Poems

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Spring Thaw

The ground is all frozen
     as hard as can be.
It does look all barren
     if today’s all you see.
The air is so cold,
     it seems nothing could grow.
But the ground’s just asleep
     beneath a blanket of snow.
So look well beneath
     the ground frozen white.
And you will soon see
     everything is still right. 

The rays of the sun
     that will come out real soon.
Will make everything different
     at least by mid-June!
The seeds that are hidden
     in the ground down below.
Will be warmed by the sun
     and they’ll soon start to grow.
Their journey upward
     may be filled with much strife.
But that’s okay now
     as they burst forth with life. 

There’s more to this story
     than just the outside.
It’s more about people
     and what they do hide.
So very often,
     at least that we’re told.
People seem so hard
    and their heart seems so cold.
Before you point fingers
    you might look and see.
Instead of just others,
    it’s you and it’s me. 

And just like the ground
    needs the sun to appear.
Our heart starts to thaw
    when the Son does come near.
The warmth of God’s Spirit
     makes His fruit start to sprout.
And as it continues
     the good deeds come out.
So look to the Savior
     and see what I saw.
A life spent with Jesus
    can make any heart thaw!

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As I was working in the office today and noticing the steady stream of water dripping past my window from the melting snow, this poem appeared in my head.  I pray that it ministers to those that God designed for it to reach.

In prayer,
Tom Lemler

 

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Words

Words can be powerful,
     more than we know.
For good or for bad,
      either way it can go.
A careless word spoken
     is striking a spark.
Then the mind quickly takes us
     to a place that is dark.
Over and over
     the mind plays a word.
And after a while
     nothing else can be heard. 

I think far too often
     our tongue starts to say.
Things that are hurtful
     and get in the way.
Words come between us
     when freely they flow.
We don’t stop to think,
     so out the mouth they do go.
If you’re not so certain
     of all of these claims.
Then pick up a Bible,
     read the words penned by James. 

And while this sounds hopeless
     and out of control.
Words can bring healing
     and help make you whole.
A word fitly spoken
     is like an apple of gold.
A word that brings healing
     is a thing to behold!
The Word that is Jesus
     is quite a big deal.
A word from the Savior
     has the power to heal. 

So as you consider
     the words that you use.
The ones that bring healing,
     I pray you do choose.
The ones that are careless
     and bring such great hurt.
I pray you remove them
     along with the dirt.
And as you spread good things
     by what you do say.
I pray that God’s Spirit
     brings great healing today.

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This is one of three poems that rolled out of my head in rather quick succession as I spent time listening to God for direction and peace.  I pray that these words are of the healing kind in your life and mine.

In prayer,
Tom

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Life’s Journey

We all have a choice
     each day that we live.
Are we about taking
     or all about give?
It has been said
     a long time ago.
Two paths through the woods,
     on which will you go?
Look back even further
     the story’s the same.
A wide path and narrow,
     which do you claim? 

A way that seems right
     in the mind of a man.
It leads to destruction
     if it isn’t God’s plan.
We like things our way,
     we think we’re so smart.
If it works for the world,
     how can we fall apart?
When we still struggle
     with what we can’t get.
It’s time to look upward
     before we forget. 

The path that’s less traveled
     in this life, you see.
Is the one that serves others
     instead of just me.
To start on that journey
     I give up my greed.
I look out for others
     to see what they need.
I look up to Jesus
     to start every day.
This journey goes forward
     when He leads the way. 

So as you consider
     the paths before you.
Which will you follow,
    what will you do?
Will you follow Jesus
     and the life that he led?
He cared for the people
     to the point that He bled.
So in this life’s journey
     your choice I do pray.
Is the one beside Jesus
     and that you’d never stray.

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The poems just keep filling my head and if I don’t type them out my mind seems to clog up. I figure since I’m typing them, I may as well share them. I pray that they serve the purpose for which God is giving them to me.

In prayer,
Tom

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Mirror, Mirror

I look in the mirror
     and what do I see?
Do I even like
    the person staring at me?
Sometimes it’s easy
     without looking to far.
To measure my worth
     by the depth of my scar.
The true value’s hidden
     and hard to appear.
When I view who I am
    by the things I do hear. 

You’re lazy, you’re stupid,
     you don’t do enough.
When compared to all others
     you don’t have the right stuff.
You don’t belong here,
     you’re really quite weird.
As a matter of fact,
     I can’t stand your gray beard.
The list could keep going
     with many more things.
If I listen too closely,
     in my ears it all rings. 

Sometimes it’s harder,
     I’m sorry to say.
To look at things different
     and see a new way.
Instead of opinions
     that others do tell.
I fix my thoughts heavenward,
     on Christ they do dwell.
He gives a new image
     of what I should see.
When the face in the mirror
     looks right back at me. 

He sees a new person,
     a child that belongs.
All of the labels
     washed away with the wrongs.
He gives me a new name
     and a robe that is white.
He calls me to follow
     as He makes everything right.
I’ve learned to trust Him
     when in the mirror I gaze.
Everything’s clearer
     when it’s Jesus I praise!

