Wednesday’s Sermon was based on:

Deuteronomy 5:9-10 NIV:

9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

From this passage and the sermon, the following poem was formed:

Breaking the Chains
by Michael Romani

We've got to change 
Learning to maybe rearrange
To live that better life
At peace and without strife
Seeking out the blessings
Leaving out the guessing
Finding our success 
In being God blessed

Moving beyond to mature
Leaving behind our old nature
Growing more like Jesus
In all He does to bless us
Leaving behind dysfunction
Moving past in conjunction
Past all the generational sins
To begin anew; to begin again

Freeing from the chains that bind
Learning to see and no longer blind
Learning to accept, grow and love
In a forgiving model based on God above
Some things we must rise to refuse
Putting aside the paths of past abuse
And into the ways that offer hope 
Clinging onto this saving rope

Through God's help we grow capable
Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable
Because of the greatness of He
Who gives us the power to be
Doing as He's loved and we've been told
Breaking us away from our strongholds
Developing the new ways from the old
True dreams replacing what society has sold

And so we pray for our deliverance
Daring to name the blame for that chance
To move beyond what holds us back
Giving to us the fullness that we lack
Moving forward into lives of honesty
These are the ways to set us free
Showing love by following His ways
Spent in these throughout our days

The longest journey must be begun
It takes the first step; only one
Realizing the issues by their name
Not dwelling on or fixing blame
But casting off the weight of sin
Beginning anew; starting again
Leaving behind the patterns engrained
Moving forward through what we've gained

Thinking on this with a thankful mind
Living through faith; being strong and kind
Through the power of the Holy Cross
We move to life and away from our loss
Power given to us in His holy name
Breaking from the chains and blame
Finally living free and able to truly love
Shaping our lives in the model of God above

(c) May 17, 2017  Michael Romani