Be open, vulnerable

be open, vulnerable, authentic,
share yourself in the light,
your history, your past, your pain,
with one another…
 
God wants you to be healed,
to live a life of abundance,
let down your guard, your mask,
share with your sisters and brothers…
 
only in releasing your pain, your burdens,
can you live the life God has written,
so take a leap of faith, be open, honest,
lean on those you love, you trust,
in love with one another…

----- 
February 18, 2025
Be open, vulnerable
 
February 18, 2025
Better than myself
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/better-than-myself_18.html
Based on #Proverbs18:1
re:generation, Week 5, 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, Proverbs 18,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #prayer

Better than myself

Lord, You love me,
You know me, fully,
better than myself,
You restore me daily,
out of Your great love…
 
Lord, You heal me,
I am clay on the Potter’s wheel,
gathered and reshaped,
I am molded for Your purpose,
Your calling for my life…
 
Lord, You show me,
daily Your love for me,
redeeming me, offering,
Your grace and protection,
Your mercy, oh God…
 
Lord, continue to bless me,
out of Your great love for me,
even when I am broken,
when I feel alone, help me
to know You are by my side…

 
----- 
February 18, 2025
Better than myself
 
Based on #Proverbs18:1
re:generation, Week 5, 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, Proverbs 18,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #prayer

Isolated in shadows

Isolated in shadows 

#prayer #poetry #pain #faith #trust

----- 
February 18, 2025
Isolated in shadows
 
Based on #Matthew10:30
Based on #Proverbs18:1
re:generation, Week 5, Day 1
February 18, 2025
Be open, vulnerable
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/be-open-vulnerable_18.html
February 18, 2025
Better than myself
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/better-than-myself_18.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, 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, Proverbs 18,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #prayer

be open, vulnerable

be open, vulnerable

#poetry #prayer #God #faith #trust #church #authentic

February 18, 2025

Be open, vulnerable
 
February 18, 2025
Better than myself
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/better-than-myself_18.html
Based on #Proverbs18:1
re:generation, Week 5, 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, Proverbs 18,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #prayer

Better than myself

Better than myself

----- 
February 18, 2025
Better than myself
 
Based on #Proverbs18:1
re:generation, Week 5, 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, Proverbs 18,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #prayer

in the crucible of this moment – v3

in the crucible of this moment,
conflicting positions, their posture,
in the gathering storm of trial,
on the front lines, in the trenches,
the start of negotiations, a sham,
warring factions, enemies colluding,
familiar words rising, treason, betrayal,
how we have been here before, in our history,
in the exigency, the existential threat, terror,
life and death, sovereignty, pulled from the ether,
caught in the swirling maelstrom, the agony,
a genocide against these people, martyrs
of this now, this moment, this time of suffering,
feeling the ground moving under our feet,
knowing the evil that is ascendent, the lies spoken,
positions, lines crossed, far too many lives lost…
 
in the crucible of this moment,
the maelstrom of terror, of genocide,
a sea change, shifting sands of time, of positions,
swirling around the continent, their nations,
pulling everything out of alignment, disturbing,
a natural order, all sense of balance, of normalcy,
a fight they did not want, the role of a proxy, a pawn,
in between the superpowers in a multi-polar world,
a legacy of history more than the future, what is coming,
a different stage of world history rapidly unfolding, morphing,
into a new reality, a manifestation of the times, the goals,
of warring factions, of tribes, of peoples, technology,
more than affinity, collective, swirling, surging rising,
to take the oxygen, the initiative, this moment,
hidden agencies, secrets, unspoken alliances, war,
positions, lines crossed, far too many lives lost…

-------
Edited February 17, 2025
In the crucible of this moment – v3
 
Edited February 17, 2025
Europe must act - v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/europe-must-act-v2.html
Edited February 17, 2025
giving oxygen to Evil – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/giving-oxygen-to-evil-v2.html
Edited February 17, 2025
Negotiating with Evil – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/negotiating-with-evil-v2.html
edited February 15, 2025
Restored Sovereignty – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/restored-sovereignty-v2.html
edited February 15, 2025
Three years of terror, of genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/three-years-of-terror-genocide-v2.html
March 5, 2022
Don’t give Ukraine to the Madman
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/dont-give-ukraine-to-madman.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, 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, Ukraine, Russia, NATO, war, invasion, Putin, terror, genocide, Crimea, 1000 Days, Three Years, Europe,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #Russia #NATO #war #invasion #Putin #terror #genocide #Crimea #StandWithUkraine #RussiaIsATerroristState #1000Days #ThreeYears #Europe

