Monday, April 15, 2013

a prayer for help – 2 – v3


looking forward
in the future tense
a prayer for assistance
a prayer to God
for help in the journey
our lives in His hands

seeking, reaching
looking forward
for God’s promise
our future already planned
because God will be with us
his hand to protect us


------
Edited April 15, 2013
“a prayer for help – 2 – v3”
Edited March 21, 2013
“a prayer for help – 2 – v2”
March 17, 2013
“a prayer for help – 2”
“The Fifth Sunday in Lent”
Psalm 126 (The Message)
Upper Room Disciplines for 2013
March 11, 2013 to March 17, 2013
“Looking Back, Going Forward”
by K. Cherie Jones
for March 17, 2013
read March 17, 2013

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 22,810+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Like whispers on the rice paper – v4



Our lives, our journey
a moment, a breath, only
walking on stepping stones
some of them hidden
under sands of time;
Ripples under the surface
swirling waters, ashes,
the chaos, the world
alive with color

Our steps like whispers on rice paper
leaving faint impressions
or more boldly, vivid
footprints, cracks, sharp edges;
Sometimes even tears in the seams
marks on the path, the footfalls,
briars and brambles nick at our flesh;
but we are journeying forward together.
We are following our Lord.


====
Edited April 15, 2013
“Like whispers on the rice paper – v4”
Edited August 15, 2012
“Like whispers on the rice paper – v3”
February 17, 2012
“Like whispers on the rice paper – v2”
lWednesday evening worship
Fourth of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
Third Sunday: Stepping Stones
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
February 15, 2012
&
Wednesday evening worship
Third of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
Third Sunday: Silence
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
February 8, 2012
&
Wednesday evening worship
Second of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
Second Sunday: Bumpy Bead
1 John 4:7-21
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
January 25, 2012
&
Wednesday evening worship
start of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
First Sunday: God
Psalm 105:1-6
Isaiah 56:1-8
Acts 17:22-32
poem, “Pied Beauty”,
by Gerard Manley Hopkins
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
January 11, 2012

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 22,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Like a skin of the drum – v3



A bit of fabric, moving
azure, indigo, violet, blackness
living, shimmering, sequined
like a new skin of a drum
pulled into position, new music
hands of God, pulling, drawing
stretching the tent of the heavens
over the dome, the foundation

God’s design, the framework of creation
living, arc of the heavenly firmament
seeking to show us majesty, God’s glory
shooting stars across the night sky
etched into its surface, permanent while fleeting
a sound reverberating, a skin resounding
the drum of the dome, moving
over the foundation, the earth


====
Edited April 15, 2013
“Like a skin of the drum – v3”
February 7, 2012
reworked poem, from the earlier poem
“Like a skin of the drum – v2”
edited February 7, 2012
“Like a skin of the drum”
February 3, 2012
Isaiah 40:22
Isaiah 40:21-28
Isaiah 40:21-31
Upper Room Disciplines for 2012
January 30, 2012 to February 5, 2012,
“Rediscovering God’s Presence”
by Dion Forsten             
scripture and meditation for January 30, 2012
read January 30, 2012

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 22,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

I breathe


In and out
an unconscious rhythm
a dance, a movement
in meter and time
I breathe in laughter
love overwhelming
I breathe out indigo, magenta
so many colors
I breathe the sunfall, the moonrise
the sparkle all around me
the wonder of life
in color and motion
in and out, breathing
what joy in my soul


April 15, 2013
inspired by reading the poem,
“Breathing the World”,
by Michael Shorb,
and the discussion at
Spirit study led by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH              
April 14, 2013


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 22,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Chased by God

God’s Goodness, God’s Mercy
pursuing, wooing
Chased by God
to heal my brokenness
So I my enter his kingdom
his holy temple
To accept the gift offered
his life on the cross
Chased by God ever
God’s Beauty, God’s Love
his holy mission
His Spirit abiding
filling my soul


------
April 15, 2013
Psalm 23:6 (The Message)
Psalm 23
Upper Room Disciplines for 2013
April 15, 2013 to April 21, 2013
“Goodness and Mercy”
by Cheryl Somers-Ingersol
for April 15, 2013
read April 15, 2013

