Gifts for the World

Gifts for the World

We should give gifts:

Freedom from hunger
Freedom from being homeless
Freedom from fear
Freedom from hatred
Freedom from war
Freedom to live




More gifts:

Freedom to be
Freedom to love
Freedom to worship
Freedom!




Freedom from hunger:
Can we learn to make sure everybody has enough to eat?  We have the ability to do this, will we ever do it?





Freedom from being homeless:

There are ways to make sure that all people have a safe and secure place to live.  Will we ever start to make sure that all have a dwelling of their own that they want and like?




Freedom from fear:

All people should be able to live without being afraid of being attacked just because they are “different” from others.




Freedom from hatred:

Freedom to see that all people are beloved children of God.  Will we ever learn this truth?  Will we ever learn to treat each other in God’s love?




Freedom from war:

Freedom to live without the fear of bullets or bombs coming in and destroying all that has been built and destroying many lives.  Can we ever learn to live together in peace and love?





Freedom to live:

Freedom to live where we want and with whom we want to be with and no one to tell us we are wrong.  How long will it take for us to learn how to live this way?




Freedom to be:

Freedom to be who we are without question or other people condemning us.  How long will it take for this to happen?




Freedom to love:

Freedom to love who we are truly attracted to without someone telling us how wrong we are to love that person.  Can we ever learn to let others love whoever is best for them?




Freedom to worship:

In the way that is best for who you are.  No one has the right to tell anybody how they are to worship or pray.




Freedom: 

Freedom just to be who you are. 
And let nobody tell you that you can’t be your authentic self because that is a lie!  You and all people were created as you are right now.

Gifts to give

     Gifts to give at any time that won’t cost any (or much) money

1    Smile at people
it just might make their day.
2    Give hugs
to everybody.  
3    Call those who live alone.
They just may need to hear another voice.  If family is near, they may be busy. And if you say you’ll call, call.  They will be waiting for your phone call and it is a bit upsetting when you don’t call.  They hear from medical people all the time. Hearing from friends can be the best medicine for them.
4    Open doors for people you see.        
They just might need the help.
5    Tell someone you care for them.       
People living alone can get depressed easily.  You might be able to change someone’s outlook. If they’re a shut in, hearing you even like them can be the best medicine for them.
      6 Offer to help
             This might cost you some money for gas, but if family is near, they may be all busy with
              work.
7      Ask if they would like company.   
If you have some time, single folk, especially seniors, appreciate visits from friends or family.       
     8 Offer transportation to the store,
            to events, or to church.  There may not be anybody else to drive an older person to
           where they want or need to go.        
  9    Share a meal with them.  If possible, let the person pay for the meal.  It will help them
          feel good about themselves.
 10    Bring them a home cooked meal.
          Something you cooked yourself is always welcome, provided it is something they can or     
          will eat.

11.   Call them (or email) and offer to come by just for conversation.  
        Sometimes the silences can be too much and the TV doesn’t always fill the void.

12.  If you are allowed by your church, offer to come and give communion.
       We sometimes forget that the rituals of faith can be comforting to shut-ins.

13      Visit those who are in nursing homes regularly.  They often feel lost and forgotten by everyone who they know.

14     It's not necessary to bring anything, just yourself is enough. If you bring items, be sure they have room for what you bring. If you bring food, be sure it is something they can eat.
     

More

      More

More than the baby
Laid in the manger,
He grew up
And we cannot
Keep Him there.

More than the teacher
Or the healer
Of the sick,
He moved on,
And we cannot
Find Him there.

More than anything
We can think of;
Lord and Savour
Of the world,
Loving all people,
Look and find Him
Everywhere.

Holy Night

Oh holy night that was
When Jesus was born.
Love and light
Came to us all
That night.
So let us celebrate
With music and song
And let joy reign!

Two Birth Announcements

Two birth announcements:

From:  Mary and Joseph
Born: a son
Name: Jesus;  Hebrew: Yeshua
Place: Bethlehem, a stable
Every place was taken.  At least it was private.
Date:  not known, no calendar
Weight: not sure, no scales available, but he
 appears to be normal.

From: Yahweh
Born: a Son
Name: Yeshua
Place: Bethlehem; a stable
Date: no calendar - does it matter?
Weight: normal
Note to all:  this is the One destined.
He will save all those who will believe and
follow, living the way He will teach.

Light 7

Come, know
That the light
Once became flesh
And dwelt among us.
To show us all
How to live
Together in God's love.

Light 6

And the light
Was bright
In the night sky
Showing Magi
The place
Where the baby
Could be found.

Light 5

The light was bright
As Angels sang
And told shepherds
About the birth
And where the baby
Could be found.

Light 4

The light shown bright
Marking the place
Where the baby lay.
Showing the people
Where to go
To find that special
Baby boy.

Light 3

It's a baby born
In a stable
Who brings light
Into the world
And all people
Around the world
Will hear
Of that birth.

Light 2

And light has come
Into our world
To banish the dark
That surrounded us.
Sing and celebrate
The love shown
In that light.

Light 1

Come and see
The word of God
Made flesh
And dwelling with us.
Know that here
You now see
God's love for all
Made flesh.

The Innkeeper

What? What?
Another at the door?
But I cannot squeeze
Another in...
But here -
Let me talk to them.
I'm sorry, sir,
There is not a bed,
A corner left.
Yes, yes, I see
That your wife
Needs a place, but...
Wait a minute!
There’s a stable
Out back.
It's not much,
But it's clean and warm,
Not the best place,
But all I have to offer
This night.

Christmas Is Here

Christmas is here
For all to celebrate.
Come and see
The love of God
Made flesh
For all to see.
For this gift of love
Is for all people
To know and enjoy!

Come Christmas

Come Christmas!  Come here to us and live within us all!  Come Christmas, and show us what you really are, and teach us how to live in that love shown so many years ago!  Come Christmas, and help us all to see that all people are children of God, and loved.  For we do forget that when trouble comes.  Come Christmas and show us what love really is!

