Walking Faith 1-31-10

Water is scary,
when overboard thrown.
Water is scary,
as drownings have shown.
Water is scary,
but way overblown.
Water is scary,
when it is unknown.

Walking on water,
not saying I should.
Walking on water,
not piers made of wood.
Walking on water,
I would if I could.
Walking on water,
so misunderstood.

Faith is the secret,
when water's ignored.
Faith is the secret,
with all one accord.
Faith is the secret,
so let's get aboard.
Faith is the secret
to come to the Lord.

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Matthew 14: (NASB)
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."

28 Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."

29 And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"

31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

The Prize 1-31-10

I sat beside my window.
With all that I could see,
the breeze was blowing slightly as
the sunlight fell on me.

I noticed younger children
outside that warm spring day -
they ran around in circles and
enjoyed their active play.

One boy - reached up for something -
invisible it seemed -
as he would run and jump up high,
still grabbing for his dream.

Now was he catching sunlight?
My face just simply grinned.
He seemed to have a reason for
his grasping at the wind.

Then stopped, he with his hands clasped.
He slowly peeked inside.
And then suspense - amazement heard,
"A butterfly!" he cried.

The bills we know are overdue,
an endless task it seems -
but life from children shine on me.
How futile are life's dreams.

I sit here in the sunlight,
on God's tremendous earth,
I soak in all its beauty and
find peace, therein its worth.

I know I grasped for other things,
I willed to 'get ahead'.
But now as years have passed me by
I've found the prize instead.

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Genesis 1: (KJV)
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Over, Under & On 1-30-10

Over temptations hellish flames,
over my selfish, foolish games,
over my ego, over my pride,
and over all evil desire inside,

Over my wants and over my needs,
over my endless, selfish greed,
over the impulse of this land,
for something, somewhere, I must stand.

Over my wasted days and years,
over my sad and futile tears,
over possessions and over my shoes,
over my travels, I must choose.

Under the stars, the sun, the moon,
under the clouds of midday, noon,
under the clouds which turned to gray,
I saw in the sand, for me, the way.

Under the message, I could sing,
under the crown of thorns, my King,
under the face of endless love,
I was fully unworthy of.

Under temptations people stray,
under Barabbas, come what may,
under both nails that pierced His hands,
noticed my purpose in the sands.

Under the sword that pierced his side,
over the grave and grace inside,
under the feet, securely nailed,
over all clearly - I had failed.

Under excuses that I'd built,
over depressions from my guilt,
under the cross, my Lord's upon,
there lay His sandals, I put on.

On with compassion so humbly found,
on with a purpose completely sound,
on, despite others who might be appalled,
on to a mission for which I was called.

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Remember those in need in Haiti
and others in true need around the world.

Matthew 25:31-46 (KJV)
31 "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.

34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

35 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;

36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'

37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?

38 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?

39 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'

40 "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'

41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;

42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;

43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'

44 "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?'

45 "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'

46 "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

My Horse 1-18-10

The course was very narrow,

the trail, straight and long -

I moseyed on that perfect path

where I could do no wrong.
I kicked my big, white stallion,

up rocky slopes one day -

and when I made this clearing,

I knew I'd found the way.

And while I sat there on my faith,

atop the highest hill -

and as I peered on valley low,

I judged folks all until -

I found great fault in everyone

no matter, great or small -

so I could sit up highest on

my saddle, straight and tall.

I prayed; "Oh, those pathetic souls

are hardly good for thee -

for never are they good enough,

unless they're just like me.

Just look at their bad habits,

just look at all their stuff,

and why don't they attend my church?

They are not good enough!
They sin in many different ways,

they fall in numbers too.

They just don't understand that they -

are not like me and You."

Now after telling God that they

had wandered way off course -

t'was then that I was bucked right off

my high and mighty horse.

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Matthew 23:12 (NASB) "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled;
and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted."

Horizon's Path 1-12-10

When all the richest people rest in graveyards,
before their grand possessions rot and rust,
I turn my eyes and humbly look to Heaven,
for Jesus is the only one I trust.

