Inheritance: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

                       Inheritance

                        Such a mixed bag

                        inheritance

                        dysfunctional or “normal”

                        family history.

                        Genetics a breeze

                        or a life sentence.

                        Some stone cold broke

                        with love overflowing. Or

                        Golden riches with

                        Scrooge tightened fists.

                       

                        Timeless God calls

                        each to receive His

                        inheritance

                        none excluded

                        earthly suffering and joy

                        mixed by permanent

                        bond of love move into

                        eternity’s wholeness.

                       

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Reflection: Heirs: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What are some things you inherited from your family regardless of financial means?

2.     Has a negative bestowal been a burden or a blessing or both?

3.     We love to claim God’s promises to us, but they also often include suffering. How have you experienced this?

4.     When can blessings become burdens?

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Share: One burden that became a blessing.

Heirs: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Romans 8:17

“And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.”

Like fingerprints no family is the same. Personalities both blend and repel. The dynamics of each can change from year to year, situation to situation. We grow closer during suffering or shatter into pieces. We accept or acknowledge our heritage as a responsibility or a sentence, a blessing or a burden. We hold fast or we run away.

Regardless of our background, our present, our personal gifts or our sins, God extends His open invitation. To belong to His family—for eternity.

A full adoption. Not just in name only to provide basic daily needs, but a whole relationship overflowing with joy and sorrow, feast and famine. Daily walking together in all circumstances.

We crave the good parts of His inheritance and often try to ignore or resist the losses. And our failures. Maybe even thinking we have been abandoned or left out. Again.

Instead, maybe it is His trust that includes us in His family’s tribulations. Honing our faith—understanding compassion—being prepared to live into a new heritage in a new strength and purpose. One that also embraces our birth family’s history no matter how beaten and broken, seemingly perfect and polished.

Lord, please help us to understand what it really means to live each day as an heir in your family. And discover love’s wholeness.

Psalm of Worship: Proverbs 8:16

“By me rulers rule, and nobles, all who govern rightly.”

Stillness: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

                       Stillness

                        Too many false witnesses

                        manage to skirt the law

                        manipulate and desecrate

                        truth with subterfuge.

                        So we hesitate to accept

                        Word given on merit only.

                       

                        Sense of longing to believe

                        without fear, anxiety.

                       

                        Creates internal turmoil

                        trying to discern

                        calm in stillness answers

                        trust Spirit alone.

Reflection: Witness: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you struggle to discern the Spirit’s voice?

2.     What helps you recognize the witness He alone can give?

3.     How has reading Scripture brought clarity to a new understanding by the Spirit’s leading?

Share: What does “walking with the Spirit” look like for you?

Witness: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Romans 8:16

“It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

“What is truth?” Pilate asked Jesus making clear his own opinion was that truth varied from a variety of opinions. Regardless of authenticity.

False witnesses still abound today. Sometimes so much so that we don’t even trust ourselves. We know when we need guidance and clarity but there are too many voices offering answers. Even those with good intentions but are just as much in error as we are.

Often we might still our busy schedules for a portion of quiet and stillness but realize we can’t quiet ourselves. Our thoughts continue to race with possibilities, or keep circling a problem with no solution. Or deliberately resist the word we are asking for because it will require a change that we resist.

Even in chosen silence we can manage to keep the Spirit’s witness at arm’s length.

Yet, if we are willing to let go of the fear and anxiety and trust His words then His wisdom and discernment will sustain and guide us.

Then we can truly be still in our spirit and be calm and ready to hear the Spirit’s voice bearing witness to whom we belong. Giving witness always to our new heritage of grace. Ongoing wisdom.

“Let me not go timidly, half-heartedly, carelessly, presumably.”  Charles Spurgeon

Lord, please help us to truly listen to Your Spirit.

Psalm of Worship: Proverbs 8:15

“By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just.”

Cherished: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

                       Cherished

                        Not taken into slavery

                        as a chained laborer

                        even in a spacious household

                        but adopted

                        as a family.

                        Chosen love

beyond

                        formal legalities.

                        A relationship

                        cherished

as an infant

                        clings to daddy

                        in full trust.