Saturday, February 21, 2009

Nothing By Myself

Nothing, nothing of God
by myself, my hands, my voice, my feet, my all
as if a glove, sitting on the shelf, limp
Given life, meaning, purpose
your spirit moving within me
my hands, merely skin, a glove
moving as you direct
when I submit, servant to your will
Let me be empty, so I may be filled
Let me be the gloves of your hands

----------------
edited September 26, 2015
Gloves of the Spirit – v6
(editing version 3)
Edited December 14, 2013
“Gloves of the Spirit – v5”
(editing version 2)
Edited August 13, 2013
“Gloves of the Spirit – v4”
Edited July 31, 2013
“Gloves of the Spirit – v3”
edited July 14, 2012
“Gloves of the Spirit – v2”
July 24, 2010
“Gloves of the Spirit
Edited August 19, 2013
“to be cellophane vessels – v4”
Edited August 17, 2013
“gauze of the Spirit – v2”
Worship Service in the Park – 8/11/2013
Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV)
and sermon “There Is Hope In Community”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
August 11, 2013
&
new poem, August 17, 2013
“gauze of the Spirit”
Edited August 16, 2013
“to be cellophane vessels – v3”
Edited August 16, 2013
“to be cellophane vessels – v2”
new poem, August 16, 2013
“to be cellophane vessels”
Edited August 13, 2013
“Gloves of the Spirit – v4”
Edited July 31, 2013
“Gloves of the Spirit – v3”
edited July 24, 2012
changed to “Crystal Vessels”
edited July 14, 2012
changed to “Crystal Vases”
edited July 14, 2012
“Bags of Crystal”
edited July 14, 2012
“Cellophane Bags”
edited July 14, 2012
“Gloves of the Spirit – v2”
July 24, 2010
“Gloves of the Spirit
Colossians 2:6-19 (The Message)
Luke 11:9-11 (NLT)
Psalm 100:1-3 (NLT) (Call to Worship)
Worship Theme: “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing”
and sermon, “Buyer Beware”

by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 25, 2010
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
&
and quote attributed to Corrie ten Bloom,
“I have a glove here in my hand.  The glove cannot do anything by itself, but when my hand is in it, it can do many things.  True, it is not the glove, but my hand in the glove that acts.  We are gloves.  It is the Holy Spirit in us who is the hand, who does the job.  We have to make room for the hand so that every finger is filled.”
&
edited May 23, 2014
from the Spirit – v2
May 23, 2014
from the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-25
“Not by My Power”
devotion by Kay Robertson
for May 23, 2014
read May 23, 2014
Duck Commander Daily Devotional
compiled by Alan Robertson
&
Edited September 1, 2012
“Merely Gloves – v2”
May 21, 2010
Let me but skin – edited
as read at the House of Purpose Coffee House
May 21, 2010
Hillsboro, NH
&
February 14, 2009
Let me be but skin
written after posting the Merely Gloves to Faithwriters site
February 21, 2009
Nothing By Myself
on posting Merely Gloves and getting feedback
May 10, 2008
Merely Gloves
Acts 2:1-21
Pentecost
and quote attributed to Corrie ten Bloom,
“I have a glove here in my hand.  The glove cannot do anything by itself, but when my hand is in it, it can do many things.  True, it is not the glove, but my hand in the glove that acts.  We are gloves.  It is the Holy Spirit in us who is the hand, who does the job.  We have to make room for the hand so that every finger is filled.”

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 39,390+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Holy White

A cloud descending, shimmering robes
holy white, beyond human ability
the Son of Man, the Son of God
claimed by the creator, out of the whirlwind
his own, to be followed, to be listened to
well pleased, beloved son
Steeled by the Father, the son
Up on the mountaintop,
down into his passion
the cup, crimson, soon to his lips
the blood of the lamb
soon to be spilt
Holy white, burned within
preparing for the prophesy
to be utterly fulfilled

February 21, 2009
Mark 9:2-9

Taken Up

Taken up, a whirlwind, a chariot from above
a prophet going to God, to the Lord
rising to heaven, from the banks of the Jordan
his mantle given to another, faithful
his protégé, his student
watching as he ascended, fulfilling
claiming the share of the gifts
this servant of God
taken up, as all were aware
completing his service to the Lord


