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?

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"?

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?

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?