Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Walked

Methuselah is known

worldwide—his longevity

the prize record held.

Not connected often

with famous grandson Noah

another universal story,

great feats—family

heritage. Does anyone

remember that his father

Enoch, “walked with God.”

Not much else said

besides genealogy and reputation

“and then he was no more

because God took him.”

A heritage not repeated

in biblical annals,

but to walk with God

how can we ignore.

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you think of yourself as being able to walk with God as Enoch did? Why or why not?

2.     Whom do you trust humanly more than any other person? Why?

3.     Is there someone that you give those same gifts of relationship to when you walk with them?

4.     Are these gifts that can only be shared spontaneously or gifts that can be nurtured?

Share: What is most special to you when you can walk with a close friend or loved one?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:5, “By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and ‘he was not found, because God had taken him.’”

Every time I come to this verse, and the one it refers to in Genesis 5:24: “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him,” I find myself silent and a little stunned at the words.

What would it be like to walk with God? Did he get to walk in person like Adam and Eve in the garden? Did they walk in silence like long time friends often do? Or were they so excited to be able to share their day and feelings that the conversation skipped from subject to subject and time passed into a blur?

And this happened long before the law, long before Jesus’ sacrifice to remove the barrier of sin that keeps us from fellowship. Scripture says so little about Enoch, but we do know he was a man and therefore not perfect—not righteous—not holy. Only Jesus can make that claim. And still, Enoch walked with God.

Richard Foster reminds us that the gift of Simple prayer is the freedom to pour our heart out before Him. “We do not try to conceal our conflicting and contradictory motives from God—or from ourselves.” We are fortunate when we find trustworthy friends with whom we can share with complete honesty and know they will listen all the way to the bottom of our garbage and stay with us until we recognize it as well.

Yet this miracle of fellowship to walk with God is His gift to each of us. Enoch recognized it and accepted it. Lord, help us to receive this wondrous spiritual heritage. Deepen our faith so that we willingly remove any barriers that keep us from walking with you.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 62:8

“Trust in Him at all times, O people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Success

Our success is marked

by accomplishment it seems

whether by worldly standards

of wealth, health, longevity;

or within ourselves a step

taken, a goal met, known

perhaps only to ourselves, gives

sense of satisfaction and

life is good.

Then we read that a man

died, a faithful man in God’s

eyes—a righteous man who

lived faithfully.

Which measure truly succeeds?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How can we determine if we are choosing to live by faith when all is going well?

2.     What practical steps can we take to turn towards faith when life becomes difficult or confusing?

3.     Do the faith words we speak to ourselves match the faith walk we take in public?

Share: What is your measure of a good day?

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.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

An Offering

Much conjecture debate

pontification and sermons

continue throughout

eras due to concrete

missing details.

Who, what, why journalism

sets scope on earth’s

first family. Fresh from

the garden, first generation

embroiled in fruit’s effect.

One righteous—accepted—died.

One gift received approved,

one faith endures as witness

his voice still speaks

through his actions of

one confirmed substantiated fact.