in the crucible of this moment – v2

in the crucible of this moment,
conflicting positions, their posture,
in the gathering storm of trial,
on the front lines, in the trenches,
the start of negotiations, a sham,
warring factions, enemies colluding,
familiar words rising, treason, betrayal,
how we have been here before, in our history,
in the exigency, the existential threat, terror,
life and death, sovereignty, pulled from the ether,
caught in the swirling maelstrom, the agony,
a genocide against these people, martyrs
of this now, this moment, this time of suffering,
feeling the ground moving under our feet,
knowing the evil that is ascendent, the lies spoken,
positions, line crossed, far too many lives lost…

-------
Edited February 17, 2025
in the crucible of this moment – v2
 
Edited February 17, 2025
Europe must act - v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/europe-must-act-v2.html
Edited February 17, 2025
giving oxygen to Evil – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/giving-oxygen-to-evil-v2.html
Edited February 17, 2025
Negotiating with Evil – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/negotiating-with-evil-v2.html
edited February 15, 2025
Restored Sovereignty – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/restored-sovereignty-v2.html
edited February 15, 2025
Three years of terror, of genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/three-years-of-terror-genocide-v2.html
March 5, 2022
Don’t give Ukraine to the Madman
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/dont-give-ukraine-to-madman.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, 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, Ukraine, Russia, NATO, war, invasion, Putin, terror, genocide, Crimea, 1000 Days, Three Years, Europe,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #Russia #NATO #war #invasion #Putin #terror #genocide #Crimea #StandWithUkraine #RussiaIsATerroristState #1000Days #ThreeYears #Europe

Europe must act – v2

There is an exigency,
Europe must act,
the window is closing,
Europe must lead,
ignoring other voices,
defeatist, appeasers,
those fearing escalation,
frozen in the Cold War,
the fears of the past...
 
There is an existential crisis,
Europe must step up,
a moment of reconning,
Europe must act now,
not merely talking, acting,
fighting with these people,
the Heroes of this genocide,
stopping this naked aggression,
their War against Humanity...

-------
Edited February 17, 2025

Europe must act - v2
 
Edited February 17, 2025
giving oxygen to Evil – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/giving-oxygen-to-evil-v2.html
February 17, 2025
In the crucible of this moment
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/in-crucible-of-this-moment.html
Edited February 17, 2025
Negotiating with Evil – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/negotiating-with-evil-v2.html
edited February 15, 2025
Restored Sovereignty – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/restored-sovereignty-v2.html
edited February 15, 2025
Three years of terror, of genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/three-years-of-terror-genocide-v2.html
March 5, 2022
Don’t give Ukraine to the Madman
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/dont-give-ukraine-to-madman.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, 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, Ukraine, Russia, NATO, war, invasion, Putin, terror, genocide, Crimea, 1000 Days, Three Years, Europe,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #Russia #NATO #war #invasion #Putin #terror #genocide #Crimea #StandWithUkraine #RussiaIsATerroristState #1000Days #ThreeYears #Europe

giving oxygen to Evil – v2

giving up their seat of the table,
negotiating with Satan,
giving oxygen to Evil,
when they must be defeated,
they must be denied victory,
a seat at the table, given,
denied any claim to power,
made a pariah, cast out,
of the family of nations...
 
we must defeat them, deny them,
any role in a peace settlement,
when they are the aggressor,
violating international law,
the rules-based order,
the bully, the terrorist,
bent on genocide, conquest,
the Evil on the march,
that must be crushed...

-------
Edited February 17, 2025
giving oxygen to Evil – v2
 
February 17, 2025
In the crucible of this moment
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/in-crucible-of-this-moment.html
February 17, 2025
Europe must act
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/europe-must-act.html
Edited February 17, 2025
Negotiating with Evil – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/negotiating-with-evil-v2.html
edited February 15, 2025
Restored Sovereignty – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/restored-sovereignty-v2.html
edited February 15, 2025
Three years of terror, of genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/three-years-of-terror-genocide-v2.html
March 5, 2022
Don’t give Ukraine to the Madman
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/dont-give-ukraine-to-madman.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, 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, Ukraine, Russia, NATO, war, invasion, Putin, terror, genocide, Crimea, 1000 Days, Three Years, Europe,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #Russia #NATO #war #invasion #Putin #terror #genocide #Crimea #StandWithUkraine #RussiaIsATerroristState #1000Days #ThreeYears #Europe

in the crucible of this moment

in the crucible of this moment,
the conflicting positions, their posture,
on the front lines, in the trenches,
in the gathering storm of trial,
warring factions, enemies colluding,
familiar words rising, treason, betrayal,
how we have been here before, in our history,
in the exigency, the existential threat,
life and death, sovereignty, pull from the ether,
caught in the swirling maelstrom, the agony,
of this now, this moment, this time of suffering,
feeling the ground moving under our feet,
knowing the evil that is ascendent, the lies spoken,
positions, line crossed, too many lives lost…

