Finding Forgiveness

A Haven in the Storm  ’Here today and gone tomorrow’ - a succinct summary of the transient nature of life, but while the con- stant flux of this world is part of its fascination it also brings heartache, so much that we love inevitably plucked from us. Does anything stay the same? For the Christian the answer is a resounding yes, our faith rooted in the changeless God whose loving purpose never alters, his faithfulness having inspired, encouraged, comforted and enthralled generations of believers across the years. The prayer-poems in this book articulate the sense of confusion and loss that change can bring but express also God’s promise to be with us come what may. They are designed to speak both for us and to us. Finding Forgiveness  If some Christians can be accused of self-righteousness, the problem for most is the opposite: an all-too-painfulness awareness of their failings. Such an awareness has its place, if it leads to a genuine desire to change, but the last thing God wants is for anyone to struggle through life burdened by a sense of guilt or shame. At heart the gospel is about God’s love and mercy, his offer of forgiveness for all through Christ. The prayer-poems in this book - some general, some more specific - articulate those two aspects: the frustration and sorrow we feel at our repeated faithlessness but also the assurance of God’s unfailing grace. They are designed to speak both for us and to us. Our Broken World  Where is God in our world today? News headlines seem to be dominated by stories of evil, sorrow and suffering, and as Christians we struggle as keenly as anyone to make sense of it all. How can we possibly talk of a loving God amid so much that seems to question or deny his presence? The prayer-poems in this book make no pretence to offer easy answers to such conundrums, but attempt rather to articulate our sense of confusion yet also the faith we hold on to despite them. They are designed to speak both for us and to us. Living with Loss  To lose a loved one is one of the most testing experiences we will ever face, bringing a bewildering roller-coaster of emotions: grief, guilt, panic, anger and confusion, to name but some. How do we cope with such feelings? How can we channel them constructively rather than let them eat away within? How can we make sense of death and our own continuing life? For the Christian such questions are as pressing as any. The prayer-poems in this book - each written from personal experience - do not promise easy answers, but attempt to wrestle with the devastating trauma of bereavement while also offering words of hope, comfort and encouragement in the light of God’s eternal promises. They are designed to speak both for us and to us.