Almighty God (in reply to Louis Esterhuizen)
Lord, You that keep the universe in your hands
who are even aware of the sparrow, the finch,
the dew hanging on pieces of grass,
every star that shines in the heavenly dome
say that You have made man
just less than a godly being
and at times I wonder how every terrible thing bothers You,
from the day that man committed sin?
Where You came as the sacrifice for man’s fate,
tried to teach us to live together in love,
and hanged silent like a lamb on the cross,
but still people view You as a God that does not forgive:
how do we hurt You with our poems,
where we make misfortune, murder and death your plague control.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Not with a machinegun, but with a pen (in answer to Breyten Breytenbach)
Not with a machinegun, but with a pen
I write this prayer
since Your might is greater than any weapon:
What am I able to tell You, Jesus Christ,
almighty Creator, God and upper Lord,
I who are only an Afrikaner in my forties,
since You know every thing, even before it happens
and there’s nothing that I can teach You.
How my country was taken away
by people who pray to ancestral spirits
(who probably are demons) ,
that a man with more than one wife
sit in the highest chair,
that I still pay taxes
when and where I have a job
and that it is difficult times
and work is very scarce
for a white man.
Would I have to tell about a government
that sings give me my machinegun
and a bullet for a Boer
and kill the farmer,
kill the white
as You know every thing.
That my people were disarmed
by the government
and by barbarians
are hacked into pieces
with panga-blades and axes
like you were sacrificed
and even in death
they are humiliated
by pulling their pants down
like You had to hang naked on the cross,
that women are raped
as if every white woman
is a sex slave
belonging to the hordes
that they still throw knucklebones
and think that it brings them invincibility
and freedom from blame.
l’Envoi
All that I am really asking
is that all of these deeds
and the things that they do, say and sing
go into the cup of Your wrath
and please help
my people and me
to serve You better
that the wide world
(like with our ancestors)
can see Your might and salvation.
[References: nie met die pen nie maar met die masjiengeweer by Breyten Breytenbach. Murder on Eugene Terreblance. Murder and violence on white people.]
poem by Gert Strydom
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Poems Are Made For Beautiful Things
POEMS ARE MADE FOR BEAUTIFUL THINGS
(Written for the Ilui Neshamah of Rabbi Gabriel and Rivka Holtzberg who were murdered in the Chabad House in Mumbai November 2008)
Poems are made for beautiful things-
Not for murder and for terror -
Not for cruel sudden deaths-
Not for hatred which kills without question-
And justifies itself,
By some absolute inhumane ideal.
Poems are made for life
Not Death-
We Jews want to live,
And they the Suicide- bomber- people,
to Murder their way to Eternity.
poem by Shalom Freedman
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The Resurection
the resurection of JESUS has come into my life.
yet! what i see is different from what you might see.
he made the ultimate sacrifice for his GOD up above.
but while on this earth, he showed us his love.
look upon his face while on the cross
he was crying for humanity.
his arms outstretched to tell us the LORDS word
must be spread from one corner of the earth
to the other.
HIS feet nailed together to tell us
that we must unite as one.
the holes in his hands and feet
is the depth of his love for us.
HE showed us to believe in something
that we could not see.
that belief has come with our baptism.
and when i see CHRIST on the cross
my love deepens even more.
to see the sacrifice that he made for you and me
and through his love, he set us free.
as he was taken down from the cross
and put into the tomb.
GOD began to heal his wounds.
just as GOD took seven days to make the earth
he took three days to bring CHRIST back to us.
so we could see the love he has for you and me.
he showed the apostles and the people
who did'nt believe
that his son would live through eternity.
