Poetry

The Chains

/ The WheatandTares

I pass you on the street and gasp at what I see

I ask if I can help, but you tell me to let you be

My heart is grieved by what you have become

You hiss at the wisdom, saying you just wanna have some fun

In your own thoughts, you think we’ve all lost our way

You say that you hear; yet, you are deaf to all we say

Focused only on your own, you ignore His beckoning call

Pride goes out before you, guaranteed to let you fall

My prayer is for your return and not for your demise

I pray this path of destruction, you quickly will despise

You continue to walk on by, stating everything is fine

Oblivious to the fact, their mission is you to bind

You keep laughing and attempting to be bold

You cannot see that they are tightening their hold

You keep trying to dance and ignoring the pain

Yet, you open your eyes to finally see all the chains

The reflection

/ The WheatandTares

IMG_8219.JPG

What is in a reflection?

A face

A memory

A smile

A tear

All the changes through the years.

The light is changing.

The light is bright.

Let your life shine tonight.

I Wonder

/ The WheatandTares

People come and go.
They walk here. They walk there.
They ride. They run. They jump.
They stop.

Who are these beings?
Where are they going?
What are they thinking?
What have their eyes seen?

These things, I wonder as I walked by.

Will I wonder beyond?

Will I question?

Will I care?

Will I dare to make a bond?

Will I cry when they scream?
What are they doing?
Where are they going?
What does it all mean?

Will I confront their blues?
Will I smile at them?
Will I weep?
Will I share the good news?

Will I ponder better times?
What are they saying?
Why are they lost?
Will I give to them He who is Mine?

Penned – MG – 12/3/14

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”
John 14:6

Expectancy

/ The WheatandTares / 4 Comments

Expectations.

We all have them.

We all set them.

Sometimes, they’re set too high,

And we grow frustrated and angry, sorrowful and discouraged.

Sometimes, they’re set too low,

And we act shocked, amazed, elated and even indignant.

Expectations.

We all receive them.

We all survive through them.

Sometimes, they make us feel warm, welcomed and embraced.

Sometimes, they leave us weary, battered and confused.

Expectations.

Maybe, if we could learn the difference between grace and judgment,

They would be easier to give.

Maybe, if we realized the perfect balance is found in love and absolute truth,

They could be easier to live.

Penned – MG – 11/24/14

I Will Celebrate Your Last

/ The WheatandTares / 3 Comments

Had I known today was the day

I would have held you longer and sighed

I would have spoken a little sweeter

I would have noticed your last goodbye

 

Had I realized these were the final hours

I would have lingered just a longer while

I would have put off the other till tomorrow

I would have acknowledged your last smile

 

Had I only recognized this was the end

I would have laughed more

I would have loved deeper

I would have cherished to the core

 

So, today is the day I will celebrate

Today is the day I will not lie

Today is the day I will remember

I will not let another moment slip by

 

I will live a little deeper

I will love a little stronger

I will hold a little tighter

I will linger a little longer

 

I will laugh more, love more, cherish more

I will dream more, share more, hope more

No one knows the hour of the coming thunder

No one knows the moment they will be put asunder

 

I will celebrate your last step

I will celebrate your last hug

I will celebrate your last tooth

I will celebrate you with truth

 

I will celebrate your last call

I will celebrate your last visit

I will celebrate your last post

I will celebrate you the most

 

I will celebrate your last child

I will celebrate your last smile

I will celebrate your last love

I will celebrate your life above

 

I will celebrate your last dream

I will celebrate your last hope

I will celebrate your last desire

I will celebrate you and finally cope

 

My heart will rejoice

My mind will cherish

My body will mourn

My soul will not perish

 

You are now home with My Father

For this, His Son did devote

To dance, to celebrate, to rejoice

For had I just known, I could have taken note.

 

penned 11/16/12 – MG

Written on the day a very special person said goodbye to this life…

I didn’t know you very long, Derek Tabor; yet, your impact on my life will be for eternity.

Looking forward to seeing you again one day on the other side…

 

I Cannot See Your Face

/ The WheatandTares / 1 Comment

When I awake in the night, I feel Your presence near.

When I am all alone, I sense You are by my side.

I cannot see your face, for Your glory is too much to bear;

Yet, I know the Truth, for in You, I long to abide.

 

When my heart is consumed with grief, I feel Your arms surround.

When my soul cannot answer, I sense Your presence within.

I cannot see Your face, for Your glory is too much to bear;

Yet, I am convinced, for by Your grace, I will contend.

 

When I walk where none has traced, I feel Your Spirit guide.

When I am confronted by evil, I sense Your strength to stand.

