Prayer

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The Walk-Off

A long time ago
     in the mind of a child.
God planted a dream
     that to most would seem wild.
To walk with Him closely
     throughout every day.
To listen intently
     for what He will say.
To walk side by side
     as friend walks with friend.
To walk this way daily
     without any end.
 
To live like old Enoch
     from days long ago.
Whose walk with his Lord
     was more than “so-so”.
To be walking one day
     on this earth and its ground.
Then to walk off with God
     until he cannot be found.
That is the way
     that I want to be known.
I was walking with God
     then from earth I have flown.
 
What greater joy
     could there ever be.
Than to be called to heaven
     where God’s face I will see.
And when I get tired
     of being alive.
I recall Enoch’s years
     totaled three-sixty-five!
So I keep on walking
     by faith, not by sight.
For I could never make it
     if it was by my own might.
© 2015 by Tom Lemler
 
It has often been in the valleys of life that God has given me poems to write and this one was not an exception. From as far back as I can remember, Enoch has been one of my favorite Bible characters as I would contemplate a life lived in such a way that he “. . . walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him.” As the great-grandfather of Noah, Enoch lived in a time period where wickedness would have surrounded him in ever-increasing measure yet he chose to walk with God. I pray that you and I would make that choice daily that regardless of the wickedness around us, we will walk with God.
 
In prayer,
Tom
Freedom
by

Freedom

As we celebrate
     the Fourth of July.
How many people
     will ask themselves, “Why”?
The time off of work
     and cookouts are great.
But what is the reason
     that you celebrate?

The “land of the brave”
     and “home of the free”.
Do we live like that?
     Is that what you see?
We lock all our doors,
     we’re afraid to go out.
And sharing the truth
     causes people to shout.

Somehow we think,
     if I’m louder than they.
Then all of the people
     must do things my way.
The laws pile up,
     the rules list grows long.
And all it creates
     is more chance to do wrong.

We all want our freedom
     to do what we like.
From the old and the gray,
     to the littlest tike.
You can’t tell me different,
     I’ll do it my way.
“I have my rights”
     is what we all say.

And so it is strange
     when we go to The Word.
And see freedom defined
     like we’ve never heard.
You must surrender
     to truly be free.
And live to serve others
     so that Jesus they see.

There is no “freedom”
     that is worth the cost.
If I do what I want
     and still remain lost.
So I set my mind firmly
     to live like I should.
Trusting God’s Son has freed me
     as only He could.

God’s given His Spirit
     so that I can live free.
The fruit it produces
     ought to be seen in me.
Love, joy, peace, and patience;
     kindness and goodness too.
Being faithful and gentle
     with self-control as my view.

God says this is freedom;
     against such things there’s no law.
We’re set free by the Son
     from sin’s cold, deadly claw.
So, please remember
     if it’s freedom you need.
“If the Son sets you free,
     you will be free indeed!”

© 2015 by Tom Lemler

As I was spending time this morning reflecting on a sermon I’ll share tomorrow and thinking about our nation’s worship of freedom, this poem filled my mind. It appears that somewhere along the line we have forgotten that freedom always comes at a cost. As Americans we demand our freedoms thinking that somehow they are our right and that freedom means “free”. Unfortunately, that same mindset is often found in Christians regarding the freedom we do have in Christ. I pray that you and I would consider fully the cost of the freedoms we enjoy — both as Americans and, more importantly, as citizens of God’s kingdom — then truly live as ones who have been set free by the Son.

In prayer,
Tom

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A Precious Gift

Happy Birthday Susan!

Happy Birthday Susan!

Today is a day
     that we celebrate.
The birth of a girl
     who really is great!
It’s not always easy,
     but so worth the price.
To be given a gift 
     that’s so very nice!

She came at a moment,
     just stepped out in time.
We all had each other,
     but barely a dime.
From the beginning,
     she was daddy’s girl.
With a smile so big,
     any heart would unfurl.

I owe her my life,
     and oh, so much more.
She gave me purpose,
     which had gone out the door.
In the midst of great sickness
     I learned to press on.
There are so many walks
     on which we have gone.

Some say she’s different,
     I suppose that is so.
For she’s filled with joy,
     more than anyone I know!
She’s an angel from heaven —
     at least in a way.
With a message from God
     that she shares every day.

She longs for heaven
     and it’s really not odd.
She teaches me much
     about talking with God.
If you should wonder,
     what her joy is about.
God’s presence is with her,
     of that there’s no doubt.

The labels are plenty
     to describe what she’s got.
But to describe her,
     those labels do not!
CP and autism,
     with seizures not few.
May be what she has,
     but they don’t define who.

