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

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Erasure Dust 5-9-12

Erasure dust was scattered 'round

my make-shift desk where I was found,

inside my garden court serene,

behind a stand of evergreen.

I should have guessed. I should have known,

mistakes I made were all my own.

I wrote too fast and wrote too long

when pencil slid on paper wrong.

Could all God's people understand?

I tried to move my shaking hand.

To reach lost souls is very tough...

Oh Lord, are these words good enough?

No, back and forth erasure moves,

erasing sins that pencil proved,

that sin's mistakes can ruin lives.

They make a mess as death connives.

And next to rose that set on desk,

erasure dust is so grotesque.

Confused, I was, and ill at ease,

at makeshift desk behind the trees.

The perfect roses, red and pink,

had really made me stop to think.

But if I quit, then life grows still -

so write, I do, and always will.

Though God forgives, the pain remains.

Distracting wrongs bring mental strains.

They bring us pain, great guilt and strife,

but God brings breath, forgiveness, life.

Oh, our mistakes will sometimes be,

yet grace through faith will set us free.

When God brings forth a stiff wind gust

and blows away erasure dust.

©2012 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Ephesians 2:8

For by grace you have been saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

Comfortable? 6-7-11

Was He in comforts of His home

or in a quiet place -

did He have friends supporting Him

or sleeping in disgrace?

Did a multitude, He have,

and did a riot start -

or did He stand in court alone

with still and quiet heart?

Did He turn His AC on

while in His leather seat -

or was the load too heavy for

His sore and dusty feet?

Did He have mega speakers that

impressed all of His peers -

or did He hear the insults that

had pierced His humble ears?

Did He have His favorite cocktails

or open soda cans -

or was He holding something else

in torn and painful hands?

New shoes are quite impressive for

the upper-class elite -

or were new shoes not needed with

a nail through His feet?

Did He have roses - vibrant red,

and crimson sky that warns -

or was the red that streaked His face,

from unforgiving thorns?

Did He receive great pleasures in

all that He could consume -

or was He the great sacrifice

who laid inside a tomb?

The world cannot be bothered with,

these things that sound so grim -

but when we love our comforts so,

we can't give all to Him.

©2011 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http:/www.ganderpoems.org/

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I SURRENDER ALL

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender all,
I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory to His name!

Words by Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896:

":The song was written while I was conducting a meeting at East

Palestine, Ohio, in the home of George Sebring (founder of the

Sebring Campmeeting Bible Conference in Sebring, Ohio, and later

developer of the town of Sebring, Florida). For some time, I had

struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going

into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life

came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I

became an evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent

hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and

touching a tender chord, He caused me to sing."

Who Whispers? 1-11-10

Who whispers with the sunrise to a bright new day?
Who whispers when work calls and my troubles weigh?

Who whispers when snow settles on the contoured landscape?
Who whispers when a flower grows and takes its shape?

Who whispers when the waters in all the streams speak?
Who whispers day after day and week after week?

Who whispers when winter surrenders to the spring?
Who whispers when breezes make the leaves sing?

Who whispers when all the roses bloom?
Who whispers even in mothers womb?

Who whispers when a loved one dies?
Who whispers when my sad heart cries?

Who whispers in a waterfall?
Who whispers when I can't recall?

Who whispers promise in each rainbow?
Who whispers when the waters flow?

Who whispers when I'm happy or in fear?
Who whispers each month, year after year?

Who whispers in colorful clouds with setting sun?
Who whispers horizons silhouette when the day is done?

Who whispers in a still, small voice at every start?
Who answers my prayers direct from my heart?

Who answers in grace from way up in Heaven?
Who answers forgiveness, seventy times seven?

Who answers the whisper, when it has begun,
and then cries, "My God, oh what have I done?"

Who answers humbly - that still, small voice?
Who answers sincerely, with great rejoice?

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

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1 Kings 19:12 (KJV) "And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice."

Stop, Look & Listen 4-5-09

Please Lord, stop me in my tracks
when others pressure me.
I will not pass Your roses by -
my prayers will thankful be.

Help me look up to Your face
beyond these foggy skies.
With humbleness I see You so
forgive my 'wanting' eyes.

Help me listen to Your voice
with answers - help me start,
not to hear with selfish ears,
but with a humble heart.

I'll not bow to sinful worlds

for You gave me a choice.

I will stop, look and listen 'til
I sense Your Holy voice.

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

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