Just Another Angel 7-23-12

(based on a true story this morning, Monday, July 23, 2012.  The pastor is 91)

His wife and son were in the store.

He shuffled past me twice.

My eyes were red.  I hid my face.

I wanted no advice.

He must have sensed my emptiness

as I was feeling low -

because he sat down next to me.

I had nowhere to go.

We both were thinking our own thoughts

and no one said a word -

until his son walked up to us

and this is what I heard...

"My dad was once a pastor -

and had been several years.

He helped so many countless souls

and quenched their many fears."

Just then his wife came up to him

and said, "I'm ready now."

It had an impact over me.

Right then, I knew not how.

The pastor said some simple words

as he stood up to leave.

He simply said, "God loves you and

He wants you to believe."

He turned, began to walk away,

so I said, "Thank you much."

At that, he smiled and said goodbye.

I felt a loving touch.

A touch that cannot be described

in just a word or two -

but cures the lowest, broken heart

when it hears, "God loves you."

Was this a pure coincidence?

Were these words meant to be,

from just another angel sent,

from God, to earth - for me?

©2012 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Complete 5-10-10

How can I live without Jesus?
What can I learn with lies?
Can I believe the unbridled facts -
with wool pulled over my eyes?

Empty my ways without the truth,
as death draws near below sod.
Lonely the ways without my Lord -
and futile, days without God.

My life is nailed tight to the truth.
My cup overfills the brim.
Jesus, my firm and faithful rock.
My life is complete in Him.

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

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Jeremiah 48:30
"I know his fury," declares the LORD,
"But it is futile;
His idle boasts have accomplished nothing.

Sufficient Grace 4-4-10

There's rumbling in the Heavens.
There's anger in the sky.
There's tears of wrath upon us.
yet we can't answer why.

There's something in the question,
as we stand drenching wet -
and wallow with the prideful,
as we don't get it yet.

The storms that hover 'round us -
which soak us to the bone,
are simply there to prod us -
to reach our Heaven's home.

The Bible, if we read it,
will lead us to the light -
will lead us to His promise -
and rainbow shining bright.

Full color in His radiance,
the glow about His face -
and if we fully do believe -
will find sufficient grace.

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

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2 Corinthians 12:9 (NASB)

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."

Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses,

so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

The Other Side 2-1-10

Creation crafted meadows green,
with mountains tall and wide.
Believe the other side, my friend?
What's on the other side?

Our lives fulfill the greatest dreams,
as beauty seeks the bride.
Believe the other side, my friend?
What's on the other side?

A small inscription marks a coin,
and notice we, a pride.
Believe the other side, my friend?
What's on the other side?

The clouds will cap the valley low,
and skies, the clouds can hide.
Believe the other side, my friend?
What's on the other side?

The waters mask the ocean floor -
some only notice tide.
Believe the other side, my friend?
What's on the other side?

The waves, as time, come crashing in -
Believe that there is more?
What's on the other side, my friend?
What's on the other shore?

A still, small voice through Heaven's gates,
calls softy, yet is heard.
God whispers low His message now -
through His celestial Word.

The other side has Heaven's gates -
with cries for you and me.
Just listen for His still, small voice.
His grace is pure and free.

It is appointed. We're to die.
And after we have died?
What's on the other side, my friend?
What's on the other side?

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

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1 Kings 19: (KJV)
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

Hebrews 9:26-28 (KJV)
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Two Worlds 3-15-09

Entangled in earthly possessions -

the world of the physical,
or free, like a bird, that's flying high -
the world of the spiritual.

I once had lived in the earthly world

of personal toil and grind;

but now I live in a different realm -
a world with peace of mind.

A world that I could never earn,

a world I'll never leave,
a world where others can live too,
if only they'd believe.

I could never leave my world,

and return to a life of sin.

As I've lived in both these worlds
I chose the one I'm in.

Yes, there are two separate worlds.

We can only live in one.
We either build a life for us
or live for God's own Son.

Though I can reach back there to some,

I cannot pull them here.
I cannot pray them here to me,
or bend a lone, deaf ear.

We alone have made the choice
in which world we're living -
and if we haven't seen God's world
we don't know what we're missing....

©2009 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Poem From Jesus 2-21-09

If Jesus wrote a poem,
and shipped it down the ladder,
would He send it lovingly,
condoning empty chatter?

Or really, if He wrote one
would He truly have a fit?
I wonder what He'd tell us -
well, maybe this is it...

---

"My dearest child, I love you.
You'll never know how much.
I see you but I can't appear
through prayer.  Please keep in touch.

If you saw Me, you'd believe,
but faith would fade away.
I wish you'd pray once in awhile,
you really should today.

Have a heart, I reach for yours,
with both my wounded hands -
but know you're much too far away
from Heaven's perfect lands.

So grace I give abundantly -
please listen to my voice.
It's still a sweet, soft whisper,
I give you all a choice.

You know My time is not your time.
I hung for not mere hours -
and oh, that wicked cross I bore
still has its sacred powers.

The whip, the torture, rope and nails
still pains me yet today -
when I see all my people -
forget me, go astray.

It's then my tears in torrents pour,
they come in drenching rains.
Those winds are my mere whispers
that blow across the plains.

I formed you in my image.
I made you good and true,
but then allowed a serpent
and left it up to you.

