His Hands 4-12-12

"I've cried my eyes out every day.

My burdens, I've out-poured

in never-ending prayers to You.

Why can't You hear me Lord?

"Oh Lord, the stinging hurts me so.

They smear my wounds with salt.

My mind is scarred and You know why.

These burdens aren't my fault.

"And physically, I'm also scarred.

Each hurts a different way.

So tell me... once again I ask,

'Do You hear what I say?'"

"As days go by, I cannot cope.

Will nothing ever change?

If there were different burdens Lord,

I'd happily exchange.

"I'd trade all mine for other ones.

This pain is just too great.

Please let me trade my burdens in,

if it is not too late."

And then I saw my Savior's hands,

cupped high above my head.

He slowly lowered them to me,

and this is what He said.

"If you wish, then I will trade.

Your Savior understands.

I'll take each burden you don't want.

Just place them in my hands."

So collected I, my burdens.

They numbered as the stars.

And just before I threw them in,

I saw those nail scars.

Instinctively, I held them back.

Now I was at a loss...

I cannot trade my burdens for

His day upon the cross.

"Oh come, my dear and troubled child -

come rest in my embrace.

Have faith that I will vanquish them

and I will show you grace."

So once again, still weak in trust,

and hesitant, I feared -

but one by one I set them in

and each one disappeared!

Now I have grace...  And burdens?  None!

No cross of any kind!

I gave to Jesus everything -

and now have peace of mind.

©2012 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Thank You! 2-23-12

I felt I was trampled by thousand-cow herd -

and hoped I could write it in poetic word -

but first I sat down and I started to pray,

and saw God's creation so all I could say,

was "Thank You!"

My eyes rose up high to a picturesque sky -

while thoughts ran off rampant to years gone by -

where burdens had settled on one special day,

that flooded my soul - so all I could say,

was "Thank you!"

Though breezes blow storm clouds around to and fro -

and every so often still trouble me so -

the sun always shines above all the fray,

dispersing the storm clouds - so all I can say,

is "Thank You!"

A rainbow appears over the rugged cross -

a cross much more painful than my finite loss.

A sacrifice, perfect - but that was God's way.

And now tears are falling and all I can pray,

is "Thank You!"

"Thank You for mangers, Your great humbleness.

Thank You for crosses and all who You bless.

Thank You for being the God that You are.

Thank You for wearing those great many scar.

"Thank You for grace that's so endlessly pure.

Thank You for strength that will always endure.

Thank You for showing me a new perspective.

Thank You for faith and a brand new directive.

"Thank You for children who make my heart glow.

Thank You for loving them now as they grow.

Thank You for teaching them how to respect.

Thank You for blessings despite my neglect.

"Thank You for lifting me out of sins' hole.

Thank You for Pastors who challenge my soul.

Thank You for churches, all joined at the hip -

and thank you for friends and the great fellowship."

So now when I'm trampled and my life is blurred -

I open my Bible - God's great living Word.

It's then I see clearly, it's then I can pray -

and though I'm tore open, it's all I can say.

"Oh, Thank You!"

©2012 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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A Brand New Start 2-8-12

In the beginning God had made

foundation's rock where I have laid -

all my troubles, all my lies -

all my heartaches, all my cries -

all my burdens, all my sin -

all my heartaches here within.

But now, a Christian, I ride seas,

ride His oceans, ride His breeze -

ride His clouds where angels live -

optimistic, positive -

high on grace and high on love -

high on Jesus, free above!

A God of love, a God of peace,

a God of hope where sorrows cease -

where I have gained and hold no loss

because of Jesus and the cross -

because of grace that pardoned me -

because of faith that sets me free!

And all that my dear Savior knows,

my Comforter and Spirit shows -

in the Heavens, where God built -

a place where flowers will not wilt -

a place where Angels sing in voice -

a place where Christians will rejoice!

So pray for father, sister, mother,

brother, friends and one another,

fellow workers, enemies -

and ne'er forget the 'least of these'.

For those who give a broken heart -

will then receive a brand new start.

©2012 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Why You? 5-27-11

When liars win, life isn't fair -

not one will ever, ever care -

life's burdens are too much to bear.

Why me Lord?

I stand down by the ocean shore -

the poison seeps down to my core -

there's none who listen anymore -

Why me Lord?

My love grew cold, my anger hot -

my gut twists in each kind of knot -

it pains me so, an awful lot -

Why me Lord?

The ocean waves still seem to race -

they crest, then spill most anyplace -

but waves ignore my grieving face -

Why me Lord?

My problems grew and come to meet -

as water wraps around my feet -

I'm tired, exhausted, very beat -

Why me Lord?

The waves roll in for years and years -

through all my trials, all my fears -

my cheeks have felt so many tears -

Why me Lord?

My heart, for others, has out-poured -

yet something pulls on my heart's cord -

of everyone who I've ignored -

Why You Lord?

©2011 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http:/www.ganderpoems.org/

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Simple 3-24-10

The pain and weight that burdens bear
come haunting us from everywhere.

They pull us down and steal our minds -
emotions felt of every kind.

Hate and anger, guilt we know -
they own our travels as we go.

We can't go back. The time has run
as every circumstance is done.

Both good and bad, forever past
as if in concrete each is cast.

But God has spoken loud and clear
that love was given, grace is here.

Accepting is our only task.
It's simple if we only ask.

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

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Mark 4:20 (NASB) "And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil;

and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."

Do Not Wait 11-07-08

It's not too late. It's not the end,
if now you start to comprehend.
It's not too late to understand,
the beauty of God's grace at hand.

So realize it's all of grace,
about His love, about His face -
to focus on and answer, "yes".
It's not too late to now profess.

It's not too late if tears you shed,
though you may be on your deathbed.
If humbled heart can ask Him now.
It's not too late to repent now.

Satan claims the time has passed,
but Jesus' grace has so surpassed,
the limits of all man and beast.
You're only late if you're deceased.

So do not think at this late date,
that it is over - it's too late.
God patiently awaits your word.
He loves you more than beast or bird.

Can you not see Him at the gates?
Your solemn vow He still awaits.
He has called and you will see,
if broken, crumbled, meek will be.

The promises of God above,
will so surpass all earthly love,
where rust and rot and all decays,
where earthly focus never pays.

Through faith in Him you'll always find,
(so be ye humble, be ye kind)
contentment and a lasting peace,
where sinful guilt and anguish cease.

Don't be greedy. Don't be proud,
No arrogance - is there - allowed.
So call to Him both man and wife,
that you may have eternal life.

He will carry you on through,
If faith's in Him and not in you.
So call on Him - shed burdens weight.
Pray right now and do not wait.

©2008 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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