Truth: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Truth

                Word from the Lord

                endures

                forever.

                Word given to each one

                empowers

                faith.

                Word ongoing always

                embraces

                forgiveness.

                Word restores brokenness to

                everlasting

                foundation.

Psalm 89:6: "For who in the skies is comparable to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty is like the Lord,"

                

Reflection: Obedience: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions: 

        1. How do you define obedience to heart truth day to day?

        2. In what ways do you recognize His seed growing within you?

        3. How do you express His love to others now?

Share: What made you recognize you were born again inside your heart?

Obedience: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

 Reading:1 Peter 1:22-24: "Now, because of your obedience to the truth, you have purified your very souls, and this empowers you to be full of love for your fellow believers. So express this sincere love toward one another passionately and with a pure heart. For through the eternal and living Word of God you have been born again. And this 'seed' that He planted within you can never be destroyed but will live and grow inside of you forever. For: Human beings are frail and temporary, like grass, and the glory of man fleeting like blossoms of the field. The grass dries and withers and the flowers fall off, but the Word of the Lord endures forever! And this is the Word that was announced to you!"

Obedience

Thank you, Lord, for Your eternal gift of living Word growing in our hearts and souls.

Thank you that it can never be destroyed no matter how far we many wander away.

Thank you that this Word from You is offered to every one of us. Thank you that You enable us to listen and to follow and let go of our self-absorbed attitudes.

Thank you for inviting us into Your truth through the presence and power of Your Holy Spirit.

Thank you for not letting go of us when we falter. And instead forgive us our past and resistance and ignorance.

Thank you that Your words become our ongoing breath in all circumstances.

To follow only Your light.

Your thoughts, 

Reflection: Subjection: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you ever see subjection as a means of hope? Why?

2.     From the previous verses creation seems to participate despite lack of choice. In what circumstances would you participate rather than resist?

3.     Would your outward obedience and inner heart be in agreement? Why or why not?

Share: For either reply what would you expect as a personal consequence?

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Unhewn: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Joshua 8

“All Israel, alien as well as citizen, …. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the aliens who resided among them.” Joshua 8: 33 & 35

Once again Israel went into a terrible battle under God’s orders, but this time no one lied, or stole, or disobeyed, despite the challenge and destruction. They did exactly as the Lord had ordered and as a result the whole of Israel received a blessing.

First worship—an unhewn stone—untouched by iron—a pure altar. Then a community side-by-side, that encompassed women and children and foreigners—no one present excluded—all given as equals. Then the full reading of the Law—all the words God had given Moses now given to Israel. God’s gift of identity, of relationship, of covenant.

I can’t help but wonder how willing am I to completely destroy all the false in me that still resists obedience to God’s redeeming power. Am I truly willing to open up to His redemptive grace or too willing to settle for easy and familiar?

Lord, please help us to be shaped by Your hand and not by our own man-made imitations. Give us Your strength to stand before You in complete obedience to all Your words—at Your altar—with courage to receive Your blessings and then to share them.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 128: 2

“You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;

you shall be happy and it shall go well with you.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Confrontation  

Bombarded with complaints,

demands, Samuel stood

firm. Spoke truth

described consequences.

Voice drowned by 

desire of assimilation;

their surety that commonality

higher than a unique calling.

He did not agree, sought

instead God’s counsel

acquiesced to His command only.

Crowd now satisfied—ignorant

of their loss.

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11: 32, “And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthah of David and Samuel and the prophets—.”

All of these men acted on faith without having any knowledge of the outcome. They trusted in God’s word alone regardless of the immediate circumstances. Hearing God’s voice was sufficient.

One of Samuel’s most difficult experiences is related in the story of Israel’s demands as told in 1 Samuel 8:18-22. The people insisted that Samuel appoint a king to rule over them. Samuel recognized the error of their request and refused to cooperate. He did not bow to their demands.

However he did take all their words he had heard and “he repeated them in the ears of the Lord.” Then when the Lord said to go ahead and fulfill their request Samuel obeyed God. He was wholly committed to serve God’s word with heart and mind and soul.

