If Saul had listened

A harsh command, clear, spoken,
Prayed by God into the universe,
A command to the King, to Saul.
 
Unfulfilled, disobedient, defiant,
A crown stripped from him,
A command, An opportunity lost.
 
===============
October 15, 2023
If Saul has listened

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/10/if-saul-had-listened.html

1 Samuel
Edited October 9, 2023
The pain on her face – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-pain-on-her-face-v2.html
October 9, 2023
The pain on her face
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-pain-on-her-face.html
My customer said she has worn the little gold Star of David for 60 years.
 
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, and 2023. 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, pray, Pray for Israel, Stand with Israel, diaspora, war, Hamas, terror, Christian, Jewish, King Saul, 1 Samuel,
 
#poetry #Pray #PrayforIsrael #diaspora #war #Hamas #terror #Christian #Jewish #KingSaul #1Samuel
 

Hannah’s Prayer – v2

She wept in prayer, to God

for the missing joy, the unmet promise,

the longing she had within her,

the ridicule she faced, too much to bear

for the Lord had closed her womb,

and the one he didn’t love, bore him heirs

She prayed for that gift, for the joy

of bearing a son, for him, for her

a son who would be set apart,

belonging to God all the days of his life

A son she bore, and he would be the one

the one chosen by God, chosen to be the

anointer of the kings, the ones who would

rule the chosen people, setting the course

for the people, under human masters

as they pled for, asking for a king.

A monarchy, not a theocracy, would come

from the hand of the son she asked for

the son asked for of God, Samuel

the one who would anoint their kings

===

edited June 25, 2014

Hannah’s Prayer – v2

November 19, 2006 21:24

Hannah’s Prayer

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/11/hannahs-prayer.html

1 Samuel 1:4-20

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. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 30,720+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Standing before the Giant – v2

The boy, the youngest,

only a young child

Too little to don the armor

the metal of the king

yet anointed, of God

Standing alone,

before the Giant,

resolute and defiant;

Sure of his God

standing by his side

edited March 29, 2014

Standing before the Giant – v2

November 18, 2009

Standing before the Giant

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/11/standing-before-giant.html

1 Samuel 17:20-49

1 Samuel 17:23-25, 45-46

and emailed devotional by New Life Ministries,

Life Recovery Devotion:

“Victim of Victor”,

November 17, 2009

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. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 28,630+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Faithful Frankness – v2

Over and over, she poured out her heart

her pain, her plea, her wish

directly, frankly

on her knees, humble

to the Lord, in the temple

spilling out her prayer

her honest emotions

making a promise to God

if her prayer would be answered

her honest, frank appeal

Edited September 7, 2013

Faithful Frankness – v2

November 23, 2006 19:10, edited 19:32

Faithful Frankness

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/11/faithful-frankness.html

1 Samuel 1:4-20

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 25,340+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Horn of Oil – v2

Take up your horn

fill it with oil

come Samuel, come now

the Lord is speaking

we have a new king to crown

I will tell you who it will be

Get up Samuel, go to Bethlehem

one of Jesse’s sons

the youngest, the weakest

Anoint him king

the youngest of the bunch

He will rule my people

pour out the oil

My spirit shall be with him

Edited August 14, 2013

“A Horn of Oil – v2”

July 2, 2008

“A Horn of Oil

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post_02.html

1 Samuel 16:6-13, 1 Samuel 16:1-13 and

Upper Room devotional for July 2, 2008

http://www.upperroom.org/Devotional/default.asp?month=7&day=2&year=2008&x=107&y=6

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 24,460+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Confronting the Giant

standing when we should
the world in the breach
confronting the giant
with our lives
much that we can teach

the lessons of David that day
defiant before that man
trusting in the Lord
to ever guard his way

courageous before the giant on the field
with stones and sling in his hand
believing God would protect him
righteous, he did not yield

rising to the challenges of our land
the focus on things that will rust
going into the world to heal
like David, taking a stand

telling the rich man, even ourselves
that the way to heaven divine
is not the amount in our barns
or on our cupboard shelves

true abundance, happiness
in this troubled world
and in the world to come
measured with love instead