Many were deceived by him,
from Adam's time 'til now.
Their faith grew on the simple,
mere earthly things allow.

So trivial your wishes,
on petty things you feed.
Please stumble not on Satan's lie -
remember 'mustard seed'?.

My grace was all sufficient
for every soul on earth -
but faith is all I ever asked
from you who want rebirth.

I created you, a human,
not a servant angel.
Faith will choose the Heavens -
the lack, forever hell.

By grace you are saved through faith
not grace alone to coast -
nor by any other means,
nor works, that you might boast.

Few enter through the narrow gate.
They listen to instruction.
But most will focus not on me,
but wide path to destruction.

Oh, please believe I love you.
You, my precious few.
Because of faith I chose you.
Your faith has seen you through.

My dearest child, I love you.
You'll never know how much -
so pray until I bring you home
to feel this Master's touch."

©2009 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Matthew 7 (NASB)
13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

A Blind Man 2-11-09

It's a privilege to see all the colors abound,
a rainbow of colors of things all around.
My empathy cries out for those who can't see,
and dreading the thought if it happened to me.

I'm thankful for God and His infinite love,
from flowers below and the rainbow above,
but this man was blind from birth until now,
before Jesus came and then healed him how?

He lived in full darkness. No light he had seen.
Can you just imagine location and scene?
Can you imagine the thought of it all?
Spitting in dust, making clay they recall.

And of all days on Sabbath - believe it or not,
the Pharasee's angry. They argued a lot.
They questioned the blind man and his parents too.
They heard all the facts but still hadn't a clue.

He told them the truth but they didn't believe.
They asked him again and then told him to leave.
Those who had eyes were so totally blind,
but Jesus took blindness, rekindled the mind.

It's a privilege to see all the colors abound,
the rainbow of colors of things all around.
My empathy cries out for those who aren't free,
so have faith in Jesus and make yourself see!!

©2009 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

John 9 - Healing the Man Born Blind

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The Pain Of Sin 12-14-08

.
It has started every war.
Don't believe, and see what is in store.
It deceives. It’s rotten to the core.
Sin's killed millions – hundreds of millions -
and it will kill millions more.

Have you ever cried and screamed out loud - to stop man's ugly riot?
Someone lies to everyone. Despite all efforts, you can't forget.
Have you had nightmares, where you're in pain, and break out in a sweat?
Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night - when it is all but quiet?

Have you ever cried and screamed out loud - but no one hears a peep?
Someone wrongs you, no one hears - as pain hits bottoms' deep.
Have you had nightmares, where you're in pain, but have no tears to weep?
Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night - and can't go back to sleep?

Have you ever cried and screamed out loud? You've heard the same old song.
Someone hurts a lot of folk. You could see it all along....
Have you had nightmares, where you're in pain, though you have done no wrong?
Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night - and knew you don't belong?

Have you ever cried and screamed out loud - and yelled, "I told you so!"
but it doesn't do a bit of good - as you hear their hot air blow?
Have you had nightmares, where you're in pain, because of "quid pro quo"?
Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night – and sometimes yell out "NO!"?

Have you ever cried and screamed out loud - but it's all inside your head?
Someone kills a lot of folk - and you can see them dead?
Have you had nightmares - where you're in pain? Could it be you instead?
Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night - as you see it ahead....?

It has started every war.
Don't believe, and see what is in store.
It deceives. It’s rotten to the core.
Sin's killed millions – hundreds of millions -
and it will kill millions more.

©2008 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
www.ganderpoems.org
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Forgive Me 10-28-07

I give you this - because I'm sorry,
for something that I've done.
I'm no angel. I'm not God,
nor perfect like His Son.

I am sorry. Please forgive me.
There's nothing I can pray.
Please believe me, I am sorry.
There's nothing more to say.

So many times - I've made mistakes.
And I've hurt you a lot.
From this I ask forgiveness from -
though I deserve it not.

I turn my eyes, on Jesus now,
I feel His loving grace.
Beneath the crown, between the nails,
I see His precious face.

My only hope?  You'll see in me,
what Jesus saw in you,
as He prayed "Father, forgive them for
they know not what they do."

©2007 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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The Contrast 1-1-07

.
Man is not God - so many are lost,
and it's not just a matter of odds....
When creation rejects the Creator,
it proves we're men - not gods.

The Creator begat His own earthly birth,
His creation cut a tree for the cross.
His faithfulness carried that burdensome tree,
and our selfishness rode on the loss.

His humbleness exposed - first a manger,
but our pride buried Him. He was dead.
His wrath - into swine - removed demons,
but our anger poked thorns in His head.

His generosity drew multitudes to Him,
but our greed nailed hands held wide.
His knowledge pierced the Pharisee's lies,
but our gossip pierced through His side.

In loving kindness, He cried, "Abba Father!"
but our hate mocked His sweat drops of blood.
His mercy gave paradise to one alongside,
but our sin took His life like a flood.

His power, from death, removed the stone,
but our weakness moves from mask to mask.
His peace resides up in Heaven.
Now the war in our souls is at task.

God is perfect, sinless, true.
While creation wanders lost;
many are called, but few are chosen,
yet for His mercy and grace, no cost.

He paved the way through thick and thin,
so that we, in Him, can cleave.
Grace can save every man from sin -
if we - through faith - believe!

©2007 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ganderpoems.org

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