February 21, 2009
2 Kings 2:1-12

Palms for the Ashes

My throat thick, my nostrils full
the smell of their burning on my skin
palms of the festival, of the glory; Hosannah!
your triumphant entrance
burned for the ashes, the beginning of Lent
The palms they waved, we shared, laid at your feet
A stain now, upon our skin,
remembering your gift, your offering
The palms burnt, the sanctuary still
beginning a journey of remembrance
your choice, your faithfulness, your servanthood
ever present in our hearts, we pray

----
edited February 5, 2016
Palms for the Ashes – v4

(editing version 3)


edited April 2, 2015
Palms for the Ashes – v3
(merging edits to version 2 and version 1)
edited February 19, 2015
Palms for the Ashes – v2
Ash Wednesday service
Joel 2:12-17a
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Prayer of Confession
Imposition of Ashes
Communion
Lenten poem:”Changer: A Lenten Poem”
by Adrienne Sparrow Trevathan
sermon, “The Math of Lent”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
and closing hymn,
“It Is Well with My Soul”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Ash Wednesday
February 18, 2015
&
Isaiah 58:5-10
Burning of the Palm service
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
February 17, 2015 and February 18, 2015
&
February 21, 2009
Palms for the Ashes
preparing the Ash Wednesday ashes
from Palm Sunday’s palms
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
2/21/2009

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,930+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.


Awakening the Muse

Asleep within me, the muse of my heart
You, Spirit, waiting for me
Looking inside, the words still there
finding voice, freedom, when I still myself to thee
Speak to me, spirit eternal
give me your words to convey
find me willing, in the quiet of my soul
teach me to share your message to the world
 
February 21, 2009
Awakening the Muse
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/02/awakening-muse.html
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
 
Poetry, voice, Holy Spirit, soul, giving, hope, poem, Writing Poetry, God, gifts, creator, Faith, sharing, heart, eternal,
 
#Poetry #voice #HolySpirit #soul #giving #hope #poem #WritingPoetry #God #gifts #creator #Faith #sharing #heart #eternal

With Each Step

Slowing my pace,
short walk home,
around the side of the church
Slowing to see the glistening,
crystals, the fibers of snow, ice
catching the bright morning light
Each step, a cascade of rainbow sparks
flashes of sparkling sun
rising to my eager eyes
shimmering, washing over me
jewels of this morning,
dancing as if in song.

February 21, 2009
on the walk home from school
one of the mornings this week

Sparks

Sparks of gold, of silver,
splashes of color rising
up from the new-fallen snow
greeting my lowered head
deep in thought, troubled brow
Dancing light, a rat-a-tat-tat
firing staccato, rapid fire
each footfall, wave, a barrage
like the fireworks’ finale
almost more than my eyes comprehend
flashes of light
rising from the ground

February 21, 2009

Her Healing Words

The cut, deep, into her palm
wrapped, covered, days later
Her little voice, her healing words
raised in prayer to God
The redness, the cut gone
with the morning rising
a new day, healing done
Words, rising to heaven
with the faith of her believing
Healing her mother’s hand.

February 21, 2009
Shanequa and Ruth

Drawn to the Cross

Closer, ever closer,
drawn to the cross,
to the foot of the cross
our savior’s burden
his suffering, his sacrifice
ever present, preordained, prophesized
in the words of the scripture,
in the lessons he taught his disciples,
in the words written down for us,
his living disciples, in the world still today
Leading us, drawn to the cross,
humbly, reverently, spending time
with our savior, in these forty days
trying, in little ways,
to walk closer with him
to feel as he did, even in echo,
in reflection, in quieting of our spirits
drawn ever closer to the cross
walking his steps this Lenten time


February 21, 2009
based on email Partners in Ministry message
2/20/09 from Bishop Peter Weaver
“TIME AND FASTING.

As we begin Lent, I would once again commend to
you the wonderful spiritual discipline of fasting.
John Wesley considered it one of the six primary
"means of Grace." But I was surprised to read
TIME magazine’s cover story (Feb. 23) on
"How Faith Can Heal" commending fasting also.
"One of the staples of both traditional wellness
protocols and traditional religious rituals is
the cleansing fast, which is said to purge toxins...
Done right, these fasts may lead to a state of
clarity and even euphoria." Dr. Catherine Gordon
of Children's Hospital Boston is quoted about the
positive changes that occur in the body and brain
(and I would add, spirit) during a "short-term fast."
The "Wesley fast" consists of not eating from after
dinner on one day to just before dinner on the next day...
giving up two meals over a twenty four hour period.
If you have any questions about your health you should
check with your doctor first. It can be tough at first,
but the members of the congregations I served and
I found it to be a great blessing whether used just
during Lent, or year around as Wesley did.

