Reflection: Promise: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1. What are some of the obstacles that keep us from living with a ‘worthy’ life based on the gospel?

2. What specific word from the gospel can be a daily reminder, or handhold, to keep us focused?

3. What can “standing firm” look like for you?

Share: What has been or will be your first step?

Promise: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

Philippians 1:27-28, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.”

Promise

Forgive us, Lord. We are to often so full of ourselves, and personal fears, that we do not even consider how we might be worthy of Your gift of Your gospel. We let self-preservation be our major, if not only, concern.

Show us how to pray to strive for what is right in Your sight. To see what You are asking each of us to do, that we may be fully committed to Your word, and to those whom You place in our lives.

Lord may we walk with You in peace today, regardless of all situations and circumstances that confront us. Please hold onto us in Your Spirit’s grasp and confidence.

Your thoughts,

Hope: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

Hope

A dream is just a

fleeting glimpse, ideas

of delight or challenge

awakening senses to

possibilities.

Becomes hope when

acted on; building

invisible steps towards

visible reality beyond

present.

An anchor in

cold waters, chain

links rise ever

sun-ward keeping the

promise.

Hebrews 12:5, “And you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;’”

Reflection: Promise: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

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Reflection Questions

1. Have you ever had to relinquish a promise? Why?

2. How did it affect your faith walk?

3. Are you willing to follow a new path without any guarantee of reward or applause? What kind of path?

Share: What dream has the Lord given you that you need to build steps towards beginning now?

Promise: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:39, “Yet, all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised,”

Promise

The promise they followed was beyond their realization or participation. Yet they grasped the value and clung to its beyond fulfillment for themselves and their descendants. They lived into the future while in the present. Now.

How often do we become dismayed if we cannot receive immediate answers or tangible rewards? We are a society of immediate gratification. Even when we acknowledge it, there is often still a part of us that craves some applause.

Yet beauty evolves. Fruit bearing trees often take several seasons to flourish. We study and admire the cycles nature takes. We respect the wondrous perfection of a firefly’s brief lifespan as well as the longevity of a giant tortoise. Each of their days lived in the fullness of what they are.

Hope lives into God’s promises regardless of circumstances. Easier to desire than to do. Unless we live each day trusting and resting in the facts that we too can abide in His presence every moment.  And we too can grasp that gift now.

Lord, help us to walk and work in faith regardless of outward approval or censure. May it be Your Spirit’s word speaking in and through us to share Your hope.

Your thoughts,

Reflection: Belong: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do we really understand that we live in the Spirit?

2.     How can that make a difference in our daily routines? Choices? Relationships?

3.     Do you sometimes feel like an imposter at the ball—not really deserving the invitation?

4.     Or are you in astonishment at the new life bringing hope and grace?

Share: What word helps you to hold onto this promise?

Bird Struck! Robin

Family Devotional

Day Two

  

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you.” John 15:4

Robins are especially tame around people, and over the centuries many stories have grown about their friendship.

Because they like to eat grubs and earthworms, they are a favorite sight in gardens when the earth is being prepared.

Many places, especially in cold climates, watch for the robins to arrive in the spring as a sign that winter is over. It is a pleasure to have a flock of robins suddenly land in a yard, dashing back and forth from trees to land and back again. Sometimes they splash in water and sometimes fly just for fun.

They are considered to be a promise and a blessing.

Scripture is full of many promises, and we also look forward to the ones that contain blessings. They lift our spirits on dreary days, make us smile, and give us courage in difficult times.

Jesus told His disciples that He would never leave them or forsake them. Yet, then He left to be in heaven. But He sent His Holy Spirit so that no one who knows Jesus is ever alone. Another promise Jesus made is that He will come again. And sometimes we forget about this promise because it seems so far away.

But spring is always a reminder of new beginnings in creation, and robins bring that promise. So we too can watch for Jesus’ presence in His many promises.

Action

1.Think of some ways you can be a blessing this week to someone in your family or a friend at school.

2.Have you made a promise to someone that you didn’t do yet? Can you do it this week?

3.Can you think of a friend who needs some cheering up? Maybe write them an encouraging note or send them some happy faces.

Read More

John 14:12-14

John 15: 9-11

John 16: 12-13

Ambassadors: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

            Ambassadors

            To become the righteousness

            of God, a concept beyond

            comprehension.

           

            Yet the promise is given

            to be shared with

            everyone.

            No one exempt from

            offer of reconciliation

            mercy.

            Speak out in faith

            act sincerely as

            ambassadors.

            To become reconciled forever.

           

Entrust: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What promise did you ever receive from another that changed your life?

2.     What promise(s) has the Lord given you that changed your life?

3.     Do you truly believe that no one is exempt from God’s offer of grace? Why or why not?

4.     What might being a one-to-one ambassador look like for you personally?

Share: How will you share His gift of reconciliation today?

