These Humble Words 8-13-12

My Lord and Savior, hear my heart -

a heart that can't ignore,

Your love that chased me all my life

and proved to be much more...

Much more than rain drops from above

that fall from all around,

collecting in the ponds and lakes

and oceans that abound.

Much more than luscious meadows, green

where horses romp and play

much more than cool, clear bubbling brooks

where little ponies lay.

Much more than all the honey found

from bees that roam the hive,

much more than flowers from the plant

with petals bright, alive!

Much more than colors on the trees

in autumn's many hue,

of golden yellow, red and orange -

much more than rainbows too.

Much more than all the mountain peaks

that touch vast skies of blue

much more than questions I have asked

in prayers I've sent to You.

Much more than countless blessings from

Your miracles galore.

Much more than all my faithfulness.

But yet, You send me more.

Much more love that I waste on

such silly, selfish stuff.

Yet still, You send me greater love.

I can't love You enough.

Now may these humble words be passed

to everyone You touch,

so they, too, will have hearts to say,

"I love You very much."

©2012 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Deuteronomy 6:5
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Noah's Ark 4-19-12

It must have been a massive chore

to build an ark so large,

for such a man so elderly,

but man who would take charge.

It must have been a massive job

with those archaic tools,

(no power saws or cordless drills).

He seemed to break all rules.

It must have taken massive trust

to know what it was for -

to dedicate so many years -

to build so far offshore.

It must have taken massive faith

to face a sneering crowd.

To build the ark took many years

while they had laughed out loud.

It must have been a massive feat

corralling animals -

but two by two, they all had come

with elephants and bulls.

It must have been a massive herd -

it must have been a sight -

from large to small they gathered 'round

but all came out just right.

It must have been a massive rain

that flooded all the ground -

and Noah could not save the lost.

God shut the door. They drowned.

It must have been a massive storm -

for forty nights and days.

But when the storm clouds did disperse,

God blessed in loving ways...

And bursting forth in massive hues,

a vibrant bowing arc,

was God's fantastic rainbow

for Noah and his ark.

©2012 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Genesis 7

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Flood

 ¹ Then the LORD said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time. ² You shall take with you of every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female; and of the animals that are not clean two, a male and his female; ³ also of the birds of the sky, by sevens, male and female, to keep offspring alive on the face of all the earth. ⁴For after seven more days, I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights; and I will blot out from the face of the land every living thing that I have made.” ⁵ Noah did according to all that the LORD had commanded him.

 ⁶ Now Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of water came upon the earth. ⁷ Then Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him entered the ark because of the water of the flood. ⁸ Of clean animals and animals that are not clean and birds and everything that creeps on the ground, ⁹ there went into the ark to Noah by twos, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.¹⁰ It came about after the seven days, that the water of the flood came upon the earth. ¹¹ In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened.¹² The rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights.

 ¹³ On the very same day Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark, ¹⁴ they and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, all sorts of birds. ¹⁵ So they went into the ark to Noah, by twos of all flesh in which was the breath of life. ¹⁶ Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him; and the LORD closed it behind him.

 ¹⁷ Then the flood came upon the earth for forty days, and the water increased and lifted up the ark, so that it rose above the earth. ¹⁸ The water prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. ¹⁹ The water prevailed more and more upon the earth, so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered. ²⁰ The water prevailed fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered. ²¹ All flesh that moved on the earth perished, birds and cattle and beasts and every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind; ²² of all that was on the dry land, all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died. ²³ Thus He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky, and they were blotted out from the earth; and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark. ²⁴ The water prevailed upon the earth one hundred and fifty days.

The Lighthouse 3-11-12

What draws the eye to the lighthouse?

Oh say, what could it be?

Now how could a light on a mighty 'Rock'

forgive lost souls at sea?

There are no ropes to pull them in,

no maps of where to go -

and we hear cries from crashing waves -

under the beacon's glow.

Relentlessly, the wind blows -

the noise, as a million drums!

The angry sea will swallow scores,

as the weak in faith succumb.

Through rain and hail and deadly fog,

sins weather strangely mixed -

a faint, but 'Guiding Light' shines through -

if eyes are firmly fixed.

The lighthouse sounds its fog horn,

proclaiming Christ is King.

Our voices chime in harmony

as we rejoice and sing!

We find all comfort in the 'Rock'

as the faithful lighthouse calls.

It's then that storms surrender and,

receding darkness falls,

What draws the eye to the lighthouse?

Oh say, what could it be?

How can a Man on an old rugged cross,

help souls still lost at sea?

Secure in the 'Rock', we understand -

as the beacon lights the sky.

And as long as we see the halo -

forgive. "They know not why."

And tell them -

tell them if you dare!

Tell them when they're troubled.

Tell them with a prayer.

Tell them Christ is waiting.

Tell them God is fair.

Tell them Jesus loves them.

Tell them if you care.

Tell them God still loves the world.

Now go, and gospel share.

©2012 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Patient One 9-19-09

FOR MANY YEARS they crowded me -
they grew so very tall...
but you, my Lord, had stunted me -
created me so small.

They pushed me off and stole the sun,
and rose up to the sky...
but every year You held me down,
and I had wondered why.

The winds and rain blew very hard
beneath them I was crushed...
and you, my Lord, had gone away,
my silent screams were hushed.

