Little One

Little One - Tiponi

By Jerry Browning

Thank you, little one, for making me a grown-up

Thank you, little one, for making me a Mom

God has given me a part in God’s creation

And you have brought to me a piece of heaven’s song.

Thank you, little one, for bringing me maturity

Thank you, little one, for making me a Dad

Sometimes I stumble in my human-ness, but humbly-

I think that heaven sent the best that heaven had.

BRIDGE:

Thank you, God above, for sending us this special one

This child, a blessed bond, to demonstrate your Love

This one born out of patience, made in love and prayerfulness

This special gift from up above.

Thank you, little one, for bringing us our Bethlehem

We are the shepherds and the angels and the kings

We’re given privilege to witness to the miracle

And like the first time, we can hear the angels sing.

Repeat Bridge & Last Verse, then...

Thank you, little one, our new Bethlehem.

Light has Come

Light has come to this darkened world of ours . Come and see what God has done for us all ! Know that we are now counted as God's children, as we always have been. The dark has been lifted and light is come so all people will see the truth of God's love revealed. 

Joseph and Mary

OK while I'm asking questions, why a stable? A house would have been better, wouldn't it? Especially with that very precious baby. I get that with those parents a big, fancy house wouldn't have accepted them, but wouldn't there have been a house that was about their level? Or were they turned away wherever they went? 

Joseph answers: "Look, we don't have a lot of money, so I've got to be careful what I spend. Besides, Mary was about to give birth. We got settled just in time, for my Mary gave birth to our son right after that. See, isn't he a handsome lad? " 

Love Came

Love came down at Christmas and was born as a human child. Love came down at Christmas to show us 

]how to love as God does. Love came down at Christmas to show us how to live in love with those who are different. Love came down...

Listen

Listen, do you hear the music? It is the music of the spheres and so beautiful! Do you hear the music? No? 

I hear it clearly and it is perfectly beautiful.  Our God,Elohim, wrote it. Listen to it carefully and you might hear the words that were written for it. Learn to listen and you will hear Elohim talking to you. Listen very carefully and you will hear God's love poured out for all people. 

Listen

Listen , do you hear? I mean really hear? Or are you too busy with the shopping and decorations of the season to really pay attention? There is a message that all of us really need to hear and understand. It is the message of love for all people and that we should treat each person with gentleness and respect for the different ways they were raised.

What Do I want for Christmas

What do I want for Christmas? There are a lot of things I could ask for , but I think really would like an end to all wars and everyone could live side by side without arguing or fighting . I also would like all people to be accepted as the normal, beautiful and wonderful humans that God created them to be. 

Thanksgiving or Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving or Giving Thanks 

Thanks for: families, birth families and church families. 

Thanks for: friends near and far.

Thanks for: houses to live in with those we love.

Thanks for: weather, good and bad. 

Thanks for: sunshine and rain.

Thanks for: this beautiful world created for all people. 

Thanks for: our loving God who created all things and people all for our good.

Give Christmas

"Give Christmas"

Terry Lee Ousley / (C) 1999 Ousley Music / BMI

 

Lord, let me give Christmas to someone each day this year.

Let me give the Spirit of Your love

And spread good cheer.

We don't need a tree or electric lights;

When the Light of the World lights up our lives

The joy of Christmastime is always near!

 

I do love the Christmas season --

Decorating and parties and jingle bells;

All the shopping for the perfect presents;

Holiday movies and Holiday smells!

But the gift I want to give this year

And give without delay

Is the gift of Love that was given to us

On that very first Christmas Day!

 

Lord, let me give Christmas to someone each day this year.

Let me give the Spirit of Your love

And spread good cheer.

We don't need a tree or electric lights;

When the Light of the World lights up our lives

The joy of Christmastime is always near!

 

Christmas

Christmas is coming soon, are you prepared?  Are you ready for the celebration?   It is the time we have chosen to celebrate the birth of Jesus,  are you  ready for the party,  a special party for He who came to set us free from hate and division and to show us what love really is and how to love others without conditions.   Are we all ready for the unexpected from God?   Who knows,  God might just turn up as a woman this time.   We must be prepared for the unexpected from God both in who is accepted and loved and who is not.  

So,  are we ready for the unexpected from God?   Will we be able to know God in human form this time?   How many will turn away if God appears to us in a way that doesn't meet our approval?   And will we be able to tell who the person really is?  Are we listening for the voice of God inside of each of us?  Will we be able to hear that voice if the person is not who we expect?  Christmas is coming, are we ready? 

Pastor

To Rev Roland Stringfellow:
(just can't stop writing!)

Pastor, leader,
Friend and teacher,
Doing his best
To show the way
To God
And how to love.
Showing all around
The joy-filled way
That will lead
Us all to where
God dwells;
But only human.

One People

One People    for Rev Troy Perry

Isaiah 6:3-8
Let all nations
Come to me
For all people
Are mine.
No one will be
Turned away.
All who come,
No matter who they are
Will be accepted.

John 17:21-23
Let all become
One people,
And know the love
That is theirs to have.
Let all divisions
Go away,
For all are mine.

I Corinthians 8:6
I am here for you,
I gave you life
And all my love
Is yours to have.
I sent Jesus
That you might
Know what love is.

Ephesians 4:4-6
And as you are
All mine,
You should be
One people,
One in spirit
A'nd body;
For all people 

Were created by me

And I love them all. 