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 22,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

a new understanding of reincarnation



the dust from which we come
from dust to dust
from dust we rise
new life from the dust
a new understanding of reincarnation
recycling the same dust
from the ashes we come
to the ashes we return
from the ashes our progeny come
all creatures here on earth


=----------------
April 14, 2013
Worship Theme: “Amazing Grace”
Revelations 5:11-14 (The Message Bible)
John 21:1-19 (English Standard Version Bible)
Act 9:1-6 (Common English Bible)
Call to Worship (Psalm 30:1-2, 4, 12a (CEB))
Unison Prayer (Worship & Song 2011)
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD April 2013)
Message for Children - “different ways to say I love you”
and sermon “Christianity: A Very Worldly Religion”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
April 14, 2013
Third Sunday of Easter
Eastertide

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 22,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

polluting the stuff of ourselves



the dust, the earth
what we come from
the earth, the future
in the balance, our hands
polluting the ground,
the air, the water
the stuff of ourselves
held by us, a promise
at risk, on the brink
because of our choices


=----------------
April 14, 2013
Worship Theme: “Amazing Grace”
Revelations 5:11-14 (The Message Bible)
John 21:1-19 (English Standard Version Bible)
Act 9:1-6 (Common English Bible)
Call to Worship (Psalm 30:1-2, 4, 12a (CEB))
Unison Prayer (Worship & Song 2011)
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD April 2013)
Message for Children - “different ways to say I love you”
and sermon “Christianity: A Very Worldly Religion”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
April 14, 2013
Third Sunday of Easter
Eastertide

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 22,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

killing our children



blind to the consequence
too arrogant, to selfish
to care, to change our path
killing our children
our progeny, generations
unseen, in the future
we too are bound for the dust
from which they will spring


=----------------
April 14, 2013
Worship Theme: “Amazing Grace”
Revelations 5:11-14 (The Message Bible)
John 21:1-19 (English Standard Version Bible)
Act 9:1-6 (Common English Bible)
Call to Worship (Psalm 30:1-2, 4, 12a (CEB))
Unison Prayer (Worship & Song 2011)
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD April 2013)
Message for Children - “different ways to say I love you”
and sermon “Christianity: A Very Worldly Religion”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
April 14, 2013
Third Sunday of Easter
Eastertide

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 22,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

killing our progeny



mindless destruction
the dust without life
killing our progeny
those who will follow
pollution the garden
which we are to tend
our future in jeopardy
our lives bound with them


=----------------
April 14, 2013
Worship Theme: “Amazing Grace”
Revelations 5:11-14 (The Message Bible)
John 21:1-19 (English Standard Version Bible)
Act 9:1-6 (Common English Bible)
Call to Worship (Psalm 30:1-2, 4, 12a (CEB))
Unison Prayer (Worship & Song 2011)
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD April 2013)
Message for Children - “different ways to say I love you”
and sermon “Christianity: A Very Worldly Religion”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
April 14, 2013
Third Sunday of Easter
Eastertide

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 22,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

destroying our children


our progeny now the dust
as we were and will be
by being failed stewards
their lives in jeopardy
destroying our children
their place in the sun
the dust at risk, dying
because of the choice of each one


=----------------
April 14, 2013
Worship Theme: “Amazing Grace”
Revelations 5:11-14 (The Message Bible)
John 21:1-19 (English Standard Version Bible)
Act 9:1-6 (Common English Bible)
Call to Worship (Psalm 30:1-2, 4, 12a (CEB))
Unison Prayer (Worship & Song 2011)
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD April 2013)
Message for Children - “different ways to say I love you”
and sermon “Christianity: A Very Worldly Religion”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
April 14, 2013
Third Sunday of Easter
Eastertide

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 22,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

killing our future



ignoring the planet’s cries
the stuff of the earth
using up, polluting
not seeing its worth
killing our future
for we ourselves are dust
not seeing consequences
in the choices by all of us


=----------------
April 14, 2013
Worship Theme: “Amazing Grace”
Revelations 5:11-14 (The Message Bible)
John 21:1-19 (English Standard Version Bible)
Act 9:1-6 (Common English Bible)
Call to Worship (Psalm 30:1-2, 4, 12a (CEB))
Unison Prayer (Worship & Song 2011)
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD April 2013)
Message for Children - “different ways to say I love you”
and sermon “Christianity: A Very Worldly Religion”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
April 14, 2013
Third Sunday of Easter
Eastertide

