Saturday, June 28, 2014

Hiking above the Tree Line – v2

Granite exposed below me
the vista as far as the eye could see
the lake a mirror, placid,
glistening in the sun
a treasure revealed at the summit

My hiking, the climbing
through the tree line
up the narrow path
rewarded with the beauty
of the scene from the top

Sitting, my eyes closed
drinking in the sun
a prayer to my Creator
thanking God for this moment
aware of this means of grace
poured out on me


====
edited June 28, 2014
February 10, 2010
Hiking above the Tree Line
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, and 2017. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 43,960+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

I mean it

I mean it, I want to
I hope I can be faithful
in my prayers to You
I mean it when I say it
Your will be done.
Not my will but Your, Lord
the control of my life
but my flesh is weak
as Peter’s was that night.


====
June 28, 2014
“My Prayers Weekend!”
Luke 22:42
Luke 22:39-44
“Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives” (NIV)
“Your Will Be Done”
for June 28, 2014
read June 28, 2014
&
Jeremiah 37:3b (NIV)
“visual prayers”
(creating a prayer wall)
devotion by Jessica Lippe
for June 27, 2014
read June 27, 2014
&
Matthew 6:7-8 (NIV)
Matthew 6:9b-13
“As Jesus Taught”
devotion by Rachel Starr Thomson
for June 26, 2014
read June 26, 2014
&
Devozine for June 23, 2014 to June 29, 2014
“+my prayer”
James 4:8a (CEV)
Matthew 6:9b-13
“Imagine”
devotion by Alice Loader
for June 25, 2014
read June 26, 2014
&
Devozine for June 23, 2014 to June 29, 2014
“+my prayer”
&
Philippians 4:6
Matthew 6:9b-13
“Letters to God”
devotion by Mikaela Fox
for June 24, 2014
read June 26, 2014
video “Dear Mr. God”
movie “Letters to God”
&
Devozine for June 23, 2014 to June 29, 2014
“+my prayer”
&
June 26, 2014
heavy baggage
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
Matthew 12:25-30
Upper Room Daily Devotional
“Carry Around Baggage”
by Michael Lewis
for June 24, 2014
read June 26, 2014
Upper Room Daily Devotional
for March and April 2014
&
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
pray without ceasing
“Authentic Prayer”
devotion by Loren Mitchell
and “Try This”
devotion by Tiffany Amezcua
for June 23, 2014
read June 23, 2014
&
Devozine for June 23, 2014 to June 29, 2014
“+my prayer”
&
Patten Methodist Youth Group
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
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 30,790+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

grateful to give

no matter the amount
no matter how meager
my time, my tithe
the gifts I have been given
sharing with God
grateful to give
my bounty, my life
turning them over
out of a grateful heart.
                  

------
June 28, 2014
grateful to give
Mark 12:44 (CEB)
Mark 12:41-44
“True Giving” (NCV)
Upper Room Daily Devotional
“Gifts Great and Small”
by John Peebles
for June 28, 2014
read June 28, 2014
Upper Room Daily Devotional
for March and April 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 30,790+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

more than all of them – v2

she gave her life
all she had to live on
the sum of her wealth
all given to God
she gave her life
trust complete
belief without end
believing God would provide
and acting on that faith
                  

------
edited June 28, 2014
more than all of them – v2
June 28, 2014
more than all of them
Mark 12:44 (CEB)
Mark 12:41-44
“True Giving” (NCV)
Upper Room Daily Devotional
“Gifts Great and Small”
by John Peebles
for June 28, 2014
read June 28, 2014
Upper Room Daily Devotional
for March and April 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 30,790+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

more than all of them

she gave her life
all she had to live on
the sum of her wealth
all given to God
she gave her life
trust complete
belief without end
believing God would provide
she gave her life
                  

------
June 28, 2014
Mark 12:44 (CEB)
Mark 12:41-44
“True Giving” (NCV)
Upper Room Daily Devotional
“Gifts Great and Small”
by John Peebles
for June 28, 2014
read June 28, 2014
Upper Room Daily Devotional
for March and April 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 30,790+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

His Pencil – v2

Sitting down, the kitchen table
late lunch, lot going on
the busyness of life present.
His pencil, well, not exactly,
sitting there on the table
a cascade of memory.

