Heaven Bound 12-29-14

In one quick flash, I hear a splash,

The trouble some get in!

They scream and shout and then yell out,

"Please help me from this sin!"

The selfishness of those God blessed!

May lightning strike them down!

They misbehave.  Let Jesus save -

or let them sink and drown.

Life guard, to be, is hard you see,

and I'm a nervous wreck.

To help someone?  I'd rather run

than risk my precious neck.

I disappear in church right here

with friends, safely on shore -

and say on cue, "I'll pray for you"

then keep track of the score.

It really stinks when someone thinks

the obligation's mine.

Though sin assault, it is their fault!

And that's the bottom line!

Am selfish, I, if I don't try?

I'm just one lone observer.

I have my place.  I have my grace.

I have my 'life preserver'.

By now you've guessed that I've been blessed 

and Heaven-bound indeed!

So don't be blue.  They'll rescue you

and other folks in need.

Who cares 'bout sin - and things within

that dark and angry sea?

Why should I care who's thrown in there?

(unless, of course, it's me).

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Through His Love 12-28-14

I can't speak true of single hue

nor can I write hereof -

for there's a bright and vivid white

that glistens through His love.

---

There's no more green, but view's serene -

with frost on valley vast.

Through winter hills, my God fulfills

with blessings unsurpassed.

Yet, so hungry, some love money.

Satan always lurks.

And God, so great, they can't relate

to all His awesome works.

Each frosted plant, God has enhanced

and all should understand -

we're not to cease His Christmas peace,

in this, His wonderland.

The shepherds came.  They learned his name.

And Jesus was that boy.

Though light was dim, they stayed with Him

and all were filled with joy.

Below that star, directed far,

three wise men bearing gifts -

with gold and myrrh.  In awe they were,

for spirit, Jesus lifts.

Are we too old?  Are we too cold -

to see His loving face?

Are we too blind?  Is Christ too kind -

that we can't know His grace?

Already sent if we repent.

Eternity is near!

Still offers choice, that still, small voice,

upon the humble ear.

Though few can hear, it does endear.

It's free and there's no cost.

Untouchable, yet visible,

His sunlight off the frost.

His faith is sure and sparkling pure

on landscape so endowed.

He floods His grace upon this place.

Emotion screams out loud.

---

I can't speak true of single hue

nor can I write hereof -

for there's a bright and vivid white

that glistens through His love.

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Stars, Friends & Blessings 12-22-14

The midnight stars were very bright.

"But many small" said I,
"and are not fit to take up space
in God's majestic sky."

Hence, I removed them.  But some more

were smaller than the rest.

So I disposed of those as well -

a little bit obsessed.

Then after my accomplishments,

I looked at all God had.

But now the sky was very dark -

my good intentions bad.

---

My friends were like the midnight sky,

"But many small" said I;

so small, so insignificant.

I snatched them from the sky.

I threw out all the "lesser ones",

believe me, I can tell.

And all those friends of little use?

I threw them out as well.

Had only they'd been there for me.

It really was a shame.

But then upon completion of -

so lonely, I became.

---

My blessings?  There were many,

"But many small" said I -

so many insignificant

that I plucked from the sky.

Those things, some think are blessings,
I thought were nothing much -
I wanted more excitement and
a lot less of His touch.

Now here I am in dire straights.

Have I not been forgiven?

If only God had understood!

Oh, why did God not listen!?

---

A dark and lonely life I'd lived.

No blessings, friends or stars...
My life - oh, who had understood
my self-inflicted scars?

But Christ forgives!  So why my scars!?
I did not understand!
And why did Jesus not erase
the scars on His own hands?

I must forgive as Jesus did
to understand His sky,
to understand true friendships and
His blessings.  That is why.

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Galatians 6:7 (NASB)
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

Virgin Pure 12-14-14

(from a woman's perspective for those hurt, abused and broken)

One time a horrid thing occurred, but I'll keep that unspoken -

except to tell you how I felt - so sad, depressed and broken.

