Acts 5: 27-33; Psalm 34: 2-20; John 3:31-36

alive
within me
i know
your voice
your love
your guidance
my crushed spirit
you saved
close to my
broken heart’
you healed me
you heard
my cry
and answered
i take
refuge in you
you guard me
from evil
a prayer
of gratefulness
for you
always
on my lips

How is he alive in you?

Acts: 4: 32-37; Psalm 93: 1-5; John 3: 7-15

what is it
to be born
from above
of Spirit
as a wind
that blows
where it will
we hear its sound
we feel its effects
yet from where
does it come?
what are
these heavenly thing
you will
for us
one mind
one heart
no claim of possessions
as our own
there are no needy
among us
as all is shared
and distributed
according to need
from love

What is this love that demands so much good?

Acts 4:23-31: Psalm 2: 1-9; John 3: 1-8

each day
as the sun
rises
we are
born again
renewed
by His Spirit
given
our daily bread
to go forth
in love
and peace
even as we meet
resistance
and
hardened hearts
greed
and hatred
and temptations
we are confident
in His Presence
to guide
and sustain us

How are you sustained each day?

Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 118:2-4; 13-15, 22-24; John 5:1-4; John 20:19-31

spirit poured out
one mind
one heart
one feast
to share
we give thanks
for his everlasting
love
no burden
in command
for his command
is love
no longer
hoarders
all is shared
from divine abundance
all are fed
we give
and celebrate
in the spirit
of truth
that testifies
doubter’s no more
the wounds
of Christ
are healed

How do you experience the outpouring of spirit?
How can our world be fed?
How can the wounds of Christ be healed?

Acts 4: 13-21; Psalm 118: 1 and 14-21; Mark 16: 9-15

speaking to
our hardness
of heart
our unbelief
you release
our life
from death
and give
strength
courage
mercy
and goodness
to our days
this love
available freely
to all
God’s justice…
it is impossible
not to speak
about what
we have seen
and heard

What have you seen and heard?

Acts 4: 1-12; Psalm 118: 1-27; John 21: 1-14

again
and again
you come
to us
showing yourself
alive
in our lives
some mercy
some healing
some forgiveness
that speaks
of your Presence
that lives
beyond
your cross
beyond your death
a grace
that announces
aha!
yes!
this is the Christ
with us
God with us
Holy Spirit with us
this is the love
upon which we build
our lives

When and where do you experience his Presence?

Acts 3: 11-26; Psalm 8: 2-9; Luke 24: 35-48

“And he said
To them,
thus it is
written
that the Christ
would suffer
and rise
from the dead
on the third day
and that
repentance
for the forgiveness
of sins
would be preached
in his name
to all nations
beginning
from Jerusalem.
you are witnesses
of these things….”

Why are you troubled?

Why do you have questions in your hearts?

Why are you amazed?

Acts 3: 1-10; Psalm 105: 1-9; Luke 24: 13-35

our hearts
burning within
we see you
in bread
blessed
broken
and shared
a life
given
as a gift
that we
may know
another way
raised up
at the Beautiful Gate
we rejoice
and sing
and praise
the good news
that we seek
to serve

Have you felt your heart burning with God’s word?

Acts 2:36-41; Psalm 33: 4-5, 18-22; John 20: 11-18

released
from time
and its
distortions
we see
the Holy Spirit
given
in kindness
and goodness
loving justice
and right
born from
eternity
made manifest
to each generation
we weep no more
and embrace
the goodness
of the Lord

How do you see the goodness of the Lord?