Ongoing: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Ongoing 

                When we come to know

                Him accepting His

                loving grace and presence

                He will guide us through

                care to walk with

                Him daily learning

                actions and words to share

                When we abide in truth.

Psalm 27:8: "When Thou didst say, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to Thee, "Thy face, O Lord, I shall seek.'"

                

Reflection: Walk: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. Have you been conflicted by others twisting God's words? Did you step into these lies?

        2. What words or actions brought you into recognizing these deceits?

        3. How do you now abide in Him and listen with His walk? 

Share: What words or actions opened the door of your heart to recognize and choose to live into His truths?

Walk: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading:1st John 2:4-6: 'The one who says, 'I have come to know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner He walked."

Walk

Thank-you, Lord, for Your ongoing presence and guidance in Your truth.

Please forgive us our too many ongoing times when we still do not hear or act upon Your truth. And instead allow lies to speak within and without us.

Please keep us into ongoing awareness so that we will remain in Your truth from our hearts into all our actions and words. Internally to ourselves and externally to those around us.

We ask to continually learn only Your language.

Your thoughts,

Driven: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

                         Driven

                        The light has left.

                        Alone now in

                        darkness, cut off

                        from wisdom

                        driven into affliction

                        by wrath

                        day to day

                        His words

                        disappear in emptiness

                        alone now barren.

                        The light has left.

Psalm 37:10: "Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there."

Reflection: Walk: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions 

    1. When did you feel driven into darkness--into affliction--into a sense of "against me alone"?

    2. Did you believe that God purposely sent you? Why? Why not?

    3. How do our reactions to darkness affect us when we believe that God is making us walk alone, or is walking by our side throughout?

Share: What promise from the Lord helps you cling to His light?

Walk: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

 Reading: Lamentations 3:1-3: "... He has driven me and made me walk In darkness and not in light.  ...".

Walk

In all our times of darkness, Lord, You have been with each one of us. Especially in times when we remain so angry at You that we would not listen, or accept Your truths.

And the darkness still comes.

But now we know that You are always present. And we need to keep on walking daily, sometimes one step at a time.

Holding on to Your hand. Holding on to Your words in our hearts and soul every moment.

Thank you for holding on to each one of us--to being with each of us--in all circumstances.

May we focus on Your living light even in the darkest places.

Your thoughts,

Reflection Questions: Walk: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1. Do you think of yourself as being able to walk with God as Enoch did? Why or why not?

2. Whom do you trust humanly more than any other person? Why?

3. Is there someone that you give those same gifts of relationship to when you walk with them?

4. Are these gifts that can only be shared spontaneously or gifts that can be nurtured?

Share: What is most special to you when you can walk with a close friend or loved one?

Walk: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:5, “By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and ‘he was not found, because God had taken him.’”

Walk

Every time I’ve come to this verse, and the one it refers to in Genesis 5:24: “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him,” I found myself silent and a little stunned at the words.

What would it be like to walk with God? Did he get to walk in person like Adam and Eve in the garden? Did they walk in silence like long time friends often do? Or were they so excited to be able to share their day and feelings that the conversation skipped from subject to subject and time passed into a blur?

And this happened long before the law, long before Jesus’ sacrifice to remove the barrier of sin that keeps us from fellowship. Scripture says so little about Enoch, but we do know he was a man and therefore not perfect—not righteous—not holy. Only Jesus can make that claim. And still, Enoch walked with God.

Richard Foster reminds us that the gift of Simple prayer is the freedom to pour our heart out before Him. “We do not try to conceal our conflicting and contradictory motives from God—or from ourselves.” We are fortunate when we find trustworthy friends with whom we can share with complete honesty and know they will listen all the way to the bottom of our garbage and stay with us until we recognize it as well.

Yet this miracle of fellowship to walk with God is His gift to each of us. Enoch recognized it and accepted it. Lord, help us to receive this wondrous spiritual heritage. Deepen our faith so that we willingly remove any barriers that keep us from walking with you.

