Before Me, Behind Me

by Terry Lee Ousley

God, You know everything about me;
You know every thought of my day.
You know where I stand
And You know when I stop and rest -
Every moment You know where I am!

You go before me to chart the path of Your plan.
You go behind me to guide me and keep me safe within Your hand.
This is too glorious, too marvelous for my mind to comprehend!
Before me, behind me: Your presence is all around me!
I can never be lost from Your love.

When I've climbed my highest mountain You are there.
And when I'm in my deepest pit, You're even there!
It is so precious, Lord, to realize You are with me constantly!
When I call out Your name, Your thoughts turn toward me!

You go before me to chart the path of Your plan.
You go behind me to guide me and keep me safe within Your hand.
This is too glorious, too marvelous for my mind to comprehend!
Before me, behind me: Your presence is all around me!
I can never be lost from Your love.

BASED on Psalm 139

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."

Who Is My Neighbor?

photo by:  Betty Q Smith

Leviticus 19:18 ,33, 34; Mark 12:28-33

Love your neighbor

As you love yourself.

           Who is my neighbor?

            The person next door

             Who is like me.

Love your neighbor

As you love yourself.

              Who is my neighbor?

              The person far away

               Who is different

                In so many ways.

We so often  ask

Who is my neighbor?

And for get to look

Around to see

Who God I loving now.

Dear  God, forgive me,

For I so often

Ignore those around me

Or turn my back

On those in need.

I often fear to see

That those who are

Different than me

Are my neighbors,

And deserve what help

That I can give them.

Help me to learn

That they all

Are loved by you,

And are my neighbors.

God is here,

Among us

And loving us all;

And for giving us

When we forget

Who our neighbors are.

We have come together

To learn who

Our neighbors are.

Let us now go out

And pass the love

That is of God

To all people

Who are our neighbors.

Go in peace

And walk in love

With all people

Always,

Remembering

That all people

Are God’s children

And are loved.

   

Neighbor

photo by:  Betty Q Smith

My neighbor,

Who is he?

Or who is she

That I should help?

Is there anyone

Around me

Who needs my help

That I have ignored?

Show me, Lord,

What to do,

Who needs my help,

Who needs me.

The Children of One God

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 oneness and in loneliness it seems

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

The time was right, the truths 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 hands 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 drum began to play

The lady and the troubadour stepped out to lead the way

They carried truth and light into 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 hundred came to join them, pretty soon a thousand more

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

CHORUS:

Questions IV

Do we have the time

To do what God

Would have us do?

Do we have the time

To make the world

A better place for all?

Do we have the time

To turn around and help

Those near us

Who need our help?

Will we take the time

To see if there is

Something for us

To do in God’s world?

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.

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.

Ruth 1:16-18

photo by: Betty Q Smith

We two are together.

And only death

Can tear us apart.

So don’t ever ask me

To leave you,

For wherever you are

Is where I want to be,

Always.

So come with me,

My love,

And we’ll walk this world

Always together.

God is Good

photo by:  Arthur Clark 

In celebration:

God is good,

   All the time!

God is here for us

   Every day!

We need not fear

At any time

For all the time,

   God is good!

You have given us

Such beauty

That we often

Can not see it all;

And we do not see

Al the good

That is there for us.

We turn away

From all the good

That you put

In our lives.

We often refuse to see

That you mean

Only good for us

And just see the bad

That is there.

We too often

Let fear rule us

And will not see

That your hand

Is there for us.

Help us to see

That the beauty around us

Is a reminder for us

That you are always there.

God is near us, always

Ready to forgive us all

When we turn around again

And take that hand

There for us all.

Go out from here

And show all people

That God is always there

Wanting to love them all.

Go in peace and love

And always remember

That all the time

   God is good!

Let Go

photo by:  Rick Ramsey

 

Let go

And find peace.

Know that God

Is there for you

And always loving you.

Let go

And find peace.

Turn now and reach

For the light

There for you.

Let go

And know peace.

Know that God

Has always been there,

Loving you.

Questions I

Photo by:  Rick Ramsey

Who are the outcast?

And who are we all

Called to minister to?

Where is God

Leading us?

And can we find true

Unity in God’s love?

Peace

Peace will begin with a child;

For a child has not learned

To hate and fear

What he or she

Does not understand.

Peace will begin with a child;

For children do not know

That they should

Hate and fear

People who are not

Made exactly like them.

The World

photo by:  Rick Ramsey

The world oft seems

To be a dismal place

Full of petty hates and fears

Spread by ignorance and stupidity

Of people around

Who do not see

Their neighbor as a brother or sister.

And they breathe contempt

Of anyone

Who is different

In any way

Refusing to accept others

As people,

Children of God,

With their own lives, loves,

And dignity.

And I move and live

In this world

Wondering

How it will all turn out.

Walls

There have ever been

Walls

Dividing us

Each from the other.

Man and woman,

Parent and child,

Each of us

Has built a wall

Around about

To keep all others out;

Nor will we break them down

For anyone.

But there is One

Come to us now

Who will break down

All the walls

We have built

So carefully.

Fellowship of Love

photo by:  Arthur Clark

Let us build

A fellowship of love

And all people

Will be included.

Let us build

A fellowship of love

Where hate

Will have no place

And no chance to grow.

Let us build

A fellowship of love

And God will lead all

To a better place

Where love rules.

Valuable

You are valuable,

My friend.

You are very precious

In God’s sight

And no one

Can take that

Away from you.

