Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Success

Our success is marked

by accomplishment it seems

whether by worldly standards

of wealth, health, longevity;

or within ourselves a step

taken, a goal met, known

perhaps only to ourselves, gives

sense of satisfaction and

life is good.

Then we read that a man

died, a faithful man in God’s

eyes—a righteous man who

lived faithfully.

Which measure truly succeeds?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How can we determine if we are choosing to live by faith when all is going well?

2.     What practical steps can we take to turn towards faith when life becomes difficult or confusing?

3.     Do the faith words we speak to ourselves match the faith walk we take in public?

Share: What is your measure of a good day?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:4, “; he died, but through his faith he still speaks.”

We are so easily influenced by our world’s views, often without recognizing it. Sometimes we see a successful life as meaning abundance. Even when we acknowledge that riches and power in the long run will not satisfy our inner search for truth, we seek an abundance of life. Overflowing life—alive in the Lord’s gifts. Grateful for our blessings. All is well with our soul.

Yet Abel died. Young. Jesus died. Young. Moses died without setting foot in the Promised Land. And so the disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind.” We too wonder who is sinning when death and disease and disaster strike. We measure by the external.

Whereas God measures by the heart. A heart like Abel’s that took God’s word as truth. Faith lives. Faith is life. A life lived in faith is success. So different from the world around us. So easy to miss the ongoing steps. So easy to let hard heartedness and discouragement take over.

Yielded to God’s word, Abel lived in trust under all circumstances. Cain even told his brother of the conversation he had with the Lord, of the warning he had received. Still Abel continued to go into the field with Cain.  And his trust continues to speak through the ages as a witness to both the here and the hereafter.

Lord, please show us how to truly live a life in focus with Your heart—not apart—but faithful in all the moments.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 33:20-21

“Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.

For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name.”

Kingdom Manna

Yoke

Matthew 13:33, He told them another parable; “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

Bubbling jam beats a soft rhythm in the pot. The tang of sweetened fruit lingers in the air. Froth rises to the surface to be spooned off, discarded, so that pure preserves pour into the jars. A process measured in stages.

First the fruit is cleaned, ingredients added, then a slow heat and thickening begins-gradually, effectively, consistently until we can see the finish, sculpted white foam skimming a dark surface.

Bread yeast moves in silence. Steadily, sufficiently until all the dough is affected-leavened. Ready. Prepared for baking, set in pans, heated in ovens. Then our noses follow the savory smell drawing us to complete the process. Nourishment.

Finished product. From unseen activity. Prepared every day. Each day we need bread to sustain our physical growth. Each day I need Your spiritual manna, Lord to work through the measures in my life. I stop occasionally only to skim the surface, to sample the jam. Until the next time.

But Your leaven works succinctly, faithfully, completely, until the mixture in me becomes purified. Processed. A fragrant aroma.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 138:8

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O

Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Tabernacle

Rod

Under the line of

Melchizedek alone

can true measure be taken, a

rod that bears fruit.

Carefully nurtured from

bud to blossom to bounty.

Under the line of

Melchizedek, Christ alone,

can true discipleship bear

eternal fruit.

Cultivated by love

Spirit to heart to witness.

Revelation 11:1, “Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff…”