Hope for the Kingdom

    Hope for the Kingdom of love, which shall come. 
It is in this kingdom that all shall live in peace,
nor shall any put down any other.  No person will be
made to feel that they are less than any other person. 
And God's love will be there for all, for all are His
children. 
    Work for the Kingdom of love and let all people
know that God's love is there for them.  This is what
Christmas is all about, God's love made manifest,
walking among the people, showing all how they were
to live in peace. 
    Live as Christ did, loving all people, sharing
God's love with all, and the kingdom will come sooner. 
For the more we live in love and in Christ, the more
the kingdom is present in this world.  And let God's
love flow through us all out to the whole world, that
all the world will know God and His love.

Thoughts on Love

More power in love, in loving people.

Love is the strength that keeps us going.

Love is the root of all life.

Love is God’s power loose in the world.

Love is a healing strength.

Love is complete happiness.

Love is life; eternal, full and complete.

Love is God; God is love.

Love is wanting the best for whoever you love..

Love is not grasping, holding on, but a setting free  so that whoever you llove can wander and then come bac to you.

Nothing is so great, so wonderfu as love, yet we know so little about it.

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. 

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 

that is the problem  - we make of

differences a reason for hatred 

when hatred should have no 

place in us. Can we learn to 

learn to replace hate with love 

and redeem the world?

Let us

Come, let us love 

And not let hate 

Fill our souls. 

For God does not 

Hate anyone, 

For only love 

Can dwell 

With God. 

The Dream

    I had gone to bed.  For a time, I could not sleep, but tossed and turned restlessly.  Then, as I finally started to drop off to sleep, I had the strangest vision, or if you will, a dream.
    It seemed as if I was so large that this solar system of ours was as a toy to me, and I held in my hands our planet.  It was as a ball or a precious jewel.
    It seemed so perfect, this jewel I held, all blue and green, with shifting streaks of white.  But as I looked more closely, I could see flaws.  The scars of war were there, old wars and the bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  And the newer wars of Vietnam and Bosnia.
    Then with penetrating sight, I looked and saw flaws more hidden.  The flaws of hate and suspicion ran across the face of this jewel I held.
    Suddenly, I feared to let go of this ball, this jewel, for if I let it go from me on its appointed rounds, I feared that it would come back to me in fragments, exploded, or as a blackened and dead world.  But yet I let it go, and watched more carefully, for it had become suddenly very precious to me.
    Then I was myself.  And I thought and then wondered if God were not at times afraid to let go of this world of His.  For it seems that however hard He tries, we people turn from Him and choose, instead of the path of glory and light; other darker paths.
    Then my dream returned to me.  And I seemed to watch, afraid, as this precious world of ours wound its way through the starry night. 
1964          

Sacred Ground

Sacred Ground

Be very careful

How you walk here,

There is danger near,

But also know

You walk on sacred ground.

There is death here

Amidst the shattered steel,

So step carefully

Because you see

You walk on sacred ground.

The concrete here

Has crumbled to dust

And rises with every step,

But stop and remember;

You walk on sacred ground

Sept 11, 2002

The shattered steel

Is gone now,

Ashes and dust left;

But still and always

This is sacred ground.

They Live

They live 

In fear, 

Not knowing 

Which way to turn. 

No time 

For love, 

Or any gentleness 

For all around

There's violence. 

I Said A Prayer

I said a prayer for you today,

And asked God to guide you

In the path that you should go

And keep you safe and sound.

 

I said a prayer for you today

And told God that I cared for you.

I asked for health and happiness

And that you should know love.

 

I said a prayer for you today

And asked God to dwell

Within your heart and soul

Each and every day.

 

I said a prayer for you today

And asked that you have help

In your daily life

To know what you should do.

Stop Hate

Let's all do our part to stop all kinds of hate. We are to love, not hate all people. Can we learn a newLet's all do our part to stop all kinds of hate. We are to love, not hate all people. Can we learn a new way of living where hate has no part in us? Is there a way to include those who want to destroy us? Or is it already too late?

 way of living where hate has no part in us? Is there a way to include those who want to destroy us? Or is it already too late?

Walking

Walking through life, 

Lost and alone, 

Not quite knowing 

Which way to go. 

Walking down a path,

And turning around, 

I find Jesus there, 

Hands outstretched in love. 

Walking Along the road, 

Side by side 

With Jesus, my Lord, 

To help me find my way. 

Is the Church

Is the the church loving itself? 

Is the church loving God? 

Does the church go out and help it's neighbors? 

Is the church serving it's neighbors? 

Is the church remembering that God loves all people?

God Calling

God is calling; 

Who is listening 

For the voice 

That calls?

God is calling, 

Who will answer

And do the job 

That is there?

God is calling, 

Is anybody there 

To heed and follow 

Where they are led?

My Guide

Impatient, I run ahead, 

Leaving my guide, 

Because I want to see 

What is there. 

But then, I get too far,

And, turning around, 

I cannot see my guide. 

Again, I am lost 

And alone.

But when I turn 

Around again, 

I find my guide 

Is there, Waiting for me. 

And I walk onward 

Hand in hand 

With Jesus, my guide. 

To Dream

To dream, perhaps to think about the days gone by and those to come ,I feel myself wonderio are like me and never had their dreams fulfilled. They wonder why their dreams aren't coming true and others are. Those others seem to them not as good as they are. Yet maybe it's not the right time or the right place to publish their material. But how do you know what to do without proper guidance?And how do you know you have the right people to guide? They find themselves wondering and worrying about what to do. They can't seem to hear God's voice in this at all. So they are left in a quandary wondering what to do. 

Following Jesus

Are we really following Jesus? Are we willing to go the way He teaches? Will we go the extra mile because we were asked to? Or will we go before we are asked because we saw something needed to be done? Can we do our job without loading it over the people and saying "Look what I have done! "  Will we ever learn what God's love is really like?

