Your Words are my Joy

Oh Lord, how I love You,
how I want You near me.
How I long to feel You close
as close as breath…
 
Your Words are my joy.
My hope in life forever.
You alone are my portion,
The source of my strength…
 
Your love is greater
than anything else.
Your Words ever before me,
in every step in life…
 
Your Words are my joy
My hope for eternal life,
to walk close with You,
into that good night…
 
==============
June 26, 2025
Your Words are my Joy
 
Based on #Jeremiah15:16
Based on #Jeremiah17:5-8
Sermon, “Fear, Faith, and Social Skills”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAWefYFnWns
Based on #Jeremiah17:5-8
“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, by T.S. Eliot
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/44212/the-love-song-of-j-alfred-prufrock
North Hills Church
June 26, 2025
I confess, Lord, to You
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/i-confess-lord-to-you.html
Based on #Psalm51:3 (David)
Based on #1John1:7-9
re:generation, Step 5, Confession, Week 1, large group meeting
and re:generation, Step 4, Inventory, Week 6, Day 1
June 24, 2025
a place to fill in this world
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-place-to-fill-in-this-world.html
Edited June 24, 2025
I didn’t trust You to protect me – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/i-didnt-trust-you-to-protect-me-v2.html
#bullying in elementary school
June 23, 2025
I forgive You God
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/i-forgive-you-god.html
bullying in elementary school
June 23, 2025
You didn’t protect me
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/you-didnt-protect-me.html
bullying in elementary school
June 23, 2025
Why isn’t God’s love enough
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/why-isnt-gods-love-enough.html
bullying in elementary school
 
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, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. 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, God, Christ, Spirit, love, grace, regeneration, Jeremiah 15, Jeremiah 17, prayer, confession,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #prayer #confession

bathed with doubt

in seasons of dryness
buffeted by torment
feeling apart from God
lost in this life…
 
bathed in doubt
far from living waters
in seasons of darkness
feeling apart from God…
 
planting roots deeper
by streams of living water
drinking deeply, richly,
from the fount of God’s love…
 
in seasons of dryness
bearing fruit of abundance
waters filling each of us,
even in times of drought…
 
==============
June 23, 2025
bathed with doubt
 
Sermon, “Fear, Faith, and Social Skills”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAWefYFnWns
Based on #Jeremiah15:10
Based on Jeremiah 15:16
Based on Jeremiah 15:18b
Based on #Jeremiah17:5-8
“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, by T.S. Eliot
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/44212/the-love-song-of-j-alfred-prufrock
North Hills Church
Edited June 23, 2025
deeper roots – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/deeper-roots-v2.html
June 23, 2025
deeper roots
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/deeper-roots.html
Edited June 22, 2025
A dolphin in the world – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-dolphin-in-world-v3.html
June 22, 2025
dancing with the mermaids
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/dancing-with-mermaids.html
June 22, 2025
wearing a mask
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/wearing-mask.html
June 22, 2025
fearing the truth, nakedness
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/fearing-truth-nakedness.html
June 22, 2025
fear of man
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/fear-of-man.html
June 22, 2025
yearning for a new bottom
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/yearning-for-new-bottom-risking.html
June 22, 2025
abiding in iniquity
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/abiding-in-iniquity.html
June 22, 2025
grabbing ahold of ether
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/grabbing-ahold-of-ether.html
June 22, 2025
seeds of our destruction
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/seeds-of-our-destruction.html
Edited June 22, 2025
in the person of Christ
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/in-person-of-christ-v2.html
Men’s group meeting
Edited June 22, 2025
predestined, created – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/predestined-created.html
Based on #Ephesians1
Men’s group meeting
June 21, 2025
Edited June 20, 2025
The price of atonement – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-price-of-atonement-v2.html
Based on #Psalm51
re:generation, Step 5, Confession, Week 1, large group meeting
Edited June 20, 2025
Satan seeks to destroy me – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/satan-seeks-to-destroy-me-v2.html
Based on #Psalm51
re:generation, Step 5, Confession, Week 1, large group meeting
and re:generation, Step 4, Inventory, Week 6, Day 1
 
