After the flood, to find dry land
he sent a dove, out into the world
out of the darkness, into the light
to search for signs, outside the ark
that the seas had subsided
and life would return to the earth
He sent a dove, again, to find dry land
and an olive branch was his reward
He sent a dove a third time
and it never returned
God had dried the land
and life flourished once more
May 31, 2008
Genesis 6:9-22, 7:24, 8:14-19
Genesis 6:5-8:19
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Standing There, Calling Him
The Lord, standing there,
right beside him in the night
calling him, waiting for his response
Speak, for your servant is listening.
The living creator, the God of his ancestors
The Lord, who spoke to Eli, now calling to Samuel
to a changing forever of his days
a servant, prophet for the people
The man who would be the Lord’s hands
anointing two kings
Waking from sleep,
in the presence of the Lord
listening for his command
May 31, 2008
1 Samuel 3:1-10 and
Upper Room devotional for May 28, 2008
http://www.upperroom.org/Devotional/default.asp?month=5&day=28&year=2008&x=107&y=6
right beside him in the night
calling him, waiting for his response
Speak, for your servant is listening.
The living creator, the God of his ancestors
The Lord, who spoke to Eli, now calling to Samuel
to a changing forever of his days
a servant, prophet for the people
The man who would be the Lord’s hands
anointing two kings
Waking from sleep,
in the presence of the Lord
listening for his command
May 31, 2008
1 Samuel 3:1-10 and
Upper Room devotional for May 28, 2008
http://www.upperroom.org/Devotional/default.asp?month=5&day=28&year=2008&x=107&y=6
Speak Lord
Speak Lord, your servant is listening.
May that always be my response
May my faith be that strong
the boy, set apart, living with the master
learning the law, answering the Lord
strong, sure, obedient faith
Ready to do the Lord’s will
a humble servant of God
May 31, 2008
1 Samuel 3:1-10 and
Upper Room devotional for May 28, 2008
http://www.upperroom.org/Devotional/default.asp?month=5&day=28&year=2008&x=107&y=6
May that always be my response
May my faith be that strong
the boy, set apart, living with the master
learning the law, answering the Lord
strong, sure, obedient faith
Ready to do the Lord’s will
a humble servant of God
May 31, 2008
1 Samuel 3:1-10 and
Upper Room devotional for May 28, 2008
http://www.upperroom.org/Devotional/default.asp?month=5&day=28&year=2008&x=107&y=6
Answering God
When he called, the boy answered
coming, Master, I am here
he answered God in the same way
I am listening Lord, what do you want of me
Ready, right then, to follow the Master’s call
whatever that may be
So must we, be ready, prepared, listening
to hear the call for us, our particular path
our special call, to bring God’s love, his kingdom
to this troubled world; we must answer
But more still, we must listen
May 31, 2008
1 Samuel 3:1-10 and
Upper Room devotional for May 28, 2008
http://www.upperroom.org/Devotional/default.asp?month=5&day=28&year=2008&x=107&y=6
coming, Master, I am here
he answered God in the same way
I am listening Lord, what do you want of me
Ready, right then, to follow the Master’s call
whatever that may be
So must we, be ready, prepared, listening
to hear the call for us, our particular path
our special call, to bring God’s love, his kingdom
to this troubled world; we must answer
But more still, we must listen
May 31, 2008
1 Samuel 3:1-10 and
Upper Room devotional for May 28, 2008
http://www.upperroom.org/Devotional/default.asp?month=5&day=28&year=2008&x=107&y=6
Building the Ark
The scripture doesn’t say
if he walked with God,
by faith, or in the flesh
Did he get the blueprints handed to him
or write it down from the voice
calling him from within
But God told him what to do
and Noah obeyed
cubit by cubit he built the ark
and God remembered Noah
all who were with him
were saved
May 31, 2008
Genesis 6:11-22, 7:24, 8:14-19
Genesis 6:9
Genesis 6:5-8:19
if he walked with God,
by faith, or in the flesh
