Healings: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Healings

                Truth 

                Mercy

                Commandment

                Forgiveness

                Truth

                Mercy

                Cleansing

                Forgiveness

                His truth ongoing

                guidance to turn from

                failure into confidence of

                His living love to heal.

Psalm 107:14: "He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their bands apart."

Reflection: Generosity: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

        1. When have you felt condemned by your own heart? Why?

        2. How did that turn in confidence by God? Why?

        3. What have you received from His assurance into your heart? To know keep always? Why?

Share: When in a darkened heart did you recognize His presence and turned into cleansing for truth to heal?

Generosity: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1st John 3: 19-22: " We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure  our heart before Him. In whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart,  and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight."

Generosity

Lord,

we thank you for Your loving forgiveness of ongoing mercy and forgiveness.

we ask You to keep cleansing our hearts and souls and minds so that only Your truth lives within us.

we ask to learn how to share Your truth--Your kindness--Your honesty.

we ask to yield all we are to You and to be in Your light for ever.

Your thoughts,

Gathered: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2: 46-47

“Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”

Kindness—generosity—praise—joy—in their gathering together brought the attraction of others. Created a curiosity that sought a reason or a story or a longing. Gave the new community the opportunity to share their gifts of grace and new foundations of their lives.

Life a warm fire on a cold night they lit a light of welcome.

Do we?

How often do our own emotions or barricades build silent walls? Maybe we don’t even realize it—do our best—then wonder why a visitor did not return or a family left.

A family dispute in the car—an unsettling situation at work that week—an anxious wait for a test result---can automatically turn us inward—unable, or unwilling, to share our grief as much as our joy.

Yet at the gathering here in Jerusalem the people were still under Roman rule with backbreaking consequences. Many were now exiled from their own families due to their decision to follow Jesus. His close family and friends still missed His presence. The onlookers knew much of these sorrows. So the people watching them wondered, how could they gather in praise?

How can we still gather in praise and joy in the midst of deep conflict and grief?  Extend open welcome and generosity.

Christ centered—together—sharing openly our heartaches and blessings—extending kindness by God’s grace.  Offered to each generation. Offered to each who seeks.  Recognizing another longing heart.

Opportunity to listen with care.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 27:5

“For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

he will set me high on a rock.”

Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

           Generosity

            Generosity flows

            when hearts feel safe

            secure in love

            that does not let go.

            Frees hands to serve

            without selfish pursuit

            solace apart from strings

            that require compensation.

            Redeemed hearts

            whisper encouragement

            strengthen all

            those who stagger.

            Recognize common ground.

            

Kingdom Manna

Hour

Matthew 20:1, “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.”

Each day the crowd seeking work grows larger. A group of men cluster at the town square. The sun is just above the horizon and its warmth has not spread yet. The men stomp their feet and blow on their hands for heat. Each man looks at the other, but sees only the eyes of his own hungry family waiting for a meal. A murmur moves through the men. The vineyard owner is seeking extra help. He wants them all. All! Then they will receive little pay but, no, wait, his offer is a full daily wage. Relief. A full day of work and full pay. Gratitude.

Until the owner gathers more and more men throughout the day. The work is heavy. He extends opportunity right up to the last hour. And pays them all equally. Resentment. The latecomers did not bear the burden or the temperature. Grumbling.

An answer from the owner. Can I not be generous if I so choose? I decide what is needed and who shall work which task. Remember what you agreed upon.

Underneath I squirm. Memories of envy rise to the surface, when a friend succeeded immediately in a task I had spent many hours doing. With similar results. But I had worked so long and so hard. Why does it come so easy for her?

And then I remember the joy of the process and the people along the way and the wonderful sense of accomplishment and a sense of God’s Spirit sustaining me. Growth.

Unfair thoughts slip away. Thank you Lord for Your generous opportunities to each of us. To co-labor in Your fields. To experience Your vineyard. To see a task through from beginning to end.

A full day, a full season, a full life with You.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 127:1

Unless the Lord builds the house,

those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord guards the city,

the guard keeps watch in vain.