These words cut to my core this morning from Micah 6
“For the Lord has a controversy with his people….and he will contend with Israel.” A controversy with his people? What would that be? God longs to speak to us, to wrestle with us in our thoughts, our doctrines , words and actions. He speaks in such a personal way; ‘What have I done to you, or how have I wearied you? Remember my faithfulness and all I have done for you.’ I ask, where have I gone off track in my thinking, in my resisting, in holding onto what I think is right? Micah goes on to say; “ You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.’ It’s pretty simply stated what we are to do, yet we make it complicated and perhaps that’s where the controversy comes in. Take a moment and let your heart lay open before the hands of God. Where is your heart weary, questioning God’s kindness? Receive his grace there. Where is your heart stiff and hardened toward the world? Receive his forgiveness there. Where has your heart become proud in your own answers? Receive his mercy there. Now pause to see God pleading his case for you before the mountains and the hills and all of creation for his love endures forever and his plans will go forth in and through you as you bow down in humility to pray. ‘Lord have mercy on us, your people chosen for this time and this season. Reshape our hearts into yours. May we choose to bow down in humility to walk where you walk, to lead where you lead and follow your ways of justice, kindness and love. When our hearts grow weary and begin to question your goodness and try to bring our own justice by blaming others may we remember you, Christ on the cross, your broken body and poured out blood for all. Renew us O Lord, three in one with the grace to live in the way you have called us to live. With you as our God and to know that which is true, lovely, beautiful and right. For you make all things new. May your spirit begin again in the heart of your church today. In the humble and powerful name of Jesus we pray,’ Amen. Arise with your arms outstretched and your head lifted high.
Look to the heavens and let your heart sing, “It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You” No matter what your battle is you can be assured that there is One greater than you that is fighting your battles for you. 2Chron. 20:11-17 Lay down your worldly weapons the ones that target another human being. People are not the enemy, leaders are not your enemy, structures and laws are not the enemy, there is only one real enemy and that is the evil one that has come to steal, kill and destroy . It is your soul and mine and the neighbor down the street that is at jeopardy. Jesus is our true warrior and He has come to bring us life. When it looks like we are surrounded by all kinds of evil, dark thoughts and attacks look around you, place your feet solidly on the ground of being rooted in LOVE, peace and joy. How else shall we stand to fight against our foes? The force against faith is doubt, fear and jealousy . Tear it down through prayer, humility and turning back to God, change the way you think. Beloved, take notice of what you are feeling and thinking, even welcome it with Jesus and then let it go. It will no longer have a hold of you once you recognize who is fighting this battle for you and with you. You are surrounded in his garments of praise. Lift your voices higher, stand strong and hold fast in this position. He will do the fighting for you as you relinquish all to Him. Pause and give to God the battle you find yourself in. “ We thank You, God, our Father who comes to protect and fight our battles for us. Teach us how to stand against the enemy of our souls through the weapons you give us. To look heavenward and bring heaven down into the dark places of our thoughts and feelings. Let there be nothing in us that would prevent your triumphant ways from proceeding forth . We thank you that even though the whole world lies under the power of the evil one, 1 Jn. 5:19, you are still greater and we have overcome, 1 Jn. 4:4, because you have set us free, Jn. 8:36. We thank you for your truth, “no weapon formed that is formed against you will prosper,” Is. 54:17 and that you give us the blessing of your inheritance and a place of possession where we can stand. Every time we feel surrounded by darkness in our world help us to see that we are surrounded by your presence. There is no other place that we need to be but here with you and together we will triumph through your power of Love. Praise be and all glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. In the powerful name of Jesus we pray, Amen Song “Surrounded” Psalm 130
“I wait for you, my soul waits, and in your word I hope; My soul awaits the Beloved As one awaits the fulfillment of their destiny,” What does it feel like to wait alone ? It is frustrating at times as if you are missing something, wasting time, looking around, waiting for something, someone. Where are you waiting and for what and who? When you are waiting with someone it can make all the difference. It doesn’t matter so much if you missed the train you were waiting for, there will always be another one coming. There is comfort just knowing you are not alone. There is someone besides you to wait with you and help. When Jesus' family went looking for him, they were waiting for him outside. He turned and called to those who were listening, saying they were his true family, his brother, sister and mother. Matt 12:46-50 And we are his and he is with you, and me and that makes us a part of his family. Stop and think what that feels like to really belong and know you are never alone. If we pursue his kingdom in our lives then we will fulfill his destiny for us and we do it together. As we wait, “we keep hoping, keep trusting, keep waiting on the Lord. For he is tender hearted, kind and forgiving. He has a thousand ways to see you free! He himself will redeem you.” So let’s wait on the Beloved redeemer and let’s wait together knowing that we are a part of something greater, wider and deeper than what we hold on so tight here on earth. May our eyes look upon the grandeur and beauty of what will be. May we live as if our lives count by being free and true to who you are and who we are meant to be. May we treasure our differences knowing that we cannot do this alone. He is the one waiting for us, and with us and in us. Lord, set us free and bring your kingdom of hope, truth and unity. Peace be with you this day! Amen “Experience the joyous mercies he gives to all who turn to hide themselves in him.”Ps.34 The way is not steep and rough but smooth ahead of you. Is.26:7
