Meant To Be (song lyrics) 8-26-14

(lyrics set to Hymn To Hope)

Selfish, was I?

I want-ed my own way.

and wanted it - to stay, that, way,

so I could life - enjoy...

But then the skies - poured - down -

and threw me to - the, mud-dy, ground

so then I tried - to run and hide

where I could not be - found.

Again - the skies - poured - down

and threw me to the muddy ground

so there, I - stayed, and prayed  

where sin could not - destroy. 

--- (short interlude / change of key)

Selfish?

I tried to close my eyes.

No matter how I tried and tried,

I couldn't hold my cries...

Selfish, was I?  Oh, why -

I shut, so tight, my wear-y - eyes.

No matter how I tried - and tried

I could-n't - hold my cries.

The tears - poured out - of - me

My life was blurred.  I could-n't see

the words my mother spoke -

that pain was meant to be.

The tears poured out - of - me.

My heart was blurred.  I could-n't see -

the cross where Jesus died -

(fade) that love was meant to - be...

(continue fade) ...that love was meant to be...

©2014 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Two Special Plaques 8-24-14

(A true story as told to me by my Aunt Luella at North Clayton, WI

until they (my mom, aunts and uncles) moved from the house on 3-1-1937)

The wind blew high, our barnyard dirt,

so cleaning was a must -

but after chores and after we

were cleaned of country dust.

Our farm house was quite simple and

our painted walls were bare -

except for those two special plaques

I still remember there.

The Ten Commandments took its place
above the other one.
It hung on wall with window and
it shared the setting sun.
I thought about their meanings each,
the words and every line -
and read and reread many times -
up through the age of nine.
Though we had moved, those words sunk in
I saw there on the wall,
with no TV or radio,
I'd memorized them all.

The second plaque, just seven words.

No picture or a frame.

But I remember to this day,

its message still the same.

It hung below the other there

and it, I too, still see.

Embossed down deep within my soul

its words still follow me.

Oh, "not My will but Thine be done."

So powerful the thought -

if Christ could give His very life

then I'd do what I ought.

I often looked at those two plaques.

What else was there to do?

I'm pleased to have remembered them

to share them now with you.

Our farm house was quite simple and

our painted walls were bare -

except for those two special plaques

I still remember there.

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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New Life Begins 8-21-14

Among bright bloom,

among good friends,

among our thoughts,

new life begins...

...begins with hope,

...begins with Thee,

...begins with grace,

eternally.

From breath of birth to end of day,

Come, Jesus, come -

and come what may.

The sun moves quickly through the sky.

Come, Jesus, come -

for we know why.

As brightness dims and all seems lost -

Come, Jesus, Come -

two timbers crossed.

It dims, the more and death we face.

Come, Jesus, Come -

You offer grace.

Repentance peaks as darkness looms.

Come, Jesus, Come -

Forgiveness blooms.

The sun surrenders to the west.

Come, Jesus, Come -

when laid to rest.

But Heaven calls bright morning sun-

Come, Jesus, Come -

to live as one.

Among bright bloom,

among good friends,

among our thoughts,

new life begins...

...begins with hope,

...begins with Thee,

...begins with grace,

eternally.

©2014 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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God's Special Child 8-12-14

Her hair was pushed back from her face,

her eyes a bit apart.

She didn't have the best of looks,

but love was in her heart.

She didn't wear the nicest clothes,

she slurred most every word.

The other kids would laugh and joke

and thought her ways absurd.

One day a peer had joked of her -

just where she kept her broom.

So after that she cried alone

in dark and lonely room.

The life she knew was so unfair.

Oh, why were movie stars -

all living under spotlights, awed -

in fancy clothes and cars?

Oh, why are they so popular

and why, have they, the fame?

Because they're cute and glamorous

in life's most cruel game?

She questioned God in all her prayers

and begged for answers too.

And then in tears she asked of me -

so now I'm asking you...

Just why do we discriminate

against God's special child -

this one who's only innocent,

so loving, meek and mild?

Why buy expensive tickets to

a movie or a show?

Why throw our money down the drain

and to 'rock concerts' go?

Why do our pleasures matter so?

Why is it "me, me, me"?

Why do we listen to ourselves

but not her humble plea?

Sometimes we are like movie stars.

We stand around with drinks.

We laugh, believing life's a joke.

I wonder what God thinks...

Why don't we help the least of these

before today is done?

Our lives won't be rewarded 'til -

we find God's special one.

You'll find her crying all alone

next to a pool of tears.

She's praying that you'll find her there -

and has been many years...

©2014 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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God's Little Pond 8-6-14

God's great creation's message is

one word that never moans -

as sounds of water capture me

now flowing over stones.

A stream of endless water smoothed

and brightened every one -

while winding down around a bend

reflecting morning sun.

The little stream just seems to know

exactly where to go.

The clear fresh water trickles on.

I watch it curve and flow.

Between some flowers beautiful

that set on fragile stems,

it finds its way into God's pond

where only man condemns.

Three little ducklings make their way

while mother swims beside.

The water ripples in their wake

across to other side.

Some red-winged blackbirds curtsy when

on cat-tail tops alight.

They sit a-spell while cat-tails bow

and then again take flight.

Under a branch of waving leaves

as I sit here below,

I contemplate serenity

as waters come and go.

The birds are chirping happily

in never ending song -

yet here I sit among the pure,

where I do not belong.

So tranquil God's creation is,

so simple and so frail -

unlike my life I complicate

where I so often fail.

I'm lost inside God's special world

while bright red card'nal sings.

The breeze picks up and starts to blow -

just as my cell phone rings.

But I can't tear myself away.

The ringing, I ignore -

for God has blessed with sights and sounds

and fragrances galore.

Man's evil gaze can take his eyes

off God's creative ways -

but I, for one, will always be

repentant of my days.

I sit among the Butterflies

of which I have grown fond.

They flutter 'round the wild flowers

next to God's little pond.

God's great creation's message is

one word that never moans.

That word is 'peace' so I'm content

now flowing over stones.

©2014 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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John 16:33 (NASB)

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.

In the world you have tribulation, but take courage;

I have overcome the world.”

Where Am I? 8-3-14

On a scale up to one hundred, please heart, tell me where am I?

With Jesus at one hundred... or with Satan will I die?

I believe that I'm a Christian - so "Christ-like" and divine -

but am I par with Jesus?  Say, with whom do I align?

If I'm not at one hundred then I've missed my Jesus' call.

Have I not helped the "least of these" nor fed them much at all?

Am I too busy with my house, my new car or career?

Does dining out or shopping have me so entrenched right here?

Now when's the last time I have served?  Have I been caught off-guard?

Yes, when's the last time I've obeyed?  Is my heart soft or hard?

Yes, I can make excuses thinking I'm above the most -

but if not at one-hundred, I'm a liar and a boast.

'Ye ac-cursed ones, depart from Me, into eternal fire.

Yes, Jesus knows that I am just a weak, pathetic liar!

Sincerely and profusely I cry out, "Please God, forgive!"

It's then grace covers all my sin and I 'one-hundred' live...

My idols do deceive me as I live from day to day -

so have I walked with Satan... thinking it was Jesus' way?

On a scale up to one hundred, please heart, tell me where am I?

With Jesus at one hundred... or with Satan will I die?

©2014 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Matthew 25 (NASB)
The Judgment

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.”