groaning, saturday

Saturday, December 13

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

          

Opening Prayer: To the God who pursues.  Our world is groaning around me and my heart groans with it.  So many tears and questions, so many stillborn children, so much cancer and divorce, so many orphans and so much poverty.  Closing my eyes doesn’t make the wailing stop; doesn’t turn the grief into joy.  I hear your Spirit groaning with me, taking the cry of my heart to your throne.  Hear our groans.  Have mercy on us. (A Heart Exposed by Steven James)

Scripture Reading for the Day: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Reading for Reflection:

     groaning by Jim Branch

o groaning

you wear many faces

today you are loneliness

yesterday you were longing

last week insecurity and inadequacy

and before that struggle, sadness, and  hurt

you are a constant companion

always present in some form or another

at times visible and recognizable

and at times hidden and buried deep within

so that i can hardly tell you are there

you walk with a purpose

opening up something deep inside me

creating fertile soil in my vulnerable heart

you expand my soul

hastening my becoming

you bring me low when i’m too high

make me smaller when i’m too big

you empty me of self when i’m full of it

and meet me tenderly when i’m bruised or broken

you open me up

making me receptive to true presence

you accomplish a purpose

that only a Dreamer could possibly dream up

sometimes i run from you

sometimes i ignore you…or try

and sometimes i embrace you as a long lost friend

which is exactly what you are

o groaning

you wear many faces

work your work in me

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself    

                      

Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your grace, which is always sufficient.  Amen.