Our Enemies Are Welcome – v4

We are to be faithful

going where God sends us.

God wants relationship

with all people, with everyone.

Our enemies are welcome

into the family of God

If they turn at His calling

just like you and me.

God’s love is unending

His grace sublime

All are called to Him

away from the world.

We are happy for all who change

all who follow when He calls

We welcome them too

into the family of God.

-----

edited February 23, 2015

Our Enemies Are Welcome – v4

(merging edits to version 3 and version 2)

edited November 2, 2014

Our Enemies Are Welcome – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/11/our-enemies-are-welcome-v3.html

(editing original againg)

edited July 20, 2014

Our Enemies Are Welcome – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/07/our-enemies-are-welcome-v2.html

October 16, 2010

Our Enemies Are Welcome

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/10/our-enemies-are-welcome.html

Jonah 1-4

Obadiah 1:10-21; Jonah; Micah 1-3

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/reading.cgi?plan=straight&ver=NAS

Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study

for October 1, 2010,

read October 14, 2010 and October 16, 2010

&

status on Neven Hanna’s Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=539960654

“Do not ask the Lord to Guide your Footsteps

if you are not willing to move your Feet' ENJ”

http://www.facebook.com/raymond.a.foss#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=157577904275737&id=539960654&notif_t=like

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 36,050+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Our Enemies Are Welcome – v3

We are to be faithful

going where God sends us

He wants relationship

with all people

Our enemies are welcome

into the family of God

If they turn at His calling

just like you and me

God’s love is unending

His grace sublime

All are called to Him

away from the world

We are happy for all who change

all who follow when He calls

-----

edited November 2, 2014

Our Enemies Are Welcome – v3

(editing original againg)

edited July 20, 2014

Our Enemies Are Welcome – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/07/our-enemies-are-welcome-v2.html

October 16, 2010

Our Enemies Are Welcome

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/10/our-enemies-are-welcome.html

Jonah 1-4

Obadiah 1:10-21; Jonah; Micah 1-3

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/reading.cgi?plan=straight&ver=NAS

Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study

for October 1, 2010,

read October 14, 2010 and October 16, 2010

&

status on Neven Hanna’s Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=539960654

“Do not ask the Lord to Guide your Footsteps

if you are not willing to move your Feet' ENJ”

http://www.facebook.com/raymond.a.foss#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=157577904275737&id=539960654&notif_t=like

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 33,240+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Following our own instincts

forgive us, oh God

when we stray from your path

following our own instincts

going astray, lost in the world

show us the way once again

lead me back to the path you created

your plan for my life

I am willful, stubborn;

I ignore the light.

----

September 12, 2014

Following our own instincts

Jonah 1:3

Proverbs 3:1-12

“Running Away”

devotion by Rosemary Feull

Upper Room Daily Devotional

for September 5, 2014

read September 5, 2014

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 32,150+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Our Enemies Are Welcome – v2

We are to be faithful,

going where God sends us.

He wants relationship

with all people, everyone.

Our enemies are welcome

into the family, truly,

If they turn at His calling

just like you and me.

God’s love unending

His grace sublime

All called to Him

away from the world.

Happy for all who change

and who follow when He calls.

-----

edited July 20, 2014

Our Enemies Are Welcome – v2

October 16, 2010

Our Enemies Are Welcome

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/10/our-enemies-are-welcome.html

Jonah 1-4

Obadiah 1:10-21; Jonah; Micah 1-3

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/reading.cgi?plan=straight&ver=NAS

Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study

for October 1, 2010,

read October 14, 2010 and October 16, 2010

&

status on Neven Hanna’s Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=539960654

“Do not ask the Lord to Guide your Footsteps

if you are not willing to move your Feet' ENJ”

http://www.facebook.com/raymond.a.foss#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=157577904275737&id=539960654&notif_t=like

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 31,240+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Time Truly Set Apart – v2

