Prompt II
In a Moment
By: Andrea Kitsmiller
The Power He had
To hold all the world at once
In a moment
Transforming our suffering
Into His own
To die on that cross
Becoming life again
To draw us even nearer Him
It was love
Respond
By: Kayla Morrill
The sun is coming and the haze is lifting. The cross is empty. A new season is breaking through. It has already begun. Your heart is ready to respond. Respond to His love. Respond to His forgiveness. Respond to His healing. Respond to His hope. Respond to Him. He is alive. HE. IS. JESUS.
At the Cross
By: Michelle Ramirez
“At the cross, at the cross I surrender my life, I owe all to you.” These lyrics are the first thing I hear when I look at this picture. My pastor said yesterday, “The cross is the place of decision.” It is the place where we decide to surrender our life and give the Lord control. He reveals in His word that He is trustworthy. He is faithful. His love never fails. He is an ever-present help in time of need. His mercies are new every morning. John 15:5 says, “…He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” And yet, we try to go it alone. Maybe it’s because we want to be our own boss. We’ve been hurt before. We’ve given our trust to someone who took advantage and now, nobody is going to tell us what to do. Or maybe we don’t feel worthy of the gift He’s offering. Let me clean myself up Lord. Let me get right, fix a few issues, and then I’ll surrender. Yet, if we could do it on our own, God wouldn’t have sent Jesus. Thank you for the cross Lord. Thank you for doing for me, what I couldn’t do on my own.
At the Top of the Hill
By: Haven Kitsmiller
Back heavy, head spinning, timeless steps, every single one has been leading to this moment at the top of the hill.
Glory of the mountains and crisp light refracting off the clouds into my eyes. At the middle of it me and this cross made by the ones who said they once loved at the top of the hill.
Arms stretched out as if soaring through the valley below at the top of this hill.
I remain on this rotting wood, flesh gone, and yet my heart remains as a sponge for your hurt and longing at the top of this hill.
The Scene
By: JoAnn Landon
The earth shook in dismay
Even the rocks couldn't remain one- for its creator had been betrayed for he is truly the son of God
Nailed to the cross both hands and feet with the pain so deep
Though it be noonday the sun knew not to shine
The holy man our Jesus Christ cried out “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?”
And as the veil to the Holy of Holies split into two
Instantly
We gain access to you
With one last earthly breath you breathed, all our sins were forgiven
It was finished but far from over
bloody beaten and bruised as he hung for our sins…
Sins of a nation; For us to be forgiven
The one who knew no sin
died for me
As they mocked him
he hung for me
The Foot of the Cross
By: Dawson Fox
Please, I beg silently, the tears streaming from my eyes. I need to know. You need to show me!
The doubt swirls through me like a bad memory. I can’t will it away. Darkness consumes my heart, pollutes my mind...please! In my blind running, I find myself tripping over the rocky landscape. I fall on my knees, scraping my skin. Beads of blood appear on my palms as they tear against the stones jutting out of the ground. More tears roll down my cheeks. I’m hiccuping and sobbing, struggling to catch my breath.
I don’t bother trying to rise. I just curl up on the ground, wiping away the blood on my nose. Through the curtain of tangled hair that veils my vision, I can make out the sky. It’s a frightening glow of pink, smeared with smoky black clouds.
Please...
I fight the urge to give up. I force myself to stand, and force myself to take a step. Then another. I keep trudging toward who knows what.
Slowly, the ground beneath my bare feet begins to even out, and becomes blanketed by soft tuffets of grass. I’ve about reached the mountain’s edge, and can overlook the whole collection of tumbling hills below me. There’s nothing to find. Why...am I...here?
I look up then, and see it. The two logs of decaying wood, tied together by a thorny wire. A cross.
Here at the Cross
By: Cassie A. Green
Here at the cross, I find You, just You, Jesus
As a man, standing there, in front of me
Your eyes to my eyes
Human to human
Your hair, like mine
Sweat as sweat
Heart beating
Tangible breath
You breathed as I breathe now
You walked as I step now
You saw the sun rise and set
Day after day after day
You were never just a man,
But you were, “just” a man
Always the Son of God
But choosing to be human
Choosing to bleed
So my fingers could fathom your touch
And just as you were on that cross,
Just as you lived out pain and betrayal,
You also witnessed my birth
And my first steps
And my first sight of You
My eyes to Your eyes
My skin like Your skin
Weak but no longer claimed by death
My soul no longer a victim to sin
For by your resurrection
Propitiation declared its victory
By your words and your example and your thoughts and your action,
By your pierced skin
Your innocence claiming scars and sacrifice
Your love raided death itself
Skin to skin, free from fire
Human to human, Your eyes to my eyes
The Cross
By: Ivy Fox
Night is cold. Clouds obscure the stars, and tension fills the air. It seems that the whole earth is holding its breath. Waiting for the inevitable, waiting for what they dread. They listen, with broken hearts, to the sounds of mocking, the crack of the whip. Hours pass, as pain and suffering grow, the weight of every sin bearing down on his shoulders. And then it’s finished, as dawn comes. The earth lets out a cry, that no one can hear. But then, as the sun continues to rise, the great boulder breaks.
The king returns.
The work is finished.
And the cross will bear the memory.
Questions for the Cross
By: JoAnn Landon
Tell me about the cross oh Lord
I know it was heavy to carry,
but what was heavier, our sins
or the weight of the cross?
At what point did the pain subside?
Tell me your experience please from your mouth to my ears
-
When were you first scared?
How long was the road headed to Golgotha via Delarosa St?
How low was the sky?
How close was your heart?
When the clouds cried out
Did the rain give you relief?
or did it sting?
-
What was more painful,
the holes in your hands and feet,
or the thought of the soldiers that hung you
so you could set them free?
Was the pain as great as you thought it would be?
Though you knew he would betray you did it hurt any less?
Did Pontius Pilate repent?
Were his sins forgiven because he did as it was written?
Was repentance available for the Roman Captain who later realized what he’d done?
What kind of man both spirit and flesh on his dying bed spares his breath to save and cleanse the sins of his mockers and murderers?
Did they know the true value of those gambled garments?
What love is this? That even at their request you wouldn't save yourself,
but instead prayed for their ignorance
You know
the love that saves a seat in paradise for a thief.
Was it because he knew it was you?
Really YOU
And humbled himself before you?
-
How loud was the temporary victory shout from Hell?
Versus
the piercing silence
not even a sizzle
when the Angel of the Lord announced “He has risen?”
Did Hell tremble in fear
when our sovereign God overcame the grave and defeated death?
When he gave up the ghost?
Did Hell fear in defeat?
-
What was the scene in heaven when Father & Son were reunited?
Were there tears of joy and heavenly worship?
Did the Angels fall on their knees?
Did you see that your Father was well pleased?
-
To God be the GLORY!
Hosana forever and EVER!
Now they come to see where you lay
because you did not stay
for now,
it is holy ground