-------
February 17, 2025
In the crucible of this moment
 
February 17, 2025
giving oxygen to Evil
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/giving-oxygen-to-evil_17.html
February 17, 2025
Europe must act
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/europe-must-act.html
Edited February 17, 2025
Negotiating with Evil – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/negotiating-with-evil-v2.html
edited February 15, 2025
Restored Sovereignty – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/restored-sovereignty-v2.html
edited February 15, 2025
Three years of terror, of genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/three-years-of-terror-genocide-v2.html
March 5, 2022
Don’t give Ukraine to the Madman
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/dont-give-ukraine-to-madman.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, 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, Ukraine, Russia, NATO, war, invasion, Putin, terror, genocide, Crimea, 1000 Days, Three Years, Europe,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #Russia #NATO #war #invasion #Putin #terror #genocide #Crimea #StandWithUkraine #RussiaIsATerroristState #1000Days #ThreeYears #Europe

Groaning – v2

when I don't have words 
my spirit groaning, crying,
to You I long for, oh God,
for You my desire, my heart,
hear me, Lord, sighing, groaning, 
when words fail me, silent,
You know my heart, my longing,
the meaning of my groaning, 
my word-less cries to heaven,
to You, my deepest prayers...
 
----- 
Edited February 17, 2025
groaning – v2
 
Based on #Psalm5:1-3 
February 11, 2025
groaning 
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/groaning_11.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, 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, Psalm 5,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #prayer

Your love lifts me, sweetheart – v3

I am buoyed by your words, your love,
by your sacrifice, your love,
coming to me across the miles,
these moments, precious,
seconds stolen together,
the world kept at bay,
even for a breath,
love finding a way…
 
Your love lifts me, sweetheart,
how my spirit soars, rising,
to the heights, the heavens,
my life, in those moments,
hearing chimes, the sounds,
of you arriving here,
finding a moment
with you, darling,
to calm my fears…
 
I am lightened in my walk,
through your love, my heart,
my world, my life, darling,
brief seconds become
a lifetime, love,
abundant treasure,
rising in my spirit,
joy in my heart…

-------  
Edited February 17, 2025
Your love lifts me, sweetheart – v3
 
edited February 15, 2025
Your love lifts me, sweetheart – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/your-love-lifts-me-sweetheart-v2.html
February 15, 2025
Your love lifts me, sweetheart
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/your-love-lifts-me-sweetheart.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, 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, love, girlfriend, fiancée, wife, love poem,
 
#poetry #love #girlfriend #fiancée #wife #lovepoem

When we stepped back from the brink – v5

A dark and scary place, painful, awful,
climbing into the heads of our opponents,
our enemies, the Moskals, their evil,
standing with their victims, their prey,
their neighbors, our proxy state, Ukraine,
independent yet caught in the middle,
bleeding, dying, persevering, resilient,
under the onslaught of the aggressor,
aided far too little but just enough…
 
They have no choice but to fight,
I can understand their resistance,
limits on their defensive actions,
they are pawns in this larger battle,
of the superpowers, the warlords,
oligarchs of humanity, of nations,
moving pieces on the chessboard,
acting like they are merely proxies,
expendable, fodder, nothing more…
 
Lies, dirty hands, complicit, pulling,
a half-truth of an unprovoked war,
centuries of battles between them,
a clash of different ideologies,
history, geopolitics, propaganda,
perception become reality, in truth,
choices made between them,
the march ever eastward,
peril its own reward…
 
A drumbeat of history, of genocide,
murmurs of reticence, of appeasement,
denying reality, a hybrid war ongoing,
cities too close to the border,
I hear a gasp of recognition,
how can a lasting peace,
rise in the center of Europe,
fear of NATO on its doorstep,
as anathema to a nation state…
 
Like nuclear weapons in Cuba,
the clash of the heavyweights,
the Cold War never truly ended,
so many decades ago in history,
the same brinksmanship, rhetoric,
the perception our reality, a curse,
they see a knife poised against them,
along miles of border that they share,
a potential loss of imperial lusts….
 
