Enduring Love vi

•March 28, 2014 • Leave a Comment

The Healing Touch By Tim Holmes (Own work)

Hosea 5:15-6:6 (CEV)

 15 Then I’ll return to my temple

until they confess their guilt
    and worship me,
until they are desperate
    and beg for my help.

The Lord’s People Speak

6 Let’s return to the Lord.
    He has torn us to shreds,
but he will bandage our wounds
    and make us well.
2 In two or three days
    he will heal us
and restore our strength
    that we may live with him.
3 Let’s do our best
    to know the Lord.
His coming is as certain
    as the morning sun;
he will refresh us like rain
renewing the earth
    in the springtime.

The Lord Speaks to Israel and Judah

4 People of Israel and Judah,
    what can I do with you?
Your love for me disappears
more quickly
than mist
    or dew at sunrise.
5 That’s why I slaughtered you
with the words
    of my prophets.
That’s why my judgements blazed
    like the dawning sun.
6 I’d rather for you to be faithful
and to know me
    than to offer sacrifices.

Lord,
I am desperate,
I need your help.

My ways
have not gone well;
my stubbornness
has not led to a life well-lived;
my failure to listen
has led me down wrong paths
and dead ends;
thinking I knew my own way
has led me to wander
aimlessly,
without purpose,
stumbling around in the wilderness;
my faithlessness
has taken me far from you;
my desire to be seen to do the right thing
has taken my focus
from doing
what you actually require of me.

What can you do with me?
What will you do with me?

Come Lord,
tend my wounds,
restore me I pray.
It is not what I deserve,
but I rely on your love,
your faithfulness.
I have failed,
I praise you
that you endure.

His Love Endures Forever

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Enduring Love v

•March 27, 2014 • Leave a Comment

Jeremiah 7:23-28 (CEV)

23 Instead, I told them, “If you listen to me and do what I tell you, I will be your God, you will be my people, and all will go well for you.” 24 But your ancestors refused to listen. They were stubborn, and whenever I wanted them to go one way, they always went the other. 25 Ever since your ancestors left Egypt, I have been sending my servants the prophets to speak for me. 26 But you have ignored me and become even more stubborn and sinful than your ancestors ever were!

Slaughter Valley

The Lord said:

27 Jeremiah, no matter what you do, the people won’t listen. 28 So you must say to them:

People of Judah, I am the Lord your God, but you have refused to obey me, and you didn’t change when I punished you. And now, you no longer even pretend to be faithful to me.

You speak,
I don’t listen.

Your way
is one way,
my way is another.

You are generous
and ever caring,
I am stubborn
and dig my heels in.

You show me,
I pay no attention.

You keep on
doing,
showing,
speaking

Can I hear,
will I see,
am I able to change?
Do I really want to?

Faithful God
of enduring love;
in my temptations,
my wanderings,
my wilful disobedience;
give me your strength
to follow you,
to listen carefully,
to let myself go with you,
your way.

Though I have focussed on My Way,
and been proud of it,
I turn now
to your way.

Change me
I pray.

Jesus You are Changing Me

 

 

Posted in bible, faith, follow, God, Lectionary, lent, life, Religion, theology
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Enduring Love iv

•March 26, 2014 • Leave a Comment

Deuteronomy 4:1-9 (CEV)

 Israel Must Obey God

Moses said:

4 Israel, listen to these laws and teachings! If you obey them, you will live, and you will go in and take the land that the Lord is giving you. He is the God your ancestors worshiped, 2 and now he is your God. I am telling you everything he has commanded, so don’t add anything or take anything away.

3 You saw how he killed everyone who worshiped the god Baal Peor. 4 But all of you that were faithful to the Lord your God are still alive today.

5-8 No other nation has laws that are as fair as the ones the Lord my God told me to give you. If you faithfully obey them when you enter the land, you will show other nations how wise you are. In fact, everyone that hears about your laws will say, “That great nation certainly is wise!” And what makes us greater than other nations? We have a God who is close to us and answers our prayers.

9 You must be very careful not to forget the things you have seen God do for you. Keep reminding yourselves, and tell your children and grandchildren as well.

Faithful God,
how can I forget
the things I have seen you do?
The miracles,
the wonders,
but especially
your presence in the everyday –
reassuring,
comforting,
challenging,
bringing hope.

And as I remember you,
know you with me everyday,
how can I not
but long
to do what you ask of me,
to live your ways,
for my life to reflect
your way of living.

For I want to live
my life in fullness,
fullness of all you have for me.
You are faithful
and fair in all things,
you are ever near
and always ready to listen,
you answer my prayers
in ways I recognise
and in ways
I don’t yet see.

Help me not to forget you.

Faithful God,
may I be faithful to you,
in your strength
and your enduring love

Here is Love

Posted in bible, faith, God, hope, Lectionary, lent, Religion, theology
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