“I’m not who you think I am” – v5

So much a part of each of our stories,
standing before God, twisted, torn within us,
blurting out in pain, an accusation, angry,
a curse against God, finally spoken….
These words of clarity, of truth,
words spoken by God to each of us,
shattering our myths, our perceptions,
our limited understanding of God.
 
“I’m not who you think I am,
my child, my beloved;
I am not distant, stern,
I am not indifferent,
to your pain, your struggle;
I have never left you,
I never left Jesus, anyone;
I am right beside you now.”
 
These words of love, of mercy, seeking,
to cut through our pain, our anger,
to open our eyes to the truth
to the true nature of God.
The well of infinite love
with mercy, grace to heal us,
hope within God’s hands,
to bring us back to life.
 
================

Edited January 27, 2024

I am not who you think I am – v5

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/01/im-not-who-you-think-i-am-v5.html 

edited April 29, 2017
“I’m not who you think I am – v4
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/04/im-not-who-you-think-i-am-v4.html
(editing version 3)
page 98
Chapter 6
“A piece of π”
The Shack, by William P. Young
http://www.theshackbook.com
http://www.theshack.movie/
&
edited April 10, 2017
I’m not who you think I am” – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/04/im-not-who-you-think-i-am-v3.html
(editing original)
page 98
Chapter 6
“A piece of π”
&
edited April 9, 2017
“I’m not who you think I am” – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/04/im-not-who-you-think-i-am-v2.html
page 98
Chapter 6
“A piece of π”
&
April 9, 2017
“I’m not who you think I am”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/04/im-not-who-you-think-i-am.html
page 98
Chapter 6
“A piece of π”
&
January 27, 2024
I am not lost
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/01/i-am-not-lost.html
Edited January 27, 2024
I feel totally lost – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/01/i-feel-totally-lost-v2.html
April 9, 2017
I feel totally lost
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/04/i-feel-totally-lost.html
page 98
Chapter 6
“A piece of π”

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 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, faith, God, God’s purpose, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, Christ, father, son, love, The Shack, trinity, Holy Spirit, wisdom, Proverbs, light, garden, dance, grace, prevenient grace,
 
#poetry #faith #God #purpose #Christ #father #son #love #TheShack #trinity #Spirit #mother #Savior #dance #grace #prevenientgrace

loved beyond measure

worth dying for
#beloved, of #sacred worth,
a #God-given #purpose
as we walk in this life

loved beyond measure
by our #Father
#blessed to be a #blessing
this side of #heaven

#coronavirus #Hope #love #poetry #poem #COVID19 #Jeremiah29:11

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 and 2020. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 52,540+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

the comfort of our baggage

carrying the same weight
becoming so familiar
the comfort of our baggage
stones upon our lives

needing to leave them behind us
at the altar of #God
paid at the cross of #Jesus
raised from our earthly grave

https://t.co/uzXBFxyC7K @PastorRuthFoss #8AMLive #COVID19 #hope #pandemic #America #poetry #poem

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 and 2020. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 52,540+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

the God of Abraham

the #God of #Abraham
of #Love, of real #Faith
holding us closely
showering us with #Grace

the God who walks beside us
as close as #Breath,
guides us in each moment
trusting He is right.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2096806100400276/permalink/3066582436755966/ @PastorRuthFoss #8AMLive #church #COVID19 #God #hope #Jesus #poetry #poem #pandemic #America

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 and 2020. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 52,540+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

undeserved, unmerited favor

undeserved, unmerited favor
redeemed from death
from the wages of sin
raised from the grave, the pit
through #Christ's death and resurrection

undeserved, unmerited favor
a life of #goodness, of #blessing
walking in the footsteps
in the way, the path
of our risen Lord and Savior

https://t.co/2Hqtd52WfD #COVID19 #poem #poetry @PastorRuthFoss #fear #faith #hope #grace #gratitude

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 and 2020. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 52,540+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

God pursues me

God pursues me

woos me to Him

God wants me to walk

in the cool of the garden.

