"I want to thank all those who come from around the world and read the poetry that God has inspired me with to make the world a more pleasant and peaceful place. This site shall always be totally free for everyone with no tracking, pop-up ads & videos or other distractions." ~louis gander

May 30, 2006

It's all up to Him 5-30-06

.
In all I had eyed, and all I had tried –
and all I had done;
in following herds, relying on words –
I couldn't have won.

For I was fleeing, with all my being –
but I was jailed.
All words I had said - were empty instead –
as He was nailed.

He gave it all up, His one only cup –
He surrendered all.
Then came the rejoice - In His still, small voice,
as I heard His call.

From way up above, in all of His Love,
free grace was given;
and now for my prize, through faith I can rise,
as He had risen.

He faithfully feeds, my wants and my needs,
indeed, everything;
to Him I now call, for He is my all,
and to Him I cling.

When burdens break in, I'll put on a grin –
and I'll sing a hymn!
I know not quite how... but He has them now.
It's all up to Him.

©2006 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ganderpoems.org

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May 18, 2006

The Master's Key 5-18-06


Have you ever lost a key and couldn't find it anywhere?
Or ever had that special one and held it in your care?

Some are bright and shiny working fancy doors in town.
But it doesn't matter how they look as long as they are found.

Some keys will open just one door but some can open many.
Others open big, old doors, but some won't work on any.

Some we use most every day. Some stay on the wall.
Every key will have its task - but only one can open all.

Who holds the key to earth and space and hangs it all in perfect place?
Who sends it off in balanced pace and began the human race?

Who controls the wind and sea, the largest beast, the smallest flea?
Who grants to us our humble plea - through answered prayer - who could it be?

What's in your heart, you will hold dear - whether cars or sports or rancid beer;
Some special times might bring a tear, but if God's there He'll hold you near.

So if your heart is way too small - with no room for even two;
Then it's time for thorough cleaning because your heart is full of you.

Evil lurks in all dark shadows – behind doors falling apart.
There are so many keys in life – but only One can heal your heart.

It doesn't matter who, what - when, why, or how.
The Master's Key will fit and fix the mess you're in right now.

©2006 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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May 17, 2006

The Truest Love 5-17-06


The morning breaks, a cry is heard;
My mother cries in anguish word.

I take a breath and wiggle some.
I have a life and want some fun.

The presents came that afternoon;
I even got a silver spoon.

In younger years, I got my way;
And even taught my dog to 'stay'.

And through my youth, I looked at me;
Where I'd go and what I'd be.

I grew up knowing everything;
-From subs and jets, and all between.

Then it hit - one autumn day;
I saw a farmer bailing hay.

Life was just an ugly chore;
-From getting more and more and more.

The sun now setting in the west;
I know I failed my life's big test.

But just before the sun went down;
I looked around my little town.

I pushed it all away from me;
And for the first time felt so free!

When my day is past, I'll see the moon;
So take it now, your silver spoon.

You do with it - what ‘ere you will;
But as for me, I've had my fill.

There's more to life - just look above;
And get to know the Truest Love.

©2006 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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A Very Good Person 5-17-06

.
I should say you're a very good person,
Your countenance proves you are real;
But under that mask of a smile,
I'm really not sure you can feel.

I should say you're a very good person,
For you give to the sick and the poor;
Though you think of yourself very highly,
I'm sure without debt you'd give more.

I should say you're a very good person,
Your love and compassion are vast;
You are your most favorite of persons,
While you put all the rest of us last.

I should say you're a very good person,
On Sundays I see you in church;
If I don't really think that you're perfect,
I'll continue more years of research.

I should say you're a very good person,
Your intelligence makes you a whiz;
So I won't tell you all about Jesus,
Because you know all that there is.

I should say you're a very good person,
There's nothing that you can do wrong;
And if I could read all about you,
I know that the book would be long.

I should say you're a very good person,
But it'd probably all go to your head;
So I'll just say good bye for the moment,
But think "and good riddance" instead.

©2009 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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May 15, 2006

Separation of church and state 5-15-06


There IS separation of church and state,
And you'll never hear me recriminate.
Never before have I heard such a jeer,
And heard it so often - year after year.

Change every rule, and rule every change.
Then change every fool so that they become strange.
Scream bloody murder, and see if I care,
Then sue everyone, with all the hot air.

For only One Truth - can be absolute,
And everything else falls pointlessly mute.
You can have the vast killing galore,
-By pulling our God from each school door.

For if you make legal, murder and lies,
We’ll all be innocent - in even your eyes.
So open you may, your Pandora’s box,
But beware when it comes to your door and knocks.

Have you not read the 10 Commandments?
Or even know what it all represents?
It's not from a sect, a synagogue, or church,
So get with it now and do your research.

God never says to lust, murder, or steal,
But to love everyone and help them to heal.
Keep separate the church - for there's no debate,
But you can't separate our God from our state.

©2006 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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May 14, 2006

Only One Journey 5-14-06



I walked through the valley of the shadow of death.
I turned each direction. The sight took my breath.
The way through that valley was ever so wide,
and sin was so rampant that many had died.

Lust, lies and deception, like grains of the sand,
the bodies and souls - they covered the land.
Stepped over, I did - strewn here and there,
for they were all lost, in death, unaware.

It seemed so atrocious. I felt so inept -
but I journeyed along as I carefully stepped.
So many had fallen far short of their goals,
and the valley was covered with forgotten souls.

Now so many limbs and bodies were crossed,
that each proved our sin has a very high cost.
In every direction, I trembled in fear,
yet some tracks pressed on, so vividly clear.

So many had prospered, so many were great,
but they had all worked to a merciless fate.
I stepped over more - the young and the old.
Each day some would fall and then would turn cold.

It seemed, was no end - as a fight in a sewer -
then noticed the footprints, were fewer and fewer.
I pressed on ahead through trials and all,
I fought the good fight and then heard His last call.

The footprints had dwindled to just a small few.
Then leaving the valley, there were only two.
Now one set of footprints went straight on ahead,
while the other one stopped, and turned back instead.

But through the dim darkness, a light I could see.
It fell as a halo - then covered me...
My armor still glimmered as if still brand new,
despite all the work that He asked me to do.

There up from the valley and over the crest,
I saw that old cross and knew I was blessed.
Some friends greeted me. There were but a few.
Then I laid down my cross, as they had done too.

We're living here now, above valley and loss -
for we wore our armor and looked to the cross.
It's easy to know now, how we gathered here,
despite those one set of footprints, it's clear.

When He is in us, we are more than a sparrow -
we walk in His sandals, the straight and the narrow.
You have but one journey. He guides your steps now.
He'll show you the way and - He will show you how.

He knows that the valley of death will bring pain.
It'll run you in circles and drive you insane.
But wear your whole armor. Endure to the end -
for He is your Savior, Defender and Friend.

©2006 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Psalm 23:4 (KJV)
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

April 13, 2006

The TRUTH 4-13-06


What's a simple, solid truth?
Is it something not so real,
because it doesn't fit our wishes -
just isn't how we feel?

If it's something in the past,
not necessarily cast in stone -
then we all can make it live
and say Columbus came alone...

If it's only what we want
and the truth is but a quiz -
then wars will be increasing
as we lack what truly is....

Truth eludes the greatest men
to them that know their goal -
if it isn't what they wanted,
they will take another poll.

And if, indeed, truth changes -
then black is same as whites;
and we'd toss and turn for hours
with shallow, sleepless nights.

"Two wrongs don't make a right"
it was said so long ago.
And truth will hurt a whole lot more
when we say it isn't so.

The truth is very special.
It's not for us to claim -
so don't strut around parading
letting others take the blame.

The truth is very simple
but we must be on guard -
and as much as we can want it,
thirty inches makes no yard.

The truth is all but buried
in this world of selfish woe -
so is money our new friend
as our friends become our foe?

Now let me summarize this all.
The truth shall never die.
Its there to be discovered
and will surface by and by.

To be honest with ourselves,
the whole world must confess -
truth is truth and that is all,
nothing more and nothing less.

©2006 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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March 25, 2006

Voices from God 3-25-06


It was a quiet Sunday morning, I was not the least bit lost;
But I heard some children singing, that had warmed the morning frost.

I was just around the corner, just behind some oak and birch,
When I heard those children sing out from that little country Church.

It stood between the grocers, and a little barbershop;
As its steeple rose above it all, ascending there on top.

Its cross was seen for miles, from around the countryside,
And the evidence of its power was witnessed there inside.

All the children's voices rang - with sincere, persistent calls,
As they carried through the valley - from behind those painted walls,

As I came a little closer, I could see above the dew,
Some pedestrians had stopped, as they listened to them too.

I had thought that I was busy. My schedule was quite full;
But I didn't dare to walk on by, as I sensed a tender pull.

I heard the soft, sweet whisper when the bells began to ring.
Right there inside those cedar doors, I found the Lord, my King.

©2006 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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March 13, 2006

Move Your Mountain 3-13-06


The youth seem to covet the future,
old women reside in the past;
the rest of us, merely foolish,
-for running through life so fast.

If our heart is into tomorrow,
or mind is stuck in a braid;
the page that is holding today,
is blank or surely will fade.

Youth hurriedly flips all the pages,
her mother stores volumes of books...
It's no wonder we wind up so empty,
-with tired and sorry old looks.

The chapter of greed we must close,
so surrender, it can't win the fight;
we're to write on God's great creation,
as a stream reflecting His light.

The big world is round for a reason,
we know that there isn't an end...
The Heavens do not have a ceiling,
and there's nothing on earth to defend.

So carry your burdensome mountain,
a little bit farther, I'd say;
for you will not move tomorrow,
-the little you've moved it today.

Yet within a small, tiny seed,
in potential to greatly outweigh;
and if planted deep down inside us,
faith will lighten the way.

Tomorrow is just for your planning,
as yesterday's over and gone...
so write as a stream very faithful;
-beginning in prayers before dawn.

Today’s page was given to you.
Don't simply write down your dream;
but rather through reams of endless faith,
move your mountain with your stream.

©2006 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Matthew 17:20 And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

February 16, 2006

TRUTH 2-16-06


What is truth, what is a lie?
Well truth is one, but lies pile high.
They pile up without a base,
and topple o'er without a trace.

Truth is full, and all complete -
not part or half; but both halves meet.
And we must live by truth alone -
the perfect pitch, the perfect tone.

Myths and lies are never rare,
we find them here and everywhere.
Don't be deceived or be naive,
when truth is tied, twisted, weaved,

Some eat them up, a million words -
scream opinions, strut like birds.
Tragedies come, when kids are taught,
and get ideas, from slanted thought.

Lies will die, like wilted wheat;
and truth is fact, not obsolete.
When to the sky the weeds can reach,
be careful now just what you teach.

Amendment one, allows free speech,
responsibility though, we must not breech.
And only teach - our thirsty youth,
perfect, simple, unbridled truth.

History's fact. It doesn't live.
It doesn't take. It doesn't give.
And it proclaims to everyone -
that it's over - done, done, done.

All truth is built on nothing less,
than fact alone - It's not a guess.
It stands alone - a priceless vase,
without a flaw - to rest its case.

©2006 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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