A child of the King,
     a joy to mankind.
A sweeter person,
     you never will find.
There’s no fake about her,
     no motives to hide.
What you see on her face
     is what is inside.

Throughout the years,
     we have been told.
Prepare for the worst,
     she won’t get this old.
Perhaps a few weeks,
     even years may be seen.
But it’s not very likely
     to go beyond teen.

And so here we are,
     at twenty-six years old!
A gift straight from God
     that’s still ours to hold!
I don’t take it for granted,
     I thank God every day.
That He loved us so much
     to send Susan our way.

She’s not really ours,
     she is simply on loan.
And it’s a great privilege
     to give her a home.
How long she will be here,
     I really don’t know.
She longs for heaven
     and is ready to go.

As I sit in a hotel
     on this, her birthday.
Alone in a room
     many miles away.
I wake up early
     to spend time in prayer.
And God gives me this poem
     that I now share.

© 2015 by Tom Lemler

We celebrated Susan’s birthday Sunday as I was headed out Monday morning for the North American Christian Convention. As I woke up early this morning and was spending time with God, He put this poem in my mind about Susan. I pray that she has a great day and continues to be a joy and blessing to others as she is to MJ and I.

In prayer,
Tom

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The Silent Majority

Do we even notice
     those who walk by?
The tired, the hungry,
     those too numb to cry?
The heart that is broken,
     in a life that is rushed?
A soul that is empty,
     a spirit that’s crushed?

They are all around us,
     in line at the store.
They’re even in church
     as we walk through the door.
These people exist
     in numbers not few.
Perhaps they are me,
     perhaps they are you!

And if we should notice,
     just what would we do?
The answers are plenty,
     the solutions are few.
To treat one another
     as God treated me.
To serve and to love,
     all those we see.

To sit and to listen,
     to give of our time.
To share what we have,
     to our very last dime.
To lift someone up
     who is feeling quite down.
And comfort the sad
     who are wearing a frown.

But most of all,
     we share of our treasure.
A hope that God gives
     that is beyond measure!
The joy that we find
     with God’s Spirit inside.
We always must share,
     and never should hide!
© 2015 by Tom Lemler

I was spending time praying this morning about some lingering discouragement that tries to sidetrack me from time to time. As I did so, God put this poem in my mind to shift my focus to a world surrounding me that is full of unseen people who feel unnoticed and unappreciated. I pray that you and I are an encouragement to all those around us and that we are surrounded by people who will encourage us when we are down.

In prayer,
Tom

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The Invisible Man

It was a day
     like so many other.
He opened his mouth
     then wondered, “Why bother?”
No one would listen
     to what he did say.
They just looked right through him
     and went their own way.

He’s always alone
     even in a large crowd.
It doesn’t matter
     if silent or loud.
No one does notice
     if he comes or he goes.
He blends into the wall,
     alone with his woes.

He always is certain
     his ideas aren’t that bad.
Some of them better
     than anyone had.
But what good will they be
     if no one will hear.
The ideas will be lost
     is what he does fear.

You probably know one,
     an invisible man.
Describe him in detail,
     I doubt that you can.
He’s always around,
     but never really seen.
Were his eyes brown or blue?
     Or perhaps they were green.

We all are surrounded
     each day that we live.
By invisible people
     with so much to give.
Some are still trying
     so hard to be heard.
While some have just quit
     and they won’t say a word.

When we fail to listen
     to those we won’t hear.
It is a great loss,
     but there’s a greater, I fear.
For living within us
     is the invisible One.
Given for our own good
     by God’s only Son.

His Spirit within us
     has much He would say.
But so very often,
     we just go our own way.
His ways are much higher
     and better than man’s.
But we tend to ignore it
     and stick with our plans.

We get into trouble
     when we go our own way.
Then wish God was clearer
     in what He had to say.
A lesson I’ve learned,
     is a good life-long plan.
Pay attention and learn from
     the invisible man.
© 2015 by Tom Lemler

I know that I’m not known for talking a lot, but most of the time when I do it seems like I am the only person that can hear what I’m saying. As I was mowing this afternoon, I found myself thinking about my own experiences of presenting ideas and plans to various groups and people during my lifetime. A vast majority of them appeared to not even get a legitimate hearing because there was always someone with the right “sales” personality that would talk a group into a different idea — many which have proven over time to be doomed from the start. As I continued to think about these times, this poem showed up in my mind and God had me examining how often I treat Him and His Spirit in the same way as what I was feeling. I pray that this poem accomplishes His purposes and is an encouragement to you.

In prayer,
Tom

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Prayer and Intercession

I am currently in the middle of a mid-week teaching series at my home church on Prayer and the Spiritual Disciplines.  This week we will be looking at the topic of Prayer and Intercession.

