Response Ability

“Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also will be with you.  Be of good courage and do it.”  Ezra 10:4

When I look at the word “responsibility”, I see “response” and “ability”.

Lord, I desire to respond with the abilities You’ve given me and to support others as they do the same.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

God Given

source – journyx.com

We have God
given abilities
to do the work
that must be done

it is not up to
someone else to do
God is asking us
to be the ones.

 

*Dear friends, I won’t have much computer time  for the next
couple of weeks. I’ll try to keep posting and replying to
comments here, but don’t  think I’ll be able to read and comment
on your blogs. 😦  I think I’m experiencing withdrawal already!
I’ll be back asap to soak up your words.  God bless you!

“For We Were Slaves”

“For we were slaves.  Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage, but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.”  Ezra 9:9

God did not forsake us in our bondage either.

Lord, thank You for extending mercy to us through Jesus on the cross.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Unforsaken

source – servantsofthefather.org

Oh what a wonder
Your mercy is to us

reviving, repairing
building us up in Jesus

for we were slaves
stuck in sin’s lair

but unforgotten as Mercy
brought us out of there.

People of Understanding

“Then, by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and brothers, eighteen men . . .”  Ezra 8:18

Having understanding is a step towards compassion.

Oh Lord, we pray and seek You to be men and women of understanding.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

The Basics

I may not comprehend algebra
or scientific equations

source – umsolver.com

or have the solutions for
complex complications

but I ask You Lord
to help me understand

to love and care about
the basic needs of fellow man.

 

* Our very own blogger Bee asked me to thank you
for your prayers and let you know that she is the Queen
Bee of surgery!  And , imagine the Terminator’s voice as
she says, “I’ll Bee Back!”   🙂

Such A Thing As This

“Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem,

and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king’s mighty princes.”  Ezra 7:28

I’ve seen God do such a thing as this in my own life’s circumstances.

Lord, thank You for all that You put into the hearts of others, even unbelievers, in order to show us mercy.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Extended Mercy

Source – wikipedia
Model of Jerusalem in the late 2nd Temple Period.

Who but God
could do such a thing
putting into the heart
of a Persian king
to beautify the house
of the Lord our God
to show mercy upon
the lowly and down trod.

A Filth Filter

“Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the LORD God of Israel.”  Ezra 6:21

When I lived in “Me Land”, a lot of garbage began piling up.

Thank You, Lord, for making a way for us to be separated from the filth of our sins.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

A Must

source – standardtimespress.org

I must seek You
for You are life

and allow my sins
to be crucified with Christ

separating from the filth
of who I used to be

called into the light
of eternity.

Diligently

“Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God, which is being built with heavy stones and timber is being laid in the walls, and this work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands.”  Ezra 5:8

Employers like to see their workers keeping busy.

Lord, may we be found diligently seeking and serving You!  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Found Out

source – realestateinvestoronline.com

If someone visited me today
and checked upon my heart

I pray they’d find it diligently
seeking You, Lord

building upon Your promises
faithfully following through

all that You had asked
and trusted me to do.

Frustrating

“Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah.  They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius kind of Persia.”  Ezra 4: 4-5

Efforts to build in Jerusalem and to remove temple artifacts are still being troubled and discouraged.

Lord, we thank You that Your desires and plans for us will be fulfilled despite the set backs and frustrations that come against us.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Aware

source: gottasinggottapray.blogspot.com

We can have doubts
about what we’re doing
when trouble and frustration
begins to come

but God is aware
of all that’s happening
and will never be
shut down or out done.

Worshiping Now

“From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD.  But the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not yet been laid.”  Ezra 3:6

I love how they didn’t wait to worship.

Oh Lord, may my external circumstances never keep me from worshiping You.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

He Will Do

source: raleightrianglerelocation.com

We don’t have to wait
on anything external
a mood, or atmosphere
in order to praise You.

Just let our hearts be humble
and our minds focused
on the foundation for our worship
on Jesus . . . that will do.

Taking Back The Captives

“Now these are the people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, had carried away to Babylon.”  Ezra 2:1

Captivity is all some have ever known.

Lord, we praise You for You have come to set the captives free.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Carried Back

Celia being held captive by Aub

Taken away
to a foreign land

lives placed under
the enemy’s command

we cry out
for them to return again

to the Love they were made for
deep in the heart of Him.

All Around Encouraged

And all those around them encouraged them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.”  Ezra 1:6

Encourage means to give courage, hope or confidence; to help, give support.

Lord, may our encouragement be as silver and gold to each other in the work You have called us to.  And here is a simple poem . . .

Adding Confidence

source: eventrentsdenver.com

How precious it is
when our brothers and sisters
give us encouragement
along the way

like silver and gold
adding weight to our confidence
in the One whom we’re called by
the One whom we praise.