poem by Louis Rams
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Lamb of God....a reflection
as the lamb slaughtered in the face of the wickedness
the world ended with the blood of the sacrifice, as a
remission of our sin
Jesus of the Nazareth, crucified and suffered in the
cross is the ultimate sacrifice, the indemnity of the
wrath of the Father, whose anger settled through the
blood of his only begotten son
the lamb, who gives everything to save mankind, has
come to witness the salvation promise by the covenant
in the garden of paradise, where once Adam and Eve
have live
the meaning of the promise always illuminate that
Jesus is truly the son of God, who fulfilled salvation
as proclaim by the prophets has welcome those who
witness the living God in our lives
Jesus reveals in the cross the loving Father and open
the gate of heaven, where every soul is hail to the
kingdom of his father, as He always have live in a
accordance to the will of his father, Jesus offer and
accepted as a living sacrifice at the cross
His life has offer mankind to salvation, for death is the
payment of our sin, the son of Man have to die to save
the punishment of death, even at the cross, Jesus
promise salvation and a paradise for he wants us to be
there with him where ever he'll go
the lamb has come into our lives, receive and live, and
be a lamb for other life, witness that salvation as Jesus
witness the loving Father in heaven, for what ever we
give is what you receive in heaven
the lamb of God wants us to live with him in the kingdom
of the Father till the end of the world...come my brother
and sister
poem by Antonio Liao
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Forgive Me
Every day I give you a reason to cry
'cause I see the hurt in your eyes
but stronger yet
I see the love that shines
help me learn to take on the nature of you
and love more than I accuse
and pardon others like you taught me to
Something happens inside my heart
Lord when I obey
something happens inside my heart
every time I pray
Forgive me
as I learned how to forgive
and reach out through the pain
and touch with hands of grace
forgive me
as I learn how to forgive
and reach out through my own pain
and touch with hands of grace
As you prayed for those who crucified you
"forgive they don't know what they do"
compassion reached out to a world confused
help me learn to bless those who persecute me
and pray for my enemies
and show them mercy like you've shown to me
'Cause something happens inside my heart
Lord when I obey
something happens inside my heart
every time I pray
Forgive me
as I learn how to forgive
the ones that broke my heart
the way I've broken yours
forgive me
as I learn how to forgive
and reach out through my own pain
and touch with hands of grace
Forgive me
song performed by by Donna Summer from Cats Without Claws
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Mamma Snake
Thank you for your love and kindness.
Thank you for your trust.
Thank you for your giving spirit.
You'll always shine, 'cause Mamma Snake must.
You rear me right and show devotion.
You sacrifice and give your all.
I make mistakes but you forgive me.
At times, I'm sure I drove you ‘up the wall.'
I am not perfect but I turned out alright.
I've made a few mistakes.
You love me when I'm good or bad.
You will always be Mamma Snake.
You memorize verses and teach God's Word.
You pass out tracks to help the lost.
You helped the poor even when you were broke.
You never count the cost.
You teach women that abortion is murder.
You tell girls to be better moms.
You always find time to help little children.
You're a prayer warrior and spiritually strong.
You always make time for family.
Your doors always open for guests.
You read lots of books.
And I love when you cook.
Mamma Snake—you are the best!
poem by Snake Blocker
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Father's Forgiveness
Father, I want to say that
I love you,
No matter what you
Have done to my family
Or to me.
I know that you may not
Love me in return,
And that our filial relationship
May be forever damaged,
But I forgive you for all the things
That you did in the past
And even for the things you do now.
Father, even though you may be selfish
And self-absorbed and self-centred,
And greedy and pompous,
I still love you because you are my father.
My Father in Heaven wants me to love you,
And I love you as He loves you
Because He created you,
And through you and Mum,
He created me, too.
Father, Jesus also loves you,
For you are his brother,
As I am his,
And my brother is his, too,
And he loves you,
And he calls you by name, as well,
For he loves you just as your Father
And my Father—that is, Our Father,
Loves us both.
Father, I know you may not
See me as a great person,
And that I may be a failure in your eyes,
Even with my head injury,
Giving me ADD, Asperger Syndrome,
And Tourette Syndrome,
And I may be a disappointment in
Your own eyes,
I want to tell you that I am happy,
And that I love the life I live,
For my Father,
And your Father,
Has given me wisdom
And insight in which I use
To help other people.