November 18, 2009
1 Samuel 17:20-49
1 Samuel 17:23-25, 45-46
and emailed devotional by New Life Ministries,
Life Recovery Devotion:
“Victim of Victor”,
November 17, 2009
&
Luke 12:15-21
and Psalm 16
and “The Prayer of St. Francis”,
United Methodist Hymnal #481;
and sermon, “I Want It All . . .”,
by Pastor Ruth Foss
https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss
http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss
http://www.ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com
http://pastorruth.posterous.com/
A Handmaiden of the Lord
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
November 15, 2009
Her sermon is the third of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)


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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Standing before the Giant

The boy, the youngest,
only a young child
too little to don the armor
the metal of the king
Standing alone,
before the Giant,
resolute and defiant;
Sure of his God
standing by his side


November 18, 2009
1 Samuel 17:20-49
1 Samuel 17:23-25, 45-46
and emailed devotional by New Life Ministries,
Life Recovery Devotion:
“Victim of Victor”,
November 17, 2009

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. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 28,610+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live. 

Powerful

He stood alone
or seemingly so
on the battlefield
the giant before him

Powerful, David,
the shepherd
standing on the plain
the Lord by his side

Stone from the wadi
washed smooth by the waters
warming in his palm
by the sling let fly

Standing before the giant
now slay at his feet
given power to vanquish
by his faith in our God


November 18, 2009
1 Samuel 17:20-49
1 Samuel 17:23-25, 45-46
and emailed devotional by New Life Ministries,
Life Recovery Daily Devotion:
“Victim of Victor”,
November 17, 2009

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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

With a Heart Ready

We, as he was, prayerful
hopeful, waiting with a heart ready
eager for the calling of the Lord
to answer, without guile,
without our own agenda
open to the will of the Father
pliable to the Potter’s loving hands


September 21, 2009
1 Samuel 3:9
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”
and Day 38, “When God Calls”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
and
1 Corinthians 16:13
book, “Walking with Christ Everyday:
365 daily devotions for men”,
Day 264, “Standing Up for Your Faith”

In the Still of Our Hearts

In the silent beating
God speaks
in the still of our hearts
A voice calling
our lives set apart
in the still of our hearts
When we are receptive, waiting
eager for his urgings, guiding us
in the still of our hearts
A servant listening
to the calling from above
heard ever, in the still of our hearts


September 21, 2009
1 Samuel 3:9
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”
and Day 38, “When God Calls”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
and
1 Corinthians 16:13
book, “Walking with Christ Everyday:
365 daily devotions for men”,
Day 264, “Standing Up for Your Faith”

Obedient Listening

As a servant listening
attentive to the master’s voice
for God to speak
to call to us in the night
For this we are called
by these we are known
the children of his flock
servants in the vineyards, the fields
messengers, witnesses sent
to spread his message
to the whole world.


September 21, 2009
1 Samuel 3:9
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”
and Day 38, “When God Calls”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
and
1 Corinthians 16:13
book, “Walking with Christ Everyday:
365 daily devotions for men”,
Day 264, “Standing Up for Your Faith”

Sounding in the still of the night

Speaking to us, your servants
calling to us, sounding in the still of the night
The voice of God present, just like in ages long ago
A message of our purpose, our compass
indwelling in our hearts
urging us, calling us
to his side, in his service
sounding in the still of the night


September 21, 2009 and September 23, 2009
1 Samuel 3:9
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”
and Day 38, “When God Calls”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
and
1 Corinthians 16:13
book, “Walking with Christ Everyday:
365 daily devotions for men”,
Day 264, “Standing Up for Your Faith”

The Silence Broken

The still of the night
the silence broken
by the calling of the Lord
a willing heart, open to the word
receptive, listening
as a servant of God
Becoming a child,
a member of the family
by God’s grace revealed


September 21, 2009
1 Samuel 3:9
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”
and Day 38, “When God Calls”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
and
1 Corinthians 16:13
book, “Walking with Christ Everyday:
365 daily devotions for men”,
Day 264, “Standing Up for Your Faith”

from its slumber

Newborn, rising from the earth
the warming, changing,
the rich wet soil
the crocus rising from its slumber
bursting forth into the light
unfurling, opening so soon
warmed by the spring rays
a new thing revealed
out of the melting snow, new earth,
turned by the growing,
up from its slumber.


