God With Me

Psalm 139:1-18
Oh my God,
You are always with me.
Wherever I go,
You are there.
Your hand always
Upholds me.
Awake or asleep,
You are near me.

Psalm 139:19-24
You are so much
With me
That I hate any
Who say they hate you.
Help me, my God,
And lead me home
To where you are.
I awake and look,
You are near me.

Isaiah 43
And God speaks
To me and says:
"I created you
And I am always
With you.
I will call you
By your name
And keep you safe.
All my children
I will bring back
From where they are.
I am God,
And I love them all."

Luke 18:18-25
"Even when the world
Pulls you away,
I am still there,
Waiting for you
To realize
How much I love you."

Romans 8:31-39
And with God near,
There is no one
Who can come between.
God is always
There for me,
Wherever I might go,
And that love
Is always mine,
Whatever I might do.

God is There

Psalm 23
God is with me,
There to protect
And to show me
Which way to go.
In good times
Or in the bad,
God is there
And will not
Leave me alone.

Isaiah 56:1-8
God is there for me
And for all people
From all nations
Who come together
In love and fellowship,
Loving one another.
Many are called
From other places
To be here
Where God is,
Where love is.

Matt 28:18-20
As God is there for us,
We are called
To go out to the world
And tell all people
Of the love of God
Shown us in Jesus.

Acts 2:1-4
And God's Spirit
Descends on me,
Leading me to go
And tell the world
Of the love
That is there for them.

Acts 10:9-15
The message
That I was given
Is this:
God's Love
Is for all people
And no one
Will be turned away.
All people are loved
And all are God's!

Beloved

Remember: there is Somebody who calls us ALL beloved!

Come now, all people

And meet the One

Who calls

All of us beloved.

2

Come my brothers

And my sisters,

Walk side by side

With me.

Come and talk

With me,

For you also

Are a child of God

Just like me.

So let us sit

Side by side

And eat together

And let the world know

God's love is

Within us all.

3

Come, all people,

Leave all your

Hurts and pain

Behind you

And walk

With the One

Who calls you

Beloved.

4

Come and know

That it does not matter

How different

You may be,

There is Somebody

Who calls you

Beloved.

5

Come, hear

The good news

That God

Is always near you

And calls you

Beloved.

God is talking:

           Say to all the people for me; you are my beloved children, I created you the way that you are, let no one tell you any different.  I have always known you, and I do not, will not turn any away.  So come to Me, and dwell with Me, for no matter what anybody says, I love you.  Come now, Beloved!

Somebody

Somebody called me "Beloved."  As I woke from sleep, I heard the word clearly, as if there was someone there in the room with me.  I turned and looked around, but there was nobody there, not in the room nor anywhere near where I was.  Yet I had heard it plain, somebody called me "Beloved."

I lay for a moment in my bed confused, for I had heard the word beloved.  Where had it come from if no one was near me?  Yet I had heard it, somebody called me "Beloved."  I could not for the time understand what had happened, for I was still half asleep, and not really aware.  As I finally woke completely, I decided that I had been dreaming, but could not remember the rest of the dream.  Just that word, Beloved.  It echoed in my ears, and stayed in my brain, and would not go away that somebody had called me "Beloved."

As I considered what had happened, I realized that there was One who could have been there, even in my dreams.  One who is always there for me, even when I do not realize it.  And through the rest of my days, I shall not forget that there is a Somebody who calls me "Beloved."

Thomas

Yes, what can I do for you? Tell my story? Well I don't know - what is there to say? Oh, you say that I'm seen as a doubter because of my reaction to the possibility of Jesus rising from the dead?

Well, frankly, I don't see that. Consider, no one in our experience had ever been raised from the dead like that. The rest had seen Jesus, but it seemed to me that either they imagined the whole incident or they were fooled by a very good imposter. I just couldn't see at the time how it could be anything else. Now, I know that Jesus had tried to teach us about it, what the scriptures and the prophets had said would happen, but frankly, at the time, it just didn't register. We couldn't understand, so we quit listening on that point. Besides, Jesus had trouble getting most of His teachings through our thick skulls. It took the crucifixion and resurrection for us to get what Jesus was trying to teach all people. Now, of course, we're busy trying to take that same message to all parts of the world. Now, from my point of view, what I said and did at that time was a perfectly normal reaction. I do think that if any of the others happened to be absent, they would have said and did the same thing. Which makes me just like everyone else. But I have seen Jesus, and can testify that He is alive! Come and praise God, who loves all of us!

