Testimony: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Testimony 

                Words have such power

                for light or dark

                can twist too often

                when taken for granted.

                Words of truth are

                faithful always

                carried in love

                when we seek His witness.

                Words of grace and mercy

                fill our hearts daily

                creating ongoing life

                with God's presence.

Psalm 107: 40-41: "He pours contempt upon princes, And makes them wander in a pathless waste. But He sets the needy securely on high away from affliction, And makes His families like a flock.

Reflection: Witness: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. Do you ask the Lord for His words only? Why or why not? 

        2. How do you discern any false evil in thoughts?

        3. What do you use to test for good witness?

Share: What unexpected words has the Lord given you to bear witness when He leads?

Witness: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 3rd John: 11-12: "Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we also bear witness, and you know that our witness is true."

Witness

Lord, even in our times of uselessness we ask to stay true to Your words within ourselves and outwardly to others.

When we speak anything that are in error please dissolve them before any one hears or reads them.

We ask to hold to Your words only. Your truth only. And to live into them as You lead.

Your thoughts,

Intercession: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Intercession 

                IN thoughts

                in quiet

                in conversation

                in worry

                in prayers

                in joy and sorrow

                in witness

                in hope

                Intercession HIS ongoing, everlasting mercy of love.

Psalm 107:37: "And sow fields and plant vineyards, And gather a fruitful harvest."

Reflection: Witness: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. Are His words of prayer your foundation in all circumstances, or only in difficulties? Why or why not? 

        2. Do you pray for insight on choices and direction as ongoing conversations? Why or why not?

        3. Do you immediately seek insight, whether in silence or conversations, to ask Him for words to pray?

Share: How do you recognize the nudges to pause and pray, especially when unexpected?

Witness: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 3rd John :5-6: "Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; and they bear witness to you love before the church; and you will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God." 

Witness

Lord, please forgive us for too often becoming self-centered of 'other centered' when you nudge us.

We ask for insights as to when to speak and when to be silent in conversation, but in both to Your Spirit's Words what to pray.

And to continue to pray when You lead. May Your words be at the foundation and center of all our connections--in thoughts--in quiet--in conversation--in prayer.

Your thoughts,

Stillness: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

                       Stillness

                        Too many false witnesses

                        manage to skirt the law

                        manipulate and desecrate

                        truth with subterfuge.

                        So we hesitate to accept

                        Word given on merit only.

                       

                        Sense of longing to believe

                        without fear, anxiety.

                       

                        Creates internal turmoil

                        trying to discern

                        calm in stillness answers

                        trust Spirit alone.

Reflection: Witness: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you struggle to discern the Spirit’s voice?

2.     What helps you recognize the witness He alone can give?

3.     How has reading Scripture brought clarity to a new understanding by the Spirit’s leading?

Share: What does “walking with the Spirit” look like for you?

Witness: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Romans 8:16

“It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

“What is truth?” Pilate asked Jesus making clear his own opinion was that truth varied from a variety of opinions. Regardless of authenticity.

False witnesses still abound today. Sometimes so much so that we don’t even trust ourselves. We know when we need guidance and clarity but there are too many voices offering answers. Even those with good intentions but are just as much in error as we are.

Often we might still our busy schedules for a portion of quiet and stillness but realize we can’t quiet ourselves. Our thoughts continue to race with possibilities, or keep circling a problem with no solution. Or deliberately resist the word we are asking for because it will require a change that we resist.

Even in chosen silence we can manage to keep the Spirit’s witness at arm’s length.

Yet, if we are willing to let go of the fear and anxiety and trust His words then His wisdom and discernment will sustain and guide us.

Then we can truly be still in our spirit and be calm and ready to hear the Spirit’s voice bearing witness to whom we belong. Giving witness always to our new heritage of grace. Ongoing wisdom.

“Let me not go timidly, half-heartedly, carelessly, presumably.”  Charles Spurgeon

Lord, please help us to truly listen to Your Spirit.

Psalm of Worship: Proverbs 8:15

“By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just.”

Stone: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Stone

Stone stands as witness

words written of

commitment to follow

consent to serve

remembered for a lifetime

recognized God’s authority

warnings accepted

stalwart in choice

“choose this time

you will serve.”

Each heart freely given to

gift of decision. 

Remember: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Joshua 24

“The Lord our God we will serve, and him we will obey.” Joshua 24: 24

Joshua gathers Israel for a final address and reminds them first that they did not conquer the land by their own bow or by sword. They did not build the towns or cities that they now lived in. The land they now owned came from the Lord their God and by His provision.

So, Joshua exhorts, “revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness.” Choose, he reminds them. Who will you serve this day?

“The Lord our God we will serve, and him we will obey.” They made a solemn commitment, and so Joshua made them a covenant, wrote it in the book of law of God, took a large stone and set it under the oak by the sanctuary of the Lord.

“See, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has heard all the words of the Lord.”

And Israel continued to serve the Lord all the days of Joshua.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Jesus reminds His followers of His provision and protection. First seek.

Lord, help us to remember that all we have is by Your grace and provision. Help us to not choose anxiety and worry before trust and prayer. Keep our hearts sincere in faithfulness and as a strong witness of Your truth so that we too will obey Your words as well.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 144:14

“May there be no breach in the walls, no exile, and no cry of distress in our streets.” 

Witness: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

                     
                       Witness

Heart, soul

mind, strength

service all

witness—only

altar before

the Lord to

keep faith

day to day

generation to generation

protection against

false worship

He along refuge.

Hold fast.

Reflection Altar: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What are some false altars that as Christians we need to be wary of?

