Saturday, November 07, 2015

God saved me - 2

I would love to take credit
that I am a self-made man
that I am the reason
I am who I am
but I am not the reason
I cannot fix this mess
God saved me
He raised me from the dead

-----------------
November 7, 2015
God saved me – 2
November 7, 2015
how are you changed
November 7, 2015
Share your witness - 2
November 7, 2015
lives changed
Transforming Evangelim: The Wesleyan Way of Sharing Faith
by Henry H. Knight, III and F. Douglas Powe, Jr.
Advanced Lay Servant class
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church


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, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,020+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

how are you changed

how are you changed
by the love of Jesus
how has walking with the Savior
changed your life

what are the signs
that you are a Christian
how does the world know
you are a follower of Christ

-----------------
November 7, 2015
God saved me – 2
November 7, 2015
how are you changed
November 7, 2015
Share your witness - 2
November 7, 2015
lives changed
Transforming Evangelim: The Wesleyan Way of Sharing Faith
by Henry H. Knight, III and F. Douglas Powe, Jr.
Advanced Lay Servant class
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church


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, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,020+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

share your witness - 2

share your witness
your conversion story
share with others
how God is working
how God has truly
transformed your life

==========
November 7, 2015
God saved me – 2
November 7, 2015
how are you changed
November 7, 2015
Share your witness - 2
November 7, 2015
lives changed
Transforming Evangelim: The Wesleyan Way of Sharing Faith
by Henry H. Knight, III and F. Douglas Powe, Jr.
Advanced Lay Servant class
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church


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, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,020+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

lives changed

lives changed
lives different
all because of walk
with the Christ, with Jesus
lives changed
lives different
lives being witness
to the love of God

-------------
November 7, 2015
God saved me – 2
November 7, 2015
how are you changed
November 7, 2015
Share your witness - 2
November 7, 2015
lives changed
Transforming Evangelim: The Wesleyan Way of Sharing Faith
by Henry H. Knight, III and F. Douglas Powe, Jr.
Advanced Lay Servant class
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church


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, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,020+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Southward – v6

Their honks and squeaks
called her, caused her, to turn,
to change her direction
wayward, family, turning, moving
to their calling, their urging
she raised her head skyward
from north to south they passed
over our line of sight, the horizon line,
urging each other for the long journey
the quest for warmer environs

Leaving us behind, in the cold
getting ready for the coming frost,
the shortening of the days, the cold
that will grip the land all too soon;
Still warm today, yesterday, despite
the fall chill in the air, sun yet renewing
before the failing of the light in winter.
We revel in the warm sunlight, cut the shrubs;
we tend the garden, clear away the fall leaves,
prepare the land for the change of seasons
enjoying the day while we can.

=====
edited November 7, 2015
Southward – v6
(editing version 4)
edited July 31, 2015
Southward – v5
(editing version 2)
edited March 10, 2015
Southward – v4
(merging edits to original and version 3)
edited April 13, 2014
Southward – v3
edited February 25, 2014
Southward – v2
October 15, 2006 14:09
Southward
(with picture)


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, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,020+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Not to power but to mercy – v3

God’s offering, His gift,
of mercy in judgment
in the comforting presence
of our Savior, the Christ
offered not to the powerful
not to the strong of this world;
but to those who show mercy
offering grace themselves
softly walking on the earth

God pouring our blessings
on those generous with their blessings
blessedness in sharing this world
gently with our neighbors
especially those in a weaker station
lifting them up, as we are able
that all would be equally blessed
that none would no hunger
in this world and the next

