Some Of My Favorite Poems - Enjoy

[The Crusader]

SPIRITUAL INVESTMENTS
(Author unknown, "Parables, Etc.")

I counted all my dollars while God counted crosses;
I counted gains while he counted losses;
I counted my worth by the things gained in store,
But he sized me up by the scars that I bore.
I coveted honors and sought for degrees;
He wept as He counted the hours on my knees.
I never knew till one day by a grave
How vain are the things that we spend life to save.
I did not know till a friend went above
That richest is he who is rich in God's love.

<))><

[The Crusader]

REDEEMING THE TIME
(Theodore W. Brennan)

 looked upon a farm one day.
That once I used to own;
The barn had fallen to the ground.
The fields were overgrown.
The house in which my children grew.
Where we had lived for years -
I turned to see it broken down.
And brushed aside the tears.
I looked upon my soul one day.
To find it too had grown
With thorns and nettles everywhere.
The seeds neglect had sown.
The years had passed while I had cared
For things of lesser worth:
The things of Heaven I let go
When minding things of Earth.
To Christ I turned with bitter tears.
And cried, "O Lord, forgive!
I haven't much time left for Thee,
Not many years to live."
The wasted years forever gone,
The days I can't recall;
If I could live those days again.
I'd make Him Lord of all.

<))><

[The Crusader]

JUST A MINUTE
(Selected)

Just a tiny little minute
Only sixty seconds in it
Forced upon me.
Can't refuse it.
Didn't seek it, didn't choose it,
I must suffer if I loose it,
Give account if I abuse it.
Just a tiny little minute,
but eternity is in it.

[The Crusader]

TRUST IN GOD
by A.B. Simpson

Once my hands were always trying;
Trying hard to do my best;
Now my heart is sweetly trusting,
And my soul is all at rest.
Once my brain was always planning,
And my heart, with cares oppressed;
Now I trust the Lord to lead me,
And my life is all at rest.
Once my life was full of effort,
Now 'tis full of joy and zest;
Since I took His yoke upon me,
Jesus gives to me His rest.

<))><

[The Crusader]

A VOICE FROM ETERNITY
Author Unknown

You lived next door to me for years
We shared our dreams, our joys, our tears,
A friend to me you were indeed--
A friend who helped me when in need.
My faith in you was strong and sure
We had such trust as should endure,
No spats between us ever rose
Our friends were alike, also our foes.
What sadness, then, my friend, to find
That after all, you weren't so kind.
The day my life on earth did end
I found you weren't a faithful friend...
For all those years we spent on earth,
You never talked of Second Birth,
You never spoke of my lost soul
And of the Christ Who'd make me whole.
I plead today from hell's cruel fire
And tell you now my last desire,
You cannot do a thing for me,
No words today my bonds will free.
But do not err, my friend, again,
Do all you can for souls of men,
Plead with them now quite earnestly
Lest they be cast in hell with me.

<))><

[TigerLily]

Again my friend, You've done well.. Thank you so much for sharing these..
God Bless and Keep you always..
Tigerlily...

[sincereheart]

TRUST IN GOD
by A.B. Simpson

Once my hands were always trying;
Trying hard to do my best;
Now my heart is sweetly trusting,
And my soul is all at rest.
Once my brain was always planning,
And my heart, with cares oppressed;
Now I trust the Lord to lead me,
And my life is all at rest.
Once my life was full of effort,
Now 'tis full of joy and zest;
Since I took His yoke upon me,
Jesus gives to me His rest.

So many that are so timely. Many thanks!

[The Crusader]

PRAYER OF A HALF-HEARTED CHRISTIAN
Author Unknown

I love thy church, O God;
Her walls before me stand;
But please excuse my absence, Lord;
This bed is simply grand!
A charge to keep I have;
A God to glorify;
But Lord, don't ask for cash from me;
The glory comes to high.
Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb?
Yes! Though I seldom pray or pay,
I still insist I am.
Praise God from who all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below!
Oh, loud my hymns of praise I bring,
Because It doesn't cost to sing!


<))><

[The Crusader]

IS HEAVEN IN THE YELLOW PAGES?  
by Donna Groleau

Mommy went to Heaven, but I need her here today,
My tummy hurts and I fell down, I need her right away.

Operator, can you tell me how to find her in this book?
Is heaven in the yellow part, I don’t know where to look.

I think my daddy needs her too, at night I hear him cry.
I hear him call her name sometimes, but I really don’t know why.

Maybe if I call her, she will hurry home to me.
Is Heaven very far away, is it across the sea?

She’s been gone a long, long time she needs to come home now!
I really need to reach her, but I simply don’t know how.

Help me find the number please, is it listed under “Heaven”?
I can’t read these big, big words; I am only seven.

I’m sorry operator, I didn’t mean to make you cry,
Is your tummy hurting too, or is there something in your eye?

If I call my church tomorrow maybe they will know.
Mommy said when we need help that’s where we should go.

I found the number to my church tacked up on the wall.
Thank you operator, I’ll give them a call.

