PAULIE'S POEMS - PMG

  Keep On Praying When worries on your mind are weighing  Keep On Praying God's promises, he is delaying Keep On Praying If bills, you have no way of paying Keep On Praying When ones you've trusted are betraying Keep On Praying When sunny skies just keep on graying Keep On Praying If burdens at your feet keep laying Keep On Praying Life's giants always needing slaying Keep On Praying When signs of stress, you are displaying  Keep On Praying When sin's huge debt, you are repaying Keep On Praying If hounds of hell at heels are baying Keep On Praying When hopelessness you are conveying  Keep On Praying If you don't have the words for praying Keep On Praying Or understand what Bible's saying Keep On Praying When love you've known is now decaying Keep On Praying When in great pain day after daying  Keep On Praying While rope your hanging on is fraying Keep On Praying If loved ones from the Lord are straying Keep On Praying When joyful music mind is playing Keep O...

  Your Name Parents have given you your name They call you that; friends do the same Then, every day from that point on You hear it said and you respond  The moniker you come to be Was picked out for you specially Perhaps it is a family name  So, one your father also claims . Or maybe has a pleasing sound And thus, that is the name you're crowned Could be it carries a deep meaning From foreign languages, it's gleaning Have you ever come to a new place Don't recognize a single face Then, hear someone call out your name And, just like that, you're glad you came Perhaps a famous name is yours Then use of it can open doors  Yet, even if just average Joe You need one everywhere you go To sign important documents  Or simple birthday card that's sent To verify you're who you say Or on your work of art, display When your name crosses loved one's lips You feel the full value of it Or if intent is to defame Damage is done to your good name In spite of if yours earns a...

  If Only... If only I had more money Then I'd show generosity  Though sure, there're those in poverty  Can't they be helped by the wealthy If only I had time to spare When help was needed, I'd be there At risk of sounding laissez-faire  Can't make more time out of thin air If only others would be kind  Behave in ways much more refined My sharp tongue I'd need not unbind Thus giving them piece of my mind If only it was not a vice Or have to think about it twice Could get even when they're not nice And make them have to pay the price  If only they'd not made me mad I'd not have done the things I had Reaction becomes launching pad For the excuse to treat them bad If only I'd not made excuse For every way I am uncouth And if you want to know the truth Been doing it since in my youth If only see how they fall short  As if it were spectator sport Assume I'm nothing of the sort Their bad behavior I must thwart If only I'd act more humbly Put ne...

  Leaves I looked at leaves the other day And saw them in a different way Not merely as a part of trees Or overhead shade canopies  While certainly a source of shade Not only reason they were made Provides food, shelter, bug's repose A leaf is indeed each of those Their rustling, a sweet symphony  With tweeting birds as harmony Soft fluttering alerting you  That gentle breeze is blowing through  The shape of some mimic a hand To wave hello - leaves also can Pinnate and palmate veins of leaves The human hand also has these Variety of leaves, sublime Fern fronds, soft moss, or climbing vine With lobed, serrated, spiky edges On trees, or stalks, or fragrant hedges In awe of leaves for many reasons  Why, they can even tell the seasons Soft buds of spring and winter's rest Love summer's green; fall color's best Mystery of photosynthesis  The Father's hand in all of this Deriving nourishment from sun While ours comes from the Holy One Yes, even leaves can pl...

  Book Cover Shouldn't judge book by its cover Yet, I do it all the time For I'm certain just by looking That one's capable of crime And I know the type that she is Though we've never met before  She thinks she's so much better Since her dress is a Dior That one's a permissive parent  Did you see her little knave Why doesn't she control him Can't she teach him to behave  And what about those teenagers  Certain they're up to no good Sure they've concocted a plan to Terrorize the neighborhood  That man smells and is dirty Bet he doesn't have a home I'm guessing he is unemployed  And on dark streets does roam If I open each book cover And read story that's inside May find that I've misjudged them Perhaps have eyes opened wide For that one's no more a criminal  Than my sweet Grandpa Joe His tattoos and leather jacket Aren't a way to tell that's so And she is dressed so pretty Insecurities to hide  For anything but beautifu...

  Lessons Learned Sometimes the greatest lessons learned  Are from the times when you've been burned Times when things didn't go as planned  In moments things got out of hand  If disappointment put aside And try to see past wounded pride When effort was to no avail Seek out the lessons when you fail For failures truly can teach you  In ways successes never do Thus perseverance, grit, and fight Don't develop when all things go right It's only when you trip and fall When you take eye off of the ball That you're forced to evaluate  Why things didn't really go that great Though no one wishes to have failed Still, through it wisdom is unveiled  So, only if you seek you'll find That failure, wisdom hides behind Not all seek wisdom; some stay the fool Thus find they must continue school  When you attend school of hard knocks Lessons feel like you're pounding rocks Still, pounding rocks builds muscles strong So hopefully before too long Experience has mad...