He has given me a calling,
And I follow it because
I believe in Him,
And I love Him as I love you.
Yet, Father, I want to apologise
For the anger I held toward you,
Because the pain was great,
(And, yes, it's still there) ,
But I no longer am angry nor depressed,
Nor saddened nor hurt,
And I forgive you for all that you've done.
I forgive you for the times
That you beat on Mum,
The times that you were violent towards me,
Towards my brother,
And towards Elyse.
I forgive you.
I forgive you for
Making fun of my disability,
And I forgive you for verbally abusing me,
And I forgive you for punching me sporadically,
And for spanking me every time
I got a ‘bad-boy' note when
I came home from kindergarten.
I forgive you for throwing Sean in a chair
And for all the times you
Hit him and beat on him,
And for the times you verbally abused him,
And for the times you mocked him
When he was trying to learn how to read.
I forgive you for the wrongs you
Did toward Elyse,
Including your impatience,
Your lack of courtesy,
Your lack of generosity,
And even the thing you did
In the shower,
Which is a taboo
To this day.
I also forgive you for the things you did
To the friends you made in life,
And to my cousins,
Albeit male or female,
To my aunts and uncles,
To your own brothers and sisters,
And to anyone else you may have wronged.
Father, I forgive you for hurting Mum,
For maiming her in front of us,
For committing adultery,
For cheating on her,
For lying to her,
For stealing from her,
For the hatred you bestowed on her.
I forgive you for all the lies you told us,
And I forgive you for all the anger you held,
All the actions and wrongs you committed,
For the profanity that came from your mouth,
And for your lack of self-control.
Father, I even forgive you for the wrongs you
Do now,
Including hurting Elyse verbally,
Many a time,
And hurting Mum indirectly
Or directly,
And Stefanie,
Either way.
Father, what is the past is the past,
And I love you greatly,
For you are my father,
And I will never forget you.
You are the father who joined my mother
And made me through the Father's Will,
And I will always love you,
No matter who you are,
Or what you've done,
I will love you unconditionally,
And I will give you my life,
If needbe.
I do not know if you are happy, Father,
And I do not know if you are miserable,
But, please, if at all possible,
Even though I forgave you,
And still love you,
It is not enough for your soul,
So, if you can,
Just realise that you are loved,
And realise that God loves you,
And wants you in His family,
And that Jesus wants you,
Even after all these years of
Going astray,
And that you can recognise this
And repent so that
You can truly be in the Heart of Christ.
Father, I love you,
And always will love you,
And I forgive you for all that you have done,
And now, it is time for you to make an action,
And I hope you can make the best of it.
I love you, Dad,
And never will stop loving you.
poem by James Roberts
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Today... 'Christ Jesus Our Lord
Nothing shall separate us from the love of God
for we are secure in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Love everlasting He have made known to us
when He came to earth and died upon the cross.
'The wages of sin is death' we clearly hear
but Christ Jesus our Lord has removed the fear.
The gift of God is eternal life in Christ
accomplished by His eternal sacrifice.
There is no condemnation for those in Christ
for He has fully paid our sins awful price.
Crying 'Father forgive' in His dying breath
He set us free from the law of sin and death.
No height or depth or anything in creation
can separate us from this great salvation.
The love that is found in Christ Jesus our Lord
has justified us and made us right with God.
(see also the additional information below in the Poet's box)
Not a word He said
Before the Sanhedrin You spoke no word
and from Your lips no sound was heard.
Silent like a mute not a word was said
as awayto the cross, Lord You were led.
Your lips were silent and there came no sound.
In Your defence nothing was to be found.
As a lamb before the shearer is dumb
so from Your lips not a word was to come.
Angels were waiting for your bidding, Lord.
Silently You stood and spoke not a word.
You could have summoned that great army Lord.
They were ready and waiting for one word.
Silent there before Your accusers, Lord.
To their amazement You said not a word.
Louder than thunder was Your silence Lord.
Much more powerful than the spoken word.
Those gathered there did not understand why
You kept Your silence and did not reply.
