prayer poetry: The Embrace

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

Sunday, January 2, 2011

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?