Jonah, in the tomb
the belly of the fish
time truly set apart
spending time with God
thinking about his circumstance
the mercy of the king
changing his heart completely
worshiping the king
going to that distant land
offering God’s grace
serving boldly
yet struggling with faith

edited February 25, 2012
changing the spelling from “worshipped” to “worshiped”,
because Blogger and Twitter said “worshipped” is a misspelling.
&
May 15, 2011
Jonah 1, 3-4
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Psalm 66 NRSV (Call to Worship)
Worship Theme: “Ministering to Unlikely and Unlikable people”
and sermon: “A Fish Story: The One that Didn’t Get Away”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
May 15, 2011
Fourth Sunday of Easter
&
Walk to Emmaus
http://www.upperroom.org/emmaus/
Luke 24:13-35
grace
means of grace
baptism
Luke 15:11-32
Prodigal Son
Mark 10:17-31
The Parable of the Rich Man

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 16,140+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Questions from Jonah

The words of the sermon
questions from Jonah
from the lessons of his redemption
from his stubborn refusal
to serve his Master
our Creator, our God
to turn and go as he was called
to help to save them all

May 16, 2011
Jonah 1, 3-4
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Psalm 66 NRSV (Call to Worship)
Worship Theme: “Ministering to Unlikely and Unlikable people”
and sermon: “A Fish Story: The One that Didn’t Get Away”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
May 15, 2011
Fourth Sunday of Easter


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 11,790+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.

Living in Nineveh

Are we silent
refusing to be a prophet
failing to serve
living in silence

Are we like Jonah
living in Nineveh
commissioned by God
yet refusing to speak his word

May 16, 2011
Jonah 1, 3-4
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Psalm 66 NRSV (Call to Worship)
Worship Theme: “Ministering to Unlikely and Unlikable people”
and sermon: “A Fish Story: The One that Didn’t Get Away”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
May 15, 2011
Fourth Sunday of Easter


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 11,790+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.

Going to Nineveh

Going to that foreign land
hostile, where our enemies live
faithful to God
that they may live

Needing to be humble
to submit to God
to go where we are called
to give God our all

May 16, 2011
Jonah 1, 3-4
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Psalm 66 NRSV (Call to Worship)
Worship Theme: “Ministering to Unlikely and Unlikable people”
and sermon: “A Fish Story: The One that Didn’t Get Away”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
May 15, 2011
Fourth Sunday of Easter


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 11,790+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.

Part of the Lesson Missing

The prayer omitted
the scripture chosen
yet part of the lesson missing
by leaving out his prayer

God speaking
healing his brokenness
in the grave of the whale
the time set apart

Jonah changed
submitting to God’s will
feeling his presence
a prophet remaining still

Going to Nineveh
even if reluctantly
submitting to God
faithful to his will
May 16, 2011
Jonah 2
&
Jonah 1, 3-4
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Psalm 66 NRSV (Call to Worship)
Worship Theme: “Ministering to Unlikely and Unlikable people”
and sermon: “A Fish Story: The One that Didn’t Get Away”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
May 15, 2011
Fourth Sunday of Easter


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 11,780+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.

Going to Joppa

We are so often rebellious
running to a distant country
going to Joppa
away from our calling
the wooing of God
going into the world
eaten by the fish
the sin of our own choosing
storms in our lives


May 15, 2011
Jonah 1, 3-4
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Psalm 66 NRSV (Call to Worship)
Worship Theme: “Ministering to Unlikely and Unlikable people”
and sermon: “A Fish Story: The One that Didn’t Get Away”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
May 15, 2011
Fourth Sunday of Easter
&
Walk to Emmaus
http://www.upperroom.org/emmaus/
Luke 24:13-35
grace
means of grace
baptism
Fourth Day
Luke 15:11-32
Prodigal Son
Mark 10:17-31
The Parable of the Rich Man


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 11,770+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.

