God's Hand

Facebook post this morning:

This poem, "God's Hand", was written jointly, via an email conversations, byPastor Ruth Foss and me during the course of the day on Friday December 3, 2004, ten years ago today.

It was written by each of us writing two lines to continue what the other had written. We didn't edit it and we read it at our wedding two weeks later on December 17, 2004 and again in our church wedding on 4/23/05.

Love you Honey...

====

God's Hand 

The gentle push
the warm support

The gentle nudge
Of the One who knows what's best

Charting a course
with history, coincidence, and promise

Leading two to become one
as He planned since life begun

Formed of dust, a rib
and His breath of life

One body again
As He intended

Bound together for an eternity
loving, laughing, sharing

Knowing this time, it is meant to be
As part of His Plan

Woven together with love and caring
held together for ever more by God's majestic hand.

From day to day and year to year
they will hold each other dear

Friday, December 03, 2004 16:48

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 34,110+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

In the Potter’s Hands – v2

Like malleable clay
warmed, cradled
lovingly held
in the potter’s hands
Our lives, our all
held, ever in his care
watched, guided
led through our days
if we will wear his yoke
submitting our way
to the potter’s hands


January 2, 2010
Jeremiah 18:1-11
----
In the Potter’s Hands

I am clay in the potter’s hands
Mold me, shape me, make me
What you will of me
Use me for your purposes
Imbue me with the skills, the spirit
To serve where you would have me serve
Performing the services you would intend
Wherever you would send me
However you would will me
To send me forth
From this space, this place
Into the world
As your servant, your son
Your child, in your image,
The image of your son,
Our brother, our example,
Our savior, like us clay
Held in the potter’s hands

September 3, 2007 15:05
Jeremiah 18:1-11

The Faithful Son

The Christ, coming to the earth
the faithful son,
following the master’s plan
submitting to the will of God
a servant, humble, even to death
the stain of our sin
the cup, poison
washing over his lips
Loving us, enough
God, Emmanuel
dying for me
faithful to the father
even unto death


December 31, 2009 and January 1, 2010

Being Led by the Spirit

Feeling the Spirit within us
being ruled, led by the Spirit of God
choosing the way of God
the example of Christ
living within our hearts
Drawing the living waters
the wellspring guiding our steps
walking each day
as the children of God


December 27, 2009
Romans 8:9-16

To God’s Will

Christ, Love
God come to earth
the son, a man
submitting to God’s will
living out the father’s plan
Good, walking in the world
washing away our sin
the cup to his lips
bitter fruit of human hearts
the pure lamb
weighed down
the yoke, the cross
a crown of thorns
the cloak of our shame
humiliated for our sake
setting us from sin
walking according to God’s will


December 26, 2009
John 18:11
Luke 22:42
Luke 22:39-53
Luke 22:1-71 and
book, “Walking with Christ Everyday:
365 daily devotions for men”,
http://www.parable.com/parable/item.Walking-with-Christ-Every-Day-for-Men-Devotional.9781583344774.htm
Day 357, “Thy Will Be Done”
read 12/26/09

Submitting

To the will of God
submitting to servanthood
enduring agony
the way of the cross
sacrifice in this life
from the very beginning
before he was the babe
laid in the manger bed
knowing the cup he must drink
the bitter taste,
the mantle of sin
the weight upon his shoulders
carrying our shame
our stain in his blood
shed for our redemption
following the master’s call
submitting to his will


December 26, 2009
John 18:11
Luke 22:42
Luke 22:39-53
Luke 22:1-71 and
book, “Walking with Christ Everyday:
365 daily devotions for men”,
http://www.parable.com/parable/item.Walking-with-Christ-Every-Day-for-Men-Devotional.9781583344774.htm
Day 357, “Thy Will Be Done”
read 12/26/09


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 19,900+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The faith that I profess