---

There's evil all throughout this world that eyes may never see,

but we can feel results of sin - and that, I guarantee.

So many have endured the pain, the torture, wounds and strife -

but hidden is satanic stains that steal away the life.

No soap and water cleans up sin.  There's no 'work' we can do.

It's principalities we fight and faith will pull us through.

It took me years to realize that it's all in God's hand,

but let me tell my story first - so you may understand.

---

The fault was certainly not mine.  I tried to just pretend

that others understood my pain about what really happened.

But like a vault, that pain was locked down deep inside my head.

Those reoccurring nightmares came each time I went to bed.

My mind was haunted day and night.  Those nightmares?  They were true!

I bathed and showered.  Nothing worked!  ...t'was nothing I could do.

Oh, how I tried!  I used good soap, used all the soap I could,

but nothing washed away that sin.  It wasn't any good.

Was I so blind for remedy, that I just couldn't see -

the answer?  Then I realized, that it was not of me.

No, there was nothing I could do, but search and search and search,

but that's when I discovered Him.  The answer was in church.

God's house.  That's where He was.  God sent His only Son.

Dark, sinful nightmares went away when His love had begun.

Once nightmares kept me up all night.  I'd roll and turn and toss.

But then I thought, "Did Jesus sin when He was nailed to cross?"

Christ, like me, was innocent!  It wasn't my Lord's fault!

Though Satan locks those horrors in, God opens tomb and vault!

No tomb could ever hold Him there!  Sin can't imprison lives!

No vault can lock us up again when Jesus Christ arrives!

HIS LOVE has made me whole again and wasn't that my goal?

Yes, that my friends, brings me to tears.  He cleanses mind and soul.

The joy I have, now fills my heart.  The problem's not with skin.

He wiped away those horrors and He brought me peace within!

So everytime those thoughts come back - those things that are no more,

it's then that I remind myself that Christ wins every war.

Despicable, their ugly sin and blacker still, than coal,

but Christ gives peace of mind from sin. God cleansed my very soul.

No, baths and showers do not work and there's no other cure -

but Jesus, born of Mary, is.  He made me virgin pure.

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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There are many 'crisis centers' around the United States.

So seek help and support, but remember:

Only Jesus truly understands.

Seek Him.  Pray.  Heal.

Then serve Him!

Help others!

Be there

for them

and live again!

Jesus lives & Jesus saves!

Harold & Steve 12-11-14

Out hanging, two icicles born on an eve.

Now one was named Harold; the other one, Steve.

Well, Harold was jealous and you would be too

for Steve had an awesome, spectacular view.

But hanging 'round corner, ten shingles or so,

was poor, lonely Harold and wouldn't you know -

that Harold, if his, would have made different plans.

Instead he was stuck over two garbage cans.

The stench and the odor was too much to bear

while Steve was out front there enjoying fresh air.

Oh, fair? It was not and it made Harold mad,

so angry, despondent, depressed and so sad.

And wouldn't you know that Steve had grown quicker,

had grown so much stronger, bigger and thicker.

But Harold was just a wee bit of a thing -

not much to look at and not interesting.

You know, children grow up, but icicles down

and Harold grew lower with saddest of frown.

And that is why Steve had made fun of his friend.

His bullying never, seemed never to end.

He gloated that he was too solid to break.

He boasted that he could see sunsets, the lake.

And this had gone on through the long winter days

but Harold, one day changed his sad lonely ways.

He sang Christmas hymns of when Jesus was born;

continued it non-stop each ev'ning 'til morn.

So Steve, you might guess, was a bit envious.

Bewildered he was, that Harold was joyous.

Though droplets of water, off Harold, would splash

on top of that putrid and stinky old trash -

dear Harold accepted the life that God gave him -

no matter how boring or troubled or grim.

He knew that God's love was unprecedented

and that made him happy, joyous, contented.

