God's Sparrow 2-23-15

My mother? I miss her. You don't know how much

with hugs, warm and loving, with her gentle touch.

And father, not perfect, had sure done his best.

Together, in Heaven, they in His arms rest.

---

Interpreting thoughts that were mine with my weeping,

on wee branch up high, a young sparrow was keeping.

With sharp and loud chirping, I felt ever small.

It ripped me to pieces when I heard it all.

Then, when it had finished, it flew out of sight -

and it left a message, quite brutal, but right -

when I heard, "You're fake - a great imitator,

forgiven by God, your Maker, Creator."

My eyes had welled up with tears of repentance -

with close fam'ly ties and those times of remembrance.

Though precious, the mem'ries I wouldn't exchange,

those days were but hist'ry that I couldn't change.

It sure got me thinking. Oh, how could it be,

I thought not of others - but only of me?

Those years have all passed and are not coming back.

They shook up my heart like a massive attack.

I now see the world and sparrow in tree -

and even myself now so dif-fer-ent-ly.

Priorities changed now that I've been set straight

by that little, lone sparrow I started to hate.

But I thank God's sparrow that perched in the tree,

which brutally, honestly uncovered me -

exposing my selfishness, failures and sin.

Repentant, forgiven, I'll see them again.

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Tulips and Roses 2-19-15

Right under our noses

are tulips and roses.

There's no place that I'd rather be.

And if you come hither

you'll find they won't wither

for God surely loves you and me.

A rainbow of colors

are splattered on flowers

that all of creation can see.

And when they're a-blooming,

exquisite perfuming

enhances His paintings for me.

The world won't believe Him,

far out on their tree limb.

Opinions are having their say.

They make me so dizzy

because they're so busy

and can't find eternity's way.

I know you would rather

join with me and gather

up armfuls of rainbow's bouquets -

and inside His painting

enjoy His creating

the rest of eternity's days.

So join me and jump in

to painting, born again,

where flowering landscapes are true.

Here living with respect

is Heavenly perfect

in vibrant and colorful hue.

Right under our noses

are tulips and roses.

There's no place that I'd rather be.

And if you come hither

you'll find they won't wither

for God really loves you and me,

for God really loves you and me.

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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I Corinthians 13:13 (NASB)

"...but the greatest of these is love."

As Darkness Falls 2-16-15

The sun's at rest

upon the west -

as lighted pathway fades.

Today I'm lost, so what's the cost for all my sick charades?

The bottom line:

Decisions?  Mine,

though future couldn't see.

I ventured off the straight and narrow pathway meant for me.

I can''t embark.

It's awful dark.

Time spurns to take me back.

Oh, how had I been led astray by winding pathways black?

Some say that no

one's perfect so,

"it doesn't matter much".

But that's not what the Savior said with cross and thorns and such.

He suffered there

in anguish where

His love could cover men -

and faithfully had paid my debt upon that cross of sin.

On grieving face

was matchless grace

so I could be set free -

but stubbornly I trod my long and winding path... for me.

Now here I stand

as owls land.

Life skates along its way.

I'm lonely, very lonely here a-midst my final day.

So what's the cost?
Today, I'm lost.

I've had so many fears.

The darkness falls.  'Forever' calls as pathway disappears.

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Matthew 24: 10-13 (NASB)
10 At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.
11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.
12 Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

Intentionally Left Blank 2-13-15

I look through all my papers.

I search but cannot find.

Exploring notes and all my files,

I hunt my absent mind.

But I can't find them anywhere.

I seek throughout the day.

I cannot sleep as stars come out

Have I something to say?

I'd like to write of God above
and all His majesty.
Unless I take the time to pray,
those words will never be.

But I can't find the words to use.

Thoughts pierce me like a knife.

My life could be much better if

pure words rhymed with my life.

Escapes me, too, the letters

that float away on streams,

winding through the rapids fast,

that disappear with dreams.

Oh, how can rhyming phrases flow

and sentences galore -

when I can't find mere letters here?

My phrases come no more.

If only I could find them...

the words, so you could know 'em,

then I could write the stanzas down

in one breathtaking poem.

Instead, I search inside myself.

With absent prayers, my words -

just float away on rivers or

are carried off with birds...

So here I sit with naught to say,

so let me just be frank.