Christmas is Coming

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 really prepared?

Look!
See there!
Light has come
Into our
Darkened world.

Christmas

Christmas

Christmas is coming,
I have heard.
Guess it is true,
Because it seems
The frantic shopping
For the perfect gift
Has now started.
I  wonder now,
What has happened
To this time
We call Christmas?

Christmas
Should be a time
For celebration
Of families and friends.
Love and peace
Should be able
To dwell together.
Christmas is coming,
Have you heard?

Celebrate

Celebrate the life
That was given
To all of us
By a loving God..
Celebrate the beauty
All around us.
Come and celebrate life!

Happy

Happy Thanksgiving one and all!
Ii I hope it bas  been 3 great day!

A Dream

I dreamed a dream the other night when I was feeling down and lonely. I was floating on a flat boat with nothing and no one near to bother me. But as I relaxed and looked around I found that I was not alone, Jesus was there with me. He gathered me in His arms and told me, "My dear one, you are never alone,, for I am always with you."  And I slept in Jesus's arms.

I'm

I'm hungry,
Feed me.
I'm thirsty,
Give me a drink.
I'm lonely,
Hold my hand.
I need love,
Give me a hug.
I am God's child,
Accept me
As the beautiful oerson
That I am

A Child of God by Jerry Browning

A Child Of God

By Jerry Browning

Chorus:

I'm a child of God - You made me like You want me

And You want like You made me,

Not for others to deceive,

I'm a child of God - and in my heart I hear You

I'll never have to leave You, if I live what I believe.

Someone will turn the Master's words to music

Someone will paint a sudden burst of spring

Each life is given a gift to share with others

But some will turn away and never see a thing.

Chorus :

So when the time has come to meet the Maker

And I'm taken from the pastures where I feed,

Will I be true? Did I live the life You gave me

Or a life some other mortal made me lead?

Chorus :

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.



Service 9 7-4-00

Call to worship:
From sandy deserts
To the snow-capped mountains,
     God is working - yet.
From the rolling plains
To the prairies:
      God is working – yet.

Call to prayer:
There is beauty
All around us
That we do not see.
But God is working yet
Creating life all around us. 

Prayer:
Loving God,
Forgive us
When we do not see
The beauty all around us.
Forgive us
When we destroy
Instead of preserving.
Forgive us
When we do not realize
That you are creating yet
Each and every day

God is near,
Forgiving us all
And loving us yet.


In all things
Can God’s hand be seen.
The world that we see
Is beautiful
And shows that
In all places
God is working – yet.


Charge:
Go out into the world
And look around you
To really see the beauty
And find where
God is working – now.

Benediction:
God’s peace and love
Be with you always
And remember:
God is working – always.


Written after a visit to Glacier National Park  July 2000

Be the Best

Be the best you can be.   Don't let any person tell you who you should be,  only you can decide who you are and that is on the basis on what you know of yourself.  Now, having said that, there are some things that cannot be changed, like sexuality, that is who you love. @ndx don't let anyone tell you anything else.

A Message

A person sat in a darkened room, thinking.  Then began to speak aloud to no one, for no one else was there:  “I seem to be alone, too different from others to be accepted by anyone else.  It seems that no one cares enough about me to come around to see how I am.  There is no one to love me AS I AM!  Yet I will not go away, nor leave this life until it is time.  And I wonder where God is in all this.”

Came an answer immediately; a voice that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere:  “I am your GOD, and I AM here, near you.  I will not leave you, for I love you.   You are one of my beloved children, and I love ALL my children, and I love them all AS THEY ARE right now.   I am the One who made you and all others AS THEY ARE right now, and I do not turn any away.  Come, walk with me, beloved.  Stay always near me and do not despair.  And by the way, there are many who care about you.”  


Dwelling closer to God, how does one do that?  How does a person get closer to the Divine, to pure love?   What path does one follow?  Follow the path given to you and learn to trust that God will always there nearby to lead you and to always love you.   However, unless you listen carefully for the voice of God, the path that is yours alone can be hard to find.   We have to learn to hear with the inner ears, the ears of the soul.  And then, day by day, we will be lead to dwell closer to God.  The possibility is there for all people.  



In reading over my writings, one theme is there over and over again, God’s love for all people no matter who they are.   But how do you get that across to those who have been told too many times that they are not loved?  How do we reach out to them and what words do we use?  How do we put together a sentence so that they will understand that God loves them, too?  One way is to listen for God’s voice and then we will know what to say and how to say it.  

A Lost Soul 3

Dear God:

I think that I finally have some of this prayer thing figured out.
I think that I have heard you speaking to me, encouraging me. I did
take some quiet time, though with my schedule, that's hard to do.
But I finally decided that this praying and listening was more
important to me right now. It was only a few minutes, but that
seemed to be enough this time.

As a result of taking the time, I feel a whole lot less lost. I am
more connected to you than I have been for a while. And that feels
so good! It was a bit odd, however, to find you so close. I did
not realize just how much you cared for me and that feels good, too.

Now that I'm getting the hang of praying and meditation, I'll have
to carve out a bigger block of time in my day. Maybe some time in
the evening. I'll have to see what I can do to get some regular
time for this. And I think that I've found a good church to go to
regularly. I may even become a member there. I'll have to see how
this goes. That is, if you approve.

Love:
A former lost soul



Reply:

My dear child:
Hooray!  You've got it all right!  Now remember, although there is always a tendency for you to turn the wrong way, I am always near by, even in what seems to be the worst of times.  Just reach out, and I am there.
Now, yes, that church is good for you now.  And that time in the evening along with the few minutes in the morning will work out for you.  It's fine with me, but you do need to keep it daily.  That's one way to make sure that you stay close to me.  Otherwise, you will tend to wander away.  Just remember to listen, too, because I do answer, especially when questions are asked.
All you have to do now is to keep it up daily, and you will never again lose contact with me.  Just remember that you are never lost.  I am always near by, loving you.

