Worse Than That 3-27-13

While I was strolling near a pond
one bright and breezy day,
a splendid scene had caught my eye
in such a special way.

Decided I, to lie a spell,
to take in nature's views.
So I had lain on greener grass
and kicked off both my shoes.

I saw the mirror images which
'bounced' beneath the sky,
on tips of little ripples that had
seemed to tip-toe by.

So beautiful, the lights reflected
off the little pond,
off the dancing water that
had seemed to just respond.

But life is not as it appears.
My thoughts took all this in,
When I had found that I had laid
right in this world's sin.

Once tempted by the greener grass,
well used by dog and cat,
I'm humbled now with just one whiff-
and sin is worse than that.

Don't laugh at me. It's just the way
this evil world turns.
So now I set my eyes on God.
My soul no longer yearns.

©2013 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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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."

Walking Faith 2-20-11

What is music to the deaf?

What are rainbows to the blind?

What are shoes worn by the lame?

What mere words can so define...

a special Son,

sent to a cross,

in a world,

forever lost?

What are dollars to a horse?

What are needles without thread?

What are tears without our grief?

What are Bibles to the dead?

Our ears must hear.

Our eyes must see.

Beyond the graves

our faith must be.

His loving grace,

forever pours -

draws walking faith,

to Heaven's doors.

Words are pathways,

nothing more.

There's Someone we

must cry out for.

©2011 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/ 

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First Day of School 12-24-09

While in the bathroom dressing
with recollections slow -
I thought about a four year old
I'd known so long ago....

There standing, oh so proper,
in aura, rigid, straight -
so patiently he waited as
his school bus was late.

Excitement reigned a little,
though he was insecure -
but halo's light surrounded him.
His innocence was pure.

His shoes were shined and glowing,
suit pressed with cute bow tie.
So proudly his dear mother felt
that something made her cry.

First day of schools excitement,
with teachers' rigid plan -
while he stood still and proper with
her bouquet firm in hand.

She took those special flowers
right from his sweaty palm -
and as she placed them in a vase
she wondered of his mom.

So where's that little child -
that four year old boy -
who waited for the school bus
with bouquet, suit and joy?

So accurate my memories,
my mirror reflects truth -
the innocence has long since passed
this boy had in his youth.

But someone loves the little -
forever helps them grow -
and mom had known this very fact -
that God has loved us so.

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

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Philippians 2:14-16 (KJV)

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

In His Hands 4-5-09

I just heard the tragic news
but I can't fit in your own shoes.
Some times I try to comfort some
but hugging you doesn't take you from
all of the heartache and all of the pain.
My words can't even begin to explain....

My stomach winds up in a giant knot
and after I leave I cry a lot.
When losing a friend that I hold dear
and having known them year after year,
I cry out "God, it just isn't fair"
and wonder often - does He not care?

Then I think, Matthew ten, twenty nine -
recalling the sparrow is not even mine.
God only knows (though worth half a cent)
its final day, its final descent.
For God is sovereign. It fits in His plans
that even the sparrow rests in His hands.

I know that I've made so many mistakes
and I can't feel all the pain and aches -
but God holds the answer, for He sent His Son
and knows of the burdens - as sin weighed a ton.
Our sins Jesus took. Our sins He forgave
and buried them all down deep in the cave.

I guess once again, He graced a few days
to share love together in our special ways.
Just sitting together with tears in our eyes,
helps us weather these very dark skies.
I stumble with thoughts. My words are a few -
but all I can say is - I love you....

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

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Another Shoe 1-23-09

Perfectly balanced as when it begun,
God's earth rotates around His sun -
so empty the pride, of yours, each shoe -
if you think this world revolves around you.

So find any pair - which ever you choose -
and slip yourself in - another's shoes.
You'll soon realize, while walking in stride,
they're much too large and a bit too wide.

Professors, plumbers, doctors, police,
firemen, authors, teachers and priests -
don't ever assume you can't be replaced,
for your life on earth will soon be erased.

God made us different for very good reason,
so whatever the weather, whatever the season,
we're all on this earth here - bound with a tether,
so strip away pride and start working together.

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

Matthew 24:10 (NASB) At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

The Perfect Man 2-16-06

Joe is perfect. He wakes up just before the alarm goes off. He shaves with the perfect razor, brushes his teeth with the perfect toothpaste, flosses, takes a shower, combs his hair and holds it with perfect hair spray. He puts on his perfect suit, his perfect tie, and his perfect shoes. After his perfect breakfast, he pats his perfect kids on their heads and kisses his perfect wife goodbye. He gets in his perfect car and backs out his perfect driveway past his perfectly groomed lawn. He gets to his perfect job and performs his work perfectly.

No. Did you really believe that? Nothing is perfect - despite the appearance. If you really knew Joe, you'd find many imperfect circumstances in his life. And, you'd observe that he isn't perfect either. Not in the least - especially on the inside.

And just like Joe, another man woke up - but with confused friends. He didn't use perfect toothpaste or perfect hair spray. He had no suit - much less a perfect one. He had no perfect wife or kids. He had no perfect vehicle. He had no perfect home. His work didn't pay much. He didn't have perfect friends. He did have some perfect enemies, though. In fact, one day, He was beaten with a whip. Later that day He died. He was hung from an imperfect tree with imperfect nails and an imperfect crown - not at all fitting for a perfect Man. Why?

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

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