My aunt hurriedly ran to turn off any lights that were on and darkness immersed the room where I stood. Hesitantly I leaned towards the window wondering why I couldn’t see.

Suddenly lighting split the sky in a giant flash briefly capturing the outline of trees, like a photograph, then the darkness swallowed up everything again. I stood frozen with fear. It had seemed to strike the lake right in front of the window and as I heard the rumble of thunder I didn’t know where to run and hide before it flashed again.

My aunt quietly put her arms around me and together we watched. My shaking gradually subsided into wonder and astonishment. Although too young to have the words then to capture that first storm the ‘photo’ shot become a permanent memory complete with sound effects.

We spent all the next week cleaning up far-flung debris. The storm had shut down electricity. Fallen trees blocked the narrow dirt road leading to the cottage and my uncle couldn’t get through for a few days. I had no real concept then of its wide devastation. My aunt had turned a terrifying storm into a respect for its beauty and power.

We may have to face many storms alone without physical arms to hold us, but we will always have the Lord’s love to protect and sustain us. His invisible arms around us cannot be removed when we trust in Him and allow faith and hope to remind us of His comforting power.

Lord, please give us hearts to cling to you with trust, and do not let our fears bring confusion.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 91:1-3

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress,

My God in whom I trust!’

For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper,

And from the deadly pestilence.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Truth?

Pilate’s question

‘What is truth’

continues through

the decades; man’s

challenge to define

individual steps,

choose a personal

path directed by

own compass.

Working by external

gratification

missing true

relationship. Your

heartbeat of love;

waits patiently,

promised way

now and eternal

only answer.

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

Lord, we are always looking for direction. And too often always bewildered in our purpose. We ask for affirmation, confirmation, and certification. You gently remind, “It is Me.” And we reply, “but how?”

You give us Yourself and instead we look for concrete steps to follow. You offer a relationship and we look for a plan. Or a program or a specific task to measure and to accomplish.

Why? Because if our human relationships are so difficult then we expect one with You will be beyond our ability? Which is true on our part and yet not on Yours.

I don’t understand why we who look so longingly at love reject Your way. Or try to manufacture our own version. Instead we hesitate, question or mock. Such a gift must have strings attached. It’s too personal. Don’t we have to become special first?

Help me Lord to lower my false defenses and trust in Your love for each one of us individually and wholly. That we might abide in true relationships heart first. Trusting Your words completely.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 119:160

“The sum of Thy word is truth,

And every one of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting.”

Refining Words

KNEELS

Love kneels to wash

away the dirt-

layers clogging heart,

mind, soul.

Refreshed by care

soothed by presence,

held close until restored

again and again without

ceasing.

Beyond end of days;

Love kneels.

John 13

Kingdom Manna

Crisis

Matthew 5:19, “Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

There are consequences to our choices. We know this. We live with the results daily, especially the painful ones. Even when the actual effects of our poor choices are finished; our memories serve as a continual reminder. But we also know our Lord is waiting to ease and strengthen and encourage our healing processes. That He stands by us with His love and mercy.

So much so that sometimes we forget we have accountability too. Christ carries us through our trials and mistakes and sins with His comfort “so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God.”

Too often I am blind to the pain of others. I am so relieved to be rid of my burden, anxious to move forward, that I resist any pull on my emotions, anything that could open aching doorways. But God’s commandment stands, “love one another, just as I have loved you.”

Spreading Your love undergirds Your kingdom. Sharing Your mercy strengthens Your hope. Speaking Your words invites Your salvation. Everytime.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 67:2

“That your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.”

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 12:13, “And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”

Powerful forces form against us,

envoys of Satan’s realm:

sin, sickness, evil deeds

cloaked in luring lies.

Provision found flowing through

the blood, executed by law.

Streaked on door-posts, down the

cross, pass over lives.

Payment furnished, freedom’s given

gift endowed, by Sovereign grace.

Salvation sent, evidence

Christ: limitless love.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 55:18

He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me,

For they are many who strive with me.