Agape Love

(unconditional love)

This is agape love.
Give without thought of return.
Demand nothing.
Simply want the best.
Love your enemy.
The heretic.
The terrorist.
The other.

The bureaucrat safe in
his fortress of rules.
The arrogant bitch
in her black SUV
sure she owns the universe.
These are the ones to learn to love.
It is impossible in your own strength.
(don’t you know it)

To love unconditionally
those who will never
no never
ask for forgiveness.
The bitch in her black SUV.
The rapist.
The monopolist.
All who seek to control like you.

They don’t know
My agape love.
Come accept
My agape love.
Then show them
My love.
Love them
As I love you.
Matthew 5:43-47, Luke 6:27-36
© Bob F., November 16, 2003, heard at 6AM

Have you met one of these?
How did you respond?
Will you accept agape love from Jesus?
Who do you need to forgive?
Presbypoet - October 31, 2004

Are you One of My Sheep

Who am I?
Do you know?
Hear the woman
rushing from the well.
You pick up stones
you don’t understand.

You aren’t
one of My sheep.
If you were
you would know My voice.
If you were
one of My sheep.

No one could snatch you
from My hand.
(John 10: 1-18)
© Bob F, February 16, 2000

Do you know His voice?
How can you hear His voice?
Have you ever listened?
Presbypoet - October 30, 2004

Come to Me Boldly

Come to Me,
Boldly.
Don’t fear,
to ask.
Do you fear,
if you ask for fish,
You’ll get a snake?
What father’d do that?

Like Abraham,
challenged Me,
to save,
Sodom’s righteous,
even if,
there were only 10.
Don’t fear to ask.
Come to Me boldly

Cry out to Me,
in your valley,
of despair.
When all seems lost.
When gloom’s fog,
hides Me,
from you,
cry out boldly.

Know I’ll open,
door at midnight.
To give you,
bread you need.
Don’t fear,
to ask.
Come to Me,
Boldly.
Gen. 18: 22-32, Luke 18:5-13
©Bob F., July 29, 2001

Do you know you can knock anytime?
What do you need to ask for?
Will you come to him boldly?

I am Here

I have come among you.
Do you know I am here?
The Samaritan woman knew.
She asked for living water.

Do you know I am here?
Do you know I offer living water?
Moses struck the rock
to provide water in the desert.

Will you let Me provide
for you in your desert?
Will you let My living water
flow nto you?

Accept My grace
offered you.
Accept My living water
offered you.
(John 4:5-42)
(c) Bob F. March 23, 2003
Do you know Jesus?
Do you let Him provide for you?
bob October 25, 2004

Healing

You seek healing.
Not My will.
You demand
your desires.

Pharisee you think
I hear your loud voice
full of the right words
spoken the right way.

Remember the tax collector
coming humbly
demending nothing
only sorry for his sin.

(c) Bob F., December 1, 2002

What do you seek?
What do you ask?

Guest at the Wedding Feast

I lie here bound.
I missed my chance.
Offered the wedding feast,
I chose the outer darkness.
Grace offered freely,
I refused the gift.
Offered the radiant garment,
I chose to retain my filthy rags.

I lie here naked,
my filthy rags,
no use against the cold.
I too proud to wear,
Another’s cloak.
My pride has lead to death.
I rejected His gift.
I chose death.
(Matthew 22:11-14)
©Bob F. August 20, 2001
What are the times you choose to reject
a gift like this?
What wedding gift is God offering you?
Posting may be spotty this week,
limited internet access until October 29th.
Bob - October 24, 2004

How to be a Passionate Servant

Start where you are
to serve Me.
Start with every face
I put before you.

All the strange ones
pierced, lost and broken.
The messy and dirty sinners
love them in My name.

Know them by name.
Be My representative.
Everything you do
is of cosmic importance.

Practice until you
reach the heart.
The cause monumentally greater
than yourself.

Pour more heart
into what you do.
Pray you will give
from your soul.

Come back to Me.
Let Me light your fire
so your heart will
burn for Me.
(inspired by Wayne Cordeiro, January 17, 2004)
© Bob F., January 17, 2004

Is there fire in your heart?
How do you respond when God sends you messy ones?
Will you embrace them?
Bob - October 23, 2004

Posting may miss a few days this week.
Not sure if I will have internet access.
Back daily on October 29th.

November

Days shorten.
Sun sinks low.
Hope fades.
Trees abandon life.
Winter’s death strides.
Life’s little deaths
remind you
of your end.