Somedays the road sure doesn’t look very smooth, only rocks and rubble are found on the path with unseen dips and twists that take their beating upon your soul. There is the deep yearning in all of us to find that place to turn into and hide or turn out and fight against the obstacles in the way. Where do you find yourself today? Hiding, fighting or resting? The way of God is the way of the heart. It is here that his spirit is working. When you are always looking toward the outward circumstances to change there will be frustration and the road will be rough. But here in the cave of the heart is where God desires to meet you. He levels the ground before you, makes the road rise up to greet you where you currently are. Then the path becomes smooth because he has made it so. When you turn into God and into your inner self you will find your hidden self in God. Everything else that is false, insecurities and dependence will fade away. Receive this blessing upon you today as you say yes to the path prepared for you. Pause to breathe deeply and pray, “Whatever comes this day I will receive freely as your life giving dew, To raise me up and live my life for you. May my soul drink deeply of your goodness and experience the mercies You have for me when I turn into you. May my hiding place be my meeting place with You Where all false securities and false structures are no longer in my grasp. Let my heart grow stronger in your peace and find rest for my soul to walk on the smooth ground ahead. I turn over all my battles to you today for I know I am surrounded by love and love fights all the battles for me. Thank you beloved one of my soul I hide myself in you. May my hands reach out in expectation for the Holy Spirit to fill them with blessings and may I return blessings to those I meet in front of me. Giving glory and honor to your beautiful name, Jesus.” Amen “It was not you that chose me, rather I chose you and appointed you to go and bear lasting fruit….. to Love one another deeply ” John 15:16-17
You are His beloved chosen one. Breathe in his presence of love to wash you in his glory. God is the shepherd of his sheep, and he provides for each lamb what it needs. Like an orphaned child all have been waiting for a family to belong to, expecting perhaps a parent to choose them, to pick them out from the crowd of many. How would it feel to be that one that is selected, chosen, singled out from all the others? Pretty special, I imagine. A question and wonder maybe if they were really chosen, really accepted, and to finally belong to a family that wants them. We are those that have been chosen by God. And we do belong not only to the Father but we belong to his family. With his son, Jesus, our brother, Holy Spirit , our sister and mother? What a mystery this is. How can we explain it and accept it? God's embrace is for all his children, we belong in that infinite hold. In the place of belonging we have this simple command to bear lasting fruit that he has appointed for us to bear through loving one another deeply. That is the command of the Father, that is his rule for us to follow. Pause here a minute and look into the loving eyes of Jesus. He is our window to see God more clearly. Let us draw near to him now and ask for grace to pray. “ Jesus, we belong with you and desire to love our brothers and sisters more deeply. Help us all to receive the love you have for us from the Father so we do not envy one another. Keep our eyes on what really matters so the fruit of love will last in us. Let joy abound in your family with the knowledge that everyone belongs. Your love is big enough to go around. Your embrace is large and wide enough to hold us all. Would you root and ground us in your love today? Show us how to care for the little lambs that need attending to with kindness and gentleness. We are so blessed to be called your chosen beloved children, the sheep of your pasture. We thank you with grateful hearts and outstretched hands. May we be a blessing to many this day. In the loving name of Jesus, we pray. Amen A new day
A new beginning as we start in prayer awaiting the loving presence of our God. May we be open enough to receive the faith to believe all God is and has to give us. “Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear, let not your courage fail. ...only believe and your faith will last.” Isaiah 7:4,9 These words were spoken by the prophet Isaiah to David and his leaders to not give in to the fears of what others were saying that they would attack and destroy them. What are the proclamations of doom that you have been listening to ? Where is your faith today , firm or wavering in fear ? Let us all drear near to believe and have our faith strengthened that God will overcome this season of turmoil in our world . Jesus has a new perspective for us to have. To see into the heavenly realm of what is and what will be as we stand firm in the love of God. He has overcome and will overcome the world . In peace and tranquility we pray, Lord of heaven and earth,we recognize your omnipresence and find our courage in knowing you have overcome all tribulation now and in the future. Would you give your people courage today to rest in you and see the future with eyes of hope and joy? May we look at this as an opportunity to love and be loved by others. May our hands be strengthened when we get weary and our hearts remain tranquil in you. We lift up all of your children that are wavering in faith today and full of fear , may they know you and your power to overcome this fear . In your beautiful name Jesus, Amen Matthew 10:40-42
