Author Archives: Susan Irene Fox

In the World, Not Of It

29 Sunday Jan 2017

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truth

by Susan Irene Fox

When listening to my Father’s call

the world attempts to use disguise

to lead me into my downfall

when lies are truth and truth are lies.

The Gospels lift me up to soar,

and daily mind and heart restore.

 

The words of Jesus free my thoughts

and bring me back to God’s embrace

to focus on the things I ought;

on love, compassion and His grace.

He came not to condemn but save

and all my sins expunged, forgave.

 

Abiding in the Spirit shows

me how to be and how to live.

Christ’s light from Living Water flows;

this fact holds no alternative.

The truth from fruit’s essential seeds

is God’s great source from which He feeds.

 

Because I sustain nourishment

from my Savior’s bread of life,

His voice of love is sweet assent

which melts and calms the daily strife.

God always is my Number One;

His wisdom never is outdone.

 

So say your truth, but I know His.

I am to open heart and hands,

to welcome all, and more than this;

to care for orphans, widows and

to reconcile the world, employ

God’s grace and wisdom, love and joy.

 

“I guarantee this truth: every believer has eternal life. I am the bread of life.” (John 6:47-48)

“For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who cares for the truth hears my voice.” Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” (John 18:37-38)

And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

A Poem for My God

22 Sunday Jan 2017

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©susanirenefox

©susanirenefox

A Guest Post

by Susan Irene Fox

 

Your fragrant scent is like a rose,

Perfume which, when inhaled, does flow

Throughout each cell to calm and ease;

Your Spirit lifts with harmonies.

 

Each bird delivers highs and lows,

the notes your whisper tells in prose.

Your voice delivers sweet mercies,

Your Spirit lifts with harmonies.

 

Delicious taste of berries sows

a hunger for the wisdom those

red words of Jesus’ scripture pleas;

Your Spirit lifts with harmonies.

 

Your touch upon my heart bestows

the softest love I’ll ever know

and coupled with your grace agrees

Your Spirit lifts with harmonies.

 

The sunrise wakens me and shows

just why it’s You I finally chose;

and glad I am you’ve chosen me,

Your Spirit lifts with harmonies.

He is Here (Revelation 3:20)

25 Sunday Dec 2016

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The Light of the World William Holman Hunt 1851

The Light of the World
William Holman Hunt 1851

Forgotten first love, our hunger is lacking

We’ve left Him adrift in a sea of disdain

He stands at the door, awaiting the asking.

 

We no longer see what with Him we obtain

The Vine feeds the branch, but we want our poison

We’ve left Him adrift in a sea of disdain.

 

Hold tight to the Vine, we’ll rejoice in union

Yet faith is belief, expecting in unseen

The Vine feeds the branch, but we want our poison.

 

We say we want God, but there’s dogma between

He longs to come and with us break bread

Yet faith is belief expecting in unseen.

 

If we’d just focus on seeking him instead

The door only opens from inside to out

He longs to come in and with us break bread.

 

We’re filled with self-made doctrine leading to doubt

Forgotten first love, our hunger is lacking

The door only opens from inside out

He stands at the door, awaiting the asking.

As Children See (guest blogger)

18 Sunday Dec 2016

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crayons

Children see color as crayons,

beautiful art which represents

oceans, flowers, sunsets and dawns;

hues of people, this sight ascends.

 

Were we to see as children see

before the influence of hate

our hearts and minds would remain free

as we were born and was innate.

 

We’ve lost the purity of sight

and turned our backs on God’s great gift;

but if we reach out to the Light

He once again our souls will lift.

 

His love and grace and mercy still

are in our reach; do not despair.

He lives within us, that’s the thrill;

He always hears our silent prayer.

 

So wipe your tears, and once again

Remember you’re His precious child.

See others as your godly friends

Whom Christ has also reconciled.

 

©Rio Rinaldi Rachmatullah

©Rio Rinaldi Rachmatullah

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left. (Matthew 19:13-15)

The Great Divide (#Guest Blogger)

11 Sunday Dec 2016

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Somehow, the words to this song remind me of our relationship with God.