All my Love:
God

A Lost Soul 2

Dear God:

I do feel a bit less lost today. There seems to be someone near me, but I cannot be sure. Can you help me find out who is there? I just don't understand what to do so I can tell.

You see, I've not had any real training in prayer. Even though I've gone to church, I've never really been closely connected to any church. Besides, they tell a person to pray, but many don't teach how. And the ones that I've gone to don't say anything about meditation. Guess that's not the proper thing to do. I don't know.

Even without church, I have felt closer to you than I do now. I just seem to have wandered away somehow. It's getting a bit better but there still seems to be a gap.

Any help that you can give me will be very appreciated. I really would like to be closer again. I just don't know how I wandered away.

A lost soul

Reply:

My dear child;
Actually you are doing a good job praying.  Because what I do like is honest, straight forward conversation.  You see, prayers are nothing more than having conversation with me.  All you need to do now is learn how to listen for my side.  That, by the way, is what meditaton is, listening for what I have to say.
You say that you've not had any training in praying.  Don't be too upset about that, because a lot of churches don't teach prayer, they just do it and assume that you'll figure out what to do for yourself.  And while being a member of a church is a help, you've got to be careful which one you pick.  There are those who will lead you the wrong way.

By the way, that is me that you feel near you.  You are making progress.  You do now know that I am near. There are so many who search but never find me.  They just won't take the time to listen.  So now sit down and be quiet for a while.  Then you will hear me talking back to you.

I am looking forward to our next conversation.  Please don't make it too long between.  At least daily is nice.

All my Love:

God

A Lost Soul

Dear God:
I'm feeling lost and alone again. Yet I know that you haven't left
me. So where have I gone wrong and missed you? Which way do I turn
to get back to you?

You see, somehow I seem to have lost my connection to you. The
question is, when did I let go of your hand? Where was I when I
turned the wrong way? I do not live well without you by my side, I
barely survive. Where can I find you? Where have you gone?

Yet I know that usually you are not far from me. But I do not know
which way to turn to find you. I just can't seem to find my way back
to you. But you do know how to find me, don't you? I am so full of
doubts and fears that I'm not sure which way to turn. I believe that
you are always there for me but..... See, I do need help to find my
way back to you.

Thank you for any help you might give me.


A Lost Soul

Reply;
My dear child:
First, you are not lost. I know where you are at all times. The
problem is that you do not always hear my voice calling you. I am
always right here beside you.

Now, I'll tell you what to do. Listen, not with your physical ears,
but with those of heart and soul. That's how to find me. My hand
is always there for you, but you are using the eyes of your body,
not the ones of your soul. Stop a while and meditate, listen, and
look within, and you will find me near, waiting for you, arms
outstretched in love.

Second, you have not lost your connection to me. That will always
be there, even when you don't feel it. Just stop, and don't be so
frantic, and you will find me where I have always been, beside you.

Finally, I know that you, like most of my children, are full of
doubts and fears. The help you want and need is here, just reach
out, and I am there to help you find your way.

Love:
God

Faith

To know and understand
Who God is,
And to accept
That love
That is ours to have.

To know and undestand
Christ's love
And to know
That it is
There for us all.

To know and accept
That all people
Are God's
And always and ever
Are loved.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Guilty

I am guilty, Lord,
For I have sinned
If only in the little things.
I have told
A small lie.
I have turned someone
Away from you.
I have turned along
A path that was not mine.
I have forgotten that love
Is there for al pople.
Ah, forgive me. Lord,
For all the little things
Done wrong.

Save the Children

Save the chi;dren,
Let them live
A peaceful life
That is long
And free from fear.

Save the children,
Teach them love
And help them see
That all other people
Have also a right
To love.

2 about Love

Let love
Be the key
That opens
The door
That leads us
To God.

Love all people;
Make no differences
Between them,
For our God
Loves them all the same
And sees none
That are better
Than any other.

Expecting

Expecting a saviour
To come and save us
From all our problems.
But Will that Saviour
Be exactly
What we expct?

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 Outsideer

I am the outsider,
But Jesus calls me
And holds out
His hand to me.

I am the outsider
Yet Jesus loves me
Just as I am
Right at this moment.

I am no longer an outsider,
For I have found
That I am always
A child of God.

Remember

Remember -
Remember love
Remember justice
Remember to care
For those around
Remember -
That God
May remember you.

Hope

Hope,
For love.
Hope,
For tomorrow.
Hope,
For God's love
To come to me.
Hope,
For the world
To become one
In God.

I Am Me

I am me,
Unique
In all the world.
There is no one  else
Quite like me,
For no one else
Quite has
My combination
Of experiences
And genetics.
So here I am,
See me,
And accept me
As the special person
That I am.

God Loves

God loves me!
Me! A wanderer
Who never quite
Settles down.
I do so many
Wrong things
And turn away
So many times
And yet
This glorious  idea:
God loves me!

The Wonder

The wonder of me,
How much
There is within,
Unknown,
Unplumbed depth
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.

Outside the Gate

Living outside the gate,
Not belonging
Anywhere.
No home;
No 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?

In Celebration

In celebration
Of the life
Poured out.

In celebration
Of the sacrifice
Given - so freely.

In celebration
Of the love
He gives to me.

In celebration,
Come to the table
Of God,
To find there
New life.

2 shorts

Watch it -
For God
Has broken loose
And is out
Among the people!

Be careful
Who you shut out,
For God is loving
All people!

Why

Why
Can't people
Get along
With each oter?
Why
Do we fuss
And fight
And let
Our brothers and sisters
Starve to death?

Surprise

Surprise!
God is here,
Working among us .

Surprise!
God is doing
The unexpected.

Surprise!
God is loving    
Each one of us.

Wanderer

I was a wanderer,
Lost and alone
Upon the face
Of the earth.
No hand to hold,
No friendly face
To be with me.
And then He came
Holding out His hands
Offering to guide me
If only I will let Him.

Now I am
A wanderer still;
But no longer alone,
For now
God walks with me.

