The words of the scripture
the potter and the clay
The balance, the struggle –
free will and God’s eternal plan
Ever pliable, so must we be
receptive clay, giving
to the loving hands of the potter
being reformed, molded
Reshaped, worthy vessels
to hold, to pour out
a libation, an offering of love
God’s grace, to the world
May 7, 2009
Psalm 138
Psalm 139
Psalm 148
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Jeremiah 18:1-4
Jeremiah 18:1-11
Jeremiah 18:1-12
Philippians 2:1-13
Luke 2:22-40
John 1:1-14
Galatians 4:4-7
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Willing Clay
to be willing clay,
giving over to the master
letting go of control
our will submitting to His
our bodies, our lives to His touch
Willing clay, pliable, giving,
receptive to the push, the pinch,
the molding of the Potter’s hands
to the loving changes,
the corrections, the part
in His time, what He wills
not our own, not our choice
Other than the giving in,
the turning over
the trusting of the Potter
letting our lives be transformed
our path changed
our days reordered
by the hands of the Potter alone
May 7, 2009
Psalm 138
Psalm 139
Psalm 148
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Jeremiah 18:1-4
Jeremiah 18:1-11
Jeremiah 18:1-12
Philippians 2:1-13
Luke 2:22-40
John 1:1-14
Galatians 4:4-7
giving over to the master
letting go of control
our will submitting to His
our bodies, our lives to His touch
Willing clay, pliable, giving,
receptive to the push, the pinch,
the molding of the Potter’s hands
to the loving changes,
the corrections, the part
in His time, what He wills
not our own, not our choice
Other than the giving in,
the turning over
the trusting of the Potter
letting our lives be transformed
our path changed
our days reordered
by the hands of the Potter alone
May 7, 2009
Psalm 138
Psalm 139
Psalm 148
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Jeremiah 18:1-4
Jeremiah 18:1-11
Jeremiah 18:1-12
Philippians 2:1-13
Luke 2:22-40
John 1:1-14
Galatians 4:4-7
Dawning in the Rain
Morning, dawning in the rain
water falling in cascades
heavy double-drop showers
down, from the roof,
reverberating through
the still-shut windows,
brightening, dawning in the rain
greens saturated in the new-Spring rain
May 7, 2009
water falling in cascades
heavy double-drop showers
down, from the roof,
reverberating through
the still-shut windows,
brightening, dawning in the rain
greens saturated in the new-Spring rain
May 7, 2009
The Desires of Your Heart
Let go, turn all of this over
a temple to the Lord
for He will give you all
the desires of your heart
the silent musings of your spirit
sighs without words
happiness, joy, walking with God
Give yourself fully, totally
no preconditions, no exceptions
remove all the stumbling blocks
and the desires of your heart
will be yours
May 7, 2009
a temple to the Lord
for He will give you all
the desires of your heart
the silent musings of your spirit
sighs without words
happiness, joy, walking with God
Give yourself fully, totally
no preconditions, no exceptions
remove all the stumbling blocks
and the desires of your heart
will be yours
May 7, 2009
The Sound of the Rain
The sound of the rain
starting my day
sitting at the computer again
Too early for light
to see the world outside my window
just the sound of the rain
curtains and sheets
running off the roof
hurtling to the ground below
just the sound of the rain
constant, relentless, heavy
May 7, 2009
starting my day
sitting at the computer again
Too early for light
to see the world outside my window
just the sound of the rain
curtains and sheets
running off the roof
hurtling to the ground below
just the sound of the rain
constant, relentless, heavy
May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Silver Ribbon
Fingers of silver ribbon
gently, subtly swaying
moving ever so slightly
spring rain glistening
on the ribbons of the
crocus leaves
after the blooms have past
in the flower bed
in the back yard
silver ribbons planted
shimmering through
the foggy morning
May 6, 2009
gently, subtly swaying
moving ever so slightly
spring rain glistening
on the ribbons of the
crocus leaves
after the blooms have past
in the flower bed
in the back yard
silver ribbons planted
shimmering through
the foggy morning
May 6, 2009
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Curled up
Tightly wrapped,
as she was so recently
inside her mother’s womb
curled up in her father’s arms
matching bracelets, letting him in
her tiny fingers, little perfect features
all a wonder, amazing, in miniature, her
warm, protected, feeling love all curled up
in daddy’s arms
May 5, 2009
on the photo of Alan and
his brand-new daughter,
Lily Mae
as she was so recently
inside her mother’s womb
curled up in her father’s arms
matching bracelets, letting him in
her tiny fingers, little perfect features
all a wonder, amazing, in miniature, her
warm, protected, feeling love all curled up
in daddy’s arms
May 5, 2009
on the photo of Alan and
his brand-new daughter,
Lily Mae
Monday, May 04, 2009
A Day at the Beach - National Poetry Month exercise, April 29, 2009, Pembroke Hill School, Mrs. Forest's class
Laughing, we ran on the hot sand
The damp beach under our feet
The glistening ocean before us
The girl backflipped, landing
on her feet; Ta-Da, like a dolphin
We were playing with the beach balls
Volleying over an invisible net
The dry sand burns. Splash!
