a phoenix out of the ashes of self – v6

Too much of our lives, too many moments,
we walk in the ways of the world,
thinking only of ourselves, only,
of succeeding in others’ eyes;
wanting only to measure up
for the crowd, for our neighbors,
not following the example of Christ…
 
We are called to die, to submission,
to die to our past and rise again;
like a phoenix out of the ashes of self
rising into God’s light, into servanthood,
into the arms of our loving God
into the body of Christ, the priesthood,
to serve in the Kingdom of God…
 
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Edited March 25, 2024
a phoenix out of the ashes of self – v6
 
edited January 20, 2016
a phoenix out of the ashes of self – v5
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/a-phoenix-out-of-ashes-of-self-v5.html
(merging original and version 4)
edited February 10, 2015
a phoenix out of the ashes of self – v4
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-phoenix-out-of-ashes-of-self-v4.html
(merging edits to version 3 and original)
edited February 2, 2015
a phoenix out of the ashes of self – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-phoenix-out-of-ashes-of-self-v3.html
(editing version 2)
edited January 25, 2015
a phoenix out of the ashes of self – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-phoenix-out-of-ashes-of-self-v2.html
June 24, 2012
a phoenix out of the ashes of self
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/06/phoenix-out-of-ashes-of-self.html
Mark 4:26-32 (Common English Bible)
2 Samuel 1:17-27 (NRSV Bible)
2 Corinthians 5:14-17 (NRSV Bible)
Worship Theme: “Life Out of Death”
Call to Worship (Psalm 46:1-3, 11 Common English Bible)
Unison Prayer
Special, Suncook UMC Sacred Dancers
Anthem, “The Animals Praise the Lord”, Junior Choir
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD 2012)
video of Fawkes the Phoenix from
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHB3N88kl6E
and sermon, “A Phoenix Out of the Ashes”
 
by Pastor Ruth Foss
https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss
http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss
http://www.pstruthsermons.blogspot.com
sermon blog
http://www.pstrruthfoss.blogspot.com
meditation blog
http://pstrfoss.wordpress.com/
“God’s Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
June 17, 2012
Third Sunday of Kingdomtide
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 202 2022, 2023, and 2024. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
 
Poetry, Christ, Faith, God, grace, love, purpose, Savior, Spirit, 2 Corinthians 5, 2 Samuel 1, Mark 4, Raymond A. Foss, Poetry Where You Live, death, life, Pastor Ruth Foss, Fawkes, phoenix, 
 
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