Where are the leaders, the statesmen,
for a light must rise between them,
global enemies and their neighbors,
each plane is important, essential,
a way through the rushing waters,
terror must be brought to heel, genocide,
but we need a corollary this moment,
to when Khrushchev and Kennedy
each stepped back from the brink…
 
-----------
Edited February 17, 2025
When we stepped back from the brink – v5
 
Analog of Ukraine membership in NATO
to Cuban Missile Crisis
Quote attributed to Lee Atwater,
“Perception is reality.”
Quote attributed to Gustave Flaubert
“There is no truth. There is only perception.”
Quote attributed to Aldous Huxley,
“There are things known and there are things unknown,
and in between are the doors of perception.”
Quote attributed to George Monbiot
“What you see is not what others see.
We inhabit parallel worlds of perception,
bounded by our interests and experience.
What is obvious to some is invisible to others.”
&
Edited June 4, 2024
Crying for Crimea – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/06/crying-for-crimea-v2.html
Russia’s war of aggression against started with Crimea
in February and March 2014, with the invasion of the green men,
but Crimea is complicated, because the Russian Black Sea Fleet
has been in Sevastopol since 1783…
 
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, Ukraine, victory, hope, courage, US, NATO, EU, terror, genocide, peace, Russia, Khrushchev, Kennedy, Cuban Missile Crisis,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #US #NATO #EU #terror #genocide #peace #Russia  #Khrushchev #Kennedy #CubanMissileCrisis

my prayer, my desire – v2

my prayer, my desire,
is to be Your servant,
to be a vessel overflowing
with Your love…
 
my prayer, my desire
is to share richly, freely,
a cup runneth over
filled with Your living word…
 
my prayer, my desire,
is to be filled with Your love,
emptied to be filled again,
a cycle repeating, forevermore…
 
----
Edited February 17, 2025
my prayer, my desire – v2
 
Based on #Psalm23
Based on #John19:28-30
February 15, 2025
Men’s group meeting
 
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, Psalm 23,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit

restore my soul – v2

oh Lord, my shepherd,
I feel You with me, present,
giving my spirit rest,
sustaining me on the path,
oh lay Your hand upon me,
restore my soul
the spirit within me…
 
give me new life,
reborn within me,
quicken my flesh,
with Pentecost fire,
restore me completely,
set on the path, the way,
that I might serve You…
 
restore my soul,
oh my God, my Savior,
the heart beating within me,
pour out Your love
into this earthen vessel
that I might be poured,
as a word of Your blessing…
 
give me these words,
captured from the ether,
from the whisper of Your Spirit,
so I may share them richly,
to the ends of the earth,
restore me within
heal my broken spirit…
 
----
Edited February 17, 2025
Restore my soul – v2
 
Based on #Psalm23
Men’s group meeting
 
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, Psalm 23,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit

giving oxygen to Evil

negotiating with Satan,

giving oxygen to Evil, 

when they must be defeated,

they must be denied victory, 

a seat at the table, given,

any claim to power,

made a pariah, cast out,

of the family of nations...

we must defeat them, 

when they are the aggressor,

violating international law,

the rules-based order, 

the bully, the terrorist,

bent on genocide, conquest,

the Evil on the march,

that must be crushed...

 
-------
February 17, 2025
giving oxygen to Evil
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/giving-oxygen-to-evil_17.html
February 17, 2025
Europe must act
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/europe-must-act.html
Edited February 17, 2025
Negotiating with Evil – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/negotiating-with-evil-v2.html
edited February 15, 2025
Restored Sovereignty – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/restored-sovereignty-v2.html
edited February 15, 2025
Three years of terror, of genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/three-years-of-terror-genocide-v2.html
March 5, 2022
Don’t give Ukraine to the Madman
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/dont-give-ukraine-to-madman.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, 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, Ukraine, Russia, NATO, war, invasion, Putin, terror, genocide, Crimea, 1000 Days, Three Years, Europe,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #Russia #NATO #war #invasion #Putin #terror #genocide #Crimea #StandWithUkraine #RussiaIsATerroristState #1000Days #ThreeYears #Europe

giving oxygen to #Evil

giving oxygen to #Evil

#RussiaIsATerroristState

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. All of my poems are at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Europe must act

Europe must act,
Europe must lead,
ignoring other voices,
defeatist, appeasers,
those fearing escalation,
frozen in the Cold War,
the fears of the past...
 