Did he get the blueprints handed to him
or write it down from the voice
calling him from within
But God told him what to do
and Noah obeyed
cubit by cubit he built the ark
and God remembered Noah
all who were with him
were saved
May 31, 2008
Genesis 6:11-22, 7:24, 8:14-19
Genesis 6:9
Genesis 6:5-8:19
No Place Holy
It wasn’t that nowhere was holy
everywhere, everywhere they walked
holy ground, barefoot walking
leaving their footprint,
the mark of God’s journey
walking with them across the savannah
into the jungle, the desert
in the in-between lands,
the dry and the rainy seasons
Walking with God,
no place holy, because
the world is holy
May 31, 2008
Matthew 7:21-28 and
Alive Now devotional for May 29, 2008 and
Alive Now devotional for May 30, 2008
everywhere, everywhere they walked
holy ground, barefoot walking
leaving their footprint,
the mark of God’s journey
walking with them across the savannah
into the jungle, the desert
in the in-between lands,
the dry and the rainy seasons
Walking with God,
no place holy, because
the world is holy
May 31, 2008
Matthew 7:21-28 and
Alive Now devotional for May 29, 2008 and
Alive Now devotional for May 30, 2008
A Living Temple
As the people carried the tabernacle
we carry the Lord with us
as we leave footprints
in the sands of our life’s journey
God is with us, if we follow where he leads
if we take the faith within us
the strong, living stone, God is with us
a living temple, within our hearts
leaving footprints
on the lives we touch in turn
May 31, 2008
Matthew 7:21-28 and
Alive Now devotional for May 29, 2008 and
Alive Now devotional for May 30, 2008
we carry the Lord with us
as we leave footprints
in the sands of our life’s journey
God is with us, if we follow where he leads
if we take the faith within us
the strong, living stone, God is with us
a living temple, within our hearts
leaving footprints
on the lives we touch in turn
May 31, 2008
Matthew 7:21-28 and
Alive Now devotional for May 29, 2008 and
Alive Now devotional for May 30, 2008
Not within Walls of Stone
On a foundation of stone
walled inside my heart
you are with me Lord
Not within walls of stone
a special sacred space
You walk with me all my days
May 31, 2008
Matthew 7:21-28 and
Alive Now devotional for May 29, 2008 and
Alive Now devotional for May 30, 2008
walled inside my heart
you are with me Lord
Not within walls of stone
a special sacred space
You walk with me all my days
May 31, 2008
Matthew 7:21-28 and
Alive Now devotional for May 29, 2008 and
Alive Now devotional for May 30, 2008
A House built on Rock
A foundation of stone
a house built on rock
grounded in faith in our Lord
walking with God
not within a set apart holy place
walking with God,
in creation, where he calls us to go
leaving footprints of the creator
all along our path
May 31, 2008
Matthew 7:21-28 and
Alive Now devotional for May 29, 2008 and
Alive Now devotional for May 30, 2008
a house built on rock
grounded in faith in our Lord
walking with God
not within a set apart holy place
walking with God,
in creation, where he calls us to go
leaving footprints of the creator
all along our path
May 31, 2008
Matthew 7:21-28 and
Alive Now devotional for May 29, 2008 and
Alive Now devotional for May 30, 2008
Not on Shifting Sand
Our lives, living the call of the Lord
acting, not merely having faith
stored up inside the walls of the holy places
being righteous in doing the work of the Lord
finding our holy places, out in the world
May 31, 2008
Matthew 7:21-28 and
Alive Now devotional for May 29, 2008 and
Alive Now devotional for May 30, 2008
acting, not merely having faith
stored up inside the walls of the holy places
being righteous in doing the work of the Lord
finding our holy places, out in the world
May 31, 2008
Matthew 7:21-28 and
Alive Now devotional for May 29, 2008 and
Alive Now devotional for May 30, 2008
All of my
poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me
at Ray Foss
for usage. See all 24,090+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry
Where You Live.