=======
edited November 7, 2015
Not to power but to mercy – v3

(editing version 2)
edited March 13, 2015
Not to power but to mercy – v2
----
July 11, 2010
Flawed in Our Selfishness
Isaiah 43:18-21
Genesis 1:1-2:4
(read responsively by the congregation,
speaking the words of God)
John 13:34-35 (Call to Worship)
Worship Theme: “Church is a verb, not a noun.”
and sermon, “Changing the Dictionary, Changing Lives”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 11, 2010
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
&
July 8, 2010
Truer Blessing
Luke 10:29-37
Luke 10:25-28
Luke 10:25-37
The Good Samaritan
&
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
Alive Now Daily Reflections
for July 5, 2010 to July 11, 2010
by Nancy Ferguson (You can visit her website at www.BlueTreeResources.org)
for July 7, 2010
July 7, 2010
&
July 4, 2010
Oppression Still
July 4, 2010
Free to be Yoked with You
July 4, 2010
Free to Serve You
July 3, 2010
Guided in Our Freedom
July 3, 2010
Living in Our Freedom
July 3, 2010
Our Sense of Freedom
July 3, 2010
Which freedoms do we value
July 4, 2010
The Responsibility of Freedom
Alive Now Daily Reflections
for June 28, 2010 to July 4, 2010
by Nancy Ferguson (You can visit her website at www.BlueTreeResources.org)
for July 4, 2010, read July 4, 2010
&
2 Kings 5:1-14
Psalm 30
Luke 10:16-20
Galatians 6:7-10
Psalm 36:5-10 (United Methodist Hymnal #771)
Worship Theme: “The high cost of freedom”
and sermon, “The Cost of Freedom”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 4, 2010
=====
July 4, 2010
Shocking Us
July 4, 2010
The Pursuit of Blessedness
July 4, 2010
The Pursuit of True Happiness
July 4, 2010
A Christian Manifesto
July 3, 2010
written as a series of poems:
Not to power but to mercy
-           “Not to the proud but to the humble”
Matthew 5:3
-          Not to the full but to the empty”
Matthew 5:4
-          “Not to the joyful but to those who sorrow”
Matthew 5:5
-          “Not to the proud but to the humble”
Matthew 5:6
-          Not to the silent but to the gadflies”
Matthew 5:7
-          “Not to power but to mercy”
Matthew 5:8
-          “Not to the world but to the creator”
Matthew 5:9
-          “Not to war but to peace”
Matthew 5:10
-          Not to the Timid but to the persecuted”
Matthew 5:11
-          Not to be praised but to be ridiculed”
July 3, 2010
Radically Different
July 3, 2010
Challenging Our Understanding
July 3, 2010
Changing Our Perspective
July 3, 2010
Our Happiness Recast
July 2, 2010
Living as a Blessing
July 2, 2010
These words of Christ
July 2, 2010
Beatitudes on the Fourth
July 2, 2010
Our Happiness
Matthew 5:1-13
Beatitudes
and email, “Notes from Peter” (Hey)
received July 1, 2010
“This Sunday my sermon is titled
“Pursuing More Than Happiness,”
and it is based on Matthew 5:1-13.
If you have a few minutes to read
this passage of scripture prior to attending the service,
you might get a little more out of the sermon.
In this sermon, I want to challenge us all
to live with greater intentionality and to find
deeper levels of meaning
for our lives. Instant gratification can be the
enemy of faithful living.
Intentionality is the path to blessedness.”
Wesley United Methodist Church
Concord, NH
July 4, 2010
Independence Day

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, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,020+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

our prayers are joined – v2

our prayers are joined
with the saints, in heaven,
all who have gone before

our prayers are joined
with our Savior, with Christ
our brother, our King

our prayers are joined
with the Spirit within us
speaking to God for us

our prayers are raised up
to heaven, to the courts,
to the throne of Almighty God

=============
edited November 7, 2015
our prayers are joined – v2
November 5, 2015
a precious vessel of God’s love
edited November 5, 2015
we must persevere – 2 – v2
November 4, 2015
in jars of clay
edited November 4, 2015
we must persevere – 2
November 4, 2015
you need to persevere
November 4, 2015
our prayers are joined
November 4, 2015
the light we follow
November 4, 2015
even when we hide it
Matthew 5:15 (KJV)
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel,
but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”
edited November 4, 2015
the light can’t be hidden – v2
November 4, 2015
the light can’t be hidden
November 3, 2015
from their light
edited/new November 3, 2015
shines through the cracks
November 3, 2015
through the cracks in my broken clay
November 1, 2015
All Saints Day
Hebrews 10:32-39
2 Corinthians 4:7
message: “Remember …” (including the naming of our saints)
and Communion Liturgy and Great Thanksgiving
text

video
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
Mystery Box – ballerina, teacup and saucer, apple
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
November 1, 2015