Europe must step up,
Europe must act now,
not merely talking, acting,
fighting with this people,
the Heroes of this genocide,
stopping this naked aggression,
their War against humanity...

-------
February 17, 2025
Europe must act
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/europe-must-act.html
Edited February 17, 2025
Negotiating with Evil – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/negotiating-with-evil-v2.html
edited February 15, 2025
Restored Sovereignty – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/restored-sovereignty-v2.html
edited February 15, 2025
Three years of terror, of genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/three-years-of-terror-genocide-v2.html
March 5, 2022
Don’t give Ukraine to the Madman
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/dont-give-ukraine-to-madman.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, 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, Ukraine, Russia, NATO, war, invasion, Putin, terror, genocide, Crimea, 1000 Days, Three Years, Europe,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #Russia #NATO #war #invasion #Putin #terror #genocide #Crimea #StandWithUkraine #RussiaIsATerroristState #1000Days #ThreeYears #Europe

Negotiating with Evil – v2 #Russia #Lavrov

We must not see him as an equal partner, an ally,
he is not a worthy opponent, a human,
but an embodiment of evil, inhumanity,
risen from the pit, walking this earth,
sowing terror, genocide, destruction…
 
He is a monster, a villain, a cancer,
a soulless murderer, a madman, a poison,
in the world, in this time of power, of empires,
“might make right”, a canard, a lie, a delusion,
suffering of innocents for his imperial lusts…
 
While he sits in his bunker, surrounded,
by only those who would embolden him,
fawning, preening, jesters, yes-men, cowards,
vassals of the madman, the illegitimate tsar,
pulling levers of power, of terror, of genocide…
 
Negotiating with Evil, recklessness, foolish,
seeking a deal with this demigod, this Satan,
as if he would honor any treaty, any agreement,
when he must be defeated, derided, made a pariah,
when he must be made small again…
 
Losing our own souls, made complicit, appeasers,
in negotiating with Evil, in seeing him as a partner,
when he is not rational actor, inhuman,
willing to concede anything, negotiating,
when he must be defeated…

-------
Edited February 17, 2025
Negotiating with Evil – v2
 
edited February 15, 2025
Restored Sovereignty – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/restored-sovereignty-v2.html
edited February 15, 2025
Three years of terror, of genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/three-years-of-terror-genocide-v2.html
March 5, 2022
Don’t give Ukraine to the Madman
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/dont-give-ukraine-to-madman.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, 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, Ukraine, Russia, NATO, war, invasion, Putin, terror, genocide, Crimea, 1000 Days, Three Years,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #Russia #NATO #war #invasion #Putin #terror #genocide #Crimea #StandWithUkraine #RussiaIsATerroristState #1000Days #ThreeYears

Negotiating with Evil

Not an equal partner, an ally,
not a worthy opponent, a human,
but an embodiment of evil, inhumanity,
risen from the pit, walking this earth…
 
A soulless murderer, a madman, a poison,
in the world, in this time of power, of empires,
might does not make right, a canard, a lie,
suffering of the innocents for his imperial lusts…
 
While he sits in his bunker, surrounded,
by only those who would embolden him, fawning,
vassals of the madman, the illegitimate tsar,
pulling levers of power, of terror, of genocide…
 
Negotiating with Evil, recklessness,
seeking a deal with this demigod, this satan,
when he must be defeated, derided, made a pariah,
when he must be made small again…
 
Losing our own souls, made complicit,
in negotiating with Evil, in seeing them as partners,
when they are not rational actors, human,
willing to concede anything, negotiating,
when they must be defeated…
-------
February 17, 2025
Negotiating with Evil
 
edited February 15, 2025
Restored Sovereignty – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/restored-sovereignty-v2.html
edited February 15, 2025
Three years of terror, of genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/three-years-of-terror-genocide-v2.html
March 5, 2022
Don’t give Ukraine to the Madman
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/dont-give-ukraine-to-madman.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, 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, Ukraine, Russia, NATO, war, invasion, Putin, terror, genocide, Crimea, 1000 Days, Three Years,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #Russia #NATO #war #invasion #Putin #terror #genocide #Crimea #StandWithUkraine #RussiaIsATerroristState #1000Days #ThreeYears