Saturday, August 21, 2010

Breathed into Life

The words coming easy
not merely dry bones
laying on my desk,
in the computer, the ether
coming together
with sinew, with meaning
breathed into life
murmurs of a dream
a vision in description
layers of passion
coming into view
forming, growing
sharing, thriving
spreading a message
that needs to come out



August 21, 2010
facebook post
http://www.facebook.com/raymond.a.foss#!/profile.php?id=601115010&v=wall&story_fbid=149019671784253
by Jill Delbridge
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=601115010
August 20, 2010
&
Ezekiel 37:1-14


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 19,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Judgment will Come

The words of the prophet
speaking a message
revealing a truth we ignore
a message from almighty God

Judgment will come
culling the nations
threshing each beating heart
in the harvest of the Lord


August 21, 2010
Isaiah 27:12
Isaiah 24:7-27:12
Isaiah 24:7-28:18
Isaiah 28:16-18
Isaiah 24:7-28:22
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/reading.cgi?plan=straight&ver=NAS
Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study
for August 13, 2010, read August 20, 2010
&
Isaiah 30:9-11
Isaiah 28:33-30:11
Isaiah 28:33-32:20
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/reading.cgi?plan=straight&ver=NAS
Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study
for August 14, 2010, read August 20, 2010


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 19,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Friday, August 20, 2010

It is He

Not by any human hands
not by something we will do
It is he, the Lord
our judge and our king
it is he who will save us
from the pit
from our sin



August 20, 2010
Isaiah 33:22
Isaiah 33:1-33:22
Isaiah 33:1-37:29
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/reading.cgi?plan=straight&ver=NAS
Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study
for August 15, 2010, read August 20, 2010


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 19,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Woe to Those

Part of the story
through the ages
maybe central
to the state of affairs
woe to those
who rely on men
turning away
from almighty God

From the beginning
there in the garden
walking with God
yet turning away
all of the peoples
down through the ages
the choice to follow
or to turn away

Trust in the Lord
in his goodness only
not in the ways of man
merely a stumbling block
Cleave to the rock
our strength through the ages
the Lord alone
in him do we abide


August 20, 2010
Isaiah 31:1-3
Isaiah 28:33-31:3
Isaiah 28:33-32:20
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/reading.cgi?plan=straight&ver=NAS
Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study
for August 14, 2010, read August 20, 2010


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 19,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Wanting Only Pablum

The people admonished
afraid of the truth
mocking the word of God
wanting only pablum
to feel good, happy
ignoring the plumb line
not being put to the test

So like today
unwilling to confront the grave
the cost of our folly
the price we would pay
for denying his commands
the work of his hands
unfaithful to his words


August 20, 2010
Isaiah 30:9-11
Isaiah 28:33-30:11
Isaiah 28:33-32:20
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/reading.cgi?plan=straight&ver=NAS
Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study
for August 14, 2010, read August 20, 2010


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 19,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Murmur of Commission

A foretaste of promise
of the rising of a people
the children of Abraham
bearing fruit for the kingdom

From Jacob, from Israel
the people of one faith
taking root in the world
bearing holy fruit



August 20, 2010
Isaiah 27:6
Isaiah 24:7-27:6
Isaiah 24:7-28:22
Matthew 28:18-20
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/reading.cgi?plan=straight&ver=NAS
Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study
for August 13, 2010, read August 20, 2010


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 19,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

One True Measure

One cornerstone
a sure foundation
one true measure
to judge the nations

In him alone
our cornerstone
the fall healed
the breach redeemed
rising from the pit
on this rock we stand



August 20, 2010
Isaiah 28:16-18
Isaiah 24:7-28:18
Isaiah 24:7-28:22
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/reading.cgi?plan=straight&ver=NAS
Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study
for August 13, 2010, read August 20, 2010


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 19,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

One by One

Looking into our hearts
meticulous and probing
threshing all the wheat
looking for who is worthy

No longer searching
for a collected people
gathering in one by one
those who are faithful

All the world the threshing floor
of God the creator
searching out the worthy grain
for his one garner


August 20, 2010
Isaiah 27:12
Isaiah 24:7-27:12
Isaiah 24:7-28:22
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/reading.cgi?plan=straight&ver=NAS
Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study
for August 13, 2010, read August 20, 2010


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 19,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

all that we have accomplished you have done for us

Nothing by my own hand
I am but the glove
you are the one who lifted me up
you who fill my cup

All that I am
all that I will ever be
all the good I have done
only because of thee

Lord I bow down
humbly before you
all that we have accomplished
you have done for us


August 20, 2010
Isaiah 26:12
Isaiah 24:7-26:12
Isaiah 24:7-28:22
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/reading.cgi?plan=straight&ver=NAS
Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study
for August 13, 2010, read August 20, 2010
&
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. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,210+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Shelter from the Storm

More than protection
a shelter from the storm
on his holy mountain
a feast forevermore

Death defeated
the poor shall exalt
praises to heaven
on his holy mount



August 20, 2010
Isaiah 25:1-8
Isaiah 24:7-25:8
Isaiah 24:7-28:22
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/reading.cgi?plan=straight&ver=NAS
Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study
for August 13, 2010, read August 20, 2010


