Saturday, July 25, 2009

Under the Leaves

Under the leaves, the stems
the broad, dark-summer maples
little pearls, half-droplets
like upside-down bell curves
heavy droplets stirring
shaking, quaking in the breezes
sliding down the stem,
accumulating, falling
little prisms, mirrors,
if only for an instant
before the wind,
moving the branches
the twigs, little by little,
the leaves, sails themselves
the droplets falling, the air moving
this moment lost, so soon
a glorious dance
the falling of the droplets
on my walk to the store this morning
before the world is fully awake

July 25, 2009

Friday, July 24, 2009

Her Web Trembling

Her work, her creation, trembling
shuddering at the onslaught
the bombs bursting
all around, against the glass
shattering against the lines of her artistry
The raindrops like earthquakes
the sheet of her web, flapping
swaying on its tethers
frayed, tattered by the droplets
the wind, the weight
hanging in the middle
arms, legs pulled tight
holding on for dear life
each curtain of rain
trembling her web

July 24, 2009
Suncook, NH

Jaws Dropping

As he sat, the words he had read
these he had proclaimed
stating plainly his divinity
the prophecy fulfilled
that very day revealed.
The Messiah, this man?
This boy they had known?
Jaws dripping the pronouncement
the words of the prophet come to life
from one of them the Messiah come.


July 22, 2009 and July 24, 2009
Luke 4:16-21 and
Isaiah 43:18-21
The scripture readings for
the sermon, “The Power of Vision”
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 26, 2009

The Stealth of Her Design

In the early morning dewlight
the stealth of her design
the intricate lattice
revealed. Ribbons
concentric ovals
rays, lines radiating outward
all of her artistry
on a fleeting display
before the warming
bleeding away of the fog
dewdrops into vapor
Her trap, her net
hidden once more
just beyond
our bathroom window

====
edited December 10, 2015
The Stealth of Her Design – v7
(merging edits to version 4 and version 6)
edited August 6, 2015
The Stealth of Her Design – v6
(editing version 5)
edited December 22, 2014
The Stealth of Her Design – v5
(editing version 3)
edited December 11, 2014
The Stealth of Her Design – v4
(editing version 3)
Edited October 15, 2013
“The Stealth of Her Design – v3”
(editing original again)
Edited August 16, 2013
“The Stealth of Her Design – v2”
July 24, 2009
“The Stealth of Her Design”
about July 23, 2009
Suncook, NH


All of my poems and photographs 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 (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,340+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Motion

Finding pithy words
just the essence needed here
tell the judge the facts

July 23, 2009

Reaching for Us

God, reaching out,
reaching for us
for our hearts, our lives
for us to turn to him
to him alone
to follow his will
reaching for us, arms open wide
for when we choose him.
This is the story of the book
the word, the holy scriptures
a loving father, a servant son
offering all for us
reaching through their words
the acts of sacrifice
temper held back
wrath spared
wanting us to come home

9/27/08 & 9/28/08
Facebook version – 7/23/09

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Even the Fringe of His Cloak

As they were, sick
Bringing them to him
Asking, begging
Touching only the edge
even the fringe of his cloak
the edge of his coat
Enough to heal
the sick made well
All of them healed
merely touching the clothing
worn by the Christ


July 19, 2009
Mark 6:53-56
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009,
July 19, 2009
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Mark 6:1-13, 30-56
New Century Version and
New Revised Standard Version

By the Sea of Galilee

On the water, the hills,
the sand, the dusty roads
by the Sea of Galilee
in the words of the scripture
we are with Christ, the disciples
with the sick, the lame,
with the people of that countryside
traveling with the Lord
Going through his homeland
with him as he preached
as he healed
wandering the land
with our brother, our God.
Learning lessons for our own ministry
in our own time, in our own lands
watching, witnesses too
by the Sea of Galilee.


July 19, 2009
Mark 6:53-56
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009,
July 19, 2009
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Mark 6:1-13, 30-56

The Sand in My Sandals

The grit under my feet
the feel of the weight lifted
in each step I take
sand in my sandals

The dirt, the dust of this place
The sun-baked soil, the warmth
carried as I walk, as I journey

All of us, missionaries in the world
sent as they were sent
to do his work, to spread his message
to heal in his redeeming name

===============
edited January 14, 2018
The Sand in My Sandals – v2

July 19, 2009
The Sand in My Sandals
Mark 6:6b-13
Mark 6:1-13
Upper Room Disciplines 2009
for July 5, 2009
and sand in my sandals
July 19, 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, and 2017. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 45,960 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

creator, disciples, dust, Faith, God, gospel, hope, journey, Mark 6, Messiah, Methodist, ministry, Mission, poem, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, sandals,

#creator #disciples #dust #Faith #God #gospel #hope #journey #Mark6 #Messiah #ministry #Mission #poem #poetry #Poetry Where You Live #sandals #Methodist

The Sacred Promise

To His children, for all generations
the sacred promise, covenant
down to this day
the children of Abraham, of David
the children of God
Brothers, sisters
with our brother, Christ
our estrangement healed
by the everlasting love
of our father, the Lord.


===============
edited January 22, 2016
The Sacred Promise – v3
(editing original)
Edited October 11, 2013
The Sacred Promise – v2
July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
The Sacred Promise
Psalm 89:20-37
Psalm 89:20-27
and Upper Room Disciplines for 2009,
for July 14, 2009

All of my poems and photographs 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 40,770+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.


