Saturday, September 13, 2008

Awakening Her Spirit

The kernel, the spirit waiting
dormant within, the seed
planted by the gardener
kindled in the grace
the moment of acceptance
accepting the offer of the savior
the son, the advocate

Awakening her Spirit
holy spirit, living now within
the seed caught root, growing
the voice stronger inside us
growing as we submit our selves
our will God’s will
the Spirit’s voice
welling up within

September 13, 2008

Wisdom in My Heart

Lady Wisdom, living, growing
watching over my heart
a part of me, the Spirit, God
infused, residing
She has found a place
her place deep within me
guiding my walk, ever closer to you
welcomed in, that moment of grace
Lady Wisdom, another name
the triune God, living within me
a part of my soul, my essence
that part that the world does not control
She is my will, when I let go
when I let the Holy Spirit
lead my way

September 13, 2008

On the Way to the Temple

They, like their master,
emboldened by the spirit
They healed on their way to temple
healing at the gate the lame
calling him to rise, to join them
on the way to worship,
prayer time in the temple
Invoking his holy name,
healing in his name alone
He walked

September 13, 2008
Acts 3:1-10

Sister Spirit

Father God, Brother Savior
Sister spirit, living within us
lady wisdom, nurturing conscience
guiding our paths, growing, beating within us
if we but die to ourselves
taking up our brother’s yoke
carrying our cross
her hand lifting us
bringing us home
to our brother, our father
home for good

September 13, 2008

Easier

Life would be easier
so much easier
if we can follow the call
the prayer of Christ
to set down the yoke
that which we carry
our lives, the world
and take up his yoke
our cross, and follow him

September 13, 2008
Alive Now devotional for September 13, 2008
“The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says, “Give me all. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you.... Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked—the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.” Both harder and easier than what we are all trying to do.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Hard to Do

Christ’s call to us
each one of us, to lay down our selves
our former lives cast off
to take up his cross,
to put on Christ
and be his self in the world
give up your cares
follow the way
Hard to do
but we believe in the riches
the place prepared for us

September 13, 2008
Alive Now devotional for September 13, 2008
“The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says, “Give me all. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you.... Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked—the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.” Both harder and easier than what we are all trying to do.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

I want You

A prayer of a loving father
our brother our hope
calling to us, from the word
from his heavenly throne
from the testimony of his life
given for us
calling us to take up his yoke
to cast off our burdens
to let go of our lives
and turn them over
to our savior

September 13, 2008
Alive Now devotional for September 13, 2008
“The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says, “Give me all. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you.... Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked—the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.” Both harder and easier than what we are all trying to do.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Give Me All

What a wonderful way to understand our faith
Christ’s call to us, “Give me all”
our wills, our bodies, our beings
to walk where he would lead
to go where he would say
to turn our troubles over,
all of our cares, our needs
to let go of control,
where we have none to start with
to give all of ourselves
to Christ, able then,
to walk with God

September 13, 2008
Alive Now devotional for September 13, 2008
“The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says, “Give me all. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you.... Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked—the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.” Both harder and easier than what we are all trying to do.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Stand Up and Walk

By faith, he believed
the power given him
invoking his name
offering his hand, to support
calling him up, stand up and walk
rise from your mat, walk into the temple
Healed in an instant, life changed
with power he commanded
and his brother walked
they were all witnesses
awesome God

September 13, 2008
Acts 3:1-10

You Live

You came, to set me free
You walked here, to show the way
You gave yourself up, to be a sacrifice
You died that I may know his face
You rose; you are risen, that I may soar
You Live, that I may live

September 13, 2008

Friday, September 12, 2008

In the Cool of History

That day, those days after
in the cool of history
visible now
moments of unity, of resolve
frittered away, lost in zealotry
in actions that divided our nation

We were ready, to fight, to sacrifice
that we were not asked to do
a polarization of our nation
war and atrocities, this time by our hands
sanctioned or ignored
a war on our own,
the wrong enemy
Men, women fighting, dying
far from home

Out there still
in the hot of insurgency,
far from the cool of history,
the open hole at Ground Zero,
our soldiers, our best
out in the field in Afghanistan,
in Iraq, for how much longer?