Such a vivid image,
a rich visual memory
a Ticonderoga 2 5/10, medium
that same yellow and green,
same script of the lettering
But this was different than his.

His pencils, Ticonderoga No. 3, (hard/fine).
Always sharpened, ready for use,
the sharpener screwed to the desk,
each pencil, always, seemingly, full length,
a full, untrammeled, pink eraser
somehow they always were so,
or so my memory is, clear,
even forty some years on

His pencil, his precision,
his desk always neat,
his care for details
no clutter that I can remember
a rich flood of the thoughts of him
while sitting down
for a moment of peace, lunch
at the kitchen table.


----
edited June 28, 2014
His Pencil – v2
February 7, 2009
His Pencil
(only a Ticonderoga No. 3)
Dixon Ticonderoga Pencils

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 30,790+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Human Walls – v2

Human walls, fencing in the boundaries
limiting God love, His people, by whatever measure
these will not last, have been torn asunder
in these words of God’s love
For the divisions that served to define us
as the ones to receive the gift
Have been turned to dust and forgotten
by the cost of our Savior’s blood
He has fought for our lives and has won
for us eternal life, for all, the Jew and the Gentile,
no one to be left out, outside His love.
And we bow in prayer before Him
looking forward to our new life
together with Christ in heaven
at the end of this life.


====
edited June 28, 2014
Human Walls – v2
October 25, 2008
Human Walls
Acts 10:34-35
Acts 10:1-48
and sermon of October 26, 2008
‘A Message from God:
“Don’t Fence Me In”’
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church

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 30,780+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

words of resolve – v2

words of metal
words of trust
words to guide
in the night
words of resolve
words of courage
words from the Spirit
from our lips
words of hope
words of a future
words of God’s promise
to guide us home
words of life
words of sacrifice
words to perfect us
in our walk
words to define
words of a people
words of our trust
in Almighty God


-----
edited June 28, 2014
words of resolve – v2
June 28, 2014
words of resolve
Exodus 14:10-15
scripture for sermon June 28, 2014
by John Makokha
Riruta Hope Community Church
and his post June 28, 2014
“My tomorrow's sermon is entitled
"Kenyans Why are you Crying?"
from Exodus 14: 10-15. Shalom!”

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 30,780+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

words of resolve

words of resolve
words of courage
words from the Spirit
from our lips
words of hope
words of a future
words of God’s promise
to guide us home
words of life
words of sacrifice
words to perfect us
in our walk
words to define
words of a people
words of our trust
in Almighty God


June 28, 2014
Exodus 14:10-15
scripture for sermon June 28, 2014
by John Makokha
Riruta Hope Community Church
and his post June 28, 2014
“My tomorrow's sermon is entitled
"Kenyans Why are you Crying?"
from Exodus 14: 10-15. Shalom!”

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 30,780+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

a place for Jesus

a place for Jesus
at our table
in our daily lives
a pray of welcome
for strangers we meet
a place of hope
in your sacrifice
your resurrection
a place of peace
with you in our life
a call to share
with our neighbor
a place to gather them in.


====
June 28, 2014
a place for Jesus
Matthew 10:40-42
Upper Room Disciplines for 2014
for June 28, 2014
read June 28, 2014
&
June 23, 2014 to June 29, 2014
“From Life to Death”
by Beth Ludlum
&
overview page
Genesis 22:1-14
Psalm 13
Romans 6:12-23
Matthew 10:40-42

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 30,780+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

give

give to your neighbor
give what you have
give without judgment
give out of love

share your gifs
your treasure, your fortune
show God’s love
in the decisions you make

give with abandon
give without thought
give to the hurting
give to the lost


------
June 28, 2014
give
2 Corinthians 4:18
“Generosity our Judgment”
devotion by Justin Martin
for June 28, 2014
read June 28, 2014
Duck Commander Daily Devotional
compiled by Alan Robertson

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 30,770+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

our eyes on the unseen

the scripture impossible
in a literal sense
our eyes on the unseen
not what we can see.

our eyes, our focus,
the guide for our life
held in scripture
in the loving hand of God.

only in the eternal
not in what we can see
life eternal waiting
in a home He has prepared
for you and me.
                  