Goodness and Mercy

personified, alive, seeking,

calling to me to follow

the way of the Christ.

---------------------  

March 30, 2020

God pursues me

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/03/god-pursues-me.html

https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1244624704310304768

https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1244624000598323204

posted as reply to Marco Rubio post:

https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1244623514147131392

March 30, 2020

Marco Rubio Twitter post

https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1244615995232305152

“Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life;

I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days.

Psalms 23:6”

my response:

https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1244618759110905859

“The image of #God's #Goodness and God's #Mercy personified

and pursuing us, God's #prevenient #grace coming for us,

is so exciting a thought. God is like the prodigal father searching

for us to come home. such a powerful verse of scripture.

Amen. #Psalm23:6”

&

edited March 30, 2020

live at peace – v2

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/03/live-at-peace-v2.html

https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1244616347243421696

https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1244615152969887745

March 30, 2020

live at peace

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/03/live-at-peace.html

https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1244608690260512768

https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1244608111639433217  

March 30, 2020

8AM Live

https://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss/videos/10220748493129878/

Romans 12:18

"If it be possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men."  

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

8AM Live

https://8amlive.wordpress.com/

meditation blog

http://pstrfoss.wordpress.com/

“God’s Whisper” blog

&

March 29, 2020

8AM Live

https://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss/videos/10220736224743176/

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

8AM Live

https://8amlive.wordpress.com/

meditation blog

http://pstrfoss.wordpress.com/

“God’s Whisper” blog

&

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 and 2020. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 52,700+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Christ, neighbor, love, God, Spirit,  peace,  hope,  comfort,  compassion,  prayer, poem, 8AM Live, Pastor Ruth Foss, grateful, heart, trust, Psalm 23, Psalm 23:6, prevenient grace, grace, kindness, mercy,

#Christ #neighbor #love #prevenient #grace #God #Spirit #peace #hope #comfort #8AMLive #poem #poetry #Psalm23:6 #kindness #mercy

Staring at My Sin – v2

Under the Law,

rules laid down

staring at my sin

so much of our lives;

where I have failed

to follow each letter

each verse of the Law

Only by grace

the sacrifice of the Son

the love of our Father, God;

walking with the Spirit

indwelling within me

only then able to see

the face of God

---------------------------------

edited March 22, 2020

Staring at My Sin – v2

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/03/staring-at-my-sin-v2.html

https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1242060082629705728

stanza 1 – https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1242059027997220864

stanza 2 – https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1242059663790813191

February 9, 2010

Staring at My Sin

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/02/staring-at-my-sin.html

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 and 2020. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 52,660+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Faith, God, Christ, salvation, redeemed, grace, love, law, judgment, Raymond A. Foss, Poetry Where You Live, Messiah, savior, prevenient grace, justifying grace, Torah, Spirit,

#Faith #God #Christ #Spirit #salvation #redeemed #grace #love #law #judgment #poetry #poem #Messiah #savior #prevenientgrace #justifyinggrace #Torah

Rough-Hewn Stone - v3

All of us on a journey

with Christ on our side

the Spirit indwelling

pure and perfect

rough-hewn stone

on the outside

needing to be made holy,

Working ever

to smooth the rough edges

to walk closer to Him

following our Savior

all the days of our lives

nearer to God

so we pray to be.