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 19,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Across Many Miles

From New England to Ghana
worlds apart but one faith
sharing easily, as if old friends
growing in awareness
coming together
a connection deeper
far more than skin deep
the same Spirit breathing
giving us feet


August 19, 2010
chatting on Facebook
with fellow Methodist,
Ofori Kyeremeh Wyclef
http://www.facebook.com/myJDRF#!/profile.php?id=1294666475


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 19,210+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sharing Her Story

Healing, even in the sharing
sharing her story
her boldness in faith
following the lessons
what she needs to do
unafraid in doing what she must do

Worlds away,
though we may be
sharing her witness
her belief in God
in her calm in this storm
only a wrinkle in the road
by the grace of God

August 19, 2010
written while chatting on Facebook with fellow Methodist
from Ghana
&
Ruth’s post on her blog,
“A Lesson from Shyanne”
http://ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com/2010/08/lesson-from-shyanne.html
and my poem “A Wrinkle in the Road”



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 19,210+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Maybe Careful, not Carefree

Maybe this information
her diagnosis easier
our lives maybe careful,
not carefree totally

She will count the numbers
regulate so she is healthy
more aware of her choices perhaps
those we all make anyway

Mindful beyond her years
needing to know
living more consciously
purposely in her decisions

Following a different path
a wrinkle in the road
something she will grow into
in everywhere she goes


August 19, 2010
Ruth’s post on her blog,
“A Lesson from Shyanne”
http://ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com/2010/08/lesson-from-shyanne.html
and the poem below
(written independent of each other)
----------------------------
A Wrinkle in the Road

The words sinking in
“Shyanne has diabetes”
something unwelcome
ringing in my ear
a change forever
of our lives, our family
controlling carbs
and facing needles

So many voices
lifting prayers for her
love pouring out
pouring over us
many voices
in distant places even
wrapping her, wrapping us
in God’s eternal love


August 19, 2010


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 19,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The Nature of True Love

Trying to define the infinite
the nature of God
Love, true love,
not the pale imitation
human love not enough
how to understand love
God is love; God is
the attributes of love
the nature of love
what it means to be loving
in the nature of love
Layer upon layer
but not nearly enough
merely a foretaste
of God who is love


August 19, 2010
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
based in part on the start of the post
“Word Portrait of God”
http://accordingtothebook.blogspot.com/2010/08/word-portrait-of-god.html
&
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Psalm 71:1-6
Leviticus 19:17-18
and sermon, “Put A Little Love in Your Heart”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
January 31, 2010
&
Alive Now Daily Reflections
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-january-25-31/
for January 25, 2010 to January 31, 2010
by Nancy Fergusons (You can visit her website at www.BlueTreeResources.org)
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 for January 31, 2010
&
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.”
&
Genesis 8:21b-22,
Genesis 9:12-16
Genesis 6:5-8, 11-13
Psalm 20:1-3 (Call to Worship)
Psalm 46:1-11
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Worship Theme: There is Hope in God
Children’s Message
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
and sermon, “I Shall Not Be Moved”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
January 24, 2010



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 19,210+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

In Her Witness

Not feeling sorry for herself
but hugging the bear closer
something about her serenity
the way she is carrying herself
A witness in her manner
believing in God’s goodness
in the certainty of her walk
sharing herself openly
submitting to the process
this is part of her life
Watching too her speaking,
her every move announcing
whose she is and why she is starting
down this new path on her journey


August 19, 2010
Ruth’s post on her blog,
“A Lesson from Shyanne”
http://ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com/2010/08/lesson-from-shyanne.html
and the poem below
(written independent of each other)
----------------------------
A Wrinkle in the Road

The words sinking in
“Shyanne has diabetes”
something unwelcome
ringing in my ear
a change forever
of our lives, our family
controlling carbs
and facing needles

So many voices
lifting prayers for her
love pouring out
pouring over us
many voices
in distant places even
wrapping her, wrapping us
in God’s eternal love


August 19, 2010


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 19,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Wrinkle in the Road

The words sinking in
“Shyanne has diabetes”
something unwelcome
ringing in my ear
a change forever
of our lives, our family
controlling carbs
and facing needles

So many voices
lifting prayers for her
love pouring out
pouring over us
many voices
in distant places even
wrapping her, wrapping us
in God’s eternal love

August 19, 2010


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 19,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Couldn’t Stop, Couldn’t Wait

His body toned, thin like a runner
short, tank top
good running shoes
coming toward me
through the village
passing me on the left
going to the store

Something wrong,
his motion awkward
his gait not even
his torso contorted
held motionless
as he was running
moving, in motion
but something not right

The right hand raised
up to his ear
the cell phone urgently
talking on the run
couldn’t stop to answer
couldn’t wait for the call
couldn’t stop running
though defeating his purpose
the movement stunted
his important call
as is he wasn’t running at all.