‘Whoever welcomes you welcomes Jesus’ Whatever you do with kindness you do to Jesus. Whatever words of encouragement and affirmation you speak are his words. What does it feel like to be welcomed? To have your words received and appreciated? In Isaiah 55:10-11 God speaks of his words being like rain and snow to water the ground causing it to become fertile. The soil allows the seeds to grow and mature into fruit and the fruit provides food for the next planting. It’s one big life cycle. How do our acts and our words bring nourishment to others? Are we being received as Jesus or should I ask if we are receiving enough of the word of Jesus in us that we can become the word for others? It starts with the little seed The cup of water that Jesus speaks about giving to the others. The little things with great love that we do without seeking a reward. Jesus says the reward we will receive is the prophet's reward and that reward is for us to feel the heart of God and see with the eyes of God . This might be a scary thought to enter this close to God but if that is his call to his followers then we must pay attention enough to listen, really listen and seek the wisdom he freely gives us. His word will accomplish that which he has intended it to accomplish. We only need to allow him to do the work through us. Let it begin with a simple prayer of acceptance and surrender to the one who loves us and wants us to succeed in everything we are called to do. Return again to your own ground where the rain of his word will begin to fall. Pause to Pray Lord, we thank you that you welcome us freely and listen to our hearts . You know exactly what we need to be nourished and fed this day so we may grow and bear fruit to provide seed for others to grow. We allow your creative power to flow through us in new ways with a new language to call out life in others. To give a cup of cool water to refresh and restore another through our welcoming hearts and listening ears. May we each do little things with great love allowing your beautiful garden to grow. Giving you all the glory of you kingdom here on earth. For your hand is over ours as we do little things with great love and kindness. We surrender to your great love to work through us this day. Amen “My child, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity so that He may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His loyal followers. Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity — every good path. For wisdom will enter your mind, and knowledge will delight your heart.” Proverbs 2:1-10HCSB Sit and wait in God's presence now. He is the giver of all the wisdom and knowledge that you seek. Be open to receive that which you do not have on your own. Prayer “Oh great God, wisdom from on high, lover of our souls You alone are the treasure that we seek. Our hearts are weary from all the opinions and ideas that are projected out in the world. The many voices that are vying for our attention through what we read and what we hear on social media and the news. Oh God, have mercy on us so that we may attend to true wisdom from above that which is gentle, reasonable and just. Whenever we think we alone are right, triggered by something someone says that offends our minds may we be humble enough to seek out understanding with the heart. To really listen to the other with one ear and the other ear to the Holy Spirit enlightening God's wisdom there. Your wisdom will guard the path of justice and lead us on every good path. May we have a holy trust that fears you more than being right before others, More than the dread of what others may say or not say, or may happen or not happen. Keep our eyes on your truth that will guide us on the right way of justice and equity and keep us safe. We pray for all of those who are confused, weary and angry. Pour out your merciful understanding and wisdom there to bring your peace and unity. May it start here with us, your bride, the body Christ. That others would know we are your followers by the love and understanding that we show each other . We pray in the beautiful name of Jesus who calls us friends and gave his life for all. Amen Hosea 14:1-10
Return to The Lord, your God Bring your confessions Say to him “Forgive us Lord of all our wrongs Graciously receive us” “The Lord replies ,I will love them freely I will be like dew to them They will blossom like the lily Become strong and grounded like a cedar forest Like an olive tree full of fruit and beauty A fruitful vine, fragrant as wine “ These are a few images that God speaks over his children . His people who defected and chose to put their trust in their own works , in their own ideas, looking to the world’s systems to save them. He replies with his original vision for them from the beginning. His love knows no bounds when we run astray and things run a muck . He waits for us to return, to turn in and turn back to what is true, real and best leaving the world’s answers behind. ….And the things on earth grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace . Pause now to confess where you have defected from God and his ways . Freely receive his love and grace as we pray , “ Jesus we turn our eyes upon you Upon your ways we trust in and turn from our own ways of figuring things out . We turn from anxiety and fear that the world breeds in us. We turn toward your face , the one that has the answers to what we are facing today . We lay down our own agendas and pick up a better one. To heal and repair what is broken is your job and we trust in your healing hands and rest in your grace. We are tired of struggling to make things happen and rely upon your Holy spirit to bring the morning dew to refresh us . We become grounded when our roots grow deeper in your love . May we spread our branches wide and become your splendor here on earth. May our fragrance be one that attracts others to you and brings you glory. May we all blossom into who you intend us to be. Thank you for your love freely given to us. We return our love back to you.” Amen Hides 11:1-9, Matt.10
God calls us out with compassion. Jesus tells us to proclaim the kingdom of heaven is at hand by living out our faith in action. How can we live in this way of power to heal and bring his peace ? Hosea tells us that God is our healer even when we did not know it. Think about all the ways God has worked on your behalf after you have suffered a little while . We give thanks as we pray with open hearts to the Holy One always present among us. Prayer... “Your kingdom is at hand so we receive all that your kingdom has for us to live in abundance today. Let us see your spirit moving in and around us to empower your works through us. May we do everything out of your living kindness and with a compassionate heart. You who loved us and healed us when we did not know you . Keep our eyes pealed upon your kingdom that is right here now in the middle of turmoil and division. We hold the banner of peace before us wherever we go. May we be your hands and feet to show the works of a true kingdom that are not made by mere mortals but by your spirit . Thanks be to God, the three in one, who lives and moves and has their being is us.” Amen |