Walking, living
the faith that I profess
acting as if I believe
the words that I hold dear
The loving father,
the son who came to save,
the indwelling spirit
guiding me now
Hope for eternal life
God’s wondrous saving grace
Trusting the creator
with all that I am
Trying to do the master’s will
all the days of my life


December 14, 2009
Alive Now Daily Reflections for December 7, 2009 to December 13, 2009
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-december-7-13/
“Along the Way” by Sudha Khristmukti,
for December 11, 2009

Not One Cross, But Three

Some of our memories
the manger, the cross
deeply anchored within us
images of our faith

The cross of Christ
standing on Calvary
the empty cross
after his rising
the blessed Easter morning

But there is more
more to the scene
that day on Calvary
Not one cross; but three,
each one empty,
with such meaning
reflective of God’s love
and the choice each of us
that each one of us must make

Which of the other two
who, upon their own cross,
hung beside our brother
the living God, Christ

Will we deride him,
even in his pain,
or will we ask him
into our hearts,
to save us
to join him in paradise

Three crosses, not just one
his choice to serve, to sacrifice
and the choice we must each make
choosing Sheol, or
reaching out to him, asking
accepting Christ as our savior


November 27, 2009
three crosses, in the glow of an ornament
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHv3J3CQCYo
“My Grown Up Christmas Wish”,
by Kelly Clarkson

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 19,770+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Common Men

Like us, common me
the patriarchs, the kings
prophets, disciples, the apostles
all of them, men of the earth
frail, damaged, yet
following, at least at times,
the will of God for them,
for his people
the story repeated
over and over
going where they were told


November 21, 2009
and November 22, 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.

His Mercy

God’s mercy
perfect surrender
in the act of the son
taking on our judgment
so we would be spared
our lives forgiven
our way made straight
His mercy taking our lash
our pain, dying so that we may live
to walk with God again


November 18, 2009
http://www.theshackbook.com/
The Shack, by William P. Young
Chapter 9, “A Long Time Ago, in a Garden Far, Far Away”
& Chapter 11, “Here Come da Judge”

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.

As a servant alone

Christ, choosing to submit
to relinquish his heavenly throne
coming to earth, living
as a servant alone
Giving up his independence
by choosing to follow the master
giving us a give beyond measure
when God became a man
Remembering the one who sent him
onto this mortal coil
walking the way of a servant
at the master’s command alone


November 18, 2009
http://www.theshackbook.com/
Shack, by William P. Young
Chapter 9, “A Long Time Ago, in a Garden Far, Far Away”

The 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.

To Thy Will

Submitting my self, my life
Offering my all
giving over to thy will
answering the master’s call
Seeking him, trusting in the Lord
leaning no his strength
submitting my will to His alone


November 9, 2009
Luke 22:42
and
book, “Walking with Christ Everyday:
365 daily devotions for men”,
http://www.parable.com/parable/item.Walking-with-Christ-Every-Day-for-Men-Devotional.9781583344774.htm
Day 309, “Thy Will Be Done”
read 11/9/09

The Human Christ

While divine, fully human
the man Jesus
choosing to submit
to cleave to God’s will
taking the cup
bringing the bitterness
passing over his lips
The human fears and doubts
present on that day;
but entering in
his life given
doing the master’s will
that we may live


November 9, 2009
Luke 22:42
and
book, “Walking with Christ Everyday:
365 daily devotions for men”,
http://www.parable.com/parable/item.Walking-with-Christ-Every-Day-for-Men-Devotional.9781583344774.htm
Day 309, “Thy Will Be Done”
read 11/9/09

Gifts – haiku

each of us given
special, our own unique gifts
used for the Lord

October 26, 2009
Ephesians 3:20
book, “Walking with Christ Everyday:
365 daily devotions for men”,
http://www.parable.com/parable/item.Walking-with-Christ-Every-Day-for-Men-Devotional.9781583344774.htm
Day 296, “Dream Big”
read 10/23/09
&
Jeremiah 29:11-13
&
what was written of me, in May 1978,
in the Stevens High School class will, where it said
“Ray Foss leaves to become the next John Steinbeck”