In your gloomy
November.
Will you trust Me?
Will you hear Me?
Will your actions
show you trust Me?
Will your actions
show you hear Me?

Know I walk
close beside.
As winter’s
gloom looms.
Know I’m God
of the living.
Reach out.
Take My hand.

Sacrifice all.
Live in integrity.
Remain true.
Do you really believe?
Act on My plan.
Be not afraid.
Rejoice as winter’s shadow
gently brushes.
2 Timothy 4: 1-9
©Bob F., November 18, 2001

November is coming.
How will you respond?
Presbypoet - October 21, 2004

Why You Don't Have Joy

I offer you joy.
You want stuff.
You covet what isn’t yours.
Your greed buries My joy.
Your lust and jealousy
keep you from My joy.
Let Me strip all your stuff
that keeps you from My joy.
© Bob F., December 15, 2002

What stuff keeps you from God's Joy?
What does God need to strip from you?
Bob - October 21, 2004

Holy Ground

You think you need
to seek Me.
You think you find Me
only on Holy Ground.
You think that
I am distant.

You don’t know Me
if you seek Me.
All who seek Me
can know Me.
I am transcendent
and intimate.

You will find Me
within you.
You can find Me
on Holy Ground.
I wait for you
to come back.
© Bob F, March 15, 2004

Where do we find God?
Can we find Him?
Is He seeking us?
Bob - October 20, 2004

Life's Not Fair

Life’s not fair.
You don’t get
what you deserve.
Be thankful
for this.
God’s mercy.

Take this gift
from Me.
Give it
to others.
Share My blessing.
The gift of mercy.
© Bob F., July 22, 2002

Think about this the next time you complain life isn't fair.
Bob - October 19, 2004

Blessed in Your Troubles

Be whole.
Be healed.
Listen to My voice.
Be free.

In your troubles
you are blessed.
Be involved
in My plan.

I offer you suffering
to find the true joy.
Not in the pain
but how it transforms.

You are here
for a reason.
Hear Me.
Be obedient.
©Bob F., October 15, 2000
A hard lesson.
Bob - October 18, 2004

Changing the World

I call you to task
greater than angels
to show the world
who I am.

Fall on your knees.
engage in prayer warfare.
Fight against evil.
Serve My true justice.

You battle not
with physical realm.
You battle also
in the unseen.

Angels and demons
contend at your side.
This is how
we change the world.
©Bob F, September 16, 2001

A true vision of reality.
Seeing the unseen like Elisha's servant.
(2 Kings 6:17)Bob October 16, 2004

A Dangerous Personal god

A god who does your bidding.
A god who is your friend.
How can you worship a god
who only is within?

A tame household god
who gives you what you want.
A god who helps you become
whatever you want to become.

Don’t you see seductive sin
of having a personal god?
Don’t you see the danger
of a god you do not fear.
© Bob F., May 5, 2004

Thoughts about gods. From God?
We all worship something, or someone.
Who do you worship?
What is your god?
What does it mean to fear God?
Is it wrong for God to give you what You want?

Do You Know Me?

Who am I?
Do you know Me?
I asked My disciples.
Peter knew.
Bethlehem
My birthplace.
Not My beginning.
Truly God become man.

Who am I?
Do you know Me?
I ask you.
Take Me within.
I truly came.
I truly lived.
I truly died.
I truly rose.

Who am I?
Do you know Me?
Read My word.
Hear My voice.
Be buried with M,
washed in My blood.
Eat My body.
Drink My blood.

Who am I?
Do you know Me?
I ask you.
Do you know?
Open your door.
Let Me in.
Walk with Me
in joyful obedience.
©Bob F, August 6, 2000

A simple question God asks us. Do you know Him?

If you don't it is the easiest thing in the world
to ask Him to come into your life.

Today I was talking to a homeless man I have been
trying to help for five years. There was a woman I'd never seen
with him. As we talked, i learned she didn't know
God. I asked if she wanted to know Him, and she
invited Jesus into her heart. She said she could
feel Him.

So simple...just open your door and let Him in.

I Sustain You

When life
is too hard
to endure.
I come to you
in the desert
to feed you.
As you grumble
alone and lost
listen to Me.

Remember
the Israelites
hungry and tired.
As I fed
them manna
I give you My flesh.
Take My body
within you.
I will give you life.

I give you comfort
in your pain
and affliction.
(Ist Kings 19:4-8, John 6:41-51
© Bob F., August 10, 2003

In this dark hour when at times it can seem hopeless,
this should help you remember who to rely on - October 13, 2004

Deep Water

I send you
into deep water.
Water over your head
you cannot stand.
Waves too menacing
threaten to engulf.
So powerful
they’d overwhelm you.

