My main site can be seen at www.ganderpoems.org Thank you! Enjoy! ~louis
Showing posts with label repentance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label repentance. Show all posts

Friday, August 10, 2012

Dusk To Dawn 8-10-12


Why at dusk did Your evening sunset overwhelm the blue -
and how did I miss, with sunlight's fade, our dimming friendship too?

Why did the grasses so appear 'greener on the other side'
and how did You seem so far away - beyond the deserts wide?

Why did I always rivers ride, with every twist and bend -
and how was it all futility with needs that never end?

Why did I go my selfish way and how'd I cut my path -
right over the worst terrain I found, only to find Your wrath?

Why did Your roses lose their scent and how'd our friendship wilt -
and how when with repentance here, did truth exacerbate guilt?

Why did I seek man's wisdom when my stomach grew to yearn
then question straight and narrow path that lost my chance to learn?

Why did my heart seem hardened so and how'd I grow so old -
waiting for all Your answers here in this frigid midnight cold?

Why did the chills surround me so and shiver every bone
and how did Your stars stare down at me and make me feel alone?

How did the darkness blanket me though moon and stars shone bright
to seemingly mock my presence here?  It didn't seem quite right...

No longer will I cut my path nor crawl through desert sand.
I walk beside still waters here, beside You, hand in hand.

It's easy to say 'Forgive me', but hard to be sincere,
still harder to walk the narrow, harder yet to persevere.

But peering to the Heavens now and awed by what I see -
I'm so content in knowing that You're right down here with me.

I know Your love, Your faithfulness, Your brilliant haloed face -
and faith reveals that dawn has come with morning sun, Your grace.

©2012 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Wednesday, May 6, 2009

For God So Loved 5-6-09


(same tune as: America the Beautiful)

O beautiful, our God above,
to those who seek His face,
as repentance and forgiveness
both share His loving grace!
For God so loved, He sent His Son!
then shed His blood for thee -
so focus towards
the Lord of Lords,
from sea to shining sea!

O beautiful, whose missions' feet
whose great steadfastened root,
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
across the world, fruit!
For God so loved - He sent His Son!
then died for you and me -
commanded us
that we profess,
to those across the sea!

O beautiful, His soldiers are
in liberating strife,
who more than self their Father love
and souls so more than life!
For God so loved - He sent His Son!
may God our wealth define -
now let us sing
to God our King,
and hold His Name divine!

O beautiful, salvation's dreams
beyond the 'here and now'
my alabaster Heaven gleams -
This world I disavow!
For God is love - He's coming back -
prepared a place for me...!
as I've confessed
in humbleness,
I give all praise to thee!

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

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America the Beautiful
Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!