I Float

FI floatI float, I fly, I soar high on the strength of God’s love for me.  That love is there for me, even on days I floatI float, I fly, I soar high on the strength of God’s love for me.  That love is there for me, even on days when I think that God has left me alone.  For God will never leave me, and is always by my side.  In fact, in the words of a dear friend, Richard, preached years ago, “I am a whosoever!”  And so are we all, for God will never turn any person away for any reason.  And isn’t that Good News, God’s love is always there for us all.    

MAC

 I think that God has left me alone.  For God will never leave me, and is always by my side.  In fact, in the words of a dear friend, Richard, preached years ago, “I am a whosoever!”  And so are we all, for G?od will never turn any person away for any reason.  And isn’t that Good News, God’s love is always there for us all.    

MAC

Funny How

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.

Funny how we believe what the newspapers say,  but question what the Bible says.

Funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they do not have to believe, think, say,

or do what the Bible says.

Or is it scary?

Funny how someone can say "I believe in God "but still follow Satan (who , by the way, also "believes " in God) 

Funny how you can send a thousand "jokes "   through email and they spread like wildfire , but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny how the lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene pass through the cyberspace,  but the public discussion of Jesus is suppressed in the school and workplace.

FUNNY, IS`T IT?

Funny how someone can be so fired up for Christ on Sunday,, but be an invisible Christian invisible Christian the of the week .

Are you laughing? 

Funny how when you go to forward this message, you will  not send it to many

on your address list because you're not sure what they believe,   or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how I  can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me.

Are you thinking? 

Awesome God

Awesome God, Abba, whole is your name 

Shinning and holy,  greater than anything 

Promises shown and Promises fulfilled 

Teach us your love to find Peace within. 

Give us acts of kindness and creativity 

Guide and sustain us for you made us free 

You have forgiven us so we forgive too 

Clean in completeness-walking in truth.

Show us your mercy, bless us with grace 

Teach us to trust `till we meet face to face 

Grant us your pardon for things we have done 

Help us to learn of You until we are one. 

Guard us evil, ourselves and the world 

Keep us aware of the promise in our words 

All is eternal, your glory is at hand 

Thank you, alleluia, we praise You, Amen 

All is eternal, Your glory is at hand 

Thank You, alleluia, we praise You, Amen-Amen.

Music-Jerry Browning 

Words-MCC Montana 

The Lonely

Ah- see them there, the lonely.

See `her sitting there

Among the crowd, with the people 

Yet alone and lonely. 

See him walking 

Along the shadowed path 

With the people on all sides 

Yet alone and lonely.

They walk alone, 

Lonely for companionship,

For a true friend 

Yet they are scared, 

Scared lest anyone 

See their loneliness 

And take pity on me them. 

So they hide their loneliness 

Behind a facade of happiness 

Pretending they are not 

Alone and unhappy. 

Yet they cry, though not aloud

To be noticed!and liked

For the who  they are 

And  not for what they seem to be.

See them there-the lonely; 

See them and notice-the lonely.

 

God's Child

I am human, 

I am alive 

See me. 

I am your neighbor, 

I am your friend,

Accept me. 

I am your sister,

I am your brother, 

Love me.

Come and see me 

And accept me 

And accept me 

For I am also 

God's child. 

Justice

Justice  -

Just for me

What others have.

The peace and love 

That the rest of the world has .

Just for all 

The same laws 

Enforced 

In the same way

At all times. 

Justice 

For all people. 

Despair

Ah -  I am in despair. 

I  ask for help, 

But it seems that 

No one is there. 

No one comes 

To my calls for help 

And I cry silent tears 

That no one can see. 

I am left wondering 

If anyone really cares

About what happens to me. 

I am in despair, 

Is anyone there? 

I need is the cry 

Of great despair. 

The black hole 

Of depression 

Is close by

And wide open 

So  a person 

Can fall into it

Without help. 

Hear the cry 

And get the help

I need!!! 

If Jesus Came Tonight

If Jesus Comes Tonight

© 2004 Danny Riddle / Ousley Music / BMI

Verse One:

If The Lord Jesus Christ Were Standing Here Tonight 

What Would He Say To You?

If He Shined Through The Night With His Glorious Light What 

He Find?

Chorus:

If Your Heart Were Made To Look Like An Open Story Book 

What Would The Ending Be?

If Jesus Comes Tonight Are You In The Book Life

Verse Two:

Do You Bicker And Fight, Always Thinking That Your Right Or 

Turn The Other Cheek?  If Jesus Heard You Now, Would You Be 

Very Proud Of What You Say?

Chorus:

Verse Three:

If The Lord Jesus Christ Were Standing Here Tonight 

What Would He Say To You?

Would You Be Heaven Poor Cause The Treasures You Have Stored 

Are Here On Earth?

Chorus 2x: 

Ending:

If Jesus Comes Tonight Are You In The Book Life

If Jesus Comes Tonight Are You In The Book Life

Celebrate Diversity

One People,

Many parts. 

R:All of us God's people. 

One in God, 

Many talents. 

R:All of us God's people. 

Come to God

And find out 

Who we are 

And why we 

Have become 

So divided.

God of wholeness, 

Forgive us 

That we have 

Become so divided 

From each other.

We see those 

And turn away, 

Forgetting 

That they are 

Your children too. 

When we refuse to see 

How diverse your world 

Really is.

Help us all 

To remember 

That it is you

Who created all we see, 

And that we are to be 

One people

Living in love 

With each other.

And God is always there, 

Waiting for us 

To remember and turn 

To find that love 

That is ours to have.

God is the creator 

Of all the diverse life 

That we see around us. U_

Short and tall,

Black and white,

And all other hues of skin 

And all other people

Of every type, 

All people and creatures 

Are the products 

Of the hands of a God 

Who loves all. 