------
June 28, 2014
2 Corinthians 4:18
“Generosity our Judgment”
devotion by Justin Martin
for June 28, 2014
read June 28, 2014
Duck Commander Daily Devotional
compiled by Alan Robertson

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 30,770+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

I Am the Sacrifice – v2

He said, “I am the Bread,
the bread that gives life.”
the metaphor, the promise
He is the way, to eternity,
the bridge between Man and God

But made real, urgent
leaving nothing unspoken
connecting the thoughts together
in the next words
spoken clearly by the Son

The bread His body,
“I Am the sacrifice”.
the bread of heaven
broken and shared
that the world may have life.


====
edited June 28, 2014
I Am the Sacrifice – v2
August 7, 2009
I Am the Sacrifice
John 6:35, 41-51
and The Upper Room Disciplines 2009
for August 7, 2009
and
John 6:35, 41-51
and Alive Now Daily Reflection
for August 5, 2009
John 6:24-35
Alive Now Daily Reflections
for July 30, 2009
and
John 6:24-27
The Upper Room Disciplines 2009
for July 30, 2009
and
John 6:35a, Revised Standard Version
John 6:35a, New Century Version
John 6:28-35
The Upper Room Disciplines 2009
for July 31, 2009
Communion
Matthew 26:14-30
Matthew 26:26-28
Mark 14:12-26
Mark 14:24-26
Luke 22:1-30
Luke 22:14-23
Luke 22:14-20
John 6:53-59
John 13:1-30
John 13:21-30
John 13:27-30

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 30,770+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

I LIVE BECAUSE OF GOD – v2

A search of words in the computer
a means of grace, finding its way through the ether
“I LIVE BECAUSE OF GOD”, a powerful affirmation
God is the Creator, the One who give
the breath of life, the Potter making me
from the inert clay, giving me life
bringing me from the dust, into being
because of He who conjured the world
from the void,
the nothingness,
I live!

More than this, I must remember,
the words of scripture, of prophecy
Every word about the Savior, the Messiah,
come to life in Christ, in Jesus
the Son who came to set us free
though I am broken,
I live!

And, so I should act
humbly walking with God,
living as a child of God
a brother to my Jesus
His only begotten Son
Who lived and died, and rose from death
so I might live again, for a purpose,
despite my brokenness, my sins
I live!


=====
edited June 28, 2014
I LIVE BECAUSE OF GOD – v2
February 26, 2008
I LIVE BECAUSE OF GOD

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 30,770+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

In Thanksgiving – v2

In thanksgiving, we pause, we slow ourselves
we gather together, family and friends,
reflecting, memories thick with our collective past
our shared times together, washing over us
thinking of our blessings, at harvest,
coming before You, oh God, in thanksgiving

Our provision, day by day, our health, our family,
blessings we cannot count, when we stop to remember,
our friends, our nation, this world, troubled as it is
So much for which to be thankful, so many gifts
given by our Creator, our Savior, our Redeemer,
our Sustainer, our living, loving God

Like the first Thanksgiving, gathered together
around a table of your bounty, the gifts of the earth
grain and drink, meat and game, a harvest
coming together under Your canopy, the sky,
Bowing our heads, our hearts as one,
joining in prayer, for the gifts we share

Remembering too, those who are not home
thankful for their service, for their sacrifice
those who stand in harm’s way on our behalf
thankful too for those on guard, for all who serve us
whether in foreign fields or in fire houses down the street
We humbly give thanks for all of them

For you oh God, for your presence and your love
for your grounding and your grace
we give you thanks for Christ’s sacrifice upon the cross
For all we are and all we have are gifts from You
We humbly pause, and give You thanks.