God’s Voice in the Song

God’s love and God’s promise
God’s voice in the song to the king
our future, bound in the words
the eternal kingdom foretold
his line forever
to rule over God’s people
The son now seated upon his throne


July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
Psalm 89:20-37
Psalm 89:28-37
and Upper Room Disciplines for 2009,
for July 15, 2009

The People Running

The people running
from throughout the land
seeing him on the waters
seeking him on the shore
needing his message,
hungry for his words
longing to touch him,
to be healed and made whole
Running to our savior
needing him over all.


July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
and Alive Now Daily Reflection for July 16, 2009
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-july-13-19/

Hungry Crowds

Hungry crowds, eager to reach him
coming from all around
needing nourishment, healing
lives adrift, sheep without a shepherd
coming to him
even as he was weary
seeking him, hungry for his touch
for his message of love
the savior, messiah
walking among them


July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
and Alive Now Daily Reflection for July 16, 2009
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-july-13-19/

Racing to the Shore

To be with him,
if only to touch
the edge of his coat
to be healed
Hungry people
racing to the shore
to where he would land
going before him
so they may be healed
so they may be fed


July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
and Alive Now Daily Reflection for July 16, 2009
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-july-13-19/

Away to Rest

Weary from the road
tired from their travels
spreading the message of Christ
to the people of their land
bringing his message
to their neighbors
Needing rest from their preaching
from their healing
this ministry in Galilee
sent by their master
away to rest


July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
and Alive Now Daily Reflection for July 16, 2009
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-july-13-19/

The Holiness of Their Son

Sometimes, as a father
a step-father, caring
for children of another, of others
I think about May, about Joseph
the holiness of their son
her son, the son he helped to raise
those many years not mentioned
the many years of his life
before the descending dove

What must their lives have been;
the message of the angels
words spoken in dreams
gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh
exile, wandering in Egypt
but little more known
as he grew, of thirty years
growing, living in his hometown
a simple life, undocumented
before the holiness of their son
once more revealed


May 24, 2009 and July 19, 2009
title May 23, 2009

Brought Near

From far away
brought near to God
into the one family
those of the law
and those called by Christ

By the blood of the lamb
all of us clean
our sickness healed
our lives made whole

Brought near to the throne
by the grace of God
by the gift of the savior
and the indwelling Spirit
guiding our walk
our steps in faith
ever neared to God


July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
Ephesians 2:11-16
and Upper Room Disciplines for 2009,
for July 16, 2009

In Christ

In Christ, in the person of Christ
the breach healed
all brought near
into one family
we are made children of God
no divisions, all made worthy
through the sacrifice
of our risen king


July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
Ephesians 2:11-16
and Upper Room Disciplines for 2009,
for July 16, 2009

Healing Divisions

Christ alone, by his humanness
by his sacrifice, by his blood
healing divisions, every chasm
between one another
between man and God
our lives redeemed,
our sins blotted out
our people, one body
in Christ alone


July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
Ephesians 2:11-16
and Upper Room Disciplines for 2009,
for July 16, 2009

Seasons of Fire

Our lives marked, recorded
in moments of joy
and in seasons of fire
learning through our trials,
through our struggles
times of loss and change

Growing in faith
trusting in our savior
becoming closer to God
Through the fires of adversity
finding God in our calming Spirit
our journey continuing
one season at a time


July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
written based on comments made 7/15/09
on the poem, In the Flames
------
In the Flames

Our lives, changed, tested, melted, molded
in the flames, in the struggles, in the challenges
the heartache, in the trials of life
in these moments, in these flames, perfected
refined as if silver, under the watchful, attentive gaze
the smithy, the creator, burning away the chaff
pruning in the furnace, the crucible,
shining metal, reflective of the maker
his face, his smile, his love shining in reflection
out of the fires, out of the flame we come changed
moving toward perfection, of our faith,
one season of fire at a time

February 22, 2009
Psalm 23:1-4
Malachi 3:1-20
Jeremiah 29:10-14
Isaiah 43:1-10 and
Sermon, “Fire Walker”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH

The Disciples Sent

Christ sent the disciples
to preach, to heal
to go in his name
spreading his message
the same message as John
raised, an urgent warning from God
His word to the people
to change their ways
to turn from the world
and return to God


July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos

John Raised

John was raised
in the message continuing
in Christ preaching
and the disciples going
as he had gone
sharing God’s redemption
to his chosen people

A message that could not be stilled
no matter what others said
Herod knew
John had been raised.


July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos

Wrong in God’s Sight

The king, the people
wrong in God’s sight
the prophets speaking
a message of truth

We too, must be bold
and share Christ’s message
his message of love
for our neighbors
for our faithfulness to God
honoring his sacrifice
striving to live right
in God’s sight


July 12, 2009, July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos

Standing for His Word

Never being silenced
speaking out against the people
standing up to the king
in his failing before God

Standing for His word
the message from God
to live according to Christ’s example
in our walk on this earth


July 16, 2009 and July 19, 2009
Psalm 24:3-6
Amos 7:12-15
Mark 6:14-29
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Rejected . . . Again!”,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 12, 2009
and Mark 6:1-56
and Book of Amos