June 15, 2009 to June 17, 2009
The Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Sermon, “New Beginnings”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
June 14, 2009
Call to Worship:
It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name,
O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your
faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your
deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of
your hands. (Psalm 92:1-4 NIV)
Unison Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for this day that we may come into
Your house and worship You. We ask that Your Holy Spirit
would fall down upon us gathered here so that we may
understand all that You would have us hear this day.
We thank you for the Spirit that you have gifted us with.
We pray that our worship would be pleasing in Your sight.
This we pray in the strong name of Your Son, Lord Jesus Christ.
Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 16:6-13
*Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Heavenly Father, you have offered us such abundance.
We are so very blessed. Yet, we often think that we have so little.
Some of us may even feel as though our gift is too small.
Thank you for reminding us that even our mustard seed-sized
gift may grow beyond our individual possibility. So, today we
place before you all amounts of gifts – some quarters from
children, some $1 bills from adults, some larger bills and
checks – knowing that you transform our scarcity into your
abundance. Thanks be to God. Amen. (GBOD)

Bursting Forth

Changed, transformed
forevermore, a new creation
like the butterfly out of its cocoon
its wings stiffening
new blood through the veins
warming in the sun, the breeze.

The same for us, the old cast off
new blood of the Spirit
indwelling within us
warmed by the Son’s light
quickened by the breath of God
Our lives changed forevermore
a new life bursting forth.


June 15, 2009 to June 17, 2009
The Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Sermon, “New Beginnings”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
June 14, 2009
Call to Worship:
It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name,
O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your
faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your
deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of
your hands. (Psalm 92:1-4 NIV)
Unison Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for this day that we may come into
Your house and worship You. We ask that Your Holy Spirit
would fall down upon us gathered here so that we may
understand all that You would have us hear this day.
We thank you for the Spirit that you have gifted us with.
We pray that our worship would be pleasing in Your sight.
This we pray in the strong name of Your Son, Lord Jesus Christ.
Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 16:6-13
*Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Heavenly Father, you have offered us such abundance.
We are so very blessed. Yet, we often think that we have so little.
Some of us may even feel as though our gift is too small.
Thank you for reminding us that even our mustard seed-sized
gift may grow beyond our individual possibility. So, today we
place before you all amounts of gifts – some quarters from
children, some $1 bills from adults, some larger bills and
checks – knowing that you transform our scarcity into your
abundance. Thanks be to God. Amen. (GBOD)

through the eyes of the Spirit

The world, life, a new perspective
a new prism, looking, seeing
through the eyes of the Spirit
living, dwelling within us
new eyes, a new creation
focus forever changed
fear, given over, hope
ever before my eyes
seeing the world anew
through the eyes of the Spirit



June 15, 2009 to June 17, 2009
The Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Sermon, “New Beginnings”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
June 14, 2009
Call to Worship:
It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name,
O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your
faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your
deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of
your hands. (Psalm 92:1-4 NIV)
Unison Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for this day that we may come into
Your house and worship You. We ask that Your Holy Spirit
would fall down upon us gathered here so that we may
understand all that You would have us hear this day.
We thank you for the Spirit that you have gifted us with.
We pray that our worship would be pleasing in Your sight.
This we pray in the strong name of Your Son, Lord Jesus Christ.
Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 16:6-13
*Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Heavenly Father, you have offered us such abundance.
We are so very blessed. Yet, we often think that we have so little.
Some of us may even feel as though our gift is too small.
Thank you for reminding us that even our mustard seed-sized
gift may grow beyond our individual possibility. So, today we
place before you all amounts of gifts – some quarters from
children, some $1 bills from adults, some larger bills and
checks – knowing that you transform our scarcity into your
abundance. Thanks be to God. Amen. (GBOD)

Sermon - "“New Beginnings”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss, June 14, 2009, Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH

2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14b-17 (The Message Bible)

“New Beginnings”

The Lord be with you
And also with you
Let us pray. . .

