The World

not the earth but
the sum of cultural
values
thinking
choices
behaviors
powers even laws
that are
opposed to God
it is the
living out of our
fallen nature-
rebellious
self-centered
proud
sensual
basically full of sin-
orchestrated and
dominated by satan-the
king of this world-
all sworn enemies of
The King of kings-
this is the atmosphere
in which we live out our
calling to be witnesses of the
Kingdom of God- though
that reality means
we are at enmity with the
kingdom of darkness-thus
spiritual warfare rages
within and without
composed of many skirmishes-
opportunities to choose
between  rival kingdoms though
temptations often disguise
their true indentities in order to
lure us into minor
"turning aways" that
down the darkened path
can ultimately result in a
final "turning away"- a
victory for the losing side-
in such an embattled world
standing for the Truth
insures that we receive the
same hatred and persecution as
Jesus -sometimes the same
punishment-but likewise that we
also conquer with Him for
He has overcome this world
with all its might and corruption
our challenge is to bring
His Word of
Selfless Love and Forgiveness
Mercy and New Life to a
broken humanity
it is only by Grace that
true Justice can be attained
only by His Spirit can
Truth be enthroned
bringing Light to the darkness
only by Redemptive Suffering can
life's sorrows be ransomed
only by Supernatural Power can
our fragile nature be
transformed and in turn
Redeem our Society
but even then we
will be resisted unto death
so what then?
we can begin now-today- to
seek the Lord first-
be faithful in our calling to
Love Him and one another in
authentic
transparent
vulnerable relationships to
help win our common cause
while embracing the Cross to
entwine with  His
Passionate Victory by
accepting what comes in
living out our duties
faithful to the Lord
spending time with Him
learning to hear His Voice then
speaking His Word in Love
using the Gifts of the Spirit
He has bestowed upon us
but in all this
let us not forget to
find our true Joy and Peace
in the One who
First Loved us
Gave us His All and
calls us to be
in this world but
not of it

Reflection/Discussion:
-Where do you experience the influence of the world in your daily life?
-What challenges do you have in living out your relationship with the Lord?
-Describe your prayer life.
-How are you growing in knowing His Word?
-What Gifts of the Spirit do you have?
-How are you using them?
-What supportive relationships do you have to follow the Lord?
-How can you develop authentic, transparent, vulnerable relationships?

The Wound

humanity's original sin
has left us wounded
divided within
from our conception
no one is unscathed and
though Baptism has
removed the stain of sin
its ramifications remain
each must deal with them
but most are ignorant
because it's wound is left
unspoken as if it is
assumed that
everyone of course
knows about it and has
taken steps to overcome
its consequences-
reality says otherwise-
intellects are darkened
easily deceived
wills are weakened
ripe for rebellion
just as satan declared
'I will not serve'
making 'I' the center of life
creating proud idols to worship
pleasure - power -
success - wealth
feelings rule behavior
confusing right and wrong
while temptations lead us
even to do things we
don't want to do and
not do things we
want to do
it's called sin ...
some more mortal-
spiritual life killing- than others
suffering and death are
now part of life
we were separated from
The Father who
nevertheless
reached out to us
through His Son Jesus who
took upon Himself
our nature with all of its
weakness and sin
put it to death and
conquered it all through
His Resurrection and
pours out His Power by
the Holy Spirit so
we can overcome our wound
it's called Grace...
unearned
undeserved yet
freely offered
why?
why wouldn't He
just be angry at our
rebelliousness?
continual failings?
ingratitude?
ignoring Him by
worshiping false gods?
why not just write us off?
Love.....only Selfless Love
but even more stunning is
His offer to
share in His Divinity-
in His very Nature-
the Inner Life of the Trinity-
simply by our yes
our decision to
accept His Love and
Love Him in return
we are still wounded
still weakened
still sin but we can
also choose to
ask forgiveness
walk the narrow path
follow Jesus as Lord and Savior
Love Him above all
depend on His Grace to
learn to love one another
give witness to His Mercy
accept and use the
Gifts of the Holy Spirit and
by His Power
become like Jesus
One with Him-
a transformation called
Holiness-
a lifetime journey to
an Eternal beginning

Reflection/Discussion:
-How does humanity's wound affect your life?
-Do you have false idols in your life?
-If so, how is that manifested? How can you begin to change?
-What does it mean to walk the narrow path, to follow Jesus?
-What are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit?
-What Gifts do you have?
-How have you changed your lifestyle to follow Jesus?
-What else needs to change and how can that start?
-Where can you find support in your decision?