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, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. 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, God, Christ, Spirit, love, grace, regeneration, Jeremiah 15, Jeremiah 17, sin, prayer, confession, salvation,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #prayer #sin #confession #salvation

deeper roots – v2

not susceptible to drought
to barren times, to desert,
deeper roots for the trees
planted by living waters…
 
life in abundance
fruit in every dry season
stable, planted, not shallow,
deeper roots of love…
 
so may we be, beloved,
deep, not superficial,
our roots planted deeply
by streams of living water…
 
==============
Edited June 23, 2025
deeper roots – v2
 
Sermon, “Fear, Faith, and Social Skills”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAWefYFnWns
Based on Jeremiah 17:7-8
Based on #Jeremiah17:5-8
“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, by T.S. Eliot
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/44212/the-love-song-of-j-alfred-prufrock
North Hills Church
June 23, 2025
deeper roots
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/deeper-roots.html
Edited June 22, 2025
A dolphin in the world – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-dolphin-in-world-v3.html
June 22, 2025
dancing with the mermaids
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/dancing-with-mermaids.html
June 22, 2025
wearing a mask
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/wearing-mask.html
June 22, 2025
fearing the truth, nakedness
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/fearing-truth-nakedness.html
June 22, 2025
fear of man
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/fear-of-man.html
June 22, 2025
yearning for a new bottom
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/yearning-for-new-bottom-risking.html
June 22, 2025
abiding in iniquity
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/abiding-in-iniquity.html
June 22, 2025
grabbing ahold of ether
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/grabbing-ahold-of-ether.html
June 22, 2025
seeds of our destruction
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/seeds-of-our-destruction.html
Edited June 22, 2025
in the person of Christ
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/in-person-of-christ-v2.html
Men’s group meeting
Edited June 22, 2025
predestined, created – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/predestined-created.html
Based on #Ephesians1
Men’s group meeting
June 21, 2025
Edited June 20, 2025
The price of atonement – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-price-of-atonement-v2.html
Based on #Psalm51
re:generation, Step 5, Confession, Week 1, large group meeting
Edited June 20, 2025
Satan seeks to destroy me – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/satan-seeks-to-destroy-me-v2.html
Based on #Psalm51
re:generation, Step 5, Confession, Week 1, large group meeting
and re:generation, Step 4, Inventory, Week 6, Day 1
 
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, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. 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, God, Christ, Spirit, love, grace, regeneration, Jeremiah 15, Jeremiah 17, sin, prayer, confession, salvation,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #prayer #sin #confession #salvation

deeper roots

not susceptible to drought
to barren times, to desert,
deeper roots for the trees
planted by living waters…
 
a life of abundance
fruit even in dry seasons
stable, not shallow,
deeper roots of love…
 
so may we be,
deep, not superficial,
roots planted deeply
by streams of living water…
 
==============
June 23, 2025
deeper roots
 
Sermon, “Fear, Faith, and Social Skills”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAWefYFnWns
Based on Jeremiah 17:7-8
Based on #Jeremiah17:5-8
“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, by T.S. Eliot
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/44212/the-love-song-of-j-alfred-prufrock
North Hills Church
Edited June 22, 2025
A dolphin in the world – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-dolphin-in-world-v3.html
June 22, 2025
dancing with the mermaids
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/dancing-with-mermaids.html
June 22, 2025
wearing a mask
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/wearing-mask.html
June 22, 2025
fearing the truth, nakedness
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/fearing-truth-nakedness.html
June 22, 2025
fear of man
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/fear-of-man.html
June 22, 2025
yearning for a new bottom
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/yearning-for-new-bottom-risking.html
June 22, 2025
abiding in iniquity
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/abiding-in-iniquity.html
June 22, 2025
grabbing ahold of ether
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/grabbing-ahold-of-ether.html
June 22, 2025
seeds of our destruction
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/seeds-of-our-destruction.html
Edited June 22, 2025
in the person of Christ
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/in-person-of-christ-v2.html
Men’s group meeting
Edited June 22, 2025
predestined, created – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/predestined-created.html
Based on #Ephesians1
Men’s group meeting
June 21, 2025
Edited June 20, 2025
The price of atonement – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-price-of-atonement-v2.html
Based on #Psalm51
re:generation, Step 5, Confession, Week 1, large group meeting
Edited June 20, 2025
Satan seeks to destroy me – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/satan-seeks-to-destroy-me-v2.html
Based on #Psalm51
re:generation, Step 5, Confession, Week 1, large group meeting
and re:generation, Step 4, Inventory, Week 6, Day 1
 
