Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thanksgiving Day 2011

Almighty God, we gather around this table as a family, as your children, in this land of plenty, looking upon this bounty, this meal before us.

We are mindful that we live in a country rich with blessings, yet poor spiritually. For many today, their focus is on false idols and the altar of materialism. It sure feels like we are in the end times. It probably shouldn’t surprise us that tomorrow is called Black Friday.

Lord, help us to always remember to whom we are thankful. You are the creator and the source of all that was, all that is, and all that is to come. On this Thanksgiving day, may we all give thanks to you, our God, who lives and reigns forever and ever.

God you bless us richly. You love us, far more than we deserve, more than we could ever earn. You came to earth as a baby, as the Christ, the Messiah long foretold, and died for our sins, giving us new life in him.

We are your children, your disciples. We are called by scripture, by the calling of the Lamb, our Shepherd, to share the good news, to the ends of the earth. As we have been given, so should we give, using our gifts, our talents, to your glory alone. May we share our blessings richly.

We pray for this troubled world, that war would be no more, that your peace would reign, that all kings and nations would fall at your feet and praise your holy name.

Lord, we pray too for all our loved ones, those in their own homes, those out in the world, and especially we remember those who have gone on before us. We thank you Lord for the gifts of our family, those who have been and are an important part of our lives.

Now Lord, we pray over this meal, that you would use this bounty to heal us, to transform us into more devoted disciples. Help us to use this food to strengthen our bodies, that we truly would be your servants, your people in this troubled world.

And we pray all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Savior.

Amen!


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 20,280+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

The Lamb will be their shepherd

washed clean by his blood
knowing know thirst, no want
no tears in heaven
joy in paradise
The lamb will be their shepherd
worshipping at his throne
serving him in his temple
under arms of his great love


November 23, 2011
Revelations 7:17
Revelations 7:13-17
Revelations 7
90 day New Testament Bible Study
read November 23, 2011

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 14,200+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.

bowls of incense

sweet to God’s senses
prayers of his people
raised up to heaven
bowls of incense
gathered for God’s blessing


November 23, 2011
Revelations 5:8
Revelations 5
90 day New Testament Bible Study
read November 23, 2011

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 14,200+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.

With the price of your blood

you purchased men for God
with the price of your blood
sacrificed, you died
on the altar of the cross
made a nation, a kingdom
one flock, one people
gathered from every tribe,
every nation
all languages, traditions


November 23, 2011
Revelations 5:9
Revelations 5
90 day New Testament Bible Study
read November 23, 2011

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 20,280+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Dare to Believe

Let down your guard
lift up your hearts
dare to believe
in the unseen, in God
He is right beside you
listen for his voice
see him in nature
in the beating of your heart
God is real, urgent
wanting to love, be with you
seeking you as a lover
wanting to be with you
only if we answer,
his knock at our door
only then will he enter
will we be healed, restored


November 22, 2011

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 14,200+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.

Calm in Your Heart

peace in the storm
calm in your heart
dig deep, believe
in the unseen, love
silent in your spirit
no murmurs of doubt
all given up, unburdened
left on the altar of love.


November 22, 2011

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 14,200+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

wild waves of the sea

wild waves of the sea
goats on the high places
pulling up shame
bile of darkness rising
leading the sheep
with false teachings,
from the devil
crashing, churning
leading to destruction


November 20, 2011
Jude 12-13
“These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.”
2 John
3 John
Jude
90 day New Testament Bible Study
read November 20, 2011

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 20,280+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

wandering stars

shooting, fading
coursing, out of the orbit
streaking, burning
wandering stars
across the night sky
fading, dying
burning out completely
darkness, after
in the blackness of space


November 20, 2011
Jude 12-13
“These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.”
2 John
3 John
Jude
90 day New Testament Bible Study
read November 20, 2011

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 14,190+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.

autumn trees

barren, empty
autumn trees
fallen, barren
no fruit of the teachings
their walk, their leading
away from the pastures
the fields of the Lord
not where they led
autumn trees empty
bereft of good fruits
shriveled, dying
like dust of the earth


November 20, 2011
Jude 12-13
“These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.”
2 John
3 John
Jude
90 day New Testament Bible Study
read November 20, 2011

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 20,320+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

clouds without rain

false teachers,
leading the people astray
clouds without rain
obscuring the sun
the light of his presence
blocked by the false shepherds


November 20, 2011
Jude 12-13
“These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.”
2 John
3 John
Jude
90 day New Testament Bible Study
read November 20, 2011

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 20,980+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Shepherds who feed only themselves

Eating at our table
clothed in false witness
shepherds who feed only themselves
nothing of value
nothing for the sheep
falsehood, delusion
leading others away from God
scattering seeds of destruction


November 20, 2011
Jude 12-13
“These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.”
2 John
3 John
Jude
90 day New Testament Bible Study
read November 20, 2011

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 14,190+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.

Blemishes on us

False teachers, prophets
proclaiming a false word
insinuated, coming
into the community
Cast them out
deny these false teachings
God’s love greater
than all of their musings
sending us a Savior
to save us from death


November 20, 2011
Jude 12-13
“These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.”
2 John
3 John
Jude
90 day New Testament Bible Study
read November 20, 2011

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 14,190+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.

With a protection of blood

A covering of blood
the sacrifice of the lamb
pardoning our sin
raising us from the dead

Compassion on us
children who have wandered
calling us back
to follow our shepherd

The waters, the depths
into the rolling seas
our sin, cast out
redeeming us totally


November 20, 2011
Micah 7:18-19 (ESV)
and discussion with Sandy Scaringi
November 19, 2011
read November 20, 2011

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 14,190+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.