The Church Divided

The church is divided
Into many camps,
Each saying,
"Mine is better,
We follow Christ
Better than they."
But these are only
Human terms,
For God is not divided,
But it is one God,
And in Christ,
We are also one.

Can We

Can we ever
Learn to stop
Our fighting
One with the other?

Can we ever
Learn to care
For all those
Who are different?

Can we ever
Learn what
God's lov
Really is?

Can we ever
Learn to show
God's love
To the whole world?

photo by:  Arthur Clark

We know so much
About hate
And indifference.
We cannot seem
To turn around
And greet
All those
Who are different
With love
And gentleness.

We are all
Too afraid
Of differences
To stop and see
That those others
Are more like us
Than we would
Like to admit.

The Flawed Jewel

The world is a jewel
That is oh, so bright.
It shines in the heavens,
Shining brightly.
But flaws are there
Running across
The face of it
That threaten
To destroy it.
When will those
Upon this jewel,
This flawed gem,
Learn to get along
With one another?

Fear

photo by:   Betty Q Smith

Fear of differences,
Fear of those
Who are not
Like us.
When
Can we all
Learn
To get past
This fear?

Open Door

Here's an open door,
Come inside
And sit a while
And rest your feet,
All are welcome here.

Elitism

Elitism –

We are the best,

No one else

Need apply

To get in here!

But God comes

To knock at the door

And tells us

To come out

And serve

ALL the people.

We are comfortable here

And the new person

Will upset

All that we

Have established!

But God comes again

And knocks us all

For a loop

By reminding us

That the church

Is for ALL people.

The Church

A community of faith,
People worshiping together,
Coming together
To become one people.
And God is the head,
Nurturing and sustaining,
Giving all people
A place to grow
In love
And with each other.

Help

Photo by:  Arthur Clark

Help each other,
Share the pain
And the stress
Between each other,
And the load
Is made lighter
For all.

Calm Me

Calm me,

Cure me,

Hold my hand.

Touch me,

Tell me

That you care.

Give me peace,

Give me love,

And let me find

Calmness

At the center

Of the storm.

Troubles

Troubles,
There are such troubles
All around us.
We go to war
Because
Of hate and fear.
Help us, dear God,
To find our way
To peace and love.

Violence

Photo by:  Arthur Clark

We fight
One another
And hurt those
Who are not
Like us.
Violence
Seems to be
A part of us.
Can we ever
Learn
To live together
In peace?

Walk

Love me,
Walk with me
Through the world.
Help me
On the path.
Keep me from falling,
And when you stumble,
I will be there
For you.

Awake

photo by:  Betty Q Smith

Awake!
Look around you
And see all those
Who live in this world
As brothers and sisters.

Awake!
Pray for all people
For we need each other
So that all can live
Together in peace.

Awake!
And see that our God
Is there for all
And loves all people
Of the world.

Why

Why
Is there trouble
And turmoil
In this world?
People hate and fear
Whatever
Is different.
Can we ever learn
To love at all?

For Refugees

photo by:  Arthur Clark

Originally written because of the problems in Kosovo.

We're on a journey of tears,
Over the mountains
Far from the place
That is our home.

We're on a journey of tears,
Fleeing from oppression
And from hatred
To save our lives.

We're on a journey of tears,
When will it end?
When will we get back
To that place we call home?

We Talk

We talk and talk
About what is needed
But then we resist
Doing what we are told.

We complain daily
About all our problems
And forget to love
As Jesus loved.

Loving God, how can we still the flames of hate and fear?  A young man gets shot and killed because he was in the wrong place, and people over react.  There have been riots over what happened, how do we reach those who live there and show them a better way to react?  What do we do to make better choices for ourselves and those around us?  Come to us now and show us your ways of peace and love.

Children

Take care of the children,
Help them live
And find the good life
That is theirs to have.

Take care of the children,
Help them find love
Wherever they go
And wherever they live.

Take care of the children,
And feed them
Body and soul
That they might have life.

Take care of the children,
And help them now
Know that always
They are loved.

God Put

God put rainbow
Into our lives,
Look around
And you will see
Rainbows.

God puts peace
Into our lives.
Stop and feel
And you will know
Peace.

God puts love
Into our lives.
Go forth, knowing
That ever and always
You are loved.

Awesome God, Abba

Here is a version of The Lord's Prayer by the members of MCC Montana in Great Falls.  I got this because I know Jerry Browning, who composed the music to go with this.  I have this on a CD if anybody is interested. 

