Remember: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Remember

                Inward and outward 

                when we listen

                remember we abide

                in forgiveness and mercy

                timeless kindness

                that resists worry

                and fear and weakness

                in our hearts

                instead filled with

                Holy redemption.

Psalm 107:1-2: "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His loving kindness is ever lasting. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary."

Reflection: Redemption: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Question

        1. How do you consider what it means to 'abide' in someone? Positive or negative?

        2. Do you recognize His abiding in your heart? Why or why not?

        3. As He abides in you--do you abide in Him? Why or why not?

Share: How would you share this gift of His presence to others?

Redemption: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1st John 2:23-24: "Who-ever denies the Son does not have a Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.  As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father."

Redemption

Thank you, Lord, for this gift of Your love and mercy knowing that we can abide in You.

In ALL situations.

Thank you for Your forgiveness and kindness.

EVERY time.

Too often we allow worry and fear to weaken our hearts and actions: both inwardly and outwardly.

Please KEEP us listening.

Your thoughts,

Verdict: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

               Verdict 

                Only by God's

                forgiveness can

                our land, our lives

                find restoration.

                O Lord, ruler of generations

                forget we plead

                our sins, our rebellion

                forever reign.

                Once more in our hearts

                families of the earth

                on bended knee, worship

                final verdict Yours alone.

                Omega, return we pray.

Psalm 37:40: "The Lord helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in him."

                        Isaiah 61:1-4

                 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

                because the Lord has anointed me;

                he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,

                to bind up the brokenhearted,

                to proclaim liberty to the captives,

                and release to the prisoners;

                to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor

                and the day of vengeance of our God;

                to comfort all who mourn;

                to provide for those who mourn in Zion--

                to give them a garland instead of ashes,

                the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

                the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

                They will be called oaks of righteousness,

                the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.

                They shall  raise up the former devastations;

                they shall repair the ruined cities,

                the devastation of many generations."

Thank you for sharing Lamentations throughout this year. In 2022 -yikes already-we will take a walk through 1 & 2 Peter. 

Blessings and prayers on the beginnings of a new fresh year.

Reflection: Redemption: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

        1. What verdict towards our sins has God shown us in Jesus?

        2. How does this gift change our heart desires?

        3. What rescue or restoration do you seek through His forgiveness now?

Share: How can we help each other to overcome defeat and come before Him on bended knees?

Redemption: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Lamentations 5:21-22: "Restore to Thee, O Lord, that we may be restored; Renew our days of old. Unless Thou hast utterly rejected us, And art exceedingly angry with us."

Redemption

Lord, too often we forget that this day is extra special. That we can engage in Your light. That each new day is a gift from You. That we are invited to be with You in all circumstances.

We ask that You continue to renew and restore each of us on each of our days as needed; that we may walk in Your purpose and authority. Give us strength for whatever we are called to be or to do.

Restore each of us. Regardless of the year behind or even the day we ask You for clear vision and open hearts to recognize and receive Your ongoing gift of living grace.

May all Your wandering children return. May all our families be rooted again in relationship with You. Each one heart to heart.

We ask for fresh vision--new courage--to step where You lead.

"Thy will be done."

Your thoughts,

By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

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Redemption

Isaac watched,

listened, held

the words as a deep

well’s sounding echo

resonates into silence.

Memory of cold rock

glistened knife, rough cords,

emblazoned on soul—

God’s redemption.

Cupped with trust

precious seed

invoked blessings

upon future generations.

Psalm 104:21, “The young lions roar after their prey, And seek their food from God.”

Sword: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

           Sword           

            Words a sword or a

            balm of healing

            spoken from truth

            piercing through lies

            revealing truth

            faith, grace.

            A new beginning

            redeemed.

Shame: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 12:2, “disregarding its shame,”

The time had come. Time to complete His heart’s goal. Time to return to glory, to His Father’s side. Time to bridge the chasm of separation. Time to bring redemption and reconciliation. Time for timeless Grace.

Public shame and personal reputation were of no account. Slander, lies, deceit, unlawful trials, illegal beatings, could not deter Him or prevent Him from reaching His purpose. For us.