Swim in the water, watch
for seaweed, sponges, jellyfish
The wind, the rocks, sand blowing
Walk down looking for shells, for glass
Salty air, wet in my mouth
The buckets and shovels on my towel
Sand everywhere, in everything
Rambunctious gulls, scream not so beautifully
A pause in wonder, the small world
shining in the tide pool
Starfish and seahorses excited in play
sea urchins dancing in suspended animation
Hot lying on the beach
Time to go home
April 29, 2009; May 4, 2009
a poem written from the words listed below,
on the board, shouted out, as Mrs. Forest’s
Third Grade class and I found poetry
in a Day at the Beach
The bolded words are the ones I used
from the list of nouns, verbs and adjectives below
The italicized words are those I added.
Written in about 10 minutes,
as a fun exercise for National Poetry Month
Pembroke Hill School
Pembroke, NH
Nouns
towels
ocean
beach
sand
shells
water
starfish
beach balls
buckets
people
sea urchins
shovels
wind
rocks
tide pools
sea horses
sponges
Verbs
swim
play
fish
lying
run
walk
talk
scream
yell
find
look
backflip
volleying
Adjectives
rambunctious
sandy
excited/exciting
laughing
wet
beautiful
hot
humid
dry
damp
shiny
glistening
salty
The damp beach under our feet
The glistening ocean before us
The girl backflipped, landing
on her feet; Ta-Da, like a dolphin
We were playing with the beach balls
Volleying over an invisible net
The dry sand burns. Splash!
Swim in the water, watch
for seaweed, sponges, jellyfish
The wind, the rocks, sand blowing
Walk down looking for shells, for glass
Salty air, wet in my mouth
The buckets and shovels on my towel
Sand everywhere, in everything
Rambunctious gulls, scream not so beautifully
A pause in wonder, the small world
shining in the tide pool
Starfish and seahorses excited in play
sea urchins dancing in suspended animation
Hot lying on the beach
Time to go home
April 29, 2009; May 4, 2009
a poem written from the words listed below,
on the board, shouted out, as Mrs. Forest’s
Third Grade class and I found poetry
in a Day at the Beach
The bolded words are the ones I used
from the list of nouns, verbs and adjectives below
The italicized words are those I added.
Written in about 10 minutes,
as a fun exercise for National Poetry Month
Pembroke Hill School
Pembroke, NH
Nouns
towels
ocean
beach
sand
shells
water
starfish
beach balls
buckets
people
sea urchins
shovels
wind
rocks
tide pools
sea horses
sponges
Verbs
swim
play
fish
lying
run
walk
talk
scream
yell
find
look
backflip
volleying
Adjectives
rambunctious
sandy
excited/exciting
laughing
wet
beautiful
hot
humid
dry
damp
shiny
glistening
salty
a whisper of a kiss, a prayer
His eyes closed as were hers,
a whisper of a kiss, a prayer
breathed onto her brow,
as if into her very skin
her father holding her
ever so gently, marveling
unable to describe fully in words
his joy, amazement
her tiny body in his arms
a whisper of a kiss, a prayer
his lip brushing her cheek,
her brow, in complete awe.