Walked with God
He walked with God,
obeyed his commands
he was called righteous
and was saved
He built an ark, as he was told
and the world was saved
never again to suffer
this wrath of God
May 31, 2008
Genesis 6:11-22, 7:24, 8:14-19
Genesis 6:9
obeyed his commands
he was called righteous
and was saved
He built an ark, as he was told
and the world was saved
never again to suffer
this wrath of God
May 31, 2008
Genesis 6:11-22, 7:24, 8:14-19
Genesis 6:9
A Sudden Torrent
Like the gate of heaven
opening on the first day of the flood
a sudden torrent fell today
momentary as it was
a sudden torrent fell today
the air changed, the outdoors
reverberating, the sound of the rain
crashing on the driveway, off the buildings
echoing in the yard, through the windows
damp followed, as the sun tried to shine
the puddles receded
and the air changed again
for another shower is coming
and I know not when it will fall
May 31, 2008
opening on the first day of the flood
a sudden torrent fell today
momentary as it was
a sudden torrent fell today
the air changed, the outdoors
reverberating, the sound of the rain
crashing on the driveway, off the buildings
echoing in the yard, through the windows
damp followed, as the sun tried to shine
the puddles receded
and the air changed again
for another shower is coming
and I know not when it will fall
May 31, 2008
Heavy Drops
I heard the heavy drops
falling individually, thump, thump,
a staccato symphony
onto the hard-tack ground
the thin dirt, no place for the water to go
almost like rock, impervious
heavy, oversized drops,
one onto another,
splashes with the falling onto the ground
even the ground,
slapping the water falling upon it
dust rising as the rain falls
caught and falling again
as the rain becomes a shower
May 31, 2008
falling individually, thump, thump,
a staccato symphony
onto the hard-tack ground
the thin dirt, no place for the water to go
almost like rock, impervious
heavy, oversized drops,
one onto another,
splashes with the falling onto the ground
even the ground,
slapping the water falling upon it
dust rising as the rain falls
caught and falling again
as the rain becomes a shower
May 31, 2008
Where Your Ashes Lay
I saw again, the picture
where you ashes lay
on the frozen, snow-covered ground
spread out on the side of the slope
the mountain you loved
released to the winds, to the earth
your ashes feeding the ground,
the trees, the mosses,
the ferns of that hillside
long since one with the soil
returned to the earth
May 31, 2008
All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 20,280+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
where you ashes lay
on the frozen, snow-covered ground
spread out on the side of the slope
the mountain you loved
released to the winds, to the earth
your ashes feeding the ground,
the trees, the mosses,
the ferns of that hillside
long since one with the soil
returned to the earth
May 31, 2008
All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 20,280+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
Friday, May 30, 2008
A Red Flower - October 16, 2007
All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,840+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Their Faces
I carry their faces with me,
small, shining images,
captured in the emulsion
little shadow, glimpses of them
showing a hint of the spark within
their faces ready, at hand
little pieces of them
I carry with me
small, shining images,
captured in the emulsion
little shadow, glimpses of them
showing a hint of the spark within
their faces ready, at hand
little pieces of them
I carry with me
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
String of Pearls - Aquinnah, MA, September 1996
All of my poems and photos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss,
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012,
2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 24,060+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You
Live.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Standing Straighter
Something, I cannot fully explain;
but certain and true each time,
on the side of the main street
the parade route into the city
They marched, they march each year
those who came home,
some of our nation’s best
who served that we may remain free
Gathered by their wars,
marching still, even if slower yet;
I find myself
Standing straighter, taller,
my hand on my heart, for them
applauding them, their courage
their willingness to go
into harms’ way, so that we, that I
can live in a land of freedom
So each year I am by the curbside
to honor them still
May 25, 2008
Memorial Day
written at church
but certain and true each time,
on the side of the main street
the parade route into the city
They marched, they march each year
those who came home,
some of our nation’s best
who served that we may remain free
Gathered by their wars,
marching still, even if slower yet;
I find myself
Standing straighter, taller,
my hand on my heart, for them
applauding them, their courage
their willingness to go
into harms’ way, so that we, that I
can live in a land of freedom
So each year I am by the curbside
to honor them still
May 25, 2008
Memorial Day
written at church