Awesome God, Abba, whole is your name

Shining 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’ve 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 ‘til 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 from 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

Lyrics: MCC Montana

Rainbows Around

photo by:  Betty Q Smith

Rainbows
Are all around us.
Just stop and let
The light of God
Shine through you.

Rainbows,
Let them glow
That all the world
Might know always
Of God's love for them.

Rainbows

photo by: Betty Q Smith

Rainbow are ours
To have and to hold.
But if we hold
Too tightly,
They will disintegrate.

Take the rainbow
That you will find near
And pass it on
To all people
That you will find.

The Shepherd

There is a Shepherd

That stands so near,

And His voice

I long to hear.

Other shepherds try

To lead me astray

But only that voice

Will I obey.

Now my Shepherd

Calls me to come,

Calls me by name

To lead me home.

Nature

Nature sings
For pure joy
In being;
Where have we
Lost that joy
And how can
We get it back again?

Problems

So many problems in this world, dear God. while some places are getting too much rain, other places haven't had enough rain for about 14 years.  Please, a week or two of no rain in those places where there have been too much and gentle rain where it is needed.
Other problems include the killing of young people who seem to have been in the wrong place and got shot.  Peace for those places.  And there is fighting and killing all around the world.  Oh that we could settle our differences in better ways and learn that we are not so different from each other after all.   Help us find those better ways and start to live together in peace.      

Black Sheep

Black sheep,
Black sheep,
Pushed to one side
No one wants you
Anywhere near.

Black sheep,
Black sheep,
Chased on away,
Everyone telling you
That you are not loved.

Black sheep,
Black sheep,
Come on back;
The Shepherd is looking
Just for you.

Black sheep,
Black sheep,
Be now at peace
Be now at peace
For the Shepherd
Really does love you.

Come With Me

Come, be with me

In my lonely hours

And comfort me

And lead me home.

Come, walk with me

In my darkest hours,

Help me to know

That someone is there.

Come, sit with me,

And listen when I talk

That I might find peace

And love for my soul.

Hope

Hope is a seed

That needs to be

Planted carefully.

Hope is a plant

To be tended carefully

To help it grow.

Hope can be a flower

Spreading sweet smells

Throughout the world.

The Cry

photo by: Arthur Clark

Comes the cry,

"God doesn't love me,

How can that be,

I am too different!"

But comes back

An answer from God,

"It does not matter

How different you are,

I love you always."

Look At Me

Look at me,
See me,
I am here
And alive,
I am human.

Look at me,
See me,
I need love
Just like
Everyone else.

Look at me,
See me,
For I am also
A child
Of a loving God.

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
For I am also
God's child.

Outside the Gate

photo by: Arthur Clark

Living outside the gate,
Not belonging
Anywhere.
No home;
Noo place
To call my own.
Is there anyone
Who can help me
Find my way?
Will any hear
My cries of pain?
Will anybody
Let me in?

Justice

Justice -
Just for me
What others have.
Just for you
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.

Cry for Help

The cry for help
Sounds from the streets,
But no one
Hears it.
The peopl walk by
And do not see
The poor and lame.

Where, oh God
Are you?
Where is your justice?
And where - mercy?
Come to us, God,
And help us.

Influence

Under the influence
Of what?
Things of the world
Or of heaven?
Will we have
Abundant life
Or the material things
That make up
Our lives?
What do we
Let influence
Our lives?

The Wonder

The wonder of me,

How much

There is within,

Unknown,

Unplumbed depths

And heights.

And only God

Knows

The whole of it.

And in love

God is always there

To help me

Find my way

Through the wonder

And mystery of me.

We Are

We are the poor,
The powerless.
We are the oppressed,
Those trodden underfoot
By all others.
See us,
Help us,
Know us and learn
That we are
Brothers and sisters
To those of you
Who think yourself
Above us.

Why

Photo by Arthur Clark

Why
Is there trouble
And turmoil
In this world?
People hate and fear
Whatever
Is different.
Can we ever learn
To love at all?

A Prayer - God loves

Loving God, remind us again just how much you love each one of us.  We tend to turn away and forget when the rest of the world tells us that you can't love us because of who we are.  Forgive us for listening to those other voices and remind us again that you you call each of us by name and tell us all that we are Beloved.

Learn Love?

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?

A Prayer

Dear God, there is so much fighting in this world!  We just can't seem to get along with each other and shoot to kill because of the least little differences in body or in thinking.  What can be done to change this?  Is there some thing that can be taught?  How do we learn to live in love with each other?  Come to us now and show us the best way to go.  Help us all learn your way of love and peace.AMEN  

Prayer

photo by:  Arthur Clark

Creator God, creating still,
Help us to see
Your hand in it all.
Help us all to know
That we are guardians
Of this world.
Show us how to keep it
Green and growing
So that future generations
Have a place to live.