May 4, 2009
on the photo of Alan
and his brand-new daughter,
Lily Mae
a whisper of a kiss, a prayer
breathed onto her brow,
as if into her very skin
her father holding her
ever so gently, marveling
unable to describe fully in words
his joy, amazement
her tiny body in his arms
a whisper of a kiss, a prayer
his lip brushing her cheek,
her brow, in complete awe.
May 4, 2009
on the photo of Alan
and his brand-new daughter,
Lily Mae
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Sermon - "Who Is Your Shepherd?", by Pastor Ruth L. Foss, Suncook United Methdodist Church, May 3, 2009
John 10:11-18
Psalm 23
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Let us pray...
Prayer:
Creator, Sustainer, Almighty God, You who speak to your children today as you have in the past and will in the future. We have come before your throne in prayer. We ask that your Spirit would fall down upon us and that we would hear the word you have for us today. May we have eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart that is open to your voice. Speak Lord; your servants are listening…
A Reading from the Gospel of John…
All this talk about shepherds this morning has got me thinking…Who are the shepherds in my life? Why have they been shepherds for me? What is a shepherd any way…what do they actually do? Well… the definition of a shepherd is:
• watch over like a shepherd, as a teacher of her pupils
• a clergyman who watches over a group of people
• tend as a shepherd, as of sheep or goats
• sheepherder: a herder of sheep (on an open range); someone who keeps the sheep together in a flock
These are great definitions of a shepherd but there is one thing that is missing. We can learn lessons from the shepherds in our lives. They not only watch over us but they also teach us things we need to know in life. They give us those lessons that other people in our lives can’t. For instance…my children ((believe it or not) are shepherds in my life…They teach me how not to take myself so seriously (especially Ms. Shanequa)…They teach me how to love life and laugh with all my heart…They show me how to take something ordinary and turn it into something extraordinary…they have taught me how to love unconditionally…With all my heart. I thought I was going to teach them but they in turn have also taught me.
The patriarchs in the Old Testament were also shepherds. People like Abel who gave the first fruits of his labor to God, Abraham who went where God told him to go without question. As a matter of fact…Moses and David were shepherds of sheep before God called them to be shepherds of His people. You have women like Deborah who lead God’s people and Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel who trusted in God to provide an heir for their husbands. You have Ruth and Esther who trust God to make a way when there seemed to be no way. And then we have Mary of the New Testament who trusted God with her life when she said yes to what God wanted to do in her life. The list goes on. These patriarchs and Matriarchs are people who we can learn from. There is also another shepherd…in all of our lives…that we can take lessons from. This shepherd is described in the John passage this morning as the Good Shepherd. It is our risen Lord Jesus Christ.
In this passage we can see a shepherd at work…we can see the lessons from this shepherd if we but open our eyes to see and our minds to understand. Let’s look at the scripture from John…“The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”…this shepherd cares for the sheep; this shepherd devotes their life to the sheep. The lesson that we learn is that we too can be that kind of shepherd to the sheep around us. Being a shepherd in this world requires a devotion to God, a life that is devoted to the commission we receive as believers…to “go out and make disciples of all people”. (Caring for the sheep in this world…those who are in the sheep fold and those who are not.) They are sheep without a shepherd to fashion themselves after. By being that shepherd to others, we can make God’s presence real in their lives through us. We need to love them as the shepherd loves the sheep.
“I have other sheep that are not of this fold I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.” We need to be that “good shepherd to the world around us. Through us, God can provide food (not only for the body but for the soul), psychological needs (just giving a listening ear to those around us can help them psychologically…just knowing someone cares enough to listen is an uplifting event in their life)…fill others cup to over flowing (As we minister to others we can fill their cup of hope, peace and joy that it will run over to others and makes a difference not only in their lives but in the lives that they touch in return)
But in order to do this…there is another lesson that we need to learn from our Good Shepherd. In the psalm we read this morning…Psalm 23…it tells us that we are lead to still waters and find rest. We need to make sure that we ourselves find rest for ourselves. In order to take care of others and be their shepherds, we need to take care of ourselves, physically, spiritually and mentally. The world we live in today tells us that if we are idle, not running around doing things that we are lazy. You have to work to have everything that you need. When you cease working you are not focused on the right things in life.
