Life: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

            Life

                       

            Word that cuts to the heart

            as sharp as a two-edged sword

            and a terror of guilt.

            Instead a surgeon’s precise

            knife to bring healing

            accountability removes disease.

            Before spreading, before cold

            refusal can stop truth or

            barricades sanctuary.

Reflection: Pierced: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What truth has pierced your heart recently?

2.     How did you respond? With refusal to listen or gratitude for honest accountability?

3.     What changed for you re your acceptance or denial?

4.     What barricades against truth have you set up in the past?

Share: What is one warning sign for you that you are avoiding a word of truth?

Pierced: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2: 37

“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’”

What an honest response. An open willingness to accept the chastisement and look to make amends. Heart and action together.

Over and over our present world shouts blame, cover-up, excuses, and silence when a truth is clearly brought to light. Or we blame others silently letting denial seep into our thoughts and souls to avoid taking our own responsibility.

Why are we so eager to willingly receive words of grace but not words of chastisement? Especially under God’s love and forgiveness that will root out the falseness and poison we often carry unknowingly.

Like a surgeon’s knife God’s light offers reconciliation and restoration. New life. Hope. Breath.

When we listen. When we accept. When we welcome the work of the Holy Spirit within honestly.

Lord, guide our steps that we will measure our days by Your values and Your healing.

Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:30-31

“And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food. And it was so.”

“God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Follow

Deborah listened and foretold

Balak obeyed and followed

gathered Israel’s warriors.

God’s answer to their prayers

victory came through

obedience, willing hearts

searching for relationship

a return  to holy reign.

One by one choosing, as Jael

drove the wooden peg, her

opportunity to serve call.

Kingdom Manna

Grace

Mark 10:14, But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them; “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.”

His own disciples saw the children as an intrusion. They rebuked the parents for bothering Jesus. His time, His person, was too important to deal with those too young to comprehend His teaching.

Encroachment.

Even parents and teachers often dismiss spiritual questions as just curiosity and either ignore or talk down answers. ‘When you’re older—you’ll understand,’ we say. Except maybe it’s we who don’t understand.

His truth penetrates all ages. The children hear clearly, respond honestly, question often. They participate in the relationship without guile, without guilt. Moment by moment.

Expectancy.

Everyday Lord, help me to come to You with a child’s heart, open to new experiences. Willing to live an adventure. Learning to live in Your kingdom. Willing to be taught. Wide-eyed with wonder.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 78:4

We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation

the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.