There are other forms of fasting, such as foregoing
things we think we "can't do without" like television
or shopping for non-necessities. The time saved or the
money saved can then be put to extra time for meditation
or supporting special mission projects. It becomes a plus,
not really a minus. Fasting centers us in the Spirit,
confirming that strength that is greater than our appetites.
It is an exercise in "God's will, not mine be done."
What may seem at first to be "denial" becomes "affirmation,"
and that which at first seems to be "depriving" becomes a
fullness of cleansing and clarity. Try it yourself, and
commend it to your congregation.

Whatever spiritual disciplines you undertake during Lent,
I pray that they will draw you closer to Christ, the Cross,
and New Life!”

Drawn to New Life

Study, prayers, fasting
growth through study, meditation
through some sacrifice, some meager change
some discipline, holy, drawing us
closer to Christ, closer to His cross,
to the calling, the cross we are to bear
closer to, drawn to new life, in Him
in his humble message, his radical theology
turning the world right side up
leaving our past, our comfort,
a Peter did, as Paul did
our boats, our tents, our nets unattended
drawn to a new life, in our risen Lord
spending time, precious time
walking with our savior
in these days leading to the palms,
leading to the cross, leading us all
to his resurrection, and our redemption


February 21, 2009
based on email Partners in Ministry message
2/20/09 from Bishop Peter Weaver
“TIME AND FASTING.

As we begin Lent, I would once again commend to
you the wonderful spiritual discipline of fasting. John Wesley
considered it one of the six primary "means of Grace."
But I was surprised to read TIME magazine’s cover
story (Feb. 23) on "How Faith Can Heal" commending fasting also.
"One of the staples of both traditional wellness protocols and traditional
religious rituals is the cleansing fast, which is said to purge toxins...
Done right, these fasts may lead to a state of clarity and even euphoria."
Dr. Catherine Gordon of Children's Hospital Boston is quoted about the
positive changes that occur in the body and brain (and I would add, spirit)
during a "short-term fast." The "Wesley fast" consists of not eating from
after dinner on one day to just before dinner on the next day...
giving up two meals over a twenty four hour period. If you have any
questions about your health you should check with your doctor first.
It can be tough at first, but the members of the congregations I served
and I found it to be a great blessing whether used just during Lent,
or year around as Wesley did.

There are other forms of fasting, such as foregoing things we think
we "can't do without" like television or shopping for non-necessities.
The time saved or the money saved can then be put to extra time for
meditation or supporting special mission projects. It becomes a plus,
not really a minus. Fasting centers us in the Spirit, confirming that
strength that is greater than our appetites. It is an exercise in
"God's will, not mine be done." What may seem at first to be "denial"
becomes "affirmation," and that which at first seems to be "depriving"
becomes a fullness of cleansing and clarity. Try it yourself, and
commend it to your congregation.

Whatever spiritual disciplines you undertake during Lent, I pray
that they will draw you closer to Christ, the Cross, and New Life!”

Closer to the Cross

These days, these times,
more focused, more centered,
fasting, praying, thinking about You
about the path you walked, in that testing
at the beginning of your ministry
of the days leading to your passion
to your submitting, to your journey
closer each day to the cross
to the destiny foretold, the prophecy fulfilled
you, the unblemished Passover lamb
your blood poured out
on the lintels of our hearts
the doorways to our spirits
our souls walking with you
these days, this time of remembrance
walked ever closer to the cross


February 21, 2009
based on email Partners in Ministry message
2/20/09 from Bishop Peter Weaver
“TIME AND FASTING.