What?

What have we done to this world created for us by God?  There are so many more big storms, have we taken too much from the world for ourselves?  There are big sink holes, cliffs falling apart, houses and people threatened and destroyed, what have we done to deserve this?

What Have We Done

photo by: unknown ranger in Alaska

Strong storms and tornadoes
Forest fires and earthquakes,
What have we done wrong
That all this is happening?

Cliffs falling down,
Sinkholes in our streets,
Is the earth rebelling
Against our over use of it?

Mudslides destroying,
Volcanoes erupting,
What have we done
To cause all this?

Prayer Aug 2014

Oh, dear God, we're at it again!  People killing other people just because that other looks or believes different!  When will we all learn that even in our differences, we were all created by you in love and for love?  Will we ever learn to live together in peace?  Will we ever see that underneath the differences, we are more alike than different and are all human?  Can we ever learn your way of love?

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

If Only

If only you had been here,
Always the cry goes up
Wanting the answers now
And not to have to wait.
But yet, God comes
Only when it is time,
And only in the proper time
Will our answer come.

Different

No, I am not better,
Just different.
I have a different
Route than you;
But we both
Are created
By the same God.

Me

I am me,
God created me
The way that I am!

I am me,
And no person
Can change who I am!

I am me,
And God loves me
As I am right now!

People

People are born
As they are
And no one
Has any right
To tell anyone
They have to be
Other than
Who they are.

If you don't agree with them,
have the courtesy to go somewhere else and leave them alone, for who they are is the way they were born, and no one can change that.

Come

Come, walk with me
Be my friend
In all my lonely hours.

Come, talk with me
Hear me and listen to
What I have to say.

Come, be with me
And comfort and hug me
When I am down.

Come, sit with me
When I cannot go out
And just love me.

For all the lonely Seniors:

Don't forget me
Or leave me alone,
Be there for me
To help and show love.

Don't ignore me
And think I am happy,
You just may be
The one that I need.

Don't turn away
Because I am not there,
Call or come by,
Let me know you care.

Flawed

Flawed vessels,
Flawed pots,
But not made
That way.
Made beautiful,
But become flawed
Day by day.
But yet, but yet,
They can be
Made new again
By the skillful hands
Of God.

A Prayer

Dear God, now let the rain cease in the areas where there has been severe flooding.  Give the people there time to clean up and fix the damage done by all that rain.  At least a week without rain would be appreciated, please.  And please send some gentler rain to those areas that are dealing with drought.

Share Love

Share love,
Give love away
For only then
Can it come back
To you.

Share love,
Be there
And accept
Each person
As they are.

Share love,
Give love also
To those
Who refuse
To accept it.

Share love,
And let all know
That God
Loves
All people.

I Wonder

       I Wonder

I wonder if God cries

Over the way we treat

The world created for us

To use and enjoy?

I wonder if God cries

Over the way we treat

The folks around us

Oppressing and hurting each other?

I wonder if God cries

Over the hatred and wars

Seen upon this world

And the lack of love?

 I wonder if God cries,

Are the raindrops tears?

I Am

I'm hungry,
Feed me.
I'm thirsty,
Give me to drink.
I'm lonely,
Hold my hand.
I am God's child,
Accept me
As the beautiful person
That I am.

Beloved of God

Beloved of God,
Come now and see
All that has been
Prepared for you.

Beloved of God,
Come now and hear
All about the love
That is yours to have.

Beloved of God,
Come now and know
Just how much
You are loved.

God of...

God of light
Surround me
With the bright,
Clear light of love.
Don't let  the darkness
Of despair ever
Linger near me.

God of love
Surround me
With so much love
That the light
Will never leave
And hate will not
Come near me.

Prayer - Aug 2014

Dear God, help us now.  There's a disease in west Africa that is ravaging the people there, killing without mercy.  Help the Scientists find a treatment for this horrible disease and a vaccine of some kind to protect against it.  Be with all the people there and help them through this.
And help us to make peace instead of war.  Show us the way for us to find the path that will lead all of us to learn how to live side by side better and to better understand the neighbor across the world.  Help us all learn your ways of peace and love.  AMEN

Prayer 35

God - be at the center
Of my life.
Be always with me
And guide me.
Do not leave me, ever,
For without you, God
I am lost and lonely.