Go out from here 

And see that all 

That you meet 

Belong to God  

And learn to love 

All people That you meet 

Are children Of God. 

Walk in peace 

Be at peace 

Remembering that God 

Really does love you. 

God's Love for All

Hey! God's love 

Is mine to have 

R:Hallelujah !

Listen! I do not 

Have to change 

To gain that love! 

R:Praise God! 

God's Love is ours

But we turn away 

And will not hear

The truth 

That is ours to have 

Dear God,

We have been told 

That you love us,

But then we hear

Other, darker voices 

Telling us that you 

Do not want us  near. 

Forgive us 

When we believe them 

And turn away from you 

Help us to see 

That always and ever

You love us all.

God is near at hand, 

Waiting in love 

For us to turn around 

And accept 

That love is always 

Ours to have

Celebrate! 

For God is here,

With us and loving us! 

Always and ever 

We are God's children! 

Go out into the world 

Remembering that always 

God's love is yours. 

Spread that love 

To all people 

That you meet. 

Walk in love 

And be at peace 

For God loves you 

Always! 

Children of One God

We are children 

Of the One God 

R: And we are loved! 

God is working 

Helping all of us: 

R: And always we are loved

Come and see,a

Our God wills good 

For all of us ⁶

When will we 

Turn away 

 From all the wrongs

That we do .

God, Forgive us 

When we turn away 

From you

And refuse to see 

All people 

As your children, 

Forgive us 

When we turn 

Others away 

And try to make them 

Less than what they are. 

Forgive us 

When we forget 

That your love 

Is there for all.

Teach us and help us remember 

That you created 

All that we see 

Around us. 

God is near

Accepting all people 

As children 

And Forgiving us 

When we come back 

To those loving arms. 

Go out into the world 

And look around you 

And that those 

That are around you 

Are all children of God. 

Walk in peace and love 

With all people 

And know 

That God loves you. 

Let Us Love

Come let us learn how to love as God does, fully and completely leaving no one out. Learn that it does not matter how different the person is and we are to see all people are children of God. There should be no hate in us for any person if we love God.. For God has commanded us to love all people. 

Come and learn from God how to love as He does so that we will always be known as children of God. For that is what we are. 

Pride - Who I Am

I am who I am 

I am who God 

Made me to be 

And no one can take 

That away from me! 

God is here,

Waiting for us 

In love. 

When will we Turn

And accept the gift 

That is offered? 

 

Dear God, forgive us 

When we turn away

And do not see 

That it is you 

Who created us 

As we are. 

Forgive us 

When we do not 

Understand 

That you are 

A part of us.

Forgive us 

When we make others 

To be less 

Than what they really are.

Help us to see 

That all people

Are yours. 

God is here and says :

I forgive all 

Who truly turn to me; 

For all people are mine,

For I have created 

All that is.

I am who 

Made me to be

It is God 

Who made everything 

That I see around me. 

Come and see 

That you are God's child 

And go out and tell 

All that you meet 

All about God's love 

For them. 

Go in peace and love 

Remembering that all people 

That you see 

Are God's children.

God's Love for All

Hey! God's love 

Is mine to have!

 R: Hallelujah! 

Listen! I do not

Have to change 

To gain that love! 

R: Hallelujah! 

God's love is ours, 

But we turn away

And will not hear 

The truth 

That is ours to have.

Dear God, 

We have been told 

That you love us, 

 But then we hear 

Other, darker voices 

Telling us that you 

Don't want us near.

Forgive us 

When we believe them 

And turn away from you. 

Help us to see 

That always and I ever 

You love us all. 

God is near at hand 

Waiting in love 

For us to turn around 

And accept 

That love is always

Ours To have. 

Celebrate! 

For God is here

With us and loving us! 

Always and ever 

We are God's children! 

Go out into the world 

Remembering that always 

God's love is yours. 

Spread that love 

To all people 

That you meet. 

Walk in love 

And be at peace 

For God loves you 

Always! 

One People

One People    for Rev Troy Perry

Isaiah 6:3-8
Let all nations
Come to me
For all people
Are mine.
No one will be
Turned away.
All who come,
No matter who they are
Will be accepted.

John 17:21-23
Let all become
One people,
And know the love
That is theirs to have.
Let all divisions
Go away,
For all are mine.

I Corinthians 8:6
I am here for you,
I gave you life
And all my love
Is yours to have.
I sent Jesus
That you might
Know what love is.

Ephesians 4:4-6
And as you are
All mine,
You should be
One people,
One in spirit
A'nd body;
For all people 

Were created by me

And I love them all. 

The God of Love

The God of love 

Is the joy of my life! 

Come with me 

And you will see 

Just how loving

God is to all people. 

It does no matter 

What you may 

Have done in your life, 

God loves you 

And will be with you 

All the days 

Of your life. 

Just turn and see, 

God is near you now! 

Called

Called      For Rev Jim Lynch  August 1, 2003

Isaiah 61:1

God has come

To dwell with me

And has called me

To preach abroad

The good news

Of love

To all people

That I meet,

For all people

Are God's.

Romans 1:16

I glory 

In the good news

That I preach to all,

For here is

Salvation

For all people, 

Near and far.

Romans 8:28

God is with me

Now and always,

Nor will I ever 

Be left alone.

I will boast of this

To the whole world,

And always tell

Of God's great love for all.

2 Tim 1:7

God is here with me, 

And gives me 

The power of love,

That I might 

Spread abroad

The good news

Of that love

That is there 

For all people. 

I Am Love

I Am Love       

I Am here.
Before the world was,
I Am there,
And I created all.
Yahweh, Elohim,
Call me what you will,
I Am always near.
Out of love
I created you.

