Speak

Speak to us, oh God,
In our language
So that we may know
What your will is
For each one of us.

God's Plan

Stop and think
Before you do
For God has plans
That may not be
What you deam.
For God will always
Do the unexpected
In our lives.
For God has
Greater plans
For our lives
If we will stop
And let God do
What is needed.

Comes the cry :

"God does not love me,
How can that be,
I am too different."
But comes an answer
Back from God,
"It does not matter
How different you are,
I love you always."

Celebrate

Celebrate,
Celebrate the life given
To all of us
By a loving God
Who loves us all
Right now as we are.

Celebrate,
Celebrate the love
That is ours always,
No matter who we are
For our God
Created us this way.

Celebrate,
Celebrate our God
Who always has love,
Love enough to embrace
The whole world.

Dare

Let us dare to dream

Of a day that will come

When all people

Will finally be free.

As we dare to dream

Let us pass the dream

Outward to others

That they will be free.

We dare to dream

That all people

Will one day be free

To be who they are.

Dare to pass the dream

Outward to other people.

For they have a right

To dream of  freedom, too.

3 Prayers

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

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

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 With Me

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

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

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

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

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

A Person

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.   

Who Is My Neighbor

Who is My Neighbor?
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.
         

In the Morning

Comes the  glad  cry
"He is risen!"
And echoing back
The joyous reply ;
"He is risen indeed!"

The Ce;nfurion.

The Centurion

Why yes, I was theere when that man was crucified,. Why do you ask? My reaction? Well, it does seem a shame that a good man like him was killed in that way. It doesn't seem to me that hee deserves it.

What wss his name?  Yeshua? We would say Jesus.  A preacher, huh? #o that's why tghe crucifixation, He said some things that offended the authorities! Now that makes sense to me.  A person says something that those people in charge don't like and you're inn a lot of trouble! It is a shame, though. From what I I hear, He had a great message..

I've got to go now. You be careful and don't let them catch up with you.  You never know who they might decide is a danger to their authority.

. 0Wondering

They met at night,. those Jewish leaders, to condemn a man to death. I find myself wondering if we would do any better. Would we want Him dead or run away in fear? Would we be better able to accept the message of loving all people, no matter how different they are or would we declare that God could not love certain people just because they are so different? What would you do? 0

Jesus Took

Jesus took a towel
And knelt to wash
The feet
Of the disciples.

Jesus took a towel
And became
A servant
To all who were there.

Jesus took a towel
And in love
Showed us all
What love really is.

Pray Together

Let us pray
Together
About those things
That are a part
Of our lives.
And let us not
Leave anything out ;
Then stop and listen
As best we can
For the voice
Of God.

Ready

Are we ready?
Have we prepared
For Jesus's coming?
Do we know
What love
Really is?

Watch

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

Caiphas - Palm Sunday

Look at them! All that crowd celebrating a nobody, one of those itinerate preachers!  it's a shame, because he'll come to a bad end! With all that shouting, the Romans will arrest him for being a rebel. 

They're getting louder! Who is this Man? His name is Jesus? I've heard of this one and it is not good! We'll have to arrest Him and get rid of this Jesus before it's too late ! The Man is dangerous, I tell you, dangerous!!!

Expecting

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

Celebrate

Celebrate!
Celebrate in joy
With singing ,
For God
Has done
A new thing
And overcome death
With life eternal.

I Sing of God

I Sing of God              for Marsha Stevens

Psalm 28:7

Come, listen to me

As I sing for joy

Of our God,

Who gives strength

To all people.

I am protected,

And help is mine

Because God

Loves me!

Romans 8:1

And I will sing

Of the God

Who does not

Condem me,

But loves me

As I am.

And I am with Jesus,

Who dwells within me.

And love is

Always there.

Romans 8:28,31

I am called to sing,

To tell all people

Of a loving God,

Who dwells within

And wishes good

For all people.

And with God

On our side,

There is no one

Who can keep us   

From being free.

Galatians 5:1

And I sing of freedom,

Given to us by God

Through Jesus.

We need not turn

Again to those

Who would enslave us,

Because God is there,

And has set us free.

Philippians 1:6

Some day,

My work will be done,

God will come,

And Jesus will be there.

I will sing praises

Of the God

Who freed me.

Love is always mine

And there is none

Who can take that

Away from me.

I have that promise

From God.

