Mighty One, The 10-20-18

I sit and stare at water there,

beyond the palm where lake is calm

and try to write the words I'm thinking of.

But often times my words lack rhymes

as fingers shake and pencils break

while making sense of Christ's most precious love.

I don't know why I often cry

at such a price of sacrifice.

Though innocent, the Man of God obeyed.

With no remorse, He stayed the course

and took the tip of wicked whip,

then carried cross because He was betrayed.

He didn't quit.  He carried it

without restraint, without complaint,

up rugged path to hill where all would be.

And without fail, He took a nail -

another one.  They still weren't done...

And then was raised for all the world to see.

The pain was such it mattered much

and time was short for His escort -

those angels waiting anxiously to aid.

For all along, ten thousand strong 

were in His care and waiting there.

But it would be His call was never made.

From cross He heard another's word -

another soul that He made whole.

It mattered not, the next cross he was from.

So it would be that grace was free

if we believe and always cleave

to Him who knows our hearts and wants to come.

So much unsaid with Jesus dead.

Though buried deep, they couldn't keep

our Savior from yet one more miracle.

So off His toes, He then arose

despite our sin to live again -

above the clouds.  This wasn't typical.

I pictured sky in my mind's eye
and watched in awe at what I saw
and still envision how it all could be.
As I look back at all the flack
that Jesus took in God's Good Book
I just can't understand His love for me.

My stare is blank at water's bank,

beyond the fog I see a bog

as I forget all that I'm thinking of.

Now as before I tremble more.
In any case, I now erase
my empty words of Christ's most precious love.

My words are wrong.  They don't belong.

My ev'ry word just seems absurd!

They don't do justice for all He has done!

Thoughts disappear.  I shed a tear -

and say a prayer that isn't fair -

from little me - to God, the Mighty One.

©2018 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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If You Can Interpret 10-12-18

If there's love in you still, please read if you will

so that you can understand fully -

the wisdom of God from the Heavens to sod,

from ants to the mammoth so woolly.

Can you understand of the rock and the sand -

a foundation as in white and black?

If so, you will master the words of your pastor

and find that you're on the right track.

So don't be discouraged but be ye encouraged

if you can interpret these words.

Avoid your destruction and heed this instruction,

removing yourself from the herds.

For many will perish because they won't cherish

the grace from the Father above.

and willingly selfish, they cannot embellish

a life that is full of His love.

Deny yourself firstly before you'll be thirsty
for kinship that's second to none.

If you lend Him your ear you will certainly hear

the truth from our God's only Son.

So don't read this poem if you cannot know Him

as you will be wasting your time.

For this poem's of love of our God up above,

if you can interpret its rhyme.

©2018 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Proud To Follow 9-28-18

Some are quite embarrassed when

their pride gets in the way.

They can't defend a hero who

is still brushed off today.

So tell me, what is wrong with Him,

...a Man who healed the blind?

...a Man who healed a withered hand?

...a Man who was so kind?

I'm proud to be a follower

of He who loved so much,

of He who sacrificed for me -

whose hands I'll one day touch.

I'll hold those strong and loving hands

when I am rid of earth -

for He has given me new life

through this, my second birth.

He died so I might live again

and never more in sin.

That's right.  A new creation here.

I have been 'born again'!

So go ahead, if that's your wish -

just joke and laugh and sneer -

but I know where I'm headed now.

I'm getting out of here!

I gave my life to Jesus, all -

escaping sin's great chain.

I'm free as I could ever be.

In Him I will remain.

Though at times this world is harsh,

I sing when life is grim.

I'm thankful that He saved my soul

and proud to follow Him!

©2018 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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That Special Boy 9-22-18

This poem's for that little boy

who I met in the store;

just helping grandma groc'ry shop

as he had done before.

This poem's for that patient boy.

While we began to chat;

attentively he listened too.

I was impressed with that.

This poem's for that quiet boy -

a little hard to gauge;

polite and rev'rent standing there,

mature for his young age.

This poem's for that humble boy

who's good and never sways,

who knows what's right and knows what's wrong,

who faithfully obeys.

This poem's for that precious boy

who grandma deeply loves;

there standing by her wheelchair

who she was speaking of.

This poem's for that pauper boy

whose grandma nodded "yes" -

when offered I, a loving sum.

She smiled and said "God bless".

This poem's for that speechless boy.

I turned to walk away

before the tears flowed from my eyes.

Then I began to pray.

This poem's for that special boy

I'll never see again;

but faithfully still pray for him...

before I say "Amen".

©2018 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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It's Irrefutable! 9-16-18

I may be very quiet

and gentler than a lamb -

but I'm a rose unopened

and just a bud, I am.

So therefore, you're loved more than me

'cause I'm not beautiful.
It's so unfair, unfair to me!

It's irrefutable!

---

I may be very quiet

and gentler than a lamb.

But now you see me open.

So beautiful, I am.

It is quite fair, quite fair to me

'cause I am beautiful.

Now I am loved much more than you.
It's irrefutable!

---

I may be very quiet

and gentler than a lamb -

but now I'm old and wilted,

ugly again, I am.

It's so unfair, unfair to me
'cause I'm not beautiful.

Once more you're loved much more than me!

It's irrefutable!

---

I may be very quiet

and gentler than a lamb -

but I'm a rose that's guilty.

Repenting now, I am.

It's so unfair, unfair to God.
It's He who's beautiful!

For I'm the one who blamed my God!
It's irrefutable!

©2018 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Oh To Be A Butterfly 8-18-18

Oh to be a butterfly.

Cocoon would pave the way.