The Cry

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

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

Come As You Are

Come, come as you are,

Come and meet the Parent

And find out here

Just how much you are loved.

Come meet the Father

And let Him strengthen you

For the problems you face

And walk daily with Him.

Come meet the Mother

And see how comforting,

Gentle and loving

Her arms can be.

Come as you are

And meet the One

Who is Father and Mother

To us all and loves us all.

Hungry

I am hungry,
Feed me.
I am naked,
Clothe  me.
I am homeless,,
House me.
I am unloved,
Care about me.
I am God's ,child
Help me
To a better life.

Table

Set up a   table
And load it
With food and drink
Then turn ,
Hold out your hands
And invite
ALL the world
To sit with us
And there eat
And drink
Together.

Unique

I am me,
Unique
In all the world.
There is no one else
Quite like me,
For no one else
Quite has
My combination
Of experiences
And genetics.
So here I am,
See me,
And accept ne
As the special person
That I am.

Welcome

Make all people
Welcome
And do not turn
Anyone away.
For all people
Are God's creation
And we dare not
Make any differences
Between people.

A Child Of God

A Child Of God

By Jerry Browning

Chorus:

I'm a child of God - You made me like You want me

And You want like You made me,

Not for others to deceive,

I'm a child of God - and in my heart I hear You

I'll never have to leave You, if I live what I believe.

Someone will turn the Master's words to music

Someone will paint a sudden burst of spring

Each life is given a gift to share with others

But some will turn away and never see a thing.

Chorus :

So when the time has come to meet the Maker

And I'm taken from the pastures where I feed,

Will I be true? Did I live the life You gave me

Or a life some other mortal made me lead?

Chorus :

Children of One God

Children of one God

We are children
Of the one God,
And we are loved.
God is working,
Helping all of us;
And always, we are loved.

Come and see,
Our God wills good
For us all
When we will
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 see 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.

Help Me

Help me out to calmness, oh God..
Show me that some people
Don't think as well as others do

Help me to patience, oh God.
See that I remember that some
Don't always act like way I expect.

Help me to love, oh God.
Lovingg even those
I would prefer to ignore.

If Dreams Came True 2

If dreams come true
No animals wood he abused or deserted
All would have a place to live and a good long life.

If Dreams Came True

If dreams came true -
There would be shelter for everyone in the land of their choice
Refugees would be no more because they would have places of their own

If  dreams came true -
There would be food enough for everyone
No one would starve because they had no food..

If dreams came true -
Everyone would be accepted as who they really are and would know love
And there would be no more war.

Longing

I long to see you, my friend
But time and distance
Are to great.

I long to hug you, my friend
But you are not here
Where I can touch your.

I long to tell you, my friend
Just how much I care
But words fail me
When I try.

God bless you always

Lonely

Lonely and feeling lost,
No one near me
To listen to me.
But then I feel
Someone near
And as I turn
To look I find
God is there.

Lonely still
But saying a  prayer
And singing songs
And as I meditate
I feel that presence
And I find that
God is there.

Outside the Gate

Living outside the gate,
Not belonging
Anyhere.
No home,
No 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?

Why

Why
Can't people
Get along
With each other?
Why
Do we fuss
And fight
And let
Our brothers and sisters
Starve to death?

Surprise!

Surprise!
God is here,
Working among us.

Surprise!
God is  doing
The uexpectd.

Surprise!
God is loving
Each one of us.

The Flawed Jewel

The world is a jewel
That is oh so brght.
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 each other?

Broken Vessel by Jerry Browning

I had a little vessel, "twas fashioned out of clay
I handled quite carelessly, it fell ad broke one day
I took it to a potter who mended it with glue
He polished  up the edges and made it just lik new.

CHORUS:
Broken vessel, soul of man, gently placed in the Potter's Hand
He can mend it and make it whole
Jesus mends the broken soul.

I had a gift from heaven, a living soul from God
I dragged through the dirt and sin and on it Satan trod
I broke it into pieces and scattered it so low
But Jesus came and mended it, the Potter of my soul.

CHORUS:

My friend, it doesn't matter how shattered life is now
The Lord will take the pieces as He  alone knows how
He'll shape and mold the fragments until your spirit's whole
Yes, Jesus is your Savior, the Mender of yiur soul.

CHORUS:

Wanderer

I was a wanderer ,
Lost and alone
Upon the face
Of the earth
No hand to hold,
No friendly face
To be with me.
And then He came
Holding out His hands
Offering  to guide me
If only I will let Him.

Now I am
A wanderer still,
But no longer alone ,
For now
God walks with me.

Fear

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

Dreams

Ah  - that dreams
Could come true
And the whole world
Could live
In peace.
Love would  flow
The  world o'er
And all people
Would have
Food and shelter
In pently.
Then shall no ond
Be afraid
But all shall know
God's peace.

People

knocking at the door :
     And when will the churches hear their voices and let them in?

Make all people
Welcome,
And do not turn
Anyone away,
For all people
Are God's children
And we dare not
Make any differences
Between people.

God's Love for All

Hey! God's love
Is mine to have!
     Hallelujah!
Listen! I dl nlt
Have to change
To gain that love!
       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 her
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.

Outsider

You call me
Untouchable  ,
But see me,
For I am
A person.

You turn away
From me;
But stop and look
And listen
For you will find
That I am
Much like you.

I was
An outsider.
No one
Would accept me
Or treat me
As a human.
But now
Jesus has come
And I am now
No longer
An outsider.

Accepted!
Dear lord,
Accepted!
I have been made
Part of the family
And have been told
That I am loved!
Accepted!

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.

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.

God Remembered

I forgot to listen
For the voice
That told me
The path to follow ;
But God remembered me.

I forgot to look
Around me toy see
Which people there are
That need my help;
But God remembered me.

I forgot to walk
Always in love
With God and all those
Who are around me;
But God remembered me.

I forgot to love
All people that live
In all places
That are around me;
But God remembered me.

The Pink Triangle

I wore  pink triangle
Because I was too different
From the rest of th world .