Well…we can learn from our Good Shepherd about that. Even He went away from time to time to rest and recharge himself in order to continue His ministry to the least, last and forgotten in the world. Jesus went away for a time of prayer and meditation. We too can refresh and refill our souls with time away to just be and spend time with our Creator God. The Good Shepherd provides all that we need, not society and it’s never ending business. The Lord is our Shepherd, the Good Shepherd. In Him, we have everything we need. But the one thing we need to do is to slow down and bask in His presence.
We all need a shepherd in our lives, someone to lead us in the way we should go. Who are the shepherds in your life? Whose example will you follow? Will you follow the example of the world around us with its business that causes us unrest? Being like the hired hand that does not care for the sheep because they are not their own? Or will you follow the Good Shepherd? Will you care for yourself and other sheep? Will you reach out to those sheep that are not in the sheepfold and need a shepherd voice to lead them home? The choice is ours to make. Will you echo the words of Joshua in saying “But as for me and my house…we will serve the Lord.”
Amen.
Psalm 23
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Let us pray...
Prayer:
Creator, Sustainer, Almighty God, You who speak to your children today as you have in the past and will in the future. We have come before your throne in prayer. We ask that your Spirit would fall down upon us and that we would hear the word you have for us today. May we have eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart that is open to your voice. Speak Lord; your servants are listening…
A Reading from the Gospel of John…
All this talk about shepherds this morning has got me thinking…Who are the shepherds in my life? Why have they been shepherds for me? What is a shepherd any way…what do they actually do? Well… the definition of a shepherd is:
• watch over like a shepherd, as a teacher of her pupils
• a clergyman who watches over a group of people
• tend as a shepherd, as of sheep or goats
• sheepherder: a herder of sheep (on an open range); someone who keeps the sheep together in a flock
These are great definitions of a shepherd but there is one thing that is missing. We can learn lessons from the shepherds in our lives. They not only watch over us but they also teach us things we need to know in life. They give us those lessons that other people in our lives can’t. For instance…my children ((believe it or not) are shepherds in my life…They teach me how not to take myself so seriously (especially Ms. Shanequa)…They teach me how to love life and laugh with all my heart…They show me how to take something ordinary and turn it into something extraordinary…they have taught me how to love unconditionally…With all my heart. I thought I was going to teach them but they in turn have also taught me.
The patriarchs in the Old Testament were also shepherds. People like Abel who gave the first fruits of his labor to God, Abraham who went where God told him to go without question. As a matter of fact…Moses and David were shepherds of sheep before God called them to be shepherds of His people. You have women like Deborah who lead God’s people and Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel who trusted in God to provide an heir for their husbands. You have Ruth and Esther who trust God to make a way when there seemed to be no way. And then we have Mary of the New Testament who trusted God with her life when she said yes to what God wanted to do in her life. The list goes on. These patriarchs and Matriarchs are people who we can learn from. There is also another shepherd…in all of our lives…that we can take lessons from. This shepherd is described in the John passage this morning as the Good Shepherd. It is our risen Lord Jesus Christ.
In this passage we can see a shepherd at work…we can see the lessons from this shepherd if we but open our eyes to see and our minds to understand. Let’s look at the scripture from John…“The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”…this shepherd cares for the sheep; this shepherd devotes their life to the sheep. The lesson that we learn is that we too can be that kind of shepherd to the sheep around us. Being a shepherd in this world requires a devotion to God, a life that is devoted to the commission we receive as believers…to “go out and make disciples of all people”. (Caring for the sheep in this world…those who are in the sheep fold and those who are not.) They are sheep without a shepherd to fashion themselves after. By being that shepherd to others, we can make God’s presence real in their lives through us. We need to love them as the shepherd loves the sheep.
