Mends:Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

                                                Mends

                                                To serve where

                                                the Lord leads

                                               

                                                brings unknown

                                                blessings often unseen

                                                a service of hope

                                                a life of growth

                                                starts with a willing heart

                                                seeking truth

                                                grows into compassion

                                                grows in relationships

                                                mends brokenness

                                                mirrors the Lord’s love

                                                seen or unseen His

                                                Spirit is present.

Psalm 18:26, “With the pure Thou dost show Thyself pure; And with the crooked Thou dost show Thyself astute.”

Reflection: Serve: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1. Who has been a faith “parent” to you in your life? What do you consider to be the most grateful insight you received from them?

2. How have you been able to serve others because of the teaching they gave you?

3. Where and how do you desire to serve at this particular point in you r life now?

Share: What is one of your gifts they helped you to discover or grow?

Serve: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

Philippians 2:22-23, “But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me,”

Serve

When we accept the Lord’s invitation to know Him personally, He also includes us into His family. No matter how alone we are in our own lives now we discover mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, cousins and aunts, uncles, grandparents to comfort us, teach us His word, pray for us, and help us grow.

Through them He often guides our sense of direction to give us clarity and understanding. Because they share where they have walked in distress and struggle and hope and they pass it on.

Yet too often we miss the opportunities to listen or to pass on our own support to them—to strangers—to share His grace.

Lord, as Your servants please may Your Holy Spirit lead us even when , or perhaps especially, when we are not aware. Show us how to serve—when to serve—where to serve.  Daily.

Your thoughts,

Reflection: Serve: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How can we discern if our goals and plans have become things of the flesh?

2.     What are some ways we can examine our purposes to align with Scripture?

3.     How can resisting another’s advice become a warning sign? Or a confirmation?

4.     What steps have you taken this week to choose solutions that would please God?

Share: What was your first step?

Serve: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Romans 8: 8

“And those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Have you ever been on such a tight agenda that you cannot even speak to another person for fear of being late or missing a connection? Or being derailed from your immediate goal?

Sometimes we do need to push through for an immediate deadline, but what happens when we begin to block out or ignore wisdom that can open doors to better possibilities?

We can get so caught up in accomplishment and agendas and deadlines that we forget to include people and ideas and relational connections. Self-centered instead of God-centered.

Jesus reminds his audience, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (NKJV) Mammon is often translated as money or wealth or earthly possessions.

What does our heart covet most?

Sometimes we may need to pause long enough to evaluate if we have unknowingly put up barriers against God’s will in order to be self-sufficient and productive in our desire to be His worker. Except somewhere along the path we became our own manager. And have become deaf to His words and purpose.

Lord, please keep all our moments open to the nudges of Your Spirit so that we keep even our good intentions in Your will.

Psalm of Worship: Proverbs 8:7

“For my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.”

Refining Words

ROLE

High priest Caiphas

spoke God’s word

of truth despite

selfish plan instead now

adhered to true sovereign's will.

Could not see beyond

human power yet performed

his role in history

and lost soul’s desire.

Heart can only serve self or Son.

John 11