Poems

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Do You Remember (The Twenty-First Night of September)

My mind does forget things,
     some say I am old.
Some things I recall
     when finally I’m told.
But there are some days
     that I do remember.
Like the twenty-first day
     of the month of September.

Nineteen seventy-nine
     was quite a year.
A girl did like me
     in spite of my fear.
Someone showed interest,
     that really was great.
September twenty-first
     was our first real date!

In order to drive,
     back in that day.
You had to be sixteen,
     a month, and a day.
So after my birthday
     in August that year.
I waited the month,
     then let out a cheer!

The very next day,
     I did what made sense.
I went to the Bureau
     and got my license!
That very evening,
     I picked up my date.
We went out for pizza,
     it probably got late.

Fast-forward two years
     to nineteen eighty-one.
I had dated no others,
     this was the one!
I was quite smitten,
     there was no need to wait.
So we planned our own wedding
     and chose a good date!

Exactly two years
     after that first date.
Our wedding took place,
     we each had a help-mate!
While many did wonder
     if it really would last.
I look back amazed
     at the years that have passed.

They’ve not all been easy,
     some have been quite hard.
But we’ve been protected
     by an Almighty Guard!
The thirty-three years
     that we have been wed.
Are just the beginning
     unless I end up dead!  🙂

My mind continues to be filled again with rhyming lines that seem to be all jumbled up for some reason. Anyhow, as I was working through a sermon and reflecting on our anniversary day, these lines seemed to come out of the pile.

In prayer,
Tom Lemler

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A Prophet’s Life

Some say it’s a gift,
     but I’m not so sure.
To see what could be
     if our choices were pure.
Just take a look back
     to the prophets of old.
And see what it got them
     when they were quite bold.

They’d speak up for God
     and proclaim forth His Word.
Yet the people would live,
     like they had never heard.
Things haven’t changed much
     as I look around.
Insist on life God’s way
     and few friends will be found.

It seems we’ve grown smarter
     than ever before.
We have better methods,
     our wisdom is more.
God couldn’t mean
     what it looks like He said.
Our own understanding
     beats the words that are red.

Yet faithful I must be,
     no matter the cost.
Anything less and
     my soul will be lost.
What God says still matters
     and I must be true.
To not only live it,
     but speak it to you!
© 2014 by Tom Lemler

The poems had disappeared from my mind for a while but for some reason several of them showed up in my mind all mixed up last night. This is one I sorted out and I think all the lines belong to this poem. 🙂

In prayer,
Tom

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The Storm

A storm is a brewing,
     the sky colors turn.
The temperature falls,
     the clouds start to churn.
Darkness descends,
     in the midst of the day.
It creeps across everything,
     that is in its way.
The sun disappears,
     it’s gone from my sight.
It looks and it feels,
     like the middle of night.

Could this be a sign,
     of what soon will be here?
The darkness is heavy,
     it’s creating great fear.
Out of the darkness,
     the lightning does flash.
The thunder resounds,
     with an echoing crash!
The wind starts to howl,
     with a horrible sound.
Out of the heavens,
     the rain strikes the ground.

In the midst of the storm,
     hope oft disappears.
The darkness is too dark,
     too great are the fears.
No end can be seen,
     chaos is in charge.
Destruction is great,
     the damage quite large.
Will we make it through,
     will there ever be light?
Am I stuck in this storm,
     will it always seem night?

We know the answer,
     we’ve been here before.
The darkness is great;
     the sun, so much more.
The storm may seem long,
     as we wait for its end.
But the rays of the sun,
     the darkness will rend.
When light overpowers,
     the darkness so great.
We rejoice that it’s over,
     it was well worth the wait.

More often than not,
    the storm is inside.
The darkness descends,
     you have nowhere to hide.
In your darkest hours,
     in the midst of despair.
Remember the One,
     who will always be there.
The storm may rage now,
     but someday it will end.
“My peace I leave with you”,
     when you are My friend!
© 2014 by Tom Lemler

An afternoon storm came up quickly today and I began thinking about the confidence I had that it would eventually pass. As I was spending time in prayer this evening, this thought was still on my mind as I considered the times of darkness that I experience in life. Even though I’ve seen God pierce through them many times, in the midst of the storm I often begin to believe that the darkness will never end. It was through these reminders that God put this poem in my mind. I pray that it honors Him and brings glory to His name as it accomplishes His purposes for it.

In prayer,
Tom

My Dad
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My Dad

It’s getting late,
     I should be in bed.
But it seems like a poem
     is stuck in my head.
It rolls around in there
     and seems to want out.
To be set in print,
     to stop rolling about.

So here I am,
     with keyboard and mouse.
Alone in the basement
     of a quiet house.
The topic is fitting –
     all good, nothing bad.
A poem’s trying to form
     that would honor my dad!

