My hope for you

Poetry speaks to our minds and hearts and is meant to communicate more than the sum of its words. It is an apt expression of our walk with the Lord. I encourage you to forward this link to those you love. I pray this poetry leads you into reflection and prayer but I also want to start a conversation. You, too, have something to share with others-not only in person, but also here. Your experience is yours to give away to build up and learn from others in the Body of Christ. Share the word that you hear, the experiences you have lived. We are all part of the New Evangelization.If you also want to contact me by email, feel free: genefirn@yahoo.com

Table of contents: October 7, 2012

Saturday, August 20, 2011

The Cross

maybe
it will always
be this way...
a melody of sadness
softly playing in the
background of my soul
punctuated by
flares of  heartache-
surprise resurrections of the
mournful reality
buried deep within by 
deliberate busyness
accompanied by
tears of loss
traveling all too
familiar paths while
resisting my power
to be controlled-
logic is a fool
vainly seeking to understand
empty explanations
while protests of injustice
echo in silence since
fairness isn't a factor - only
heartbreak is
as well as
anger
frustration
self-pity
all revealing my
disheartened incredulity...
escaping proves fruitless
whatever good that is
promised by faith
remains hidden while
the take feels
greater than the give
when following the
Via Dolorosa
yet...
Love triumphs when
Grace overcomes in the
struggle to go beyond my pain -
a Decision to...
-be Faithful when I'm
 tempted not to be
-Look to Jesus for my
 Comfort and not distractions
-Serve when I
 want to withdraw
-Hope when the darkness
 begins to overshadow me
-Love when I don't feel
 I can right now
-Pray when I
 don't see the point
-Persevere when I
 want to give up -
not letting it
dictate my life nor
always color my vision
the issue is...
-will I Let Him
carry my burden?
-will I Trust Him -
He who trusted while
hanging on a cross for me?
-will I Unite my agony
with His to thus become 
Ours for the sake of
those I love to
contribute to the 
Mystery of Redemption?...
even so...
my loss lingers and
without warning
sorrow is triggered and
the rhapsody returns
beckoning an encore
which proffers a
deeper Communion
keeping my eyes on Jesus and
letting go once more on
a journey towards
Acceptance and Peace
further in
higher up
saying yes-
even without feelings of
reassuring confidence -
grasping for Comfort
from my Surrender towards a
Unity untouched

Reflection/Discussion:
-How does this poem compare with your experience of loss?
-What's similar/different?
-What does Isaiah 53 and Jn 11:35 say about Jesus and our suffering?
-How can the experience of loss draw you closer to the Lord?
-How does uniting our cross with the Lord's cross bring meaning into suffering?
-How do feelings and faith work together?
-What does it mean to let Jesus "carry our sorrows"? 

Saturday, June 25, 2011

The Two Ways

light and darkness
each a way
one leading to the Lord
the other sliding into the
enemy's lair
both seem bright but
deception provides
false comfort
transforming
good to appear evil and
evil to appear good
freedom's challenge
allows a choice to
give or hoard the
gift of self- a
humble donation to serve by
surrender's power for the
good of the other or
sophistication's vanity to
use the other for
selfish pleasure-
even by mutual consent-
under the guise of love
each a signpost exposing
our direction along a way
expressing our destination
still more is the
simplicity of mysteries-
Truths of Human Dignity-
yet veiled by deceit
life encapsulated in
innocent martyrs-
slain under the cloak of
human rights
bearing newborn fruit that
stains the soul yet is
celebrated as a
living success
bearing the fruit of
delusional self- righteousness
yet ...idolatry's power to
beguile even the sincerest in a
neopagan culture's web of
dark enlightenment-
self-serving values of
totalitarian progress
leading to death
now and forever by
impersonating the
Shepherd's voice
leading the sheep
ever deeper
ever downward
ever darker-
opaque angels of light-
snaring worldly converts into
confusion's morass by
mortal combat
for and against
Glory's Kingdom virtues
but Hope persists in
Light's Revelation-
an Intimacy more
Incarnate than
sexual communion can imagine
which changes everything
past by repentance
present by forgiveness
future by committed Love
unveiled and
cleansed by
mystical tears

Reflection/Discussion:
-Describe the two ways.
-What are the signs of each way?
-What areas in your life are moving toward/away from the Lord?
-How can you strengthen/change each way?
-What signs of the two ways are in our culture today?
-How can mutual consent still be selfish and lead into darkness?
-What can we do to influence our culture to turn towards the Lord?
-How can we support one another to grow in the Lord?

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

The Disciple

who is My disciple?
what does it mean to
follow Me?
My Life is
the template
clearly set
before you and
the measure of a
true witness
so let us begin
an examination of
the marks of a disciple to
see where you stand:
it is the one
who walks in Love
that most imitates Me
that is
your standard
the starting point-
putting others
before yourself
to serve
not to be served-
the foundation and
beginning of the Way
but then
self's donation
is qualified by
Obedience to the Goal of
pleasing the Father
for in that My own
destiny was fulfilled in
doing His Will
not My own-
but further still
the test of obedience is
Fidelity-
traveling the via dolorosa
even unto death-
to be faithful
means living
according to My Word
handed down
through My Bride
even when that embodies
the Cross-only then
is the Crown of Glory
bestowed on resurrected life
so in choosing to
come after Me
count the cost:
continual conversion
from the
-lure and ways of this world
-magnetism of self
-deceit of the devil
to the
Character of the Son
all these require
humility's strength
steeled in the
furnace of suffering
shaped by the
hammer of sacrifice
yet fueled by tender Grace
refreshed with the Joy of
knowing that in your
silent depths
I am with you
Loving you with an
Obedient
Faithful
Sacrificial and
Glorious Love

Reflection/Discussion:
-What are the marks of a true disciple of the Lord?
-What do you think about the marks presented?