Then there on the cross Your silence You broke.
'Father forgive them' were the words You spoke
He's More Than Just a God To Me
Christ is more than just a God to me; He's my Savior and my friend,
He formed me in my mother's womb, and is my Hope as I near the end.
He governs the entire universe but walks beside me every single day,
And He's never too busy day or night to stop and listen when I pray.
As my Savior He became a bloody sacrifice and died on a cross for me,
So The Father could forgive all my sins and adopt me and set me free.
It was with His own blood that He bought me out of the market of sin,
Then He gave me The Holy Spirit as a guide and a new life to begin.
Now The Holy Spirit teaches me to live as a new creature in Christ,
And He helps me to crucify my old life to become a living sacrifice.
He gave me a hunger for Righteousness as I live to please The Lord,
For The Spirit taught me that His Holiness simply can not be ignored.
He took away my timid spirit and filled me with His spirit of power,
Now He helps me to boldly witness instead of shrinking back to cower.
He filled me with His love and compassion as I seek to win the lost,
So I can teach them Biblical Truth, while pointing them to The Cross.
He filled me with His Light to draw others so I can share The Word,
And sharing Christ is my compassion until all around me have heard.
It is only through The Cross of Jesus that one can have a new start,
Before you stand before my Savior, let Him also change your heart.
(Copyright © 01/2003)
A Contemplation upon Flowers
BRAVE flowers--that I could gallant it like you,
And be as little vain!
You come abroad, and make a harmless show,
And to your beds of earth again.
You are not proud: you know your birth:
For your embroider'd garments are from earth.
You do obey your months and times, but I
Would have it ever Spring:
My fate would know no Winter, never die,
Nor think of such a thing.
O that I could my bed of earth but view
And smile, and look as cheerfully as you!
O teach me to see Death and not to fear,
But rather to take truce!
How often have I seen you at a bier,
And there look fresh and spruce!
You fragrant flowers! then teach me, that my breath
Like yours may sweeten and perfume my death.
poem by Henry King
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Could You Be A Better Person?
Could you be a better person?
Could you be a sacred soul?
And what if times should worsen?
Could you keep self-control?
Could you forgive betrayal
Or beatings by the score?
Could you forgive when some are cruel
And rotten to the core?
Could you by faith and faith alone
Risk all of your life's blood?
Could you be brave, your fate to own,
In full view of our God?
Could you sacrifice your happiness
So God set your foes free?
Could you accept Death's cold caress
Like Christ on Calvary?
Could you cope when you owned zero?
Could you serve until the end?
Could you be a better hero?
Could you die to save a friend?
Could you deserve this world to rule
With billions in your care?
If not, get saved, don't be a fool,
Take time to kneel in prayer...
God's light has come to show the way,
God's love has blossomed here...
God's Son has taught us how to pray,
Forgiveness conquers fear...
A better person died for you...
And billions will agree...
Could you now truly love Him, too?
Admit... 'He died for me...'
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Forgive Me
Forgive Me"
Can you forgive me again?
I don't know what I said
But I didn't mean to hurt you
I heard the words come out
I felt like I would die
It hurt so much to hurt you
Then you look at me
You're not shouting anymore
You're silently broken
I'd give anything now
to keep those words from you
Each time I say something I regret I cry "I don't want to lose you."
But somehow I know that you will never leave me, yeah.
'Cause you were made for me
Somehow I'll make you see
How happy you make me
I can't live this life
Without you by my side
I need you to survive
So stay with me
You look in my eyes and I'm screaming inside that I'm sorry.
And you forgive me again
You're my one true friend
And I never meant to hurt you
song performed by by Evanescence
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Thank You Lord
Thank you Lord for your sacrifice by sending your Son Jesus Christ,
Christ put aside His Iron Rod to come to earth as The Lamb of God.
Thank you Lord for dying for me on that wicked cross up on Calvary,
The very God of all eternity died on a bloody cross in place of me.