I wore a pink triangle
In a concentration camp
Because of who I was.

I wore a pink triangle
And died very painfully
Because of hate and fear.

I wore a pink triangle
Just simply because
I was gay.

Human

I am human ,
Yet other people
Turn against me
And try to hut me.

I am human ,
And alive,
Yet people hate me
And try to kill me.

I am human,
And only different
On the outsside;
For I am black .

I a human ,
But I am different
On the inside,
For I am gay.

In God's Love

In  God's Love
We live.
Because of God's love
We were born.
With God's love
We find ourselves.
In God's love
We are God's children.

Christian?

We worship the same God, you and I, but in different ways. I see a God who loves all people mo matter who they are and you say that I must change who I am inside to gain God's love...Well, my friend, I'll disagree with you, for I have found that God loves me as I am right now.

Service 8

                                          Worship service - Pride: Who I Am
7-4-0

I am who I am,
I am who God
Made me to be!
I am who I am,
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 God
Made me to be.
It is God
Who made everything
That I see around me.

Come and see
That you are God's child.
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.

Note:  "Jesus Loves Me" or other hymns about God's love for us should be used for this service.  For the call to worship, the phrase "Praise be to God" can be added after the first 3 lines and again after the last 3.  You may use as much or as little of this as is desired or needed for your service. 

Hey God

Hey God, 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 God, I am so oppressed!  Why did you make me to be so
different from everybody else?  Differences are 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 or killed!  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?

Can You Hear Me, Lord by Jerry Browning

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)

Service 11

Service 11
7-16-00


Call to worship:
Hey!  God's love
Is mine to have!
     Halleluia!
Listen!  I do not
Have to change
To gain that love!
     Praise God!

*

Confession of sin:
  Call to prayer:
God's love is ours,
But we turn away
And will not hear
The truth
That is ours to have.

Prayer of Confession:
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.

Pardon:
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!

*

Charge:
Go out into the world
Remembering that always
God's love is yours.
Spread that love
To all people
That you meet.

Benediction:
Walk in love
And be at peace
For God loves you,
Always.



* hymns or sermon.  Communion - may be added just before charge and Benediction.

Note:  This is not built around any particular bible verse, but John 3:16,17 can be used with this one.  Hymns used could be those that celebrate God's love for all people.  Use as little or as much as you want.

Flame

Flame

There’s a flame rising
Out of our souls,
Beware and watch,
See how it grows!

It is the flame of freedom,
No longer oppressed;
Watch out world,
We have been freed!

Life Goes On

Life goes on
After someone leaves
This world of ours.
We cry and wonder why
But still we'find
Life is goes on.
       Google Alvonia

Gifts

Gifts                for Rev Jim Montgomery

I Corinthians 12:4-11

God gives us gifts

For us to use

In this world.

It is for us

To find what gifts

Belong to each

And where

God is leading.

I Corinthians 12:27-31

Each gift is needed

In this world,

And each person

Has a place to be

And a job to do.

The gifts of each person

Are necessary

For the jobs

To be done.

I Corinthians 13:1-7

And there is love,

For if there is not love,

All else is meaningless,

For everything

Comes from the base

Of God's gift of love.

I Corinthians 13:8-10

And if we really

Learn how to love,

There is nothing

And no one

That can upset us,

And we can even

Treat our enemies

With gentleness.

I Corinthians 13:11-13

As we grow

From child to adult,

If we learn to love

More fully,

We will see

More clearly,

And we will find

That the greatest gift

Is love.  

A Special Love by Jerry Browning

I A Special Love
                       Jerry Browning

Friends may come and friends may go
Sometimes friends we hardly know.
Sometimes friends will help us grow
Or they just take what they want and then they go.

Special loves are found in reaching out in honesty
In caring how you feel inside, knowing things you try to hide.
Little things that can’t be bought or sold,
More valuable than gems or gold,
Some special little part of me that no one in the world will see.

CHORUS:  So lean on me and I’ll lean on you
In times when you don’t want to walk alone
Share with me and I’ll share with you
Until the time when God will take us home.

There are things that no one else will see
Things that matter just to you and me.
Precious feelings knowing someone cares.
I look at you and wonder what I see
And wonder what it is you see in me.
Someday the world will hear our songs;
They’ll know we shared the rights and wrongs.

CHORUS:


Added:

This verse is by me for all my friends.  Thanks to Jerry Browning for permitting me to use his song.  Note: may not fit with his music.
And special friends like you
Are far more valuable than the finest gold,
And are to be kept close at hand.
So come and walk the world with me
And tell me all of your deepest cares,
As I tell you of mine.
And when we are parted in this world,
I will look for you on that farther shore,
Knowing God’s love will take you there. 

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!

God is Good

Servic12
God is Good

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!

Who Is?

Who is thirsty?
Who will drink
Of the water
That Jesus offers?

Who is hungry?
Who will eat
The food
That comes from God?

Come all peiole,
Come to God
And here find
Drink and food
For your souls.

God Put

God put rainbows
Into our lives,
Look around you
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.

Rainbows

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

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

Do Not

Do not turn away ,
Seeme.
Do not Walk away ,
Feed me.
Do not ignore me,
Clothe me.
For I am also
God's child.

Lonely ?

If you feel lonely
And you think
That no one is there
Turn around and look ,
For God is there,
Arms outstretched
In love .

Praise 14

I will hope in the Lord,
Who is my refuge
And my strength.
Be not sad
Oh my heart!
Do not cry
Oh my soul!
For the Lord of Hosts
Will help you.
He will come to you
And be your strong right arm.
Have courage and wait,
Wait upon the Lord
And He will help you.

The Winds of Time

The winds of time
Blow across the years
And everything does change.
Too swiftly now
The times go by,
Too swiftly now
The years do fly,
And everyone grows too fast .
For yesterday, it seems
That was but a child
With no responsibility
And little to worry me.
While today an older version
Of that child lives,
Lives and worries everyday
About everything around .
Slow down, oh years,
Blow not so hard, oh winds,
For I need time
To catch my breath
And to look down
The corridor of time
To try to see what the future holds .