A harder worker,
     I surely don’t know.
He taught me so much
     by the seeds he did sow.
And while there was much
     he did plant in the ground.
It was seeds full of wisdom
     that did always abound.

I know there were days
     that he probably thought.
Will these boys of mine
     ever do what they ought?
I’m so very glad
     that my dad still can see.
Just what kind of man,
     that I’m growing to be.

As I look back in time
     and down through the years.
I pray that my life now
     has made up for the tears.
I learned how to work
     and I learned how to play.
From my mom and dad
     as they showed me the way.

Dad worked very hard —
     in fact, he still does.
It’s his way of life,
     not just something that was.
But even in work,
     there was room for fun.
Dad helped me to see,
     I needed both, not just one.

Some days at the sawmill,
     we’d walk home through the wood.
And jump in the pond,
     like every boy should.
There always were chores
     that had to be done.
But when they were finished,
     there was still time for fun.

Dad doesn’t say much,
     but that is okay.
For I understand,
     I am much the same way.
His actions speak louder
     than words ever can.
I know he’s beside me,
     as my biggest fan.

There is so much I do,
     as I step back and look.
That I learned from my dad,
     it can’t be found in a book.
Dad showed me how 
     to invest life in life.
As he builds up his children
     and loves his own wife.

I’m sure there are things
     that are clear in my mind.
That if I could see now,
     something different I’d find.
My recollection —
     of vacations, you see.
Dad would stop anywhere,
     as long as it was free!

State parks were the norm,
     of places we’d go.
We could have lots of fun
     without spending much dough.
So when I grew older,
     and out on my own.
I have often returned
     to where those seeds were sown.

To visit some places
     where memories were made.
I’ve taken my family,
     and we’d walk in the shade.
The example that I saw,
     in the childhood I had.
Was a home full of love,
     and a great mom and dad.

I could go on,
     with this poem for a while.
When I think of my dad,
     I can’t help but smile.
He lives life each day,
     to the best that he can.
And when I grow up,
     I want to be like that man!

© 2014 by Tom Lemler

As the day came to a close with Father’s Day just around the corner, this poem began to form in my mind. I am thankful for the dad that God has given me and I pray that I honor him not just with some words, but with my life.

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Vacation

It was time for vacation
     so we got on a plane.
And prayed like Elijah,
     that it would not rain!
A week on the beach
     can get really old.
If it rains every day
     and the weather gets cold. 

God gave us a great place
     to spend all together.
So we prayed that He also
     would give us great weather!
It started quite rocky
     with a storm in the night.
That delayed for an hour
     our rescheduled flight. 

We made it to Florida
     where we got a car.
And were very thankful,
     our lodging was not far.
We finally arrived
     and we got our key.
That morning we settled
     somewhere around three! 

We slept in a little,
     but not for too long.
We went for a walk
     but something went wrong.
A mile away
    from the place we did start.
The wheels on the wheelchair
     simply fell all apart. 

We headed to town,
     hoping for a repair.
Instead, we replaced it
     at a price that was fair.
We stocked up on groceries
     and food for the grill.
So the rest of the week,
     we would all eat our fill. 

Each day called for rain,
     and a chance of a storm.
But at our location,
     it was sunny and warm!
The clouds built up nearby,
     the rain fell in town.
But where we were at,
     it did not come down.

We went to the beach,
    we walked all around.
No better weather,
     anywhere could be found.
A trip to the zoo
     and a walk through a park.
Each day was quite sunny,
     until it got dark. 

The pool was quite warm,
     the gulf warmer yet.
We walked and we swam,
     with no reason to fret.
Vacation’s been great,
     but soon it must end.
But I am so thankful,
     God calls me His friend! 

© 2014 by Tom Lemler

As another day comes to a close with rain and thunder all around, and clear skies where we are at, I’m reminded yet again of the incredible blessing God is giving my family during this vacation.  I pray that my praise of God is just as forthcoming during times of rain and darkness as it is during days of sunshine and warmth.

In prayer,
Tom

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Focus

It is amazing
     just what I can see.
When I slow down my life
     and I look beyond me.
Life goes by quickly,
     it soon will be past.
Just what am I doing
     will anything last?

It is so easy
     to live for a job.
To go through the motions
     ‘til your mind is a blob.
Your work’s automatic,
     but that’s all there is.
There’s no sparkle left,
     no pop and no fizz.

I need some help
     to see a new view.
So I take lots of pictures
     and I share them with you.
I look through the camera
     for what catches my eye.
It is quite amazing
     what all I can spy.

I take many pictures,
     some far and some near.
Some flowers, some birds,
     and even some deer.
I zoom in, I zoom out;
     I stand and I kneel.
They become more than pictures,
     they express what I feel.

