Mercy: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Mercy

                To recognize the lose of 

                His gift--relationship--

                broken by selfishness

                overwhelms with grief.

                To recognize our failure.

                Often drown in sorrow

                unless we seek the

                light still burning

                waiting for us to return--seek.

                Ongoing mercy never dies.

Psalm 89:46: "How long, O Lord? Wilt Thou hide Thyself forever? Will Thy wrath burn like fire?"

Reflection: Return: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions 

        1. When have you walked away from God's grace either into a seemingly small lie or a chosen rejection?

        2. How long before recognizing that choice as a deep darkness that dissolved you?

        3. How did you seek His mercy again?

Share: What warning would you now give to another when you see their lure pulling them from truth?

Return: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

2nd Peter 2:20-22: "Those who escape the corrupting forces of this world system through the experience of knowing about our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Messiah, then go back into entanglement with them and are defeated by them, becoming worse off than they were to start with. It would have been much better for them never to have experienced the way of righteousness than to know it and then turn away from the sacred obligation that was given to them. They became illustrations of the true proverb: A day will return to his own vomit and a washed pig to its rolling in the mud."

Return

Sometimes we really don't understand how or why as His child we too often fall back into sin and greed and selfishness.

To walk away from His grace and mercy always brings deeper loss and fears with an attitude of hopelessness when we recognize our failure--again.

And yet, Lord, You will restore us when we finally seek Your light again.

Please keep it burning no matter how faint we can see it until all of Your lost return.

Please continue to hold on to each one of us when we falter and recognize the corruption no matter how small so that we can return to You.

Please keep us holding always.

Your thoughts,

Return: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

                 Return

                Turns within to

                examine heart, mind

                soul ready to return

                not in outward penitence

                but from real desire to

                truth's obedience

                not a lifted show of hands

                instead honest supplication

                now prepares for

                real deliverance.

Psalm 37:23: "Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when He delights on our way;"

Drifting: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

                                               Drifting

                                                Too easy sometimes

                                                to use proper

                                                words according to our

                                                witness of scripture

                                                not recognizing our own

                                                neglect in our hearts

                                                light blurred

                                                listening dulled

                                                drifting from His path

                                                despite belief.

                                                Time to return

                                                trust His presence

                                                wash away false imitations

                                                walk in Spirit’s power

                                                not our own perspective

                                                need to embrace

                                                life that restores

                                                lifts souls in strength

                                                dare to walk boldly

                                                dependant on His love.

Psalm 18:38, “I shattered them, so they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet.”

Reflection: Return: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1. In what ways does fatigue or disappointment pull us from heart’s hope?

2. Have you ever spoken words of hope to someone else and realized you are not living them for yourselves?

3. How can we recognize when our faith becomes rhetoric instead of reality?

4. In what ways can Jesus’ example enable us to walk in His strength again?

Share: Which one do you feel most applies to you right now?

Return: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

Philippians 3: 17-18, “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.”

Return

What is on the outside does not always match what is on the inside. How often do we pretend politeness, while inwardly are having a rude conversation on how we really feel?

Speaking the right words—even to ourselves—does not always mean we live them. Sometimes we even manage to fool ourselves. Or even be sincerely unaware that our thoughts and attitudes are opposing the Lord.

Lord, please break through the chains and darkness of false worship and actions when we drift away. Pour out Your true light and path into us—heart, mind, and soul—that we may stay faithful on whatever road we are walking.

Your thoughts,

Reflection: Return: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1. Have you ever taken a wrong turn and ended up confused or lost?

2. What decisions and choices did you need to make to get back on track?

3. What kind of roadmarks and guideposts will help you to stay on God’s highway without false distractions?

4. What is the next turning point before you?

Return: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Jeremiah 31: 21, “Set up for yourselves roadmarks, Place for yourself guideposts; Direct your mind to the highway, The way by which you went. Return, O virgin of Israel, Return to these your cities.”

Return,

Roads go in both directions. There is always a way back—a way to return.

The landscape may have changed. The trip may now be more difficult, yet there are still markers to guide us. Turning points that give concrete arrows to destination. An internal map is also added as hope.

And each time we pause to rest we gain a new perspective. Some of our past completely forgotten, some just as remembered, but now we can see through a different lens. His roadmarks—His destination—His eternal promise—forgiveness.

“A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools shall go astray.” Isaiah 35:8

A road that leads to ongoing life even if the road is a path of boulders.

Lord, please show us the roadmarks we are to walk. Give us Your vision we pray to see through our dimness and confusion. You have gifted us with extended life, Lord. Please show us how to live into it without further waste.

Your thoughts,