When all the famous celeb's rest in graveyards,
and all their loyal fans find other 'stars',
I turn my eyes and humbly look to Heaven,
for Jesus is my friend who holds the scars.

When all the greatest rulers rest in graveyards,
down underneath their oxen and their plows,
I turn my eyes and humbly look to Heaven,
for I have life which only God allows.

When all the folks around me fall to pieces,
solutions sought - but they can find them not -
I shake my head in wonder with the Heavens,
for I have Him whom they have all forgot.

When all the world can wonder why I'm happy -
and simple minds can't seem to understand,
I simply trust God's promises in Heaven,
continuing to hold His loving hand.

When friends and family wonder why I journey,
to places in my thoughts they'll never know -
horizons of my faith still kiss the Heavens,
as that's the path I'm traveling below.

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Job 23 (NASB)
10 "But He knows the way I take;
When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11"My foot has held fast to His path;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12"I have not departed from the command of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

And Now I Understand 1-12-10

Though life's unjust, in God I trust,
He knows me as we talk.
Though Satan stalk, I onward walk,
as bodies turn to dust.

Despite the chill, I trust Him still,
He knows my every fault.
Though sin assault, I must be salt,
I follow fast His will.

In pastures green, on Him I lean,
my cup does overflow.
As waters glow, my faith can grow,
He leads by waters clean.

And as God planned, He holds my hand,
He knows all pain I bear.
He answers prayer, in Heaven there,
and now I understand.

He makes me lie, in pastures high,
His grace He freely gives.
As He forgives, we'll always live,
My Master, God and I.

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Psalm 23 (1-6)(KJV)
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
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.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Who Whispers? 1-11-10

Who whispers with the sunrise to a bright new day?
Who whispers when work calls and my troubles weigh?

Who whispers when snow settles on the contoured landscape?
Who whispers when a flower grows and takes its shape?

Who whispers when the waters in all the streams speak?
Who whispers day after day and week after week?

Who whispers when winter surrenders to the spring?
Who whispers when breezes make the leaves sing?

Who whispers when all the roses bloom?
Who whispers even in mothers womb?

Who whispers when a loved one dies?
Who whispers when my sad heart cries?

Who whispers in a waterfall?
Who whispers when I can't recall?

Who whispers promise in each rainbow?
Who whispers when the waters flow?

Who whispers when I'm happy or in fear?
Who whispers each month, year after year?

Who whispers in colorful clouds with setting sun?
Who whispers horizons silhouette when the day is done?

Who whispers in a still, small voice at every start?
Who answers my prayers direct from my heart?

Who answers in grace from way up in Heaven?
Who answers forgiveness, seventy times seven?

Who answers the whisper, when it has begun,
and then cries, "My God, oh what have I done?"

Who answers humbly - that still, small voice?
Who answers sincerely, with great rejoice?

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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1 Kings 19:12 (KJV) "And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice."

Where Jesus Waits 1-10-10

The path of least resistance
is popular and wide.
It's trampled by the simple
until they all have died.

The wind tears homes to pieces
and kills without remorse.
The path of least resistance
will have its way, of course.

But running wise with purpose,
I'm braced against the wind.
I fight the lies that bellow on
the path where all have sinned.

And water flows so freely
while cutting out with force -
the path of least resistance,
while winding its own course.

I swim against the current
and seek the truth upstream,
ignoring cries from foolish
and sin's deceptions dream.

Yes, steadfast I have journeyed -
escaped both wind and flood -
I hold my sights on footsteps
that follow drops of blood.

So follow in the footsteps,
on straight and narrow path -
escape deceptions of this world
where death is sure - and wrath.

Yes, paths of least resistance
are popular and wide.
They carry off the simple
until they all have died.

The wide and easy path is trod
where foolish still discuss -
but walk the straight and narrow one
where Jesus waits for us.

©2010 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Matthew (NASB) 13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."