Praying: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Praying

                Silent words

                Prayer words

                Sharing words

                Purpose words

                Sound words

                Powerful words

                Spirit's words our light and foundation.

Psalm 107:35: "He changes a wilderness into a pool of water, And a dry land into springs of water." 

Reflection: Words: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. In what ways have fellow believers given love in truth when needed?

        2. How have gifts of prayers from others, when in deep difficulties, carried you through with peace?

        3. When has the Spirit given you words of grace to walk alongside someone in need?

Share: What gift of truth through prayer brought a deeper insight into your praying to become an ongoing walk?

Words: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 3rd John:1-2: "The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."

Words

Thank-you for Your prayers Lord--to give to us and so teach us and to understand this blessing.

To nudge us to pray for others and to feel their prayers for us.

To listen to Your words and pray for others as You lead us.

To give us silent words, compassion words, share words. Spirit words guiding through to us for whatever the situation or the purpose is.

Please keep teaching us to pray only Your truth.

Your thoughts,

Reflection Helmet: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     When have seemingly ordinary words been used against you?

2.     When have you unintentionally used words against another person?

3.     How was the damage restored in either situation?

Share: How has the Spirit clarified words for you this week?

Worthy: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

         
           Worthy

           

We measure by

age, influence,

status, riches, as to

whom we consider

approved to deserve

supplications.

Worthy measured by

awe, heart humility

Spirit’s breathe

working through

all servants

slaves and free.

Words poured out in abundance.

Author: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 12: 2, “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,”

Another translation says that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He writes His words for us to follow. He writes them to shape us individually. He has a completed ending in mind.

If we keep reading. If we keep looking for those story nuggets and not become overwhelmed by the obstacles. How amazing that we each have a unique role to play in our own stories and also the privilege of interacting with others as they read their plot lines, and dialogue, and themes.

More often we are disappointed by how many times we miss faith opportunities. Perhaps we didn’t understand the directions, or were too busy looking at someone else’s pages, or completely turned around.

Like characters in a novel we hit barrier after barrier. Yet the author writes us each a new chapter. Despite defeat another possibility arises, and, bit-by-bit, we begin to collect the words that strengthen our journey, our quest, and resist the stumbling stones that break off pieces of trust. Our faith deepens with each step.

And now we can become fully engaged, fully alert, running with anticipation at what the next scene will unfold. Trusting in the end. Knowing that He has written an ending with His love and His victory. A perfect ending. His way.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 119:105

“Thy word is a lamp to my feet,

And a light to my path”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What words has God given you that sound deep in your heart?

2.     Do they enable your faith now or only as a future hope? Why?

3.     What blessing from God would enable you, or does enable you, to tie present and future together as a conscious faith reality?

Share: What prayer blessing do you invoke for your family?

Tabernacle

Blue Hem

Boundaries marked

in every corner

blue cord reminder

of God’s words

spoken in His name

Spirit advocate continues

blessings fringe

our every day life

boundaries marking

His authority.

Numbers 15:38, “..and tell them to make fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue cord on the fringe at each corner.”

Tabernacle

Tabernacle Introduction

Emmanuel—God with us! Words that we hold with joy and praise, especially in this season as we prepare to come to receive God’s story anew.

It continues to amaze me how our God always goes before us preparing our way even when we don’t see and possibly never recognize His words or His images. Sometimes they come in whispers or metaphors, songs and parables, and we are moving too fast to pause and listen. Yet He writes them into our lives just as He wrote His word into the tabernacle for Israel. His house of worship filled with symbols and word pictures to prepare His people for the day when the sanctuary would live within hearts.

John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and dwelt [or tabernacled] among us”

So for a while we’ll ponder the Tabernacle, then and now, to listen for new insights. I hope you’ll share yours with me.

Tabernacle

Copy of the true

meticulously prepared

in exact replication.

Mediating in between,

waiting redemption

shadow sanctuary.

Symbolic tabernacle

made on earth.

Christ completes

merciful reconciliation

in exact requirement.

Messiah present,

wounded Word

sanctifies holy will.

Substantial temple

molded in heaven.

“For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.” Hebrews 9:24 NRSV

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 15:26, And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I the Lord, am your healer.

Twenty bodies sat poised, eyes focused on their teacher, waiting for the signal. As one, they raised their instruments, paused, then played the movement; notes rising and falling, slower then faster in accordance with her hands. She held their earnest attention.

Jesus speaks to Pilate telling him, “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” And Pilate replies, “What is truth?” He was not prepared to listen.

Am I listening to You, Lord, in earnest? Or do I come to hear Your word, Your voice, on the run, half-hearted, scattered?

You called Israel to a relationship, a commitment, a healthy life. If they would heed Your voice, obey Your words, walk with You.

Lord help me to heed Your voice in earnest, so that my life will be an act of decision to follow in Your ways. Help me to choose the melody of an obedient walk with You and not a flighty engagement, when I feel like it, which is so easily broken.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 95:7

For He is our God,

And we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.

Today, if you would hear His voice,

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 5:2, But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice..”

Different viewpoints, divergent ideologies clash. Witness world history. Adam and Eve presumed they could handle the Tree of Knowledge. Cain assumed his offering equaled Abel’s. In addition to common difficulties, Jesus prepared His disciples to expect conflict, “I have given them Thy word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

Following a standard that flows against the current invites ridicule, contempt and rejection. The pain pierces deeper when family and friends refuse to take us seriously.

Were Pharaoh’s words filled with contempt or confusion? “I do not know the Lord,” he continued, “and besides, I will not let Israel go.” The chasm between Pharaoh and Moses widened.

Teach me, Lord, how to build bridges of communication. Please take our same words with differing meanings and cover them with Your words. Prepare me to answer “in season and out of season” any who ask, “Who is the Lord?”

Don’t allow our preconceived ideas to keep Your truths at bay like oil on water. Direct Your words to penetrate our pores and become obedience.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 24:9-10

Lift up your heads, O gates, and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in!

Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.