Who'd care to read another line?

(intentionally left blank)

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Find the Butterfly (song lyrics) 2-1-15

I wanted to be different,
I wanted to be free,
I wanted something special but
I simply couldn't see.
For I was blind to peace of mind -
through clouds it'd never be.
How could I find the butterfly in me?
How could I find the butterfly in me?

On beach, so sad, I lonely was.
A large, dark storm cloud said,
"Your shore is very empty and
your soul is all but dead."
The waves crashed and - soaked in the sand
but truth soaked not in head,
and blackness washed my beauty out instead,
and blackness washed my beauty out instead.

My footprints weren't forever and
they didn't last long-term.
I sought to be so happy but
the sand just wasn't firm.
The hint I saw had dropped my jaw
but sun could not confirm.
My life was like a lowly, ugly worm.
My life was like a lowly, ugly worm.

I wanted to be happy and
be satisfied by noon.
I wanted to be joyous too
and laugh that afternoon.
I tried to fly high in the sky,
like colorful balloon -
and not confined to my dark, dead cocoon,
and not confined to my dark, dead cocoon.

Reality descended then
down to a weathered dock.
It's usefulness was gone and all -
its boards were stumb'ling blocks.
I couldn't halt nor could I fault
the waves upon heart's rock -
and time flew by with ticking of the clock,
and time flew by with ticking of the clock.

The angry sky had thundered then.
I heard the ocean's din.
I couldn't see creation or
the higher tide begin.
I searched my mind but couldn't find -
for nothing had sunk in -
while ocean's truth still splashed upon my sin,
while ocean's truth still splashed upon my sin.

Then lost and wand'ring aimlessly,
along some pine and birch,
my pride had died in front of an
abandoned country church.
I walked inside, but couldn't hide.
My soul was in the lurch -
but that had ended my long journey's search,
but that had ended my long journey's search.

My tears flowed as a river there.
I dropped down to my knees.
T'was then I saw some color like
the autumn's rainbow leaves.
My God above sent ocean's love,
His grace was as the seas -
and now this butterfly floats on the breeze,
and now this butterfly floats on the breeze.

If you confess that you're a worm,
repent in your cocoon,
then God has promised all His grace
and you'll become immune.
And by and by, your butterfly
will spread its wings and soon -
will glide on rainbow leaves to sunset's moon,
will glide on rainbow leaves to sunset's moon.

So if you find the butterfly
that's born again in you,
then you, my friend, have Jesus and
shall fly to Heaven too.
Agape love from God above
bares rainbow's brilliant hue -
and brings eternal joy to pull you through,
and brings eternal joy to pull you through.

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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1 John 1:9 (NASB)
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Acts 2:38 (NASB)
Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Souls 1-21-15

I watch a dozen leaves or so

out circling on the drive -

reminding me of people who

no longer are alive.

To be content, they'll money earn.

They'll dress the part and bow -

because they are unsatisfied

of where they are right now.

Though deep into the winter,

they seem, in breeze, so dizzy.

Swirling 'round in circles cold,

they all seem very busy.

They don't take time for other folks

or problems they might bear.

They cannot empathize with them.

They rarely ever care.

So here outside my humble room,

outside my window sill,

I see them blowing 'round and 'round

with great deceptive skill.

They idolize their happiness

and idolize each need.

They idolize each fantasy

and idolize their greed.

So colorful before they fell,

now brown and curled and dry,

they aren't yet buried 'neath the snow -

and only God knows why.

Although their minds are thinking,

although their bodies fed,

although their hearts are beating -

their souls?  Completely dead.

I watch a dozen leaves or so

out circling on the drive -

reminding me of people who

no longer are alive.

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Slips Away 1-20-15

The pain, immense for quite awhile,

but it is worth that precious smile.

The nurses measure and they weigh.

But soon our mother slips away.

We choose our friends and choose our spouse,

we choose location and our house.

And while the children romp and play

a friend or fam'ly slips away.

The love of money's in our blood

as if it's some fantastic drug.

While some are hunters, some are prey,

another dollar slips away.

We stack more food upon our shelves.

Ignore all others, help ourselves.

From off the narrow road we stray,

another homeless slips away.

The rider smiles and so approves

downtrodden trails beneath the hooves

of horse that stopped to eat some hay.