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 there
Along the shadowed path
With people on all sides,
Yet alone and lonely .
They walk alone,
Lonely for companionship ,
For a true friend;
Yet they are scard,
Scared lest anyone
See their loneliness
And take pity on 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
If only for a time.
To be liked for what they are
And not for what they seem to be.
See them there - the lonely :
See them and notice - the lonely .

Outside the Gate

Living outside the gate,
Not belonging
Anywhere.
No home,
No 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?

Proclaim

Isaiah 56: 1-7
Hear, oh people,
Hear what is proclaimed;
There is no one who is
Outside of God's love
When they come
In faith,
Keeping the new covennt
Given to them.

Isaiah 61: 16-20
Proclaim the good news
To all the  people,
That God is near them
And will help  them
In all their troubles,
And all that was ruined
Will be restored
To show God's glory.

Matt 28: 16-20
Go out to the world
And  proclaim to them
The good news,
That God is now here
Among the people!

Welcome

Welcome, come in,
You are welcome here !
This is a safe place
And all people
May come in here .

And God is here
Among us all
And loving
Each one of us
No matter who
We are
Or how we were created.

Loving God,
Forgive us
When we forget
That all people
Were created by you.
Forgive us
When we forget
That you love
All people the same.
Help us to remember
That all people are yours.

God is always
Near each one of us
Loving us
And ready
To show us the right path.

Come here all people
And be welcome.
Know that God
Is always near you,
Loving you every day.

Go in peace and joy,
Knowing that always
You are loved
And Welcome here!!
       Sept 2015
      

Who is My Neighbor ?

Leviticus 19:18,34
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 forget to look
Around to see
Who God is loving now.

Dear God, forgive me,
For I often
Ignore those around me
Or turn my back
On those in need.
I often fear to see
That those who 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 forgiving us
When we forget
Who our neighbors are.

We have come together
To learn who
Our neighbors are.
Let us go out now
And pass the love
That is of God
On 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.

The Children of One God bg Jerry Browning

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:

Surprise

Surprise!

The tomb is empty,

The body gone!

Who took it,

Where did they put it?

Surprise!

Here is a young man

Saying Jesus is

Not dead but alive!

How can that be?

Surprise!

I have seen Jesus

Alive and walking

And He talked to me

Explaining the scriptures!

Surprise!

Jesus has come to many,

Showing all of us that

He is risen!

He is risen indeed!!

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.

QSee 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.

Service 9 7-4-00

Call to worship:
From sandy deserts
To the snow-capped mountains,
     God is working - yet.
From the rolling plains
To the prairies:
      God is working – yet.

Call to prayer:
There is beauty
All around us
That we do not see.
But God is working yet
Creating life all around us. 

Prayer:
Loving God,
Forgive us
When we do not see
The beauty all around us.
Forgive us
When we destroy
Instead of preserving.
Forgive us
When we do not realize
That you are creating yet
Each and every day

God is near,
Forgiving us all
And loving us yet.

In all things
Can God’s hand be seen.
The world that we see
Is beautiful
And shows that
In all places
God is working – yet.

Charge:
Go out into the world
And look around you
To really see the beauty
And find where
God is working – now.

Benediction:
God’s peace and love
Be with you always
And remember:
God is working – always.

Written after a visit to Glacier National Park  July 2000

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

By Rev Micah G Hartung 

A triumphal entry that Holy man made,
moving forward a path of branches they laid.
They said He had come to set us free,
to bind the corruption, injustice and greed.

Some in the crowd looked familiar to me,
the paralytic, the blind and the deaf were now free.
The woman with the issue of blood was now clean
and she walked with her head held high as a queen.

The fisherman, farmers and tax collectors one
followed that carpenter known as God's Son.
The children brought back from death as we know
carried a message of love as they ran to and fro.

The scowlers and doubters were all perched there,
they scoffed at the crowd as they sensed their despair.
They sought to bring this carpenter's demise
but could not stop the hosannas they cried.

As night fell the Passover Feast would begin,
and the loved ones of Jesus could not see the end.
They ate and drank and told stories until late,
then drifted to sleep peaceful, full of the meal they ate.

Many years later in my mind's eye I see,
this parade I have described and in it was me.
Me, the observer of this One they called great,
felt touched in my soul and healed of my hate.

A Prayer

Oh God, how I love you!
You are love and I find
I cannot hate
Any person I meet,
No matter what
They might do to me.
Ob God, how I love you!

Let Me Show Love by Jerry Browning

When the righteous people point a finger and accuse me,
Let me forgive them,Lord, let me show love.
When the friends I've come to know turn 'round and they abuse me,
Let me forgive them, Lord, let me  show love.

CHORUUS:
Now I know how much God really loves me
And I know how much God really cares
When people say they don't want me around them
I know that my God is always there.

When a stranger unlike me seeks love and understanding
Let me be patient Lord, let me show  love.
Help me share the things I have with those of lesser standing
Let me be giving, Lord, let me show love.

And God made love and God made beauty,
              If only the whole world had seen
That God's the One Who planted the maple
               In the middle of the evergreens.

Let me forgive them, Lord, Let me show love...

Where To Go

Rejected,
Turned away
Every place
I go.
And then
Comes God,
Hands held out
In love,
Welcoming me
And telling me,
"Come with me,
Come home! "

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.

Have You

Have you ever talked with God
And heard His voice
Upon the breeze?
Have you seen His face
And felt His hand touch yours?
I have.
I have heard God's voice
Whispering on the breeze
Comforting me
And letting me know
That He is there.
I have seen God's face
In the face
Of every neighhbor
Whether near or far;
And in every tree
Or blade of grass;
Yes, I see Him everywhere .
I have felt His hand
Touch and comfort and guide.
He is there, all around
Inside, outside,
Everywhere I look.

Show

Show me the path,
Oh God,
That I should
Walk upon
And keep me safe
Until the tine
You call me home.