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, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,040+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Drop your stones – v6

walk in mercy, in grace
look first in the mirror
let go of judgment of others;
be merciful, humble
to your sister, your brother
none of them are strangers
all are neighbors in this life

drop your stones
your burden, your judgment
leave them in the dust
love unconditionally;
offer them your presence
share love richly
to all those you meet

====
edited November 7, 2015
Drop your stones – v6

(editing version 3)
Edited November 16, 2013
“Drop your stones – v5”
(Edited original again)
Edited October 3, 2013
“Drop your stones – v4”
(editing version 3)
Edited August 25, 2013
 “Drop your stones – v3”
editing the original
Edited August 11, 2013
“Drop your stones – v2”
February 21, 2013
“Drop your stones”
John 8:1-11
Matthew 14:22-33
Wednesday night worship
Worship Theme: “Ready for a Change”
message, “Rock Bottom /  Courage”

by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
February 20, 2013
Lent

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, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,020+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Street People – v11

The street people, the lost,
homeless and alone
these were the shepherds watching
in the cities, in the urban landscape
the darkness, on each cold night

They would be the ones, those who cried out,
going to the place under the bridge
where the Christ-child was born,
They were the ones to find the father and mother
and the child wrapped as best they could

There in the cold of night
kneeling at the Savior’s bed
a box, newspapers, that was all had
They heard the songs of the angel choir
answering the angels’ call to them

They would go out into the world, the streets,
proclaiming the Messiah’s birth
wondering who would listen to the message;
Such humble witnesses, these shepherds, sharing Christ
alone in the night, out in the streets

---------------
edited/merged December 3, 2015
Street People – v14
(merging edits with version 13, version 6, version 7, version 8, version 9,
version 10, version 11, and version 12)
edited/merged December 2, 2015
Street People – v13
(merging edits to version 3, version 2, version 4, and version 5)
edited November 12, 2015
Street People – v12
(merging edits to version 2 and version 7)
edited November 7, 2015
Street People – v11
(editing version 3)
edited November 2, 2015
Street People – v10
(editing version 2)
edited October 16, 2015
Street People – v9
(editing version 6)
edited October 14, 2015
Street People – v8
(editing version 4)
edited May 1, 2015
Street People – v7
(editing original again)
edited March 23, 2015
Street People – v6
(editing version 5)
edited February 17, 2015
Street People – v5
(merging edits to version 2 and version 4)
edited February 10, 2015
Street People – v4
(merging edits to version 2, version 3, and original)
edited January 17, 2015
Street People – v3
(editing version 2)
Edited November 23, 2012
Street People – v2
December 20, 2009
Street People
Alive Now Daily Reflections for December 14, 2009 to December 20, 2009
Luke 2:1-7 (December 18, 2009)
Luke 2:8-20 (December 19, 2009)
&
Luke 2:6-7
&
Advent Christmas offering letter
Suncook United Methodist Church
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 40,280+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sharing the Same Fire – v2

Leading us onward
out into the world,
All of us are to witness
to carry Christ’s word

All of us are to go
to share the same fire,
The light is here to save us
to save the whole world

---------------
edited November 7, 2015
Sharing the Same fire – v2

November 11, 2010
Sharing the Same Fire
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/11/sharing-same-fire.html
inspired by Facebook status quote
“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.” Nelson Mandela
by Neven Hanna
November 11, 2010
&
Luke 6:20-31
Beatitudes
Psalm 149:1-6a
1 Samuel 2:1b-2 (God’s Word Translation) (Words of Praise)
Worship Theme: What does a Saint look like?
and sermon, “Living Like A Saint. . . Oh Yah!”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
October 31, 2010
All Saints Sunday
(officially November 7, 2010)
  
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, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,020+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.