Poems

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Truth

It’s cold and it’s snowy
     outside of the door.
But I’m warm and cozy,
     asleep on the floor.
I know what you’re saying,
     that you’d like to see.
Asleep and still writing
     that just can not be.
It may not seem likely —
     it may not seem real.
I”m only sharing
     the things that I feel.

If you just don’t like it,
     that’s fine with me.
You can do something useful,
     like watch “reality” TV!
It’s really not funny
     the things we accept.
As true and important
     though the facts are inept.
We read and we study,
     we search through the ‘net.
To prove what we want to,
     and the rest we forget.

As my mind does wander,
     and goes to and fro.
I consider what’s in it
     and I think of the snow.
It doesn’t matter
     if I say it is hot.
I can say it forever,
     but still, it is not.
The point to this story,
     is about to come.
I can’t make my own truth,
     It comes from the Son!

Okay, I went out to clear the snow from the driveway at home and another poem fell out of my head. I pray that this reaches the person God gave it to me for.

In prayer,
Tom Lemler

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Survivor

We add and we tally,
      we count all our things.
Perhaps if we have enough
      we could be kings.
We say that we don’t want
      all that there is.
We only want more than
      he would call his.
This cold fascination
      becomes very odd.
When all we desire
      is to simply be God.

My goal is quite simple
      when I’m living large.
I don’t care what you need
      just put me in charge!
I’m more important
      than all who you know.
Just ask and I’ll tell you,
      it really is so.
 My goal is to out wit,
      out last, and out play.
To step on all others
      each and every day.

This does not sound right,
      I’m really quite sure.
To live like the world,
      God would not call pure.
So I’ll re-examine
      and make a fresh start.
God doesn’t look outside,
      He looks in my heart.
If it’s full of darkness
      and evil desire.
God fills it with His light
      and cleanses with fire.

He calls me to look at
      the way I do measure.
And to chase after boldly
      the things He calls treasure.
To climb heaven’s ladder
      is different you see.
It’s all about Jesus
      and what Christ did for me.
And so I do tally
      and measure and add.
Not for my own good —
      it’s all for my Dad!

Yep, another night hanging out with God and He shows me another poem that He had put in my  head.  I pray that this is a help and encouragement to whoever God brought it out for — even if that is only me.

In prayer,
Tom

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Overcomers

It’s been quite a year
      as I look around.
Some dreams were lost
      while others were found.
When life doesn’t turn out
      quite as I planned,
I still trust the Holy One
      who is holding my hand.
It’s my faith in Jesus
      that helps me get through.
I hope and I pray
      that is true for you, too.

When people mistreat you
      and life seems unfair,
Look to your Savior
      ’cause He’ll always care.
It may take much longer
      than you think it should,
But God still does promise
      it will be for your good.
When this life is over,
      if you can recall,
All of those hardships
      will seem kind of small.

So look at what matters
      and see what will last.
Having such vision
      can conquer the past.
The things thought important
      may not really be.
If they last for a moment
      instead of eternally.
So don’t be too worried
      what people might say.
As long as you’re ready
      for God’s judgment day.

When living in this world
      it’s so hard to think.
That all of my “good” stuff
      could be gone in a wink.
So handle possessions
      with a very loose grip.
Then it’s not so painful
      when they start to slip.
Invest all your treasure
      in what cannot be lost.
For it has great value
      no matter the cost.

I pray that these words accomplish the purpose for which God gave them to me.  Perhaps part of that purpose is for you.

In prayer,
Tom Lemler

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New Year’s Opportunity

As the days slip away
     and the new year does come,
Look back for a moment
     and see what you’ve done.
Don’t look for too long
     or you’ll fail to see,
Good things are coming
     and great things will be.
The hard times aren’t over
     for they help us grow.
So trusting in Jesus
     is the only way to go!

So, what will the year bring?
     I’ll just wait and see.
I’ll be looking and watching
     while on bended knee.
While my view is clouded,
     there’s One who does know.
What I will be doing
     and where will I go.
There’s only one answer
     that will get us through.
It’s to follow the Savior
     as He makes us new.

So, don’t you be worried
     and don’t you go fret.
God’s work within us
     is not over yet.
We’ll take the good times
     along with the bad.
And trust that our Father 
     will soon make us glad.
And as we’re rejoicing
     at what He has done.
We’ll be looking toward heaven
     and life with the Son!

