Your Father: Prayers and Poetry

                 Your Father

                In heaven

                hallowed is

                His kingdom.

                In His will

                heavenly wonder

                healing mercy.

                In His forgiveness

                hear understanding

           

                hope returns.

                In glory

                Holy Spirit power

                Holy eternity. Amen

Matthew 5:16: "Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: Ever and Ever: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions:

        1. In what ways might choosing His will daily change your perspective and choices; knowing that you will never be abandoned by the Lord?

        2. How might for "ever and ever" change your relationship with our Holy Spirit each day? Today? In awe?

        3. How might this gift of forever affect your relationships with family and friends and strangers? Why?

Share: What is the first step you choose towards forever?

       

Ever and Ever: Prayers and Poetry

 Ever and Ever

Matthew 6:13: "for ever and ever. Amen."

For Ever

From the beginning of creation.

To the vast un-imaginable future.

We live in God's creation. Gifted with the invitation to be in an everlasting relationship with Him. Way beyond our understanding or ability to process.

Yet we are given free choice to choose within the world we now live. Who we follow--who we embrace--what decisions and choices we make--what matters.

Now

Today

With confidence even in dangerous and crushing situations. With joy in mountain top seasons. With a firm foundation given by our God, by our Jesus, by our Holy Spirit every moment of every day.

Yes to His gift. His reminder that He is our Father.

"Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God and acceptable service with reverence and awe: for our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:28

Your thoughts,

Psalm 86 (Excerpt): Prayers and Poetry

                 Psalm 86 (Excerpt)

                "In the day of my trouble

                I shall call upon Thee,

                For Thou wilt answer me.

                There is no one like Thee

                among the gods, O Lord;

                Nor are there any works like Thine.

                All nations whom Thou hast made

                Shall come and worship

                before Thee, O Lord;

                And they shall glorify Thy name.

                For Thou art great and doest

                wondrous deeds;

                Thou alone art God.

                Teach me Thy way, O Lord;

                I will walk in Thy truth;

                Unite my heart to fear Thy name.

                I will give thanks to Thee,

                O Lord my God

                with all my heart.

                And will glorify Thy name for ever."

Matthew 5:12: "Rejoice and be glad for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Reflection: And The Glory: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

Ponder on these verses this week.

        1. "Let the Lord be glorified that we might see your joy." Isaiah 66:5

        2. "Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples." 
1 Chronicles 16:24

        3. "Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle." Psalm 24:8

        4. "...As the Lord lives, In truth, in justice, and in righteousness; Then the nations will bless themselves in Him, And in Him they will glory." Jeremiah 4:2

        5. "...because they were all glorifying God for what had happened." Acts 4:21

        6. "For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body."                1 Corinthians 6:20

        7. "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,".. 2 Corinthians 4:17

Share: How might you identify, or already do, with these examples in His presence now in our daily lives?"

And The Glory: Prayers and Poetry

And The Glory

Matthew 6:13: "and the power and the glory,"

Glory

One Biblical concordance defines some glory phrases as "honor, worship, exalted, great, splendor, and exalt."

Except whenever we are referring to nature it feels like the Bible's insight into the concept of glory is much deeper and powerful than our current use or understanding.

We tend to tune in to understanding basic power because whenever it is used humanly, honestly or not, we acknowledge the wide range of man-made interpretations. We recognize how different and higher the quality of use is according to who is wielding it.

And we also know that no one can reach the Lord's realm of power. Thankfully!

But true glory--Biblical definition glory--seems far away from our comprehension. As magnificent glory that we do not recognize when experienced it seems so much less in comparison to a tiny drop of God's glory.

Yet in this prayer Jesus includes us as recipients of earthly and heavenly glory.

What might that look like?

Your thoughts,

Moving: For Thine Is: Prayers and Poetry

                 Moving

                Often mixed with

                hope and dread

                not sure of our choice

                whether made or forced.

                Open door to His

                heavenly realm

                not described

                wonder beyond us.

                Only He has a place, a

                haven He created

                new life, new soul,

                woven by His love.

Matthew 5:12: "Rejoice and be glad for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Reflection: For Thine Is: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

         1. What brought you ongoing joy in the most favorite place you have lived?

         2. How did that special factor help when in difficult situations?

         3. What parts of our earthly kingdom make you think and wonder about eternity? Why?

Share: What part of nature do you hope we will still see in heaven? Why?

For Thine Is: Prayers and Poetry

 For Thine Is

Matthew 6:13: "For Thine is the Kingdom...".

Thine=Yours=HIS 

His heavenly kingdom. Of which we have no understanding or specific details.

We have been given the overall sketches of how our earthly kingdom began, and yet, after all these centuries, new discoveries are still being found. Or new connections made between past and present.

And too often we have misused the gifts from the original Garden and onward, here on earth.

Yet our Father still prepares a place for us--with Him--with our families--with His grace. He invites us into His kingdom--His domain--His home. And we cannot imagine. A kingdom where there is wholeness and life and His presence always.

Death of any kind is heartbreaking and shattering when we say goodbye.

And sometimes we forget that in His kingdom is complete restoration on every level possible. He will welcome us into a new life when we move to heaven. A place we cannot imagine. No understandable details or descriptions.

Except His presence.

And a new beginning in His home.

Your thoughts,

Safety: Prayers and Poetry

             Safety

            Within and without

            can only be seen

            from clear knowledge.

            Experience both a

            sorrow and a search

            to walk the road chosen.

            In faith in trust

            regardless of persecution

            when our heart is firm.

            Within and without

            wrapped in His grace

            we can live in soul safety.

Matthew 5:11: "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me."