Promise: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

                       Promise

                       

                        Promise stands

                        ever ready

                        throughout all generations

                        for hearts open

                        to turn from corruption

                        seek kingdom life

                        baptism waters

                        ever ready

                        flowing into eternity

                        break sin’s power.

Corruption: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2: 39-41

“’For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’ And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them saying, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.”

Not a one time deal with a clock ticking down the minutes to expiration.

Throughout every generation. Timeless. Cannot be revoked because the Lord God Almighty has given His word. His covenant—which stands forever.

Each generation also faces corruption. Each has the opportunity to challenge falseness—resist lies—refuse—choose forgiveness.

One to one—heart to heart—unlimited.

What a hope to cherish alongside our children and grandchildren. What a gift to pass on to them. Even though we cannot choose for them we can pray. Share the truth. Share our struggles. Share the changes a life with Christ brings.

Lord, give us Your words to reveal Your promise to our family and friends and strangers that none should be lost or denied Your message of life everlasting. Help us to face our own darkness so that our words and our actions are in sync with Your light.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 27: 2

“When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh—

my adversaries and foes—they shall stumble and fall.”

Image: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

            Image

            Cyclical nature images

            life’s beat

            birth—growth—decay

            rebirth.

            Nothing living can escape

            corruption of age

            death part of journey

            for some an end

            yet one alone opens

            new door.

            Creator designs

            another realm

            eternity invitation

            not escape,

            a new road to live

            life made whole by

            Carpenter’s sacrifice.

Reflection: Decay: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     When have you doubted God’s promise of eternity?

2.     Do you accept His design of each of us created in His image? Why? Or why not?

3.     Does the cycle of life give you hope or fear?

Share: What oath from God gives you the strength to hold on in times of  distress?

Decay: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2: 29-31

“Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Forseeing this David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, ‘He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.’”

A promise made to which David clung throughout turmoil, war, death, and corruption. A relationship he cherished. He saw beyond the limitations of earth bound decay to God’s promises. He trusted God’s oath—living—breathing words beyond man’s experience.

Although not descendants of David, we too are given the same promise of a new life—a new image—a future and a hope beyond the cycle of creation.

And yet we do not often trust. Instead we fight to conquer the corruptions of heart and body and mind and death with our limited skills. Not ready or willing to give up control, not willing to believe, or hope, in His image of resurrection. We hold onto our limited sense of power to find a way to cheat death our way.

A place is prepared for each of us. A promise extended to all. Nature unfolds the design cycle daily as one realm closes and new life grows again. Re-birth in His image the gift of life. Re-birth in His sacrifice the oath of eternal life.

Lord, help us to truly hear the blessing of Your invitation to live our lives in a daily relationship that fully trusts now and into a future You alone can give. The only source of no corruption or decay. Remind us daily that You have created us in Your image.

Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1: 27

“So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Advent Interlude

“So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I send it.” Isaiah 55:11 NAS

My plans post Thanksgiving weekend, after special time with family and worship community, were as usual for this time of year: to prepare for Christmas and once again try to find time to let the meaning of the season be an anchor in the usual busyness. 

My plans changed that Friday with a trip to  the emergency room followed by admittance to the hospital.

My plans for this holiday season have been completely upended by the unexpected.

And yet as I've begun to adjust to this year's reality I find myself once again seeing and hearing Christ's gift once again as brand new, with the fresh life giving joy of a new born babe.

His entrance into our darkness in whatever form that might look like.

His SO unexpected grace that defies our sinful, selfish hearts.

His promises that are eternal, merciful, life giving, and fulfilled by His birth, death, and resurrection.

His Presence and hope upending our fears.

His surrounding protection of prayer and support of family and friends and total strangers that breathe mercy and care and time and understanding.

His understanding of how much we are broken. Of His poured out life for us. 

Gift beyond measure. Grace beyond comprehension. Christ our Saviour is born.

Advent invites us to recognize the shadows and barriers we have set around God’s promises and reopen His call to pursue life under His influence. And watch our hope soar into new territory as we see His glorious ‘impossibles’ unfold.

            “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.”

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."

Blessing on this Advent. Blessings on your new beginnings ahead.

Spoken: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

            Spoken

            Spoken words of prophecy

            so long ago proclaimed

           

            now perhaps only a dream

            never to be fulfilled

            sorrow edged thought

            stale bread today.

            No, Peter shouts. Words

            never lost or forgotten

            see, listen, understand,

            Spirit has come as promised.

Obey: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Obey

Like a tornado

sweeps clear

everything in its path

so straight does the

Lord remove our

enemies, our fears.

Steady, walk neither

left not right nor falter.

Experience His provision

sustaining power.

Life as covenant.