The Men from Emmaus II

Luke 24:13-53

Yes, it all happened as Cleopas told you. When we were on the road and talking to Jesus, we didn't know who He was, but there was something about the man. It seemed that we should know Him, but we just couldn't put a finger on who He was. He went through the scriptures, particularly the prophets, showing us that what had happened had been predicted long ago. We sure were surprised, however, when we realized that it was Jesus who had been walking with us and teaching us! Some of the women had said that they had seen Him, but we put that down to women's fantasies.          

But they were right! Jesus is alive! We had to go back right away to tell the others! And while we were talking, Jesus appeared again to all of us. He spoke to us, calming us, for the appearance had frightened us all. Then He showed us the wounds, then ate some fish. After that, He taught us all more about the scriptures. He led us out on the road to Bethany, blessed us, then went to heaven from there. We have been around, praising God ever since then. When the promised power from God comes to us, we'll go out and spread the word of

God's love for all people. Jesus is alive! I know, for I have seen Him and heard Him! Praise God, who is great!

The Men from Emmaus I

Luke 24:13-35

We had been followers of Jesus for quite a while. We had heard His teachings and found them to be so much better than what the Priests taught. But we were not of the disciples, part of the inner circle.

We were very shocked and saddened when the authorities killed Jesus. He hadn't done anything wrong, and they killed Him! Of course, we saw all that had been accomplished till then going up in smoke. Everything was going to fall apart! That's what we all thought at the time.

My friend, here, and I were going home after a long, sad day. We had been meeting with the disciples to try to decide where to go from here, but nothing had been figured out as yet. There was some thought about going back to what we had been doing before, but nothing concrete.

We were joined on the road by what we thought at the time was a stranger. At first, we were surprised when He didn't seem to know anything about what had happened the last few days. But then, after we had explained, He started teaching us about what the scriptures really said, especially the prophets. We soon got to Emmaus where our homes were, and invited the man into my house, which was the closest one. He made like He was going on further, but my friend and I persuaded Him otherwise. It was getting late, and no one wants to be out after dark. It's just not safe. Anyway, He came in, sat down, then took the bread,

blessed it and broke it to give some to each of us. We were really startled, for it had been Jesus who was with us the whole time.

We just had to go back and tell the disciples! It was late, after dark, but news like this wouldn't wait! Jesus' message wasn't dead! And the women who had said that they had seen Him were telling the truth! God is great, and has raised Jesus!

Halleluia!

A Disciple

I couldn't believe it when Jesus called me to follow Him. I'm not an educated man at all. I couldn't figure out what He wanted of me. After all, I just knew the basics of our religion.

Turns out that most of the inner group were not highly educated! He seemed to want to teach us His way, not the way of the Pharisees. Problem is, that put Him at odds with those in charge. They didn't like Him at all! The things that Jesus taught were at odds with what those others had been teaching all those years. It's not surprising that they tried to kill Him and destroy all that He was building. It threatened them too much.

What? Oh, yes, Jesus did die. But the authorities couldn't destroy Him and what He taught. God rose Him up again, because Jesus was God's Son, the Messiah. Death could not hold Him at all. Yes, of course, I'm sure - I saw Jesus myself afterwards and saw the marks of the nails. He has risen and lives!

A reaction to the Resurrection

What is that

He is saying?

This Peter

Is telling us

Things that confuse.

This person,

This Jesus

That he talks about

Died on the cross;

I saw it myself,

How can He be alive?

People just do not

Rise up

From the dead,

Do they?

John - After the Sabbath

Hey, how are you?  Yes, I'm in a good mood, life is wonderful!  I didn't see you yesterday because so much happened that I didn't have the time to come to you.  To explain, some of the women went to the tomb to finish the burial. You know, those spices that are usually put on the body.  Anyway, when they got there, they found the stone rolled away, and when they checked, the body was gone. Mary Magdalene came and told Peter and I that the body was gone. We went to the tomb, and found things as she had said. We wondered.

Later Mary Magdalene came and told us that she had seen Jesus alive and well and that He had talked  to her, telling her to come tell us that He had risen. Of course, we didn't believe her.  After all, who believes anything much that a woman says? But later yesterday evening, Jesus appeared to us.  Now, we were in a room, with the doors locked, but there He was, without opening any doors! He greeted us, and ate a bite.  He also showed us the places where the nails had pierced His flesh and where the spear had gone in. Of course, it was Jesus, risen as He had said that He would!  He even showed us that the prophets had said that this would happen! But let us celebrate, for Jesus has risen from the dead, and life now has meaning! 

Mary Speaks

He lives!

He is risen!

Listen to me ,

For I have seen Him

Alive and walking.

He spoke to me,

Telling me

To come and tell you

That the grave

Could not hold Him.

Believe me

And listen

To what I say,

Jesus is alive,

He is risen!