“I have other sheep that are not of this fold I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.” We need to be that “good shepherd to the world around us. Through us, God can provide food (not only for the body but for the soul), psychological needs (just giving a listening ear to those around us can help them psychologically…just knowing someone cares enough to listen is an uplifting event in their life)…fill others cup to over flowing (As we minister to others we can fill their cup of hope, peace and joy that it will run over to others and makes a difference not only in their lives but in the lives that they touch in return)
But in order to do this…there is another lesson that we need to learn from our Good Shepherd. In the psalm we read this morning…Psalm 23…it tells us that we are lead to still waters and find rest. We need to make sure that we ourselves find rest for ourselves. In order to take care of others and be their shepherds, we need to take care of ourselves, physically, spiritually and mentally. The world we live in today tells us that if we are idle, not running around doing things that we are lazy. You have to work to have everything that you need. When you cease working you are not focused on the right things in life.
Well…we can learn from our Good Shepherd about that. Even He went away from time to time to rest and recharge himself in order to continue His ministry to the least, last and forgotten in the world. Jesus went away for a time of prayer and meditation. We too can refresh and refill our souls with time away to just be and spend time with our Creator God. The Good Shepherd provides all that we need, not society and it’s never ending business. The Lord is our Shepherd, the Good Shepherd. In Him, we have everything we need. But the one thing we need to do is to slow down and bask in His presence.
We all need a shepherd in our lives, someone to lead us in the way we should go. Who are the shepherds in your life? Whose example will you follow? Will you follow the example of the world around us with its business that causes us unrest? Being like the hired hand that does not care for the sheep because they are not their own? Or will you follow the Good Shepherd? Will you care for yourself and other sheep? Will you reach out to those sheep that are not in the sheepfold and need a shepherd voice to lead them home? The choice is ours to make. Will you echo the words of Joshua in saying “But as for me and my house…we will serve the Lord.”
Amen.
In the silence of our hearts
Even when words are not spoken aloud
the words of prayer lifted only
in the silence of our hearts
even these are heard, even these answered
by our good and loving God
Even when words will not come
the musings, the sighs of our spirits
even then, the sighs alone
speak to God, who hears
and answers our prayers
even unspoken, even without words
our prayers answered by God.
May 3, 2009
Pastoral Prayer,
Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
May 3, 2009
the words of prayer lifted only
in the silence of our hearts
even these are heard, even these answered
by our good and loving God
Even when words will not come
the musings, the sighs of our spirits
even then, the sighs alone
speak to God, who hears
and answers our prayers
even unspoken, even without words
our prayers answered by God.
May 3, 2009
Pastoral Prayer,
Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
May 3, 2009
Finding Rest
Like our Shepherd
taking, finding rest
in the quiet, by still waters
spending time, in communion
being graced by the presence
the loving companionship
the indwelling of the living God
led by the Shepherd
Finding rest in Him.
May 3, 2009
Psalm 23
John 10:11-18
and sermon,
“Who is your Shepherd?”,
Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
May 3, 2009
taking, finding rest
in the quiet, by still waters
spending time, in communion
being graced by the presence
the loving companionship
the indwelling of the living God
led by the Shepherd
Finding rest in Him.
May 3, 2009
Psalm 23
John 10:11-18
and sermon,
“Who is your Shepherd?”,
Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
May 3, 2009
Being Shepherds, while yet sheep
As children, learning from shepherds
people in our lives, teaching, leading
revealing God, His love, His call
His presence in our walk
Even while sheep, being shepherds as well
sharing our lives, our witness
our revelation of the grace of God
making a difference in their journey
changing our own path as well
teaching as we are taught
Being shepherds, while yet sheep.
May 3, 2009
Psalm 23
John 10:11-18
and sermon,
“Who is your Shepherd?”,
Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
May 3, 2009
people in our lives, teaching, leading
revealing God, His love, His call
His presence in our walk
Even while sheep, being shepherds as well
sharing our lives, our witness
our revelation of the grace of God
making a difference in their journey
changing our own path as well
teaching as we are taught
Being shepherds, while yet sheep.