---
edited June 28, 2014
In Thanksgiving – v2
November 27, 2008
In Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day

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 30,770+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Friday, June 27, 2014

In the act of sharing – v2

They who could not see
Cleopas, the unnamed disciple
(any one of us, truly)
they who did not know, their eyes blind
walking with Christ
on the dusty road, in pain,
suffering at his dying
not yet aware of His rising,
the proof of His life evermore

In the act of sharing, together,
the taking, the blessing, the breaking
and the sharing of the bread
They saw the risen Christ
alive, talking, walking with them
All of His lessons revealed
His life evermore
and ours in His resurrection
just as the scripture foretold


====
edited June 27, 2014
In the act of sharing – v2
April 21, 2009
In the act of sharing
Luke 24:30-31
Luke 24:13-35
Walk to Emmaus

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 30,770+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

In you I have my treasure – v3

The words of the scripture,
the tip of the iceberg, a foretaste
for it is in You that I have my treasure
Your love, your endless, steadfast love
a communion with You, oh God,
my rock, my redeemer, my Lord

Without your presence in my life,
I was adrift, on the seas of the world,
In You, a voice rising, to share Your message
to reach the ends of the earth
Your love, Your grace, my joy
on my lips, shared for all to see

Hope in the sacrifice of our Savior,
the endless love of the Father
the living presence of Your Spirit
willing to give so much, to share
to bring us home, to You
to forgive our sin through grace alone

Daily You affirm that gift
Your grace all around, unending,
in creation, in our witness, seeing,
if we but open our eyes,
all of this, this creation, this earth
this door opened for us, this hope of salvation
by Your steadfast love, Your endless grace
by Your hand alone


===
edited June 27, 2014
In you I have my treasure – v3
edited February 27, 2009
In you I have my treasure – v2
May 24, 2008
In you I have my treasure
Matthew 6:19-21
Alive Now devotional of May 22, 2008
and Upper Room devotional of May 22, 2008

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 30,770+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Jesus Began to Weep – v2

We heard a story, a very personal, very public story
of the friend who died, the friends who didn’t understand
who wept because he hadn’t come
because their brother had died
they didn’t comprehend who he was,
not fully, not really, not when it most mattered,
not understanding, seeing, in that moment believing,
what his personage meant, the power he had
over life, over death, over our lives
He wept for our ignorance, our unbelief,
the corruption of the conserver mentality of the powers that be
because they want to retain the powers they have
He wept for the friend who had to die, who must be
sacrificed, as he would be, so we would see, understand
be illuminated to who he was, because we were too weak
to hear and believe without seeing. He wept for the sisters
who had cried when he hadn’t come, for the pain they suffered.
He wept for the brothers who followed him, not seeing , really.
He wept for the elders; maybe, just maybe, he wept for himself
Jesus began to weep, tears that ultimately healed


----
edited June 27, 2014
Jesus Began to Weep – v2
November 8, 2006 1:17am
Jesus Began to Weep
John 11:32-44
35 Jesus began to weep
and sermon by the Reverend Peter Hey
Wesley United Methodist Church
November 5, 2006

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 30,770+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

IT DEPENDS - v2

How will the case go
How will we ever know
What are the facts,
What is the law
the black letter,
the meaning, ambiguity,
who is the judge
what day of the week is it…
It depends

On the totality of the circumstances
The best interest standard
Clear and convincing
compelling state interest
Strict scrutiny
Middle Tier
or simply rational basis

Or is it the members of the court
or their latte that day
When my brief was before them
did I get the right color,
was a jurist’s name misspelled,
the issue I care about
sweated over, to be right on
precedent and theory
persuasive, compelling,

the fact pattern that I am reading
clock ticking in the Rich Room
yet again, last time, I hope…
Summer awaits but not before the last final
the magic words used or unused
vagueness or over-breadth
It depends on who’s grading…

Oooh was it ripe,
ready for the testing
Justiciable after all
ready for the will of the court
IF it pleases the court
Tells a story, compelling,
enticing, juicy, with bite
of what the plaintiff’s theory was
and Defendant’s defenses
in rhythm, in time

Blue book sing for me
pages filling, 1L, come on,
be clear, concise, rich issues
facts and law blend
to spin the story
taking every branch, fork in the road
until Time is called.
Hopefully it is enough.
But it depends.
Once more.


edited June 27, 2014
IT DEPENDS – v2
May 9, 2002
IT DEPENDS
(posted to blog on 2/9/2004,
5 days into blog’s existence)
Franklin Pierce Law Center,
UNH School of Law
Concord, NH

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 30,770+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.