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Poems For the Journey A Christian Pilgrim On The Way Shares His Heart Through Poetry
Edgar I. Galdรกmez
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Copyright Š 2011 by Edgar I. Galdåmez (eig) No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author. If you have any comments or suggestions please email me at mailto:poemsforthejourney@gmail.com
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Dedication
To my wife and partner in grace who has been the source of inspiration in my life for over twenty years. Thank you Trish! To my son Misael who has always believed in me even when I have failed and to my seven angels in Heaven.
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Table of Contents Poems For the Journey
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Dedication
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Introduction
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Poems About God It Is God! The Love of God Longing Melody of Praise Providence Who Is Your God? God In Our Image? Inviting God In God’s Not Speaking? Lord Go Before, Come Behind Me My Sacrifice Show Me Strength In Weakness
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Poems About Jesus He Is Not Ashamed Jesus My Love Extravagant Love Jesus and His Friends Do You Love Me? Are You Coming? Compassion’s Touch Bound by Love
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
Poems About The Holy Spirit My Comforter
33 34
Poems About The Christian Life And The Church Pilgrim’s Regress Christian Care Die To Live Faith Shooting Our Wounded To Live Temptation Three Wounds What Prayer Is Answered Prayer? My Bride Willing Not Feeling A Shinning Light What Is My Life
35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 50 51
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Grace Speaks lords of the church The Apple of My Eye Dreams of Vanity I Can’t Imagine Restless Lonely Traveler
52 53 54 55 56 57 58
Poems About Marriage, Family And Friends A Wife Like Mine Picture Family Friends Friends of Old What’s A Friend? Life’s Call A Lost Jewel
59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66
Poems About Difficulties and Suffering Difficult Days Wings Going Home God Will Provide Rest In Me Gentle Whisper Sitting With Job Will Justice Come? Have You Forsaken Me? Feeling Pain A Tear Dead Sea Winter’s Chill
67 68 69 70 71 72 72 73 75 77 78 79 80 81
Poems About Special Problems And Issues Blooming Chains and Freedom The Fire Within Character Dignity I Wish I Could Fear What is Life? Through The Eyes Of A Child The Gift of Life Heartbeat Love’s Paradox My Three Little Angels Dear Gibbie Life’s Irony No Baby! Twinkle, Twinkle Little Stars UltraSound?
82 83 85 86 87 88 90 91 92 93 94 95 97 98 101 103 104 105 106
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Baby Blues Pleasure Words Sticks And Stones Our Wounded Children Stellar Heaven
107 108 109 110 111 112
Spanish Poems
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Poemas en Español Lo Mejor Amor Temor Tu Oh Señor Suspiro Alas La Paradoja del Amor Paz Interior Sentimiento Botella Vacia Serenata Nocturna
113 114 114 114 115 115 115 116 116 117 117 118
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Introduction I am neither a poet nor a son of a poet. But I am a Christian pilgrim like many of you. I had no intention of ever writing poems. But many years ago God inspired me to write the ones in this short book. When I say God inspired them I don’t mean that God directly told me what to write. They came as I reflected on life and on the truths of his Word, the Bible, and as I struggled in my journey of faith. They are in no way the work of a professional poet. They are reflections, meditations on my journey as a Christian. I’ve kept them for some time but always with the intention of sharing them with the Body of Christ, his Church. Why? They reflect what perhaps many of us have thought about or what we wish to say. In a way, they are not poems but prayers. You will be able to see they are heartfelt. They come from my heart. I want to pass them on to you. After writing them, I decided to add Bible passages to most of them that support what I was thinking. Thus, they can serve as a devotional. Read the Scriptures, meditate on them, read the poem, write your thoughts.
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My prayer for you is that they will inspire you to seek God, to pray, to read His Word, to inspire you to write for Him. They are not perfect in any way, but they are piece of my heart, from a pilgrim to another pilgrim. Enjoy!
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Poems About God
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It Is God! (Psalm 19:1-2; 14:1) Someone has said, “The cosmos is all there is, was, and will be” How foolish to not be able to see. That it is not the cosmos but God the Creator, It is He! He looks from above and sees us all How far we have gone! Thinking the world and the universe is not something He has done The evidence is clear when we see the rising sun The moon, the stars, the trees, the animals and even ourselves All point to what His hand has already done. We try to explain Him away, with books from our shelves. We fail to see that from Creation to our days, to the years to come, The overwhelming evidence of what He has already done. God is all there is, there was, and will be. I don’t know about you, but this is clear to me. It is He!
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The Love of God (Ephesians 3:18-19; Romans 8:32) Oh, the love of God how boundless it is It’s depth, breath, width, and height can never decrease. Yet how little do I understand it to be like this. Something so beautiful that my heart cannot dismiss. How can God love me in spite of how I am? How can He care so much about me if I only deserved to be damned? But He does love me, and the proof is that He sent Jesus The precious Holy Lamb. Through Him He saved me and has given me everything I could ever want in this land. But how often his love I deny. When in Him I don’t rely. And even His Word I don’t apply. When I am led away by sin and with Him I don’t comply. But his love is an endless ocean, It is always there when I come to realize Its depth, height, and width I cannot shun I can never drain the everlasting love of God The ever-flowing fountain of God’s love Has rescued me from my demise
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Longing Psalms 126, 130 Oh Lord, with many tears I have sown The reaping of joy is what I want to be shown And carry the fruit in my lap that is what I long I anxiously wait for you as the night watcher waits for the dawn I desperately depend on you, Like the new born baby to the mother to which it belongs My weaknesses I trade with you who forever is strong My soul will wait on you no matter how long, For trusting in you I can never be wrong.
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Melody of Praise Psalm 145:1-3; Hebrews 13:15 To you oh Lord, what can I bring? The birds you created with wings Could have been created by you without the ability to sing Yet, you gave them a melody for spring But these beautiful creatures to you cannot address Or with words your mighty deeds express Yet my words seem so futile to describe your greatness And even my praise to you cannot avoid to digress I wish I could be like the composer David And write you many psalms Praise you with my open palms And worship in the heavenly realm But you know, from you my heart I cannot hide You read every line of it inside Each a song of praise alive This is a small token for all you have done Which you deserve all alone But even all that I am and what I give, From you have come Accept oh Lord this small sacrifice of praise unto you Even though it falls short to what to you is due Sincerely from my heart, This I humbly do
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Providence Esther 4:14; Proverbs 20:24; 16:9 “Where is God in this situation?” “Where is God in our lives?” We often ask demanding attention Trying to find out where the truth lies To and fro we run around Searching for God in every place Calling Him with a desperate hound But we end up getting lost in the maze When all is said and done And on our knees we fall Because all our hope is gone We find God is alive after all We see He is there working, though quietly Behind the scenes He’s been directing So our life plays out perfectly Even if for a different play we are acting He is there as the master of ceremony Bringing to our life some harmony Oh, how we want see God in our dark days But we are not allowed to see the face of Providence Nor we can explain the marvel of his ways We can only see the evidence Perhaps a mystery this will always be But I know one day I’ll sing with glee To know this, is sufficient for me
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Who Is Your God? Exodus 20:3 Who is your God? Who has your allegiance and loyalty? Is God your life’s measuring rod? Is your life dedicated to the Royalty? “You are my God,” I hear you say But all through the week from me you’re far away “In my life you’re number one,” you shout out loud But in your daily living I only exist in a cloud You say you love me first Yet in your priorities I don’t see my name Not even on Sundays you worship me with thirst Who is your God? Have you forgotten where from you came? I am the Lord your God, the beginning and the end The only Self-Existent, the Only One Before me every knee will bend Because from me, you cannot run!
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God In Our Image? Exodus 20:4-5 God is Spirit, so says his Word And must be worshipped in spirit and truth He is the only one we ought to bow down and call Lord Even if there’s no visible image as proof God is far too great and awesome And of Him can be no human form Idols of dirt, clay, metal, or stone Of our mere imagination of God are born But God fills the earth and the universe No image, or idol or temple can contain Him It’s idolatry, which brings His judgment and curse For God in our image cannot be a result of our whim
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Inviting God In “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)
How often do I walk alone Forget the day you invited me Don't invite you to come along In all my life you ought to be When you came in my life that day It wasn't meant for Sundays only Or when things went the good all way Nor when I didn't feel so lonely You came to live inside me To be part of all my hectic life More than I want you to see Specially in my daily strife Come in all of my life oh Lord I invite you to come in For you judge me no more You know where I’ve been To live with you each day And share all that I am To walk together The Way And never close like a clam
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God’s Not Speaking? 2 Corinthians 12:9 “You’re not reading your Bible How dare do you not? As it lays on the table You’re not doing so hot! You’re shutting Him out! Don’t expect him to speak What’s His will is about When your life is so weak” But how could God be Silenced by me By not reading the Bible I’m not able see Forgive me oh Lord My spirit is low I can’t read your Word But time will show That the God that I know Cannot be so cold His grace He will show Till the day I am old
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Lord Go Before, Come Behind Me Isaiah 52:12
When I face problems ahead Lord go before me! When I stay back with no strength Lord come behind me! When I am afraid of tomorrow Lord go before me! When I rest upon the past Lord come behind me! When I am uncertain of the future Lord go before me! When I’m set in my ways Lord come behind me! When I think you’re not with me Lord come before me! When I can’t feel you in my life Lord come behind me! When I can’t understand your will Lord go before me! When I doubt your presence Lord come behind me!
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My Sacrifice Psalm 51:16-17 You go to church five days a week You pray, lift you hands, and sing along You think that is what I seek You speak religious words No evil words come out your tongue But they don’t open heaven’s doors You give money from what’s left You strive to serve, that’s not wrong But that is not what is your best You tell everyone what you believe You speak so bold and stand so strong But that’s not what I receive Give me your heart broken in two Lay it before me all day long That’s my desire, my will for you Your broken spirit, your sacrifice Let this be your pleasing song For this, and this alone I won’t despise
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Show Me Exodus 33 To see you oh God I desire And this cannot be wrong A glimpse of your glory admire I’ll wait no matter how long As Moses was able to see A speck of your grandiose glory I desire also for me Show me your majesty If only one time to wet my fleece As Gideon asked from you oh Lord A sign of assurance and peace I ask for nothing more To touch and feel you oh Master As the woman with the flow If only the edge of your garment Make my cup overflow Oh Lord I wished it’d be faster For my life to be filled in amazement To see you oh God and my Master Would be my greatest adornment
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Strength In Weakness “He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me…for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) So long I have thought To be spiritually strong And grace to have wrought By pressing along But this isn’t so When I thought I was strong I really wasn’t though I was totally wrong I was so blind to see I wasn’t so steadfast But how could this be Why did it not last? Strength can be seen But not in my power In my weakness it’s been For only that hour You speak through my fears Give joy in my dryness You’re there in my tears You’re strength in my weakness
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Poems About Jesus
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He Is Not Ashamed Hebrews 2:11 Lord, I am amazed And even dazed You my Master Deserve to be praised Many times I am like a wild horse Without control I run off course And do many things you don’t endorse That only causes me remorse But you have set me apart And your power you impart So that I can serve you with my whole heart And even then I only give myself in part Many times instead of drawing closer From you I go farther Yet you are not ashamed to call me brother For we belong to our heavenly Father What a marvelous truth that is It just brings me so much bliss Thank you Lord, For such a truth as this
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Jesus My Love Revelation 2:1-7 Oh Jesus, you are my first love I wish that I wouldn’t only remember you as someone above But that you are in my life, my only true love I remember the day when you saved me I felt you so close and free as a dove But slowly and surely as the years have passed by I realize how cold I’ve become I invited you into my life, and that is no lie But often I don’t acknowledge you’re right by my side But your grace and faithfulness to me is so awesome Is not compared to what’s given by some You patiently wait with arms open wide Your love draws me and again to you I come And my love is again as that of a bride I only wish it would always be such a strong drive But I am so weak, and it is only because of your grace That I barely survive Yet, I will not stop to continue to strive For the love of my life, my Jesus, in whom I abide
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Extravagant Love John 12:1-7 Lord Jesus, asking myself “Have I done what I could?” I have to answer “no” and I even don’t do what I should I often find myself saying, “If only I would” But that’s not the case with Mary, She did what she could She did not take for granted the time When before you she stood She bathed you with expensive perfume, A year’s wages, for there was nothing too good To show you her gratitude for the forgiveness and love She had received from you The smell of the perfume filled the house and set a different mood For some this was too extravagant, perhaps even lewd. Some even began to scold her saying, “what a waste” To the point of just being rude And others no doubt were telling her “shoo” But they didn’t have a clue To realize you are worthy and nothing we give to you Can be so much for all you’ve done for us, Hardly it is what to you it is due So help me today to show extravagant love for you And be able to say with her “I did what I could”
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Jesus and His Friends John 11
Mary and Martha could not comprehend. Why Jesus to the rescue did not come. When the life of their brother Lazarus was coming to an end. “Maybe Jesus did not love him that much” was said by some, “If in this difficult situation in him we cannot depend.” Why he would leave them alone and even tarry two more days Baffled them for leaving Lazarus dead in the den, Lazarus’ body was smelling by then. Even Martha said, “If you would’ve been here the life of Lazarus our brother would not have been taken” But Jesus knew better than them. The power of death with his word would be broken. But the truth of God’s Word does not stray. He loves us more than we realize, Even if we think he’s not in our day. His presence is forever with us Our burdens on himself does he lay. He knows our confusing circumstances To him they are clear like the day. How difficult it is for us to trust his judgment At our time of dismay. When trouble and trial come in our way. But Jesus is in our situation giving us his strength. Even when death threatens us and our life tries to end. We must fear not, for we know in heaven, our future we’ll spend. Yet He will not let our lives to be shorten in length But his grace will guide us all the way till the end.
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Do You Love Me? “He asked him the third time ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’” John 21:17
You strive to be good Keep yourself in good mood But do you love Me? You speak so well No bad word do you tell But do you love Me? You read your Bible every day Know all I would say But do you love Me? You pray as you may Seeking the right way But do you love Me? You attend church every week Don’t feel spiritually weak But do you love Me? You share others about me No other way can there be But do you love Me? You help those in their need Rush with so much speed But do you love Me? By grace you’ve been saved The foundation is already laid But do you love me? I show you my love and mercy Are you not able to see? Would you love Me? 29
Are You Coming? Mark 13:33-37 I grow weary of waiting Get caught up in the rat race Forget I need to be praying Till I see Jesus’ face I’ve become so impatient Think now it’s the time But your grace is sufficient For the hour is thine Are you coming oh Jesus? When will you come? Come quickly for us For with you will be one Help me oh Lord To watch and to pray Seek nothing more And from you never stray
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Compassion’s Touch Mark 1:36-45 A world with so much to share Sees only its needs first Lacks compassion to care When we hide away From those who hurt And beg us to stay How can we be so deaf? To those who cry for compassion When Jesus showed nothing less Moved with compassion He touched a leper’s face Showed love must have action You ignore those in need When they stretch out their hand You’ve done no good deed! Remember his gentle touch You received from Him Won’t you give just as much?
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Bound by Love “Who will come between us and the love of Christ?” Romans 8:35 When your friends forsake you You will still have my love When you fail their expectations too You will still have my love When you don’t know what to do You will still have my love When you have been criticized You will still have my love When you face the uncertainties of life You will still have my love When your plans haven’t materialized You will still have my love When obstacles are in your way You will still have my love When others treat you as they may You will still have my love When problems in your life seem to stay You will still have my love When your future looks so bleak You will still have my love When you haven’t reached life’s peak You will still have my love When you are spiritually low and weak You will still have my love Remember my dear child You will still have my love Weather you’re cold, hot or mild You will still have love When life doesn’t seem worthwhile You will still have my love!
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Poems About The Holy Spirit
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My Comforter John 14:16-17, 26; 16:7-15 Holy Spirit, you I cannot see Yet I know you live inside me Making me what I ought to be You are my Comforter My daily partner Who prunes me like a gardener Empowering Interceding Guiding Teaching Correcting Speaking Gently with Your voice Carry me like a ship tossed by the wind Purify with a fire within Gush out from me like a living spring Fill my empty well with your water of blessing
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Poems About The Christian Life And The Church
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Pilgrim’s Regress A pilgrim walks the narrow express Three steps forward, two steps back He tries to make some progress His body is under so much stress A heavy burden he carries each day From the Way he must not digress His soul is often in distress So many trials come his way But forward he must press His spirit feels no less When his agony seems to stay Pilgrim must not regress His life is such a mess A price he has to pay To fight his humanness He wants the Lord his life to bless And “I have kept the faith” be able to say Kneeling before the Royal Highness
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Christian Luke 13:25-27; Philippians 1:27 “I’m a Christian!” we say to everyone in a beat. But how difficult we find it to Christ’s commands to commit. We boast and brag about it before others, thinking we are so deep. But to his Lordship we are unwilling to submit. The blessings of being a Christian we want, But the commitment we don’t want to keep. To rejoice we want but not to weep. To glory we want to leap, But the way of the cross that’s just too steep! We want to receive without giving To live without dying To be comforted without suffering We speak of following him, But his cross and suffering we are unwilling to bear. It’s uncomfortable and painful so we just won’t dare. We speak of spreading the Good News, But with our neighbors we don’t even share. We say we have God’s love to give, Yet our actions show clearly that we just don’t care. We see needy people but we turn our backs and only give an empty stare. Oh but we are Christians we say. We go to church, pay our dues and the rest of the week we forget The Way, That being a Christian is living for Christ every day. It’s when our whole lives in his hands we lay. And obedience to Him is the only thing we pay. And in his righteous path we stay. Only then, can we point the others the way, And “I am a Christian” be able to say.
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Care 2 Kings 6:15-17; Psalm 23; 121 Many times like Elisha’s servant I’m so blind To see God’s protection and care And need you Lord to open my eyes and mind So the chariots of fire around me I can stare Protecting me against the dangers of all kinds You are the Great Shepherd who watches over me constantly And leads my walk each step of the way In my ins and my outs you care for me faithfully Days and years pass and you with me always stay How many times from danger I’ve been delivered And even death from me has fled Until back home by you I’m led I cannot have a better protector and shield Who never sleeps nor rests And blesses and cares for me the best How good you are to me Lord; my life to you I yield Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me Until in your house forever I’ll be That’s when your face I will finally see From dangers and perils I’ll forever be free
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Die To Live John 12:24-26; 1Cor. 3:12-15 We live in a world so selfish It leaves us all to wish What we could accomplish If our lives we would unleash If we would be like a grain of wheat Who falls to the ground and dies We would find out God’s heartbeat If we give ourselves for other’s lives We would find out there’s no defeat And would find where true success lies When our life bears fruit and multiplies But if we just keep our lives packed so neat With all our earthly treasure and ties And every Sunday in church we have our regular seat Until we say our last good byes It will come that day when the Lord we’ll meet All our excuses, there they just won’t fly Hay, wood, or stubble won’t stand the heat We missed our chance to share our lives For our lives just passed by
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Faith James 2:14-26; Hebrews 11:6 Faith is not believing certain facts It is rooted in the bosom of God, yet it’s not something so abstract It must lead a person to act Of them a true Christian will show no lack For even the devil and demons believe in God, yet His goodness they attack And are sure on the wrong track It’s faith and obedience that must go back to back It’s like the body and spirit together a pack The body without the spirit is dead, serves only for the worms as snack So faith without works is dead with nothing left intact Faith without works is like a man who passes as a doctor but it’s only a quack Soon or later he will soon be in a rack Thus will be with the person, who says he has faith, But his life is just an empty sack
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Shooting Our Wounded Galatians 6:2; John 13:34-35 An anomaly among Christians exists And it troubles me to see this in our midst Which is not even found among the beasts The hen for her chicks she cares And the cubs are protected by mama bear In war, wounded soldiers are given care But as Christians we leave our wounded in despair We don’t care how much they hurt, or what we need to bare Their joy we partake, but in their pain we are not willing to share. We read the passage where we’re told to carry each other’s burdens But in truth we just don’t even dare. Our own are heavy enough and to other’s oh they can’t be compared Far the less if each other’s burdens we share But how can others see our love when we just don’t care Our actions they see no matter the pious face we wear So let’s pick up our wounded in love for in this we cannot err
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To Live Psalm 90:6, 9-10; John 11:25 As a flower grows, withers, and dies, So our lives are set one day to leave all earthly ties. It’s an inevitable fact of life A time will come when death will make us cry. Its sudden subtlety can catch us by surprise. Some of us won’t even get a chance to say good-bye. But death is not the end as some of us think, That is just a lie. We know the body dies, But our immortal souls in Heaven or Hell forever will abide. It is for us to choose while on this Earth, To which side we will arrive. Hell need not be your place to go, For Jesus is the resurrection and the life. If you just believe in Him, though one day your body will decay, Your soul will never die. In Heaven you will dwell with him In a place far beyond the sky.
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Temptation James 1:13-15; 1John 1:9 How easy it is for us on the trap to fall When by our own desires we are enticed It begins by a simple desire, that’s all Then its caressed by our minds as something so nice We are only a step away to yielding unwise It is here when what’s right we can choose Or just our desires let loose And often this is what we do without excuse Thus, we end up regretting For the grace of God we have abused But that was our own begetting We paid the price for the moment we were amused Now we feel we have been used God, the devil and others we blame for our tempting And we end up forgetting That we are the ones we should be blaming We are only reaping the result of our gaming
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Three Wounds Psalm 51:17; Matt. 9:36; Psalm 42:1-2 Lord, there are three faithful wounds that I desire Not just because it’s something that you require But because through them the heart of Christ I acquire And vulnerable and helpless to you I inquire May they wound my soul So that without them I will never be whole My companions in life to keep and to hold Wound me with contrition A spirit that is broken And my own admission Of my sins and failures, too many to be spoken With a humble recognition That by your grace I have been chosen And let my constant contrition Be to you my only token Wound me with compassion To feel other’s pain and sorrow Your love in action Giving them hope for a better tomorrow Of God to ever be longing The third wound in my heart Him to ever be loving So lovesick that from him I never depart Him to always be knowing
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What Prayer Is Matthew 6:5-15; 1 Thess. 5:17 Prayer is not an empty spiritual ritual Nor repetitive words that become habitual Nor a magic formula to make what we want actual It is with God Almighty to have communion And get closer and closer with Him in our union And have him as our most close companion It is to pour our hearts in adoration To the Majesty in admiration Who deserves praise with devotion It is our wills with God’s to align There’s no one like him so benign Merciful, graceful and ever so kind It is to boldly acknowledge his greatness And humbly recognize our smallness Before the Great Awesome Lord, our Highness It is with the Spirit to ask To help us take off our spiritual mask To enable us to proclaim the Gospel’s Message And carry out his heavenly task It is to sincerely ask for pardon For the sins of our nation For the ones we have done And others we forget to mention It is to be in God’s presence consciously And praise and thank him constantly And rest in him consequently
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Answered Prayer? John 15:7; James 4:3 “God never turns anyone away He grants every request� is what we hear some say But God does not answer as we think He may Some from His will have strayed And His Word have disobeyed The obedient and trustful, God will hear them pray Be obedient and come to the Lord every day And all your requests before him lay A faithful heart He will not turn away
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My Bride Ephesians 3:10-12; 5:25-27 Oh my Church how fast you have forgotten you are my Bride You have my treasures to share with the world and how little you strive You lack my goodness and purity and lost your sense of pride Oh how I grieve for you my precious Bride. You speak of love so much yet how little of it you keep alive. How can you face this way the world and trials and still survive. If you just talk and talk and never do, they’ll see that you just lie. You have my Spirit to guide you and empower you so in me you can abide. You have my example and teaching, from me you can derive. Change the gear from park and start to drive. Show the world life is worth so much more because you are my Bride. Share your faith, hope, and love and don’t throw them aside. Give yourself away as salt and light even if you must die. Remember I am coming soon and forever, you’ll be on my side.
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Willing Not Feeling Psalm 40:8 The life of Christ was of willing not feeling. (Thy will be done and not mine) His agony at the garden and at the cross his suffering, They weren’t good feelings. (Thy will be done and not mine) He suffered it all because he was willing. (Thy will be done and not mine) Coming to Christ, Following Christ, Living for Christ, Doing what’s right, Is not so much a matter of feeling But willing. Loving our Lord, Serving him more, Loving our neighbor next door, Is not so much a matter of feeling Bu willing. Loving our friends, husband or wife, Or just being wise, Is not so much a matter of feeling But willing. But how often the lead of the world we follow. Where emotions and feelings are to be hallowed. So off we go, up and down, up and down in our emotional roller coaster We wallow, Living lives so shallow. Because it’s feeling not willing, That’s what matters the most to us, Nothing else we will allow.
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But if in our lives we want purpose and meaning, We should start believing, That the master of the heart, should be willing Not feeling.
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A Shining Light Psalm 27:1-3; 29:5; 32:7; 37:24 Some days are cloudy Some are dark and blue Some are fearfully windy Some are just too dark to shine But in the midst stands Wisdom so Divine A day or two may not be enough To cease the pain and anguish That hits us just too rough Too many tears to cry for righteousness Too many times spending time in loneliness Who will lead us through the darkness? Who lead us through the day? Who will cease our heartaches? Who will wipe our tears away? Our friends are gone forever Our enemies are here Our problems are gathered together How can we not fear? No time to fight No time even to waste The Lord is the only one who makes Everything right He will lead us through the darkness He will lead us through the day He will wrap his arms around us He will never turn away
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What Is My Life Ephesians 2:10; Mark 8:35; Romans 12:1 Lord, “What is my life” I ask “What is in this world my task?” I know my life is you But there’s little that for you I do Am I missing your will? Or are you preparing me still? I abide in you Lord And desire to bear fruit ever more I don’t want my life to pass by And without fulfilling your purpose, die I want all my life to be well spent For you and your Kingdom to give every cent What is my life Lord and it’s value here If selfishly I keep it and guard it so dear? I present myself today My life as a living sacrifice I lay Willing to do everything you say Not counting the cost I pay
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Grace Speaks Ephesians 2:7-20; Hebrews 4:16 “I want to live my life on my own power” I often say, but I forget to live by grace Says grace, “When you are weak, I am a strong tower” “You can draw strength from me when you seek my face” “My hand will carry and sustain you in your walk” “When your life does not reflect your talk” “I am the soothing oil of love” “Flowing from the throne above” “Reassuring you that your failures and sins won’t condemn you anymore” “It is by me that you are saved through faith in our Lord” “As God unmerited favor, a fountain flowing ever more” I say, “There’s nothing better to live by, ‘grace’ is the word” “Let it get a hold of my life every day” “Let me fall on its arms when I can’t go on and my faith is getting old” Says grace, “I am the honey to sweeten your life as it may” “Thus come to God’s throne, come to Him so bold.” “There you will find me, grace”
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lords of the church Matthew 7:15-20 Words are crafted so well They speak about Hell You fall under the spell This must be from the Lord Can’t be anything more `Cause they point to the Word Their power so stunning How they got you now running For their words are so cunning You’re loaded with burdens They don’t carry themselves `Cause your one of the elves You’ll miss paradise If you deny they are wise And cause `em any strife This is not what you wanted The cost was not counted But now you’re enchanted You give them all loyalty Treat them like royalty Oh what a great travesty! Oh my dear bride You’ve believed a lie `Cause only Jesus did die Master there’s only one Hold fast till I come For the battle is already won
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The Apple of My Eye “For whoever touches you touches the apple of my eye” Zechariah 2:8 My child why do you worry so much? You are the apple of my eye Your life no one can touch My child you are so dear to me Did I not send my son to die? What else is there to see? My child I know what some say But believe the truth and not the lie From me you’ll never fall away My child I guard you in my sight Don’t try to figure out why Just believe in my might My child I have loved you forever You don’t have too look past the sky This will not change ever My child there’s nothing else to try ºCause every time I sigh You are the apple of my eye
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Dreams of Vanity “You have made me see the ways of life; I will be full of joy when I see your face.� Acts 2:28
Sometimes I find myself dreaming Slipping away to the land of desire A place where only self is gleaming Tangling my life with deceitful mire I fear of slipping from grace Of the straight and narrow way And giving up the righteous pace For the desires of the day But then You bring me to reality And show me how foolish it would be To trade You for bread of vanity Dreams that in a moment flee
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I Can’t Imagine 1 Corinthian 2:9 I can’t imagine there’s no heaven What kind of hope would that be? Earth isn’t always a haven I can’t imagine no hell What kind of justice would that be? Earth isn’t that well I can’t imagine a perfect place When we are all just one race Without God the world is a maze I can’t imagine all of us caring Selfishness is so overbearing If the love of God we’re not sharing I can’t imagine a world with peace With humans prone to injustice But Jesus will bring it with ease I hope someday you join us The world can live as one If you join in his cause
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Restless Psalm 62:1-2 Wind blows through and fro Rushing above the ocean’s shore Longing to find a place to rest To stay and run no more Traveling from East to West Circling around, around the world Without a place to rest Searching the depth of the God above Longing to meet him face to face I rush away to search his love
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Lonely Traveler Ecclesiastes 4:10 Walking the narrow road is hard It seems I am all alone When the way home looks so far When I’m climbing the steep road I wish someone were there To cheer me and lift the load When I stumble and fall A hand to help me up It’s hard to find at all When I need someone to drag me along When I just can’t go on anymore I find myself all alone Don’t just look and ask God why Reach out and lift me up When you are just walking by
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Poems About Marriage, Family And Friends
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A Wife Like Mine For my wife Patricia Proverbs 31 A wife like mine is a blessing from the Lord. A wife like mine who can ask for more? A lover, a mother, a friend, a companion, are just a few of her roles. Her servant and noble spirit inspires me, shows me we cannot keep a score. Of helping people, serving them, loving them and have an open door. Of her we need more people to make a better world. Her hazel beautiful eyes glanced at me and my heart could not deplore. Her gentle touch and delicate skin oh how I just adore. Her feminine figure and body next to mine I just have to hold. I cannot keep my hands away, so I will have no other chore. Keeping her next to me my life will never be just cold. A wife like mine I want to cherish, love, kiss and hold. A wife like mine, my Patty, in my heart will be, forevermore.
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Picture Family Psalm 127:3-128:4 A family is a nest For little ones to grow and rest The nurturing place to be God’s best Where lives begin their quest A family is a hospital Where gentle hands heal the wounds of all Where everyone is treated, whether short or tall Where mercy is found in every hall A family is a tapestry With multi-color personalities Each showing their own artistry With their own abilities A family is an island Surrounded by storming waters It will always stand For each member makes it all matter A family is a temple Where the soul is nurtured From Jesus the meek and gentle To become spiritually matured
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Friends Proverbs 18:24 "Friends forever" we say. Until time has passed we'll have something to say. Yet as time goes by it seems to go the other way. We soon forget what our friends looked like. That is if we ever saw them anyway. We soon forget who were good friends. No talking, no writing, no calling, no nothing. We have nothing to say. We are busy and caught up with things. Who has time for friends that's all we ever say. "Friends" we say but expect it to be one way. Old we get and then we say, "Friends." I hope I have some, some day.
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Friends of Old "Now after David's talk with Saul was ended, the soul of Jonathan was joined with the soul of David, and David became as dear to him as his very life." (1 Samuel 18:1) "And Saul's son Jonathan went to David in Horesh, and made his hands strong in God" (1 Samuel 23:16) "And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and they put to death Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul." (1 Samuel 31:2) "I am full of grief for you, my brother Jonathan: very dear have you been to me: your love for me was a wonder, greater than the love of women." (2 Samuel 1:26) David and Jonathan they were friends forever to stay. They had no computers, e-mails, or regular mail back in their day. Their friendship, that mattered and nothing else that got on their way. Nothing could keep them away. Until Jonathan's death parted their way. But David and Jonathan they are still best friends. Teaching us friendship is worth it today.
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What’s A Friend? Proverbs 27:17 What common word is “friend” today It’s heard around in every corner But does it have any meaning as it may? When troubles come bursting your way It’s hard to hold on to hope any longer Are there friends there to stay? When others have wrong things to say It’s hard to say you are stronger Are there friends to save your day? When gloom has you as its prey It’s hard not to see life so asunder Are friends the beacon of the bay? When in sickness and weak you lay It’s hard to lift what may hinder Are there friends to see you’re ok? When everyone has gone its way It’s easy to see where your friends are Friends are always there to stay
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Life’s Call “Woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up.” Ecclesiastes 4:10
In the vast ocean of despair How hard it is to find those who care A life to which one can share To release the burden we bear When the city’s towers fall Where they stood up so tall Now there’s nothing at all To who can one call? In the midst of celebration Loneliness creeps the occasion Such a horrible sensation That holds the soul’s ovation Walking in the forest of desperation The trees seem to move with agitation Not knowing the direction Our walk is merely imagination On the path and narrow road Carrying the laborious load The helping hand bestowed It’s just our shadow’s node
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A Lost Jewel Proverbs 18:24 A friend is harder to find Than finding a pearl in the sea There’s only one of its kind A friend is harder to attain Than finding a needle in hay Yet it’s greater the gain A friend more than a brother It’s harder to have Than a love of a mother A friend that’s there in hardship It’s a lost jewel That’s called friendship
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Poems About Difficulties and Suffering
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Difficult Days “Lord these have been difficult days So much that I have not read your Word or wanted to pray. My world seems to have crumbled down from every way. All my dreams, hopes, my future have been blasted away. I feel my life a failure with no meaning or purpose and nothing ok. I wished I could come to you and have more positive things to say. But this is my heart speaking to you, asking your grace. Give me your hand and hold me up every step of the way. Help me in your path always to stay.�
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Wings Psalm 55:6-8; Isaiah 40:30-31 I see the sky, so immense, so blue. And cannot stop to think If I had wings. So free, so free, so far removed. From all the hurt and pain that life so brings. See from above how slow everything moves. Would be pure joy, a living spring. Go around in circles whistling a happy mood. Nothing to fear so I would say, if I had wings. Go far away where no one has ever stood. To see the beauty of the world and not of things. To enjoy the freedom that’s ever so good. Which seldom we see as human beings. I pray, I pray life to be, as it should. I am free indeed I will then shout, when I have wings.
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Going Home John 14:1-4 How often I am homesick I want to fly away home Would still be not too quick To see my God so awesome Oh that place of shining light Of everlasting peace and life Where the Son reigns so bright And wipes all tears and strife I can’t help to wonder If life is worth living here Home awaits somewhere yonder Where sorrows disappear Lord take me home I pray Like Elijah in chariots of fire I wish it would be today And lift me from the mire
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God Will Provide Genesis 22:7-8; Hebrews 11:17-19 Worried about making ends meet What will I do if I don’t have what I need? Bills come in the mail like a fleet Will I have enough for my family to feed? What if I lose my job tomorrow? What if I become sick and disabled? What if I am faced with unexpected sorrow? What will I put in my family’s table? Abraham faced a great trial “Sacrifice your child for me” was he told Thus he took his son to the wild But how could he be so bold? There’s more that’s just so surprising His words resonate in my ear When his son asked what they were sacrificing “God will provide,” he said without fear He knew in whom he believed The God that cares and always provides Could not distrust Him as long as he lived God with His children always abides Abraham proved his faith was so wide By trusting God to provide a way He knew his son would be alive And God provided for him that day So here I am worried about things But life is worth more than what I buy And Oh the reward God brings When I trust Him to provide
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Rest In Me Matthew 11:28-30 You’re tired of church everyday Can’t keep up with all the demands Don’t even have time just to pray Rest in Me You’ve been asked to leave the fellowship Because you have not followed the rules Not allowed to keep any friendship Rest in Me You’re lonely and don’t know who to talk Everybody you know seems so far Just don’t know if to sit or to walk Rest in Me You’ve lost all hope in your life Just don’t know how to manage and cope With problems too big for your size Rest in Me You’re not running the race as before Not sure you will make it alone When you stumble and fall even more Rest in Me
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Gentle Whisper 1 Kings 19:9-15 Perplexing times do come no matter how much we try avoiding Our lives become entrenched And despair starts just pouring All our hopes are quenched And our joy for life stops showing But deep within our hearts there is a deep longing And a strong desire to have worth and belonging Oh, that the sun would shine in the morning And someone would ease our troubles and mourning And give us strength and courage to face the wails and hails That our life has been storming In the midst of all we can hear the voice of God calling But it does not come in the terrible violent wind blowing Nor from the earthquake and fire roaring But from a gentle whisper flowing Tenderly asking us “What are you doing here staring?” “Don’t give up yet, keep on going” “I am with you each step of the way, and you, I’ll always be loving”
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Sitting With Job Job Job was a righteous man perhaps more than any of us today. There was not a single day in which he did not pray. But one day Satan asked God to allow him to tempt him and lead him astray. He brought sword, fire, whirlwind and death to all that he had, all in one day. He lost all his possessions even his children, All except his unhelpful wife who had nothing good to say. Only his life was spared. For God told Satan not to even dare. His body was covered with boils. That made poor Job's body to spoil. All day it made him to suffer and toil. Four friends came to Job one day. They tried to comfort him but only caused him dismay. By accusing him of sin they had no reason to say. Thus Job brought his cause to God day by day. Job's question to God was why the righteous must suffer the pain. While evil men enjoy life and much to gain. "Why oh Lord, do you look at me with disdain?" He bemoaned before God without any restrain. Finally the Lord spoke from a cloud. And spoke to Job very loud. Made him see that His greatness and power is far beyond what He has allowed. His purpose one day will be done. Even if today still has not come. What matters today is to trust God like none. Sitting next to Job today I find myself. Asking the same questions and begging God to help. 74
To speak from above and calm the storm. And assure me that his greatest purpose will one day my life adorn. For now let his Hand and Presence be my norm. And let my hope in Him be reborn.
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Will Justice Come? Isaiah 32:1-8 A man in ragged clothes is on a corner standing Begging for money for a piece of bread Another comes out of a restaurant laughing Passing by him; he has been well fed A woman sobs seated in her living room Bruises on her body, her nose bleeding A man singing out of tune Feeling brave after the beating A child wakes up trembling Begging the man she loves not to hurt her The abuse she has been remembering If only she could say it louder A young man taken into custody The coroners has identified the bodies It all happened as a rhapsody In a cell he will have new buddies A woman looks out her window Wishing tomorrow she’ll have a better mood Lonely and sad as a widow A year has passed and there she has stood Physically and emotionally drained An old man walks through the door He’s been fired for the job he was trained He is too old to serve any more A young mother is counting her pennies Hoping to have enough money To buy her children some tennies Where is the man that called her honey? This is the world where we live today 76
Injustice is around every corner Will justice come some day? Will it ever be better? Look up and pray to the King He’s coming to reign in righteousness There will be justice for all human beings Will you be ready to face his Holiness?
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Have You Forsaken Me? Hebrews 13:5 Plunged beneath the depth of despair Amidst the perplexity of anguish and pain When in our faces there’s only an empty stare And any logical answer brings no gain Till our inner turmoil we can no longer bear We cry out, “My God why have you forsaken me?” And see me with disdain? A small grain of Christ’s suffering we share When we experience life’s pain And conclude how life is so unfair A million questions still remain Silence fills the void of the air Yet we ask, “Is He really sovereign?” “If from life’s pain and suffering he cannot spare” But to have Him speak to us is rare Touching me, encouraging me, serving me, He is there! From the lives of those few people who really care.
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Feeling Pain 1 Peter 1:6-7 As the sparks fly upward so is man made for trouble Said Job, a man who knew the problem of pain by experience All his life came tumbling down like rubble And filled with the pain’s grievance How deep the puncture of pain and sorrow It cannot be measured, it cannot be seen It’s beyond the bone and marrow Yet the soul knows it very keen I feel it inside of me as I grieve and calls to be appeased A heaviness within, a cry to let my soul be free A dam been held back waiting to be released My tears bringing a sigh of relief, thus it comes to be Cleansing agent slowly removing all the excessive debris That has cluttered the soul Bringing a new sense of order, balance and peace To the emotional clock that makes us whole
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A Tear Psalm 56:8 Who can see and ponder The weight of a tear Or whatever lies under For it is not what it appears Their clear and salty taste The ease by which they flow It’s not just a sentimental waste It’s how the soul will grow It carries the sorrow within The baffling experience of pain The joy of the moments we win The moments we’re looked with disdain Every tear bears a silent call A whisper of a person’s soul Saying what words cannot say at all Our longing to be whole
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Dead Sea Psalm 102:3 Lord I feel like the Dead Sea So full inside, yet so dry Nothing flowing within me No matter what I try Make me like the Sea of Galilee Clean, pure and ever flowing Let not sin clutter inside me Keep my life always growing
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Winter’s Chill Ephesians 6 As night approaches by Winter chill marches in Blowing its cold breath wind Upon the midnight sky I dare not face it without protection My full armor I must wear Jacket, scarf, hat, and gloves I must not spare I must bring it into subjection I’ve now come inside My feet and hands I cannot feel To my chimney I come to kneel From Winter Chill I try to hide Chattering teeth, body shivering Winter Chill has left me weak Even my words are hard to speak My mind is left wondering The blankets, the cocoa, the heat Bring warmth to my body and feet Safe till tomorrow I meet Winter’s short lasting feat
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Poems About Special Problems And Issues
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Blooming Matthew 6:13 A small bud I saw once Growing to be a sparkling rose A red, soft, pure, beautiful one Soon to take her first glance It troubled me to see one day An imposing evil force over her It kept her from blooming Keeping the sun beyond her way Soon after, she began to comply To the evil force above her Her appearance began to decay Bound to wither and die So I took this matter to heart Did God meant for this to be? Who can stop this horrible evil deed? And keep her from falling apart? This I can clearly see That it’s not from God But evil robbing her freedom Will not allow her to be I pondered, pondered, why the bud did not fight If all nature around her told her to hold Her life and dignity with all of her might. "Fight my dear flower," I told her so bold "Soon you will bloom, just reach toward the light." As I walked away, I felt a chilling cold. Asking myself if by tomorrow I would be told That the precious life gave in to the plight I could not do but pray to the Lord. 84
And ask Him to give her courage to fight. "Please, dear precious Lord, tell her that there's more Than the evil above her, her future’s so bright She's ready to bloom as never before She is only a step away to her God-given right."
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Chains and Freedom Ezekiel 22:30 Chains are thought to be of the past. Of slaves with no rights, to torture and beat. Forever to last. Yet I see the chains of evil and injustice holding its victims. With fear and intimidation having their grasp. I asked myself how can anyone in such situation be able to last? Evil and abuse cannot be tolerated, it needs be cast. A braveheart is needed today. To champion the freedom that's ever so right. To stand and break the chains, to fight for freedom to stay. And injustice and evil to be taken away. Justice and Freedom must reign. And all of those who chain others be made to pay. Only then, can there be a better today.
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The Fire Within Ephesians 4:26 A raging fire exists It burns and destroys Bringing damage and hurt to our midst It’s the fire within that frustration employs Anger is not just a simple emotion From within our lives it drives Bathing with pain, a hurtful lotion From unfulfilled desires, its strength it derives Anger which robs and kills Innocence, dignity, and life itself Blinding and leading astray our wills Leaving inside a cry for help
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Character 1 Samuel 16:7; Matthew 6:21; 5:3-12 How deceiving are our eyes They fail to see the real “me” Where the real person lies It’s not what we see For it does not reflect our real lives Nor it tells us what we’ll be Our character is the treasure And that’s the real measure To have good there, is a real pleasure
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Dignity Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:4-8; James 3:9 Oh how we’ve lost what we ought to be People living with dignity we hardly see An archaic word has become, yet it could set us free The beauty of our being What we are as humans “dignity” is embodying But I am afraid is close to dying Lying Fighting Cheating Cursing Defrauding Our dignity they are robbing We don’t get much help from our culture For we see that these are the things it nurtures And our dignity it strips like vultures In Books, talk shows, radio, newspapers, that’s where we’ve met And for this we don’t even have to make a bet These are just too easy to get But if we believe we are only animals who have evolved There’s nothing to be resolved We are just “higher” animals who revolve Soon or later to be dissolved Or we can believe in God’s image we are created With intrinsic value integrated Both truths cannot be separated They are to be lived and celebrated
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Thus, as humans (and Christians) we have no excuse It’s dignity for all what we ought to choose Lest our effectiveness we lose Anything less won’t end the abuse
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I Wish I Could Proverbs 14:12 I wish I could tell you I have forgotten you. I really wish I could. I try so hard to keep you out; no luck will find me too. God knows I really would. Change the past and make it new. I wish it was a week today for you. A dream fulfilled a dream come true. I wish, I wish, I wish you knew. That better things can be for you. No need to make bad things be good. When there's no chance it can be true. I wish, I wish I could. Give you the courage to make you do. To choose the path that's best for you. I really wish you would.
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Fear Psalm 27:1; 23:4 “Lord, help me to face fear That whispers in my ear ‘Your life to me is dear But I’ll keep you in the rear’ In your name fear I reprimand For only you can my life command And my love and loyalty demand With you I will walk hand in hand”
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What is Life? Psalm 90:12 We think we know it’s meaning So confident we stand everyday We have no other feeling What is life? We never ask `Cause we think That’s not our task When pain comes our way Reality hits us That’s when we pray What is life oh Lord? Am I living my call? Are we in one accord? Life is but a shadow Devoid of any substance Better the life of a sparrow Life is but a vapor Fleetly moving Think she cut a caper Life is but a flower Beautiful only a moment `Till death takes the power Seize the Day Don’t make plans for tomorrow So I hear some say Weigh your life How much is the worth? Make it count today
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Through The Eyes Of A Child Matthew 18:3; Luke 10:21 I wish I could see life through the eyes of a child. To them life is so simple and mild. Play and game is what matters and makes time so worthwhile. How untrue this is for me, So many pressures and preoccupations that make my self so wild. They don't worry about tomorrow, The future or even today, It's the moment they seize that makes life so okay. They sing, they laugh, they pretend. Life is not serious to them. How easy it is for them to believe what they are told. Unlike adults who question, doubt, and reason so bold. What can they fear? They are happy, satisfied and assured. But we have so many things to make us insecure. So if we plan our life to endure. Let us learn to be pure. Through the eyes of a child.
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The Gift of Life Psalm 139 Oh Lord, how marvelous is the gift of life That to us you have kindly granted The precious life in the womb of my wife Through our holy union...the seed of life you planted So small, just over an inch and a half long Yet you are in God’s image, a human being Your little heart already beating so strong Your precious little body has slowly been forming Your perfect little mouth opening and closing Sucking your thumb even though you are not yet born Your eyes, tiny little feet, legs, and arms all been shaping It is how your body will be...all in the making I can see you already moving fast in the womb From the weekly ultrasound pictures the doctor’s been taking I paste each of them in my diary I keep in my room You are so picture perfect my child...nothing you’re lacking As everything that God has ever caused to bloom Since the day you were conceived time I’ve been tracking Each time I count the days... it appears to loom As I long for that day when your face I will see Holding you and kissing you as it was meant to be And praise to my Father will come from me: “Thank you Lord for the wonderful gift of life... May glory and praise be always given to Thee.”
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Heartbeat Psalm 139:13-18 An image in my mind is very keen From a picture I have already seen It’s dark all around It’s from the ultrasound Not everything is so clear And nothing I can hear Yet I see something that blinks As a flash of a camera that winks My child, it’s your heart! As I see it I marvel at the sight What sets life apart It’s that forceful beating hiding from the light I wonder my little child What it is like to be there Is everything inside so calm and mild? Does the darkness around you make you scared? Does it help you to hear my voice? Does it make any difference to you? Or is it just noise? It’s amazing...long ago I was there too! I bet you feel the warmth of mommy All around you...you feel her Wrapping you with her tummy Nothing could be better! Oh but you’ve seen your Maker He’s been with you all along He has been the note taker With Him nothing can go wrong He has written what you will be 96
In the master plan has been written I long for that day when you I will see When the now will be then
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Love’s Paradox Proverbs 30:18-19 It’s feeling But willing Possessing Not obsessing Caring Not overbearing Suffering long Not denying the wrong Giving And receiving Expecting the best Doing the rest Living Dying
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My Three Little Angels Abigail, Keren and Ariel my three little angels you are. To me you will always shine in my life like the stars. Though I could not hold you and now you are so far. I have you always in my heart and this is not hard. Abigail you were only eleven and a half weeks in your mother’s womb. But you were still precious to us even though your life never fully bloomed. That’s when we lost you and we were pierced with deep wounds. And our life was filled with gloom. Father of joy is what your name means. And though the joy you brought me was brief, During the short time you were part of our human scene, My Father’s eyes you did glean. And one day in eternity, dear Abbi, we will see you and will be together just as we dreamed. We will be with God and with all the redeemed. Keren, for all the seven and a half weeks your life we did adore. But we kept you secret for to rejoice and lose you, Was something we could not afford. We only hoped and prayed that it would not be as before. But nothing we could do saved you, For you as well went with the Lord. Our hearts were again broken and torn. And our eyes would never see your day to be born. Yet we know dear Keren, one day we will see you, hold you and embrace you, And beauty for ashes our lives will adorn. Ariel, my little lion of God, you were so bold. Up until that terrible day you fought, when your heart could not hold. It was almost five months, when your heart stopped and we were told. We could not believe this was true, a mistake perhaps, so we turned to the Lord. We prayed, and prayed with much faith and begged as never before. 99
When we got to the hospital they told us you were not alive. And at that moment I wished it were I that had died. But the next twelve hours that followed were hell and I cannot lie. Everywhere around me I heard the sounds of life. But in our room was death, of life deprived. I will never forget that time though it’s so hard to tell. When your perfect little body your mom did hold. At that time, the pain inside me seemed to have a spell. And I no longer could hold the pain and anguish inside myself. So I cried, and cried, and asked you little one why you could not live. There’s nothing in the world that for you I would not give. If only one time I would see you breathe and the stare of your eyes I would receive. Would ease my anguish and the amount of pain that cannot be conceived. Your perfect little body cold it was, but it was there. Your tiny little hands and feet I touched and glared. Your precious little eyes, eyebrows, arms and legs did I stare. How anyone could deny you life, how can anyone even dare. To think that I would not see you grow up with your brother and sister was so hard to bear. Oh that my life would end and yours be spared. You are in perfect Hands, I know this, you have his perfect care. But one day, my dear Ariel, very soon, I will be with you there. Those were difficult days. I found it so hard to pray. My heart was so full of dismay. Why, I asked God, he would not allow you to stay. “An answer I received”, I wished I could say. But I have not, maybe in heaven, for now what comforts me is his grace. One prayer I have asked the Lord to be. That when I cross the valley of death, you my three little angels Abigail, Keren and Ariel, will be waiting for me. A dream come true, on that day when your face I will see.
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Para ustedes mis angelitos siempre habrĂĄ en mi corazĂłn un lugar. Es imposible que yo los pueda olvidar. Nunca, nunca, los dejarĂŠ de amar.
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Dear Gibbie Dear Gibbie, yesterday around eleven am you were born, though I didn’t see I wasn’t there, but when I got to the hospital your mommy told me so I asked her if she wanted a name for you, as it should be “Gibbie” I quickly said, and she never told me no In a novel I began to read, Gibbie was a little orphan boy who could not speak Yet the words for him did not matter, for Gibbie’s actions showed all the more Of material things he only had ragged clothes, but he was kind, giving and very meek Every place he went he helped anyone, even drunks who had nothing worthy to adore Gibbie’s life embodied innocence And his constant smile told it all His life made so much sense So big in heart, though in size so small That is how I imagined you my little boy Though I never saw you breathe nor heard you speak Though I will never see you play with any toy Though you will never play with your brother and sister hide and seek Your short life of only seventeen weeks Has changed everything within me Yet today I feel the pain has made me so weak I do not know why your life was not allowed to be Now that you have left, I feel in my life emptiness and sorrow And all my desires and wishes about you in an instant have vanished I wish I could say everything would be different tomorrow And that this would be a dream to be finished If I could only hear your voice Telling me “Daddy is alright” “I am safe and cared for by my Father” “He is holding me while we wait for you....on that day so bright” “When we will have our big family reunion all together” “And thus will be forever” Oh, I wonder dear Gibbie if my words matter 102
For I do not know if you can hear them But I will write them in my heart, and all of them till eternity gather For you my Gibbie, my precious little gem
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Life’s Irony Down the hall There’s a secluded room that’s small It’s dark and cold, just the light of the sink is on The room is painted with a pinkish paint Bouquets of yellow flowers painted are the decoration There’s a mother laying with her knees bent She can barely keep her eyes open Pain killers make her sleep...she can barely keep track The words she has spoken She lays on her back As her husband watches and paces through the room He goes back to his chair and continues to read his book till noon Time passes by slowly...a baby they expect to come out of the womb Only this baby will never be expected to survive They call it fetal demise Another way to say it’s not alive All around the halls there are echoes of baby’s crying A sound they will never hear They wait impatiently for the ending As other ones around them wait the moment to cheer They expect to see a small lifeless body not big enough for the hand Tears and sadness will fill their lives As the cries of life around them parade like a band For them, today means part of them dies Tomorrow, proud parents go home and their babies they carry But they will leave empty handed This bad memory they will try to bury A baby is all they ever wanted Instead they got life’s irony The place of happiness and joy for them, was tears and sadness How can they both exist in harmony? I just don’t know, but I’ve played my part in this madness
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No Baby! It was Thursday morning I went to pick up my wife at the hospital It was only the beginning of our mourning We wanted to get out of there as fast as we could, that’s all So I had to go talk to the nurse to get her out by nine But she wasn’t there, only the off duty one She asked me if I need it help and she didn’t whine So I told her my wife needed to be released...she had asked to be done She asked for the last name To which I replied immediately As soon as I said it the on-duty nurse came But the other one quickly asked politely “Has the baby been released?” To which the on-duty nurse replied hastily By saying my last name...to help her remember what she missed Embarrassed by the situation the off-duty nurse looked at me It finally dawned on her...on Tuesday she was the nurse for my wife How could she make a dumb mistake...how could it be? She had forgotten, that room had no baby, no life! “Please forgive me again,” she inquired “Is all right” I responded still numb Yet another wound was not required But I could not speak then, I was dumb Now how I wish it had never transpired On top of my grief was it so plum?
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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Stars Twinkle, twinkle, little stars How I wonder where you are As I watch them in the sky I ask myself why I can see them at night With their blinking lights But you, my little stars, I cannot have with me Why you were never meant to be I cannot stop to think How bright you could have shined With every blink A year of life along with mine But it’s not so today You are so far away No matter how much I pray Nothing can take the void inside me I carry each day My stars are missing My heart knows well This is nothing to be teasing This I can surely tell My little stars that shine the gloomy sky tonight You bring a ray of hope and light Even though you’re so far away That I cannot touch nor reach you too There will come that special day When time and space will not divide us... When together, we’ll light the sky with you!
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Ultra-Sound? The last ultrasound picture I have pasted Brings back memory of the lived ones I tasted When the first thing mommy looked was your heart throbbing She thanked God that you were fine And helped us to keep thriving For your birth at that blessed time But it all ended that Monday afternoon When the ultrasound showed your heart had stopped beating That’s when all our hopes turned to doom As if our own hearts stopped living Now all I have is this vague picture Of your little body laying still And my wounds have no suture To mend the soul there is no pill It is a picture of you in the womb Of that day when it became your tomb
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Baby Blues A two-month baby I held today Ironically, a week after mine she did arrive But mine with me did not stay My little Gibbie was not alive As her daddy kissed her tiny lips gently I could not help to ponder That I would do that exactly But I’m only left to wonder As I held her close to me Her sweet peculiar baby smell For a moment allowed me to be A proud father under the infant’s spell Yet I know this isn’t true He won’t ever be here It’s the baby blues That makes every thing to appear This is Audrey my niece With her proud parents she leaves And my heart senses a missing piece As a barren tree without any of its leaves I only hope tomorrow will be better And I won’t feel the heavy toll Perhaps, as I now write each letter With Baby blues I will not stroll
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Pleasure 2 Timothy 3:1-4; Ecclesiastes 1:1; 12:13 The god of our times is pleasure This seems to be the human measure It may be money, sex or possessions Or the many forms and expressions How easy it is for it to become an obsession Its alluring call promises instant gratification But it never tells us how much pleasure will bring a recession We follow the god of pleasure Without any hesitation Thus we become a beggar of pleasure Hoping it will become our salvation But time after time pleasure fails to be of any duration And we are short changed of our own expectations A long time ago, a wise man made an exclamation “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity,” he said on one occasion. The measure of man is not pleasure That was his observation It’s to fear God and keep his commandments he mentioned To Him and Him only should be our sole dedication
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Words James 1:19 I wish I could take back the foolish words I have spoken. At that moment I thought they were reasonable words, But now I would trade them for an affectionate token. "I am sorry", "forgive me," are not enough to mend the heart they have broken. What can I do, say now, or offer to you that could heal or take back, Everything I've spoken. Our good times of the past, good things of the future, my poem, My long-lasting friendship, I bring unto you. Please take them, for all the wrong words I have spoken.
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Sticks And Stones Proverbs 12:18 Sticks and stones may hurt my bones, Words will never hurt me is what we are told. So off we go pretending we are never hurt inside, believing we are so bold. But if we look inside ourselves we find the pain and hurt upon our human soul. So admit to yourself you've become so callous and so cold. The first step in healing is realizing what's kept your life on hold. There is no shame in admitting what you could not control. So weep and lament for your pain today. For tomorrow you'll reap the peace that'll make you whole.
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Our Wounded Children Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Proverbs 1:7 Where have we been all these years? While are our children have been growing? That we’ve not seen them disappear And have taken the wrong turn without us knowing We have cared more about everything it appears That we’ve not had time to see the signs they are showing Their violence and anger only confirms our many fears Our children our wounded; we missed their years of glowing They’ve learned how to kill and now we’ve reaped many tears Across our nation more often we see them flowing How could we be so blind all these years? We never missed to see where the wind was blowing But we sure forgot our kid’s lives to steer What we see today is only showing That we did not value their life as dear It’s time to stop and see where we are going And teach our children God to fear It’s the only hope we have for slowing The tide that’s causing their consciences to sear There’s no time to loose; let’s begin sowing We might still get them to hear Let’s plant the seed of goodness while still is morning Or else a time will come when they won’t be near They are calling for help, let’s not close our ears!
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Stellar Heaven Psalm 19 A stellar heaven Lights the midnight sky They proclaim a bright peaceful haven Yet it does not require a reply “I am higher than the raven” Silently cries A present given to no young maiden God’s gift to every human alive I am the music of heaven Music of Heaven When everything doesn’t seem right Shinning at night A miracle thrives The silent music of heaven Gives hope and revives
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Spanish Poems Poemas en EspaĂąol (I have included several poems in Spanish for those who are Spanish speakers. My apologies to those who do not know Spanish. Translations would not do justice.)
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Lo Mejor Deseo lo mejor No porque sea superior Ni tampoco porque sea inferior Es porque tengo valor Y llevo en mi interior El deseo de hacer este mundo mejor
Amor No es sólo un sentir Ni sólo querer recibir O tratar de adquirir Es para otros vivir Y a otros servir Y aún por otros sufrir
Temor Señor, tengo temor Por fávor dáme valor Para confrontarlo Y atarlo Al amor tuyo Y no sea yo suyo En tu nombre lo redarguyo Y me declaro sólo tuyo 115
Tu Oh Señor Tu oh Señor, Mi Salvador Mi Redentor Mi Defensor Mi Protector No puedo desear nada mejor
Suspiro Vuela mi suspiro Anhela lo que aspiro Invoca lo que admiro Expresa mis sueños Me hace sentir dueño De este Salvadoreño
Alas Quisiera tener alas para volar Y poder del mundo escapar Y del cielo poder admirar Y La pequeñez de mi vida poder realizar Y la grandeza de Dios poder observar
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La Paradoja del Amor Es dependencia Es independencia Es esperar Es actuar Es soportar Es confrontar Es sentir Es decidir Es repartir Es recibir Es dejar ir Es convivir Es vivir Es morir
Paz Interior Es para muchos una jolla deseada Se busca cada día con ansia La calma interior codiciada Tan poco se encuentra hoy día Si se tiene es sólo por un momento Pues el afán del diá tan pronto la quita Y sólo deja en el alma un frio lamento: “¡Si tan solo tuviera poquita!” 117
Sentimiento Cielo Nublado Triste Despejado Fuiste Azuleado Vistes Callado Todo
Botella Vacia Botella vacia Helada Volteada Gira en el piso Resbala En lo liso Mira Hacia arriba Busca llenura De la mano Ternura
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Serenata Nocturna Caminando de noche No estoy solo Caminando conmigo Va, serenata nocturna Concierto melĂłdico De criaturas terrestes Estrellas celestes Al compas, serenata nocturna. Invitante sonido Me hablan al oido No son un ruido Serenata nocturna “Descansa en paz oh buen amigoâ€? El coro invita Serenata nocturna
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