Then one day, dear Harold, had heard a loud splat -

and he never heard from ol' Steve after that.

---

The moral to poem here simply increases -

each time you hear bullies are falling to pieces.

Someone please tell me if this life has mattered,

when our hopes are lost and our goals are shattered.

And Harold, you ask? What has happened to him?

Well, he was still singing an old gospel hymn,

as angels had seen him and anxiously stated,

"All Heaven rejoice! He evaporated."

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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King Garland 12-4-14

Oh, once upon a selfish time

King Garland had his reign,

but he had planned an evil scheme

that no one could contain.

Before the holidays arrived

his men would decorate.

Besieged with colored lighting grand,

while subjects would await.

Bright lights were hung and garland strung

from pillars through the halls,

but never was there quite enough

for old King Garland's walls.

He called his servants, gave to them

decree that he had signed,

to confiscate all garland 'round -

each piece that they could find.

So all his men went out that day

collecting all they could.

They entered every store and home

and left their walls bare wood.

They brought back all their garland, lights

and even decorations -

in hopes that they'd impress the king,

(win his admiration).

Well, mothers wept and children cried.

Oh, what were they to do?

Have Christmas without colored lights?

Their deep frustrations grew.

They came from every shop and home -

from even desert sand,

to protest theft of Christmastime

from all across their land.

They gathered at the castle walls.

The protesters would scream.

The king had fin'lly heard enough

and thought them most extreme.

Concocted, he, pathetic lies -

some great deceptive lines...

He'd either calm the crowd a bit,

or threaten them with fines.

But on his way to balcony,

we witnessed quite a sight.

At top of stairs, his crown got snagged

on just one garland's light.

He quickly grasped his priceless crown

so it would not fall off...

(the queen had started laughing but

she hid it with a cough).

From that point on it went downhill.

On garland, he had stumbled.

And then the laughter opened up

when we saw how he tumbled...

...bouncing down the stairway toward

the great, grand balcony

where ev'ryone was gathered 'round,

where ev'ryone could see.

Well, how it happened, we're not sure

but crowd was quite aghast.

The king, himself, embarrassed.

It happened all so fast.

With garland tangled 'round his foot

the crowd let out a cheer -

for king was swinging up-side-down

below the chandelier!

T'was then the king decided that,

(because of his bad fall),

that ev'ry single Christmas should

be lived by one and all.

So handed back, was ev'ry piece

of garland that he stole.

The people had their Christmas back -

while king had gotten coal.

The moral of this poem?

Do not be some pathetic fool

who let's greed have its way.

You cannot steal the Spirit from

the folk on Christmas day.

Treat others, not as subjects, but

respect them all instead.

If selfish, ever, you become,

may blood rush to your head.

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Precious Memories 12-2-14

As I sit in my rocker,

here looking at our tree,

the Christmas lights and ornaments

are shining back on me.

Oh those precious mem'ries

of places long ago.

Oh, those precious mem'ries,

a-sledding in the snow!

We wiggled as we giggled and

our faces were aglow!

Oh those precious mem'ries -

a-bouncing down we'd go!

As I sit in my rocker

just looking at your face,

your eyes reflect the sparkling

of flames in fireplace.

Oh, those precious mem'ries.

of trudging up the hill.

Oh, those precious mem'ries.

We sledded down until -

you tipped the sled right over and

it gave us both a thrill!

Oh, those precious mem'ries.

That snow gave us a chill.

As I sit in my rocker.

and you sit there in yours,

I realize we're holding hands

as faithfulness endures.

Oh, those precious mem'ries.

Again, we'd get a shove.

Oh, those precious mem'ries.

Remember your lost glove?

Remember way atop the hill

that seemed so far above?

Oh, those precious mem'ries -

the day we fell in love.

As we sit in our rockers,

and you begin to snore -

I realize that every day

I love you more and more.

Oh, those precious mem'ries.

Oh, those precious mem'ries..

Oh, those precious mem'ries...

©2014 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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