Perspective: 2nd Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Perspective

                So easily caught

                up in chores and commitments

                forget to seek perspective

                daily scattered need to

                stop and ask for clarity

                measure time

                on His promises

                with patience and gratitude.

Psalm 89:49: "Where are the former lovingkindnesses, O Lord, Which Thou didst swear to David in Thy faithfulness?"

Grace: Perspective: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

Grace

                                                Too often come to prayer

                                                in hopelessness

                                                anxiety dictating our

                                                heart instead of

                                                kneeling in thankfulness

                                                of invitation

                                                to Grace that listens,

                                                restores hope,

                                                offers joy throughout

                                                the turmoil.

                                                Guides by His perspective.

Psalm 18:1 “I love Thee, O Lord, my strength.”

Reflection Questions: Perspective: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

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Reflection Questions

1. In what way can grace, thankfulness, peace, remembrance and joy influence our prayers?

2. What difference could it make for us if we started with this perspective instead of waiting until we are drowning in fear?

3. How can we pray in joy when our hearts are grieving?

4. Choose one of these words to begin prayers this week.

Share: Which word did you choose? Why?

Perspective: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

Purpose: Prayers and Poetry  Introduction

Acts 26:16, “But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you as a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I appear to you;” (NASB)

New Year Blessings!

This year our devotional focus is based on this scripture’s theme. We will continue to explore the journey of how scripture seeds define purpose as shared from Paul and Timothy as they share their appointments of purpose in the book of Philippians.

This study unfolds in three parts. On Mondays we will reflect on a scripture passage. Wednesdays consider meditative questions. Fridays respond with poetry.

The Philippians verse translations are from the ESV Bible, and the Psalm 18 verses are from NASB version.

Thank you for participating in our journey. Please share as you discover your own questions and insights, prose, and prayers.

Perspective: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

Philippians1:1-4,“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Phillipi with the overseers and deacons. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy.”

Perspective

Grace—peace—thankfulness—remembrance—and joy are not always what we experience when we pray for those we care for. Love—yes. But often concern, or anxiety, or commitments, guide our hearts and thoughts.

All together we are servants—so maybe we are not coming with the right approach. We begin from our needs to place before the Lord instead of coming to the Lord Himself in relationship with a listening heart. Then we may be able to see the need through His perspective. And not from our limitations.

Perhaps the present need is a new opportunity for healing, or growth, or a deeper faith walk. Or it will become an insight into a positive relationship, instead of our immediate reaction of negative worry, which we often tend to instinctively focus on. We see only the surface. He sees the outcome.

Lord, please show us how to pray out of thankfulness first before we bring our needs to You. And show us how to pray with joy—in all situations.

Your thoughts,

Free: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Romans 8:2

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

We each have our particular definitions of what freedom is. Whether in regard to personal limitations of health, finance, relationships, or outreach in society, government, and legal justice.

Whatever is our foundation reason, the lure to be fully free—to be released from any boundaries—to resist limitations is common ground almost daily. Our hearts can rage from petty discomforts to staggering atrocities.

Yet no boundaries of any kind can also bring chaos and destruction. Our world’s history offers countless examples of sinful devastation when individuals and countries refuse any accountability.

Or, in reverse, establish such legalistic boundaries that deny human compassion or value for lives.

Once again Jesus upends our perspective. Law is internal—not external. Law is freedom within boundaries. Law is life giving—not death. His law gives us the soul freedom to live fully open, fully honest, and fully valued. Spirit led.

Freedom from the power of sin and death is astonishing!

It changes everything—everyone—every time. It redefines boundaries and opportunities and possibilities from despair and death to hope and life. Regardless of whether we are imprisoned in chains or flying unencumbered in the wind, He gifts us with His law.

Lord, show us how to accept with thanksgiving and joy Your daily gift of life in all circumstances. To walk with you from the inside out by Your Spirit’s words. Bring Your light into our desperate cries.

Psalm of Worship: Proverbs 8:1

“Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice?”

Listen: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

                       

                        Listen

           

Once before he argued

denied and ran away.

Bereft then in a grief

mixed with guilt.

Met and forgiven.

Now begins to become his

given name Jesus declared Rock.

Standing with eleven.

Facing crowds with courage

Shouts for their attention—Listen!

Reflection: Peter: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How difficult is it for you to share God’s truth with those around you? Why?

2.     What kind of fear can get in our way?

3.     By what means can we speak His truth in silent words when unable to directly address those around us?

4.     Do you remember the first time you heard God’s truth spoken to you? What was your first reaction?

      Share: How has the Lord given you courage this week?

Peter: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2:14

“But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.’”

Peter loved Jesus with his whole heart.

Peter walked with Him faithfully from the first day they met—even when questions bewildered him and caused him to stumble.

Peter truly believed he would die for Jesus.

But Peter betrayed Him. He lied, he ran away, he hid.