First

To a woman first

He appeared

And appointed her

To be a messenger

To the disciples.

One of the Crowd

Yes, I remember that day. Jesus came into Jerusalem just like the prophets said that one of our kings would. Something about a foal of a donkey. We really celebrated that day, let me tell you. Everybody was so happy, because we all thought that we would finally rid of those Romans. He was going to lead us in battle and defeat those gentiles and chase them out of our country!

Now, when nothing happened, the folks turned against the man. I know that it was less than a week, but He had done nothing. Even got Himself arrested! He was standing there and not offering any resistance nor calling anybody to free Him. That's what turned most of the folks that I know against Him. If He was going to be our king, He could at least chase those blasted Romans out! I did think that it was too bad that the Priests and the Romans conspired to kill Him. He was a good man and didn't deserve what He got. He was just misguided.

Pilate's Wife

Mat. 27:19

Yes, I had seen the man a few times. Once or twice by accident, then other times on purpose. I was careful to seem to be like some of the other listeners, with no big entourage. Just a couple of women who knew the language and could tell me what was said.

And I liked what He said. When I heard that the Jewish authorities had arrested Him, I was upset. And that night, before they brought Him to my husband, I had a dream about Him. I can't remember all of it, but I remember waking up all upset. I asked Pilate not to have anything to do with killing the man, for I feared what would happen to both of us if he did that. Well, as you know, my husband didn't listen. He was a part of the killing of this good man. Of course, I didn't know some of the predictions that had been made about Him rising again after He died. Even if I had, I wouldn't have believed it at the time. I thought that once you're dead, that was it! But this man, Jesus they call Him, did rise up from the dead to live again.

Problem is, my husband, when he got back to Rome, paid dearly for his part in the whole affair. Of course, what was said was that he mismanaged the province from the time that he got there. Those who said that should go there and try to do anything!

John

Well, it's evening finally, and after that crucifixion. I still don't understand why the authorities felt it necessary to kill Jesus. But I guess I’ll never understand. We buried Jesus in a tomb given us by Joseph, but it was so late that we couldn't complete treating the body. We'll have to do that after the Sabbath.

Jesus was quite the teacher, and I guess what was wrong is that He said some things that threatened the system that was set up. We never quite understood what He was saying at the time, and right now, we still don't. So much was so far beyond what we were taught all our lives until we met Jesus.

I'm taking care of Jesus’ Mother. He asked me to do that before He died. She's really very upset by the whole thing, and doesn't want to talk to anybody right now. You do understand, don't you? I’ll talk to you more after the Sabbath, when we've had a chance to settle a bit. And no, we don't know what we are going to do next. We'll see. After the Sabbath then?

Judas' Mother

Ah, Judas, my son, my son! Dead and gone away from me! And it all goes back to him following this Jesus. And he was meant for greater things than following an itinerant preacher. And Jesus is dead, too! Ah, Judas, my son!

I could have told my son that Jesus' teaching was not what he wanted. There was too much that was against what the Priests taught. And I never heard a thing about chasing those Romans out. But then, when have our children ever listened to their parents? Especially after they grew up and became adults! But now Judas is dead and gone from me, and it is all the fault of this Jesus. If He had not enticed my son to follow, Judas would still be here. Ah well, we cannot order life to be as we want! But I will always miss my precious son, Judas!

A Woman at the Cross

Violence! There's entirely too much violence around these days!   And look at those Romans have done, killing those men for no reason at all! I mean, from what I understand, none of them were murderers. In fact, that one in the middle was a wandering preacher named Jesus.

I really don't know what the authorities are thinking, killing people like this! None of these men were any threat to them. I just don't understand any of it at all. Jesus taught about love and peace, nothing about fighting or sedition. I heard Him myself, several times. Yet look at those Priests over there and listen to them! It's really awful, the things that they are saying to Him! You'd think that He was a real bad person, the way that they're carrying on!

It's just a shame that this was done. But I guess that it's just the times. It really getting entirely too violent these days, with those Romans around!

On Palm Sunday,

The celebration;

But then

The songs died

And anger rose

Because Jesus

Would not do

What the people

Expected.

Jesus Took

Jesus took a towel

And knelt to wash

The feet

Of the disciples.

Jesus took a towel

And became

A servant

To all who were there.

Jesus took a towel

And in deepest love

Showed us all

What love really is.

The Upper Room

Luke 22:7-13

Yes, I own that house, what of it? Oh yes, that's where that teacher - Jesus and His disciples had supper the night before the Romans murdered Him. Killed Him for no reason at all!