John 1:1-5   
I am the word
That created all,
And I became
One with you
To show you all
The way to live
With each other
In love.

John 3:16
I came in love
To teach all
How to live together
In peace and love.
Can you learn
To follow me
And love
All that you meet?

I John 3:1
In this know
How much you are loved,
You are my children!
You are all
Precious to me
And I would
Hold you close
If you will only
Come near.

I John 3:11   
And being all
Children of mine,
Learn to love
One another,
For you all are
Brothers and sisters.
Come together
And see
Who you really are.

I John 4:7-10
I came
That you might
Know what love is,
And how much
I really love you.
Come and see
And find forgiveness
And love
For yourself.

I John 4:11-16
You will come
To live in union
With me
If you will only
Love one another.
And in this union
Is my love shown,
That though you have
Never seen my face,
You still live in union
With each other.

I John 4:17-18
You need not
Fear anything,
For my love
Is always there
To protect you.
Come to me
And see
How great my love
For you is.


I John 4:19-21
I created you
And I loved you
Before you knew me.
I came that you
Might know love
And not hate,
For there is no room
For hate near me.
If you love me,
You love others!
Come to me and know
My great love
For you!

Don't

 Don't ignore me,

I am here

And I am human,

Just like you!

Don't ignore me,

I am alive

And I have needs

Just like you.

Don't pretend

That I do not exist

Or that God

Did not make me.

Don't ignore me

Just love me

As I am

This day.

Come Let Us Learn

Come let us learn how to love as God does, fully and completely leaving no one out. Learn that it does not matter how different the person is and we are to see all people are children of God. There should be no hate in us for any person if we love God. 

Friends

Jesus is a friend; never too busy for any person.  

Do we act as if He is our friend?

How do we treat those we count as friends?we listen for God to speak?

Do we really hear what we are to do?

Do we really trust the other person?

Do we really trust God?

God and Jesus are more than friends – do we act that 

way?

Do other people see God and Jesus in us or our 

actions?

     summer 2006

Ignite a Fire

Ignite a fire
In your people, oh God.
Set them on  fire
To tell the good news.

Ignite a fire
In  your church, oh God.
Set them on fire
To tell about God's love.

Ignite a fire
In our midst, oh God.
So we will show
God's love to all.

God is too Great

God is too great for me, 

Too big and too full

For me to understand.

I cannot hold the idea

Of so much love within.

So I back away,

Afraid of what

I might find out about

Who this God is.

And I turn away 

To the things around me.

God is too great for me,

I cannot see Him,

Or is it Her?

I cannot tell

Which it is.

Oh, it does not matter,

For I find that this

God is too great for me.

God is too great for me, 

Too big and too full

For me to understand.

I cannot hold the idea

Of so much love within.

So I back away,

Afraid of what

I might find out about

Who this God is.

And I turn away 

To the things around me.

God is too great for me,

I cannot see Him,

Or is it Her?

I cannot tell

Which it is.

Oh, it does not matter,

For I find that this

God is too great for me.

Rainbow of Diversity by Jerry Browning

Rainbow of Diversity   

By Jerry Browning   

From the shadows we have watched for oh, so long

With a hunger to be part of freedom's song

Marked with labels and with fear we have survived

With a longing in our souls to come alive.

We have nursed our wounds of hate and bigotry

And we've mourned the ones who've died in agony;

Now the time has come to stand out in the light

And in unison to cry for what is right.

CHORUS:

We'll walk through the world with pride and dignity

And we'll live our lives as who we're meant to be

Hand in hand we'll stand together, proud and free

Underneath the rainbow of diversity.

There are differences and yet we're all the same

We're your sisters, we're your brothers and your friends

We're the sons and daughters of humanity;

I'm a part of you and you're a part of me.

Take my hand and we will build a better world

Where the one true flag of freedom is unfurled.

There is strength in numbers, come and you will see

Underneath the rainbow of diversity.

CHORUS: 

The Children of One God by Jerry Browning

The Children of One God 

By Jerry Browning 

We have wandered through the desert like the chosen of God did 

We have lived in dark confusion like the face of God was hid

We have searched to find our Sinai while the world kept closing doors 

Far too many chose to turn away, gave up and searched no more. 

They  chose to live in silence, in the darkness of their dreams 

In solitude and one-ness and in loneliness it seems 

Then the light came to a chosen few and wounds began to heal

The time was right, the truth of God began to be revealed. 

Chorus :

We are children of one God who made humanity from clay

We are worthy, we are loved, we're whosoevers who've been saved 

And we join our hearts in love to form a ring around the world 

We are loved, we are the children of one God. 

There was a sound to follow, flute and drums began to play 

The lady and the troubadour stepped out to lead the way

They carried truth and light into the the darkest of the nights

And eyes began to open, wrongs began to be made right. 

One by one, at first with caution, children stepped into the light 

Joining hands in quiet boldness,  standing firm in heaven's light 

Then a thousand came to join them, pretty soon a thousand more 

And the children of one God stood where they never could before. 

Chorus :

Gen 1: 2‐ 19

Gen 2‐1-9

And God created
All that is;
The birds that fly,
All that lives in the sea,
And all the beasts
That live on the land.

Come and see,
All creatures
Were created by God.
Come and know
That God treasures
And loves them all.

Creator God,
Forgive us
When we treat
This world
As our own
Personal possession.
Forgive us
When we forget
That you created
All animals
And they
Belong here, too.
Help all of us
To remember
That you love
All that you
Have created.

God is here,
Forgiving us
And loving us.

Come, let us
Celebrate.
And praise God
Who made
Every creature
And loves them all.

Go out in peace,
And remember:
God created this world
And all that is on it.

This is meant for a worship service, but can be used and shared as a poem.

.