Arise, I would, from dark of death

to see the light of day.

Oh to be a butterfly -
to rise above the dead,
to spread my multi-colored wings
of orange, green, blue and red.

Oh to be a butterfly

with brilliant-colored wing,

that I would stretch and open wide -

and I could beauty bring.

Oh to be a butterfly
whose wings bring ne'er a sound.
reflecting brightly in the sun -
the prettiest around.

Oh to be a butterfly,

to float on easy breeze,

and softly drift to other fields

where flowers meet the bees.

Oh to be a butterfly

upon a little hill
and set atop a milkweed plant
where I'd be resting still.

Oh to be a butterfly,

to never worry why -

the oceans depths seem much too deep

or clouds seem much too high.

Oh to be a butterfly,
creation's grand rebirth -
inside of God's great masterpiece
and handiwork on Earth.

Oh to be a butterfly
in flight and fully free -
and then to be in peace again
at rest on Jesus' knee.

Oh to be a butterfly

emerging from cocoon,

unfolding vibrant colors bright

on Sunday afternoon.

©2018 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Walkin' On Water 8-3-18

Floatin' on water, lightning's flash!

Floatin' on water, raindrops splash.
Floatin' on water, pouring rain!
Walkin' on water?  So insane.

Floatin' on water, leave my boat?
Floatin' on water.  Will it float?
Floatin' on water, don't capsize!
Walkin' on water is unwise!

Floatin' on water here hiding.
Floatin' on water deciding.
Floatin' on water hearing voice.
Walkin' on water is a choice.

Floatin' on water in the storm.

Walkin' on water's not the norm.

Floatin' on water still in fear?

Walkin' on water, volunteer?

Floatin' on water, who succumbs?
Walkin' on water, Jesus comes!
Floatin' on water, Jesus see -
walkin' on water calming sea.

Floatin' on water, no more waves.

Walkin' on water, Jesus saves!

Floatin' on water does enslave!
Walkin' on water's not your grave!

Walkin' on water?  Can't conceive?

Walkin' on water?  Just believe!

Walkin' on water, I am too!

Walkin' on water, how 'bout you?

©2018 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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A Beautiful Rose 7-13-18

My love still continues to bloom like the rose -

for roses are lovely as everyone knows.
My heart strings keep humming like strumming guitar.
She's perfect as nature and finer by far -

than rose most exquisite, than rose without thorn,

than crisp, cooling air near a lake in the morn,

than cottony clouds floating high with great ease,

than soft meadow grasses.  She is more than these.

But memories trample as conscience awakes.

It's then I'm reminded of all my mistakes.

Regrets, I have many.  They give me great pain.

They pelt me like hail and they drive me insane.

If only the future could remake the past,
where I could relive it much diff'rent than cast -

in stone where it's buried and cannot breakout,
I'd free it most quickly and change it, no doubt.

For pain's overwhelming when past can't reverse.
From pit in my stomach, it couldn't be worse.
Though Jesus can heal all the greatest of pains -
He won't let it happen if I'm tied down with chains
in guilt-ridden prison where I can't accept
forgiveness from actions when I was inept.
Grace breaks ev'ry chain so that I can't destroy
this beautiful rose of unspeakable joy.

If God could change hist'ry, if God made it so,

I'd treat her much diff'rent and clearly would know

that God's grace is priceless and made for such love

for all still in waiting and not there above.

Because she's not with me, there isn't a cure,

so pain grows beyond all that I can endure.

I'm sorry I hurt you and this I must share -

while Heaven awaits you, you're in ev'ry prayer.

So love still continues to bloom like the rose -

for roses are lovely as everyone knows.
My heart strings keep humming like strumming guitar.
She's perfect as nature and finer by far -

than rose most exquisite, than rose without thorn,

than crisp, cooling air near a lake in the morn,

than cottony clouds floating high with great ease,

than soft meadow grasses.  She is more than these.

©2018 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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My Cheap & Paltry Skies 7-7-18

While I was thinking I was good,

in church while singing hymn -

my Lord was getting tortured so,

as they were whipping Him.

While boss was just not being fair

and I held righteous wrath -

my precious Lord lugged heavy cross

barefoot on stony path.

While I was wishing for a house

and dreaming how it'd be -

my Lord was tied and nailed tight

to hard and rugged tree.

While I stared at the deep blue sea

then wanted boat instead -

my Lord endured more agony

by thorns forced on His head.

While I had found a car for sale,

a nice and perfect ride -

my Lord cried out in gruesome pain

long hours before He died.

While in anticipated dreams,

a playoff game begins.

My Lord, though, wasn't in the game,

but took away my sins.

While I was taking selfies here

and holding high, my phone -

the people thought they buried Him

behind one heavy stone.

I'm now regretting sinful ways,

collapsing in my cries.

My Lord has paid and rose above

my cheap and paltry skies.

©2018 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Tell Me Why (2) 7-1-18

What charms my heart to butterflies?

What charms my heart to fly?

What charms my heart to loudly sing?

And can you tell me why?

What lures me to the water's edge?

What lures me to the lie?

What lures me to the ocean's depth?

And can you tell me why?

What makes a son do crazy things?

What makes a mom to die?

What makes a father distant so?

And can you tell me why?

What draws me to the pastures green?

What draws me to the sky?

What draws me to His loving arms?

And can you tell me why?

What drives my soul to worship Him?

What drives my eyes to cry?

What drives my love to do His will?

Please, can you tell me why?

What pulls my thoughts to greater thoughts?

What pulls emotions nigh?

What pulls my soul so Heavenward?

Now can you tell me why?

©2018 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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