Poems, Personal Stories, and Observations

Archive for the ‘Christian’ Category

My Psalm of Thanksgiving

[I wrote this after I had an infected kidney stone episode on 2/2/2023. An infected kidney could lead to sepsis. Was in hospital two nights. Doctor put a stent in and drained the infection. 2/14/2023 — Kidney stone and stent removed. Much better now!]

I praise you, O Lord,
For you have rescued me from the path to death.
Once, twice, and three times now,
And perhaps many more that I’m not aware of.

I thank You for those who are healers —
Doctors, nurses, nurse aides, and their helpers.
Please guide them in their work
And give them Your wisdom.

Now, Lord, help me learn from this.
May I take the best care of my body,
The temple of Your Holy Spirit.

May I use my good health
To heal others with the gifts You’ve given me —
Mostly encouragement, I think!

[I also pray to have the gift
To praise You
Right in the midst of any hardship,
For You have a plan for me.]

May Your name be praised
Over all the earth!

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Christian, Poems

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Armor of God Prayer

(Based on Ephesians 6:10-17)

Dear Lord,

Please gird my loins with Your truth,
Please grant me the breastplate of Your righteousness,
Let me walk in the readiness of the shoes of the gospel of peace,
And let me carry the shield of faith in You;
Let it extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

With the helmet of Your salvation,
Protect me from lies, half-truths, falsehoods, and deceptions,
From fear, worry, negativity, and anxiety,
From pride, arrogance, prejudice, and taking offense.
Grant me, Lord, protection from
Depression, discouragement, dejection, desperation, and despair.

And I ask for the sword of Your Spirit,
Which is Your Word.

Let me read it, re-read it, memorize it,
Chew on it, meditate on it,
Swallow it, digest it, and contemplate it.
Let me sing it out, shout it out,
Proclaim it and acclaim it,
But most of all, help me to LIVE Your Word.

Amen.

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Christian, prayer

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Days in the Doldrums

Days in the doldrums —
No breath of air —
Heat hanging like limp hair.

Is this our fate?
To sit paralyzed by hate,
Unable to move?

Or will we let the Spirit’s breath,
Like freshening breeze,
Cool hearts oppressed by dread dis-ease,
And so bring deepening love?

How can we move
Without His power?
The darkest hour
Is brightened by
The Spirit’s power.

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Christian, Poems

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Paradoxes

I swallowed the bitter pill,
And it became sweet in my mouth.

I lowered myself,
And I was exalted.

I forgave my prison warden
(from the prison that I and others had built for me),
And I was liberated.

I cried tears of grief,
And God put a new song in my mouth.

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Christian, Poems

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Terrifying Disguise

The phrase “Life’s a gift in terrifying disguise”
is taken from an article  by Dr. Kelly Flanagan:
“What to Do When Our Feelings Are Lying to Us”

A baby cries,
Thrust from its mother’s womb –
Unless it’s been his tomb.

By grace or chance,
He continues life’s dance.

If parents give her
Love and Truth,
She’ll have less wounds.

If, instead,
They do berate –
There’ll be more hate.

Life can be cruel –
So many wounds we give and take –
But there is grace.

Life’s a gift in terrifying disguise.
Yet there is One Who redeems —
Let Him also heal.

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Christian, Poems

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Jesus Calling

Come home;
I miss you so.

You’ve wandered long,
You’ve wandered far.

You’re weary now.

Your fevered brow
Has far too long
The sorrow born.

You need to rest,
To find your best.

To find your peace,
To end your quest.

Lay weary head
Upon My breast.

All things must pass;
Come home at last.

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Christian, Poems

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Gift from Above

 

Heaven is singing,
The choruses ringing,
Of God’s ever-love

Abiding in lightness,
In darkness, the brightness –
The Spirit, the dove

Gives strength to our weakness;
From pride, giving meekness –
The gift from above

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Christian, Poems

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Made for Infinity

I know You have a plan

A purpose great for me

But what the plan and purpose are

Is hard for me to see

 

It’s hidden from my eyesight

Too quiet for my ears

Or maybe I could see and hear

If not absorbed by fear

 

You’re making a creation

You have an awesome plan

The gears are turning slowly

O’er many years they span

 

The universe You fashioned

The earth, the stars, the sea –

Am I just a speck of dust, or —

Made for infinity?

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Christian, Poems

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Tale of the Rat: Two Sequels

THAT FEARFUL THING

That fearful thing did quiet lurk.
It disappeared into the dirt.

I dreaded to that thing go near;
With apprehension I did fear.

I set a trap to catch that thing.
I’d catch it good, with trap to sting.

I knew it must a monster be.
I knew it lurked to get at me.

What wonder did my eyes behold —
‘Twas not a rat, but lizard bold.

It looked benign, it stared at me.
It did not jump — sat quietly.

And now I’ve given the thing a name.
My fear misplaced — it’s not to blame.

—————————————————————————————————————————

IN DARK SHADOWS

In dark shadows live our fears;
In half-seen pictures, fear comes near.
In hidden places lurk our doubts;
In darkest alleys, doubt comes out.

Our thoughts get twisted, tied in knots —
Contorted, garbled — truth it’s not.
Imagination — it runs wild.
We’re fearful like a little child.

Until the light of love turns on,
Until God’s truth shines like the sun.
Until we give Him all our fears —
And then He calms and dries our tears.

Category:

Christian, Faith, Humor, Poems

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Shatter the Darkness

Shatter the darkness,
Bring searing light.
Break all the bondage
With holy might.

Rend all the ramparts,
Strongholds of fear;
Bring understanding —
With wisdom draw near.

Strengthen our weakness,
Your courage now give.
Cleanse with Your Spirit
Our madness and sin.

Strike now our enemy,
Make him forlorn;
Let all his strongholds
Be tattered and torn.

Give us Your power;
Your spirit embue.
Without you, dear Jesus,
There’s naught we can do.

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Christian, Poems

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