I float I float, I fly, I soar high on the strength of God’s love for me. That love is there for me, even on days when I think that God has left me alone. For God will never leave me, and is always by my side. In fact, in the words of a dear friend, Richard, preached years ago, “I am a whosoever!” And so are we all, for God will never turn any person away for any reason. And isn’t that Good News, God’s love is always there for us a

You're A Big Shot

You’re A Big Shot

Danny Riddle  c2004 Danny Riddle/Ousley Music/BMI

You’re A Big Shot You’re A Wanted Man

Charmin Everybody When Ever You Can

But It Won’t Be Long until They Learn Your Game

Then They’re Gonna Wish They Never Heard Your Name

Talk Is Cheap But Your Words Are Sweet

Until You Think You Got ‘Em Then You Put On The Heat

But It Won’t Long Until They Learn Your Game

Then They’re Gonna Wish They Never Heard Your Name

Your Gonna Reap What You Sow, Hey Buddy Don’t You Know

There’s No Place You Can Hide, No Place Deep InsidexThat God 

Does Not See

You’re In Control Right Now, Cause You Call The Shots

You Let Everybody Know That You Made It To The Top

But It Won’t Be Long Until They Learn Your Game

Then They’re Gonna Wish They Never Heard Your Name

You Can Walk For Miles, You Can Run So Fast

But The Present Has A Way Of Catchin’ Up With Your Past

But It Won’t Be Long Until They Learn Your Game

Then They’re Gonna Wish They Never Heard Your Name

Your Gonna Reap What You Sow, Cause Buddy Don’t You Know

There’s No Place You Can Hide, No Place Deep Inside That God 

Does Not See

It Comes Before You Now Right Before You Fall

And There’s Someone Up Above Who’s Been Watching It All

And It Won’t Be Long Until There Comes A Day

When God’s Gonna Say, I Never Knew Your Name

Your Gonna Reap What You Sow, Cause Buddy Don’t You Know

There’s No Place You Can Hide, No Place Deep Inside That God 

Does Not See

There’s No Place You Can Hide, No Place Deep Inside That God 

Does Not See

We Are The Same by Terry Lee Ousley

We Are The Same

Terry Lee Ousley / copyright 1999 Ousley Music / BMI

 

Verse 1

The buzz-word of today seems to be "diversity":

celebrating everything that is different from me!

We get so wrapped up in the words we say

We forget about the message Jesus sent our way:

"Be true unto God and make love your middle name,

and remember in your spirit where it counts we are the same."

 

Chorus:

We are one in the Spirit, one in Christ;

One body, many members, each unique in God's eyes.

You can be different, you don't have to change

Just as long as in your spirit where it counts we are the same.

 

Verse 2

You can call God "Father", "Parent", or "Mother"

But the Great I Am is still God, there ain't no other!

Call Jesus "Savior", "Lord", or "the Christ"

But the Redeemer of the World is still the only way to life!

You can say "Holy Spirit", "Holy Ghost", or "Ms. Thang";

Just be sure that in your spirit where it counts we are the same!

 

Chorus:

We are one in the Spirit, one in Christ;

One body, many members, each unique in God's eyes.

You can be different, you don't have to change

Just as long as in your spirit where it counts we are the same.

 

Verse 3

You can worship at High Mass or roll down the aisles;

You can speak with "other tongues" or sit there and smile!

Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal too -

Just get Jesus in your heart, that's what you need to do!

Be Alliance, Methodist, or MCC in name

Just as long as in your spirit where it counts we are the same!

 

Chorus:

We are one in the Spirit, one in Christ;

One body, many members, each unique in God's eyes.

You can be different, you don't have to change

Just as long as in your spirit where it counts we are the same.

 

3 Prayers

 want to ever do anything that is outside of what 

you want. AMEN

Dear God, I'm sorry, but I'm not doing as well as I should. I 

there are still some people who I would like to 

hate, or at least think that you do not love them. These people 

think too differently than I do, and I cannot handle that. 

Remind me again that those who are different in any way are 

still your children, created by you. Help me always to remember 

that your love cannot be restricted to just some people, but 

is inclusive of all. Stay always near me, and help me to learn 

your love. AMEN

Oh God, immerse me so much in your love that there is no one 

who I can hate or think can be outside of your love.  Fill me 

so full of your love that no matter who the others are or what 

they believe, I will remember that your love is theirs, also, 

even when they disagree with me.  Help me to love others, for 

it is so much easier to love family and friends than to love 

others who are so much different.AMEN

 

Music

MUSIC 

MUSIC 

MUSIC 

Music settles my soul, 

Gives me joy, 

And helps me find peace. 

Thank you, God 

For the music 

That you have set 

Within our souls. 

Music soothes, 

Helps me find the center 

And helps me keep 

On an even keel. 

Thank you, oh God, 

For those people 

Who make the….

MUSIC 

MUSIC 

MUSIC 

Great is Your Love

Elohim, oh Elohim you are all love. I can not even begin to tell the whole of it, for it is too deep for me to understand or speak about. I do my best but there are not enough words to tell the world about how big your love is for all people! So I do my best to proclaim your love to all] people of the world! Elohim,oh Elohim great is your love! 

Alone

Alone, feeling so alone like nobody cares about me. But then I look around me and find there are so many there saying that they care. Feeling better, no longer alone, I walk with my friends and know that I was never alone.

Fear

Fear 

Letting go of fear can be hard.  For our fears are so ingrained that it is sometimes impossible to 

 chase them out.  And how hard is that!  Sometimes, because of our fearse do not become the fully human people that we are meant to be.  Only with God's help can we ever even begin to let go of our fears.