Face of God

I see the face of God

Before me all the day,

Glorious in its beauty

And wrought in humble clay.

For the face of God

Is the face of those I see

All around me every day;

In my neighbors, God I see.

On the Hill

On the hill He stood

And taught the way of life.

 “Blessed are you…” He said.

And then He taught,

Speaking of God’s love

For all His children.

And then He taught them how to live,

And that they should

Be as perfect as God.

Then He called loud and clear;

“Come unto me all you who labor…

And I will give you rest.”

And still that call rings out

Drawing people unto Him;

The Christ, the Lamb of God.           

 1964

Someone Cares

photo by:  Rick Ramsey

I am drowning in fear,
Is there any who cares?
I am oppressed and beaten down,
Is there anyone there?
It is dark and I cannot see
To find the way to go
Where is there anyone
Who cares?

Yet stop, and look;
For Christ is there, waiting,
His hands outstretched in love
Wanting to show us
That He cares.

Can You Hear Me, Lord?

By  Jerry Browning

Can you hear me, Lord; how did I come to be?

Can you hear me Lord; is this Your Love I see?

Seems the world you made has turned its back on me.

If you hear me Lord, I’m longing to be free.

Do you love me, Lord; I feel inside you do.

Do you love me, Lord; my heart cries out to you,

In the dark of night, let me see your light shine through,

If you love me Lord, then let me walk with you.

Can you tell me, Lord; all the reasons I am here?

Can you tell me, Lord; what is it others fear?

Why is hate so strong & love so rare and dear?

Will you tell me Lord, for I feel you standing near.

Will you take me Lord; I’m longing to be free.

Will you take me Lord; my soul cries out to thee

For the only love I know you placed in me.

If you won’t take me Lord; why did I come to be?

(repeat last two lines)

Why God?

photo by:  unknown ranger in Alaska

Hey Lord, I am here and I want to talk to you.  I don't mind being here in this life, and most of the time, I don't mind being who I am.  But dear Lord, I am so oppressed!  Why did you make me to be so different from everybody else?  Differences are just not just not accepted here.  Once people know that a person is different, they turn away, or make it hard for that different one to live.  Some have even been beaten!  Why God?  Why can't people accept me as I am?  Why must they continually be trying to change me?  Why did you make me as I am?

A prayer of the troubled

photo by:  Rick Ramsey

I am oppressed,
Why has this happened?
I have been beaten,
Why am I treated so?
I cannot live where I want,
Where is justice?
People look to kill me,
What have I done to deserve that?
I look to you, oh God,
For help in all my troubles,
Where have you gone?

Love One Another

photo by:  Arthur Clark

Love one another;
This should be
Our highest goal.

Love one another
And do not stint
In any way.

Love one another,
Even all those
You would like to hate.

Love one another
And always God
Will walk with you.

What If?

Photo by:  Rick Ramsey

What if we did
What we said
We believe?

What if all people
Were accepted
As children of God?

What if we let
All people see
Christ in us?

God Loves...

God loves us all
In spite of who we are!

God loves us all
Even though we do not deserve it!

God loves us all
Because we are His children!

God loves us all
Just because....

Come And

Come and see
The beauty all around
That our God
Has given us all
And have joy in life.

Come and hear
The music all around us
That our God
Plays for us all
And have joy in life.

Come and know
The laughter and joy
That our God
Desires for us all
And have joy in life.

The Door

photo by:  Arthur Clark

A Praise

photo by:  Rick Ramsey

Lift up your head
And rejoice,
For God is here,
Among us!

Sing praises aloud
And be glad,
For God
Loves us all!

God is Love

God is love,
Not hate.
God loves
All people,
Can we do
Any else?

My Day

Early in the morning,
I find God near me
Whispering in my ear
"I love you, my daughter."

In the afternoon,
Again I find God is near,
Whispering in my ear,
"Remember, you are loved."

And in the evening,
As I prepare for bed,
God is near me telling me,
"Always, I love you."

God says:

You are my child,
A unique person
And made in my image.
Come and walk with me
And learn that my love
Is there for you, always.

You are my child
And very precious to me.
I will never desert you,
But I will walk with you
Every day of your life.

Do We?

Do we really follow Jesus when we put other people down?
Do we really know what love is when we allow ourselves to hate others because of who they are?
Do we really know God when we turn others away?
Do we really follow Jesus when we refuse to forgive?

Are We?

photo by:  Rick Ramsey

Are we listening
For God's word
For us?

Are we doing
What we are
Told to do?

Are we going
The way
That we are told?

Is the Church?

Is the church loving itself?
Is the church loving God?
Is the church loving its neighbors?
Does the church go out and help others?
Is the church serving its neighbors?
Is the church remembering that God loves all people?

God Puts

photo by:  Rick Ramsey

God puts rainbows
Into our lives.
Look around you
And you will see
Rainbows.

God puts love
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.

Rainbows

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.

Becoming Disciples

photo by: Rick Ramsey

Becoming disciples,
Growing stronger day by day,
Learning to let God
Lead us along the way.

Becoming disciples,
Learning to love
All people that we meet
As we move along the way.

Becoming disciples,
Learning how to give
Of what we have
And what we really are.

Becoming disciples,
Following Jesus always
Till we find ourselves
At home with God.

God of the Rainbow

photo by:  Betty Q Smith

God of the rainbow,
God of promises given,
And the love
There for all people,
Be with us
And bless us now.

God of the rainbow,
God of promises kept,
Walk with us now
And remind us all
That always
We are loved.

Thoughts on 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 occurred
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.