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I was eating lunch in my office and praying for a family who were in the building for a memorial service and this poem just rolled out of my mind.  I don’t know that it was related to the memorial service at all, but perhaps in this quiet time with God it came from recent reminders of inadequacies and failures others have labeled me with.   I pray that it is an encouragement and comfort to someone and brings glory to God!

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Listen!

Like it or not
      we need to find.
Inside of our head,
      somewhere in our mind.
Something that’s missing,
      something that’s rare.
To open our ears
     and show that we care.
Everyone seems to
      have something to say.
No one is listening,
      we just go our own way.

Lazy or careless,
      either could be.
I can’t seem to help it
      if no one hears me.
So many people
      trying to be heard.
Today there’s no chance
      to get in a word.
Even more sad
      is this little news.
No one hears God
      when they do what they choose.

Listen intently
      to this little poem.
In hope you’ll be ready
      when it’s time to go home.
Search deep within you
      for what you must do.
To listen to Jesus
      when He calls for you.
Eagerly seek Him
      with all that you are.
Notice He’s waiting,
      He’s close and not far.
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Here’s another poem for what it is worth.  Once the idea of it sparks in my mind, the poem falls out of my head so quickly that it is often hard to keep up.

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Snow Days

The snow just kept falling
     and the temperature got cold.
All commerce did stop
     and staying home got quite old.
The city shut down
     like I’ve never seen.
When the temps bottomed out
     around minus eighteen.
And on the third day
     there was finally some sun.
And the temperature rose
     to a warm minus one! 

In the midst of such warmth
     outside I must go.
I start up the blower,
     the one made for snow.
I head down the drive
     to clear it all out.
My world turns all white
     as snow flies from the spout.
In the midst of such beauty
     the cold settles in.
All the way from my toes
     to the end of my chin. 

My clothes are all covered
     and my hat frosty white.
Now it’s time to go in
     so the frost doesn’t bite.
As I look out the window
     I like what was done.
If it wasn’t so cold
     it might have been fun.
Tonight I will sleep for
     tomorrow’s a new day.
It’s supposed to be warmer
     so it’s work and not play.

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God’s Way

Words seem so empty
      when friends have great hurt.
 If it would help them,
      I’d give them my shirt.
We plan and we dream
      and we work really hard.
Yet, when our dreams are shattered
      we get cut by the shard.
While the wound isn’t open
      with blood rushing out.
The hurt is as painful
      and we want to shout!

We sit and we wonder,
      we’ve waited so long.
How in the world
      did things go so wrong.
The days have no answers
      the nights creep on past.
The hurting continues,
      how long will it last.
 Then we start to question,
      when life’s so unfair.
What have I done, so
      that no one would care?

In these long moments
      and miserable days.
 It’s very important
      that I change my gaze.
 Looking within me
      is a good place to start.
To examine my motives
      and clean up my heart.
To change what needs changin’
      from inside to out.
 And do it completely
      to leave room for no doubt.

When I have examined
      all that’s inside.
 I lift up my head,
      I have nothing to hide.
 I look back with sorrow
     at what was back there.
 Then look up to heaven
      to feel His great care.
 It’s in this here moment
      that I understand.
 My God did not cause this,
      He is holding my hand.

So what am I saying
      and what have I learned?
In the midst of rejection
      when I feel so spurned.
Whether it’s my fault
      or the fault of some man.
 God’s not left wondering,
      He still has a plan.
It may not be better
      as people will say.
But it will be good,
      for that is God’s way.

©

I wrote this poem . . . or more accurately, this poem fell out of my head in about 10 minutes as I was praying for some friends who are going through a difficult time. Difficult times are never pleasant — that’s why they’re called difficult times 😉 — but they can help us grow strong in faith and compassion. I pray that whatever difficult times you find yourself in, that you would allow God to strengthen and comfort you so that you can be used to strengthen and comfort others. I pray that these words reach all who God purposed them to touch as He gave them to me.

In prayer,
Tom Lemler

 

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Final Preparations

If you knew that this year
     was the last you would get.
Would you be more active
     or quietly sit?
Would you talk more of Jesus
     and tell the good news?
Or keep to yourself,
     which one will you choose?
If this is the year
     that Jesus will come,
Will you be ready,
     will He say, “Well done!”.

 If you’re not too sure
     of what He would say,
I ask you to listen
     and seek Him today.
He gives us the truth
     throughout His good Book.
So why don’t you sit down
     and take a good look.
If we read His story
     from beginning to end.
We’ll see His desire is
     to call us His friend.

 So how should you answer
     and what should you do,
If this is the year
     Jesus comes for you, too.
Ask Him to cleanse you
     and wash away sin.
Love and serve others,
     their soul seek to win.
And if you should wonder
     how God you could please.
Then feed, clothe, and visit
     all who are “least of these”.

 If you should ask me
     just what does that mean.
I’ll point you to Jesus
     as He shares a scene.
He tells us a story
     of quite a large crowd.
Some are cast out to
     a place that is loud.
The only real difference
     as He made His choice,
Were they serving others —
     the ones with no voice.

As I was praying for a couple of families who have lost loved ones in the past week, God opened up this poem in my mind and out it came.  I pray that these words are a help and encouragement to you as you consider your readiness for the Lord’s return.

In prayer,
Tom Lemler

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