Easter

I almost missed Easter!! And I'm the one who loved Jesus so much while He was alive and I almost worship. He saved me from being stoned! And most of the men who were there had been with me at least once, the hypocrites! But now I'm free and have been ever since that day. So for me to miss this day is a surprise! Guess I was being too careful avoiding the days when He was killed I mean murdered by a the authorities. I....scus me gotta go my friends are waiting! 

A Name for God

Who is God? By what name do we call Him/Her? Do we even know anything about God? There are several names in the Bible, which one do we call Him/Her? For the name is Elohim and not because it is a female name but because it pulls at me. I don't know what the meaning of the word is, I only know it is my name for God.

Willing

Are we willing

To be different

And to let

Other people know

That we follow

A different path?

Can we see

That God is 

Also with those

Who are different?

And are we willing

To let God work

Through us

To reach those

Who are different?

MAC

The Dream

    I had gone to bed.  For a time, I could not sleep, but tossed and turned restlessly.  Then, as I finally started to drop off to sleep, I had the strangest vision, or if you will, a dream.
    It seemed as if I was so large that this solar system of ours was as a toy to me, and I held in my hands our planet.  It was as a ball or a precious jewel.
    It seemed so perfect, this jewel I held, all blue and green, with shifting streaks of white.  But as I looked more closely, I could see flaws.  The scars of war were there, old wars and the bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  And the newer wars of Vietnam and Bosnia.
    Then with penetrating sight, I looked and saw flaws more hidden.  The flaws of hate and suspicion ran across the face of this jewel I held.
    Suddenly, I feared to let go of this ball, this jewel, for if I let it go from me on its appointed rounds, I feared that it would come back to me in fragments, exploded, or as a blackened and dead world.  But yet I let it go, and watched more carefully, for it had become suddenly very precious to me.
    Then I was myself.  And I thought and then wondered if God were not at times afraid to let go of this world of His.  For it seems that however hard He tries, we people turn from Him and choose, instead of the path of glory and light; other darker paths.
    Then my dream returned to me.  And I seemed to watch, afraid, as this precious world of ours wound its way through the starry night. 
1964          

God is Working

See the rugged,

Snow- capped mountains
Reaching for the sky.
See the deep, green valleys
Laying far beneath
See the rolling plains and prairies
Stretching onward mile by mile
See all the signs and know;
God is working – here.

See the trees growing upward
See the green grass beneath.
See the glowing flowers
With all the colors
Of the rainbow.
Look all around you now
And know that again:
God is working – here.

See the small streams
And the wide rivers
Flowing onward to the sea.
See the wider sea
And the restless waves
Beating on the shoreline.
See all this and remember:
God is working – here.

See the people gather,
Young and old, short and tall.
See them in all colors
And all persuasions
Mixing freely all around.
See all of this
And always remember:
God is working – here.

Feel the wind a blowing
Wherever it will
See the rain coming down
Always upon one and all.
See the bright sun shine
Every day, even through the clouds.
Look around you day by day
And know that always and ever:
God is working – here.

A Prayer

A Prayer

Almighty God, Yaweh, Elohim, Adonis, we call Your many names. You are the Creator of all, Mighty God, Light of the worl,d, Giver of Life, Speaker of the Word that created all that is. Father and Mother to all people, the God of Israel, Leader, Guide, and the Mighty One.  We bow down before You and sing our praises to You. You call each of us by name, telling each that we are Your Beloved. Come to us now and keep us safe and remind us that you are always near to help each one of us. We would stay always with You. Show us how to make Your peace and what Your Love is like. Teach us how to really love. Amen and Amen 

A Message from God

Hear the message from God: Learn to love all people if you would please Me! And I mean all of the time, not just when it's convenient or in church. Also I want you to love each person as I love you. Do this that I ask of you or you might not be My people anymore! Remember to love ALL people! 

God Loves All

The love of God, who is called by many names and among them is the name Elohim. Now I don'tTheThe love of God, who is called by many names and among them is the name Elohim. Now I don't know what the name means but it has become my favorite name for God. Elohim, oh Elohim you are love and you love all people of the world. Elohim is always with me and if you look you will find Elohim is near you wanting to be with you if you will let Him.. So come and know who Elohim is. love of God, who is called by many names and among them is the name Elohim. Now I don't know what the name means but it has become my favorite name for God. Elohim, oh Elohim you are love and you love all people of the world. Elohim is always with me and if you look you will find Elohim is near you wanting to be with you if you will let Him.. So come and know who Elohim is. know what the name means but it has become my favorite name for God. Elohim, oh Elohim you are love and you love all people of the world. Elohim is always with me and if you look you will find Elohim is near you wanting to be with you if you will let Him.. So come and know who Elohim is.

Following Jesus

Hear the message from God: Learn to love all people if you would please Me! And I mean all of the time, not just when it's convenient or in church. Also I want you to love each person as I love you. Do this that I ask of you or you might not be My people anymore! Remember to love AtLL people! 

Why Are

Why are you running

Away from God,

My friend?

Where are you going

That you take not

God with you?

What will you do 

If you will not

Let God love you?

Come and see:

Do not turn away

For always and ever

God loves you!

Why are you running

Away from God,

My friend?

Where are you going

That you take not

God with you?

What will you do 

If you will not

Let God love you?

Come and see:

Do not turn away

For always and ever

God loves you!

The Love of God

Love Is more than just the love between people. It is also love of family and friends who are all around. The best love of all is the love of God for people. And all people are included. That love is stronger, bigger, stronger, and more enormous than we can ever imagine. The love of God is the Love that is beyond our understanding and our imaginings. We are loved so much more than we can ever know. It is an enormous, expansive love that is always there for anyone who wants to be included no bars for any person who comes honestly. Come and see the God who really loves everyone!