With Fireworks
With fireworks, parades, with speeches
we honor them, each year
remembering them, for what they gave
their lives for freedom
so that we would remain free
that the dream that is America
would remain strong
We stop and bow in prayer
for their lives lost, injured,
so that we may live
May 25, 2008
Memorial Day
written at church
we honor them, each year
remembering them, for what they gave
their lives for freedom
so that we would remain free
that the dream that is America
would remain strong
We stop and bow in prayer
for their lives lost, injured,
so that we may live
May 25, 2008
Memorial Day
written at church
Under Fire Still
Another day, remembering
all those who served, who sacrificed
different, still, unresolved,
an open wound, without closure
so many still under fire
actively in harms’ way
For them especially we pray,
we remember them all
under fire, in our name
May 25, 2008
Memorial Day
written at church
all those who served, who sacrificed
different, still, unresolved,
an open wound, without closure
so many still under fire
actively in harms’ way
For them especially we pray,
we remember them all
under fire, in our name
May 25, 2008
Memorial Day
written at church
In Remembrance of Them
Not the bread, the wine
elements of the holy meal
shared in remembrance of him;
in remembrance of them
we stop and gather,
set aside a time to honor
their sacrifice in our name
Young men and women,
some of the best of our nation
fighting, dying so that we may live
so that the dream that is America
may get grow more deeply in our hearts,
in the hearts of victims of tyranny
of war around the globe
They went, when they were called
serving us in foreign lands
distant seas, far from home
May 25, 2008
Memorial Day
written at church, before
the Rejuvenation evening service
elements of the holy meal
shared in remembrance of him;
in remembrance of them
we stop and gather,
set aside a time to honor
their sacrifice in our name
Young men and women,
some of the best of our nation
fighting, dying so that we may live
so that the dream that is America
may get grow more deeply in our hearts,
in the hearts of victims of tyranny
of war around the globe
They went, when they were called
serving us in foreign lands
distant seas, far from home
May 25, 2008
Memorial Day
written at church, before
the Rejuvenation evening service
In Memoriam
We remember
what they have done
serving in our place
going where we
would not choose to go
giving their lives
that we would remain free
our world a safer place
that evil would be checked
They have left a legacy
of love for us all
In their sacrifice
we have so much
to be thankful
Because we are blessed
by their courage
and their loyalty
We must remember them
and honor their place
in our nation’s story
May 25, 2008
Memorial Day
what they have done
serving in our place
going where we
would not choose to go
giving their lives
that we would remain free
our world a safer place
that evil would be checked
They have left a legacy
of love for us all
In their sacrifice
we have so much
to be thankful
Because we are blessed
by their courage
and their loyalty
We must remember them
and honor their place
in our nation’s story
May 25, 2008
Memorial Day
Their Sacrifice
They gave their all
for our country, for each of us
few of us know the horror, the fear,
what they faced in life,
going to dark places to keep us safe
We cannot know,
for we have not been there
all we can do, what we must do,
never to forget, always to honor
remember their sacrifice
which kept us free
May 25, 2008
Memorial Day
for our country, for each of us
few of us know the horror, the fear,
what they faced in life,
going to dark places to keep us safe
We cannot know,
for we have not been there
all we can do, what we must do,
never to forget, always to honor
remember their sacrifice
which kept us free
May 25, 2008
Memorial Day
More than Solomon’s Finest
more precious,
more beautiful than gold,
any fabric made by human hands
the lilies of the field,
the flowers of the garden
fruits of creation
clothed with fabrics
more wonderful than Solomon’s finest
such is the talent of God
able to clothe the world
with beauty
beyond our comprehension
throw away items
gilded in gold
Ourselves, each one
more precious than all
with dominion over creation
How much more will he give us
May 25, 2008
Matthew 6:24-34 and sermon,
Don’t Worry, Be Holy,
by the Reverend Lori Eldredge,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
more beautiful than gold,
any fabric made by human hands
the lilies of the field,
the flowers of the garden
fruits of creation
clothed with fabrics
more wonderful than Solomon’s finest
such is the talent of God
able to clothe the world
with beauty
beyond our comprehension
throw away items
gilded in gold
Ourselves, each one
more precious than all
with dominion over creation
How much more will he give us
May 25, 2008
Matthew 6:24-34 and sermon,
Don’t Worry, Be Holy,
by the Reverend Lori Eldredge,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
Clothed in Glory
Clothed in glory
the flowers of creation,
subtle or vibrant
Holy fabric, knitted by the creator
to clothe the grasses, the fields
We are his creation, in his own image
He will provide for us, so much more