Now here, on this day, he not only stands with the eleven, but speaks out in a loud voice drawing attention. Ready to be put on display. Ready regardless of consequences.

Now stepping into the name Jesus first gave him. Even though maybe still very afraid.

But not letting anything of his own nature or opinion or misunderstandings stand in the way of speaking out. Of sharing with truth a crowd of strangers.

Now willing to be guided by the Holy Spirit. To be faithful to Jesus’ trust.

Now filled with a whole new perspective.

Lord, give us Your courage to exchange our words of dust for Your words of life. Keep us from worrying about ourselves and instead become signposts of Your grace and mercy. Whenever—wherever—to whom ever—You ask us to share.

Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:14

“And God said, ‘let there be light in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.’”

Jaded: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

                     Jaded

            Faced with amazement

            some looked for a catch

            not willing, or not yet,

            to accept astonishment

            at miracle unfolding

            too jaded by world

            too cautious to trust

            too many times disappointed

            by false words

            promises not kept

            attribute to God

            human failings.

            First step of hope—wonder, not jeer.

Reflection: Sneered: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How do you distinguish between caution and cynicism?

2.      In what ways have past disappointments or broken promises influence your faith relationship with the Lord?

3.     When faced with the possibility of truth or lies do you ask questions publicly or privately? Why?

4.     In what respect can either version shed light positively or negatively?

Share: What first step do you take to determine whether a situation is valid or false?

Sneered: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2:13

“But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’”

These scoffers at least had the courage to speak their ridicule aloud. To go on record for saying give me proof. Perhaps some secretly longed this was all true but could not bring themselves to believe what they saw.

Today with all the advanced multi-media technology we can rarely trust anything that is presented at face value. Caution is a must with our culture’s advanced schemes and marketing.

And yet maybe we have become so jaded world wise that it subconsciously undermines real faith opportunities and perspective. We struggle to recognize real answers to prayer. We may not actually sneer in our hearts but silently let fear clog the opportunity to step into true light and healing and hope. We think it might be possible in theory—possible for someone else—but not for us.

“Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.” Matthew7:7 NAS

And we hesitate, or reluctantly turn away, because it seems too good to be true.

Lord, please give us sight to truly see You. Give us faith to trust. And give us discernment to clearly recognize Your words in our lives.

Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:13

“And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.”

Reflection Mirror: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions:

     1.  List some decisions you have made when fully confidant of your mirror image based on your own sense of knowing. How accurate were you? 

     2.  Now list some decisions or choices you felt the Lord leading you towards, but had no sense of understanding. What were the results? 

     3. In both cases how much did you lean or not lean on the Lord in prayer? What difference did it make for your faith? 

     4. Does the recognition that God knows us so thoroughly bring a sense of comfort or discomfort to you? Why? 

Share: What has helped you to have a clearer perspective from the Lord’s perspective when you have needed guidance?

Hope of Righteousness: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Galatians 5:5-6, “For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is faith working through love.”

Righteousness—right standing—right living—right connections—right place.

All good desires for Kingdom living. For living a life worthy of Christ’s sacrifice. Yet how often do we measure our definitions and standards of righteousness by God’s perspective instead of our worldly slant viewpoint?

Even Jesus’ own disciples saw right standing as what position they would occupy when His reign began. The sons of Zebedee brought their mother to ask for them, much to ire of the other disciples. (Matt 20)They thought authority and judgment and rule as external power would bring about a righteous government where foreign enemies would be expelled from Israel.

However God had even more radical love in mind. He saw hearts filled with love willing to be malleable under the Holy Spirit’s shaping hands. Living in hope every day. Faithful regardless of position. Not seeking the approval of others or defining others with empty titles. Expecting an eternal measure and not a temporary reward.

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Lord, please keep us resistant to any influence other than Yours, so that our hearts will live in your true hope of righteousness.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 96:13

“Before the Lord, for He is coming; For He is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness, And the peoples in His faithfulness.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What are some circumstances you have experienced when you wanted to run away?

2.     How did you cope emotionally?

3.     Did you believe you were there alone, or did you trust that God was with you? What made the difference?

Share: What changed for you when you realized that God ‘saw’ you in that situation?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What area of your life do you need to become more willing to be obedient in faith, despite outward appearances?

2.     What is a word of hope you have experienced that you can share with another who is struggling?

3.     What does a faithful heart look like to you?

Share: Have you experienced new life out of a ‘dead’ situation? How did it change your faith perspective?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Perspective

To the stimuli around us

we respond from the center

of ourselves

connecting pieces

as conceit or challenge

to our authority,

our personal self-control.

Thinking all revolves

around own universe

holding our toddler

tenacity in tight fists.

Too often missing a promise

we react from illusion

of competence

congested priorities block

another path

new possibilities

fresh perspective.

‘Thy will be done.’