Mocking: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

                 Mocking

                Murmurs gurgle 

                Like a stream under

                Storm, a constant

                Rush of sound

                Erratic, chaotic

                No soothing melody

                Shape into taunts

                Day and night

                Strumming chords.

Psalm 37:30: "The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak justice."

Reflection: Sight: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions 

        1. Have you experienced the taunts from others or the taunts from within yourself?

        2. How do those whispers undermine God's grace in your heart?

        3. What words from God's truth help you to turn away from them?

Share: How does seeing God on our side change the way you pray?

Sight: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: lamentations 3:61-63: "Thou hast heard their reproach, O Lord, All their schemes against me...Are against me all day long. ..". 

Sight

Lord, You often show us that the battles can begin in our doubts and fears and even in minor irritations--before they grow into our battle zones.

Guide us into when and how we can pause before You in prayer to seek Your path first. To guide us to see our circumstances through the eyes of Your Spirit.

Before the lies and worries can grow into fear and doubts and attacks. Within or without.

Keep us remembering to pause and pray all day long and stay close to You.

Your thoughts, 

Kingdom Manna

Found

John 3:3, Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

Many animal species are born blind. They ‘see’ with their senses—smell, touch, taste. When their eyes open they see the den prepared for their birth: a cardboard box, a thicket, a cave. Curiosity draws them further. They peek around corners, peer through foliage. Sometimes receiving encouragement. Sometimes a cuff. The daring press forward, the timid retreat. As their strength gains their world expands. Their vision is enlarged. They begin to see the world through their parents’ eyes. Towards maturity.

I too am limited to my senses and my experiences. I can relate only to what I see around me—where I am--whom I’m with—in relation to me. Unless.

Miracle of birth. Born from above? A perspective completely foreign to my capabilities but given by God. Sight to see His kingdom. Vision to encompass His world. New territory to explore under His direction.

If I am willing to look through His eyes—His heart—His will. Lord, may I seek Your panorama.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 14:2

The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God.

Kingdom Manna

Grace

Matthew 21: 31, “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.”

Compliance with the law is expected from all citizens. Prompt adherence to command is expected within all protection services: police, fire, military, medical. Parents consistently expect obedience from children. These boundaries protect us from anarchy, confusion, and chaos.

Submission.

Control is preferable.We choose when. We decide what. We create our plans.

Substitution.

Confident in status, confident in prestige, incredulous priests heard Jesus say tax collectors and prostitutes had priority. Those with no credits. Those with no credentials. Except one. Belief. “This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”

Simplicity.

Cast my will into Yours, Lord. Crush any part that desires an alternative of no substance. Help me to choose Your way.

Sacrifice.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 116:17

I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord.

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 33:6, So the sons of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments from Mount Horeb onward.

Stripped. Their outer ornaments that signified their position, their wealth, their status. Whether they wore their ornaments as a right, or to command respect and admiration, now they were ready to wear nothing. To be seen simply as God’s people.

How comfortable am I/are we to have all our outer props removed? Race, color, social status, family credentials, education and finances. To simply be known for myself/ourselves. Do I even know who I am apart from my props?

Scripture puts us on equal footing: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Jesus Christ.”

Help me, Lord, to be stripped of anything that takes precedence over my following you. Remove any pretentiousness in me. Clear my sight also to look at each person in my life as Your child, a fellow traveler, a potential friend.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 73:25

Whom have I in heaven but Thee?

And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth.