Disbelief: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

                 Disbelief

                Desperate people

                resort to terrible acts

                as life drains away

                sacrifice most beloved

                sons and daughters

                desperate to live.

                Disbelief astounds

                outsiders at calamity

                no one truly thought

                this city could fall

                protection assured

                disbelief now shudders.

Psalm 37:33: "The Lord will not abandon them to their power, or let them be condemned when they are brought to trial."

Reflection: Path: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

        1. Have you ever hungered for something to the degree that you were willing to sacrifice anything in your desperation?

        2. When can our faith shift into assumptions regarding our external welfare?

        3. In what ways do we begin to depend on our 'good' circumstances instead of God's grace?

Share: Do you still cling to His grace in times of trial? What keeps you grounded through profound calamity?

Path: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Lamentations 4:7-12: "Better are those slain with a sword Than those slain with hunger; For they pine away, being stricken...And He has kindled a fire in Zion Which has consumed its foundations. The kings of the earth did not believe, Nor did any of the inhabitants of the world. That the adversary and the enemy Could enter the gates of Jerusalem.

Path

We do not listen.

We do not hear Your warnings.

We blame others and exclude ourselves.

And then we turn our anger against You, Lord. And we step further away.

Yet You do not leave us.

You restore each one of us when we finally see the truth.

Forgive us, we pray, for all the complaints and charges we have accused others and not accepted the consequences of our own sins and failures.

Please show us how to stay on Your path of obedience on all our days. Keep our  hearts adn minds and souls centered on Your will only.

Your thoughts,

Course: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

                                               Course

                                                Knowing what we are put

                                                here for some things--sometimes

                                                eludes us when

                                                struggles overwhelm or

                                                disguise any insight.

                                                Paul knew his course—

                                                defend the gospel.

                                                Confidence came from

                                                the Holy Spirit.

                                                Kneeling within our soul,

                                                heart, thoughts,

                                                opens our lives to a hope

                                                that never lets go

                                                whether we know or not.

                                                Perhaps enough to

belong.

Psalm 18:7: “Then the earth shook and quaked; And the foundations of the mountains were trembling. And were shaken because He was angry.”

Reflection: Path: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1. How often do we wonder why we are doing what we do, or what is the purpose?

2. What can help us overcome a dry heart, or find courage to see it through?

3. What warnings can we watch for to see if we are drifting from goodwill?

4. What word from Scripture, or the Spirit, enables us to continue when we stagger?

Share: What most recent thought or word has given you courage?

Path: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

Philippians 1:15-16, “Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.”

Path

Too often we need forgiveness for the many times we share Scripture words for our own purpose or status or by rote. Or remain silent. Especially as He have given us His truth, His words, to share from His message of life.

He gifts us each through abilities of prayer, or speech, writing, teaching, sharing, art, music, and so many other ways to communicate His love in action.

Still we often struggle to know what exactly we are here to do—this place—this day—with this person. And ignore. And feel we are wasting the precious life we have been given each new day.

Lord, please remind us, and show us, how to seek purpose from within our hearts to go outward—led by Your Spirit. With humility, good will, love, and courage.

Your thoughts,

Reflection: Walk: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Can you identify the lures that pull your sight to the left or to the right of God’s path?

2.     How do you cope with them?

3.     What promises from God are you still wondering about?

4.     What would you need to have more confidence in His protection?

    Share: What previous word from the Lord has steadied your walk in a time of weakness?

Walk: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Joshua 23

“..that not one thing has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you; all have come to pass for you, not one of them has failed..” Joshua 23:14

Joshua’s time of leadership has come to a close. He reminds Israel that everything they have achieved came because they walked with God and that He fought for them. He warned them to not ever consider, “turning aside from it neither to the right nor to the left….but hold fast to the Lord your God.”

The California coast abounds in hiking trails with breathtaking views for beginning hikers through to accomplished rough terrain trailblazers. And each trail is marked by maps and signs where to beware—where not to go—where the seemingly solid cliff could become treacherous and unstable.  And yet residents and visitors alike often take their chances and go off the solid trails into danger. Some times they succeed and then others follow their example with life threatening results.

Satan tried to lure Jesus to take a different path that promised power and riches and fulfillment. His reply, “Begone Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Onlookers of Jesus’ ministry did not always see the promises behind His words. Even His disciples struggled to understand then and now.

Yet His promises never fail.

Lord, we need Your courage and strength to walk your path in faithfulness. And in seasons when we stumble and our hands begin to loosen our grip, please hold fast to us. Keep our sight fixed on You.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 143: 8

“Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust.

Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:24, “By faith, Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter,”

Pharaoh’s daughter rescued Moses from the Nile. She knew he was a Hebrew baby and yet made her choice to save him. Her heart opened in pity. She named him gave him life, education, wealth and influence. She was a key part of his upbringing. How painful for her experience the rejection. How difficult it must have been to reject the good she had given.

Yet, to choose to stay and accept her inheritance and all the worldly power that it encompassed would pull Moses away from God’s call on his heart.  Away from his compassion for his still enslaved people. Did he wrestle with whether he could work from within the power system to bring about change?

So often our choices are not as clear as good versus bad, but a mixture of both. And to step out in faith costs. It’s so hard to let go of relationships or place or opportunity—even in our high tech communication world.

“When he was grown” then Moses’ time for a decision of faith came. Henry T. Blackaby in his book Experiencing God refers to this as a time to adjust our lives to God.

Although he might not have recognized it, Moses did not come unprepared to this crossroad. He had the example of both his own family, whose faith placed him in the river, and the courage of his adopted mother to deny the Pharoah’s edict. Both choosing life—a gift of physical life. Now Moses came to the point of choosing soul life—a faith walk life.

Lord, we each need Your guidance and clarity to discern when Your truth asks us to change our heart into a new step of faith. Even when it means stepping away from blessings.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 25:4-5

“Make me know Thy ways, O Lord; Teach me Thy paths.

Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, For Thou art the God of my salvation;

For Thee I wait all the day.”

Kingdom Manna

Grace

Luke 18:14, “I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Over and over again the people questioned John the Baptist. “Are you the One?” Their numbers grew—disciples followed—religious leaders came. A heady experience. An explosion of mission. An opportunity for status.

“There is One to come greater,” John replied. “Whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.”

Offering proof of merit, however, the Pharisee prayed a litany of “at least I am not…”. As a precaution against what he was? As a protection of his position? Pompous. Prideful. So bound by his own righteousness. So dishonest even in prayer.

The tax collector would not even lift his eyes. Could not face his God. Could plead only for mercy.

Over and over again I attempt to justify my errors by listing my successes. Or to bolster my failures with smugness at another’s faults. And am glad at least I am not a Pharisee.

Teach me Lord, true humility. The kind that does not recognize itself because there are eyes for no one else except You.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 119:15

I will meditate on your precepts,

and fix my eyes on your ways.