In Our Uncertain World 09-09-14

So blessed we are to live a life apart from evil gun -

where worshiping and liberty are free for everyone.

Please don't be so uncaring here with all our ease and fun -

and give in love abundantly - for we have much.  Them?  None.

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Am I too poor to pray to God?  Too young to ask for aid?

I feel a bit inadequate and I was so afraid.

My story's not exciting but, here are the cruel facts:

Deny our true and living God or pay their heavy tax.

Their's isn't a religion - but a twisted, evil cult.

And most don't understand it all, so hence here's the result:

We now live in a little tent not far from evil guns.

Uprooted from our home, we were - and lost all our possessions.

My parents cry and pray a lot.  My brothers, sister too -

but evil sin is powerful, so what are we to do?

I'm certain you are thankful that you're not a refugee.

I'm living with my parents here because I am Iraqi.

I walk around our little tent on dry and sandy sod

and wonder when we'll all be saved by our almighty God.

I'm not quite sure how many weeks or months we can survive

but I have faith and thank my God that we are still alive.

There isn't any grocery store to buy some food and drink.

Oh, why have we been banished here?  My hunger makes me think.

And though our hunger hurts us so, we still have many fears.

Will we be safe another night protected by our tears?

Our God could strike the enemies of love, respect and hope.

With prayer, our only weapon, we survive and learn to cope.

We thank those nations everywhere who have their flags unfurled

in charity for all of us in this uncertain world.

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So blessed we are to live a life apart from evil gun -

where worshiping and liberty are free for everyone.

Please don't be so uncaring here with all our ease and fun -

and give in love abundantly - for we have much.  Them?  None.

©2014 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Apple Butter 9-7-14

So many things just disappeared

forever with my mother.

Mom's apple butter's almost gone

and there won't be another.

But I can taste it.  Sure, I can!
It's not like any other.
Except for grandma, no one made it
quite as good as mother.

But now a silence fills her room.

Oh, how can I rejoice -

with not a hymn to listen to

nor her familiar voice?

All gone, her clothes and furniture.

No fragrance greets my nose.

No flower pots or nature's bloom.

At last, her door I close.

I close it on so many things

I'll never again see.

And apple butter, now all gone,

is just a memory...
So I sit back and close my eyes
here in my fav'rite chair -
where I can see her making more,
more apple butter there...

©2014 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Meant To Be (song lyrics) 8-26-14

(lyrics set to Hymn To Hope)

Selfish, was I?

I want-ed my own way.

and wanted it - to stay, that, way,

so I could life - enjoy...

But then the skies - poured - down -

and threw me to - the, mud-dy, ground

so then I tried - to run and hide

where I could not be - found.

Again - the skies - poured - down

and threw me to the muddy ground

so there, I - stayed, and prayed  

where sin could not - destroy. 

--- (short interlude / change of key)

Selfish?

I tried to close my eyes.

No matter how I tried and tried,

I couldn't hold my cries...

Selfish, was I?  Oh, why -

I shut, so tight, my wear-y - eyes.

No matter how I tried - and tried

I could-n't - hold my cries.

The tears - poured out - of - me

My life was blurred.  I could-n't see

the words my mother spoke -

that pain was meant to be.

The tears poured out - of - me.

My heart was blurred.  I could-n't see -

the cross where Jesus died -

(fade) that love was meant to - be...

(continue fade) ...that love was meant to be...

©2014 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Two Special Plaques 8-24-14

(A true story as told to me by my Aunt Luella at North Clayton, WI

until they (my mom, aunts and uncles) moved from the house on 3-1-1937)

The wind blew high, our barnyard dirt,

so cleaning was a must -

but after chores and after we

were cleaned of country dust.

Our farm house was quite simple and

our painted walls were bare -

except for those two special plaques

I still remember there.

The Ten Commandments took its place
above the other one.
It hung on wall with window and
it shared the setting sun.
I thought about their meanings each,
the words and every line -
and read and reread many times -
up through the age of nine.
Though we had moved, those words sunk in
I saw there on the wall,
with no TV or radio,
I'd memorized them all.

The second plaque, just seven words.

No picture or a frame.

But I remember to this day,

its message still the same.

It hung below the other there

and it, I too, still see.

Embossed down deep within my soul

its words still follow me.

Oh, "not My will but Thine be done."

So powerful the thought -

if Christ could give His very life

then I'd do what I ought.

I often looked at those two plaques.

What else was there to do?

I'm pleased to have remembered them

to share them now with you.

Our farm house was quite simple and

our painted walls were bare -

except for those two special plaques

I still remember there.

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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New Life Begins 8-21-14

Among bright bloom,

among good friends,

among our thoughts,

new life begins...

...begins with hope,

...begins with Thee,

...begins with grace,

eternally.

From breath of birth to end of day,

Come, Jesus, come -

and come what may.

The sun moves quickly through the sky.

Come, Jesus, come -

for we know why.

As brightness dims and all seems lost -

Come, Jesus, Come -

two timbers crossed.

It dims, the more and death we face.

Come, Jesus, Come -

You offer grace.

Repentance peaks as darkness looms.

Come, Jesus, Come -

Forgiveness blooms.

The sun surrenders to the west.

Come, Jesus, Come -

when laid to rest.

But Heaven calls bright morning sun-

Come, Jesus, Come -

to live as one.

Among bright bloom,

among good friends,

among our thoughts,

new life begins...

...begins with hope,

...begins with Thee,

...begins with grace,

eternally.

©2014 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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