Picnic 7-3-10

Under a large and shady oak
and over the clover green,
spread on a soft and checkered sheet
of red and white was seen -
carrots and beans and corn on the cob,
melons, sandwiches, pink lemonade -
wrapped so in nature and beauty around,
I closed tight my eyes, and simply prayed -

"Your sunshine brings warmth
on these countryside hills,
relaxes my muscles
and takes away chills.
I don't have each 'want'
but I have every 'need -
so thank you for every
miraculous seed.
Seeds that are tiny,
so simple and crude -
yet live by a faith
that provides all this food -
food from the bushes,
the fields, the hive -
so thank You for seeds
that keep me alive."

Nature seemed lighter,
more vivid and bright -
when I opened my eyes
and thought,
"God is alright."

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Matthew 6:11 (KJV)
"Give us this day our daily bread..."

Classmates 6-20-10

Oh, those times that I recall
so many years ago,
I remember many things
within the sunsets glow...

Oh, the places I recall
so many years ago -
the teachers and the classrooms,
our desks made up each row.

Oh, the voices I recall
so many years ago -
I can hear those words again
each time spring waters flow.

Oh, the faces I recall
so many years ago -
I can see those friends again
within the sunlights glow.

Oh, the friendships I recall
so many years ago.
I remember friendships' bloom
and saw the flowers grow.

Oh, those hopes from yester-year
and through my heartfelt cheer -
In my eye that cries each tear,
from classmates I held dear.

Oh, the classmates I recall -
the time runs quick and sure.
Tears flow freely from my eyes -
as memories still stir.

Oh, those times that I recall
so many years ago,
I remember this and more
within the sunsets glow...

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

How Little Love 6-19-10

Goodnight my Christian brother.
Please say a little prayer.
Another child molested,
while we live unaware.

Goodnight my Christian brother.
Please say a little prayer.
Abused and battered mothers -
but leave - they wouldn't dare.

Goodnight my Christian brother.
Please say a little prayer.
A mother and her daughter -
now homeless, in despair.

Goodnight my Christian brother.
Please say a little prayer.
They've no place with little food
and nothing much to wear.

Goodnight my Christian brother.
Please say a little prayer.
Then a fellow takes them in -
another plight they share.

Goodnight my Christian brother.
Please say a little prayer.
Tell yourself that they're okay -
it's not so bad out there.

Goodnight my Christian brother.
Please say a little prayer.
Go about your business and
convince yourself it's rare.

Goodnight my Christian brother.
Please say a little prayer.
Faithful always, our routine
with comfort in the air.

Goodnight my Christian brother.
Please say a little prayer.
It doesn't really matter.
It's happening elsewhere.

Goodnight my Christian brother.
Please say a little prayer.
We'd rather do the talking
from our most favorite chair.

Goodnight my Christian brother.
Please say a little prayer.
Pray a few more minutes and
convince your God you care.

Goodnight my Christian brother.
Please say a little prayer.
Tell God about your troubles -
then see if He's unfair.

Goodnight my Christian brother.
Please say a little prayer.
'Common folk' to billionaire,
how little love we share.

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Matthew 25 (NASB)

42 '...for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat;
I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;
43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in;
naked, and you did not clothe Me;
sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'

The Miracle 6-17-10

My heart is very special,
and though it weighs a ton,
I'm careful as it's fragile -
for I have only one.

Though God is love and offers me
the great life I can live -
I first must ask forgiveness
before He will forgive.

However, if I'm hardened
and fail at all to feel -
certainly my tears won't fall
and bring my heart to heal.

So if my heart is harder,
I'll find I cannot cry.
But oh, to shed a single tear -
I'll give it one more try.

I won't despair and cry a lot -
it isn't God's intent,
but if guilt still has season here,
I'll prayerfully repent.

And then perhaps, if flood gates fall,
and tears like rivers flow -
through the valley, shadow's death,
in humbleness, I'll grow.