Your thoughts,

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Isaiah 30:21, “And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

I think I had become so used to scripture that encourages believers to follow that it took me along time to realize—internalize that this verse says “behind”.

Sight unseen.

Or at least, not a clear view up ahead. Or even a glimpse out of the corner of my eye.

Behind—to hear, to act upon tasks given, to obey in faith.

Where the questions begin, “Is this really You, Lord?” “How can I be sure.” “Could I have some assurance?”  “Why?” “Please, may I turn around and look and see and touch and taste?”

Creation obeys.

Instinctively—instantly—intently.

Because all know your voice clearly. Because Your word is imbedded into the fabric of all. Like a heartbeat flowing steadily.

Lord, please so saturate me/us in Your words and Your voice that I/we will resist You from fear or confusion, but instead embrace the gift of hearing Your guidance.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 25:9-10

“He leads the humble to justice, and He teaches the humble His way.

All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth

To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.”

Kingdom Manna

Key

Mark 4:3, “Listen! A sower went out to sow.”

Our trail began at the ocean. We followed a narrow well-beaten, well-defined path overlooking sheer cliffs. Gradually the thin line curved inland toward a meadow where it became difficult to follow among the tall grass and bright flowers. We continued through a dark tunnel, next to a recently burned hillside and eventually came to a grove of trees next to a murmuring stream. The entire hike could be capsuled in picture post-cards. Feet weary we sat at the picnic tables to empty our back-packs and eat. Somehow the simple sandwiches felt like a banquet.

What a variety of terrain within a few miles radius! We could not count the assortment of foliage we passed. We started at one end of a path and followed, carrying our supplies with us. We went with an attitude of expectation and uncertainty.

Out to sow carrying the word of God, explained Jesus to His disciples. The path is where the word is heard. Sometimes clearly and well-defined, sometimes slightly hidden, but present, throughout the journey. Distance, direction, and diet all bound together.

Walk with me along the path, Lord, especially along the crumbling cliffs and dark caves. Keep me moving onward with Your word in my heart and in my hand.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus: 33:13, Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found favor in Thy sight, let me know Thy ways, that I may know Thee, so that I may find favor in Thy sight.”

Moses knew the Egyptian ways were not God’s ways. Israel’s ways were not God’s ways. Amalek’s ways were not God’s ways.

“And your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” Moses asked to know God’s way that he might walk it for life.

A way that blended inner character with outward commitment. God’s way meant living in His will, obeying His commandments, acting as His emissary.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.”

A designation for early Christians was as people of “The Way”. Often it was spoken in contempt for their living style by non-believers, but Christians wore the name with pride. The derision from others meant they were viewed as Christ’s followers. A badge of joy to them to be so identified with Christ. A path of service, mercy and outreach. Imitators of Christ walking in love.

May I so know Your ways, Lord, that I can live them from the inside out. Not in the futility of my mind but in the unity of Your Spirit. Not on self-designated paths, but in Your commissioned ways.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 103:7

He made known His ways to Moses,

His acts to the sons of Israel.

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 33:7,….And it came about, that everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp.

Tent of meeting. Open to all who sought the Lord. Not just Moses or the leaders or the priests. Everyone. Even with the residue of idolatry and sin still clinging to Israel.

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for me with all your heart.”

Outside the camp. God waited there. For His people to come. To seek fellowship. To seek reconciliation. He had done everything else for them; freed them, fed them, forgave them. Only requirement now was to walk those few steps outside the camp, into the tent of meeting.

Timid thoughts flutter through my mind. Am I ready to leave the safety and security of the camp? I suspect that entering the tent could transform me, thrust me into new truths. Am I willing to expose my need, to search for God with everyone watching? There is a stretch of open space between the camp and the tent. Will I be walking it alone or will others come too?

Offering Himself, Christ carried His cross outside the camp to the place called Golgotha, to be crucified, to cross over to God. To hold out His hand to us. To walk us across with His love.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 27:8

When Thou didst say, “seek My face,” my heart said to Thee,

“Thy face , O Lord, I shall seek.”