Washed Away 10-14-12

Do our hearts ache when swift waves break
and wash up sandy beach
or do the waves sing, "Jesus saves!"
when up on beaches reach?
Does 'make life fair' entwine our prayers
though time cannot reverse?
His divine force would change our course
for better - not for worse.

Though freewill stalk will alter walk.
We traverse where we will.
Through other lands or beach head sands,
we'll travel on until -
our final stride meets where we died
and breath no longer flows -
and final prints expose all hints.
...for that is how life goes.

As I looked back, my lifelong track -
I was so much dismayed.
I persevered - but disappeared
those tracks in life I made.
My earthly talk was not all walk.
Again I look around.
With seashore grim, so stunned I am.
My prints cannot be found.

All lost one day and washed away -
a life that lived in haste -
and purpose quashed when prints were washed,
away - ohhh, what a waste!
I don't succumb, but ponder some -
now when I bow to pray.
And so it was, His waves, because
He washed those sins away!

Divine, His grace, hung in my place
when Jesus died instead.
With sins forgiv'n and bound for Heav'n
my earthly work is dead.
Let heart not ache, when waves should break
to smooth out wicked beach -
but follow yon His footsteps on,
'til destination reach...

©2012 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Chasing Dreams 7-9-12

I ran through life - got thrown off-guard -
and stumbled over dreams so hard.
With future bright and never dim -
if only I had followed Him.

Yet Christ is found among the crowds
and penetrates my darkest clouds.
Though marred in sin as black as coal,
He lifted me, my wicked soul.

His endless love flows as the breeze,
He holds secure with cradled ease.
He rocks us close on clouds aloft,
with loving grace in arms so soft.

Yet we still choose to trip and fall,
oh, how we think we know it all -
and then complain when we get hurt.
But Christ can lift us off the dirt...

Do I still choose to chase my dreams?
So busy are these times, it seems.
Did I repent? I knew I ought -
but time I had - or so I thought...

©2012 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Luke 13 (NASB)

1 Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus said to them, “ Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? 3 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

6 And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7 And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

Dear Friends 5-12-12

Dear Friends,

When Jesus stepped into my dream

last night while I was sleeping,

I saw the radiance in His face -

however, He was weeping.

I wondered what had happened,

I wondered what occurred,

but when I asked Him why He was,

He never said a word.

I asked if He was hurting.

With that, He nodded 'yes'.

I asked Him many questions, but

He wanted me to guess.

So after many guesses,

with answers short and long -

I searched more answers far and near,

but all of them were wrong.

Now this, I had to figure out,

and learn it on my own.

I finally found the reason -

and it, I should have known.

It hit me like a ton of bricks -

my sins, the reason why.

The tears He cried had made me sick.

Another left His eye.

So then, I started crying -

but He reached out His hands.

His fingers touched my now wet cheeks,

He smiled so widely and -

He placed His thumbs along my nose,

and then said, "Do not fear."

And with His thumbs beneath my eyes,

He wiped away each tear.

Now that, dear friends, is endless love,

forgiveness, comfort, grace -

and there's no work that He requires.

I won't forget His face.

We must have faith in God alone.

There's no 'work' we can do.

But why must Jesus hurt so much?

...Well, that's so we don't have to.

©2012 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Are We There Yet? 3-28-12

Vacation! What a pleasure!

To relax, on beaches bask...

but seven blocks away from home,

my backseat driver asked,

Are we there yet?

Vacationing, we drive along -

just spending time together.

It seems that nothing goes our way,

and this time? Rainy weather!

Are we there yet?

Vacation, scenic landscapes.

Now is this all in vain?

Is this, the scenic way the best?

Should we have taken plane?

Are we there yet?

Vacation. What's the purpose -

the drive or destination?

And then distracted with my thoughts,

was handed a citation.

Are we there yet?

Oh, sometimes we are so confused

and so delirious -

living in a world of fun.

Are we too serious?

Are we there yet?

Vacation. Can we live one?

Restoring peace within...

Then broken from my deepest thoughts,

my youngest asks again,

Are we there yet?

So what's our destination

exposed behind each task?

Sweep, do we, sins under rug -

then have the shame to ask,

"Are we there yet?"

Once at our destination,

may judgment not be grave -

when God asks if we lived for us

or all to Jesus gave...

Are we there yet?

©2012 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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As God Whispers 03-02-12

Don't give me a brand new computer

to type all the words on my mind -

just give me an old scrap of paper

and maybe some words I can find -

to write with my old, stubby pencil,

a poem or two I think of,

to soften the hardest of hardened hearts -

and write a few words of God's love.

And no, I do not have erasures.

I used them up long, long ago -

for mine was the worst of all wicked hearts -

and lowest of all of the low...

I tried to erase every one of my sins,

that I scribbled for years on my heart -

but only a cross where Jesus shed blood

could give me a "born-again" start.

Though I am not better than anyone else

no matter how I have been livin'...

There's only one thing that has set us apart -

and that is, through faith, I'm forgiven.

So please give an old scrap of paper,

to someone contented to be -

writing, as God whispers breezes,

in shade of this old willow tree.

©2012 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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