As we begin Lent, I would once again commend to
you the wonderful spiritual discipline of fasting. John Wesley
considered it one of the six primary "means of Grace."
But I was surprised to read TIME magazine’s cover
story (Feb. 23) on "How Faith Can Heal" commending fasting also.
"One of the staples of both traditional wellness protocols and traditional
religious rituals is the cleansing fast, which is said to purge toxins...
Done right, these fasts may lead to a state of clarity and even euphoria."
Dr. Catherine Gordon of Children's Hospital Boston is quoted about the
positive changes that occur in the body and brain (and I would add, spirit)
during a "short-term fast." The "Wesley fast" consists of not eating from
after dinner on one day to just before dinner on the next day...
giving up two meals over a twenty four hour period. If you have any
questions about your health you should check with your doctor first.
It can be tough at first, but the members of the congregations I served
and I found it to be a great blessing whether used just during Lent,
or year around as Wesley did.

There are other forms of fasting, such as foregoing things we think
we "can't do without" like television or shopping for non-necessities.
The time saved or the money saved can then be put to extra time for
meditation or supporting special mission projects. It becomes a plus,
not really a minus. Fasting centers us in the Spirit, confirming that
strength that is greater than our appetites. It is an exercise in
"God's will, not mine be done." What may seem at first to be "denial"
becomes "affirmation," and that which at first seems to be "depriving"
becomes a fullness of cleansing and clarity. Try it yourself, and
commend it to your congregation.

Whatever spiritual disciplines you undertake during Lent, I pray
that they will draw you closer to Christ, the Cross, and New Life!”

Closer to Christ

Close to our savior, our brother
feeling the yoke, the weight he carried
the cross he bore, for me, for you
walking yoked with him, as were his first disciples
feeling his strength, his suffering, his courage
the Word made flesh, walking this journey
guiding us, walking with us
closer to Christ, in this Lenten season
feeling him with us along the way
marching, as his apostles, his witnesses
out into the world, his messengers
his light closer to them
those who need his love
those like you and me

February 21, 2009
based on email Partners in Ministry message
2/20/09 from Bishop Peter Weaver
“TIME AND FASTING.

As we begin Lent, I would once again commend to
you the wonderful spiritual discipline of fasting. John Wesley
considered it one of the six primary "means of Grace."
But I was surprised to read TIME magazine’s cover
story (Feb. 23) on "How Faith Can Heal" commending fasting also.
"One of the staples of both traditional wellness protocols and traditional
religious rituals is the cleansing fast, which is said to purge toxins...
Done right, these fasts may lead to a state of clarity and even euphoria."
Dr. Catherine Gordon of Children's Hospital Boston is quoted about the
positive changes that occur in the body and brain (and I would add, spirit)
during a "short-term fast." The "Wesley fast" consists of not eating from
after dinner on one day to just before dinner on the next day...
giving up two meals over a twenty four hour period. If you have any
questions about your health you should check with your doctor first.
It can be tough at first, but the members of the congregations I served
and I found it to be a great blessing whether used just during Lent,
or year around as Wesley did.

There are other forms of fasting, such as foregoing things we think
we "can't do without" like television or shopping for non-necessities.
The time saved or the money saved can then be put to extra time for
meditation or supporting special mission projects. It becomes a plus,
not really a minus. Fasting centers us in the Spirit, confirming that
strength that is greater than our appetites. It is an exercise in
"God's will, not mine be done." What may seem at first to be "denial"
becomes "affirmation," and that which at first seems to be "depriving"
becomes a fullness of cleansing and clarity. Try it yourself, and
commend it to your congregation.

Whatever spiritual disciplines you undertake during Lent, I pray
that they will draw you closer to Christ, the Cross, and New Life!”

Protect Women Around the World, Re-introduce International Violence Against Women Act, email received 2/20/09, The General Board of Church & Society

March 8th is International Women's Day. To honor this day, a number of organizations are calling on U.S. Senators Richard Lugar and John Kerry to re-introduce the International Violence Against Women Act. Violence against women takes many forms, including rape, female genital mutilation/cutting, domestic violence and honor killings. It is a global health crisis, human rights violation, and moral outrage that contributes to instability and insecurity throughout our world.

United Methodist pastor (and GBCS board of director) Tamara Brown recently stated, “when one suffers, we all suffer; when one is abused, we all are abused.”

You can take action today by sending an email, letter or fax to Senators Lugar and Kerry and to President Obama and Vice President Biden.

Go to http://www.umc-gbcs.org/ProtectWomen and take action today. Please pass this action alert on to friends and family.

Linda Bales
Director, Director of the Louise and Hugh Moore Population Project

The General Board of Church and Society
100 Maryland Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002202-488-5600
FAX 202-488-5619
Order Resources
www.umc-gbcs.org