Thank you Lord for seeking my heart and giving me a brand new start,
God found me in a darkened life and gave to me a new life in Christ.
Thank you Lord for forgiving my sin, cleansing my heart deep within,
God sees me but not my old life, being washed in the blood of Christ.
Thank you Lord for saving me and seating me with Christ in Eternity.
Although still upon the earth, I’m positioned in Heaven by new birth.
Thank you Lord for loving me and opening my eyes, so that I may see,
Christ touched me with His Grace and removed the veil from my face.
Thank you Lord for The Spirit inside who for me is an Eternal Guide.
Wisdom to me The Spirit brings guiding and teaching me in all things.
Thank you Lord for using my life to draw other men unto Jesus Christ,
I’ve died to self and live for Christ so that others may have New Life.
Thank you Lord for all my needs as you are faithful to the end indeed,
Addressing every need and care, of all my needs He is fully aware.
Thank you Lord for the times we talk anywhere along my life’s walk,
Whether on the road or in my home, I have access to God’s Throne.
I Thank you that from the start you placed a song deep in my heart,
With a new song in my heart to sing, I thank you Lord for everything.
(Copyright ©10/2004)
He Now Reigns
From a bloody cross to a Throne, He now reigns above for His own,
Now reigning above in majesty, The Lamb who died for you and me,
He now reigns above to intercede, on our behalf, for our every need,
He Reigns above as King of kings, and Lord above all earthly things.
This Throne was not new for Him, The Lamb who came to be our sin,
Who emptied himself of Majesty, born that He would die on Calvary,
God’s Eternal Son, Jesus Christ, coming to earth to be His Sacrifice,
And a body was prepared for Him, for as Eternal God He had no sin.
Equality to God, not considered, by The Lamb, who died unhindered,
By the darkened wickedness of man, as He submitted to God’s Plan,
The Sinless Lamb died in our place, opening to all, this Age of Grace,
Capping God’s Plan of Salvation, and offered to every earthly nation.
Now risen, with the Power to save, through His Victory over the grave,
For death had no hold on The Lamb, with Christ being The Great I AM,
Christ, the Eternal Lord and Creator, is now for many Lord and Savior,
If they embrace, God’s Sacrifice, who paid for all God’s Eternal Price.
Now seated at God’s Right Hand, the Savior and Judge of every land.
Who will return to this earthly sod, not a lamb but a Lion with Iron Rod,
The Lamb of God, once crucified, is The Lion of Judah, now Glorified,
As Lord and King, of all the world, as His Earthly Kingdom is unfurled.
(Copyright ©05/2009)
Two Kinds of Wisdom
Words of wisdom can indeed, speak to the heart’s most inner need,
But you must be aware my friend, where words take you in the end.
For earthly wisdom can mislead, the heart seeking an earthly need.
While wisdom sent from up above, guides you in God’s perfect love.
Wisdom comes from many schools, some are wise, some are fools,
Even teachings that sound wise, could be packaged in eternal lies.
Earthly wisdom tells you friend, don’t be concerned about your end,
Just live your life for number one, fill each day with pleasure and fun.
Godly wisdom fills you with love, while keeping your mind up above,
God helps you each day to live, knowing that you have more to give.
Worldly wisdom says fill your life, with things that cause much strife.
It tells you to grab the biggest toy, but in the end you’ll have no joy.
Godly wisdom through sacrifice, prepares you for your Eternal Life.
With this wisdom men shall see, Jesus Christ as they enter Eternity.
In the end all worldly wisdom, to the Truth of God it shall succumb.
When men try embracing The Son, He will say what’s done is done.
All the worldly wisdom down here, has no room for The Lord, I fear,
With the wisdom they think wise, the Lord we love, they just despise.
The same Lord who we hold dear, has let us know His return is near,
And Godly wisdom fixes our eyes, upon Christ without any comprise.
Today... 'Our Passover Lamb
Blood from the lamb was on the lintel spread
and the people waited in fear and dread.
They could all hear the people outside cry
but the Angel of Death just passed them by.