Intercession is defined as “the act of pleading on someone’s behalf” or “the action of attempting to settle a dispute”.  When I think of intercession, I think of Moses pleading with God for the rebellious people who had just come out of Egypt.  Am I that serious in my prayer life when it comes to the relationship of someone else to God?  Am I willing to actually plead on their behalf — to make a serious attempt to settle the dispute that exists between those who live as His enemies and God?  When I pray for the needs of others, am I casual in my words and thoughts or am I serious about wanting God to meet the needs of others regardless of what it costs me?  

As I grow in interceding for others, I am so thankful that God has given His Spirit to intercede on my behalf when my prayers are at a loss for words.

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A Look Inside

Sometimes I wonder
     just how life would be.
If people around me
     could see what I see.
For good or for bad –
     could go either way.
There’s always a reason
     I say what I say.

My mind’s always thinking,
     I can’t make it rest.
It looks for the answers
     that always are best.
I wish I could say
     they always are found.
But some days I’m lost,
     just wandering around.

I’ve learned to examine
     these thoughts in my mind.
To see if their truth,
     in God’s Word I find.
If they don’t measure up,
     I know they’re not true.
They’re just random thoughts
     from out of the blue.

While something within me
     does long to be heard.
So often I’m silent,
     not saying a word.
For fear does take over,
     I’ve seen it before.
What if I speak and
     the response is ignore?

It’s happened too often,
     at least in my past.
The decisions are made
     before I’m even asked.
The pain is too great
     to think no one cares.
So my thoughts stay with me
     and they can keep theirs.

There is a problem
     with a conclusion like this.
To learn from each other
     too often we miss.
To speak and to listen
     are both hard to do.
Perhaps one for me
     and perhaps one for you.

So we make every effort,
     the bonds of peace to maintain.
Through the power of the Spirit
     and the Lamb that was slain.
We look at each other
     as a creation of God.
We may be unique
     but we’re surely not odd.

God has a purpose
     for someone like me.
I hold to this truth
     even if I can’t see.
He also has purpose
     for someone like you.
You’re His creation
     so I know this is true.

So when we differ
     in how we perceive.
Find our common ground
     in the One we believe.
Since we both have value
     that’s given from above.
Our response to each other
     should always be love.

© 2015 by Tom Lemler

I’ve been in the church building this evening cleaning and then waiting for some meetings to finish up so I can finish getting the building ready for tomorrow. As I waited, I went outside to walk the trails and spend time with God where this poem showed up in my mind. If I allow my mind to dwell in the past too long, it seems like I can find far too many times when I’ve tested the waters of speaking my mind or making my desires known only to end up with the feeling of being rejected as my requests are declined or I’m moved out of roles so they can be filled by someone with better credentials or pedigree. I’m not sure why God gave me this poem other than to offer the readers a glimpse into my mind — scary place that it is. 🙂 I pray that God uses it for His purposes and His glory.

In prayer,
Tom

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A Still Small Voice

I am often alone
     in the midst of a crowd.
My voice isn’t heard,
     for the noise is too loud.
The things that I say
     just bounce off the wall.
So the people I speak to,
     do stumble and fall.

I have much to offer
     if anyone cares.
But most are too busy
     living life they think theirs.
“I know what I’m doing,
     I don’t need help now.”
Is an often heard phrase
     just before things go “Pow!”.

“This is a no-brainer,
     it makes the most sense.”
“This is almost as easy
     as falling off a fence.”
“I’ll save up my questions
     for more important things.”
“I’m sure I’ll be happy
     with what my way brings.”

“And yes, I do listen
     to what others say.”
“As long as they tell me
     that they like my way.”
“So, God I am sorry
     that you feel you’re not heard.”
“I’m too busy right now
     to spend time in your Word.”

So, what will I do
     with the voice in the crowd?
The one I don’t hear,
     for the world is too loud.
Will I draw away,
     to a quiet place.
To spend time with God,
     and look on His face.

While the choice should be easy,
     I’m afraid it is not.
The world keeps on shouting,
     “Look at all I’ve got!”
So I must stay focused,
     on His still small voice.
So that hearing from Jesus
     is my plan of choice!

© 2015 by Tom Lemler

This has been a tough day/weekend for me as I reflect on past and present events and struggle to allow my spirit to be still enough to hear God’s wisdom as I ought. As I’ve been going through the sermon I’ll share later this evening, this poem showed up in my head and wouldn’t leave. While I thought the poem was starting out to describe how I often feel, God seemed to change the direction and focus of it as it appeared on my computer screen. I pray that God would never feel alone in a crowd because of my lack of listening but that not only would I listen, but I would also be an encouragement to others to listen. I pray that this poem accomplishes God’s purposes for it.

In prayer,
Tom