On your own
nothing you can do.
Keep your eyes on Me.
Come to Me on the water.
I promise you
no easy path.
Evil will assail you
threaten to undo you.

I am with you
to the ends of the earth.
In your peril
you will find Me.
© May 28, 2000, Bob F.

This is a simple description of what we are promised in life.
Bob - October 12, 2004

A Question for James the Just

(Son of Joseph, brother of Jesus)
What a shock
to meet Jesus alive
after He was dead and buried.
You never followed Him
Yet you became new church leader.
Seeing Him must have transformed you.

Where were you when He came?
Intruding into your ordinary life
transforming it beyond belief.
Were you home in Nazareth?
Being responsible husband
to your wife and family?

How did you feel when you learned
God had been/was your brother?
Did the light flash in your eyes
in holy wisdom as it came to Saul?
Or was it slow like to those at Emmaus?
Were you blind until He rose from the dead?
(Matthew 14:54-58, 1st Corinthians 15:4-7, James)
© Bob F., January 11, 2004

This is one of those things we know happened.
We just have no story that tells us exactly what it was.
How is it that James becomes the head of the Jerusalem church?
What was it like to have God as a brother?
What did he know, and when did he know it?
Bob - October 11, 2004

Hope

Real hope.
Not anemic,
pseudo stuff,
we’d settle for.

Real hope,
foundation sure,
when waves,
crash against the rock.

Spirit comes,
to fill us.
angel unexpected,
we see.

When we have,
no needs,
we need,
no hope.

It’s found in wilderness,
parched desert,
in rod poised high,
to strike the rock.

In suffering,
pain & uncertainty,
listen to hidden wings,
icon of invisible strength.
©Bob F. February 11, 2001

To understand what real hope is, and to know you have been given it as a gift can be one of the most precious presents possible to rec

Death on Christmas Eve

I met Death
on Christmas Eve.
He sat with a man
homeless by choice.
Offered life
he chose death.
Offered freedom
in the rules of the shelter.
He chose bondage
in the freedom of the streets.
The joy of Christmas
is no longer simple.
The baby in coming
offers the chance
to reject life
and choose death.
The essence of tragedy
to see the horror of man
choosing death as a partner.
©Bob F. December 24, 1999

This poem was written Christmas Eve 1999.
I saw a homeless man I had helped get into a shelter
for Veterans sitting outside a Safeway. When I talked to him
he said there were too many rules, so he left.

As fall swiftly passes, and winter with its deadly chill
looms, those who live on the street face renewed peril.
Please. Pray for them.
Bob - October 9, 2004

Be a Dream Releaser

My dreams lie buried under rubble
of mistakes and immaturity.
Don’t judge My dream
by rubble that buries it.

I send you dreamers
full of My dreams.
Help to release
My dreams.

Help clear the rubble
from My dreams.
Help free them
to take flight.

Be a coach
not judge.
Be a dream releaser
for Me.
(inspired by Wayne Cordeiro, January 17, 2004)
©Bob F., January 17, 2004

This is a poem that should help us understand that God has such wonderful plans for us, if only we will hear his call and say
Lord I hear you and obey.
Bob- October 8, 2004

Baptism

Why is Baptism
so important?
Understand first
it is My gift
nothing you were owed.
Total Free gift.
Gift of life
your sin buried

Then tis sign
of My grace
anointing you
to be with Me.
Last, it is sign
of Holy Spirit
come into your life
to make you My temple.

This divine gift is
come in human form.
It is real and true
not mere empty symbol.
This gift alone
is not sufficient.
Will you accept it
and live?
(Matt 3:13-17, Acts 10: 34-37)
©Bob F., January 11, 2004

A simple, yet complex idea.
October 7, 2004

In Your Suffering Find Joy

I offer gift of suffering.
Gift of unending trials.
Wilderness journeys.
Pain, loss and sorrow.
Cup offered James & John.
Martyrdom’s blessing.
Sending you to valley
shadowed by death.

You think suffering evil.
You don’t understand.
You demand release.
Escape from torment.
You don’t trust Me
in your wilderness.
Like Peter you must
step into your storm.

See Me in your suffering.
Feel Me in your suffering.
Know Me in your suffering.
Understand My plan.
Know I came
to suffer for you.
Know I came
to die for you.