The Father

The Father's Identity is
often masked by the
difficiencies of
our own Dad
too often we
have been wounded
sometimes seemingly
beyond repair
whether through sins of
commission or omission
compounded by the
lies of the evil one
making those offenses
feel deserved because of
our own woeful self-worth
nontheless
we are wounded
feeling abandoned
insecure
looking to be loved
accepted
even as we fight back
taking what affection we can
we try to make-up for the loss
by whatever means available
though the overwhelming pain
often remains hidden beneath
our ill-formed interiors
protected by our
well-manicured exteriors
yet only an unravelling
led by the Spirit can
begin to heal and renew
our True Identity as
sons and daughters of God
it is in letting go of
our false self
that one crying for recognition
scarred by offenses
disfigured by falsehoods
by allowing ourselves
to be Loved by the
Lover of our souls
the One who purchased
our Redeemption by
taking our sins upon Himself
revealing The Father's
Self-less Love
for each one while saying
through His Son:
'Come all you who are
heavy laden and
I will give you rest'
admitting our plight
accepting His solution
embracing the process of healing
with each 'yes'
breaking away from
patterns of behavior/thinking
that continue to reiterate
our false identity
leading down into the
Darknesss of self-destruction
we can begin to learn
how to live in Trust today
forgiving our fathers
and ourselves
we recognize that
we are not alone but
precious
secure
Loved
at home with
our ABBA

Reflection/Discussion:
-Describe your relationship with your father.
-What is your relationship like with The Father?
-Do you find it difficult to trust others, especially the Father? Why?
-Talk with Him about it all.
-For what do you need to forgive your father?
-How has the enemy lied to you about all this?
-Where have you looked for your self-worth?
-Get into supportive relationships to work through these issues.

The Healing

forever assuming
abandonment by an
uncaring Father
when sorrow's arrow
stops turning
finding its mark
in my heart
a recurring nightmare of
debilitating loss
disturbing daily life
without apologizing
for its intrusion
reliving yesterday's pain today
without the benefit of
tomorrow's perspective
despite the protest
from my soul's
rebellious emotions
squandering Faith's life-savings
only to discourage
an embattled belief
struggling to stay afloat
buffeted by turbulent seas of
unanswerable questions
that plague my wandering mind but
rescue recurs
when Grace intervenes
through prayer's supplication
and a trusted shoulder of the
Man of Sorrows is
resurrected by the Father to
bear my burden
carry my cross
sooth my wound
speaking words of comfort
softly
relieving my agonizing memories
tenderly
knowing my frailness
without remembering
my doubts based on
anxious imaginations and
terrorizing dreads but
only Faithful Love
overcomes heartaches
with an Embrace of
never-ending assurance
providing relief
though only temporarily
knowing that acceptance
ushering-in Peace is
short-lived but cyclic
growth is ensured
healing measured in
incriments of daily surrender to a
Savior who Loves to Save
Trusting despite
the challenge of
conflicted Hope

Reflection/Discussion:
-How does "The Healing" describe dealing with loss?
-How can we let Jesus "bear our burden and carry our cross"?
-What does "the challenge of conflicted hope" mean?
-What is your process of healing like?
-How is it similar/different?
-How does sharing with others help?
-How has your healing changed you?

The Glory

bowing down
without taking a glimpse
wishing I could do so but
I dare not because
I cannot bear
His Glory
His Beauty nor
His utter Holiness
without feeling like
I would disintegrate
still
He bids me to
come into His Presence
why? how can it be that
He Loves me so?
I have failed Him
time and time again
I have not done
great things for Him nor
brought fruitful numbers
to Love Him
what have I done to
deserve His
Passionate Embrace?
His Kiss from the Cross?
His Spirit of Power and Life?
Nothing
it is all a Gift with
only a Yes being requested
and yet
even with my acceptance I
still cannot bring myself to
gaze upon Him without
acknowledging my
unworthiness
nontheless I shall
Worship Him
The King of Glory
Mighty Lord
Risen Savior
Son of God
Prince of Peace
Lover of my soul
and accompany Him
into the Presence of
The Father by
The Holy Spirit
I weep in Joy only
Knowing that
I am Loved
Thankful to
Be Here and
Give Him
ALL I AM

Reflection/Discussion:
-What can we do to deserve His Love? Why?
-What is the Lord asking of you now?
-How can you prepare now to come into His Presence?
-How can you be accountable to grow in your Love and Witness?
-How can you grow to Praise and Thank Him in your daily life?

