Tender Tears 8-8-11

Be positive and confident,

and joyous all the while -

and you can be a great success

while wearing your great smile.

Success will bring you riches,

such fun, excitement too -

so do not let this world slip by -

revolve it around you.

Oh, there will be some hurting -

a child without his dad -

and though he may shed many tears

don't let him make you sad.

Just keep on smiling broadly,

and remember, others can -

show their deep compassion.

Don't interrupt your plan.

There's way too many people -

and all, you cannot do -

and after all - it's when you smile,

the world will smile with you.

Spread laughter, joy into this world -

put smiles on all the poor -

and if you still feel guilty,

donate a little more.

Ignore the child crying,

ignore her ragged clothes,

ignore the troubles, not your own

for it is how life goes.

Crack a joke on your success,

and brag on all you gave.

Jest and smile and live it up!

Die laughing to the grave...

And then, when you see Jesus,
and your world disappears -
will you get Him to laugh with you
behind His tender tears? 

©2011 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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One Not Worthy 8-5-11

If I was Jesus, could I take -

the blame that wasn't my mistake?

If I was Jesus, could I hear -

the name 'Barabbas' in my ear?

If I was Jesus, could I see -

the multitudes surrounding me?

If I was Jesus, could I wear -

a crown of thorns set on my hair?

If I was Jesus, could I feel -

the rugged nails through hand and heel?

If I was Jesus, could I smell -

the stench of sweat and blood that fell?

If I was Jesus, could I taste -

when sour wine on lips was placed?

If I was Jesus, could I give -

could I be strong, could I forgive?

If I was Jesus, could I die -

for one not worthy, such as I?

©2011 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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The Fragile Fog 8-3-11

Dawn breaks clear and breeze begins- leans the many grasses -

rolling knolls, valleys green- moving, it amasses

moisture up from silent pond, a vapor freely born -

confusing fogs of dampness, there's- another one to warn

of world's prideful arrogance, of want and selfish greed -

another one oblivious to warnings he should heed.

Slow and patient hovering, brings truth so plain to see -

but blindness seizes naive hearts and there will seldom be -

changes to the inner soul that lingers ever past -

then fades away, the temperate fog, as time has fleeted fast.

God creates, then man destroys a life, so visible -

but Jesus comes to heal the sick, the body, spiritual.

God gave Jesus for our souls.  He patiently awaits -

while life is like the fragile fog which quickly dissipates.

Earth- or all eternity- two choices we must weigh -
before the fog has lifted and- life vanishes away. 

©2011 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http:/www.ganderpoems.org/

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James 4:14 (NASB)
Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.
You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

Plant The Seed 7-28-11

Some smoking cigs,
and drinking beer -
or walking streets
in total fear.

Some loving fights,
or reading smut -
some overweight
in gambling rut.

Some driving drunk
and smoking crack -
small screaming kids,
good morals lack.

A land of grace,
in land of sin?
Please let me know
what world I'm in.

Now up-side-down
this world is not -
so say the folks,
who have a lot.

But God still knows
the evil heart -
each evil soul,
that falls apart.

And die, they will,
so 'drunk in rum'.
I wish it not,
but day will come.

And come it will,
when all time stops -
when wrath begins
and ruling drops.

Death eternal.
Life eternal.
God external,
or internal?

So hate the sin
but love the man.
Let's plant the seed.
You know we can!

©2011 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http:/www.ganderpoems.org/

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Touched? 7-26-11

When all goes well, you do not call,

you do not whisper prayers at all.

but when you're sick or feeling bad,

I hear a prayer that makes Me sad.

You pray that I should comfort you,

and tell Me all that I should do -

but then when you are well again,

your prayers are empty, hollow, thin.

So where's your trust when you are well?

I need your faith so I can tell -

you're not a fake or hypocrite,

but sincere friend who can commit.

Commit to church, commit to Me,

commit to friends and family.

Until that day, you're torn apart,

torn in two, straight through your heart.

So pray when things are going grand

so I can tell right where you stand.

Not lukewarm, but hot or cold -

for lukewarm souls, I will not hold.

For I so love this world too -

the worst of men, including you.

I will save you from your sin -

but you must first, invite Me in.

So patiently, at your hearts door,

I stand and knock to offer more.

For from this world, you'll soon depart,

so let me touch your broken heart.

©2011 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http:/www.ganderpoems.org/

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When Jesus Holds 7-16-11

One day, when Jesus holds me tight,

will I forget the past?

