Pain For Peace 5-1-21

Pain's misery is haunting.  Good health is best to keep.

This cancer is unbearable, it keeps me from my sleep.

I've been so many months with pain, I don't know what it's like

to break free from these awful pains; to walk, to jog, to bike.

I don't remember what it's like to live without this pain

and it continues stabbing me.  I'm going now, insane.

Now God still holds the miracle and God is still in power
and God can take all pain away in these, each precious hour.

I pray, "Dear Lord, deliver me, if it is in Your will,

and take this awful pain away that I'm enduring still.

I do not have the answers and I do not have the voice.

I do not have the fortitude and do not have the choice.

I don't deserve forgiveness and I don't deserve Your love,

for I have sinned against Your will and Heaven there above.

But grace has set me free from sin.  You've healed me spiritually,

so if Your will is so inclined, please heal me physically."

So many care. So many pray.  So many read my words,

but I would give it all away to fly among the birds.

The blue skies seem so endless up above the tallest tree.

Birds seem to be so free of pain and soar above so free.

I'd praise my Lord with ev'ry song, with ev'ry line and verse.

And could it be, long life on earth, is just a wicked curse?

But if God wills, I'll stay on earth where pain may never cease.

Yet should He will to take this 'cup', I'll trade this pain for peace.

©2021 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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NOTE:  A day or two after I wrote this poem the pain left me.
God does answer prayers and I thank all who have prayed for me.
May these words praise His name, (not the author).
Thank you Jesus!

Heaven's Gates 4-18-21

"Thy Will be done" is how I pray

but how do I start out my day?

Does God come first or is it rare

that I reach first to Him in prayer?

Alarm clock rings.  I've got to run.

It's long before the rising sun.

The world awaits as Heaven parts,

but I'm on time as 'chemo' starts.

Questions many, but answers few.

And prayer to God is overdue.

Again, again, I sin, I sin.

I've failed to do God's will again.

My best is never good enough

while grace forgives my selfish stuff.

I recommit myself each day

to live according to His way.

It's sobering to see life's end.

I miss family, miss my friends.

My best friend though?  Christ still awaits,

so patiently at Heaven's gates.

©2021 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Eternal Life 4-17-21

It wasn't what I expected and I didn't like the answer,

when the doctor walked in and said, "I'm sorry.  You have cancer."

I froze with no emotion.  I never said a word.

Questions rose inside my head, now how had this occurred?

The next few days were but a blur...

drawing blood, testing, biopsies... yet no cure.

I never smoked, I never drank, I never used a drug.

How could this have happened?  The doctor merely shrugged.

Physically, the cancer kills.  Spiritually, sin does.

Sin kills like a cancer.  It does so deep because -

it fights the 'spirit' body.  It just does not belong,

deceiving like the 'Evil One' that we all know is wrong.

To say that it's a little lie, not black, not gray, but white,

deceives us into thinking that it isn't wrong, but right.

But let it take ahold of us and let it spread awhile,

and we will find it's Satan's way of saying, "You can smile."

Before we see, before we know, before we realize,

our heart is hard, our spirit's dead and we've been paralyzed.

And only God can heal us then through love and grace and pow'r.

And just like cancer, He can heal before your final hour.

So yes, I have a cancer, a cancer physical.

That's not as bad as other kinds, those cancers spiritual.

Now God can save us from them both, for He is in control.

He can cure both cancers and can also save the soul.

So I can't die.  I am alive, alive as I can be.

Because God gives me life anew, a life inside of me.

I'm glad I'm not forever here, cursed with a sin internal,

because Christ lives within me now and it's a life eternal.

©2021 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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I was informed on March 29, 2021 that I had advanced pancreatic cancer.
May "God's Will" (not mine) be done with regard to my physical health.
Thank you for your prayers.

With Wisp of Wing 4-1-21

Now most don't see and most don't learn.

They search for something grand.

They cannot hear God's still small voice

or just don't understand.

---

Some whisper like the hummingbird

that's beautiful in flight,

but most screech like the vulture in

a mean and ugly fight.

They push and peck the others with

emotions that explode.

They fight for dirty scraps of food

that lay dead in the road.

And most are proud to be that bird.

They're powerful indeed,

controlling everything in sight

to satisfy their greed.

But futile is the vulture's life
by men who made that choice,

while God lifts up the hummingbird

in pen through still small voice.

So as for me, I'm blessed to be

that hummingbird in flight.

With wisp of wing, He whispers words

in everything I write.
---

Yes, most don't see and most don't learn.

They search for something grand.

They cannot hear His still small voice,

or just don't understand.

©2021 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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1 Kings 19:11,12 (NASB)

"11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake;

but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire

a still small voice."

What A Story! 3-1-21

This gentle breeze puts me at ease.
Envision, if you will;
Stars, each with spark, lake in a park,

and trees beside the hill.

As if in trance, the leaves still dance

attached to tiny twigs.

From up atop, the acorns drop.

Nearby a squirrel digs.

A dancing willow bending low

has kissed the water's face.

Then drake I find, with hen behind,

and ducklings in a race.

But 5AM, a flower stem

is bent under great weight.

It's gravity's audacity!

It hampers it from straight!

OR should we know, (as stories go),

for every one, two sides?

So could it be that we can't see

the burden bloom provides?

Is bloom at fault, that it exalt,

the beauty it bestows?

And fragrance too, what would we do

without our tempting nose?

Or would it hurt to blame the dirt...

or bees?  There's much to tell.

And could we blame, that moisture came

and watered it too well?

SO, we could claim, they're ALL to blame,

but sunrise here is near.

When sunlight peeks, our Father speaks,

and burdens disappear.
Does blame turn in... to angry sin?

Does sin drive us to hate?

Are we not taught that evil thought

will burden us with weight?

When it's of God, it isn't odd

that nature's love forgives.

Here by the lake, there's no mistake

that His creation lives.

Can we still claim that we're the same

as nature?  Do we live?

I think instead, that we are dead

when we do not forgive.

As dawning breaks, our dark mistakes

have brought us to this time.
But don't dismay, God has a way.

It's not an uphill climb.

There's no debate with stem now straight

and flower standing tall.
What a story of God's glory!
He loves us, one and all!

This gentle breeze puts me at ease.
Envision, if you will;
Stars, each with spark, lake in a park,

and trees beside the hill.

©2021 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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In Full Conceit 2-1-21

A little ant was working hard

atop his little mound,

and thought that he was taller

than anything around.

A weasel saw that little ant

but didn't make a sound,

and thought that he was taller

than anything around.

A groundhog saw that weasel near

his home there in the ground,

and thought that he was taller

than anything around.

My dog was not the least amazed

and for them, he was bound.

He knew that he was taller still

than anything around.

I was the man who saw them all.

I shook with scoffing laugh.

In full conceit I stood there tall.

Behind me?  A giraffe.

©2021 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Unfurl Our Flag Again 1-1-21

I pledged full allegiance when I, in school,
would dress with respect and live 'golden rule'.
Respecting the elders without a smirk,
I studied for quizzes, did my homework,
I didn't drink beer and I didn't smoke
and didn't laugh when I heard dirty joke.
This "churchy-boy" bullied to the extreme,
so often I cried with crushed self-esteem.

Oh, I am so wrong in this up-side-down world,
where God is removed and freedoms are furled;
where truth becomes myth, if someone hates it,
with standards all lost- Hell's bottomless pit;
where lies become truth if said many times;
where chaos breaks out with killings and crimes.
With ethics abandoned, the innocent die.
Can someone please tell me- why, why, why, why?

The standards I live by, they were not forced,
but from those clean morals, they had divorced.
For fame they had bribed naive voting blocks,
but they were exposed with clicking of clocks.
Nuclear proliferation, dead schools,
riots, looting, killings- they changed the rules.
Pushing boundaries to see the truth bend,
was it not them who hurt fam'ly and friend?

Because they're elected and hence empowered,
they think this 'churchy-boy' can be devoured.
So many times now, their lies we have heard,
but the precepts of peace are in God's Word.
Lies will be buried with them under sod.
Unfurl our flag again. We Trust In God.
They thought they were smart and thought we were dumb,
but we know our God will one day soon come.

©2021 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Don't Read This 12-12-20

Children,

I told you not to read this but you're reading anyway,

and do you disobey when Satan tells you it's okay?

Are you enticed by cunning words that sound like violins

that sing so sweetly to your wants they tempt you into sins?

Do your eager ears tickle when you hear of something odd

and make you disobey when you aren't list'ning to your God?

Do you think you are stronger and that you can break the chains

of sins that claim they're better than the God who gave you brains?

If not, then when you see temptation lurking at your door,

just tell yourself it's wrong and you won't give in anymore.

Do not be that old dog that only chases sins of sticks,

because it learned bad habits and no longer learns new tricks.

So many men thought they could change at anytime they wished,

but sin got full control of them and they got fully squished.

So don't read this and don't obey if you are smarter than

the selfish, grumpy, lying cuss who's now a crass old man.

For God so loved the world that He has given you His Son

and Comforter to guide you through the life that you've begun.

I pray that you will live your life in good and special way,

so everyone around you will see sunshine ev'ry day!

©2020 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Memories 11-14-20

Oh, to remember walks in parks,

ocean sands and ocean mists.

Oh, to remember holding hands,

sharing thoughts, giving gifts.

Oh, to remember wedding day,

lacy dress, church and cross,

Oh, to remember sharing vows, 

placing ring and bouquet toss.

Oh, to remember children's pains,

children's laughs and children's fears.

Oh, to remember fun and games,

silly times and laughter's tears.

Oh to remember that last touch,

that last hug, that last kiss.

Oh, to remember pretty face,

my true love I really miss.

Oh, the mem'ries I hold dear,

all those mem'ries... ever sweet.

Oh, to remember precious times.

If good times only could repeat.

What's better than those memories?

Please don't misunderstand.

Just don't compare to yesterday,

tomorrow's Heavenland!

Oh, to meet each other there!

With Jesus, we will stay!

Oh, to share that wonderment

forever and a day!

©2020 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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His Holy Name 10-31-20

Completely crushed, my fragile heart.

So lonely then, I fell apart.

My life was incomplete.

Of all the poems 'round the world,

this simple one, in wind, was twirled

and landed at my feet.

I'll live the life that God gave me

and do His will so free, gladly.

This life, I live for Him.

I took this poem at my feet,

inhaled the words without defeat,

then sang my fav'rite hymn.

For joy now fills my empty soul.
God simply touched and made me whole.

On knees, to Him I came.

I hold this poem that's so dear

and lift my hands without a fear

to praise His Holy Name.

©2020 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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