I pray that these words are an encouragement to you. It continues to amaze me that these are not only in my head, but they somehow come out.  May God lead and guide you throughout the new year!

In prayer,

Tom Lemler

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Christmas Reminder (Matthew 25)

Christmas is here,
     the day’s finally come.
When people will gather
     for good family fun.
As you come to dinner
     and pull up your seat,
There are people are out there
     who have nothing to eat.
You have two choices,
     what to do with that news.
Sharing with others
     is the one that I choose.

God tells us clearly 
     to help those in need.
But often I fail to
     because of my greed.
I need reminded
     to care for the weak.
To stand up and speak out
     for those who can’t speak.
It doesn’t take too long
     to notice out there,
Someone who’s hurting,
     then show them you care.

To visit the lonely
     and care for the sick,
Give food to the hungry,
     and the message might stick.
It’s all about doing
     what God said is best.
To hear Jesus tell you,
     “Enter into my rest!”
I pray that this Christmas
     you’ll clearly see,
Hope is for everyone,
     not just you and me!

I pray that you consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46 this Christmas as you celebrate the birth of Jesus. His birth, death, burial, and resurrection was meant to be good news for all the people! What are you and I doing to make that good news known?

In prayer,
Tom

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God Cares

The squirrels are all playing
      in the midst of the trees.
The birds’ song is carried
      along in the breeze.
As I sit and ponder
      all that’s out there.
I’m always reminded
      that my God, He does care.
 
Sometimes I wonder
      if a difference I make.
As I seek to serve others
      all for His great name’s sake.
As I’m using my talents
      and attempting some good,
it’s so very easy
      to be misunderstood.

That shouldn’t matter
      if this is my aim.
God calls me to faithfulness
      not world-wide fame!
And so I get busy
      in doing some good.
In sharing of Jesus
      as He says I should!

I pray that you find some encouragement in these words.  As I was noticing the squirrels and birds outside my office window today it was a great reminder of the care God has for His children.  It was also quite amazing how quickly these words found their way out of my head and through the keyboard to my computer screen.

In prayer

Tom Lemler

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Pure Religion

The world is all grumpy
      and people act mean.
It’s all about “my rights”,
      or so it would seem.
We look at each other,
      instead of within.
Yes, I have a problem,
      it’s caused by my sin.

God gives us an answer,
     I believe this is true.
He sent us a Savior
      to make me brand new.
When I live for Jesus,
      He calls me to care,
for widows and orphans
      and people out there.

To examine my own self
      to see what is wrong.
Then allow Him to change it
      while I praise Him in song.
My faith is not visible
      by what I might say,
so I must act different
      and reject my own way!

This little writing
       is really quite plain,
I live for Jesus
      and He keeps me sane.
The life that He gives me,
      I pray for you.
That the glory of Jesus
      is all that shines through!

I pray that you find some joy and encouragement through these words.  I’ve been preaching a sermon series through the book of James and as I spent time preparing to wrap up that series, these lines just flowed from my mind.  I figure that God put them there and He brought them out, so He has a purpose to use them in someone’s life.  I pray that someone is you!  🙂

In prayer,

Tom Lemler

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Elementary Christmas

‘Twas the week before Christmas
      and all through the schools,
Not a student was listening
       nor following the rules.
Their minds were all elsewhere
      and thinking with joy,
That Christmas might bring them
       the latest new toy.

Then quite unexpected
       and out of the blue,
the meaning of Christmas
      came shining right through!
They sang of sweet Jesus
      and remembered His birth,
that very first Christmas
      when God came to earth.

It was quite a lesson
      I pray we did learn,
The real gift of Christmas
      was given, not earned.
These lines are over,
      the rhyming is done.
My prayer for each person,
      that we’d follow the Son!

I pray that you find some joy and encouragement through these words.  I’ve not even made an attempt at writing a poem since high school English when I was required to.  Yet as I considered the school and preschool children that are in the building every day as I work, these lines just flowed from my mind.  I figure that God put them there and He brought them out, so He has a purpose to use them in someone’s life.  I pray that someone is you!  🙂

Merry Christmas!

In prayer,

Tom Lemler

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