Clouds Of Grace 10-29-16

The seconds seem to march on by

as I lay in my bed.

The still, dark room surrounds me as

life's chaos fills my head.

I sought God's great forgiveness here

and prayed His 'will' be done.

I sought His endless blessings too -

His each and every one.

Awakened in the dead of night

brings pain and misery.

Those pins and needles sting me like

a million honey bee.

There's something in my eyes that runs

right down my wrinkled cheeks.

The seconds turn to minutes and

then hours into weeks.

The weeks turn into months and years

as I lay on my bed.

I hear the ticking of the clock

as life hangs by a thread.

A thread that is so fragile and

holds every thought that comes -

and pounds into my painful ears

like noisy, marching drums.

I try to shut my eyes and sleep,

but through the pain and flack -

my tears still win the battle, though

I've tried to hold them back.

My head begins exploding with

anxiety attack,

but so as not to live regret

I yank my muscles back.

This horrid pain has hit me like

a ton or two of brick -

that brings more torture to my ears

with every single 'tick'.

I sought God's will through faithful hope

but must accept this quest -

that when my fragile thread does snap,

I find that God has blessed.

Not maybe how I thought He would -
because this world harms.
But when that fragile thread does snap -
I'll find I'm in His arms.

For Christ endured this torture too.

He knows just how I feel.

So faithfully He carries me

and brings my heart to heal.

He holds me up, takes tension off

that single fragile thread,

so I can float on clouds of grace

that quell my pain instead.

©2016 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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In Your Image 10-22-16

You made me in Your image Lord,

but I broke through the mold.

I thought my way was better so

I didn't do as told.

I lived in curiosity

when I was just a child.

I grew up wanting everything,

was selfish and was wild.

I lived in all my foolishness
and put myself in bubble.

And when I drew my idols in -

it got me into trouble.

One rainy day my bubble burst

and so I sat depressed.

Drenching wet I swallowed pride

that should have been addressed.

If I could start all over Lord,

I'd listen and obey.

And that way I would not be in

the fix I am today.
You'd make me in Your image Lord.

I wouldn't break the mold.

I'd know your way was better and

I'd do as I was told.

©2016 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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An Attitude Of Prayer 9-24-16

The sun was hot.  There was no breeze.

It seemed that nature died -

except annoying croaking frogs

that tore me up inside.

And then those pesky chirping birds

kept on and wouldn't quit!

The peace and quiet fell away.

I thought I'd have a fit.

Emotions begged for me to scream

but logic's chains were fixed.

It seemed that I was torn in two

as all the truths were mixed.

A duck was splashing water and the

crickets pierced my ears.

I even heard a car horn then

that brought me close to tears.

Enjoy the outdoors?  I could not.

The banks were on my heels!

And though I was not guilty, they

had voided my appeals.

My mind was racing to and fro.

I willed to run away -

where I could start a brand new life

where peaceful was the day.

Then wings of sev'ral hummingbirds

had winnowed that still air

which moved me ever closer to

an attitude of prayer.

They seemed to not be bothered by

the things that bothered me.

I once was blinded by this earth...

but now, at last, I'm free!

©2016 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Very Same Dreams 9-3-16

We fam'lies of leaves were hanging in trees.
Each fam'ly had dreams that were strange.
We all had our reasons for various seasons -

traditions that we wouldn't change.

Now none had predicted that we'd be conflicted

from each on our very own trees.

But roots had ambition to send us nutrition,

yet never a leaf could they please.

I also was one who was selfish with fun.

I knew it and God knew it too.

So loved He the world, a baby was curled,

in manger while chilly winds blew.

I was not above all the leaves of God's love.

No better was I than the rest.

So dropped. I to knees and prayed for all trees

and asked that all leaves would be blessed.

Yet root was the scholar, so it gave a holler

that not over it would they dwell.

The root, very tough, said he'd had enough -

and that's when the most of them fell.

Now when they sought Heaven they all were forgiven,

(at least that's what they had believed).

Yet oh, so enthralled, were the faithful God called -

but not those of them self-deceived.

Then one breezy day, winds tore us away.

We landed in faraway streams.

The next springtime rain it happened again,

when new leaves had very same dreams.

©2016 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Liberty 8-27-16

It's a slippery slope

on which there's no hope

from the peak of pure liberty.

And just one exception

brings great tribulation

that most of the masses can't see.

Just one politician

that's on twisted mission

can push us down slippery slope.

And not one Republican

or Democrat can

throw out a life-saving rope.

For once we are thrown

out there on our own

there's no one who cares- not a whit.

When they start the fights

to take away rights -

we'd better climb back and not quit.

©2016 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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In God I Trust 8-20-16

I thank you Jesus, for my birth

and all this beauty on Your earth -

for me to see.

Oh thank you Jesus, for these eyes -

though tears run down my cheeks from cries -

in thanks to thee.

I thank you Jesus, for soft song

when all the children sing along -

angelic grace.

And thank you Jesus, for these ears

as music soothes, then disappears

all I embrace.

I thank you Jesus, for my age

that's numbered here on final page

I can't oppose.