May 3, 2009
Psalm 23
John 10:11-18
and sermon,
“Who is your Shepherd?”,
Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
May 3, 2009
Knows Me
As if part of me
He knows me,
as the Father and the Son
parts of one God
knowing each as themselves
intimate and deep
Knowing me
as I am, when no words come
deep within me
guiding me
from the musings of my heart
the indwelling of the Spirit
speaking within me
knowing me, leading my way.
May 3, 2009
Psalm 23
John 10:11-18
and sermon,
“Who is your Shepherd?”,
Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
May 3, 2009
He knows me,
as the Father and the Son
parts of one God
knowing each as themselves
intimate and deep
Knowing me
as I am, when no words come
deep within me
guiding me
from the musings of my heart
the indwelling of the Spirit
speaking within me
knowing me, leading my way.
May 3, 2009
Psalm 23
John 10:11-18
and sermon,
“Who is your Shepherd?”,
Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
May 3, 2009
Shepherds
Guiding, protecting,
watching over me
leading me through
the trials, the journeys of life
keeping me safe from harm
of healing me when I stumble
teaching me, challenging
bringing me back into the fold
people in my life, shepherding me
nurturing, mentoring, loving me
into a fuller relationship
a reconciliation
salvation in the Lord
showing the way
leading me,
into a closer walk
with my brother
the Good Shepherd.
May 3, 2009
Psalm 23
John 10:11-18
and sermon,
“Someone To Watch Over Me”,
Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
May 3, 2009
watching over me
leading me through
the trials, the journeys of life
keeping me safe from harm
of healing me when I stumble
teaching me, challenging
bringing me back into the fold
people in my life, shepherding me
nurturing, mentoring, loving me
into a fuller relationship
a reconciliation
salvation in the Lord
showing the way
leading me,
into a closer walk
with my brother
the Good Shepherd.
May 3, 2009
Psalm 23
John 10:11-18
and sermon,
“Someone To Watch Over Me”,
Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
May 3, 2009
Spirit of Peace
The presence of God
covering me, wrapping me
the spirit of peach
trusting in God’s grace
giving ourselves over
to the workings of His plan.
Calming me, stilling me
even in the storms of life.
May 2, 2009
Alive Now daily devotional
reading for June 3, 2009, pages 30-31,
“No Peace Lost: Response to Cancer Diagnosis”,
by Paula Gast;
one of the readings for the week including Trinity Sunday
covering me, wrapping me
the spirit of peach
trusting in God’s grace
giving ourselves over
to the workings of His plan.
Calming me, stilling me
even in the storms of life.
May 2, 2009
Alive Now daily devotional
reading for June 3, 2009, pages 30-31,
“No Peace Lost: Response to Cancer Diagnosis”,
by Paula Gast;
one of the readings for the week including Trinity Sunday
Choosing Joy
In the midst of this storm
choosing joy, every day
knowing what there is now
the trials he is facing;
the end too soon, terminal;
but knowing where he is going
at peace in that promise.
Trusting God for the day to day
choosing joy instead of pity
witnessing to Christ, by his walk
in the way he lives, day to day
projecting that joy, the love of Christ
that promise of life eternal
to all he meets, choosing joy.
May 2, 2009
Story in the Springfield Times (Oregon)
about my cousin, Aaron Jamison
“Aaron Jamison not going to let cancer bring him down”,
April 30, 2009
http://www.springfieldtimes.net/news/results.cfm?story_no=6045
choosing joy, every day
knowing what there is now
the trials he is facing;
the end too soon, terminal;
but knowing where he is going
at peace in that promise.
Trusting God for the day to day
choosing joy instead of pity
witnessing to Christ, by his walk
in the way he lives, day to day
projecting that joy, the love of Christ
that promise of life eternal
to all he meets, choosing joy.