It’s through this expression,
     I hope I do start.
A season of worship
     in somebody’s heart.
I know that has happened,
     for me it is true.
I pray that you’re blessed
     and worship God too!

So whether I’m writing,
     these poems that I share.
Or posting some pictures
     I take everywhere.
The goal is the same,
     I hope you will see.
It’s all about God
     and His work in me.

So whatever you’re doing,
     whoever you are.
Take time to slow down
     if you want to go far.
For your life to matter
     beyond what you live.
You must do for others
     in the way that you give.

Take time to relax
     and get a new view.
Reflect every day
     on how God sees you.
When you understand
     God deserves first place.
You’re well on your way
    to winning the race!

© 2014 by Tom Lemler

As I’ve been blessed with a great vacation opportunity, I’ve been using my camera as a tool of worship as I look at things from a different perspective and praise God for His incredible handiwork. As I was taking pictures today and thinking about the detailed work that God does, He began to form this poem in my mind. I pray that you make the time in your life to slow down and recognize the work of God so that you may share it with others.

In prayer,
Tom

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Great Sacrifice

Many have served,
     this much I know.
But how much honor
     do we really show?
One day a year
     we think of the brave.
Who fought in a war
     that led to their grave.
On yet another,
     we thank those alive.
Who served our great country
     so freedom could thrive. 

But as I consider
     the price that was paid.
The honor returned
     seems quickly to fade.
Do we really care
     the rest of the year?
For a child with no dad
     and a parent’s worst fear?
A son or a daughter
     who paid with their life.
Is the worst kind of news,
     it will cut like a knife. 

Do we stand there with them
     in the days filled with pain?
Or do we run and hide
     when the tears flow like rain?
Do we give of ourselves
     what their loved one cannot?
Or do we walk away
     when the heat gets too hot?
We say we are thankful,
     but does it really show?
To those who have given,
     do they really  know? 

What would it look like
     to honor sacrifice?
It requires our actions,
     beyond, “Oh, that is nice!”.
To simply say, “Thank you.”
     is not nearly enough.
We show our true thanks
     when the going gets rough.
To give of ourselves
     is an honor indeed.
To care for the hurting
     at their point of need. 

It is so very easy,
     when we don’t see a face.
To treat those who gave
     with utter disgrace.
So how will you thank
     those left behind?
Of the one who has died
     so that peace you may find?
To honor those serving,
     from now and the past.
And pray that they know,
     your gratitude will last. 

While we are talking,
     about great sacrifice.
There is One who did die
     while His guards rolled the dice.
He gave His life for me
     so that I could be free.
He bought my redemption
     as He hung on a tree.
The freedom He offers
     is not just for today.
Past, present, and future
     as I follow His way! 

 © 2014 by Tom Lemler

As I was thinking about Memorial Day and praying for families who experience pain and emptiness because of the sacrifice a loved one has made, this poem filled my mind.  Because those who serve deserve honor, we have a tendency to merge Memorial Day and Veterans  Day together.  The tragedy isn’t that we give too much honor to those who have served, it is that we often only think about them on one or two days of the year!  The much publicized scandals within our nations Veterans Administration should be an outrage to every American.  But if each of us were to do our part in honoring and remembering every day those who have served, so many of these veterans and their families would be cared for in meaningful ways beyond what can be accomplished by the government.  If we were to truly honor and remember the sacrifice Jesus made for each of us, we would be doing the things that express love and care for our fellow-man.  I pray that our life in Christ would be visible in the way we treat others.

In prayer,
Tom

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Cleaning

My eyes have grown tired
     as I work today.
I try to stay focused
     as I clean and pray.
The cleaning’s not hard,
     it just never ends.
Can the same thing be true
     as I pray for my friends?
As long as we live,
     there is cleaning to do.
Not just of a building,
     but of me and of you.

I stop at each desk
     as I go through the room.
I pray for each student
     as I push a broom.
The job takes me longer,
     when I stop to pray.
But I can’t imagine
     not doing it this way.
The results can’t be measured,
     they are hard to see.
But prayer makes a difference
     because it changes me.

Can I keep watch 
     for an hour or more?
Or do I give up,
     thinking this is a bore?
Would things be different
     if I took the time?
To pray for a person
     when I want to whine.
Perhaps it will change them,
     as God does His thing.
Or a new perspective,
     to me He will bring.

Prayer is effective,
     more than we know.
If we really believed it,
     I’m sure it would show.
To spend time with God,
     seeking His face.
Is what makes a difference
     as I work in this place.
If you want changes,
     in how you see your day.
Whatever you’re doing,
     include time to pray!

© 2014 by Tom Lemler

I’m going through the building getting it ready for Sunday with a combination of cleaning and praying. As I was doing both, and finding my eyes becoming heavy, this poem showed up in my mind.  I pray that it encourages you to pray in all circumstances and surroundings.

In prayer,
Tom