Because a lamb had been slain and had died
and its blood upon the doorpost applied
Death did not visit them that dreadful day
but passed over them and went on its way.
**********
His life was given and His blood was shed
when He died that awful day in my stead.
The pure unspotted Lamb of God was He.
God saw the blood and then passed over me.
He gave His life to pay sins dreadful price
and offered Himself as a sacrifice.
Crying 'Father forgive' with His last breath
He snatched me from the very jaws of death.
(see also the additional information in the Poet's notes box below)
Where would I be without the cross?
I went back to the cross again in despair
and knelt at the feet of Jesus there.
'It's me dear Lord, I've come once more'
'For I've been here many times before.'
'I know my child, ' my Lord said to me
'But I'm so glad that you've come to Me.
My love for you is so unconditional
you can come to Me at any time at all.'
'Lord, ' I said, 'How can this ever be
that you could show such love to me.
For I am weak and prone to sin
and I feel so dreadful within.'
Then Jesus said, 'My child, Look at Me.'
and I gazed into His eyes to see
the love of God shining from inside
and His arms opened there so wide.
Outstretched as they were in loving care
for that repentant sinner kneeling there.
Held out for me in embracing love
the 'agape' love of God poured from above.
'My God, ' my soul cried out in shame
as tears flowed from my eyes again
'Such love is undeserved by me
a wretched man of clay and misery.'
'The wages of sin is death' Jesus cried
and the law must be fully satisfied.'
'So your sin has been laid upon Me
and by my stripes you've been set free'
'My love is poured out for everyone
who comes to Me as you have done.'
'For there was no other way for Me
to forgive you and set you free'
**************
Where would I be without the cross?
Weighed down with my load of sin and loss.
Struggling against unnumbered foes
With no Saviours love and so full of woes
Praise God for the cross of Christ
For His love and wonderful sacrifice
For the victory that Jesus has won
For the new that I have now begun
Raising Godly Families
Raising families may be tough, as our times are spiritually rough,
The roads that many take today, can lead youth spiritually astray;
Though times continue to change, God above, remains the same,
So that on The Lord's Revelation, we can have a firm foundation.
The Lord has a design for us, for families following Christ Jesus,
Regarding the families we raise, for The Lord's honor and praise,
Building on the Truths of Christ, we guide children to Eternal Life,
As God's plan moves the family, to a new life with God, eternally.
As we follow our Lord above, our families must be raised in love,
They must become our priority, as we sacrificially love the family,
Sacrificing even our own desire, for a priority much, much higher,
When we provide for the family, they obtain strength and security.
To those who we need to reach, it is necessary to biblically teach,
Godly character and God's Ways, as we lead them in these days,
Leading them in this world of sin, we must teach Godly discipline,
With Godly boundaries in this life, being followers of Jesus Christ,
It is a must we model personally, real Christ likeness to our family,
So that through our life we reveal, a God to them, who is truly real,
While teaching with a caring heart, in hope that they will not depart,
When times fill them with dismay, so, on God's path they will stay.
Fervently, we must always pray, for the family each and every day,
Knowing that we need help from, The Lord, when hard times come;
Finally, through all times it is a must, that in all things we fully trust,
The final outcome of our family, to the Lord, who's over all eternity.
(Copyright ©10/2012)
Destiny the Driving Force
Destiny is controlled by the mighty gods.
It swirls like a massive whirl pool.
No mortal being can escape it's hold.
Destiny controls our every action.
Destiny makes sure we take the right path in life.
Without a person taking a desired path the universe will go out of balance.
Balance of fate is essential.
The thread of destiny is so tangled that's why destiny is so uncontrollable by mortals.
Destiny goes around and around.
It never stops swirling.
Such an active force.
Mortal beings can't control what happens to them.
If it's negative or positive.
Destiny and fate are the same thing.
They intertwine when two people are in love.
Destiny carries people to their purposes in life.
It's a driving force.
Scientist can't figure it out.
It's the most complex thing second to the universe.
poem by Vega Destiny Star
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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