May 25, 2008
Matthew 6:24-34 and sermon,
Don’t Worry, Be Holy,
by the Reverend Lori Eldredge,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
the flowers of creation,
subtle or vibrant
Holy fabric, knitted by the creator
to clothe the grasses, the fields
We are his creation, in his own image
He will provide for us, so much more
May 25, 2008
Matthew 6:24-34 and sermon,
Don’t Worry, Be Holy,
by the Reverend Lori Eldredge,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
Serve Today
We are to serve today,
follow the master,
and our needs will be met
Follow me he told them
and they went
bring me the loaves, the fishes
and the multitude was fed
serve our Lord today
and tomorrow will be waiting
our God will provide
May 25, 2008
Matthew 6:24-34 and sermon,
Don’t Worry, Be Holy,
by the Reverend Lori Eldredge,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
follow the master,
and our needs will be met
Follow me he told them
and they went
bring me the loaves, the fishes
and the multitude was fed
serve our Lord today
and tomorrow will be waiting
our God will provide
May 25, 2008
Matthew 6:24-34 and sermon,
Don’t Worry, Be Holy,
by the Reverend Lori Eldredge,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
Divided Focus
It is our divided focus, on God and
the things of the world,
trying to juggle wealth and faith,
leaving ourselves to drift, to shift
from one pole to another,
to lose sight of our God
With a single focus, on the loving creator,
the sacrifice of the savior,
his message to the world
the things of this earth
food, shelter, clothing
will be provided
May 25, 2008
Matthew 6:24-34 and sermon,
Don’t Worry, Be Holy,
by the Reverend Lori Eldredge,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
the things of the world,
trying to juggle wealth and faith,
leaving ourselves to drift, to shift
from one pole to another,
to lose sight of our God
With a single focus, on the loving creator,
the sacrifice of the savior,
his message to the world
the things of this earth
food, shelter, clothing
will be provided
May 25, 2008
Matthew 6:24-34 and sermon,
Don’t Worry, Be Holy,
by the Reverend Lori Eldredge,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
Cheesy Eggs
Breakfast was dad’s cheesy eggs
that was the urgent request
when I posed the question
of what they wanted to eat.
And, that meant a helper,
for every step of the way,
after the footstool entered the kitchen
plopped right in front of me…
breaking the eggs,
taking the shells from the bowl,
(mix, repeat)
wiping the counter, cleaning the floor,
mixing the eggs, cleaning the counter,
adding the cream, stirring vigorously
making the eggs in the skillet,
Shanequa and me
after the long, slow waking,
Disney in bed late Saturday morning,
with stuffed animal friends
sharing the bed, the fun
Cheesy eggs coming up!
May 25, 2008 12:39am
that was the urgent request
when I posed the question
of what they wanted to eat.
And, that meant a helper,
for every step of the way,
after the footstool entered the kitchen
plopped right in front of me…
breaking the eggs,
taking the shells from the bowl,
(mix, repeat)
wiping the counter, cleaning the floor,
mixing the eggs, cleaning the counter,
adding the cream, stirring vigorously
making the eggs in the skillet,
Shanequa and me
after the long, slow waking,
Disney in bed late Saturday morning,
with stuffed animal friends
sharing the bed, the fun
Cheesy eggs coming up!
May 25, 2008 12:39am
Stewards of God’s Mysteries
We are to be the stewards of God’s mysteries
the ones to safeguard his secrets, the majesty of creation
the wonder of the world, the unwrapping of the
web of life, the systems, the laws of nature
all part of the ordered plan of the creator
A world of rules and wondrous beauty
in the forces, the atoms, the mystery of life
Eating of the tree, the knowledge and free will
to act to save, to protect, or to destroy
all within our hands, to choose
So we must be the stewards, the protectors
of this world, this earth, fighting
for its preservation, and the innocents
who are yet to come
They too are the children of God
our legacy must not be wasting their birthright
We must be stewards of God’s mysteries
as his sons and daughters
not frittering away the inheritance of all
May 25, 2008
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 and
Alive Now devotional for May 21, 2008
the ones to safeguard his secrets, the majesty of creation
the wonder of the world, the unwrapping of the
web of life, the systems, the laws of nature
all part of the ordered plan of the creator
A world of rules and wondrous beauty
in the forces, the atoms, the mystery of life
Eating of the tree, the knowledge and free will
to act to save, to protect, or to destroy
all within our hands, to choose
So we must be the stewards, the protectors
of this world, this earth, fighting
for its preservation, and the innocents
who are yet to come
They too are the children of God
our legacy must not be wasting their birthright
We must be stewards of God’s mysteries
as his sons and daughters
not frittering away the inheritance of all
May 25, 2008
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 and
Alive Now devotional for May 21, 2008