For many years this happened -
and they'd ignore my plea...
and you, my Lord, seemed not to care,
when they would laugh at me.

---

So many years have passed since then -
a hundred years or so...
yet you, my Lord, answered my prayers,
and patience helped me grow.

A million weeds had laughed at me -
yet long ago they passed...
and you, dear Lord, protected me,
just as my prayers had asked.

For many years Your little tree -
was pushed around by weed...
but oh, dear Lord, You strengthened me
and met my every need.

And now today, I tower high.
I'm seen for many miles -
but oh, dear Lord, You taught me well,
and humbled all my smiles.

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

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Psalm 37:7 (NASB) Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

The Greatest Of Poems! 4-29-09

If I could write
the greatest of poems
which opened all sinners eyes,
I'd soar in a plane,
drop leaflets like rain
from way up here in the skies!

I'd scream from the hilltops,
yell across plains -
although some might think me insane -
I'd holler right out,
with every loud shout,
for silence I could not contain!

Yes, this very poem
if it, I could write,
I'd sing from each mountain top -
the highest of height,
from morning to night,
until, exhausted, I'd drop.

But what if I couldn't
write such a poem?
And what if my poem should fail?
Well, here's the great sting,
of not even trying -
that Satan, for sure, would prevail.

Now this is the reason
it cannot be done:
I'd be speaking in English to birds...
But they have a choice

with God's still, small voice -
without my vain efforts in words.

Birds can't speak English,
God made them that way.
We're only to go and plant seed.
Then while on the ground
they peck all around
until they find Jesus indeed!

So print this mere poem,

a 'seed' not the greatest

and tell all your friends that it's true.

Please let them all know,

that God loves them so -

then mention that I love them too.

©2009 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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My Tree Still Stands 3-24-09

The whipping winds, the freezing rain,
it did not understand the strain -
and did not understand the stress
of wicked, wintry colds excess.

Until the springtime snow was melting,
it kept taking earthly pelting.
It held firm throughout the frost
and persevered despite the cost.

Freezing rain was in the air -
yet life grew out of everywhere.
How can freezing offer good
as this tree stands misunderstood?

Does it strengthen, does it now?
Does it make me wonder how?
Does it test me, does it try,
and does it hurt me - make me cry?

Do trees know that life's not fair?
and do they know if God is there?
Liberty and freedom's great -
but it's not easy fighting hate.

Yet sunshine sees (through its appearance),

vast rewards from perseverance -
springtime buds its cheers of joy
and proves this world cannot destroy.

For God alone holds season's times -
protects our souls from earthly crimes.
And though the world claims its demands -
in springtime warmth, my tree still stands.

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

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Anchored Soul 2-13-09

If the sea is the world - the ship your soul,
where are you at - and what's your goal?
When storms surge up and darken the skies,
do you know where you're at? Is there fear in your eyes?

Do your troubles seem endless and so overwhelm?
Tell me, "Are you standing alone at the helm?"
Where's the foundation when you're on a ship?
Do you hold to life with a white-knuckled grip?

When the world seems dark, dangerous, cold,
in the storms of life, will your anchor hold?
When shivering rain - sends you into shock,
is your faith secure? Is it in the Rock?

When the cold waves slap at your straining hull,
are you dazed, confused - in your empty skull?
Though the sharp winds slice as a piercing knife,
is your anchor firm from the storms of life?

Do you stay near the shore where it's not so deep?
Are trials so great, you cannot sleep?
When the waves surge over your fragile deck,
I think, overdue - your reality check.

Don't hide down below afraid of the facts.
With Jesus beside you - always relax.
Be bold and set sail! Your life is in hands,
that calms the waters - as He commands....

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

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IF GOD CAN USE... 12-8-05

If God can use an old, old man, (Gen 6)
and send the rain for a month, He can;
then God can use animals, in pairs obey,
and follow Noah to the ark that day.

If God can use flooding on the earth, (Gen 7)
and lift the Ark with all it's worth;
then God can expose a little branch,
and promise us, our little ranch.

If God can use a little dove, (Gen 8)
and bring it back with all His love;
then God can use a passing cloud,
that shout with rainbows, right out loud.

If God can use an angry sea, (Matt 8)
to toss disciples helplessly;
then God can use just one command,
calm all the seas - to solid land.

If God can use a little child, (John 6)
for a growing crowd that's getting wild;
then God can use some fish and bread,
hungry souls, and thousands fed.

If God can use an empty tomb, (John 20)
a virgin Mary - an empty womb;
then God can use a little shed,
and just a manger for a bed;

If God can use a crown of thorn, (Matt 27)
and a veil - top to bottom torn;
then God can use the quaking earth,
and thundering skies for our new birth.

If God can use a final breath, (Matt 27)
a shortened life, a cruel death;
then God can use a borrowed grave,
a missing stone, an empty cave.

If God can use the loss of sight, (Acts 9)
for Saul, the man who loved to fight;
then God can use some simple prayers,
sending messengers - proof He cares.

If God can use the blind from birth, (John 9)
and a little dust from His big earth;
then God can use what's always right,
and asks of us, our focused sight.

If God sends demons into swine, (Matt 8)
and uses water - to make wine; (John 2)
then patient, loving He must be,
to use a sinner, saved - like me.

©2005 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Psalm 66:16 (NASB)
16Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.