I cannot see Your face, for Your glory is too much to bear;

Yet, I do believe, for only through You, the demons I command.

 

When my mind is declaring defeat, I feel Your hand overcome.

When my strength threatens to falter, I sense Your power swell.

I cannot see Your face, for Your glory is too much to bear;

Yet, I can trust, for with You, the lost You will compel.

 

Penned – MG – 4/25/01

Help Me To See

/ The WheatandTares

I look in the mirror and see my own face.

I tend to neglect the needy to embrace.

I listen intently to hear my own voice.

I seem to ignore the hurting that need to rejoice.

 

I go my own way, busy in my own life,

Forgetting You’ve called me to be a good wife.

I run from here to there, scurrying to get the job done,

Neglecting You’ve told me to raise my young son.

 

I read in Your Word to always put Jesus first,

Believing that I do until I realize my own thirst.

I hear from Your servants, “Never make idols to love,”

Believing that I don’t until I recognize what they’ve become.

 

Change me and my perspective. Make me what You desire.

Draw me out and cleanse me from this filthy mire.

Transform this mind into the intellect You have planned.

Make this heart as malleable as the shifting sand.

 

I need Your touch; I need Your grace.

I long to feel your sweet embrace.

I long to walk beside You, hand in hand.

I thirst for Your righteousness and Your promise land.

 

Be my strength and my ever-present Light.

Be my focus and be my heart’s delight.

Be my reason to face each new day.

Be my guide and show me every step of Your way.

 

Help me to see those around me in need.

Open my ears to hear those who want to be freed,

Cause my hands to reach out to those in sin.

Give me the boldness to tell them how to change from what they’ve been.

 

Penned – MG – 6/29/02

The Day of Promise

/ The WheatandTares

IMG_8149

I sat in the back, ever the silent observer. I watch. I speculate. I admire. I reminisce. They stand at the front facing one another. The stress of the day is falling off as they interlock fingers and get lost in one another’s eyes.
Stone
Brick
Burlap

Tomorrow is what they’ve longed for all their life. They think. They plan. They rejoice. They dream. They reach for that sacred ring. The weight of the promise spreading wide and becoming light as they remember the One Who keeps their hearts true.
Gold
Silver
White

She walks the aisle for all to see. She blinks. She smiles. He stares. He desires. They gaze and wonder for the days to come. The realization of hopes coming true and revealing the love forever sealed.
Happiness
Covenant
Faithfulness

Embraced with Hope.
Sealed with Love.

This Day of Promise.

Rude Awakening

/ The WheatandTares

I kneel here before You, humbled by Your call

My heart is heavy as I realize my own fault

I ask Your forgiveness for my neglecting to pray

I’ve become so busy in all the day to day

 

Oh God, forgive us for our wickedness and pride

We’ve searched others so deeply while our own failings we’ve denied

We’ve ignored Your desire to intently know our own hearts

I pray we’ve not been from You too long apart

 

Cleanse and purify this vessel from within

Strip this body of the wretchedness that it has been

Refine this heart of all the filth and the sin

Empty this mind of all the thoughts that would offend

 

Take this wayward tongue, bind and transform its desires

Wash these eyes of their sinful vision and all the mire

Purge these ears of the malicious slander they try to conceal

Chasten this soul eternally and conform me to Your will

 

Penned – MG – 7/01/02

Let Me Be Found True

/ The WheatandTares

Oh, Lord, how do I love thee?

Let me count not the ways

 

I speak of You in public grace

Yet, ignore You in the secret place

I praise You when it’s convenient

But neglect You when it’s intimate

I look to You when I remember and when I’m in need

However, forget You when my schedule is in the lead

 

Oh, Father, please forgive me from this wretched sin

Cleanse my heart and mind from within

Let me not be a person of works alone

And have not a single seed yet to be sown

Change me from this life of chaos and pride

Transform my soul to one in which You may abide

I give You my life, my heart and my breath

I surrender my dreams, my future, my death

 

Oh, my King, how do I love thee?

I pray You can count the ways

 

I desire to serve you in all my ambitions

Yet, we all have fallen short of Your suppositions

I long for the day when our eyes shall finally meet

But I fear for Your glory burns so awfully deep

I yearn to be found worthy, righteous and true

However, You spoke of many by whom Your words would be doomed

 

Oh, Yahweh, please conform my plans to Your ways

Mold me, make me into Your earthen vessel of clay

Redirect my words, my thoughts, my actions and deeds

Set anew my wants and reconstruct them to Your needs

I give You my life, my heart and my breath

I surrender my dreams, my future and my death

 

Penned – MG – 6/30/03