September 12, 2008
on the aftermath to 9/11/01
and a lost opportunity for our nation





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 41,680+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Before the Guard

Standing watch
A large flag, the stars and stripes
hanging heavy, sad, the sun
through the thin, worn fabric
Hanging at half-staff
before the Guard, on the strip
reminding us of the loss on this date
so recently still, a part of our collective
our shared consciousness

A day, a moment, like that day in Dallas
always to be hallowed, remembered

A weathered flag in the late afternoon
fitting sentry before the Guard
so many out there today
defending us in those dark places
in part because of this date
seven years at war, invisible enemy

But our flag flies still
to remember, resolve our a nation too
that terror would be avenged
our way of life would prevail
that our dream together
will never die


September 11, 2008
Army Guard, Loudon Road,
Concord, NH


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 41,680+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

911 – haiku

The towers fell, loss
we were forever changed
the pain remains still


September 11, 2008





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 41,680+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Praise – haiku

Sing praises to Him
God, the Lord, the Almighty
Holy is his name

September 11, 2008

By His Service He Sang

Not with his voice, no song did he sing
no choir member, no star
by his service he sang
doing the little things, the unseen things
watching over the church, being there
when others were not, he was there
cleaning up, mending, healing the building
helping out, with his time, with his sweat
singing praises to God
by his service he sang

September 11, 2008
Ephesians 5:15-20 and Psalm 33:3
and Upper Room
devotional for 9/10/08
http://www.upperroom.org/Devotional/default.asp?month=9&day=10&year=2008

As I woke this morning

As I woke this morning, I remembered
I remembered that day, the exact moment
when I saw the towers, innocence burning
a shower of debris. The gasps, of each new person
seeing the images, over and over
Feeling the same ache as when
I watched the Challenger
explode in the sky.
We watched, unsure
tears streaming down, helpless
Attacked on our soil, numb
I remember the air in the lounge,
the small screen too big
showing too vividly the pain
the anguish, the towers hit, falling
plumes of smoke, of flame
darkness that morning, echoing still
friends, new friends, in the room
who may have loved ones in New York
in the Pentagon, at that moment
a call on a cell phone
All transfixed, unable to move



-------
edited September 10, 2016
As I woke this morning – v4
15th anniversary of attacks of September 11, 2001
+++++++++++++
edited November 23, 2015
As I woke this morning – v3
(editing version 2)
&
September 22, 2011
Fruits of Rage
melding the consequence of possibly executing an innocent man
and the decade since September 11, 2001
September 21, 2011
Fruits of a Decade
September 21, 2011
Seeds of Hate
September 11, 2011
Reclaiming September 12
September 11, 2011
Reliving these moments
September 10, 2011
Terror Real
10th anniversary of September 11, 2001
and the plot to attack DC and NY
reported September 9, 2011
&
edited September 10, 2011
As I woke this morning – v2
all of my September 11, 2001 poems
----------------
September 11, 2008
As I woke this morning
On the anniversary of September 11, 2001
watching it my first year of law school
Franklin Pierce Law Center, Concord, NH


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 41,680+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Psalm 19 - 2

My words, my very thoughts
my mind, pleasing to you Lord
would that this were always true
that my will, my life would be
as you would wish, living your word
your law, your ordinances
that all I think, all I say would be
pleasing to you. That my voice
my mouth would speak your love
my life a witness to your presence
your role in my life, my creator,
my savior, my all

September 9, 2008
Psalm 19
Psalm 19:14

Psalm 148

All creation, the heavens, the earth
called to praise, to shine for the Lord
animals, people the very mountains
stars in the summer sky
the thunder, the rain, all to praise his name
We are all grains of sand, bits of dust
all so far below his holiness
yet he is faithful, our champion
so must we be
Praise the Lord!