===============

edited November 1, 2018

Rough-Hewn Stone – v3

edited May 1, 2010

Rough-Hewn Stone – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/05/rough-hewn-stone-v2.html

May 1, 2010

Rough-Hewn Stone

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/05/rough-hewn-stone.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_perfection

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevenient_grace

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justification_%28theology%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctification

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 47,960 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Faith, God, Christ, love, grace, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, disciples, United Methodist, heaven, family, haiku, prevenient grace, sanctifying grace, justifying grace, perfection, stone

#Faith #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #disciples #UnitedMethodist #heaven #family #haiku #prevenientgrace #sanctifyinggrace #justifyinggrace #perfection #stone

Water Shaping Stone – v5

His life changed, over time

like water shaping stone,

carving the rock

the force of a torrent,

the crash of the waves,

the etching of the ice moving;

but shaping stone too,

with the droplets of waters

the summer rains,

the trickles down the mountainside

slowly, surely, over geological time

(or so it seemed from the outside)

cutting into the stone,

in little cleft points,

places where faith can gather

a foothold, create good soil,

slowly, over time,

seeds can find a purchase,

scales can be flaked away

and change came, for him

and for all of us

------

edited September 18, 2018

Water Shaping Stone – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2018/09/water-shaping-stone-v5.html

edited February 11, 2014

“Water Shaping Stone – v4”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/02/water-shaping-stone-v4.html

(editing original again)

Edited September 1, 2012

 “Water Shaping Stone – v3”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/09/water-shaping-stone-v3.html

Edited September 1, 2012

“Water Shaping Stone – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/09/water-shaping-stone-v2.html

April 7, 2008

“Water Shaping Stone”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/04/water-shaping-stone.html

Walk to Emmaus

&

edited September 18, 2018

in small things – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2018/09/in-small-things-v2.html

September 27, 2014

drafted September 20, 2014

in small things

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/09/in-small-things.html

September 15, 2014 to September 21, 2014

“+we got the power”

Devozine for September and October 2014

&

“We Got the Power! Weekend!”

devotion “When Your Power Isn’t Loud”

by Sarah Martindell

devotion for September 20, 2014

read September 20, 2014

&

Mark 16:15 (GNT)

devotion “Proclaiming Good News”

by Kristin O’Connor

devotion for September 19, 2014

read September 19, 2014

&

Mark 9:22 (CEV)

devotion “Possible with God”

by Perrie Tatum

and “Reflection on Philippians 4:13 (NRSV)

by Robert Montgomery

devotion for September 18, 2014

read September 18, 2014

&

Psalm 16:1 (NIV)

devotion “The Power of Green”

by Richard Lawton

about Victor Harbor

and creation of “The Green Team”

in Australia

devotion for September 17, 2014

read September 18, 2014

&

John 6:28 (CEV)

devotion “The Power to Change Lives”

by Alyssa Liljequist

devotion for September 16, 2014

read September 18, 2014

&

1 Timothy 4:12

devotion “Examples of God’s Love”

by Kaylee Reid

and “Reflect on a Song”

“Chosen Generation”

by Chris Tomlin

devotion for September 15, 2014

read September 18, 2014

&

edited September 18, 2018

Water Shaping Stone – 2 – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2018/09/water-shaping-stone-2-v4.html

edited February 18, 2014

“Water Shaping Stone – 2 – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/02/water-shaping-stone-2-v3.html

(editing version 2)

edited other poem February 11, 2014

“Water Shaping Stone – v4”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/02/water-shaping-stone-v4.html

edited October 23, 2013

“Water Shaping Stone – 2 – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/water-shaping-stone-2-v2.html

Edited, new poem October 23, 2013

“Water Shaping Stone – 2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/water-shaping-stone-2.html

Edited September 1, 2012

“Water Shaping Stone – v3”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/09/water-shaping-stone-v3.html

Edited September 1, 2012

 “Water Shaping Stone – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/09/water-shaping-stone-v2.html

April 7, 2008

“Water Shaping Stone”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/04/water-shaping-stone.html

Walk to Emmaus

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 47,670 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Christ, creator, Emmaus, Faith, God, hope, ice, justifying grace, life, Luke 24, Luke 24:13-35, Methodist, mountain, Poetry Where You Live, prevenient grace, rock, stone, Walk to Emmaus, water,

#Christ #creator #Emmaus #Faith #God #hope #ice #justifying #life #Luke24 #Methodist #mountain #prevenient