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, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. 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, God, Christ, Spirit, love, grace, regeneration, Jeremiah 15, Jeremiah 17, sin, prayer, confession, salvation,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #prayer #sin #confession #salvation

dripping with the blood of Jesus

we forget the victory

the price Jesus paid

we think we are alone

we fear the darkness

yet we are dripping, washed,

with the blood of Jesus

we are alive, we live

because our Savior died

why are we so melancholy

why do we let the darkness win

when Christ has won the victory

and by His blood we live.

====

August 13, 2014

dripping with the blood of Jesus

Devozine for July 28, 2014 to August 3, 2014

www.devozine.org

“+wilderness”

&

5-second prayer, “God, see us through the wilderness. Amen”

&

Jeremiah 15:18a

“A Wilderness of Suffering”

devotion by Salina Sheard

and listen to song:

“Jesus Paid It All”

http://devozine.upperroom.org/community/jesus-paid/

for July 31, 2014

read July 31, 2014

&

James 4:14 (NRSV)

“Tomorrow”

devotion by Melinda Perry

&

“Reflect”

by Elizabeth Mann

for July 30, 2014

read July 30, 2014

&

Deuteronomy 32:10 (CEB)

Genesis 21:8-21

Exodus 13:17-22

Matthew 4:1-11

“In the Wilderness”

devotion by Erin Burke

&

Pray Psalm 136:3a, 15 (NRSV)

&

Listen to Hillsong’s “Desert Song”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WYK6TxWX7s

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/hillsongunited/desertsong.html

(not precisely the same lyrics as the live performance above)

for July 29, 2014

read July 29, 2014

&

Patten Methodist Youth Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/pattenmethodistyouth/

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stetson-Memorial-United-Methodist-Church/174161846023512

Patten, ME

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. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 31,680+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

hearing their pain

within their words

their moments of silence

hearing their pain

their prayers unspoken

seeing their eyes

their pursed lips

the pain overwhelming

stopping them in their tracks.

====

August 7, 2014

hearing their pain

Devozine for July 28, 2014 to August 3, 2014

www.devozine.org

“+wilderness”

&

Jeremiah 15:18a

“A Wilderness of Suffering”

devotion by Salina Sheard

https://www.facebook.com/salina.sheard

http://www.theknot.com/wedding/Kyle-and-Salina

and listen to song:

“Jesus Paid It All”

http://devozine.upperroom.org/community/jesus-paid/

&

5-second prayer, “God, see us through the wilderness. Amen”

for July 31, 2014

read July 31, 2014

&

James 4:14 (NRSV)

“Tomorrow”

devotion by Melinda Perry

&

“Reflect”

by Elizabeth Mann

for July 30, 2014

read July 30, 2014

&

Deuteronomy 32:10 (CEB)

Genesis 21:8-21

Exodus 13:17-22

Matthew 4:1-11

“In the Wilderness”

devotion by Erin Burke

&

Pray Psalm 136:3a, 15 (NRSV)

&

Listen to Hillsong’s “Desert Song”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WYK6TxWX7s

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/hillsongunited/desertsong.html

(not precisely the same lyrics as the live performance above)

for July 29, 2014

read July 29, 2014

&

Patten Methodist Youth Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/pattenmethodistyouth/

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stetson-Memorial-United-Methodist-Church/174161846023512

Patten, ME

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 for usage. See all 36,500+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.