Visits by Jesus

Jesus comes to us
In different guises.
We may never know
What He may look like .
If we do not watch,
Jesus may be as near
As the people
Right beside us.
So be carefull,
For the person
We turn away from
May be God in disguise .

Interruptions

Interrupted by life,
Interrupted
In what
We are doing,
To do something else,
Something better.
New Directions,
New things
Given by God
Who looks for us
To do what is needed .

Prepare

Prepare the way
And watch
For God comes
Unexpectedly.
And let
All the world know
All about
God's love.

Serve God

Serve God
For Rev David Anderson
Summer 2006

Joshua 24:14-15
I will be faithful
And go where
God leads me.
There will be
No other gods
Around me,
For God has been
Always with me.

Jeremiah 31:31-34
God will be with me
And has written
A new covenant
With me.
It is always there
Within my soul
So that I will never
Forget that God
Is there, within.

Amos 5:14-15
And God will be
Always with me
If I seek the good
For all people.
I have been commanded
To seek
The best justice
And to turn away
From all evil.

Mark 8:34-38
Come and serve God
With your whole life
And do not hold
Anything back.
Give everything,
Your whole life
And do not turn away.

Luke 1:46-55
I am the servant
Of a loving God,
Who has chosen me
To be a messenger.
And I lift my voice
In song in praise
To my God,
Who loves
All creation.

Luke 4:16-19
I am in service
To God
Who has told me
To tell the good news
To all people.
And this is
The good news –
God is there
For all people.

I Corinthians 12:12-26
As a servant of God,
We are all a part
Of the body of Christ,
And I cannot do
Without any of the others
Who do the work.
We are called to learn
To work together.

II Corinthians 5:16-21
And as we serve God,
We are called
To lead all people
Onward to Christ
So that all
Might know God
And the love
That is there
For everyone.

Ephesians 2:8-10
The gift of God’s love
Is ours to have,
And we dare not
Brag about this
For God’s love
Is there for all people.

Colossians 1:15-20
As we serve
This God of love,
We find that
Jesus has been here
To give love
To all people.

The Light

It was dark, oh so dark,
No light could there be seen.
Then like magic, a light,
A glimmering, as a candle small
Glowed there in the dark
And grew each passing day.
The dark did try to put it out,
But could not do it;
For it was the light of the world
That shone there .
Still it shines and stronger grows
As more and more
The people come to it
And worship God as the source,
The source of light and life.
     1964

Can You Hear Me, Lord by Jerry Browning

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)



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)

Challenged

Challenged
To do more
Than what we are.

Challenged
To be more
Than what we have been.

Challenged
To show God's love
To the whole world.

Learn

Can we all learn to love 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 .  Annd 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 ?

Higher

I float, I fly higher than any drug on the strength of God's love for me! That love is always there for me and is stronger and more complete than any other love  known. Come with me and learn about this God of love.

Unique

I am me,
Unique
In all the world.
There is no one else
Quite like me,
For no one else
Quite has
My combination
Of experiences
And genetics.
So here I am,
See me
And accept me
As the special person
That they I am.

A Child of God

A Child Of God

By Jerry Browning

Chorus:

I'm a child of God - You made me like You want me

And You want like You made me,

Not for others to deceive,

I'm a child of God - and in my heart I hear You

I'll never have to leave You, if I live what I believe.

Someone will turn the Master's words to music

Someone will paint a sudden burst of spring

Each life is given a gift to share with others

But some will turn away and never see a thing.

Chorus :

So when the time has come to meet the Maker

And I'm taken from the pastures where I feed,

Will I be true? Did I live the life You gave me

Or a life some other mortal made me lead?

Chorus :

God Loves...

God loves me!
Shout it out aloud
God loves me!
And I do not
Have to do a thing
To gain that love,
For God loves me
As I am
Right now!

Remember Me

Remember Me

Remember me?
I’m the person
You just passed
On the street,
I am human
And alive,
Remember me!

Remember me?
I may be your neighbor,
Living near you,
See me
And get to know me
Remember me!

Remember me?
I am that person
Who is poorly dressed,
I don’t have  much money
And I may be homeless.
Remember me!

Remember me?
I am that person
Who is so very different
From those around me,
But I’m still human.
Remember me!

Remember me?
I’m gay or asexual
And other people
Don’t approve,
But I am
As God created me.
Remember me!

Remember me?
I am Yahweh,
Your Creator.
All people are mine,
And I love them
As they are right now.
See them all
As beloved children
Of mine.
Remember me!

My God Sings Me A Love Song

My God Sings Me A Love Song

Jerry Browning
c 2009 Evergreen Studios
Great Falls, MT

As I wander through the mists of early morning
My mind can see the distant hazen hills.
My heart reaches out to catch the dawning
And I see the wildwood flowers and daffodils.
Then the sweet breeze brings to me the strains of a melody
As my God sings to me a love song.

All the stirring words seem to set my heart in motion
As they echo through the valleys far and near.
And the song can lift me like a magic potion;
It’s so hard to feel alone when you’re up here.
Through the meadowlands it calls as the evening starts to fall
When my God sings me a love song.

I can soar above the mountains in the springtime
I can sail the ocean’s mighty swell
I can wander in and out of dreams and sweet rhymes;
And escape from my own prisons where I dwell
I can reach the highest star and yet not have gone too far
When my God sings me a love song.

Then I lie awake and listen to the night birds
Wondering why I haven’t heard it for a while
Wondering if some time or place we’d be together
Or could it be the love song’s out of style.
Then the sweet breeze brings to me that familiar melody
As my God sings me a love song.

Help, Oh God

Help, Oh God
        for Joe Mackey

Psalm 39:1
Help me, oh God,
That I might
Learn to watch
What I say.
Help me to control
My tongue and my brain
That what I say
Will not hurt another.

Romans 7:21
You, oh God,
Are my help
To keep me
From the wrong
That I would do
Or from saying
Anything that would
Hurt another.
I want to say and do
Only the good,
But without you near,
I have no strength
To walk in the right.

