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, March 30, 2013

The Assumption

do not assume
that lines to receive
Me have first
received Me into
their hearts as
Lord and Savior
it is not so
few are disciples
who daily
seek My Face
worship My Presence
love Me above all
renounce sin
speak My Truth
trust through trials
suffer with Me
witness unto death
many have departed
from the simplicity
of the Cross
the call to repentance to
leave all behind
take up that Cross to
come after Me
do not dance the
dance of fear
nor intimidation to
speak My Word of
conversion of heart
all that fail to decide
have in that very fact
decided not to follow
and are in
eternal danger
My Grace is always
being offered
ready to be revealed
even to be rejected
My tears still flow for
My wayward children
entrapped in the lures of
the world
believing the lies of
the enemy
satisfied with the minimum
yet living for themselves and
whose faces
show up even
on Sunday
beware of the assumption
you are called to more

Reflection/Discussion:
-What is "The Assumption"?
-Do you think it is accurate? Why/not?
-What are the signs, since no one knows the heart but God?
-How can we help bring about revival in the Church?
-What about your life? Where do you stand?
-What is your calling?

Sunday, March 24, 2013

The Promised

in the beginning
hovering over waters
out of chaos forming
elements into precision 
life into being
I was sent for
Creation's splendor
then in time
Promised for
dreaming dreams  
seeing visions
speaking Divine Words by
daughters and sons
an outpouring for all
who passionately seek to
drink deeply of 
Glory's Might   
yet for a while to
prepare the way
I was sent to a chosen few
charged with 
uttering the Prophetic 
“come back” to
My wayward people of
seesawing faithfulness 
again Promised until
at the appointed time
I hovered over the Anointed One
revealed as the Son
in a Baptism for an
eternal purpose and to 
speak Truths with a
Power beyond human reckoning
revealing a Knowledge of the Divine
proved by signs and wonders
until at last
after Passion's payment
death’s conquest by
Resurrection's revelation the
waiting was ended by 
hovering Tongues of Fire
a Mighty wind
releasing fear’s bondage as
barriers were transcended
Holy Names of Glory
proclaimed in languages for all
freedom’s bestowal brought
the promise to fruition
as much as each could receive 
freely offered with
miraculous Gifts of
Power to Heal
Deliver from bondage
Know the unknown
speak Prophetic Words
worship in
angelic Tongues
live a persevering call
for combat above
victory below
strength through weakness
dying to self for
an Intimacy Divine to
proclaim a Risen Savior
New Life for all who respond
which remains
today's challenge for a
world enslaved to sin
but
a Gift left unclaimed
withers on the vine
neglect and choice
leave Me untapped
meager expectations only
restrain unlimited Power
so asking in faith is a
prerequisite for Grace to
release the answer
when knocking and
seeking to find  a
Power born of
Mystical Breath
yet after all is
said and done
be aware of this
in your re-creation 
after years of tasting sweetness 
even as My Fire ignites your soul
touching you in depths unfathomed
with Gifts undeserved 
stirring Life to new heights
with Love-drenched
tears overflowing in
intimate tenderness
taking you from
Glory to Glory into
Realms of Holiness
still
there
is
more......

Reflection/Discussion:
-How would you summarize "The Promised"?
-What does "a Gift unclaimed withers on the vine" mean?
-What are your expectations regarding the Holy Spirit?
-What do you believe about the Gifts of the Spirit?
-Are you seeking more of the Spirit? Why/not? 
-Practically, what can I do to "earnestly desire the spiritual gifts"?
-What is the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit"?

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Heaven


beyond everything
I could ever dream
describe or desire
Heaven would have it
no other way
only an Infinite
all Powerful God
could Create
such a Reward that I
as a human being
so finite in my thinking but
so Infinite in my longing
would still be
so Exalted yet
so humbled by the
Otherness of it All
the overwhelming
Godness of  Life Eternal
leaving me staring so
starry-eyed at the One
who Died and Rose for me so that
I could be Loved forever
so Joy-filled that the end is
Eternally beginning
Eternally new
Eternally Glorious
that words can only repeat
Love’s Intimate Repast
as sighs climax  the
Infinite language of Union
so breathtaking that
I can only revel in
His Enduring Embrace
what have I ever have done to
inherit such a One
now seen face to Face?
nothing
not one thing
only Mercy begs acceptance
so agonizing in earthly life
now only a
vague distant dream
so worth the trials
producing a Purification
which then cried for relief
despite being too
Fruitful to postpone 
having been Transformed by
Grace-filled responses to life's
sometimes overwhelming challenges
where only Trust could barely
manage all the myriad blinds
offering no way out except
holding His Hand
now my
tears are dried
heartaches healed
fears removed
wounds mended
limitations eliminated
no more surrounding me
no more binding me
no more
now only
unfading Glory
lies before me
unending Joy
even overwhelming
imagination's
fantasies
.
Reflection/Discussion:
-Describe "Heaven".

-What is the "Otherness of it all" mean?

-How do trials prepare us for Heaven?
-What does "holding His Hand" mean?
-Where does Mercy fit in getting to Heaven?
-Is it easier to imagine Heaven or Hell? Why?
-How does thinking about the 4 last things help us now?
-Where does Purgatory fit-in?

Saturday, March 2, 2013

The Way

one
there is only
one way to
Union-
Holiness unbridled
that way is
death to self
born into slavery to
ego's enthronement
we are sold out to
have our own way in life
self-will our idol
pride demands its
recognition often in
secret machinations
hidden even from ourselves
sometimes donning
professions of
heavenly desires- the
twisted deception of a
blinded humanity
only Grace
reveals the Truth
peals back the veil of
sin's deep wounding
only Grace enables us to
admit our inability to
overcome it's
tentacles entwining
layers of consciousness
only Grace
received through Mercy
loosens the hold of
self-reliance
addictions to the false
security of transitory
tangible titles
personality
wealth
reputation
character
sometimes even
ministry
anything but
Jesus Himself
prying our fingers off the
death grip on our
being-in-control to
being willing to
obey that He may be Glorified
seek Him alone
let go of this life-
so precious to us-
that we find Rest in
God Alone and
the template of Calvary
becomes our
pattern of Surrender
"not My will but
Thine be done"
this is only a
work of Grace
and a work in progress
a process of sanctification
undertaken in weakness
recognizing that the
battle is within while
learning to depend on a
Love beyond our strength to
give oneself away
serve the other
wash feet with His Love
in grateful humility
day by day
come what may

Reflection/Discussion:
-How does the poem describe "The Way"?
-What was most meaningful about "The Way" to you?
-Where am you along "The Way"?
-What areas in your life are you trying to control?
-What are the areas in your life in which you experience your weakness?
-What is the Lord saying to you now? 
-Where can you get support to live out your Faith?