Yet, how easily do we get pulled away from a purpose, or a call, or even a nudge by the Spirit, when ridicule or sarcasm whispers their influence? It doesn’t even need to come from others. Often we talk ourselves out of an action when we consider all the personal and public inconvenience that might be involved.

Verbal and non-verbal disapproval. Actual shame and embarrassment. Misunderstanding from those closest to us. Humiliation.

So we fold. And then are in shame before the Lord’s presence. Because we didn’t cling to His voice alone. And we failed Him.

And then His Spirit brings us back to the cross where He disregarded shame and we are redeemed again and again.

Lord, please give us Your strength to put all personal reputation aside when You ask. Disentangle us from our-self-first and put You first. Please put Your heart’s desire into our hearts that we might be messengers of Your grace.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 69:18-19                                 

“Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it;

Ransom me because of my enemies!

Thou dost know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor;

All my adversaries are before Thee.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Redemption

Isaac watched,

listened, held

the words as a deep

well’s sounding echo

resonates into silence.

Memory of cold rock

glistened knife, rough cords,

emblazoned on soul—

God’s redemption.

Cupped with trust

precious seed

invoked blessings

upon future generations.

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 1:2, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.”

  

“Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” Prophecy and promises. Beginning and middle and end continue in the call to shout out the good news—the gospel.

Jesus Christ has risen.

Saviour of the ages. Prophet’s Messiah now present among the people. Emmanuel among us. God here walking and talking and healing and forgiving sins.”

Jesus Christ has risen.

Spoken word. Shout it from the rooftops. Declare it far and wide and high and deep. Spread it through all the generations. The heir has come. “Let the earth rejoice.” Hope and faith welded together.

Jesus Christ has risen!

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 71:23

“My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to Thee;

And my soul, which Thou hast redeemed.”

Tabernacle

Redemption

Incorruptible acacia

offered for service

overlaid with gold

in temple worship.

Incorruptible branch

offered for service

heaven’s glory

root of redemption.

Zechariah 6:12, “ Here is a man whose name is Branch for he shall branch out in his place; and he shall build the temple of the Lord.”

Tabernacle

Altar of Brass

Perfectly designed altar

exact measurements

to meet holy precepts.

Poured out of the heart

of High Priest

as sacrifice.

Decaying wood overlaid by defense

deliberately endured humiliation

defiled for our redemption

death now sanctified.

Perfectly prepared life

exact qualifications

to pass over sin.

Hebrews 13: 10-13, ..sacrifice for sin..”

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 20:20, And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.”

When the people of Israel saw the mountain smoke and perceived the thunder and lightening, they trembled.

Trembled in fear, in awe, in anxiety.

They remembered Egypt’s end. What if they could not keep these commandments? They drew back, begging Moses to speak for them.

He comes that you may not sin, Moses explains. He comes to set a spirit of watchfulness. He comes to designate His path.

How many loving parents prepare stern voices and serious faces when explaining fire to young children? How to explain harsh consequences to a child who knows only care and nurture? How to protect against hurt?

Therefore we strike a match a fear, protective fear.

Witness this message, witness these commandments, witness this memory; that you may not sin, not forget, not know.

Thank you Lord for words of warning. Thank you for love that instills prevention. Thank you for Your paths through hot lava.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 111:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;

His praise endures forever.

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 13:1, Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Sanctify to Me every first-born, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to Me.”

Death came to Egypt’s first born. Doubt, derision, disbelief, culminated in despair; “and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead.” No division of sin’s sentence between high-born or low-born, rich or poor, master or servant. No distinction between Egypt and Israel except for God’s covering sign.

Every first-born son to be sanctified from this time forward as a reminder that God alone saves.

Redemption.

“But when the fulness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that you might receive the adoption as sons.”

Debt paid.

Every believer to be sanctified from new birth onward as a witness, in God’s word, in heart.

Thank you Lord for delivering each of us, male and female, Jew and Gentile, slave and free, to be one in You.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 56:13

For Thou hast delivered my soul from death,

Indeed my feet from stumbling,

So that I may walk before God

In the light of the living.