Loving Creator of new beginnings, You who are a God of second. . . third. . . and fourth chances, we pray for Your presence here with us this morning. May your Spirit fall down upon us gathered here in your name this day. We thank you for the opportunity to worship you in Spirit and Truth. Come Holy Spirit. . . illuminate our hearts and minds this day. Speak Lord. . . Your friends are listening.

(Read 2 Corinthians Scripture)

Spring. . . it is probably my favorite season in the year. It tells me that the cold winter is over and now we will have warm weather again. But. . . to me. . . there is a deeper meaning of Spring. This meaning is what makes me so excited about Spring. To me. . . Spring is a time of new beginnings. It’s a time when the earth is being warmed by the sun and because of that warmth. . . a new thing comes bursting forth. . . a new beginning. The world breaks forth in glorious song to the Creator, ever praising Him for His creation. (There’s a new thing bursting forth)

In the scripture from Corinthians this morning, we heard what happens when God’s Spirit enters our being. . . what happens when God creates a new beginning for us. . . a new life with the Creator of all things. The Message Bible uses the statement that “The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!” Well. . . being the scholar that I am. . . I just had to look up this word. (And yes. . . I had no idea what the word meant) The word means to grow or develop quickly; flourish. . . to put forth. . . to begin to grow or blossom. A new life begins. . . is put forth. . . grows and blossoms. And not only does the Spirit begin to germinate within us. . . the Spirit puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we will not settle for less in life. . . we strive to please God no matter what. Our lives become refocused and our Spirits can break forth with singing. (There’s a new thing bursting forth)

This morning we will be Confirming Erica and taking in new members. What a glorious day for Christ’s Church! What a day to break forth in song! What a new beginning it is indeed! (There’s a new thing bursting forth)

You see. . . as we come into the transforming presence of God. . . it will open our eyes to a great many things in life. As we draw near to Him it will guarantee that we will begin to rethink the way we think and question the way we have always considered things to be. We begin to see life, not through rose colored glasses but through the eyes of the Spirit within us. God is creating a new thing. The old is gone; a fresh new thing is bursting forth in song.

There are new things bursting out all over! When the birds burst into glorious song just before daybreak. . . there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time we see the first signs of Spring with the Crocus coming up from its slumber. . . there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time a new born baby cries at its first breath. . . there’s a new thing bursting forth. there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time a sinner comes to the throne of grace and turns their life over to Christ. . . there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time the people of Christ’s church decide to step out in faith...there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time we, as disciples, plant a seed of Christ’s love into another’s heart... there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time we as Christian reach out to others in Christ’s name. . . there’s a new thing bursting forth.

Each day is a new beginning. . . a new chance to burst through with song. . . a new chance to touch the lives around us. We are a new creation in Christ. . . may we ever put ourselves in the Potter’s hand. . . may we be created a new and molded into what the Potter has planned for us from the start. . . and with all of Creation sing Alleluia there’s a new thing bursting forth.
(Potter’s Hand Video)
Amen. . .

David – Haiku – 3

Anoint him with oil
The boy shepherd of Jesse
He shall be king

July 2, 2008
1 Samuel 16:6-13, 1 Samuel 16:1-13 and
Upper Room devotional for July 2, 2008
http://www.upperroom.org/Devotional/default.asp?month=7&day=2&year=2008&x=107&y=6

Fill Your Horn

Rise, oh Prophet
rise up and fill your horn
Your God needs you
Fill your horn with oil
a new king to anoint;
from Jesse’s tree
a royal line will grow
Rise up and go
to find the new king;
I have chosen him.
For my people Israel.

July 2, 2008
1 Samuel 16:6-13, 1 Samuel 16:1-13 and
Upper Room devotional for July 2, 2008
http://www.upperroom.org/Devotional/default.asp?month=7&day=2&year=2008&x=107&y=6

This is the One

The Lord chose him,
the last, the youngest
“This is the one”,
anoint him king
ruler of the covenant people
patriarch of a royal line
the spirit fell mightily on him
all of his days

July 2, 2008
1 Samuel 16:6-13, 1 Samuel 16:1-13 and
Upper Room devotional for July 2, 2008
http://www.upperroom.org/Devotional/default.asp?month=7&day=2&year=2008&x=107&y=6