  What to Do What is it I'm supposed to do  I'm asking, Lord, but can't hear you I'm so unsure which way to go Direct me, God so I will know  I want to make the proper choice  Trying to hear your small, still voice  Yet, all my thoughts are jumbled doubt Perhaps I need you, Lord to shout I'm sure the devil's hand's in this In hopes your will for me, I'll miss For when confusion rules the day It's certain Satan's had his way  And his way's often to distract Or out of fear or angst react Distract, so I do naught at all Or through my angst stumble and fall And though still don't know what to do  I know that worry's not from you  So I'll release it to your hands Keep seeking you and your good plans For you say when I seek, I'll find But first, I need to clear my mind Of all my thoughts that aren't from you  And meditate on what is true That your love for me never ends Nor, based on what I do, depends So, I can step forward bol...

  Forgiven Thought I forgave them; know I tried But that old wound's been opened wide  Something has triggered my past pain  So now I'm hurting once again  "I do forgive, " is what I said  Yet, old offense still fills my head  Dark thoughts that I claimed I'd put down Today, I find still lingering 'round  "Despair," I said, "I'm through with you. " Yet, you've returned out of the blue  And all the hurt I thought I'd beat  Is back again, pooled at my feet Tripping me up, making me fall  It seems I've hit the same brick wall  Must I break through it once again  Dear Lord, will this fight ever end  Forgiveness battle  - thought I'd won  And bitterness believed was done  But devil knows where to attack  Thus, hurt and anger have come back  So, tell me God,  when will this end  No longer past hurts reoffend  When will I find true peace and rest  And thus achieve real forgiveness...

  Shiny Thing You've made mistake; you've messed up bad You've thrown away good thing you had Chasing after shiny thing In hopes that happiness it'd bring You thought that it would give you joy But it really was just a toy Distraction meant to fit the bill Of hole that it could never fill We all have shiny things we seek Distractions meant to keep us weak For Satan knows our lusts are strong So has us seek things for us wrong Distraction could be shiny car Or could be found in local bar Your shiny thing just might be found Only in seedy part of town Perhaps distraction comes to call Within the local shopping mall No matter what the shiny thing It's really about coveting For shiny things by their design Say, I want that thing to be mine And once they do that, you'll ignore All but the thing you're lusting for No longer see the blessings have Thought shiny thing could be the salve For ways that you feel emptiness But they're just symptom of your mess And t...

  My Father's House Each time that I sit in a pew God, let my thoughts be only you Not mental list of things to do Or where to eat when service's through  With preacher's message that I hear Let your word come through loud and clear  For, every syllable is dear Thus, to you draws me ever near With every note of songs of praise  May glorious hallelujah raise And set an inner fire ablaze To serve you to the end of days And when I bow my head in prayer With all my sins and doubts laid bare  To feel your presence then and there Bringing me joy from my despair  To find sense of community  With other sinners just like me Uplifted hands and bended knee There's no place I would rather be For Holy Spirit's in this place In swaying bodies, upraised face Where shame and sorrow are erased A place of mercy and God's grace So, if it's far and wide you roam But you still haven't a church home Don't try to navigate alone Here's a free from condemnation zone Now,...

  Listen Well Know I don't always listen well For I have way too much to tell So what I listen for's a break To make the point I want to make  Too often I'm distractable Keep focused  - near impossible  Thus, if it's truly as I fear I only listen with one ear For many times I multitask So I may miss some things you ask In hopes that I do not offend Might need you to repeat again To listen well might be lost art Technology has played a part With phone, can hear you from Peru Yet, truly listen, might not do Though phones and various screens are swell Contribute to not listening well For all of us have been or seen Someone distracted by a screen Electronics can cast a spell  Mere symptom when don't listen well For what you pay attention to Shows what may mean the most to you One shouldn't have to shout or yell To get someone to listen well May only need loving reminder  You'd like to be heard; that way's kinder Sure, can make various excuses  But, honestl...

  Sharing An early childhood adage states In life, " sharing is caring." What wisdom in this catchy phrase  A closer look worth bearing Yes, caring's at the very heart Of all generosity  For, if you care about someone  Sharing comes more easily Our nature's a more selfish one Thus, sharing must be taught For what we have, we want to keep So don't share like we ought  And since we have that attitude  Find it quite hard to believe  There's any truth in those that say Better to give than to receive  Yet, if you've seen a face light up When you decide to share There can be no denying  That there is great value there Not just to the recipient  Also to the one who gave For sharing can be freeing While all selfishness  enslaves If you think 'bout someone you know That's a kind and caring soul Then, I can all but guarantee  That sharing they extol For it is from the overflow Of a good and caring heart That other's needs are noticed Thu...

  My Journey As I think of my faith journey When I ponder and take stock Want to be like Simon Peter Whom Christ Jesus call a rock A solid, firm foundation  Upon which to build his church Yet, instead feel more like shifting sands Putting my desires first For my journey's filled with stops and starts With detours along the way Always following God's righteous path Is a thing I can not say Though may pretend it's otherwise The raw truth cuts like a knife For I have chosen the wide road Too often in my life May be seen as trusting follower Yet, am nothing of the sort For I'm filled with doubts; unfaithfulness  And each day have fallen short Yes, I'm certain I'm a sinner But, there's more I'm certain of That, in spite of my shortcomings God looks down on me with love And he sees missteps and stumblings  As part of who I am So, guides me in his loving ways For His are still perfect plans Thus, detours and redirection In life's journey, play a part In my ...