What? Oh no, my family and I had little to do with fixing that meal. They rented the room and took care of their own meal. So I really don't know what all went on up there. Not that they were a closed mouth group, but apparently that meal was very special to them. Although it is special to all Jews, it being Passover. No, the Romans have not come near me. I don't think that they know where Jesus was that night. Hear tell one of His own disciples turned against Him. The rest of the disciples have been meeting there since He was crucified. Heard tell that He rose again, that His disciples have seen Him! I don't know about that, because I haven't seen Him, but then I wasn't a disciple. I just heard Him a few times and liked what He had to say. I really think that those who murdered Him will pay a lot for what they did. He was more of God than those Pharisees are! 

God's Love

God’s love is there for all.  But how many can’t see that love because they have been told that they are too different for God to love?  Yet that is  lie!  For God loves all creation!  And no one is left out of that love.  They may be on the outside because they don’t know that God’s love is theirs.  Yet God still loves them, too.

The Candle

There once was

A candle small

That tried to light the world.

But the world

Was much too large

And the darkness

That covered it

Too thick

For that one little candle

To break through

On its own.

But then it lit

Another candle

And that candle lit two;

And as the flame passed on,

The world grew brighter still

Till at last

The dark was banished

From the world

Forever more.

Can We?

Can we all learn to love one another and accept each as a child of God?  Or is it already too late for us?  We make too much of differences between people.  And there is the problem – we make of differences a reason for hatred when hatred should have no place in us.  Can we learn to replace hate with love and redeem the world?

Sounds

photo by:  unknown ranger in Alaska

Seems there are always more stanzas to add to this.

Sounds of war,

Sounds of violence,

Women and girls

Beaten and raped

Many people killed;

Africa.

Sounds of war,

Sounds of violence,

Car bombs and gunfire

People wounded and killed

All for land;

The Middle East.

Sounds of war,

Sounds of violence,

Farmers losing crops,

Drug runners winning

Rebels fighting government;

Columbia.

Sounds of war,

Sounds of violence,

Planes crashing

Buildings falling down,

People killed;

America.

Sounds of war,

Sounds of violence,

Bombs and gunfire

In a far off land

A change of government;

Afghanistan.

Sounds of war,

Sounds of violence,

Bombs exploding

And people dying,

In famous cities,

Paris and Brussels

Sounds of war,

Sounds of violence,

All over the world.

Oh God, when

Will all the people

Learn to live together

In peace and love?

Love Is Ours

Love is ours

To have,

But only

If we

Give it away.

So come

With me

And let us all

Walk hand in hand

In love

And a world

Redeem.

Listen to Me

Listen to me,

Hear me

And do not

Ignore me,

For I am here.

Listen to me

Carefully,

For I too

Have something

To say.

Listen to me,

And do not

Turn away

Just because

I am different.

Listen to me,

For I may have

Something important

To say.

Love

Photo by:  Betty Q Smith

Lev 19:18,34

Come and see,

Come and hear

The command of God,

Love your neighbor!

Come and know,

Your neighbor

Is not only those near

Who are like you,

But also those

Who live far away

And are different.

Come, celebrate

A God who loves

All people!

Matt 5:43-48

Come, love

But love not just

Those you know

And that agree with you,

But also those

Who are your enemies,

For God created

And loves them, too.

We are called

To love as God loves!

Matt 22:37-39

Ah - the command

Is that of love,

Love God with all

That you are,

And love your neighbor

As you love yourself.

But don't count just those

Who are like you,

But also all those

Who are different

In any way.

All are our neighbors

And are loved by God!

John 15:12-17

Come, love one another!

For love is the fulfillment

Of all the laws.

If we will learn

To love one another,

We will be doing

God’s will

In all things!

And the command

Always is this:

Love one another!

Romans 13:8-10

Come, and love!

For love is the fulfillment

Of all the laws.

If we will learn

To love one another,

We will be doing

God's will

In all things!

And the command

Always is this:

Love one another!

Galatians 5:13-14

We are called

To be free,

And in that freedom,

To love all people

And to treat all

As we would be treated.

This is the whole of

All the laws:

Love all people

As neighbors!

On the Side Watching

photo by: unknown Ranger in Alaska

See, who comes?

Who is this man

Riding on a donkey?

He comes as a king,

Fulfilling the prophets,

But who is he?

That is Jesus,

That itinerant preacher.

He has been teaching

The people

About God

All over the country.

How dare he

Come thus?

How dare he upset

All  that we have

Put together?

We must do something

Before the Romans

Destroy us all.

A Priest Speaks

Who is this man

Who comes?

Why does he come thus

As a king?

Is he not

Just a man?

How dare He

Raise the hopes

Of the people?

There is no hope

While the Romans rule.

Who is this man

Who rides an ass?