-Which of the marks do you find most difficult?
-Does the "yes" on your lips match a "yes" in your heart?
-Which areas "yes"; which areas "no"?
-What changes can you make now to grow in discipleship?
-How can we support one another to grow in discipleship? 

Thursday, January 13, 2011

The Forgiver

it is not for you
to punish
your offender
harboring hatred
in your heart
a cruel infection
of your wound
that devours
your soul and
destroys your body
My daily offenders
refuse the offer to
turn away from
choosing death
over life and so
gain their
sinful inheritance
even as My hand
remains outstretched
in Mercy
to the very end
despite liberty's abuse
but as for you
let your anger
fight for justice
instead of hatred whch
only destroys  yourself
speaking the truth
in love- a choice
rooted in Grace
regardless of
emotion's strain-
and a motivation
for reparation
also knowing that
in the end
true justice
will prevail
as I work all things
for the good
in those who love Me
the fruit of healing
comes from the balm
of My Power
to petition
a change of heart
for therein lies
transformation's fuel
hoping to gain
reconciliation's bloom
a forgiver's freedom
rests secure in
giving over
letting go
deciding to forgive
despite the heartache
joining in My Offering
praying for
seeking more
since your enemy's good
is also
your own and
his salvation
ushers-in
Redemption's Glory

Reflection/Discussion:
-Did anything "touch" you in the poem? Describe it and why. 
-Have you forgiven everyone in your life?
-If not, what prevents you from doing so? 
-Explain the meaning of "deciding to forgive despite the heartache"?
-How does hating "destroy" the hater?
-Does forgiving someone "let them off the hook"? Why/not?
-Does not forgiving someone "punish" them? Why/not?
-How does forgiving
-How does your enemy's salvation usher-in Redemption's Glory?

Sunday, January 2, 2011

The Kiss

salvation's sentinel
gazes through
tears of blood from
sorrow's perch
as Love overcomes
death's sentence by
surrendering to
redemption's radical demands
the willingness of a Heart
pierced for sin's
just requirement to
attain separation's remedy
bridging an
infinite chasm by
making possible
humanity's transfer to
Divine Life's shore
yet the Gift
being freely offered is
only fulfilled when
freely accepted
one to One
eye to Eye
heart to Heart
history's execution
is overcome by
resurrection's renewal
made present today
by timeless Grace
when old is made new
brokenness mended
healing delivered
forgiveness fulfilled
when I and Thou
are consummated by the
kiss of the Cross

Reflection/Discussion:
-How is the Gift of Salvation freely offered and accepted?
-What are "redemption's radical demands" for you?
-What is the "kiss of the cross"??
-What can you do that you're not doing to grow in your relationship with the Lord?
-How can we support one another in our commitment to the Lord?

The Embrace

the treasure of suffering
so often obscured by its
unsightly cost
too exorbitant for our
fallen nature
forged by self interest
shielded by our
avoidance of adversity
bearing any price to
protect our frail dominion
which struggles with
life's storms especially those
attacking the confidence we
thought was so firmly planted
in the Lord but now feels so
unstable like it's in sand
causing us to question
why this? why now? why me?
grasping for a Comfort /
solution / relief / peace
all seemingly stretched
beyond our reach and
forcing us to question
how much does self and
its myriad worldly offshoots-
health...bank account...
job...relationships...
play in our security and
how much in the Lord Himself?
we pray for deliverance from
what seems like evil-
surely not willed by God but
allowed for His Greater Purposes
which we cannot see nor merely
desire right now but which
bring us face to Face with
our weakness and need for
The Crucified Savior- a
Kiln of Love Who
purifies us by the Fire of His Spirit
There we discover ever anew
His Desire to bring us Closer and
more Dearly Form us in His Image-
another step towards the
Goal of  Holiness by
removing stubborn defects that
resist our half-hearted efforts but
mostly ignore because they are
firmly embedded in the selfish
habits of our sinful nature
In Him we are Promised that
all things work together for
our good and though purification's
hindsight is a perfect view
now is the time that we are
Offered the Grace to
say "yes" despite our distress
by Surrendering in
Faith and Hope
Trusting in His Love
not begrudgingly
but with an
Embrace

Reflection/Discussion:
-How can suffering ever be "a treasure"?
-What does "a Kiln of Love" mean?
-Is the Goal of Holiness.....your Goal?
-How are you daily trying to attain that Goal?
-How much of your security is in the Lord vs other things?
-How has the Lord used suffering to change you?
-What prevents us from embracing our suffering?
-What are the benefits of embracing our suffering?
-How can we support one another in our suffering?