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/

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My Little Box 5-23-12

I cannot prove the miracles
behind salvation's locks,
but if I could, here's what you'd see
inside my little box...

---

If I pulled out, a piece of cross

with blood stains smeared about,

if I had all the photos here,

so you would have no doubt,

if I had froze the moment that

they nailed Him to the cross,

so you could see that gruesome pain

as shadows passed across,

if I had casts from footprints there,

the cross and where it stood,

if I had pulled those massive nails

from deep within the wood,

if I had here the crown of thorns

they pressed down on His head,

so you could know the torment and

the flowing crimson red,

if I had froze that sunset

and showed their facial fear,

if I could show you nail prints

and Jesus' final tear,

if I had filmed the thunder

and veil that ripped in two -

that whole occurrence thoroughly -

to play it back for you,

if I could fill emotions with

the blackness of the tomb,

if I had breathed the fragrance in,

exhaled the old perfume,

if I could pull the linens out

and hold them in my hand,

or show a relic of the stone

so you would understand,

if I took out, in brilliant hue,

a painting so profound,

if I could sing in perfect pitch

with great harmonic sound,

if I had grasped an ocean breeze

beyond the longest docks,

so you could smell its freshness here

inside my little box,

if I held high His halo

and proved His torture wrong,

if I had seized that moment and

then wrote the perfect song,

if I had found the precise words

that Jesus has for you,

then I could prove the love of God

and testify it true.

No...  God requires something else -

a loving, faithful heart -

so grab your eyes and pluck them out,

and rip your box apart!

He sets our anxious mind at ease,

and offers all of us -

a personal relationship,

of peace and faithfulness.

---

If we can see, then we believe -

yet Jesus wills that we,

would never follow with our eyes,

but rather faithfully.

©2012 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."

EASTER Query 3-23-08

Pride is where all evil lurks.
Where is grace and where are works?
Where is Caesar and his men?
Where does history start again?

Where's the silver - thirty pieces?
Where is faith when it all ceases?
Where's Barabbas? Where's the Christ?
Where's the root of evils' price?

Where's the elders and chief priests?
Where's the first and where's the least?
Where's the charge and what's His stance?
Where's the truth and what's its chance?

Where is Pilot? Where's the fault?
Where's the anger and assault?
Where's the sin and where's the quiet?
Where's the screaming and the riot?

Where are those with lying lips?
Where's their words and where's the whips?
Where were Peter, James and John?
What was said (when came upon)?

Where's the mob and where's the scourging?
What had brought the crowds emerging?
Where's the robe of fancy scarlet?
Where's the reed and every threat?

Where's the thorn upon His head?
Where's the king who reigned instead?
Where's the cross and all sins weight?
Where was Simon? Where's the wait?

Where's Golgotha? Where's the thrill?
Where's the blood which had to spill?
Where's the insults and abuse?
Where's the final, last excuse?

Where's the path where He was led?
Where's the charge above His head?
Where's the robbers - left and right?
Where's the rope that bound them tight?

Where are those who took commands?
Where's the nails that pierced His hands?
Where's the nail that set His feet?
Where were Angels, His retreat?

Where are those that took the lead?
Where are those who made Him bleed?
Where are those who blasphemed, mocked?
Where are those in awe and shock?

Where did Jesus take the cup?
Where were His prayers offered up?
Where's the last breath when He died?
Where's the sword that pierced His side?

Where's our sins that He could take?
Where's the thunder and the quake?
Where's the veil that tore in two?
Where's the many - and the few?

Where's the place where Jesus died?
Where's the place of all who lied?
Where's the stone and where's the tomb?
Where's the linen and perfume?

Where's the stone that rolled away?
Where's our thoughts of Him today?
Where's the seal upon the stone?
Where's the truth of the unknown?

Where's their teaching? Where's its flaw?
Where is grace and where is law?
Where's the cross where He was nailed?
Where's the past? Who has prevailed?

Where's the evening and the dawn,
and where's our risen Savior gone?
Where is death and where's its sting?
Where's the past and everything?

Where's the Easter of that day?
What's the Easter we portray?
Where's the hope in Easter eggs?
Where's my strength within my legs?

Except for He who reappeared,
where's the things that disappeared?
Where's the things of rot and rust?
Where's the people - turned to dust?

Where's the aged? Where's the youth?
Where's our thoughts of every truth?
Where's His grace and its reply?
Where's my faith and where am I?

©2008 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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IF GOD CAN USE... 12-8-05

If God can use an old, old man, (Gen 6)
and send the rain for a month, He can;
then God can use animals, in pairs obey,
and follow Noah to the ark that day.

If God can use flooding on the earth, (Gen 7)
and lift the Ark with all it's worth;
then God can expose a little branch,
and promise us, our little ranch.

If God can use a little dove, (Gen 8)
and bring it back with all His love;
then God can use a passing cloud,
that shout with rainbows, right out loud.

If God can use an angry sea, (Matt 8)
to toss disciples helplessly;
then God can use just one command,
calm all the seas - to solid land.

If God can use a little child, (John 6)
for a growing crowd that's getting wild;
then God can use some fish and bread,
hungry souls, and thousands fed.

If God can use an empty tomb, (John 20)
a virgin Mary - an empty womb;
then God can use a little shed,
and just a manger for a bed;

If God can use a crown of thorn, (Matt 27)
and a veil - top to bottom torn;
then God can use the quaking earth,
and thundering skies for our new birth.

If God can use a final breath, (Matt 27)
a shortened life, a cruel death;
then God can use a borrowed grave,
a missing stone, an empty cave.

If God can use the loss of sight, (Acts 9)
for Saul, the man who loved to fight;
then God can use some simple prayers,
sending messengers - proof He cares.

If God can use the blind from birth, (John 9)
and a little dust from His big earth;
then God can use what's always right,
and asks of us, our focused sight.

If God sends demons into swine, (Matt 8)
and uses water - to make wine; (John 2)
then patient, loving He must be,
to use a sinner, saved - like me.

©2005 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Psalm 66:16 (NASB)
16Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.