Come, Sing for Joy

Come, Sing for Joy
 For Rev Deb Cox

Psalms 30:4-5
Sing to God,
Let your praise
Be heard!
God is near
And always loves you.
And there’ll be
Joy in the morning
For God
Will be there.

Psalms 126:3-6
Come, sing with joy,
For our God
Has done great things
For us all.
And there will be
Shouts of joy
As we come
Home.

Isaiah 12:3-6
Come with joy
And praise God
Who has given
Salvation to all.
Come, sing praise
And let the world
Know God’s love.

Isaiah 42:10-12
Sing your praises
And let the whole world
Hear your songs.
Let us all sing
Praises of God!

John 16:20-22
Come and see,
Come and hear,
That there will come
A great day
When all our mourning
Will be turned
Into great joy,
Joy that no one
Can ever take away.

Romans 8:35-38
And then comes
Our greatest joy –
That there is
Nothing or no one
That can ever
Separate any of us
From God’s love
Shown in Jesus.

Drinking the Joy

Sitting with the family
That God has given me
Knowing that He is here,
Loving me.
Drinking in the joy
That is there,
Because God
Is in the midst.

Drinking in the joy,
Enjoying God’s presence,
Then spreading the joy
To all around
That all may know
That God dwells
Among us
And loves us all.

Drinking the joy,
Feasting on God’s love
For even me!
Wherever I turn,
He is there,
Loving me
Every day.

What more
Can I do
But to love Him?
For He is everything
To me
And His love
Strengthens
And upholds me.

Drinking the joy,
Feasting on God’s love
For all people,
Letting the world know
Of God’s love for them.

Q

Sing For Joy

Sing for Joy    For Kathleen Bell   

Psalm 34:1-3   

Come, praise God.

Together, let us

Raise our voices

In song

That all the world

Might hear us.

Psalm 150

Let all people

Sing and praise God!

Play the instruments

And sing along,

Let all the world

Hear your praise!

Isaiah 49:6-7

All nations will come

And sing their praises

To the Holy One

Of Israel

Who has redeemed

All the people

Of the world.

Isaiah 49:13

Sing out for joy!

God is love

And is here

Among the people.

Sing out

And let all people

Join in the song.

Come, let us praise God!

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 hhands
Offering to guide me
If only I will let Him.

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

The Cry

The cry for help
Comes from the streets
But no one
Hears it.
The people 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.

Siing

For Norma Bell 5/31/03

Psalm 23
God is always with me
In good times and bad,
And when trouble threatens
To overwhelm me,
I turn around
And find that God is there.
Always, I am safe
And always loved.

Psalm 33:1-3
I sing for joy
Of God, my creator!
My voice is raised
In melody
To tell all the world
Of my God,
Who loves me
And all people!

A Time

    There was a time when I had become broken into many pieces, fragmented.  There was no joy for me; sadness and despair were my lot. I knew not where to go nor could I find any peace.  Then I remembered that there one person who I could turn to, who had always been there, waiting for me to turn to Him.
    Now I am whole again, and complete; not fragmented and broken as I was before.  Joy has returned to me; and a peace better than any I knew before, for He has touched me and healed me.
    Where could I find another like Him?  For He is ALWAYS there for me to talk to, even when I want Him not, for I will not always listen to what He says, and need someone else to tell me His word.  But still, He is there for me, always. And never will I be completely alone.
    And He holds my hand, nor will He ever let me stray far from Him, but lovingly keeps me close by.  He is my Counselor, my Guide, and my Friend. He keeps me on the straight path, and I flourish and grow only when He is near.  For I have no strength of my own.
    He is the sun, I the moon.  I shine only in His glory. My light is only reflected light, reflected from Him.  I do not reflect that light perfectly, but what light I do reflect is only His.
    Where could I go for someone as patient and loving as He?  Nowhere! For He has infinite love and infinite patience, He is at once my God and my Father.  He is the one who made me and gave me life. He is all life and all love. And only in Him is complete love and complete peace.  
    I can never know all of Him.  The more I know about Him; the more there is to know.  He is greater, mightier than I could ever conceive. He is everything to me, my complete life.  And without Him, there is no life, there is nothing but chaos.
    My joy is all in Him, my peace and happiness, His.  He keeps me going through all the troubles and sorrows of this life.  He is everything to me, my whole life.