Jesus loves me, this I know -
throughout these many years -
and on the cross He proved it so -
through all His many tears.

And if my heart I give Him,
while I am torn apart -
He will cup His holy hands
and hold my broken heart.

Peace will grow inside me
as angels soar aloft -
but I won't see the miracle
unless my heart is soft.

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Mark 6:5 (NASB) And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

A Greater Love 6-2-10

The stars shine brightly, they are there,
above the stormy skies.
They softly glow with greater love
than clouds from hate and lies.

When torment grips my soul and me
with sin from cities' crowds -
there softly glows this greater love
above the stormy clouds.

And though we cannot always see
those stars that shine above -
the clouds that sometimes frighten us
can't stop agape love.

Crowds' boastful, selfish ways abound.
Their futile acts bring grief.
They send out storms that fill the sky
without the true belief....

They try to cover up the truth,
they think we cannot see -
but faith surpasses every storm
for God will always be.

When faith finds favor over fray,
to truth that shines above -
and miracles shine through a bit,
it proves our Savior's love.

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

John 15:13
"Greater love has no one than this,
that one lay down his life for his friends."

Every Great Decision 6-7-10

Every tough decision is always hard to make -
and consequences don't precede the actions that we take.
If consequences had a voice in wisdom's veto power -
decisions would be much improved with every passing hour.
The very best decisions are absent or are rare -
but every great decision is, preceded first in prayer.

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Matthew 6:6 (KJV)

"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

The Least Of These 5-23-10

Well, have I made a difference
or held to some indifference -
for children still in need?

And tell me who I comfort
with many in discomfort -
and who have I to lead?

And what's my information
or worse, misinformation -
when only words I plead?

Or do I have a passion
for these, a great compassion -
and does my soul bleed?

So tell me, what's my mission
this one and great commission -
whose actions of mine seed?

And is there rich nutrition
or is there malnutrition -
and will my harvest feed?

And what is God's solution
to my new resolution -
and will His Word I heed?

And if correct decision
can trump my indecision -
He'll harvest souls indeed!

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Matthew 25:40 (KJV)
And the King shall answer and say unto them,
Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto me.

With Greatest Joy 5-22-10

Through my glasses,
through the blinds,
I see life
of every kind.
I see dogs,
a squirrel too,
see some trees,
but flowers few.

Through His grace,
when I so blind,
God saw me -
and knew my mind -
gave His Word
and gave His truths,
gave His Son,
so I could choose.

Choose a life
that few have seen -
few have known,
yet so serene.
A life for all,
each girl and boy -
a life of love
with greatest joy.

So baptize body,
head to feet.

Live a life
that's true, complete.
Complete with faith
in God's own Son,
complete in peace -
forever 'one'.

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

John 14 (KJV)

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also:
and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Complete 5-5-10

How can I live without Jesus?
What can I learn with lies?
Can I believe the unbridled facts -
with wool pulled over my eyes?

Empty my ways without the truth,
as death draws near below sod.
Lonely the ways without my Lord -
and futile, days without God.

My life is nailed tight to the truth.
My cup overfills the brim.
Jesus, my firm and faithful rock.
My life is complete in Him.

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Jeremiah 48:30
"I know his fury," declares the LORD,
"But it is futile;
His idle boasts have accomplished nothing.

Every Swaying Palm 4-24-10

There's a dim red sky this morning
so will we heed the warning
while breezes start to blow?
Or do our big decisions
with various delusions
deceive us as we go?

The palm will never warn us -
as it can only focus
on current trends instead.
Just watch the dancing leaves
and see what man believes
despite what lies ahead.

The truth, so soon surpasses
the numbers of the masses
as storms will surely come.
God will hit with greater wrath
while pelting every evil path
until we all succumb.

Can we agree, can we concur -
except for greed, so popular -
while it's serene and calm?
There's always something we can miss
for ignorance is always bliss -
with every swaying palm.

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Rev. 22:12 (NASB)

"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me,

to render to every man according to what he has done."