Humbling, joyous, unifying.

 

I never knew I lost you till I found you
And I never guessed how close you were to me
And now I wanna throw my arms around you
Tell a thousand tales that will astound you
Everything about you tells me this was meant to be, don’t you see

I’m on your side
Let’s take this ride
And together we’re facing the world
Doing things nobody’s done before
And the great divide
Doesn’t seem so wide anymore

I can’t recall what life was like without you
Now it feels as though we’ve never been apart
Tell me every tiny thing about you
Anything you’ll say I’ll never doubt you
We’re meant to be together I can feel it in my heart
It’s just the start

I’m on your side
Let’s take this ride
And together we’re facing the world
Doing things nobody’s done before
And the great divide
Doesn’t seem so wide

And if you’ll be there beside me when I falter
(You’ll be there beside me when I falter)
Then whatever comes I know we’ll take it all in stride
(Take it all in stride)
I’m on your side

The great divide
Doesn’t seem so wide

I’m on your side
Let’s take this ride
And together we’re facing the world
Doing things nobody’s done before
And the great divide
Doesn’t seem so wide anymore

©2012 Disney Enterprises, Inc. and McClain Sisters

Do it Anyway

04 Sunday Dec 2016

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The daily struggles that we feel

To keep our faith with Jesus real

To honor God, obey His call

Means we must offer love to all so all will heal.

 

When speaking to our God in prayer

We often talk of what is fair

We sense a daily push and pull

Yet His love cannot fill us full; we must repair.

 

Our choice to walk with Him can free

Or keep us locked in chains, you see

We love our friends and enemies

Or walk away, do what we please; our destiny?

 

He said it best. “The world will know

Us by our love.” Yes, we must show

His heart, His light, though not our trait.

Abide in God, the Spirit’s weight through us will glow.

by Susan Irene Fox

 

(Chorus to song) God is great, but sometimes life ain’t good
When I pray it doesn’t always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
I do it anyway
Away ©Martina McBride and The Warren Brothers

A Good Comfort (#Guest Post)

27 Sunday Nov 2016

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©susanirenefox

©susanirenefox

Settling into my own skin,

God has given me the ability

to smile at the person in the mirror,

loving and accepting exactly who I am.

 

As I look back at who I’ve been

and reflect on how and what I used to see,

my perspective was skewed, dark; I ignored

the signs: the love, the grace, the comfort from the Lamb.

 

Yet once I opened to His heart within,

I saw with Jesus’ eyes, I became free.

His love allowed me to open the door

to view myself and others through His love, His plan.

 

~          ~          ~          ~          ~

 

I see Him now inside my eyes

His beauty shines from my mirror back to me

As does His character; it is His peace I carry, not mine.

I breathe deeply, fully, accepting His unconditional love.

 

by Susan Irene Fox

Hope & Grace (#Guest Blogger)

20 Sunday Nov 2016

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©Sharon Knight

©Sharon Knight

When I rest in Him, employ His eyes

There remains no human I despise.

We are all His flesh; we are jars of His clay

Shaped and made to display

God’s full hope and grace; God’s hope and grace.

 

Though we may use words to slight and shame,

Underneath we are flesh, blood and frame.

We are born with tongues to accept and uplift

Endowed from Him a gift:

God’s full hope and grace; God’s hope and grace.

 

As we look outside ourselves this morn’

Can we see all those who too were born

As branches of the selfsame tree, bearing fruit?

Our hearts cannot dispute

God’s full hope and grace; God’s hope and grace.

 

This hope and grace, and yes His love

Set gently down from His heart above

Like starlings alight on each branch of a tree.

A weightless yoke, humbly

God’s full hope and grace; God’s hope and grace.

 

Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Put My yoke upon your shoulders—it might appear heavy at first, but it is perfectly fitted to your curves. Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. When you are yoked to Me, your weary souls will find rest. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Thank you to Sharon Knight at SunEarthSky for allowing me to share her beautiful photograph, starlings roosting in a tree.

by Susan Irene Fox