Stalking Us 1-22-13

You follow me and haunt me

in terrorizing ways.

Your silence keeps me guessing here

in my most frightened gaze.

Sometimes you stalk me from my left -

and sometimes from my right.

Sometimes you're right in front of me -

or just beyond my sight.

Sometimes taller, you appear,

intimidatingly -

and every day I see you here,

I simply want to flee.

To add some distance, I sometimes

accelerate my pace.

Yet matters not, my quickened step,

I can't increase the space.

You march 'lock-step' along with me

and blatantly impede -

my privacy and liberties

exacting my same speed.

I get enraged and shake my fists -

but you make your fists too.

Once and for all, I'd be so glad

to rid myself of you.

You hang around me mimicking!

I plead with you - just GO!!

I find myself at my wit's end

escaping my own shadow.

Oh yes, just like our shadows,

temptation follows us -

stalking us where e'er we go.

That's why we need Jesus.

©2013 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Born Again 12-11-12

Oh, how I thought I knew it all when I was in my youth -

but as I turn in circles now I find an ugly truth -

that time had shut a door on each decision I had made

and now I have to suffer from the high price I have paid.

Now Jesus led me as a youth but I had vainly went

the stubborn way I wanted to. My whole life I had spent -

going my own selfish way through each and every door -

and thinking that each new one was much better than before.

But then I looked around me as the final door slammed shut.

So stunned, I was - completely - as it echoed in my gut.

I walked through each door willingly to get to where I am -

and now my soul is naked as I stand in front of Him.

But then my God allowed me there to reach back with my hand

and open up that final door. I didn't understand...

I stepped back through and found myself where I had been last week -

and then I saw another door so took another peek.

It too, had opened up for me - so I stepped through again -

and there I was two weeks ago right back where I had been.

So on and on I went through doors as fast as I could run -

until I was a child again - then back where I'd begun.

Now this time I will have no pride and this time I won't fight.

I'll follow in His footsteps and I'll follow Him just right.

Now each door that God opens makes us one close happy team -

and everything goes perfect 'til I wake up from my dream.

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I only had one lonely chance to live an upright way -

but I messed up. I put me here. There is no more to say...

except that Jesus pulls me from my putrid, sinful grime -

and gives me one more final chance to get it right this time.

©2012 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Chasing Dreams 7-9-12

I ran through life - got thrown off-guard -
and stumbled over dreams so hard.
With future bright and never dim -
if only I had followed Him.

Yet Christ is found among the crowds
and penetrates my darkest clouds.
Though marred in sin as black as coal,
He lifted me, my wicked soul.

His endless love flows as the breeze,
He holds secure with cradled ease.
He rocks us close on clouds aloft,
with loving grace in arms so soft.

Yet we still choose to trip and fall,
oh, how we think we know it all -
and then complain when we get hurt.
But Christ can lift us off the dirt...

Do I still choose to chase my dreams?
So busy are these times, it seems.
Did I repent? I knew I ought -
but time I had - or so I thought...

©2012 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Luke 13 (NASB)

1 Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus said to them, “ Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? 3 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

6 And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7 And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

Who? 7-8-09

We read, each day, Your Holy Word.
We know that it is true.
We promise to obey you Lord
but 'what' are we to do?

We read and understand Your Word,
You know our lives are pure.
We promise to obey you Lord -
but 'when?' - we're not so sure.

We read and comprehend Your Word,
We sometimes inward grow.
We promise to obey you Lord -
but 'where' are we to go?

We are as ready as Your Word,
prepared to follow You.
We promised to obey you Lord -
but 'who' should follow through?

We always keep on promising
and say we'll do our best -
but when it gets right down to it
our 'will' has taken rest.

Well, Jesus took up His own cross -
and died for me and you -
and Jesus did not ask and ask -
the 'what', 'when', 'where', or 'who'....

'WHAT' we do - is follow Him.
The 'WHEN' is now, you see.
'WHERE' is to lost, dying souls,
and 'WHO' is always "me".

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

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Hallowed Be Thy Name 3-12-09

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
because you first, so loved the world -
we're changed and not the same.

We once were so dispicable,
like soiled, dirty rags,
but now we wait as loyal friends,
as a puppy's tail wags.

They say that dogs are man's best friend -
trusting pure and true,
so faithfully we follow -
our faith is all in You.

There's nothing we can turn to,
nothing that we own,
nothing we can build upon -
except Your corner stone.

We wait on Your great wisdom,
we live on Your great strength,
and then as faithful servants,
we serve to greater length.

We cannot hold Your love inside.
We cannot live the same -
we must shine bright and tell the world!
Hallowed be Thy name.

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

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White Is White 2-16-06

When I was just a little child -
so very long ago,
My grandpa called me over.
He often told me "No!"

But this time it was different
as he held my little hand,
He just said "wrong is black -
one day I'd understand".

So now that I'm much older,
I know just what he meant;
That truth is never black or gray -
that truth is never bent.

Truth is nothing more or less
than what is in God's plan.
And doesn't add a single breath
to lives of mortal man.

And sometimes it seems difficult
to do what's always right;
When everyone is hurried
and blinded by the night.

But when the soft sweet whisper -
comes from up above,
We had better heed the warning from -
the Man who’s full of love.

If we're living just one "white" lie -
our lives are black as coal.
So we better make it right before
they drop us in the hole.

For lies are nothing more than -
black darkness in the night,
But sunshine kills the darkness,
and regains our Christian sight.

Black is black and white is white.
There is no in-between.
And as it was with grandpa,
it won't go sight-unseen.

It's God alone, who knows what’s best.
His plan we must obey.
So follow in His footsteps. Do,
what's white - not black or gray.

©2006 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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