I thank you Jesus, for each breath

that You've blessed me up to my death,
as Heaven knows.

I thank you Jesus, for my life -

though others' sins that brought me strife

was so unjust.

But thank you Jesus, I'm restored

through grace and peace within You Lord.

In God I trust.

©2016 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Just Like Them 8-13-16

I was a feather floating free

with all my friends and family.

I followed them.

I learned to fly.

I learned to lie

and blow around this empty sky -

...just like them.

In wind, I did a somersault -

was told that nothing was my fault.

I followed them.

Without a care,

I learned to swear

and then accepted any dare -

...just like them.

The wind had tossed me to and fro,

first left, then right you'd see me go.

I followed them.

I learned to think.

I learned to drink,

precariously on the brink -

...just like them.

The gusty wind had taken toll.

I found myself in deep, black hole.

I followed them.

Like feather in

the wayward wind,

but learned that day that I had sinned -

...just like them.

©2016 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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From Humble Root 7-30-16

A green and fragile leaf, was she

and unimportant she would be.

She was depressed.

For she was small, not very big

attached so lightly to a twig -

so she was blessed.

A small and simple twig was he

which held the leaf that waved so free.

He too depressed.

He feared, with wind he'd be detached,

yet to a branch, he was attached -

so he was blessed.

A small, but stable branch was there

which seemed to bend but didn't care.

It too depressed.

Afraid of wind, its life was grim

and so unlike the larger limb -

yet it was blessed.

A large and stable limb it was,

but it, unhappy too because,

it was depressed.

It exercised.  It was a 'hunk'

but wasn't an enormous trunk -

yet it was blessed.

A giant of a trunk was it?

It had opinions so unfit.

It too depressed.

It stood unmoved with haughty face

there over root on its own space -

so it was blessed.

Now root was happy.  It could sing.

It fed and nourished everything -

up to the leaves.

And it was not presumptuous

when it supplied its sustenance

to all the 'least of these'.

That root was humble under sod

and faithful to creation's God -

and it would thrive.

But then wind timbered trunk and tree!

Oh, what had happened?  Could it be

the root's alive...?

...to grow another tree, no doubt.

From humble root, a humble sprout.

Do you now see?
Take care then where your faith is at
so you do not end up like that
ol' timbered tree.

©2016 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Study Notes for pastors & Bible Study groups:
The leaf, the twig, the branch, the limb and the trunk were not blessed because of what they were attached to - but rather because of the nourishment they received from the unseen root.  We are not blessed because of who or what (spouse, church, political party, elected officials, possessions, money) we are 'attached' to but rather we are blessed because of our Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done for us.  If our faith is in man or things, then one day we find ourselves on that ol' timbered tree.

ALL Children 7-23-16

Please help the little children Lord.

Bless each and ev'ry one.

Protect them from a world of hate,

from anger, sin and gun.

Resentment boils up from hell

and terrorizes earth

as wars break out like wildfires,

around another birth.

We clamor for position Lord,

we care for our own thirst.

We focus on our status, but

our blessings have been cursed.

You once had blessed America.
when we had trusted You.
But we have failed the "least of these"
and we all know it's true.

Please strip away our selfish pride

and fill us up with love -

and let us prove our charity

that we keep speaking of.

Why do we think that our kids are
much better than the rest?

ALL children are from You dear Lord -
the poor, the weak, oppressed.

Please help the little children Lord.

Bless each and ev'ry one.

Protect them from a world of hate,

from anger, sin and gun.

©2016 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Mom's Pumpkin Pie! 7-22-16

When I was just a little lad,

I came inside from play.

Aroma met my little nose

on many, many day.

Oh my my!

Mom's pumpkin pie!

I rushed right to the kitchen and

the oven I had spied.

but it- completely empty.

I didn't quite know why.

Oh my my!

Mom's pumpkin pie!

The table top was all cleared off.

The window sill was too.

My hunger pangs were 'killing' me.

Oh, what was I to do?

Oh my my!

Mom's pumpkin pie!

It wasn't in the oven and

the counter top was bare.

With refrigerator empty,

it wasn't anywhere!.

Oh my my!

Mom's pumpkin pie!

"Hey!  Where's my pumpkin pie?" I yelled!

But there was ne'er a sound.

I yelled again.  The echo waned.

There was no one around.

Oh my my!

Mom's pumpkin pie!

Could it be at the neighbor's house?

Would mama have gone there?

What if my pie was just for them?

Oh no, she wouldn't dare!

Oh my my!

Mom's pumpkin pie!

I ran off to the neighbor's house.

I pounded on the door.

And then when they had opened it,

my jaw dropped to the floor.

Oh my my!

Mom's pumpkin pie!

And there it was- on table top -

as plain as 'one' could see.

Would she have given it to them?

Oh no!  It couldn't be.

Oh my my!

Mom's pumpkin pie!

I must have given hint away.

They must have seen a clue.

They then invited me to sit

so I could have some too!

Oh my my!

Mom's pumpkin pie!

But where was mom and where was dad?

Did they go to the store?

No.  They were in the pumpkin patch

so I could have some more!

Oh my my!

Mom's pumpkin pie!

©2016 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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