2.     What are some false altars that divide your own heart from full obedience to the Lord?

3.     How can we protect our communities from drifting from His ways even while keeping worship?

4.     How can we begin to recognize the seeds of rebellion in ourselves or our  worship communities?

Share: What ‘witness’ do you keep as a foundation to hold onto your faith?

Altar: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Joshua 22

“The Reubenites and the Gadites called the altar ‘Witness’; ‘For,’ said they, ‘it is a witness between us that the Lord is God.’” Joshua 22:34

As Israel settled into their new land, Joshua released the tribes from across the Jordan to return their inheritance covering them with thanksgiving for keeping their charge, accolades that they had not forsaken their kindred in a time of need, and prayers “to love the Lord your God and walk in his ways, to keep his commandments, and to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart with all your soul.” They also returned with great riches.

Then when the families of Israel heard the tribes had built a large altar on Israel’s side of the Jordan their own tribes rose in consternation and prepared to go to war against them for their perceived unfaithfulness. But first they begged them not to be unfaithful to the Lord by building a false altar and also extended the offer to be incorporated onto the Jordan side if their land was unclean. “Only do not rebel against the Lord, or rebel against us, by building yourselves an altar other than the alter of the Lord our God.”

Shocked by the accusations, and perceived intentions, the Canaan tribes hastily explained their intent. The altar was not to replace the Lord’s altar but rather an altar of witness to future generations of all the tribes on both sides of the Jordan that they all served the same Lord. For them the altar was a warning and a hope to the future generations to not rebel, to not forget their heritage, and to continue to serve the Lord in life and in His tabernacle.

They had seen their parents’ generation lose the promised land because of disobedience. They knew their exodus history and recognized how quickly a person, a family, or a generation, could become separated from the Lord’s altar and thought to prepare ahead for strength to remain faithful.

Do we? Many of our worship sites no longer have altars because under Jesus our altars are not on stone but written with a different style. “…. being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts.”  2 Cor 3:3

Lord, help us to be faithful and true witnesses of Your truth at all times. Keep us diligent and compassionate towards others and ourselves when false words begin to influence our hearts and our service. Help us to recognize the dangers and hold tight to Your Holy Spirit’s counsel.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 142: 3 & 5

“When my spirit is faint, you know my way..”

“…You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Reflection: Inheritance: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you think the whole tribe of Levi saw God’s inheritance as a blessing? Why?

2.     What would be the privileges? What would be the sacrifices?

3.     How does that compare with believers today, not only ordained clergy?

4.     Read Revelation 8:3-5. In what ways do the people mirror the Levites?

Share: What inheritance from the Lord do you joy in?

Safe: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Safe

Stood firm in the middle

until all completed.

Stacked the stones

as a memorial.

Still present

witness to faithfulness.

So all earth may know

God’s hand of grace and mercy.

Suffering that all

may cross from darkness to light.

                        Safe

Reflection Memorial: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What spiritual or cultural heritage have you received from your family?

2.     Do you see it as a blessing or a burden? Why?

3.     What faith inheritance do you most want your children to remember?

Share: What faith stone stands firmly in your life as a present memorial?

Memorial: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Joshua 4

“When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’”

Joshua 4:6

Memorials commemorate lives and events. Personally within families, and publicly within the histories of communities and nations. Although often given at death, they in fact honor life, by acknowledging their gift of being to those who knew them.

Some are given to perfect strangers due to acts of bravery, of courage, and of honor.

Names are often identified in Bible stories to acknowledge a particular action, both as a positive example or a negative one. After the twelve priests faithfully stood firm holding the ark until all the people passed it might be expected that their names be part of the story as a memorial and perhaps within their own generation they were.

But Israel knew that God alone had saved them and so this memorial was not only to answer the questions of their children but also, “so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, and so that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” The memorial was even prepared ahead of time as each of the twelve tribes had a representative carry a stone with them from one side unto the other.

From a land of slavery into a land of promise. “So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.” Both a spiritual and an historical critical event to be passed along from generation to generation.

As a witness forever. Both the stones and the words of the story behind them.

Lord, you have also cut us off from the power of darkness and crossed us over to Your light. Lord, please help us to be as faithful and readily stand where You place us until all that You command is completed.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 124:6-8

“Blessed be the Lord who has not given us as prey…

… We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers;

the snare is broken and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.”

Persecution: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:37, “…persecuted, tormented—”.

When asked to bring forth a prophet to confirm the word of the Lord, King Ahab of Israel reluctantly acknowledged Micaiah. Then added, “but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil.”2 Chronicles 18:26

The prophet once again spoke the words the Lord gave and Ahab angrily ordered Micaiah to prison, to be fed sparingly until his safe return. To which the prophet added, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” I can’t help but consider the prophet’s answer had a touch of dry irony to it, yet regardless of tone he continued to speak the truth, no matter the consequences. He fully acknowledged his own capacity for error while affirming the undeniable truth of God’s words. And he stood firm on God’s words—willing to accept dire outrage.

What a contrast to the king who kept insisting Micaiah change his words to please him and refusing to listen to truth. So set on his own desires that he willfully chose to react with persecution over honest petition for direction.

Persecution seems a little beyond our own reactions to negative feedback, but is it? How often do we accuse others of malice or envy or misunderstanding or self-serving intent when we receive negative replies? Especially when we have sought out counsel. We may not actually say the words out loud; yet internally argue to mask our refusal to accept truth.

Lord, please give us integrity of heart to choose to listen and speak Your words, instead of refusing them for self-interest.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 111:10

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;

His praise endures forever.”

Wilderness: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

     Wilderness

     Without hesitation

     they fled

     to hills, to deserts,

     leaving behind possessions

     choosing destitution

     not running away from

     but toward desire,

     longing to live

     in righteousness

     and justice.

     Wilderness a haven.