May 2, 2009
Story in the Springfield Times (Oregon)
about my cousin, Aaron Jamison
“Aaron Jamison not going to let cancer bring him down”,
April 30, 2009
http://www.springfieldtimes.net/news/results.cfm?story_no=6045
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Christ Joins the Conversation
In the sharing of our lives and of our faith
honestly, openly, authentically
Christ joins the conversation
as he did on that Emmaus road
working now through the Spirit living within us
He joins us, where we are, as we are
to guide and teach us, to shepherd us still
The journey is in community
together with Christ,
who understands all too well
the realities of this world
He joins in the conversation,
for all who seek, who all who are part of his flock
all who would choose to serve in his name
May 2, 2009
April 23-26, 2009
Luke 24:13-35
Walk to Emmaus
and “Holy Conversation”,
pages 40-41 of March-April 2009
Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide
honestly, openly, authentically
Christ joins the conversation
as he did on that Emmaus road
working now through the Spirit living within us
He joins us, where we are, as we are
to guide and teach us, to shepherd us still
The journey is in community
together with Christ,
who understands all too well
the realities of this world
He joins in the conversation,
for all who seek, who all who are part of his flock
all who would choose to serve in his name
May 2, 2009
April 23-26, 2009
Luke 24:13-35
Walk to Emmaus
and “Holy Conversation”,
pages 40-41 of March-April 2009
Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide
In Holy Conversation
A community, brothers set apart
living, praying, being in holy conversation
supporting, affirming, proclaiming the grace of God
Guiding, revealing, discovering,
our part in the plan
to share the love of the father
the healing sacrifice of the son
starting within ourselves
outward to other, to the community
to the whole world
Firing our heart with the indwelling spirit
filling our minds with the wondrous story
the word made flesh, life eternal
and putting our hands, our feet, our voices, our lives
to continuing the Master’s work,
to humble ourselves, to bear witness
to follow him and become fishers of men
Leaving the crowd as disciples
Loving God and loving our brothers and sisters
Trying our best, in community,
in holy conversation, to be Christ to the world.
May 2, 2009
April 23-26, 2009
Luke 24:13-35
Walk to Emmaus
and “Holy Conversation”,
pages 40-41 of March-April 2009
Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide
living, praying, being in holy conversation
supporting, affirming, proclaiming the grace of God
Guiding, revealing, discovering,
our part in the plan
to share the love of the father
the healing sacrifice of the son
starting within ourselves
outward to other, to the community
to the whole world
Firing our heart with the indwelling spirit
filling our minds with the wondrous story
the word made flesh, life eternal
and putting our hands, our feet, our voices, our lives
to continuing the Master’s work,
to humble ourselves, to bear witness
to follow him and become fishers of men
Leaving the crowd as disciples
Loving God and loving our brothers and sisters
Trying our best, in community,
in holy conversation, to be Christ to the world.
May 2, 2009
April 23-26, 2009
Luke 24:13-35
Walk to Emmaus
and “Holy Conversation”,
pages 40-41 of March-April 2009
Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide
The Stranger May Be Christ
Cleopas and the other traveler
like us, confused, afraid sometimes
not fully understanding the story
human hearts, human comprehension
of the lessons of God
needing others, a conversation
to reveal the truth in the scripture
the power, and the love, of God
But another part of the story,
the kindness they shared,
walking with the stranger
we need to remember too
that the stranger we encounter
the person on the street
on our journey of life, of faith
this stranger that comes up beside us
this person, traveling with us
this stranger may be Christ
Live always, as if that is the case
that the truth is revealed in the sharing of the word
that we are steeled by the sharpening
of fellow believers, the strangers
that become our teachers, our partners,
our brothers and sisters in Christ;
but live also, ever, as if that is the case
that the stranger we encounter
in our daily walk with God
could well be Christ, walking with us
May 2, 2009
April 23-26, 2009
Luke 24:13-35
Walk to Emmaus
and Matthew 25:31-46,
like us, confused, afraid sometimes
not fully understanding the story
human hearts, human comprehension
of the lessons of God
needing others, a conversation
to reveal the truth in the scripture
the power, and the love, of God
But another part of the story,
the kindness they shared,
walking with the stranger
we need to remember too
that the stranger we encounter
the person on the street
on our journey of life, of faith
this stranger that comes up beside us
this person, traveling with us
this stranger may be Christ
Live always, as if that is the case
that the truth is revealed in the sharing of the word
that we are steeled by the sharpening
of fellow believers, the strangers
that become our teachers, our partners,
our brothers and sisters in Christ;
but live also, ever, as if that is the case
that the stranger we encounter
in our daily walk with God
could well be Christ, walking with us
May 2, 2009
April 23-26, 2009
Luke 24:13-35
Walk to Emmaus
and Matthew 25:31-46,
By the Name of Jesus
By the name of Jesus, so he healed
so he reported boldly
changing his world
Standing tall, erect
taking in a breath, no longer trembling
proclaiming to all,
to the Rulers of the people and the elder,
that he had healed
by the name of Jesus
So different, this Pentecost-filled
this flame-fired apostle of Christ
Bearing witness.
