Coming Forward to Accept Your Gift - Poem by Raymond A. Foss

Oh Lord, we tremble, solemn
with joy, yet feeling unworthy
something about the truth
of our earthly nature
hearing your Spirit
within us, calling us to you
to the rail, to accept your sacrifice
coming forward to accept your gift
our salvation, remembered
in the bread and the cup
a life of freedom
the joy of eternity
because you went to the cross
for me

Knowing what you knew
alive before creation
choosing to descend
coming to earth as a man
walking the dusty roads
with the feet of clay of a human
knowing your purpose, your calling
climbing Calvary, going to the cross
as a human, frailty of these bodies
chipped vessels of clay, made worthy
by your prayer, your anguish
your choice in Gethsemane
Choosing to drink from a different cup
than the one we come forward to share

June 9, 2010

and

Humbled at the Rail

My hands cupped
waiting, in my stillness
silently waiting
for the bread, the offering
his life for me, that I would be free

Tasting the bread
the symbol of his life
my life restored
the cup of his blood
the one who came to die
becoming the lamb on the cross

Humbled at the rail
in the awesome act of grace
his love for us
while we wallow in sin

June 9, 2010
written after giving permission
for a church in England
to use the following poem,
posted to FaithWriters this morning

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The Smell of His Blood

Raising the bread from the chalice
the wine splashing
running down my hand
the smell of his blood
as I sat in prayer
after the sharing the
bread and the cup
Tangible, real memory
washing over me,
as the tears ran down my face
The sacrifice of the savior
made real once again,
in the smell of his blood
lingering on my trembling hands.

April 25, 2009
Luke 24:13-35
Walk to Emmaus

Copyright by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010. Contact me at Ray Foss
for usage.