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 22,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

pulling against the lead


pulling against the lead
naked, like Peter,
wanting to be faithful
but denying I know him
loving my Savior
my Shepherd, my Brother
but fighting the yoke, restless
not falling to my knees


------
April 14, 2013
John 21:18
“Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish”
Upper Room Disciplines for 2013
April 8, 2013 to April 14, 2013
“Full Disclosure”
by John F. C. Dornheim
for April 12, 2013
read April 14, 2013
&
John 21:1-14
“Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish”
Upper Room Disciplines for 2013
April 8, 2013 to April 14, 2013
“Full Disclosure”
by John F. C. Dornheim
for April 11, 2013
read April 14, 2013

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 22,790+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

ignoring the lash


ignoring the lash
the belt about us
fighting the yoke
the Spirit that guides us
wanting to follow
but pulling in our direction
failing to be faithful
in God’s good creation


------
April 14, 2013
John 21:18
“Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish”
Upper Room Disciplines for 2013
April 8, 2013 to April 14, 2013
“Full Disclosure”
by John F. C. Dornheim
for April 12, 2013
read April 14, 2013
&
John 21:1-14
“Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish”
Upper Room Disciplines for 2013
April 8, 2013 to April 14, 2013
“Full Disclosure”
by John F. C. Dornheim
for April 11, 2013
read April 14, 2013

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 22,790+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

fighting the yoke



choosing submission
but perhaps buyer’s remorse
yanking at the bit
fighting the yoke
wanting to be faithful
but timid, rebellious
fighting the yoke
while working the fields


------
edited February 20, 2016
fighting the yoke – v10
(editing version 2)
edited December 2, 2014
fighting the yoke – v9
(editing version 5)
edited April 5, 2014
fighting the yoke – v8
(editing original again)
Edited December 28, 2013
fighting the yoke – v7
(editing the original again)
Edited November 30, 2013
fighting the yoke – v6
(editing version 5)
Edited September 11, 2013
fighting the yoke – v5
(editing original again)
Edited August 30, 2013
fighting the yoke – v4
(editing original again)
Edited April 15, 2013
“fighting the yoke – v3”
(editing version 2)
Edited April 15, 2013
“fighting the yoke – v2”
April 14, 2013
fighting the yoke
John 21:18
“Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish”
Upper Room Disciplines for 2013
April 8, 2013 to April 14, 2013
“Full Disclosure”
by John F. C. Dornheim
for April 12, 2013
read April 14, 2013
&
John 21:1-14
“Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish”
Upper Room Disciplines for 2013
April 8, 2013 to April 14, 2013
“Full Disclosure”
by John F. C. Dornheim
for April 11, 2013
read April 14, 2013


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. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 41,100+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

yanking at the bit



slow to submit
rebellion and struggle
yanking at the bit
the yoke, the plow
wanting to follow
but resisting the leading
wanting to go it alone
but in that is the struggle


------
April 14, 2013
John 21:18
“Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish”
Upper Room Disciplines for 2013
April 8, 2013 to April 14, 2013
“Full Disclosure”
by John F. C. Dornheim
for April 12, 2013
read April 14, 2013
&
John 21:1-14
“Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish”
Upper Room Disciplines for 2013
April 8, 2013 to April 14, 2013
“Full Disclosure”
by John F. C. Dornheim
for April 11, 2013
read April 14, 2013

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 22,790+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

In the bounty, awareness



in the blessing, the gift
in the bounty, awareness
seeing the risen Christ
the disciples before him
gathering a harvest
all the nations in their hands
these fishers of men


------
April 14, 2013
John 21:14
John 21:1-14
“Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish”
(and commentators who suggest 153
was the acknowledged number of nations
of the world at the time of Christ’s resurrection.)
Upper Room Disciplines for 2013
April 8, 2013 to April 14, 2013
“Full Disclosure”
by John F. C. Dornheim
for April 11, 2013
read April 14, 2013

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 22,790+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.