In the Grave of the Fish

For the three days
set apart
in the stillness of the waters
in the grave of the fish

Being changed,
transformed
in the belly of the beast
into a servant of God

Rising from the depths
put upon the shore
sent to save his enemies
at the will of God

May 15, 2011
Jonah 1, 3-4
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Psalm 66 NRSV (Call to Worship)
Worship Theme: “Ministering to Unlikely and Unlikable people”
and sermon: “A Fish Story: The One that Didn’t Get Away”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
May 15, 2011
Fourth Sunday of Easter
&
Walk to Emmaus
http://www.upperroom.org/emmaus/
Luke 24:13-35
grace
means of grace
baptism
Fourth Day
Luke 15:11-32
Prodigal Son
Mark 10:17-31
The Parable of the Rich Man



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 11,770+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.

Time Truly Set Apart

Jonah, in the tomb
the belly of the fish
time truly set apart
spending time with God
thinking about his circumstance
the mercy of the king
changing his heart completely
worshipping the king
going to that distant land
offering God’s grace
serving boldly
yet struggling with faith

May 15, 2011
Jonah 1, 3-4
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Psalm 66 NRSV (Call to Worship)
Worship Theme: “Ministering to Unlikely and Unlikable people”
and sermon: “A Fish Story: The One that Didn’t Get Away”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
May 15, 2011
Fourth Sunday of Easter
&
Walk to Emmaus
http://www.upperroom.org/emmaus/
Luke 24:13-35
grace
means of grace
baptism
Luke 15:11-32
Prodigal Son
Mark 10:17-31
The Parable of the Rich Man



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 11,770+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.

Giving Back a Portion

From all we have been given
giving back a portion
some of the gifts of God
an opportunity of faith
of trusting in You
giving of ourselves
of the gifts that come from You.


May 15, 2011
offering
&
Jonah 1, 3-4
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Psalm 66 NRSV (Call to Worship)
Worship Theme: “Ministering to Unlikely and Unlikable people”
and sermon: “A Fish Story: The One that Didn’t Get Away”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
May 15, 2011
Fourth Sunday of Easter


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 11,770+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.

Our Enemies Are Welcome

We are to be faithful
going where God sends us
He wants relationship
with all people
Our enemies are welcome
into the family
If they turn at His calling
just like you and me
God’s love unending
His grace sublime
All called to Him
away from the world
Happy for all who change
and who follow when He calls

October 16, 2010
Jonah 1-4
Obadiah 1:10-21; Jonah; Micah 1-3
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/reading.cgi?plan=straight&ver=NAS
Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study
for October 1, 2010,
read October 14, 2010 and October 16, 2010
&
status on Neven Hanna’s Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=539960654
“Do not ask the Lord to Guide your Footsteps
if you are not willing to move your Feet' ENJ”
http://www.facebook.com/raymond.a.foss#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=157577904275737&id=539960654¬if_t=like


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 19,120+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Nothing Impossible

Nothing impossible
creator of heaven and earth
immaculate conception
the parting of the seas
Dry bones in the desert
Jonah leaving the whale
Christ rising from the dead

All of these
for the God of creation
the God of love
nothing impossible
life, eternity


February 6, 2010
Matthew 1:23
Luke 1:34-38
Luke 1:37
and Day 145, “The Supernatural Event”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
read 2/6/10



Copyright by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Contact me at Ray Foss
for usage.

Out of the Whale

Swallowed up in the world
the way of our sin
eaten whole, alive
our lives entombed
in our will, in our sin
denying the path of God

Out of the whale
we are able to come
given a second, third chance by God
to turn from our paths
and follow his chosen way
going with him
where we are called
this we hope, we pray

Worth the effort
each one of us
until we harken to him
the one God pursuing us
all of our days
waiting, hopeful
right by our side
that we will turn to him


February 1, 2010
Jonah 1:17
Jonah 2:9
and Day 135, “God of the Second Chance”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
read 2/1/10