Author: rkcdlitt

Image and Likeness of God

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.” Matthew 1:27                                                                                                 

Genesis says:

we are in the image

and likeness of God

to find God

we are in community

there is communion

in communion

His righteousness

Is in the joy

Of communion, of community

This is our hope

This is our prayer

God send us into community

To join together

We do not ask

Who to send

We go voluntarily

Because it is

The wish of God

We receive His spiritual gifts

That help us in all we do

We complement each other

Some are wise; Some heal the sick

Some teach the young; Some are prophets

These gifts are of God

As god is one body with many parts

So is community

One body with many complementary parts

Our community is a reflection of God

Made in his image

As we are.

The Voice of God

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and

 I heard behind me a loud voice

like the sound of a trumpet, . . .”  Revelation 1:10

We are blessed with spiritual gifts

Until we followed God,

We did not know this

If you follow God

Jesus will be your guide

Go into the world

Spreading his word

Help the lion hunt for its food

Protect animals in their dens

Feed the ravens and eagles

To satisfy their hunger

When you do these simple things

You Honor God’s name

Seeing your angels in heaven

Who watch over you

Protecting you with God’s unconditional love

Ripples

I believe in ripples!

Join a group of people, today!

Without a thought

change the recipe,

teach a child,

implant an idea.

change the world.

Like ripples on a pond,

our lives affect other people.

Continue to spread

God’s word to the downtrodden,

the forgotten;

bring His grace to ease their burdens;

pray with others;

join them in their suffering;

be with them in God’s light,

eternally.

I believe in ripples!

Russell Kendall Carter

2020

Born of God

“But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13

We are born of God; we are good.

Humankind: God’s greatest creation.

We cannot forget this.

The Gospel of john begins:

“In the beginning was the word,

and the word was with God,

and the word was God.”

God is before all else;

there is nothing before God;

there is nothing but God.

The Solomon in Proverbs  reminds us:

“The Lord possessed me

in the beginning of His way,

before His works of old.”

God knows us before He creates us.

When he creates us, we are perfect.

God creates nothing but perfection.

Therefore, we are perfect in His eyes.

We can recognize this godly perfection

in all whom we meet. This is God’s will.

Society leads us from this lighted path.

Society cannot exist on a selfless God-given path

without setting itself as the main influence in our lives.

With God as the core of our existence,

 society has less hold on our daily lives.

Society’s norms are a nuisance that Jesus asks us to overcome.

As humans, we are not perfect; our bodies must die.

But our spiritual selves are perfect and live eternal lives.

Nevertheless, as humans, we must recognize God

in all whom we meet. This is God’s lighted path.

On this path, we are God’s perfect creations.

We see the perfect creation of God

in all whom we meet.

Are we filled with God’s Love?

The light of Jesus gives us the fulfillment

we need to live in God’s perfect world.

Jesus is our fulfillment.

Enemy-Occupied Territory

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

Not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your hearts

be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27

My spirit lives with God;

my trust is unwavering.

He strengthens my resolve.

Although my antagonists are great

and censure my faith;

I walk in His light,

not fearing the blindness of men.

I am blessed by His trust in me.

The desolate valley of my dwelling

I fear not, for my enemies are powerless

in the abundance of God’s grace.

I pray for the steadfast trust of Joseph,

recognizing God’s mandate

to live in safekeeping while dwelling

in enemy-occupied territory

What do we need? We are in the midst of two world-wide pandemics.

The Coronavirus has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives across our planet, not caring what color we are, how rich we are, or how important we claim to be. Science is rapidly creating a cure for this, but many more lives will be sacrificed to the terrible pandemic. Those in power seem to be more interested in the lost money than the lost lives, while scientists are saying that there will be a more drastic resurgence that will claim many more lives. I sometimes think that Mother Nature is fighting back and punishing us for all the damage we have done to the Earth in our search for greater wealth.  

The second pandemic noted by the demonstrations around the globe, but particularly in the United States; these are rebelling against the world-wide oppression of people of color. Those of us who are white have oppressed the people of color all around the world, again in search of greater wealth for ourselves. We have fought innumerable worlds throughout history to suppress opponents and their cultural lives, replacing their traditions with ours. The protests in the United States were begun over the murder of George Floyd, who as a black man was suffocated by Minneapolis police. Those around the world are in support of the American protesters, butt they are also raising their voices against the oppression in their own countries.

The common man long oppressed by the wrong type of governments serving only the rich and powerful are bringing up the long-lost truth of what life for all should be. Many governments claim to be guided by the word of God, no matter what name we call Him, but they put truth to death through all their actions. The people who are protesting and really care for the fate of those oppressed by police and governments are in search of some one person to step up and be the guide that we can all follow.

What we need is a strong, perhaps old time, prophet to lead us out of the evil we are now suffering.

She is Benevolent

examine our lives

see a lack of understanding

and acceptance;

look for spiritual awakening,

rejoice, be glad,

praise God

and be

thankful for Her presence in our lives;

everything under the sun

is Hers and Her creation

we pretend, but doubt

we are loved, but doubt

and are here

by God’s pleasure and grace;

we rise over self-imposed failures,

and She holds our hands,

lifts us, nurtures us

She is a benevolent deity.

Mine Life is Changed Forever

Seek Thee in mine heart

for Thou art nowhere else;

I journey not alone;

Thy passion and comfort

are mine companions.

I never walk alone through darkness,

for Thy presence lights mine path.

Fields of plenty are laid before me;

mine path is made smooth as I walk in Thy footsteps.

I am but a child holding Thy hand,

safely knowing I walk with someone who loves me.

I am blessed by the beauty of Thine creation

and revere the wonders of Thy love.

I only absorb what I see as created by Thee;

as a parent Thou are patient with me,

knowing that mine heart belongs only to Thee.

Like the servants at Cana,

I do whatever Thou asks;

Jesus asks that I follow Him;

what more or what less can I do.

Mine life is changed forever.

Surrendering to Serenity

Riding the Rocky Mountaineer,

marveling at the festal expedition

of nature’s glory.

A time to do nothing

but wonder at the beauty

of God’s Garden of Eden.

Smooth lakes amid the majestic

green mountains surrounded

by blue skies, enriched by the artistic

dabs of cumulous clouds,

interrupted by the rare eagle

floating effortlessly

over his monumental kingdom;

nothing for us

but surrendering to serenity.

I am spiritually domesticated and

have come alive with the Word;

the word is Love;

the word is God.

I learn from the

teachings of Jesus

2000 years ago,

to clear my heart of hate.

I devour this lion

and rid myself its traits,

and welcome all

without prejudice, jealousy, or hate.