Ephesians 2:8-9
It is you, oh God,
Who has come to me
And by your grace,
Saved me.
You have shown me
The way to go,
That is not of anything
That I might do
But only
Through faith in you.

Titus 3:5
Oh my God,
I often do or say
The wrong things.
But through your mercy,
I am saved
And your spirit dwells
Always with me.

Hebrews 4:14-16
And now I can
Approach your throne
With confidence,
Because Jesus has come
And shown me the way.
Always grace
And mercy are mine,
Because I believe
That Jesus is your Son,
And He shows me the way
That is best,
And your help and love
Always is mine.

Dwelling in Darkness

Dwelling is in darkness ,
Finding no light
To show me
Which way to go .

Dwelling in darkness ,
Sadness and sorrow
My daily lot
And no one to help.

Dwelling in darkness,
But then comes a light
To show me the way that
To life and love .

Dwelling in the light,
God always beside me
To help me find the way
To happiness and love .

Walk in the Light

Walk in the Light   

I John 1:5-7

Come with me,

Walk with me

In the light

Of God's love.

There is no darkness

When we walk

Always with God.

I John 2:9-11

Come and see,

There is no hate here

And the darkness

Has no place.

Here there is

Only light and love,

And any who hate

Have no place here.

I John 3:1-3

And if we are

Of the light,

We are called

Children of God.

Ah, such love

That is there

For us all

That God should

Come to us

And call us by name

And tell us

That we are

Children of God.

I John 4:11-12

Because we are

Children of God,

We should love

One another.

And in the light

Of that love

We will learn

Who God is,

For God will dwell

Always with us.

Light

Light
   For Roland Smith
Psalm 27:1
The light of God
Is always with me,
Therefore I don’t need
To be afraid of anything,
For God is my strength
And my light.

Isaiah 60:1-3
Stand up and see,
The light of God
Is come to you.
Let it shine
Through the darkness
And all people
Will come to it.

Matt 1:4-9
And the light
Has come to us
To break up
The darkness,
And all people
Can come
To dwell in that light.

I John 1:5-7
God is our light.
If we dwell with God,
There is no darkness
Anywhere near us.
If we walk
In the light,
Jesus is with us,
For He is the light,
There for all
Who would walk
With Him.

Do Not Fear

Do Not Fear

Psalm 27:1-9   

God is near me,

I need not fear

Any person,

For the God of love

Is my help and strength.

I will always

Seek the face of God,

To have that help

No other can give me.

John 3:16-17

I sought God,

And found such love

That no one

Can take away from me.

And God's love

Is always there for me

Because Jesus came

To show us all

How to live in love

Without fear

Of anything.

I John 4:16b-21

I found

That God is love,

And there is such love,

That there is no one

Who can make me

Fear anything

For in God's love

There is no fear,

Nor any hate.

Only love dwells

With God.

A Prayer 3

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

Love There

Father to me
And strong right arm;
My protector
And strength is He.

Mother to me,
Gentle, calming touch;
Always there
In time of need.

Leader for me,
Showing me the way;
Helping me to find
The proper path.

Love there for me,
Encircleing me always;
Never letting me stray
Away from that love.

A Prayer 2

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

A Prayer 1

Loving God, thank you for reminding me every day that you do

love me.  But you also remind me that you love all other people,

too.  You have told me that it does not matter what people

look like, who they are or what they believe.  You told me

that you still claim them as your children, and you love all

of them.  You have said again and again that there is no one

who is outside of your love.  Please keep reminding me until

it is so much a part of me that there is no one who I can hate,  

for I do not 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

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

Come, Praise God

Come and let us
Together
Praise God!

God, the Creator
Of all people,
Is always near
To help and strengthen
And gives to all
Unlimited,
Unconditional
Love.

There are
No barriers
Between us here
And a loving God.
We put our own
Barriers there
Thinking that
What we hear
From others
Is the truth.
But come, see,
And hear;
God is always
Near to us,
Loving us
Always.

Come now,
Sing and dance
And praise God,
Who accepts
And loves all people!
Lift up your voices
In praise!

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!

Song of Joy

We are Strangers
In a strange land
Of violence and war
Yet we are singing
Songs of joy.
From the desert
Songs of joy;
From the mountains
Songs of joy;
From the prairies
Songs of joy.
We are bringing
Songs of joy;
We are singing
Songs of joy;
God is near us,
Songs of joy;
God is loving,
Songs of joy;
All of us;
Songs of joy.
We are living
Songs of joy;
We are giving
Songs of joy;
We are loving
Songs of joy.
We are strangers
In a Strange land,
We are always
Singing songs of joy!


And it could go on and on, with different ideas, thoughts.  For example:
Songs of joy,
In our life time;
Songs of joy
At our death
Songs of joy;
In our bad times
Songs of joy;
In our good times;
Songs of joy;
God is with us
Songs of joy;
Never leaves us
Songs of joy.
Evil surrounds us
Songs of joy;
God is with us
Songs of joy;
Never leaves us
Songs of joy.

A Musician

A Musician       

Yes, I met Jesus.  I had become crippled and could

not play any of my instruemnts.  I had heard about

the healing powers that Jesus had and thought that

it was worth tyring to see ifI could be healed.  I

wanted to get back to playing my music. I didn't even

have to ask.  I was there in the crowd listening to

Him teaching.  Quite a fellow, I'll tell you!  I like

the way He teaches!  But then Jesus stopped teaching,

and went through the crowd, touching people and healing

them.  Of course, I watched where He was going and

put myself near where He was.  He stopped and talked

to some folks nearby, then looked at me.  And before

I could ask Him - "Please heal me," He reached out

and touched my shoulder.  I could feel the warmth

coursing through my body.  And then all my brokeness

was gone, healed.  Both inside and out! Of course,

since then, I have been a follower, a disciple.  And

I find that I am now composing my own music, in praise

of God, who sent Jesus to us.  It's so easy, especially

when you know that God loves you!