Reflection: But Deliver Us: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

        1. How often do we forget to ask for guidance and protection before a danger whispers to us?

        2. When you recognize that slight nudge of warning what do you use to get a deeper sense of truth?

        3. How can we extend that to personal prayers and protection prayers for others as the Lord leads?

Share: What prayer request have you found most helpful to stay focused on the Lord's presence in all circumstances?

But Deliver Us: Prayers and Poetry

But Deliver Us 

Matthew 6:13: "But deliver us from evil."

Save

Evil comes in many forms. Sometimes clear and fearful. Sometimes hidden and dangerous. Sometimes ready to battle and sometimes not. Sometimes false.

How to know when to walk away? Or how to identify?

Ask in prayer. Always.

From the tiniest nudge that something is not quite right to a clear confrontation demanding a fight.

Some things may look okay on the outside--a new opportunity--a new friendship--a new adventure. Like Satan's offers to Jesus in the wilderness. Looks great on the outside. Maybe even a position to do much needed good. But there are hidden chains that will weave through our lives and hearts like vines crawling up tighter and tighter until we are bound.

Prayer. Always.

Only the Lord knows our very being. What may be a wonderful opportunity for growth and ministry to one person may be a terrible collapse for another. Each of us have specific boundaries--each of us are fragile to lures. Unless we accept His deliverance we will and do falter. repeatedly.

Prayer. Always.

Your thoughts,

Protection: Prayers and Poetry

                Protection

                Daily He went before them                

                for forty years

                leading them each day

                from within a pillar of cloud.

                Every night

                Every step, every day

                He continued from

                a pillar of fire. Every year.

                Daily He stays with us too

                within our hearts, our souls,

                never leaving, still watching,

                with us--every moment.

Matthew 5:10: "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom oh heaven."

                

                

Reflection: And Do Not Lead Us: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

    1. What temptations continue to whisper or attack your relationship with the Lord?

    2. What has kept you from seeking His help to resist, or forgiveness to return?

    3. What word, or promise, from Jesus could become your daily hope to shelter you?

Share: What does a firm foundation look like for you?

And Do Not Lead Us: Prayers and Poetry

And Do Not Lead Us

Matthew 6:13: "And lead us not into temptation,"

Temptation

Why would we think that God would lead us into temptation, when Jesus came to save?

Then we remember that even in the perfection of the Garden Adam and Eve chose temptation. And then in the wilderness Satan again tried to turn Jesus from His call of redemption for everyone.

Jesus reminds us here to ask for strength to resist whatever allure or wrong direction is acting as a siren song to turn us away from His truth and His protection.

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Provision. Protection. Prepared.

Will we remember? Will we ask for help? Will we recognize the lies? Will we stay on the path He calls us to regardless of the cost?

Jesus did not hesitate to turn to God in prayer, for Himself and for others.

Your thoughts,

As We Forgive: Prayers and Poetry

 Matthew 6:12: "As we forgive them that trespass against us." (or our debts)

Absolve

Every time. Over and over. From our hearts.

Whether debts, of false accusations, or lies, or hatred, or condemnation.

In his study of parables, Herbert Lockyer shares that: "The word forgive actually means 'forth-give,' that is, to dismiss absolutely from thought."

No grudges. No retaliation. No gossip. No revenge.

One of the most detailed and well-known parable from Jesus is in His response to Peter's question as to how we must forgive another. "Up to seven times?" Seventy times seven was the answer.

Then Jesus shared the story of a man who had been forgiven an enormous debt from the king. But when released he in turn sent a fellow slave, who owed him a much smaller amount, into prison. When the king heard he became extremely angry at the man's lack of mercy and wickedness to another, and so removed his decree and sent him to the torturers. Matthew 18:21-35

In Luke 7:1-4, Jesus again reminds His disciples that repentance is ongoing and to be on guard to forgive. No matter how many times.

Lockyer also shares that: "The truth unfolded in the parable, then, is that forgiveness must be, as it is with God, a constant attitude."

Your thoughts,

Mercy: Prayers and Poetry

                 Mercy

                Sin absolved

                within and without

                when we acknowledge

                our faults--our failures

                own the iniquity.

                Love absorbs

                within and without

                whispers hope

                opens new paths

                offered through His grace.

Matthew 5:8: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

Reflection: And Forgive Us: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

    1. Read Psalm 103's Praise for the Lord's Mercies.

    2. Which of these mercies have you received from a person, from the Lord?

    3. Which of these acts of forgiveness have you been able to give to your loved ones, to friends, or to strangers?

Share: How has embracing forgiveness changed your daily perception?

And Forgive Us: Prayers and Poetry

Matthew 6:12: "And forgive us our trespasses (or debts)" 

Forgive

Trespasses--sin--debts--often intertwine in the Bible verses and stories. But when Jesus gave these words to His disciples they still had no true concept of the price Jesus would pay to open the door to a forgiveness beyond any human ability.

In every aspect of our lives--from the inside out.

"He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults." Psalm 103:10

"As far as the east is from the west so far does He remove our sins." Psalm 103:12

In Ephesians Chapter 2 Paul reminds his readers that they were dead in their sins when they walked in the course of this world that desires power and personal ambition.

Many people throughout history and present times still reject this gift of life, like Saul who would not accept God's grace and looked only to human methods to attempt to gain power.

Yet the Lord offers His mercy again and again. Free will. Free choice.

We only need to accept His costly offering.

"Sin is the refusal of love, whether to give love or to receive it." Thomas Merton.

Your thoughts,

Wonder: Prayers and Poetry

                 Wonder

                Sometimes splashes

                us with surprise

                stunned in awe.

                Or quietly nudges

                us with beauty in

                one small sight.

                Gently washes

                us with His ongoing

                grace and love.

                Whispers daily to comfort

                us when we pause

                with wonder.

Matthew 5:7: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy."