Vacation 6-1-22

I'm going on vacation soon, alone or so it seems.

I won't do any packing or going to extremes.

I will not need my wallet, for everything is free.

And I won't need my brand new phone, for there's so much to see.

I will not take a big jet plane or ride a fancy bus,

yet I'll be meeting my best Friend. There's so much to discuss.

And all will meet Him one fine day - not many, but a few.

I will not keep you in suspense, for you should know Him too.

---

Now first I'll need to be in court.  It's all or nothing there.

My Friend will be there for me too.  I'll not be in despair.

His Father is the highest judge of anyone around.

And quietly, I will stand there, in awe without a sound.

My Friend is there to defend me.  My faith in Him is strong.

He sacrificed His everything.  His grace blots out all wrong.

For those, through faith, believeth Him, His grace pours from above.

The Judge will tap His gavel soft.  His countenance shows love.

AND THEN all Heaven will rejoice, in unison will sing-

as I enjoy this paradise, vast love and ev'rything.

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Though body soon will turn to dust as earth can clearly see,

don't shed a single tear for me.  I'm alive as I can be!

The masses run through widest gate.  The narrow allows few.

So many store up treasures here.  Is gate too small for you?

Possessions are not needed there- and yours won't leave this earth.

For God prepared a place for us alone with immense worth.

You, too, will see this paradise, at least I pray you do...

Yes, I'll be on vacation soon and I'll wait there for you.

©2022 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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A Winning Poem 5-1-22

Sometimes my poem's a winner

but often times it's not.

And yet I spend a lot of time

to give it all I've got.

But one thing I will never do

because it's oh, so true.

I will not thank my hand because

God's hand is in it too.

No, never take the praise because

you write for God alone.

Take all your selfishness and pride

and clear your ev'ry bone.

Before you write, please thank the Lord.

Convey a sincere prayer,

that you will do your very best

and write with utmost care.

When you give God the glory first,
from the start to finish,

you'll receive His blessings so your

work will not diminish.

For we're around a world of sin

while He is up above.

So give Him full and total praise

and show Him all your love.

Use a thesaurus if you must

when you can't find the words.

Make your poem flow off tongues

with all your nouns and verbs.

Then go right back and pray again.

The poem's His, not yours.

And work it over perfectly

so poem long endures.

©2022 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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But Should Have Been 4-2-22

They slept and slept with weary eyes

while Jesus prayed with teary eyes.
He prayed in earnest while they slept,

but answered faithful. He'd accept.

It wasn't me.

The night was looking mighty grim.

Then came, they, and arrested Him.

The charge was simple: blasphemy.

He didn't plead nor disagree.

It wasn't me.

And this is how the story goes:

They stripped Him of His humble clothes.

With bone-tipped violence He was whipped

and ev'ry time His skin was ripped.

It wasn't me.

It wasn't something He could toss.

He dropped that very heavy cross.

None could stop them, stop them now

as sweat poured off His heavy brow.

It wasn't me.

They mocked Him with a crown of thorns.

The hate, the words, the sword, the scorns.

It's hard to fathom these details,

then sore, He bore barbaric nails.

It wasn't me.

His sacrifice was perfect love

both here on earth and Heav'n above.

It could have been a total loss

but Christ, Himself, endured that cross.

It wasn't me.

God's solemn will would then prevail,

and tore from top to bottom, veil.

Yes, Christ was hung for my sins then.

It wasn't me... but should have been.

©2022 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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He Too Was In-between 3-1-22

It isn't seen

when you're between

a hard place and a rock.

May be unfair.

Who put you there?

The time goes slow, tick tock.

Though you may shout

there's no way out.
It overwhelms the mind.

Yet on your own

it can't be known,

so answer, you must find.

Did you eclipse

relationships?

Or could it be your debt?

Was it your fault

or some assault?

You wish you could forget.

But here you are -

can't travel far -

for blocking you are sins.

If you stay here

in all your fear,

please tell me now, who wins?

So to escape

you must reshape

your mind.  Don't think it odd.

Won't help to fuss,

it's up to us

to call upon our God.

The answer's still

upon the hill

at our Lord's final task.

The answer's clear,

the answer's near,

if only we would ask.

God never fails.

Christ bore the nails.

Did Jesus intervene?

Because of grace

He took our place.

He, too, was in-between.

It takes a toll

on your poor soul

if you're too proud to pray.

So fold your hands

and understand

there comes a brighter day.

©2022 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Bright Twilight Summers 2-16-22

Betty is sad because friends will all tease her.

Jimmy is mad at his new 4th grade teacher.

Joseph is crying.  His allowance is paltry.

Ruth screams loud because her corn is too salty.

Mary's self centered, says her penniless spouse.

And David is sick of repairing his house.

John still simply envies his neighbor's new car

as Suzie complains that the store is too far.

But Katie has joy despite her bone cancer.

How she loves Jesus who holds ev'ry answer.

God hears those complaining when things don't go right,

but He loves His children content in their fight.

Whatever the challenge, whatever the test,

remember that Jesus knows hardships the best.

So many see crosses on ev'ry small thing...

and they miss the best of what life has to bring.

And don't get wrapped up in the drama of others,

Live God's warm colors of bright twilight summers.

©2022 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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That Old Deep Well 2-1-22

That old deep well

could not repel

the thoughts that came to mind.

It had a job.

I did not sob

but sought what I might find.

I could not run

in this hot sun

and had a healthy thirst.

I can't deny

my mouth was dry

so I put myself first.

I stepped on plank,

turned hard the crank,

but it seemed to refuse.

It didn't care

that life's not fair

but I'm not one to lose.

So I had hope

in that old rope

to lift that bucket full.

With all my might

I grabbed rope tight

and then commenced to pull.

To fill tin cup,

the rope wound up.

around that rustic log.

On weathered board

I questioned Lord.

Then barked, my lazy dog.

Sometimes I think

to get a drink

that I must- on my own-

work very hard

with disregard

for what I should have known.

Now I might think

refreshing drink

should cure my ev'ry ill,

but it does not

though God forgot

those sins that hurt me still.

Did woman at

the well react

to her specific need?

To sin no more,

I think it's for

the rest of us to heed.

God does forgive

the way we live

like woman at the well:

But she had grasped

what Jesus asked,

so others she could tell.

My old tin cup
can't measure up

to God's tremendous flood.

We'll never thirst

when God is first,

for Christ had spilled His blood.

Our water chills.

God's water fills

displacing all our strife.

We must begin

to offer Him

our dedicated life.

©2022 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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John 4:7-14

The Woman of Samaria

7 A woman of Samaria *came to draw water. Jesus *said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away to the city to buy food. 9 So the Samaritan woman *said to Him, “How is it that You, though You are a Jew, are asking me for a drink, though I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus replied to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11 She *said to Him, “[c]Sir, You have no bucket and the well is deep; where then do You get this living water? 12 You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well and drank of it himself, and his sons and his cattle?” 13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.”

Should Time Be Up 1-1-22

I bow my head and fold my hands.

My faithful Father understands

the depths of my great sorrows.

With my heart's cord

I beg the Lord

to fix all my tomorrows.

He knows it's bad.

His heart is sad.

All Heaven mourns for me.

But if God's will

is that I'm ill,

then it was meant to be.

Some do attest

God takes the best

away from evil earth.

But problem's this:

that I will miss

my child's tremendous worth.

We all will die

and so I cry,

but through storms, I still bow.

Should time be up,

Lord, take my cup.

in peace, for You know how.

You've let me stay

another day

to spend with my dear child.

And that is why

now tears are dry.

Through blessings - I have smiled.

But if Your will

should take me still

then I will gladly go;

no more to roam,

I'll be at home

with You, who loves me so.

©2022 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Christmas Program 12-21-21

The Christmas Program show begins

with children singing Christmas hymns

below the shining star.

From 1 year old's to upper teens,

they bring alive those Christmas scenes.

How cute those children are!

---

Memorized lines,

each face still shines.

The donkey even smiled.

It's good to know

those children show

a love for manger child.

They had such fun.

Program was done.

And so, was time to go.

Through many years,

through many fears,

I watched those children grow.

Through God above

I show my love.

I've little else to give.

They grow so fast

and hugs are past.

They have their lives to live.

My prayers are such,

they are worth much,

much more than earthly things.

For lost, a shame

each day's the same...

Joy is what Christmas brings.

Those memories,

they come to please.
Such love has grown for years.
Then much more love
pours from above
that brings me to my tears.

Though great or small,

forgiveness all,

God's gift, forever gives.

Love's in my eye.

For kids, I cry.

Yet Christmas Program lives.

©2021 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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The Smallest Ornament 12-16-21

I'm just a little ornament here hanging on the tree.

They put me in the very back and I can hardly see.

The wall is here right next to me and I don't have a view.

My paint has faded quite a bit and some has flaked off too.

So no, I'm not the prettiest, nor biggest one on here.

This big ol' tree does not need me and my last days are near.

This just might be the last time you will see my faded shine.

I'm just too old to show to you my obsolete design.

For days and weeks I'm stuck back here. The time goes by so slow.

I wish I was quite different - to have something to show.

I also have a crack or two but they are very small.

I wish I was the wiser so that I could hang, not fall.

My confidence would come back strong and courage would be mine!

I'd show them I could be the best. I'd show this big ol' pine!

But reflection in another ornament, I could see.

I saw my true unvarnished face and it was really me..

Decided I, to give all up. For it was time to quit.

My pity-party started as I childishly had a fit.

Just then I heard a tender voice. A child, I'm sure because,

the voice was of an angel. A girl of nine, she was.

She carefully had took me down and placed me in her hand.

At first, I was quite fearful but soon, I'd understand.

She set me on a table and she glued each little crack.

And then she took such special care to clean me front to back.

She painted me with special paints that made the glitter shine.

She made me look like I was new with such a grand design.

And then she placed me on the tree- but not next to the wall.

She placed me right in front where I could greet you, one and all. 

I felt like I had life anew and it sure gave me joy!

I smiled each time they looked at me- ev'ry girl and boy.

That little girl had loved me so and her, I can't repay.

Now too, I have that special love to show in ev'ry way.

Yes, Jesus does for you just what the girl had done for me.

He cleans you up, forgives your sins and makes you wholly free.

The next time you walk past a lovely, big ol' Christmas tree,

look for the smallest ornament ...and you might find it's me.

©2021 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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1 Corinthians 13:13

"But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

This Fragile Snowflake 12-15-21

"Ouch!" had screamed this fragile snowflake, on sad and frightful day.

I wanted so, to cry sad tears, but knew I'd melt away.

So stayed, I did, pressed right between some others who were crushed

under heel of rubber boot that stomped through snow's upper crust.

Complaining started one by one among this doom and gloom.

Complaints crescendoed even more, "Move over!  Give me room!"

But prayed I did so quietly ignoring all who screamed.

Then anger overtook them all, I prayed for days, it seemed.

I knew that rubber boot had started this whole wickedness,

but also knew that we, now one, began to coalesce.

They then supported one another, each and everyone,

but I, a loner, kept my place until they all were done.

We froze together into one thick block of solid ice.

But then the snow around us now was not so very nice.

They scoffed and laughed and scoffed and laughed at all us frozen here,

laughed and pointed fingers at- and then would cruelly sneer.

Harassment, we call it.  Certainly, harassment it was.

However, this snowflake ignored it.  And maybe just because

my Savior lived through suffering- and so much more than this.

So I enjoyed His sunshine, His radiance and the bliss.

The day had turned to nighttime, then nighttime again to day

and this is what then happened- happened this ironic way.

The sun got hotter- and while melting the defenseless snow,

we were iced tightly together and weathered it so slow.

Now we, iced together, were pointing and laughing at them!

And all we would do was to angerly judge and condemn.

But I didn't bother.  I simply prayed and prayed and prayed,

that we would soon learn forgiveness, just as Jesus displayed.

Did God send that wicked boot- to ice us all together

so we would not succumb to the sun's bright, warmer weather?

Most snowflakes don't know of God's blessings.  They don't have a clue.

But this fragile snowflake sees His greatest gift.  I sure do.

©2021 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Luke 23:34

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do..."

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This fragile snowflake will soon be gone,

but we all knew this all along.

There's a time to live and a time to die.

It's in God's plan and He knows why.

So pray that God's Will, will be done,

from night to night and sun to sun.

Enjoy each day that God has giv'n

until we meet again in Heav'n.

~louis gander ©2021