Will I forget my every sin,

from first to very last?

One day, when Jesus holds me tight,

will I cry quite awhile -

then be so red and blurry eyed,

I miss His loving smile?

One day, when Jesus holds me tight,

will I forget the pain?

Will I forget my memories that,

keep driving me insane?

One day, when Jesus holds me tight,

will all my sins replay?

Or will He hold me tighter and

wipe all my tears away?

One day, when Jesus holds me tight,

when I'll be loved the most -

will I remember painful past,

as Jesus holds me close?

©2011 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http:/www.ganderpoems.org/

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Blessings 7-11-11

God showers me with blessings -
too many to be named.
And He has given me so much -
so much, I am ashamed.

Though I have lost possessions,
(some former wants and needs) -
I'm steered to where I wish not go,
as my Creator leads -
and made to walk in valleys deep,
so great, the length and breadth -
and made to go to distant lengths,
and sometimes near to death.

He showed me all that I had missed
to understand His scene -
and made me walk on water,
and through His pastures green.
But sight? None can imagine -
the view beyond the skies -
to see what can't be understood
with selfish, simple eyes!

His blessings once confused me,
and camouflaged my pride,
and I just couldn't see His love,
'till I set 'me' aside.
Yes, God has showered blessings,
too many to be named -
and He has given me so much -
so much, I am ashamed.

And yet, His greatest blessing,
so many years before -
was that He gave His only Son.
What blessing is worth more??

©2011 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http:/www.ganderpoems.org/

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The Shiny Penny 7-9-11

Reflection caught my lazy eye,

there on the narrow street.

I spied the shiny penny's glint -

right underneath my feet.

Many will not pick one up,

as value is so small -

and they believe it worthless for,

most anything at all.

To pick it up, not worth it -

at least that's what they say.

but oh, my time was not a waste -

was not a waste that day.

Though, there embossed, was Lincoln's face -

the date stamped clearly new -

more engravings marked the back,

proved it a penny too.

But what can a sole penny buy?

Good luck, what can it bring?

What help buys it, the hungry?

What good, the shiny thing?

Its purpose can be measured,

the value, one small cent.

But there had to be more to it.

My patience had been spent.

I found it - just a penny,

so small and very thin.

I thought it, all but worthless,

but then I looked again...

First opening my fingers,

then cleaning off some dust -

I finally found great value with,

the words, "In God We Trust".

©2011 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http:/www.ganderpoems.org/

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My Pencil War 7-4-11

It will erase the phrase it writes,

that's written on a page -

at other times it writes more words...

it's difficult to gauge.

There is a war that's going on,

that's not on land or sea.

A thousand times my pencil flips,

the two just can't agree.

The selfish lead, the soft eraser -

the two can't get along.

They both appear so far apart.

Each thinks the other wrong.

Their battles seem to linger on -

Confusion wills to grow.

This poem is of truth and love.

Conclusions, can we know?

Am I just like my pencil,

that I take off the shelf -

fumbling between my fingers,

at war within myself?

Am I just like my pencil,

in incoherent bind?

Does warring begin or finish,

within my mixed-up mind?

Seek I, the left, or to my right -

or back, or simply stop?

My mind runs in full circles as

the pencil fights nonstop.

The truth still lives - the answer, one,

to settle this whole score -

until then I, a traitor am,

inside my pencil war.

The truthful words, I'll never find,

or my complete reward -

unless I search the Holy Word

and listen to my Lord.

I compromise my writing,

and it is always blurred -

if I can't lay my pencil down

and understand God's Word.

©2011 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http:/www.ganderpoems.org/

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My Erasure 7-4-11

Every day I make mistakes -

they often make me ill -

but my erasure's here atop, my

error driven pencil.

It fixes all my mixed-up thoughts,

and every misspelled word -

and makes more space for other thoughts,

before my words are heard.

My erasure though, lacks power,

to fix my evil side.

It cannot mend my sinful scars -

I know, because I tried.

I frantically attempted -

but then to my dismay,

I watched as my erasure wore

entirely away.

Sin stains our selfish motives,

then guilt comes as a flood,

but erasures cannot help us -

removing sin takes blood.

And Jesus does that best of all.

Erasing takes no skill.

No, we cannot erase our sin -

but Jesus can, and will.

©2011 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http:/www.ganderpoems.org/

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