The Trials

trials are the
power washings of
your soul
that is why I
permit them
they push you beyond your
own strength
coping abilities and
endurance where you only see
discouragement... even despair
exposing your weakness of
talent, character
faith, hope or love in the midst of
circumstances you
cannot or will not control and
bring you to
humility's realization that you
need help
cannot do it all by yourself
you are complicated
not easily transformed into
Holy men and women
sometimes resisting what
you know in your hearts to
be best for you
frozen by fear or
stubornly seeking
your own way
sometimes pursuing even
deadly behaviors to
satisfy wayward desires or
avenues of worldly quests
that enthrone the self
building your own kingdom
not Mine
these harden your hearts to
My Love and lead you
away from Me
I have so much more for you
than you can ever realize
Realities of the Kingdom
that I freely offer but
many times are never accepted
and though you may not
understand the
why's and the how's of this
particular trial you now enduring
what I am presenting to you is a
powerful opportunity to
enter into My Passion which bore your
every sorrow
every pain
every struggle to believe
every sin
uniting your trials with Mine
permitting Me to
have My Way with you to
bring you into My tender treasures
that await you by purifying you to
become purely Mine
growing into My purposes for you to
trust as I Trusted
love as I Loved
serve as I Served
surrender as I Surrendered
depending not on your strength
but upon the Spirit given
by the Father...so...
stay close to Me
do the next right thing before you
walk by faith not by sight
let My Spirit transform you into
My Image and Likeness
forming you into a
Holy Disciple
Faithful Witness
Joyful Sign of the
Kingdom of Heaven
your Eternal Home after
all trials have passed away and
every tear wiped away

Reflection/Discussion:
-What struck you about this poem? Why?
-What is your experience of trials?
-What have you learned?
-Are you going through a trial now?
-If yes, be open to share it with others.
-How can you support others in their trials?
-Reach out to them in prayer and presence

The Narrative

satan has a narrative
created specifically
for you
maybe
you don't understand it
you don't even know it exists but
you believe it
you live it
it is the source of
your pain
the basis of your unspoken insecurities
the reason why you may
doubt your worth and
look to trinkets or titles for
value and fulfillment or
live with sometimes
debilitating depression
irrationl fears/anxieties
stemming from
wounds that stoke your
anger, resentment
even vindictiveness
robbing your life of peace or
fueling self-destructive behaviors
while stuffing
unresolved pain
together with
justification's unforgiveness
further down your
ever hidden true self
desiring a life of love but
silently harboring in your
heart of hearts the
naked calumny that
you are unloveable
otherwise why these
incessant feelings of
abandonment and rejection
zero self-worth
it all comes from the
lips of the evil one
temptations
lies
accusations
deceptions
all designed to achieve
dominion over your
thinking
behavior
relationships
pushing your "hot buttons"
towards your ultimate destruction
using the sins of others against you
whether of
commission or omission
then you interpret them
construing their motivations
letting your bitterness fester
deciding  to sin in vengance but
now you open the door to
demons who
play their games with
your mind luring you
into the acceptance of lies
about yourself or others
and onto paths of
habitual sin down the
rabbit hole of annihilation
now they have you where
they want you
living in a web of deception
turbulent feelings of
confusion and disorder-
if only you were ...whatever...
you get angry at God
He should have done this or that
prevented such and such so
you take the
"I'll show you" approach
you rebel
take control of your life
live for yourself
do what you want
whenever you want
obsessed with things
always going your way
or...... be the victim
feeling sorry for yourself
living like you have to be perfect
then you will be loved
but you know you can't
so now you are
insecure and frustrated
always striving
always not quite getting there
always the "do gooder"
always the one that can be counted on
always so "nice" but
fear and doubt
strip your success of joy
knowing you still have
so much more to accomplish before
you have truly proved yourself...
STOP!!!!!!!!!
STOP NOW!!
it is all LIES
you are already Loved
you are already Precious to
the Father
Jesus died for you because
He Loves you
you don't have to prove yourself
it's ok that you are imperfect
that's the point
He knows that
it's why He became
one of us
He Loves you anyway
He knows your weakness
that's why He
gives you His Spirit to
Empower you to change to
become the person He
calls you to be
He has a Purpose for you
your restless heart now
can Rest
so it all comes down to a
Relationship
His Love for you and
your love for Him
let TRUTH be the
narrative you live by
look to Him for
Freedom from sin
Freedom to forgive
Power for
spiritual warfare and
deliverance
healing from wounds
long ago inflicted and
rooted in
powers of darkness
ask Him to reveal your
true identity- a
son or daughter of God
let Him tear down your
false identity
walls of self-protection
fortifications of lies
bringing them into
Light's revelations
renouncing their
power over you
embracing Truth's power
persevering through the
process of painful healing
opening yourself to
loving relationships of support
giving over your own
goals and desires
in order to
serve His Kingdom first
there is MORE for you
beyond what you can
think or imagine
begin today to
understand and reject the
web of lies
know the Truth
live in Freedom
embracing your
New Life