September 9, 2008
Psalm 148

Monday, September 08, 2008

Communion – haiku - 2

break a loaf of bread
cup of wine with you and me
perfect sacrifice


September 8, 2008
Acts 2:42-47 and sermon by
Reverend Huntley Halvorson

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Communion – haiku - 1

share a loaf of bread
broken for you and for me
his the sacrifice


September 8, 2008
Acts 2:42-47 and sermon by
Reverend Huntley Halvorson

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH


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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sunday, September 07, 2008

One Meal

All together, one table, one meal
they lived, worshipped, ate together
a single life the lives of the apostles
early believers on the way
sharing all, to spread his message
to bring God’s love
out into the world
bringing their lives together
one community, one meal
In meals shared, in sacrament, in community
we share in their legacy
share the table with them


September 7, 2008
Acts 2:42-47 and sermon by
Reverend Huntley Halvorson

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH
and the ministry of a weekly dinner,
“Our Family’s Table”


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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Family Style

As they lived, so we eat
from one pot, each given a portion
a common prayer, a place set for all
our offering, our ministry
as they lived, in the Way
lives, fortunes, hopes shared
from all to all, family style

September 7, 2008
Acts 2:42-47 and sermon by
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
and the ministry of a weekly dinner,
“Our Family’s Table”

Our Family’s Table

Our Family’s Table
our small part, a place set,
ready for the feast,
Christ in our midst, sitting with us
around a table, sharing a meal
reaching out, our hands, our hearts
welcoming all, to a table set
a meal prepared,
living in community
sharing as the apostles did

September 7, 2008
Acts 2:42-47 and sermon by
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
and the ministry of a weekly dinner,
“Our Family’s Table”

The Messiah Present

No separate seat reserved
saved for a coming Elijah
they ate together,
the Messiah present,
living with them
within their midst
after the resurrection, the ascension
He lives with us, walking with us
sharing our meals, our lives
if we but let him in

September 7, 2008
Acts 2:42-47 and sermon by
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church

Meals Together

It was in the living, sharing all
all their wealth, their faith
given to the common good
all were fed, meals together
sharing their lives in faith

September 7, 2008
Acts 2:42-47 and sermon by
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church

Communion

All welcome, receiving, being fed
rest, Sabbath, renewing
the Bread of Life
feeding us all
His sacrifice, his body given
offered for us
We are fed, revived
in the worship, the praise
in the remembrance
in communion with him
with all who have gone before

September 7, 2008
Acts 2:42-47 and sermon by
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church

Living Sacrifice

We ourselves, a living sacrifice
our bodies given, as Christ gave his own
for you almighty God
our lives given, our will
becoming yours alone
our hands, our lives
marked as your servants
doing your work,
sharing your hope, your love
being Christ’s body

September 7, 2008
Communion Liturgy, September 7, 2008
Suncook United Methodist Church

The Bread He Gave

In the words of the call
his call to worship
into this time of praise
offering bread to our souls
the bread he gave, that he gives today
his body, his all
the singular sacrifice
the altar of the cross
a worthy gift, a sacrifice
given for us, for the creator
this bread he gave

September 7, 2008
Call to Worship, September 7, 2008
Suncook United Methodist Church

Stained Glass Dollars

Branches of silver dollars
disks of glass, a cup of gold
the bouquet on the altar
shimmering this morning
the light itself
praising the Lord

September 7, 2008
lunaria annua as the altar flowers
Suncook United Methodist Church
Psalm 148

An Image in the Glass

The face of the babe, our savior
swaddled in blue,
wrapped in the blue of the Madonna
his face, pure, innocent
glowing, the sun
streaming in
through the window
the living glass, the very skin of it
sharing the face of our Lord
in this holy ground

September 7, 2008
Suncook United Methodist Church

Through the Stained Glass

Rising from the open stained glass window
the church filled with the choirs voices
the voice of the organ joining theirs
rising to the rafters, streaming out into the world
each practice an act of praise
their voices praying the familiar hymns
being God’s voice through the words
the sureness of their voices, the song
a witness to God’s love
coming through the stained glass window
through the open front door

September 7, 2008
before church,
Suncook United Methodist Church

Where He Is

A promise of the certain Christ
of a future life, a resurrected life
a place with our savior, in a dwelling place
with God, prepared and waiting
our place picked out, chosen
made ready by Christ
He will come, to take us there.

September 7, 2008
John 14:1-3
and Upper Room
devotional for 9/7/08
http://www.upperroom.org/Devotional/default.asp?month=9&day=7&year=2008