Sometimes I wonder if the people thought they had forced Samuel’s hand and influenced his decision. Which would then increase the falsehood that they were right to demand control. As their priest, Samuel’s obedience humanly cost him politically, socially and spiritually. Yet he did not question God’s word or authority. And his obedience carried into eternity.

How often do we also buy into false choices and decisions because we forget to bring the words we hear into the Lord’s presence for affirmation? Or bow to the majority because it is easier?  Or cannot hear the Lord’s voice because we are so full of our own agenda?

Lord, please enable a faith in us to keep us listening to Your words, Your voice and Your path.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 40:2

“How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,

And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.” 

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Invisible

Set forth in

calm confusion

surrounded by fears

ceaseless challenge

swirling.

Resisted angry buzz

focused solely inward

listened intently to

obey invisible call

followed.

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What is your reflex attitude towards any command?

2.     Does it change according to the speaker? Why or why not?

3.     Are there areas in your life where you need to become more obedient or less obedient to people authority?

4.     When is heartfelt obedience easy for you, or is it ever?

Share: How do you determine when it is God leading you through human messengers?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:18, “of whom he had been told, ‘It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.’”

How willing are you to be obedient? Does it depend on who is asking? Will your attitude match your actions?

As a parent I had no difficulties establishing my ‘authority’. And my children often could tell if a command was open for discussion or not by my voice. Through their growing years they often tested those boundaries to see when they achieved more responsibility. They knew my tone so well that sometimes they recognized they had pushed too far before I did. I had the power to send young children to bed early and withhold car keys from teen-agers.

So I was completely caught off guard when my grandson—then at age three—very matter-of fact—told me he didn’t have to listen to me.  And why is that I asked, since he wasn’t even in any trouble. He was just thinking out loud. “Because only mommy and daddy are my boss.” I gently explained the chain of command, which his parents later confirmed, and once his puzzlement became resolved he nodded in understanding. But since, not always in complete acceptance. When an issue needs to be resolved—for him only his parents have the final word.

I wonder sometimes if my own attitude towards others exercising their authority over me influences my attitude towards God, in my ensuing obedience or outright rebellion. Will I run away like the prodigal son and end up in mire, or stick close like the elder son and nurse a grudge for years?

Abraham faced the most heart-rending choice imaginable. Yet he made it based on his understanding of God’s character, and so entrusted to Him his most precious gift.

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work.” John 4:34

Lord, please give us courage to follow and obey with complete trust, knowing that your promises and Your commands overflow with Your redeeming love.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 66:8-10

“Bless our God, O peoples, And sound His praise abroad,

Who keeps us in life, And does not allow our feet to slip.

For Thou hast tried us, O God; Thou hast refined us as silver is refined.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Genesis 16:13, “In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.”

Provision from Your hand in Your time under circumstances not even anticipated. Evening and morning—the day surrounded—wholly surrounded—no one exempt. From the newborn to the eldest, healthy to infirm, strongest to weakest, all under Your care and concern.

Lord, please enable each of us to recognize your ongoing, daily provision and walk in it. You have surrounded us with loving, caring, praying friends whatever our present need. Please show us the path, advice we need to follow at the right time. The world tells us we all have ‘rights’ Lord, but it is more important that we become obedient to your plans and your ways. Please show us the difference between being passive and waiting until the time comes for us to act upon your counsel.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 55:22

“Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you;

He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Beyond Measure

Grains of sand

filter through our

days, each speck

marking time dissolving

Glorious star panorama

boldly displays

spoken words nightly

marking time’s passage.

Good as dead

like Abraham—still

open opportunity of

infinitesimal seed

saying yes.

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What area of your life do you need to become more willing to be obedient in faith, despite outward appearances?

2.     What is a word of hope you have experienced that you can share with another who is struggling?

3.     What does a faithful heart look like to you?

Share: Have you experienced new life out of a ‘dead’ situation? How did it change your faith perspective?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:12, “Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, ‘as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.’”

Have you ever arrived early to a concert and heard the odd screeching and twanging sounds of instruments warming up? Especially if the concert is given by beginning musicians and you wonder why you accepted the invitation.

Yet suddenly under the conductor’s hand all becomes still and then individual notes rise and blend into shape and sound and a melody flows into the audience.  Art shaped by long hours obedient to repeating scales, to practiced pieces, to the music’s heart and to the conductor’s authority harmonize into a whole.