No longer the timid disciple,
cowering, denying his master
hiding no longer in the shadows.
Testifying, full-throated authority
to the healing power
of the name of Christ
So it was then
so it is now,
healed by Christ’s name
May 2, 2009
April 23-26, 2009
Luke 24:13-35
Walk to Emmaus
and Acts 4:5-12, Luke 22:54-62,
Matthew 26:32-75, and John 21:15-19
so he reported boldly
changing his world
Standing tall, erect
taking in a breath, no longer trembling
proclaiming to all,
to the Rulers of the people and the elder,
that he had healed
by the name of Jesus
So different, this Pentecost-filled
this flame-fired apostle of Christ
Bearing witness.
No longer the timid disciple,
cowering, denying his master
hiding no longer in the shadows.
Testifying, full-throated authority
to the healing power
of the name of Christ
So it was then
so it is now,
healed by Christ’s name
May 2, 2009
April 23-26, 2009
Luke 24:13-35
Walk to Emmaus
and Acts 4:5-12, Luke 22:54-62,
Matthew 26:32-75, and John 21:15-19
Friday, May 01, 2009
A Christian in the throne room of God
Oh to be a Christian, in the throne room of God
to be like Isaiah, to be in awe, in wonder
to see the heavenly beings, to see the risen Christ
sitting at the right hand of the Father
to hear the heavenly choir, to be so graced
To walk, assuming that was how we move there
to approach the throne of our brother
to bow, to humble myself,
in supplication and, oh yes, in thanksgiving
Oh if only I could find the words, in that very moment
to tell my brother, what his sacrifice, what his obedience
what his gift of love means to me
If I but have this chance, to be a Christian
to have been yoked with my brother all the days of my life
to be in the presence of God, to be before my Lord and King;
but especially to be able to thank him, to wash his feet,
as he has washed mine, as he has poured out
grace upon grace, joy after joy
To be a Christian in the throne room of God,
and to know what that means
May 1, 2009
Google search string, “cHRISTIAN In the tHRONE ROOM of God POETRY”,
that led someone from Richmond, VA to my blog
and
Isaiah 6:1-8
and
John 3:1-17
Romans 8:12-17
Advanced Lay Speaker class
April 18, 2009
to be like Isaiah, to be in awe, in wonder
to see the heavenly beings, to see the risen Christ
sitting at the right hand of the Father
to hear the heavenly choir, to be so graced
To walk, assuming that was how we move there
to approach the throne of our brother
to bow, to humble myself,
in supplication and, oh yes, in thanksgiving
Oh if only I could find the words, in that very moment
to tell my brother, what his sacrifice, what his obedience
what his gift of love means to me
If I but have this chance, to be a Christian
to have been yoked with my brother all the days of my life
to be in the presence of God, to be before my Lord and King;
but especially to be able to thank him, to wash his feet,
as he has washed mine, as he has poured out
grace upon grace, joy after joy
To be a Christian in the throne room of God,
and to know what that means
May 1, 2009
Google search string, “cHRISTIAN In the tHRONE ROOM of God POETRY”,
that led someone from Richmond, VA to my blog
and
Isaiah 6:1-8
and
John 3:1-17
Romans 8:12-17
Advanced Lay Speaker class
April 18, 2009
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