Waits: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

                 Waits

                Anger spent

                Grief empty

            

                Sorrow marked

                She stands in quiet

                Soul still waits now

                Solution only by

                God Emmanuel

                Advocate.

Psalm 37:18: "The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will abide forever;"

Reflection: Wisdom: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions: 

                1. What yoke are you carrying right now?

                2. How hard is it for you to wait for God in silence? Why?

                3. What do you think is the difference between actively or passively seeking God?

                4. Do you think one is more acceptable than another? Why?

Share: How has suffering shaped you?

Wisdom: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Lamentations 3:25-27: "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good the he waits silently For the salvation of the Lord. .. ".

Wisdom

How many ongoing times do we speak out of our own definitions of our words instead of seeking the Lord's purpose and delivery?  Or ask for His wisdom to guide us?

Too often we immediately begin with out interpretations instead of praying silently before we communicate, and forget to listen for His words to share.

Lord, we need Your guidance to keep us listening in silence and talk only as You prompt from Your Holy Spirit. We ask for this in our prayers too, so we are focused on Your will for ourselves, our families, and all others You lead us to pray for.

Please show us how to be still and listen first for Your voice daily in all circumstances.

Your thoughts, 

Reflection: Portal: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What significance does the position beside the gates imply for wisdom waiting?

2.     What heart actions do we need to take to choose Spirit living?

3.     How does sin continue to harass in spite of the Spirit’s presence?

-->

Share: What gate are you trying to enter today?

Bird Struck! Albatross

Family Devotional

Day Thirty-Two

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” John 16:12

Albatrosses have a wingspan of up to twelve feet and rarely flap their wings. Instead they gracefully fly the ocean wind currents soaring up and down indefinitely. When there is no wind, they cannot fly.

Sailors were in awe of them. Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is a tale of the bad consequences when a seaman shot one. Often it is regarded as a symbol of sin and retribution.

Jesus wanted His disciples to know about the Holy Spirit so that they would always choose to do the right thing.

Often we know what we should do, but we choose not to, and then we have consequences we don’t like. For example, if we don’t study for a test and then we get a bad grade, it’s not someone else’s fault.

The Spirit helps us to choose to act wisely. He is often also described as coming like the wind.

Just like the sailors didn’t understand how the albatross could ride the wind currents, we don’t always understand how the Spirit speaks to us. However, we know he is good because Jesus sent him to us, and we need to remember to respect him.

Action

1. Write down some questions you have about how to know what things are true and what is not.

2. Ask an adult to show you how to find out the answers.

3. Think of a way you can explain what truth is to someone who asks you.

Read More

John 16:5-15

1 Thessalonians 5:19

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:25, “Choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.”

In John 17, Jesus prays for His followers not to be taken out of the world, but to be kept from the evil one—to be sanctified in truth as a witness to the world. Moses’ advanced education and opportunities given by his upbringing gave him the gifts and qualities he needed to lead a nation, to write the Torah, to lead his people in worship of a personal God. Was there even a possibility he could have been the next Pharaoh?

Two inheritances with possibilities ahead of which he knew neither. Yet, he knew enough to know that earthy power comes and goes. A once mighty rule could quickly become buried under sands of time. And he chose the story of his people over the temporary. Trusting that following God’s promises would be far better than playing by the world’s rules. And have lasting eternal value.

Perhaps to stay in Pharaoh’s household meant a participation with sin even if not committing it. Can silence or compromise become acquiescence? How can we know when to stay in a situation or when to break all ties?

Lord, we need Your wisdom to not become blinded by wrong opportunities to do right things. Help us to stand in the heritage of Your word, Your will, and Your ways.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 105:3-5

“Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.

Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.

Remember His wonders which He has done,

His marvels, and the judgments uttered by His mouth,”

Kingdom Manna

Tasks

Matthew 7:24, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.”

Wisdom listens. Wisdom discerns. Wisdom waits.

Listening for the words that communicate truth. Absorbing the knowledge and information necessary to process, to produce a finished piece: a house, a song, a meal, a story.

Discerning when and where and how. When will action bring best results? Where is there need for care and compassion? How to penetrate grief with hope—loneliness with faith—pain with love.

Waiting in the silence of God’s sanctuary for direction. For the right words at the right time. Waiting for the power that prevails, sustains and heals.

Waiting in prayer seems so passive sometimes, Lord. So inadequate to the surrounding bedlam. But without Your touch and Your wisdom, any building is missing its foundation.

Discerning between choices and decisions often feels like groping through fog for my doorway. Yet when I find it the entrance is clear. May my hand be led by Yours’.

Listening to the avalanche of data muddles my thoughts and scatters my focus. But in prayer You remove the clutter and center me in Your heart.

Wisdom listens. Wisdom discerns. Wisdom waits.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 53:2

God looks down from heaven on humankind

to see if there are any who are wise,

who seek after God.

Kingdom Manna

Yoke

Mark 12:34, When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.

Wisdom. The world honors wisdom and within each culture, poor or rich, a standard is marked which denotes who is considered wise. Some are honored for knowledge-academic, ground-breaking, accumulation. Some for insight—insight, discernment, soothsaying. For yet others it is business sense and economic opportunities.

“Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age you should become fools so that you may become wise.”

When Jesus heard the scribe’s response, He commended him for setting love of God and neighbor above offerings and sacrifices. Seeking after a heart relationship before a successful reputation. And the wise Sadducees and Pharisees, paragons of religious knowledge and correct worship, became silent.

Decade by decade mankind’s knowledge grows sometimes at dizzying speeds. How often do we confuse it with wisdom? How often do I blur the differences? Your wisdom never changes Lord, because You never change. Your love endures forever to every age. Your love is the foundation of Your kingdom. Direct me to Your counsel. May I be willing to become foolish in my own generation to become wise in You.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 107:43

Let those who are wise give heed to these things,

and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.