August 18, 2010
runner on Main Street, Suncook, NH
August 16, 2010


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 19,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Sermon "God Is With Us" - Raymond A. Foss, Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook NH, August 15, 2010, Vacation Bible School Sunday

We have learned so much this week as we have gone on our Galactic Quest, seeing God in so many places. And we have learned about characteristics of God, which we have put into catch phrases. So, we are going to continue one aspect of the week, by asking you to play along with the kids. When you hear me say Our God is. . . , you will shout back, Praise God! Let’s try one (that the kids haven’t even done yet) – Our God is with us! Praise God!

We should remember most, more than all the other things we have learned, that God is with us always, anywhere we go, always with us, caring for us, as the creator of heaven and earth, as a parent caring for us, as a teacher guiding us, as a doctor healing us, as our savior redeeming us from sin and death. This is why we should praise God.

God is always with us, all the days of our lives. Each and every one of us. Whether we know it or not. Wherever we go. Right besides us. All of our senses – touching us, being with us when we are afraid, knowing us intimately, hearing us when we call, calling us when we listen, giving us new eyes to see.

We have seen God in so many places, teaching us about how God who is everywhere is also with us, each of us.

On Day 1 In creation - God created everything, from the stars and galaxies, to the invisible laws of gravity, to each one of us, the blades of grass under the tent, the grains of sand on the beach, everything that ever was and all that will ever be. Our God is wonderful! Praise God!

On Day 2 In the Wind - God is watching over us, with us in our trials, when we are scared, feeling the world is out to get us, there with us as he was for Elijah running away from Queen Jezebel who wanted to kill him. God spoke to Elijah from a whisper, reaching his heart, giving him courage and sending him to continue God’s work. Our God is incredible! Praise God!

On Day 3 At the Well - God is with us in troubles, knowing us utterly. That Samaritan woman was getting water at the wrong time of the day, alone at the well. Jesus approaches her and changes her, and her townspeople, because he knows her, offers her salvation, a relationship with God, alive, standing in front of her. She didn’t run away, she ran and spread the good news. Our God is amazing! Praise God!

On Day 4 Healing the blind beggar - God is healing us, hearing our cries to him, stopping, with us, bringing us to him. Our faith, like the blind beggar, healing us. I could really relate to this, since I just had cataract surgery a few weeks ago. Even though I was scared, I had faith in the healing God could make through the hands of the medical staff. I am now cured, better than new. I don’t need glasses in my right eye at all, something I have needed for the last 38 years, or about when Erica got her glasses. Our God is magnificent! Praise God!

On yesterday, Day 5 On the Road to Emmaus - God is calling us to be his disciples, the risen Christ walking beside us, with us always, can you imagine it - God is with us always, all the days of our lives. And sometimes it is in the little things, like sharing a meal together, as we are about to do with Our Family’s Table in September, that we actually see God, when Christ reveals himself to us, in the face of a stranger. Our God is awesome! Praise God!

From before the beginning of time, to the end of the age, God is amazing. He conjured everything from nothing, light from darkness, all that we have ever heard of, all that will be known. But that infinite, all-powerful God knows everything about you and he knows everything about me. Our God is amazing! Praise God!

And, that God who is all-powerful, is all-knowing about all of us. Before we were even born, before we were, God knew us. And he answers our prayers, as we are more than aware this morning. The kids on Friday night and Saturday morning at the end of VBS raised up prayers for Shyanne, their friend, one of them. And she is here this morning in church with us, worshipping with us, praising God with us, because he answered our prayers and she was released from the hospital in less than 24 hours, not the 3 days that we had been told. That is why we should be praising God always, always. He is with us, caring for us, he is amazing.
Reference to: John 4:1-42 Woman at the Well (but don’t read the scripture)
That story of the woman at the well is so important for us, can you picture yourself there. I think I can. Lost, wondering which way to turn, not quite fitting in. Can you sense her anxiety, her sense of not belonging? And here is this man of a different culture who was revealing things that no stranger could know about her.

Christ tells her the most amazing thing, that he is the Messiah, the chosen one, the living God, wanting to have that relationship with her, coming to her, offering to her himself, offering her the living water of the God. And the joyous thing is that she accepted it and shared it with the townspeople, who believed because they too knew God.

In the Methodist faith, we talk about the different kinds of grace. In this story, we find a good example of what John Wesley called prevenient grace. This is the cloud of grace, that ever-present God, wooing us, hoping for us to turn to come to him, to accept his offer. To come to him, and to spread the word as she did, to believe because when she tells us her story, and more importantly, when Christ himself comes to us, telling us he is the Messiah, that he is the way, the truth, the light, that he wants a relationship with us. Then we are like the townspeople who believed first because of her and then because of Christ himself.

This is the offer, of relationship, of redemption, that one-on-one union with our creator, our savior, ever open to us. The beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega, God wants to live with us. Our God is incredible! Praise God!


August 13, 2010
Genesis1:1-2:4
John 4:1-42
Worship Theme: “Praise God!” (Psalm 150:6)
and sermon, “God is With Us”
by Raymond A. Foss

and worship service by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH

August 15, 2010
Vacation Bible School Sunday



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 22,250+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.