Reflection/Discussion:
-How does this poem relate to your experience?
-How have you been wounded by other's sins of commission/omission?
-What lies have you believed about yourself or others?
-Make a list of people who have hurt you, take them to prayer, repent where you have to repent and      forgive them-verbally-  remembering that forgiveness is a decision not a feeling.
-What is spiritual warfare and deliverance?
-Find out about the "Unbound Ministry".
-Where can you find support for your journey to healing?











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1. 
   

The Identity

who are you?
the world-
that which is at
enmity with God-
tells you your
identity resides in your:
sexual preferences
transitory feelings
job/career
bank account
fame
material possessions
influence
power
physical appearance
talents
but.....
is that really true?
we search
looking for.....what?
what makes me.... ME
in reality
each one of us is
wounded:
born into original sin
with darkened intellects
weakened wills
self -centered tendencies
in a word: sinners
then as we grow up
we encounter
other's sins of
omission or commission-
inflicting wounds in our
tender hearts
even in the best of families-
then we respond
out of our own interpretations
with our own sins of
omission or commission
then the evil one...and
yes he really does exist-
who originally led others to
hurt you-
lies to you about.... you..
your faults, value, defects
mostly that you are
unlovable
nothing special
loser.....otherwise...you
wouldn't be treated that way
leads you to look for
your identity in exterior things or
inward feelings........something...
anything to be special
important....lovable...and
not alone
needing to be loved
all the while combatting the
feelings of rejection whether from
others or yourself
with the logical results of
confusion
lonliness
self-pity
anger
rebellion
self-absorption and
any or all supposed
thinking/behavior that
brings you relief and that
feeling of being different
but......all.that is NOT the
TRUE YOU
yes, they are what you
hang your hat on....but
you are more than
all those things put together
you are the Beloved
Created to share....Intimately...
in the very Nature of the Trinity
formed by the very
Personal Decision of  the Father Himself
to be His Adopted Son or Daughter
to experience His Love
to cherish the realization that
Jesus, the Father's only begotten Son,
suffered extreme torture
a horrible, unjust death
stripped of all dignity
why?
for YOU....because
you are worth it
you are special
one of a kind and
He Loves You Passionately
THAT'S WHO YOU ARE
so..........
don't believe the lies
don't follow the world's thinking
don't settle for less
don't look elsewhere because
you won't find
your true self or happiness in
feelings or externals
but only in THE TRUTH:
YOU..... ARE .....HIS.... BELOVED!
you can receive that Truth by
receiving Jesus....so....
just ask Him to:
reveal Himself to you.
let you His experience His Love for you
forgive you
come into your heart
be yoiur Lord and Savior to
find healing and freedom and
thrive in that Identity
now and forever

Reflection/Discussion:
-How have you been wounded by others?
-Begin to be free by forgiving? Ask for the Grace.
-What have you hung your identity on in the past?
-Reject the lies in the name of Jesus.
-Ask and find support in your new life.
-How can you make the time each day to pray and read the Word?

The Word of the Cross

the Way of the Cross is
the Way of Love
in the laying down of
your will and your
very self that brings
My very Life to you
it is in Loving others that
you Love Me and
are conformed into
My Image and most
become One with Me
there to find the Joy
you were
born to bathe in the
Blood of My Cross
for others
so do not run away
nor hide from My Cross
but rather
embrace it with the
Grace I freely offer you
I know your weakness and
need for My Strength
all are born into frailty
daunted by trauma's potential
even resisting the hardship of Love
that is why I freely offer
My Spirit of Power for
Courage and Persevering
Trust in the midst of Suffering
All  are yours for the asking
the Way of the Cross is
the Way to Eternal Joy
it is the Way back to
the Father
so Come with Me
bear My Cross with Me
let us Till your fertile ground
Sow
Water
Reap the Harvest of
My Saving Cross
Together

Reflection/Discussion:

-Where is the Cross in your life?
-What strikes you about this Word?
-How does loving others bring the Cross into your life?
-How do you feel about suffering in your walk with the Lord?
-How would you relate to others in their suffering?
-How would you encourage them?