Did I Forget 11-26-14

If heart is hard, my eyes are dry.

Have I forgotten how to cry?

Can I still weep? Do I know how?

Where are my tears? Where are they now?

Did I forget the virgin birth,

that Jesus healed, of Jesus' worth?

Did I forget when Jesus prayed,

before arrest, was then betrayed?

Did I forget that they abused,

beat, mocked and whipped - and then accused?

Did I forget the gross details,

the crown of thorns, the piercing nails?

Did I forget He paid the price?

Did I forget His sacrifice?

Did I forget down through the years -

of Jesus' blood, of Jesus' tears?

Did I forget while knowing this -

I lived a life of ease and bliss

...my roof above, my car, my shoes,

that I have food, the clothes I choose?

If heart is hard, my eyes are dry.

Have I forgotten how to cry?

Can I still weep? Do I know how?

Where are my tears? Where are they now?

©2014 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Romans 12 (NASB)

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: ifprophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he whoteaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, withliberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Laying Bricks 11-22-14

My life, I'd built with heavy bricks -

each day set on another.

When mortared in with selfishness

I stacked them with another.

So proud I was of what I'd built,

a life of great success -

that I had so convinced myself

that God would surely bless.

But lies, deceit had ruined me

by devious elite!

My bricks came tumbling down one day

and crumbled 'round my feet.

Self pity drew long tears for years,

my future looked so dim.

No longer good for me to hold,

I gave those bricks to Him.

When He accepted all those bricks

I had no place to hide -

so humbleness came over me

and vanquished all my pride.

Oh, why had Jesus taken them -

those bricks that gave me loss?

My sins, my burdens, all those bricks

had nailed Him to the cross!

More tears began to soak my cheeks.

The floodgates opened wide.

Then Jesus took those very bricks

and set them all aside.

He soaked them in His loving grace,

then paved long streets of gold.

And then prepared, He more of them,

much greater to behold.

If we could only look beyond

our selfish, little wall,

we'd catch a glimpse of miracle,

the greatest of them all.

It rises up through wonderment,

past clouds of earthly lies,

to castle built with bricks of grace,

that reach the highest skies.

My tears no longer need to wash -

my selfish bricks away -

for I'm inside His castle now,

"forgiven" you might say.

Content and happy I am now

to know He's given me -

a life to prove my faithfulness,

through pure sincerity.

Yes, living in this castle that's

awash in loving hues -

awash in grace above it all,

a place 'the lost' can choose.

I look outside its window now

down to the busy street,

at people who are like I was -

where Christ, they too could meet.

But Jesus sees them walking by -

as they're too blind to see -

too blind by their distracting walls,

with lives that are not free...

...not free from selfish, sinful bricks

so mortared tight with pride,

they cannot see beyond their walls

to Christ on other side.

At times I see an infant child.

For 'wants' they had been sold.

But Jesus takes them in His arms,

though motionless and cold...

...and there on streets now paved with gold

where sin can be undone,

in loving hands, He breathes new life

into each little one.

Please tell me, can you shed some tears

to wash away your bricks -

your bricks of futile, selfish days

that only Christ can fix?

Please tell me, can you shed some tears

to wash away your days -

your days of labor laying bricks

for lighter, joyous ways?

©2014 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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When Under Knife 11-17-14

If Tom, the turkey, you had been -

what would you tell the Butcher when

he raised his knife Thanksgiving Day?

Well, listen to what 'Tom' would say:

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"Remember children, love your mom.

Respect her as you did this 'tom'.

Oh, don't be selfish.  Don't be mean

and don't be giddy or obscene.

There's something I must let them do

and some day you may need to too.

You'll know, one day, what it's about

but do not fear and do not pout.

We sacrifice for those we love

as Jesus did once up above

when He was hung upon that tree

for people all around you see.

So do not think about yourselves.

Protect those eggs there on the shelves.

And live a life that God can bless,

a life of love and faithfulness."

---

At that, the butcher raised his knife

and ended then, a fulfilled life

that blessed the hungry, cold and weak.

When under knife, how would you speak?

©2014 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Path Beyond Trees, The 11-13-14

Do you only believe what's in front of your eyes,

not gravity ever - or winds that arise?

Are you blind to the truth
because of one tree?

Oh, where is the forest
that you cannot see?

And where is your faith when filled with temptation?

Do you trust mere eyes that see only creation?

Some worship mere trees
or shallow, lost sects

while some think they're priv'leged,
who God elects.

Yes, many are lost from Creator they seek,

the forest of truth is unknown and looks bleak.

They love themselves
instead of "these".
They can't see forest
because of the trees.

They think they know salvation.  They don't.
They think they'll see Jesus.  They won't.

They love their lives
and things on shelves.
They love attention,
and themselves.

Your faith is the key!  Unlock forest's door!

The path beyond trees finds grace and much more!

©2014 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Matthew 7:22, 23 (NASB)
22 "Many will say to Me on that day,
'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name,
and in Your name cast out demons,
and in Your name perform many miracles?'
23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you;
DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

With His Remaining Breath 11-8-14

He overflows his plate with food,

anticipating taste.

He overflows his closets too

not caring of the waste.

He has to have the finest car

with leather seats and 'air'.

His bank accounts are just for him.

For poor?  He doesn't care.

Huge profits fill his bank accounts.

His profiting is fun.

He'd sell his soul to profit more.

He'd sell to anyone.

His home, he fills with furniture,

the finest he can find.

He then enjoys his fav'rite game

to ease his guilty mind.

He fills his days with everything

and his most latest whim.

And this 'enjoyment' fills his life.

He fills his life with him.

I pity such a person who

has no room in his heart -

for God or love or charity -

who fin'lly falls apart.

How guilty, lonely he will be

just days before his death.

Oh, he'll recall his life of 'self'

with his remaining breath.

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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