As Vessels of Light currently undergoes fervent renovation, we felt there was no more fitting theme than to introduce an issue that is all about stirring up the furnace within our hearts to make room for new changes to spark.
INTRODUCING :
:･ STOKING EMBERS :･
crackling wood, sparked room, once cold, defrosting heartbeats, roaring furnace, freshly ablaze
The visionary landscape of Stoking Embers is housed within the heart-space, where God’s flame abides inside believers, yet sometimes certain seasons leave us feeling like the inner fireplace has dimmed, or even gone out—this vitalizing issue invites writers to hone that holy fire into poetry and essays that minister to the furnace of the human soul, stoking embers to pick up fresh hope, and reawaken our senses to Jesus’s enrapturing presence.
Key Verse:
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. — 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NIV)
This reminiscent verse urges believers to stoke the embers of their faith, and the Apostle Paul is reminding people, who may feel like their fire has gone out, to remember the living flame that lives within, with fearless attributes.
The quote that inspired this collection comes from Susannah Spurgeon, wife of the legendary theologian, Charles Spurgeon. In God’s Garden of Grace, she wrote:
“The fire was letting loose the imprisoned music from the old oak’s inner heart.”
This line alone captures the vision of stoking embers—freedom breaking loose to burn brightly from the innermost caverns of our wood crackling hearts.
Along with this issue, we have another much anticipated surprise, thus making Vessels of Light history…
NOW INTRODUCING…
-ˋˏ SPANISH-INFUSED POEMS ˎˊ-
Now, with a global and multilingual vision, Vessels of Light is thrilled to introduce that we are now accepting poetry in Spanish to be translated into English for simultaneous publication in both languages. We will also be accepting bilingual poetry (primarily English poems with words/phrases in Spanish).
Some of the most breathtaking poems have been first written in Spanish, and writers, such as Frederico Garcia Lorca attest to this in his powerful lines of poetry that have since been translated by poets, such as Robert Bly.
Lorca once said, “To burn with desire and keep quiet about it is the greatest punishment we can bring on ourselves.” Our burning desire is to be, as John the Baptist was, a witness to the Light1 — poets cannot remain quiet about the light! And our means of living this out incarnates itself through sharing stunning poems that seek our glorious God—now featured in two languages.
Thanks to our NEWEST edition to the team, the lovely Rosa Lía Gilbert, who has joined as the inaugural editorial assistant and Spanish translator of poetry, this is a dream come true for the international vision of this journal, especially considering the need for poetic voices in other languages to be represented are cherished. We are honored to become a place where Spanish informed poets can now house their work!
For more information, please send an email to:
vesselsoflightjournal@gmail.com addressed to Rosa Lía Gilbert
May every submission for “Stoking Embers” reflect the crackling blaze
of reawakened belief in the Gospel.
If you are interested in submitting any work for this issue, read more about specific details on the submission page at vesselsoflightlit.com We look forward to savoring your words.
Keep Burning Brightly,
The Vessels of Light Team
read John 1:6-9