In your suffering
be transformed.
A grain of wheat must die.
Must die to produce life.
Learn to trust Me
in your suffering.
In your suffering
find My joyful life.
John 12:23-27)
©Bob F., September 8, 2002, revised May 25, 2003


He offers gift of suffering.
Gift of unending trials.
Wilderness journeys.
Pain, loss and sorrow.
Cup offered James & John.
Martyrdom’s blessing.
Sending you to valley
shadowed by death.

You think suffering evil.
You don’t understand.
You demand release.
Escape from torment.
You don’t trust Him.
in your wilderness.
Like Peter you must
step into your storm.

See Him in your suffering.
Feel Him in your suffering.
Know Him in your suffering.
Understand His plan.
Know He came
to suffer for you.
Know He came
to die for you.

In your suffering
be transformed.
A grain of wheat must die.
Must die to produce life.
Learn to trust Him
in your suffering.
In your suffering
find His joyful life.
John 12:23-27)
©Bob f., September 8, 2002, revised May 25 & 27, 2003

This is the same poem revised in May 2003,
to show both my and God's perspective.
They say the same thing and not.
Which is more accurate?
PresbyPoet - October 6, 2004

Bringin Order to Chaos

You sail off alone
without Me.
The storm arises.
Supposed safety becomes chaos.

The chaos terrifies.
You cannot conquer.
You cry out.
Blind to My presence.

Through waves of chaos
I come to you.
Will you see Me
in the chaos?

I come to you
yet seem to pass by.
Will you know it is Me?
Will you cry out to Me?

Will you join Peter?
Will you step into the chaos?
Will you trust Me
and come to Me?

Trust Me I bring order.
I offer peace in midst of chaos.
Take My hand
and accept My gift.
(Matthew 14:22-33)
© Bob F., Heard at 6:30 AM February 21, 2004

These are hard instructions to follow.
We ask Him to calm the chaos first,
and he says step out into it and trust Me.
Bob October 5, 2004

On loving our Enemy

You demand we love our enemies.
How can we love the killers of Fallujah?
What do You mean when You say to forgive?
Does love do nothing and ignore evil?

What did You mean when You said.
"Let he without sin cast the first stone."
Do we sit silent and do nothing
when evil shows its full face?

Is this what it means to turn the other cheek?
Is that what You demand?
How can we approve what they did?
How can we endorse what they did?

Is it that we should not react but respond?
Not simply seek revenge but justice?
Is this the hard lesson we must learn?
We cannot do it on our own.

You did not remain silent
in the temple that day.
Your righteous anger showed us
sometime response is required.

Lord teach us to hear You
when revenge tempts us.
Help us learn how to forgive
and when to overturn tables.
(Matthew 5:38-39,43-47, 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17, Luke 19:45-46, 23:34,
John 2:14, 8:7)
©Bob F., April 2, 2004

This is a hard question to answer. When do we forgive
and when do we overturn tables? Sometimes i can be so sure,
and so wrong.
This poem was written as the news of four Americans killed
and their bodies desecrated was seared in my soul. October 4, 2004

Divine Appointments

Beloved - I intend to fill all your life
to overflowing
with My blessing - Divine Appointments.

Far too often you are blind
unaware you miss
My glorious gift given you.

You pass by on the other side
not knowing
I want you to bless and be blessed by others.

Along simple ordinary paths
of everyday life
My Divine surprises await you.

Every person or conversation
that comes
can be unexpected encounter with Me.

You may entertain angels unaware
if you obey.
Expect the unexpected and be blessed.

Be alert as you walk through life.
Open your eyes.
See the awesome beauty of My perfect plan.

Synchronize your life with Mine.
Become intimate.
Approve and embrace My design.

Let Me teach you to turn aside
from your rutted road
and live My Divine Appointments.
© Bob F., February 10, 2004, Revised March 6, 2004

How many of us live our lives mindful of how we are part of God's plan. Try to live tomorrow aware of His Divine Appointments. Will you see a homeless man by the side of the road and turn aside? Ask Him what He wants you to do. October 3, 2004

Tidings of Joy

You look around.
You see evil.
Enemy armies
surround you.

Life seems hopeless.
Doomed.
Death or worse
threatens.

Open your eyes.
See hope
in midst of
despair.

I came so you
can come to Me.
Let Me in
to heal your wounds.

Relax.
Be at peace.
I bring you
tidings of Joy.
©Bob, September 29, 2002

Today these words speak to me. It is not when things are going well we know we need to hear these words. It is when sorrow comes i need to remember the joy. The healthy don't need a doctor.
Bob October 2,2004