God is too Great

God is too great for me, 

Too big and too full

For me to understand.

I cannot hold the idea

Of so much love within.

So I back away,

Afraid of what

I might find out about

Who this God is.

And I turn away 

To the things around me.

God is too great for me,

I cannot see Him,

Or is it Her?

I cannot tell

Which it is.

Oh, it does not matter,

For I find that this

God is too great for me.

Kingdom of Love

     Hope for the Kingdom of love, which shall come.  

It is in this kingdom that all shall live in peace, 

nor shall any put down any other.  No person will be 

made to feel that they are less than any other person.  

And God's love will be there for all, for all are His 

children.  

     Work for the Kingdom of love and let all people 

know that God's love is there for them.  This is what 

Christmas is all about, God's love made manifest, 

walking among the people, showing all how they were 

to live in peace.  

     Live as Christ did, loving all people, sharing 

God's love with all, and the kingdom will come sooner.  

For the more we live in love and in Christ, the more 

the kingdom is present in this world.  And let God's 

love flow through us all out to the whole world, that 

all the world will know God and His love.

Really Following

Are we really following Jesus? Are we willing to go the way He teaches? Will we go the extra mile because we were asked to? Or will we go before we are asked because we saw something needed to be done? Can we do our job without loading it over the people and saying "Look what I have done! "  Will we ever learn what God's love is really like?

Friends

Jesus is a friend; never too busy for any person.  

Do we act as if He is our friend?

How do we treat those we count as friends?  Do we listen for God to speak?

Do we really hear what we are to do?

Do we really trust the other person?

Do we really trust God?

God and Jesus are more than friends – do we act that 

way?

Do other people see God and Jesus in us or our 

actions?

     summer 2006

Thoughts on Love

Thoughts about Rainbows:

Recently, I have been considering rainbows and how some people seem to

glow whenever you see them.  Knowing how I can sometimes be grey or

even black in mood, I wondered how that could be.

I did a lot of driving in my work and in my personal life.  It just 

happened that I was driving to Springfield on a mostly cloudy day.  The

clouds were grey and white, but being mostly grey.  I happened to look

at some of the clouds, and noticed parts of a rainbow on the clouds.  

This fascinated me, and I noticed that as the clouds moved, the parts

of the rainbow would show up again in different places.  It then occured

to me that the clouds had to be in just the right place in relation to

the sun.  Never mind that the clouds seemed to be grey, the water in 

them was clear, and just the right spot for rainbows, even parts of them.

It occured to me that the people that I had noticed must have something

similar, that is the person must be in just the right place in relation 

to God.  And when God's Love shines through us, glory happens!  And if

we really let God's Love show, those around us cannot help but notice. 

Some Thoughts

Some Thoughts 

I went to the theater one night in Decatur, IL a few years 

ago to see a production of "Jesus Christ, Super Star".  It 

occurred to me from the begining of the show how much our 

culture colors our preceptions of who Jesus was and what He 

looked like.  For example, I tend to see Jesus as 6' or a bit 

taller. The truth is that He was probably 5'5" to 5'7".  And 

being a Jew, and being outdoors a lot, His skin was probably 

much darker than what a lot of us think it was.  And I wonder 

how many would follow Him if we knew He had a darker skin?

As for Jesus being Jewish, how many Christians either forget

that fact or deny it?  But He was raised by Jewish parents 

in an area that was Jewish.  And my preception now is that 

the Priests of that time considered Jesus to be a bit of 

a rebel, because He taught differently than they did, and 

hadn't been taught anything by them.  Would we accept His 

teachings any better??  And what would we do with a person 

like Him - have Him killed, put in prison for a time or 

just ignore Him?

 

A Prayer

Oh dear God, can we ever learn to live together in 

peace and harmony? How long will we make of our 

differences reasons to fight each other?  And can we 

ever learn to live on this earth in harmony with all 

that lives here?  There are too many wars here, what 

can we do to stop our going to war?  Help us now, and 

show us a better way to live so that our children 

will inherit a vital, alive and growing world. AMEN

Nov 7, 2015

Loving God, there are way too many wars in this world.  Is 

there a way we can learn to stop the fighting and learn to 

really get along with each other?  Please reach out to not 

only the leaders who make the decisions for war, but also to 

those of us who follow those leaders.  Help us all to learn 

how to love all you have created so all might have a better 

life and there will be a better world there for those who 

come along after us.  Keep us all safe from the evil that 

seems to pursue us and remind us always that you love ALL 

people.   AMEN

Come in Joy

Come in Joy    for Jerry Browning March 2003

Psalm 16:9-11   

Come, follow me,

And I will lead you

In the paths of life.

In my presence is joy,

And I will keep you

Secure and safe,

And you will know

That always, I love you.I will 

John 15:11-17

Come in joy,

Knowing that my love

Is always there.

Pass my love on

To one another

And your joy

Will be more full.

John 16:19-22

I will turn

All your sorrow

Into such joy

That no one

Can take it away 

From you.

Just look and see,

I am always there,

Waiting for you.

John 16:23-24

Come to me,

And ask of God

For whatever you want

And in my name

It will be given

That your joy

May be full.

John 16:31-33   

Come in joy, 

Knowing that you

Are united to me.

Be at peace,

For no matter

What you may suffer

At the hands

Of the world,

I am with you

And I have defeated

This world.

John 17:6-19

Holy God, you are

Mother and Father

To all here.

You have given 

Them to me.

Help them to live

Together in unity

And in love 

For each other.       

John 17:20-26

I also pray 

For those yet to come,

That they might 

Always be one,

Just as we are.

Show them your glory,

That all may know

Of the love 

That has been there

From the beginning.

Help those to come

To always know

The joy 

Of your presence.