GOD CARES, DO YOU? 12-14-04

God knows your neighbors. Some are far and some are near.
Some are strangers. Some are dear.

He knows they're hungry. He knows they thirst.
He knows they need Him. He knows they're cursed.

God cares deeply for not just a few;
God cares for all of them. How about you?

©2004 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Matthew 25 (NASB)

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;
42for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;
43I 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."

The Answer To My Prayers (summer 2004)

I was walking down the road, in the autumn of my years;
the leaves were brilliant colors, though my eyes were red with tears.

My pain was ever mounting. Death was always surely near -
my troubles and my heartache held me tight in cold, dark fear.

I prayed to Jesus every day. Every burden I could name;
but He never seemed to answer. Every day was still the same.

Life is so unfair I pled, that I should bear this awful pain;
and then without a warning, there I stood - in pouring rain.

It came down heavy. The wind blew hard;
the mud was slick, and caught me off-guard.

Embarrassed on the cold ground - increasing anger taking hold -
I'm just too good of person. You so loved me, I was told.

I screamed again, "Life's so unfair - And getting worse!" I hissed,
and with my energy exhausted, I raised an angry fist.

Then something shook my soul. It thundered from the sky -
and then in lightning flashes, two trees had caught my eye.

One bent down across the other, (which stood along beside);
it curved if humbly bowing and exposed my selfish pride.

Were my troubles overwhelming - because I was at a loss?
Did my pains need me to stumble to see this simple cross?

So then the prayer I uttered, was something like those trees -
with one bowed low and humbly, as I knelt there on my knees.

For all the vast unfairness, in life that I had earned;
just couldn't hold a candle, to what I’d finally learned.

Did I deserve some comfort? No bird would dare to sing!
"Had I worn a thorn?" I thought, "endured a nail - or anything?"

No. My life was very easy. My burden unfairly light -
for Jesus seized that evil death, so that I could be set right.

Yes, I know that life's unfair, though not to me you see;
but rather to the Lamb of God, and His sacrifice for me!

I should have prayed less selfishly and should have looked above;
I could have prayed more reverently and could have felt His love.

I would have heard His answer and would have known He cares;
so now I humbly look to Heaven. He's the answer to my prayers!

©2004 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Isaiah 30 (NASB)

19O people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you.