Dreams - haiku

our dreams of life, hope
walking into your courts, Lord
eternity there

October 26, 2009
Ephesians 3:20
book, “Walking with Christ Everyday:
365 daily devotions for men”,
http://www.parable.com/parable/item.Walking-with-Christ-Every-Day-for-Men-Devotional.9781583344774.htm
Day 296, “Dream Big”
read 10/23/09
&
Jeremiah 29:11-13
&
what was written of me, in May 1978,
in the Stevens High School class will, where it said
“Ray Foss leaves to become the next John Steinbeck”

How Do We Know

How do we know
when the call is from the Lord
How do we know
when we should
leave our nets and go
Where do we turn
to discern your plan for us
What do we do
when others
question our choice


October 26, 2009
Ephesians 3:20
book, “Walking with Christ Everyday:
365 daily devotions for men”,
http://www.parable.com/parable/item.Walking-with-Christ-Every-Day-for-Men-Devotional.9781583344774.htm
Day 296, “Dream Big”
read 10/23/09
&
Jeremiah 29:11-13
&
what was written of me, in May 1978,
in the Stevens High School class will, where it said
“Ray Foss leaves to become the next John Steinbeck”

What will they say

I wonder, what will they say
if I speak the words
the callings on my heart
the steady drumbeat
the musing of the voice
calling from inside of me

What will they say
if I speak the words out loud
what I feel called to do
leading me away
taking me into an unknown
out of the boat

Out onto the waters
the waves, splashing on the boat
What will they say
if I voice my dream out loud?


October 26, 2009
Ephesians 3:20
book, “Walking with Christ Everyday:
365 daily devotions for men”,
http://www.parable.com/parable/item.Walking-with-Christ-Every-Day-for-Men-Devotional.9781583344774.htm
Day 296, “Dream Big”
read 10/23/09
&
Jeremiah 29:11-13
&
what was written of me, in May 1978,
in the Stevens High School class will, where it said
“Ray Foss leaves to become the next John Steinbeck”

Three Crosses

On Calvary’s hill
three crosses,
their shadows remain
down through the generations
The three crosses
the sacrifice of the savior;
the choices of the two thieves
like us, each of them sinners
Their choice, the same as we face
to repent and follow Christ
to live our lives in glory
or follow the way of the earth
eternal damnation, like one's fate


October 25, 2009
thought of this morning
with the sharp-edged shadows
in the fall-morning light

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 22,630+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Our Unique Gifts

Within the first disciples
those who left their nets
skills of the fishermen
making them fishers of men instead

Hidden talents, untapped,
in our hands, unique gifts
within us, part of the dreams
the plans of the Lord

Finding the courage,
this is our challenge
the test of our faith
to drop our nets
Letting go of our comfort
stepping out of the boat for the Lord.


October 24, 2009
Ephesians 3:20
book, “Walking with Christ Everyday:
365 daily devotions for men”,
http://www.parable.com/parable/item.Walking-with-Christ-Every-Day-for-Men-Devotional.9781583344774.htm
Day 296, “Dream Big”
read 10/23/09
&
Jeremiah 29:11-13
&
what was written of me, in May 1978,
in the Stevens High School class will, where it said
“Ray Foss leaves to become the next John Steinbeck”

In the Footsteps of Your Son

Walking where he walked
the way of the cross
the path you have chosen
in the footsteps of your son
submitting my will, my choices
to your will, oh Lord
to turn from the world

Your perfect plan
your provision for my life
my days numbers, my hairs known to you
trusting in your goodness, in your love
in the grace you heap on me
walking differently than in my past

Focused on the cross, on your son
on his sacrifice, his servanthood,
not out of obligation
out of love, obedience
taking the way of the cross
following your loving call
the way home


September 13, 2009
book, “Walking with Christ Everyday:
365 daily devotions for men”,
Day 256, “Courage During Times of Change”