Evergreen Hope 6-21-12

Spectacular wonder, the view way out yonder,

from high on this mountain slope.

God's vast great creation brings glad adoration

to Jesus who offers us hope.

From just one small seed, a potential indeed,

once crushed, by mistake, underfoot.

I whispered a prayer and stepped over where

another small sapling took root.

And on that rock shelf I thought to myself,

"Oh, how can that seedling be grown,

up here where it toils in dry rocky soils,

in midst of more turmoils not known?"

Then over the years through blizzards and fears

rose doubts that had made me take pause,

"It sure hadn't thrived but had it survived?

Had it overcome nature's laws?"

Now several years later I found something greater

when I returned back to that tree.

I had to admire, it soared so much higher,

and grew so much taller than me.

It once had been crushed, but now I am hushed,

and humbled at what God had done.

One tiny example of something we trample

brings life from the tomb of His Son!

A long time ago under hail and snow,

despite its long discord and strife,

its tap root enlocked way down deep in a rock

that faithfully brought it to life!

Oh, why can't I be like that evergreen tree,

that grew up so high in the sky?

The greenest of green that I've ever seen,

oh tell me Lord, why cannot I?

Spectacular wonder, the view way out yonder,

from high on this mountain slope.

God's vast great creation brings glad adoration

to Jesus who offers me hope.

©2012 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Picnic 7-3-10

Under a large and shady oak
and over the clover green,
spread on a soft and checkered sheet
of red and white was seen -
carrots and beans and corn on the cob,
melons, sandwiches, pink lemonade -
wrapped so in nature and beauty around,
I closed tight my eyes, and simply prayed -

"Your sunshine brings warmth
on these countryside hills,
relaxes my muscles
and takes away chills.
I don't have each 'want'
but I have every 'need -
so thank you for every
miraculous seed.
Seeds that are tiny,
so simple and crude -
yet live by a faith
that provides all this food -
food from the bushes,
the fields, the hive -
so thank You for seeds
that keep me alive."

Nature seemed lighter,
more vivid and bright -
when I opened my eyes
and thought,
"God is alright."

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

-------

Matthew 6:11 (KJV)
"Give us this day our daily bread..."

The Least Of These 5-23-10

Well, have I made a difference
or held to some indifference -
for children still in need?

And tell me who I comfort
with many in discomfort -
and who have I to lead?

And what's my information
or worse, misinformation -
when only words I plead?

Or do I have a passion
for these, a great compassion -
and does my soul bleed?

So tell me, what's my mission
this one and great commission -
whose actions of mine seed?

And is there rich nutrition
or is there malnutrition -
and will my harvest feed?

And what is God's solution
to my new resolution -
and will His Word I heed?

And if correct decision
can trump my indecision -
He'll harvest souls indeed!

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

-------

Matthew 25:40 (KJV)
And the King shall answer and say unto them,
Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto me.

Needed Change 5-11-09

Change -
something desired -
when troubled skies turn gray.

Change -
something wanted -
when we're in disarray.

Change -
something needed -
when money slips away.

Change -
something demanded -
so we seek a better way.

Yet 'change' is so misunderstood.
(it isn't always real 'good').
For true foundations always stand
when guided by Gods Holy hand.

Look at Job - change turned life bad,
though not his fault, lost all he had.
Skies were dark and not too sunny -
lost his children - all his money.

But give up? Job did not quit -
nor lose his faith? No, not one bit -
for God was there right by his side
and Job knew God would soon provide.

Our world falls in one big splat
to 'crisis' after 'desperate'.
Our courage runs from whim to whim
as we all scream, "Let's vote for him!"

Greed will always wear its frown
and turn our smiles up-side-down.
Oh, there's no doubt that we seek change
but where we look is really strange.

When blaming others for our seed,
we only have one real need.
Our sinful souls seek latitude -

but needed change is "attitude"!

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

-------

JOB 42: (KJ)
"5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.
10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.
12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning..."

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/

-------

That Mighty Tree 5-31-08

A storm had bent the grasses, and brought this tree to seed,
and it became a mighty tree, a mighty tree indeed.
Nothing seemed to waver it. It was two centuries old.
Sunshine showered grace on it and turned the grasses gold.

Amassing all attention to leaves so large, serene.
Blue sky, its only limit, was hidden by its green.
The trunk had held so many limbs that grew its branches high.
The world beheld its greatness. It seemed touch the sky.

Among the several grasses, in multitudes stood we,
and too, beheld its beauty, a wonder all could see.
But holding up its branches beneath the earth was more -
roots like roadways everywhere, one evil at its core.

Within that mighty tree, deception grew and grew.
Many were deceived themselves, yet truth a handful knew.
Not blinded by its root of greed that ran so very deep,
which traveled down, taxing all, putting us to sleep.

Those of us who knew the truth, it was a sight to see,
for nothing ever crashed so hard as that big mighty tree.
From Hollywood to Washington with roots to Reapers' hell,
some enjoyed the greatest times until that big tree fell.

Those that perished quickly deserved just what they got.
The Reaper had come quickly and hesitated not.
He felled that tree and grasses within that evil gust.
That tree that put its faith in ‘green’ and not “in God we trust”.

If trust, we in ourselves alone, and lose belief in God,
we'll tax us to corruption and turn ourselves to sod.
The reaper had his hold on them firmly by the collar.
Did they see 'God almighty' or - the 'almighty dollar'?

Rocket science cannot put a value into paper,
but where the root of evil thrives turns it into vapor.
A storm against the colonies had brought this tree to seed.
The storm that felled it hard - was one of mighty greed.

Most forgot the basics that were written long ago,
but liberally, the love for more always seemed to grow.
"We hold these truths ... self-evident" once had made us free.
It only took one evil root to fell this mighty tree.

Where root of evil lingers, vast millions surely die,
the sea of green will swallow those - where love of money lie.
When multitudes become corrupt causing great upheaval,
'Love of money" is the root - the root of every evil.

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

-------