<))><

[The Crusader]

NONE OTHER!
Pastor Robert Hanna

To some, “The Church” means papal rule;
To others merely “Sunday School.”
Many see a stately steeple,
Rows of benches filled with people.

A “church” can go by any name,
With seldom any two the same:
“My Church,” “ Your Church,” right or wrong;
This church is weak, and that one’s strong.

“Just attend the ‘Church of Your Choice,’
Or where you like the preacher’s voice;
Drop your dollar into the plate –
Sit primly posed and be sedate.”

“We all shall get there bye-and-bye,
On different courses though we fly.
You think your way, and I’ll think mine,
And everything will turn out fine!”

“Perform a kindness every day;
Don’t get anybody’s way.
Be sure that you no one offend,
And on your own good deeds depend.”

If you have followed this advice,
You’d better think about it twice:
There’s only One True Church today –
The Cross of Calvary points the way!

<))><

And I must repeat:

There’s only One True Church today –
The Cross of Calvary points the way!
 
Amen & Amen

Your friend and brother

The Crusader
<))><
 

[Gracey]

May I contribute one? (or even two?)

Awake, My Heart

Awake, my heart, in joyful lays
To Him who blesses all thy days.
His loving kindness crowneth thee
With daily mercies rich and free.

Awake, to worship with the morn,
And consecrate the day new-born.
Again at eve in prayer be found,
As shadows curtain earth around.

Awake, thy watchful vigils keep!
For some neglect and idly sleep.
Lift up to God, in sacred tryst,
Thy priestly ministry in Christ.

Awake, His all-wise will to see
In all that He assigns for thee.
Whate'er His providence permits
Designs for thee fresh benefits.

Awake to trust and love and serve,
For can His mercies less deserve?
Till yonder, perfected in love,
Thy heart awakes in heaven above.

J. Sidlow Baxter
------------------------------------

Meeting Angels Unaware

On life's busy thoroughfare
We meet with angels unaware,
But we are too busy to see or hear,
Too busy to sense that God is near,
Too busy to stop and recognize
The grief that lies in another's eyes,
Too busy to offer to help or share,
Too busy to sympathize or care,
Too busy to do the good things we should,
Telling ourselves we would if we could.
But life is too swift and the pace is too great
And we dare not pause for we might be late
For our next appointment which means so much,
We are willing to brush off the Saviour's touch,
And we tell ourselves there will come a day,
We will have more time to pause on our way,
But before we know it life's sun has set,
And we've passed the Saviour, but never met,
For hurrying along life's throughfare,
We passed Him by and remained unaware
That within the very sight of our eye,
Unnoticed, the Son of God passed by.

Helen Steiner Rice
-------------------------------------------

Gracey

[The Crusader]

I Ask God
Donna Sue Fraley

 
I asked God to take away my pain.
God said, No.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.
 
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
Her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.
 

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No.
Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is earned.
 

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No.
I give you blessings.  Happiness is up to you.
 

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.
 

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No.
You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.
 

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No.
I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.
 

I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as he loves me.
God said...
Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.
 
<))><

[The Crusader]

Changing

When God showed favor to Isreal as a Nation,
do you know how it was in that Dispensation.
He sent signs and worked Miracles from above,
gave Mercy and Kindness with Fatherly love.
Now from the writings of the Prophets we are told,
being Gentiles, Heathens left out in the cold.
To be one of them that seemed to be right,
Convert, Observe, become a Proselyte.
But in this Dispensation it all turns around,
because in Paul's Epistles, The Body of Christ is found.
He shows us of love and God's saving Grace,
there's no difference in make up of any Nation or Race.
He tells of but one God and goes on to explain,
You're complete in Him, in the Heavens you'll reign.
For God sent His Son and His life was the cost,
to Him be the Glory, saved by the Cross.

- Edward B. Yarber, Jr.

<))><

[The Crusader]

Earthen vessels

God uses earthen vessels,
All battered and scarred
As clear ringing bells,
Tho' the bell is marred.

It's the music so clear
With God's message to tell,
That first catches the ear,
Not the sight of the bell.

God pulls the heart-strings
With His Message true,
That even the bell sings,
As tho' it was new.

God in a marred vessel,
Now that is a pair;
With God ringing the bell
Music fills the air.

The vessel gets older,
But polished inside.
Its sound is louder
With God there to abide.

Alive, tho' once crucified!
The sound seems to swell.
Arose to glorify!
Behold a shining bell.

2 Corinthians 4:7

--Mrs. Anna Lee Walker

[The Crusader]

Broken Window ~

Sometimes in life we hurt someone
With a careless word that's spoken
So we reflect on all the hearts
Whose spirits we have broken
 
Hope and pray that we can mend
Every shattered heart
That they find the peace of love
Receive a brand new start
 
With flowers flowing off the sill
We gather deepest sorrow
All the hurt we may have caused
Brings lesson for tomorrow
 
Repair the glass that's broken
Deep within your soul
Carry on with life and love
These promises console.

~ Francine Pucillo ~

<))><