Each note played by each instrument as a necessary voice. Each often prepared in solitude over many hours of wondering if it would ever come out right. Yet for the hope and desire within they stayed the course towards creating music. As Abraham trusted in Your creative power in and through him beyond his own capabilities.

The power of one heart in obedience to the Lord has consequences far beyond our imagination and far beyond our single notes.

Help us each one, Lord, to become instruments of faith in Your concert.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 89:4

“I will establish your seed forever,

And build up your throne to all generations.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Impossible

Some mornings it is

difficult to face known tasks,

even the commonplace raise

doubts of competence.

How then to wake each

day to new assignments,

strange blueprints with

odd vocabulary, unseen diagrams.

Unable to explain to scoffers.

Even own family gives support while

worry lines crinkle their eyes.

Fewer now the blind call to

build impossible creations.

Yet still possibilities nudge

when we truly listen.

Fresh words,

unseen—unimagined.

Unique opportunities to obey.

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Sometimes the thought of building an ark might seem easier than forgiving another, or setting boundaries in our lives. It is often easier to do a task than to change our hearts. Has the Lord asked you to do something seemingly impossible?

2.     Did you find it a hopeful challenge, or a frightening obstacle, or somewhere in between?

3.     Do you find it easier to respond when a task is private or public? Why?

Share: How did the Lord enable you to step out in faith?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Genesis 7:5, “And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.”

There’s a quote from Lewis Carroll’s Queen, in Alice in Wonderland, where she states, “Why sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” I often think this idea must apply even more so to Noah as he built that ark.

Scripture tells us he built it in faith, in trust, and in confidence because he believed God. But I can’t help but wonder if his first reaction was confusion over what God said, doubt over his personal ability, and awkwardness as he tried to ask God to explain words and concepts totally foreign to his world.

It almost reads like an ancient fantasy or science fiction novel, a work of imagination. How do you build something you’ve never heard of before? How do you grasp the impossible?

Yet Noah did—all of it—in faith—for years and years.

Each morning, before breakfast, he prepared for a day of surprise and challenge. Did he rise quickly with excitement to the day’s new demands, or quietly savor a few moments of awe in expectation? Did he ever balk, just a little, when his muscles ached, or his family complained, or the people around him ridiculed?

Lord, only by Your Spirit can we be faithful in confusion, persevere through doubt and take steps of faith despite our weaknesses. Please teach us to trust in Your commands no matter how hard or complicated they may be. Help us to meet each day with anticipation—listening for Your nudges—ready to walk in Your will.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 50:23

“‘He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;

And to him who orders his way aright

I shall show the salvation of God.’” 

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Have you ever followed a path you thought the Lord directed toward and had it turn out badly? Did you begin to doubt you really had heard His voice?

2.     Does scripture promise that every time we walk a path we will succeed?

3.     What is the difference between obedience and success in Jesus’ walk?

4.     How difficult is it for you to walk only a few steps at a time?

   Share: What gives you the confidence to discern the Lord’s voice from your own?

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.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:4, “; he died, but through his faith he still speaks.”

We are so easily influenced by our world’s views, often without recognizing it. Sometimes we see a successful life as meaning abundance. Even when we acknowledge that riches and power in the long run will not satisfy our inner search for truth, we seek an abundance of life. Overflowing life—alive in the Lord’s gifts. Grateful for our blessings. All is well with our soul.

Yet Abel died. Young. Jesus died. Young. Moses died without setting foot in the Promised Land. And so the disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind.” We too wonder who is sinning when death and disease and disaster strike. We measure by the external.

Whereas God measures by the heart. A heart like Abel’s that took God’s word as truth. Faith lives. Faith is life. A life lived in faith is success. So different from the world around us. So easy to miss the ongoing steps. So easy to let hard heartedness and discouragement take over.

Yielded to God’s word, Abel lived in trust under all circumstances. Cain even told his brother of the conversation he had with the Lord, of the warning he had received. Still Abel continued to go into the field with Cain.  And his trust continues to speak through the ages as a witness to both the here and the hereafter.

Lord, please show us how to truly live a life in focus with Your heart—not apart—but faithful in all the moments.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 33:20-21

“Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.

For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name.”