Another stranger slips away.

The sky awash in brilliant hue

that we have grown accustomed to.

It pauses not to hasten day.

Another twilight slips away.

Of what importance is the goal?

It's only God who's in control.

For while the old man bows to pray,

another friendless slips away.

We think we have life figured out.

We give opinions, argue, shout -

but step back from that vast array

when all we held just slips away.

Yes,

they'll stand around my casket and

they'll talk about the 'Promised Land'.

But what will matter on that day

when my opinions slip away?

When dirt is piled on casket lid,

they'll lie about the good I did.

But God is Truth.  He'll have His say

when my own soul... slips away.

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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A Purpose 1-15-15

What eye would have a purpose -

if rainbows had no hue,

if sunsets had no colors,

if skies were void of blue?

What ear would have a purpose -

if lips, inaudible,

if harmony was absent sound,

if nature, all, was still?

What nose would have a purpose -

if flowers had no scent,

if perfumes had no fragrance,

if spring was no event?

What tongue would have a purpose -

if salt had ne'er a taste,

if thoughts were but a vapor,

if words just went to waste?

What mind would have a purpose -

if argumentative,

if self-absorbed in ignorance,

if truth was 'relative'?

What heart would have a purpose -

if love, it could not feel,

if it was hard as granite stone,

if it could never heal?

What life would have a purpose -

without salvation's tree,

without the birth of Jesus Christ,

without the Trinity?

What soul would have a purpose -

if grace had not been free,

if faithfulness had not been lived,

if saved, we couldn't be?

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Poet Friends 1-7-15

They write soft words with loyal pens

about God's love that far transcends

our drear, dark worlds of futile ends.

So thankful I, for poet friends.

Though Bibles have at times been banned,

we've come to search and understand

that narrow pathway God has planned

which leads us to the Promised Land.

For each of us who are forgiv'n

and faithfully are ever liv'n,

a unique journey God has giv'n

from home on earth to home in Heav'n.

It's true, so let each poem gird

creation's rainbow, rose and bird

and other things that run in herd

with Heaven's rhyme, with Heaven's word.

Away from earth's distracting din,

in Heav'n we'll read these words again,

so write some poems.  Now begin.

Make readers smile with widest grin.

Sometimes we laugh, sometimes we smile,

sometimes the words, we can't compile -

and though we cry through earthly trial -

our God shines through.  It's all worthwhile.

From earthquake to the mourning dove,

God's great creation speaks thereof,

so I give thanks to God above

for poet friends and poets' love.

Thank you!

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Coexist? 1-3-15

Took root, a little baby vine

had grown from tiny seed -

but it was insignificant,

so meaningless indeed.

It drew all our attention to

its cute, industrious scene -

and it seemed very harmless here

in suited leaves of green.

It hugged a tree so gracefully.

We thought we understood.

We thought it just a compromise.

We thought it all so good.

But was it we were taken in

to 'ends' we thought would be -

through 'means' by which it made its mark

upon one healthy tree?

That tree had given all it could.

"I welcomed you," it said.

Yet that one vine continued up,

consuming tree... 'til dead.

Because of its misfortune here,

our hill became abuzz.

Persuasive and invasive and

persistent that vine was.

But care?  Oh, no.  Us bothered?  Not!

For we could never fall.

We each had thought us healthier

and stronger than them all.

Well, one by one our trees did fall.

The vines grew larger still.

They grew the way they wanted to

while thieving our good will.

I should have stopped that little vine

that squeezed a bit too tight.

It's hug was a deceptive one

that never seemed quite right.

We all had thought that we were safe,

but we were taken in.

Our hill of trees was killed off by

just one deceptive sin.

No, sometimes we can't "coexist"

when others want their say,

when others prove gross disrespect,

when they demand their way.

From cults to sick be-headings and

abortions, right-to-die,

have we forgotten, God is Love?

The rest is all a lie!

We cannot coexist with sin.

God's truth and light we need.

If Jesus lives within our hearts,

He kills that sinful seed.

We forest trees majestically

had stood atop that hill.

If only we'd been prudent and

been faithful to His will...

One Nation under God we were -

but we had thought it fine,

so we allowed a monster here

through cute and tiny vine.

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Matthew 7:15 (KJV)

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves."