Follow Me 1-29-07

I stood out on a sandy beach - waves crashing on the shore,
I wondered why I was alone. The waves hit with a roar,
I knew the fish kept close in schools, way out there in the sea -
and then I heard a still small voice, "Have faith, and you will see..."

I wandered by our big, old oak. Its branches, breezes sway.
I wondered why I was alone. I heard birds chirp away.
I knew that birds stayed closely by, protected in that tree -
and then I heard a still small voice, "Have faith, and you will see..."

I sat there by my window – heard noises that were made..
I wondered why I was alone as all the children played.
I knew that children in their way, stayed close and played so free -
and then I heard a still small voice, "Have faith, and you will see..."

My teary eyes were buried in my favorite chair, so soft.
I wondered why I was alone as prayers floated aloft.
I prayed. My trembling hands clasp tight - was blind, it couldn't be -
and then I heard a still small voice, "Have faith, and you will see..."

I waited for an answer but my patience had run out.
I wondered why I was alone. Proof verified all doubt.
Jesus, just before the cross, was denied His final plea -
again, I heard that still small voice, "Have faith, and you will see..."

I'm gone, but not so much alone. I'm here with Heaven's King.
Our Savior sits beside Him! Can you hear the angels sing?
My hands I hold up, way up high! Heaven's riches I now see!
So listen to His still small voice, "Have faith, come follow me."

©2007 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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

Rev. 2:10 (KJ) “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

Our Crossroad 1-28-07

I'm always at a crossroad. Decisions make it so.
My head spins in circles but - I choose which way I go.
The world flies past every day. They race both to and fro.
They seem to know just what they want, but do they really know?

They push, and shove, and like a bull - they charge with all their hate,
-Struggling on mountains - and in valleys under weight.
Then they pull around sharp corners - their rocky burdens great.
They lie, steal and murder - but to that I can't relate.

Many times it's their entire fault. The edge they like to skirt.
They lean way out but want to be - protected from all hurt.
At times they work through dinner but their work still tastes like dirt,
And when it comes to getting paid, demand their full dessert.

Each road leads to other burdens as all had led to Rome.
Ways deceive with wealth and pleasure. Through deserts some will comb.
But no matter which way they turn, we know they'll always roam.
And carrying their burdens on - they'll never find their home.

Some don't find an answer so - decisions they won't make,
Yet doing nothing is but a - decision of mistake.
They cannot sleep through heartache and - they cannot take a break,
For each and every morning problems greet when they awake.

Once I crawled inside of me, collapsing in my skin,
Yet couldn't push the world out as I crawled back deep within.
The answers not inside of us, so now we must begin,
For what is our direction when our pity draws us in?

All three hundred sixty degrees, our decisions are no joke.
From our hub of life we see and test our every spoke.
Although the way is not so clear because of lies and smoke,
There’s One who will cut through it all. He does for honest folk.

We must pray and then step up to face our flaming arrow.
He leads us by still waters as we walk the straight and narrow.
I look down on one side - to streams of pain and sorrow.
Way up the other, burdens' rocks - yet He protects the sparrow.

©2007 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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In His Sandals 1-20-07

I cannot serve two masters. I serve, but only one,

for if I love some sinfulness, I hate God's only Son.

Could I walk in His sandals? Do I really understand?

Of what would it encompass? Of what would it demand?

Could I put up with some abuse, and could I humbly be,

a whipping board of insults, for all to scoff at me?

Could I withstand a whipping? Tell me, would I know,

the pain down in my open wounds, torn flesh from every blow?

Could I, but bear the privilege - to be a king renowned,

my face stained in bloody streaks from such a thorny crown?

And would I know the cost of love, our God's most precious grace,

or would I simply think of me and hate the human race?

Could I endure the anguish then, as ropes bind hands and feet,

so knotted up so tightly that - I'd give in to defeat?

There on my back, could I stare at - a spike set on my skin,

then watch them take a heavy stone and slam it deep within?

Oh, I would know what's coming next.  I'd clench my other fist.

Could I endure another nail- or would I just resist?

Then tortured even further, could pain be so complete,

when to the cross I'm nailed with- another through my feet?

Slowly ropes raise cross and I. The base slides in the hole.

Then in ghastly, horrid pain, would that jerk shake my soul?

So there I'd hang, alone up high- for all to mock and hate.

Could I endure the anguish then? Can I, to that relate?

Could I survive for several hours in pain and endless shame -

and would I ask forgiveness for the ones that I could blame?

And could I die for ALL the world- their sinful sacrifice -

and know that few would love me? Would that, for me, suffice?

And would my final miracle then call for heavenly hosts -

or would I yield to Father's will and then give up the ghost?

No, hate and anger would not end.  The sword would pierce my side....

Oh, would I slip away and hide? Which way would I decide?

His sandals are too large to fill. His time, so long ago,

and Heaven- much too far away, while I'm down here below.

But could I wear His sandals- if I was called upon,

and are my trials greater that- I'd gladly put His on?

He demands my little faith. He holds no speck of wrath,

when He's a lamp unto my feet- a light unto my path.

Yes, I wear His sandals- for I've been called upon

and faithful every morning now, I slip them boldly on.

This poem may explain it- but who really understands?

For every sin that we commit puts nails through Jesus' hands.

We cannot serve two masters. We serve, but only one.

We have to hate all sinfulness, to love God's only Son.

©2007 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

Luke 16:10 (NASB)
"He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much;
and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.”

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Grace 1-18-07

Faults have consequence - always entwine.
My faults are many. My sins all mine.
If I could forget. But I know not how
and failures still haunt me, even now.

Always stalking, collecting many,
the burdens I bear - they are aplenty.
Even one burden that's heavy and great,
crushes me totally under its weight.

What have I done? And what is the cure?
My guilt is too heavy. I cannot endure....
I could change it - make it all disappear-
if I could relive each wayward year.

I cannot go back, but if i could,
would my new actions be perfectly good?
I guess I know that this miserable soul
could not relive it, to make me whole.

I'm all torn apart - from limb to limb.
My hope is but gone, my life bleak and grim.
My head is spinning. Emotions are tossed.
Oh, woe am I – I am totally lost!

If the world could smell my putrid old blood,
they would drag my body through all the mud.
And If I was judged by truth and jury,
they'd hang me quick in their own fury.

And if the judge was fair, cold and just,
was shown my failures - rot, odor and rust;
he'd throw the whole world of death down at me,
and hang me high from the tallest tree.

I'd be happy and sure would not run-
if I could wish it completely undone!
But I cannot change a single thing,
I must sacrifice. I will now bring-

all my possessions, all my good stuff,
my house, my car, my job... is that enough?
Take my wealth, put it all under key.
Is that not enough? Please just agree.

No, even that is so insufficient,
for I am so lost - ugly, deficient;
No work I can do, will fix up my past,
nor heal one scar of failures sharp blast.

Really, the answer is not mine to give,
I can't change history. I cannot relive....
Please! My burden, could someone now lift?
It would be the greatest, most special gift!

Who could love so much - to take such a loss,
and die Himself - on a rugged old cross?
The answer was gifted from one loving face-
from God's act of mercy and glorious grace.

©2007 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Romans 11:6 (NASB) “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

Faith 1-10-07

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At first my faith was in my mother, and her two loving hands.
But then I had faith in my father, in his wisdom, work and plans.

Then I put faith in the whole wide world, it's size so large and immense;
But then when I learned of its problems, I built up my little fence.

So then I put faith in someone else, I'd know and always agree;
Faith that I had in abundance - was in honest, trustworthy me.

But I couldn't find all the answers, so in others I'd confer;
Because two heads are better than one, we all then should concur.

So I put my faith in our Church, for I started long ago;
And I spent my time in fellowship, but I didn't seem to grow.

As I circled in deep despair, lost in my lonely, selfish groans;
Determined to find something; to heal my ever, fragile bones.

I put my faith in all my works, for without it, faith is dead;
But again I failed in all my works, so looked to grace instead.

And I put all my faith in grace alone - which was the final blow;
As I sat back expecting - but never once prepared to grow.

It never seems to cross my mind, that my chair might soon collapse;
But yet I question God in prayer. Do I trust Him? Well, perhaps....

Age and wisdom has surely proved that I can't do it on my own.
I've always had faith in something else, but now it's in God alone.

©2007 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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The Missing Ingredient 1-3-07

God, the covenant, and man – the law in stone was cast.

But broke, all men, the covenant before Moses breathed his last.

A new covenant began, that man might touch the stars.

But man would break the newest one and needed Jesus' scars.

Now what are we to do today? Sufficient is God's grace.

So what ingredient is missing as we sit here in disgrace?

To fulfill God's newest covenant takes more than prayer and song.

And "grace believing's" all and good - but by itself is wrong.

For even demons all believe! In cringing truth, they shutter,

So we've researched 'theology' and other endless clutter.

Has every soul on Earth been saved? Was assurance known by Saul?

Did someone cure his blindness and was his name changed to Paul?

Decision, yes, we had made. Of course our works are dead,

so now upon foundation's rock let's move 'belief' ahead.

God performed His gracious act. It was by Him alone.

By grace, ye are saved through faith. So may our faith be shown.

Faith is the missing ingredient, in God's covenant with man,

from demons, we are separate, completing His full plan.

Do not let Satan deceive you blowing feelings to and fro.

The world grabs for grace alone, but they need faith also.

Remember, Jesus healed the sick. Their faith had made them well.

They then went out and told the world. What stories they could tell!

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

We must throw out all other gods - on Jesus’ name must lean.

©2007 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Romans 3: 21-27

21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested,
being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe;
for there is no distinction;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.
This was to demonstrate His righteousness,
because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time,
so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Where then is boasting?
It is excluded By what kind of law? Of works?
No, but by a law of faith.

The Contrast 1-1-07

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Man is not God - so many are lost,
and it's not just a matter of odds....
When creation rejects the Creator,
it proves we're men - not gods.

The Creator begat His own earthly birth,
His creation cut a tree for the cross.
His faithfulness carried that burdensome tree,
and our selfishness rode on the loss.

His humbleness exposed - first a manger,
but our pride buried Him. He was dead.
His wrath - into swine - removed demons,
but our anger poked thorns in His head.

His generosity drew multitudes to Him,
but our greed nailed hands held wide.
His knowledge pierced the Pharisee's lies,
but our gossip pierced through His side.

In loving kindness, He cried, "Abba Father!"
but our hate mocked His sweat drops of blood.
His mercy gave paradise to one alongside,
but our sin took His life like a flood.

His power, from death, removed the stone,
but our weakness moves from mask to mask.
His peace resides up in Heaven.
Now the war in our souls is at task.

God is perfect, sinless, true.
While creation wanders lost;
many are called, but few are chosen,
yet for His mercy and grace, no cost.

He paved the way through thick and thin,
so that we, in Him, can cleave.
Grace can save every man from sin -
if we - through faith - believe!

©2007 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ganderpoems.org

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