Reflection: Not Say Again: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What is the most positive family trait that has been passed down through the generations?

2.     What has been the most deadly or embarrassing?

3.     How much of either type have you experienced for yourself? Or ignored?

4.     How have you used any of these traits as an excuse to yourself for failures or sins?

5.     Or to condemn others around you?

Not Say Again: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Jeremiah 31: 29, “In those days they will not say again, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on age.’”

Not say again,

Some commentaries say that this phrase is a proverb from Ezekiel used as an excuse for the sins of the fathers becoming the child’s burden or consequence.

Perhaps our modern version might also be the embarrassing relative no one wants to include in public events for fear of what they will reveal, or how they will act, or remind family of fearful characteristics.

Or perhaps we are the ones to inherit the “black sheep” struggles and are the rejected ones.

But the Lord says, “They will not say again.” He calls each person to be accountable now and no longer blame any of our actions, or reactions, on heritage or family traits or any other excuse we can attempt to manipulate.

From the Lord’s perspective we are each responsible for ourselves—attitudes and actions.

To Him. For Him. Under Him.

He who loved us so much that He went to the cross to remove the presence and power of sin’s grip on our lives. A new inheritance to remember and accept.  One to one. He has absorbed the cost of our sins for each of us.

Lord, please conform us to Your image and Your heart and Your purpose. Thank you for Your grace.

Your thoughts,

An Advent Retreat Excerpt Day Fifteen

Day Fifteen

Where she entered the house of Zecariah and greeted Elizabeth. Luke 1:40

Personal Reflection

                                    Kinship

                    Greetings to ones who know

                        have been touched by grace.

                        Relief in their presence

                        honesty without apology.

                        Guidance by sharing

                        praying together.

                        Rest apart from prying

                        tongues anxious for gossip.

                        Grateful for kinship

                        molded by prophecy.

                        Reconciliation ahead

                        prepare the way.

                        Glory announced

Writing Prompt

1.     Through unexpected joys or sorrows, have you ever become isolated from friends and family, unable to share or communicate your experience?

2.     How did that separateness add stress?

3.     Like Mary, did you find a soul kinship to walk with you? In what ways did you help each other?

4.     Do you think that sometimes we are called into isolation to be only with the Lord? Why or why not?

Psalm of Worship

            And wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart. Psalm 104:15

Today’s Thought

Each One: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

                                               Each One

                                                Each day each season

                                                fills with distress

                                                swallowing up hope

                                                disaster—destruction

                                                fuels separation

                                                purpose to destroy.

                                                Each moment each day

                                                faith embraces

                                                stands in battle

                                                dedicated watch

                                                fear dissolves

                                                purpose to plant.

                                                Each heart each moment

                                                fellowship of love

                                                strengthening soul

                                                designs restoration

                                                fulfills provision

                                                promises His presence.

                                  Each day, each moment, each heart, each one.

Romans 8: 28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Reflection: Watch Over: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1. Where do you personally need hope right now?

2. What word or promise will help you to trust?

3. In what ways can you protect the seed you chose to grow last week?

4. How can it tie into your choice of word towards hope?

5. What is the next step towards His purpose?

Watch Over: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Jeremiah 31: 28, “And it will come about that as I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to over throw, to destroy, and to bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the Lord.

Watch over,

Each day can sometimes seem too hard to face the battleground we see. Even with the knowledge that the Lord has invited us to be fellow workers with Him.

Decisions—strength—desires all collapse into sorrow and weakness.

Yet despite the destruction we contribute to ourselves, and others, the Lord stays. He watches over each of us ever ready to guide us to plant—to sow—to restore. He will show us how to plant in weariness.

When we keep our eyes on Him, our hearts in commitment, and our hope in trust.

Lord, we ask to follow in Your purpose with, or without, the ability to understand. Keep us faithful in times of deep loss and in times of restoration. Please keep us living in Your light and enable us share it with others even when we cannot see or recognize it.  Enable us to truly know, Lord, in our minds—and please may our hearts trust as well.

Your thoughts,

An Advent Retreat Excerpt Day Eight

Day Eight

“He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”  Luke 1:33

Personal Reflection

Glimpse

Recognition glimmers

with names,

Ruler of kingdom

the promised one who

reigns forever

glimpse into eternity.

Ready now, here

this moment to

redeem creation

meet each person

rescue one to one

angel messenger

radiant with message.

Writing Prompt

1.     How often do you think you truly acknowledge the power of the Messiah?

2.     Why does our perspective tend to focus on our difficulties and not on His complete Majesty?

3.     How do you lift up your eyes to His eternal promises?

Psalm of Worship

            They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys to the place that you appointed for them. Psalm 104:8

Today’s Thought