Portents: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

                        Portents

           

Portents in the heavens

speak His words

                        earth’s ground

           

                        nature rises in obedience

                        watch, listen, discern,

                        time does not arrive

                        un-announced.

Reflections: Signs: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Think of a personal situation that caught you completely off guard but when you began to process you began to see a pattern. What would have helped you to prepare ahead of time had you the ability to perceive or receive warnings.

2.     Even in situations when a warning could not have been given ahead, how did the Lord’s words carry you through because of previous challenges you had faced with Him?

Share: What word of hope would you give to someone who has been given a difficult “sign”?

Signs: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2:19

“And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.”

How often do we look up: literally and figuratively?

How often do we pause to recalibrate with family, friends, work, God?

How often do we ask the Spirit to search out our heart motives and winnow out any false attitudes or goals that have crept in?

How often are we caught by surprise when caught in a personal upheaval?

Scientists have learned to track hurricanes, measure earthquakes, monitor volcanoes. They give as much warning as humanly possible when danger lurks, and yet, still, too often we ignore warnings. We become so confident over the storms that fizzle out that we stop watching and listening.

The Lord does not come unannounced.

We may be too absorbed to look and listen and watch and pray; but His signs for change will be spoken, whether words of warning or words of preparation. He will speak into our lives through our bodies, our souls, and our minds.

In nature His creation speaks. We watch sunrises and sunsets, cloud formations, wind and rain, to gauge our external environment and sometimes we listen. Sometimes His word is a quiet personal one to one message, as when He sent Ananias to heal Saul’s vision. Sometimes His word is worldwide as in the flood.

The Lord does not come unannounced.

Lord, please give us eyes to see, words to share, and hearts to trust and obey.

Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:19

“And there was evening, and there was morning, the fourth day.”

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.

Reflection: Bondslaves: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you tend to listen to Scripture advice by some trusted friends but not by others? What marks the difference?

2.     Have you had the opportunity to share truth unexpectedly? Has it helped you to recognize Spirit nudges on other occasions?

3.     Oswald Chambers says, “You may be a mouthpiece for God’s truth; but you cannot nourish the sheep of God unless you are willing to let God use you as broken bread and poured out wine to feed His sheep.”

How does this thought connect with this week’s verse?

Share: Do you feel qualified or not to share God’s word? Why?

Bondslaves: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2:18

“Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my spirit; and they shall prophesy.”

Even upon My bondslaves…, says the NAS translation. The prophecy repeated the message with a difference, now cutting through presumed hierarchies and gender and wealth. How astonishing the words must have been originally and here again repeated by Peter, a lowly fisherman, and again today in our era where we add the popularity of “who’s who” in our public consideration of others.

Bondslaves then bound by human ownership. Bondslaves now bound by Grace—sacrificial love—redemption—Jesus.

When God’s Spirit is poured out the people will prophesy—will speak His words into situations, into lives, into hope.  Perhaps even without their knowledge or understanding.

“For as the rain and the now come down from heaven,

And do not return there without watering the earth,

And making it bear and sprout,

And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me empty,

Without accomplishing what I desire,

And without succeeding, in the matter for which I sent it. 

                                                                     NAS Isaiah 55:10-11

When the Spirit is present no one is exempt from receiving truth. When our hearts are faithful and ready we are not exempt from being messengers of His words.

Lord, please cleanse all our speech daily, by Your Spirit’s winnowing, so that with or without our knowing we will speak Your truth regardless of seen or unseen results.

Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:18

“To rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.”

Visions: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

           

           Visions

            Holy Spirit poured out

            flowing like water

            over everyone, just as

            Joel prophesied

            new visions—new dreams

            fresh from God’s heart

           

            as a returning sunrise

            brings dawn into day

            so arrives this beginning.