Archive for the ‘ Poetry ’ Category

Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 01/29/2012

I really like the way God works. Today’s poem actually lines up with the topic of the past couple weeks. Also, I attended the “Calvinism, Arminianism, and Free Grace Seminar” yesterday. John Correia was the main speaker helping everyone understand better what Calvinists, Arminians, and he and others within the Free Grace Theological background believe. (If you have not heard of Molinism yet, look it up!) Anyway, one of the things discussed by two of the speakers included justification by works and our own sinful nature. I thought of all of the “religion” talk of the past few weeks. Then I saw what poem I had for this week, and WHOA!

I hope you enjoy:

my greatest tempter

my biggest foe i cannot name

this person leads me astray

i cannot get very far from him

he is everywhere that i am

he constantly tempts me with sin

and keeps me away from Him

this enemy of mine you see

for this person is actually

                                                 me

Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 23.

2012
01/29
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Poetry
Temptation
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Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 01/22/2012

I have always enjoyed climbing trees. There have been trees I have climbed after my parents or someone said “Do not climb that tree!” I have not climbed trees after my parents or someone has said “Do not climb that tree!”

There are two trees to which I have listened and not listened the command “to climb,” to follow the lifestyle each tree represents. Which tree forms the basis for your life?

It Was a Tree

It was a tree in a garden
That had something special.
It had a fruit of knowledge
And a conniving snake.
The snake tricked humans.
We now live in sin.
It was a tree.

It was a tree near a city
That held something special.
It held a perfect man
And a loving God.
The man loves humans.
We are now free from sin.
It was a tree.

Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 21.

2012
01/22
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Gospel
Lifestyle
Poetry
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Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 01/15/2012

I have been wanting to post this poem all year! (You know, the last two weeks) But I had decided months ago that I would post poems from my second book roughly in order. This is the third poem (technically speaking, as the “first poem” is a dedication for the book). I hope you find strength in its words.

God, Give Us Hope

Our future is looking grim.
Plans for peace seem far.
We do not know what to do.
God, give us Hope.

There is no peace in the world.
Things are all awry.
Our planet is torn apart.
God, give us Hope.

When things are getting worse,
Though times are getting tough,
We might be spiraling down,
God gives us Hope.

Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 17.

2012
01/15
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Discouragement
Fear
Hope
Poetry
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Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 01/08/2012

Back in 2002, I was working at McDonald’s. There was a customer who came in complaining about the service she was receiving and ridiculing the employees for incompetence, laziness, and rudeness. When she left, one of my co-workers said “I hate chicken-lips.”

“What are chicken-lips?” I asked.

“Chicken-lips are people who act like chickens who think they have lips. They cluck about everything, and get in the way. In other words, they only make a lot of noise and accomplish nothing other than making others angry or sad.”

Now you know the back story to this poem.

Also remember:

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

James 3:1-12

chicken lips

i should not say
the things i say
i should not think
the things i think
if someone mocks
i will not mock
if someone jokes
i will not joke
i will keep my mind open
i will keep my mouth shut
i will change my words
i will change my thoughts

Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 16.

2012
01/08
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Discipline
Poetry
Speech
Taming the Tongue
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Savior or Friend?

Is Jesus your Savior?

Is Jesus your Friend?

A recent (in terms of all of Church history) fad is “Jesus is my homeboy” and things like that, in which God is our friend. This is based on Jesus’ words “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15)

I have no qualms with calling Jesus our friend. I enjoy singing along with “I Am a Friend of God” both on the radio/at a concert and in church. I like singing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” when I have the opportunity.

It just seems we have lost respect of the Savior in most circles.

I think the focus is just misplaced. Am I friends with Jesus because He is my Savior? Do I love Him because of what He has done?

The meaning behind these questions is one of “why I have decided.” This is all well and good, but the focus should always start with Jesus.

1 John 4:19 says “We love because He first loved us.” We are friends of Jesus, because Jesus calls us friends. I do not want to limit the importance of us choosing to love Him in return, but it is because of God we even have a choice. It is by God’s grace that we are free to choose.

I wrote this poem on Sunday (01/01/12) that I think might help understand what I am saying:

My Savior is my Friend

My Savior is my Friend.
He became a friend of mine
through being my Savior.
Yet He paid my sinful fine
by wanting to be my Friend.

My Lord is my Savior.
He became the Lord of me
through being my Friend.
Yet He deserved my loyalty
long before He was my Savior.

My Creator is my Lord.
He is the Creator
having created everything.
I love and serve Him more;
my Creator, Friend, Savior, and Lord.

Why do you love God? What are you willing to do for Him?

You should ask yourself everyday these questions and “what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:4) Put another way, “who am I that You are mindful of me?”

2012
01/03
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Friend
God
Jesus
Love
Man
Poetry
Relationship
Savior
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Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 01/01/2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY 2012!

Whether or not this new year brings a lot of joy or continued pain and heartache, I pray that you receive blessings from God. This could be finding Him for the first time, or it could be temporary relief from pain and suffering, or it could be even complete relief from pain and suffering. Just keep in mind that all of these blessings can come in ways we might not expect, and they may even be painful themselves.

This year, starting today, I will be posting here poetry and other works from my second book. I would like to see today’s poem be true, but as I just mentioned above God’s blessings can sometimes come through pain.

Be a Man

People say “Be a man!”
All I see when we act like men is
Fear
Pain
Suffering
Death
Instead I take it like a kid
I run to my Father and get
Love
Care
Healing
Life
I will not say “Be a man!”
I will say “Run to Dad!”

Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 15.

2012
01/01
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New Years
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Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 12/25/2011

How about a new one! This past Sunday, 12/18, I wrote a poem that was inspired by “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” and, of course, Jesus Christ.

May we remember on this particular day (and everyday) that Jesus Christ was born to bring peace, salvation, and fellowship between God and humanity. He was born to die, but He was also born to live again! The real meaning of this season is not to celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, instead it is to celebrate our God loving us so much that He willingly limited Himself to be with us.

I love you so much, because He loves you so much and before I ever even conceived of loving you!

Merry Christmas, and may your next year be a blessing (however that may look) that brings you into deeper fellowship with our Lord and Savior.

Bells Have Been Ringing

Bells have been ringing from churches
for several centuries
Proclaiming Christ is alive
and ruling from eternity
Bells have been ringing from churches
declaring the birth of Christ
Ringing to remind us of our sin
and that He had to die
Bells have been ringing from churches
calling mourners to mourn
Calling others to pray for families
of lost daughters and sons
Bells have been ringing from churches
calling the faithful to prayer
Reminding everyone who hears
that the Savior still cares
Bells have been ringing from churches
joining a girl with a boy
Bringing of their loved ones together
to share in the loving joy
Bells have been ringing from churches
to declare the returning Son
Whom at the sound of trumpets blown
will unite with us as One

2011
12/25
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Christmas
Gospel
Holidays
Jesus
Love
Poetry
Relationship
Unconditional Love
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Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 12/18/2011

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ” James 1:5

That is all for now. Happy Advent, and Merry Christmas!

wisdom
daniel m  klem

wisdom is what we want

some people want it to
get ahead in life and
make money to buy things

others want wisdom to
get ahead in the life and
be with God in heaven

if God is pleased with you
the He will bless you and
you may not need things

your wisdom can take you
up to where God is and
to be with Him in heaven

just ask for the wisdom

Taken from simple words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 51.

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2011
12/18
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Weekend Words and Sunday Stanzas – 12/11/2011

This week’s topic of being half-empty, feeling depleted and lost, reminded me of a poem I wrote years ago. I think this applies, especially for many in this season who struggle to find the joy and reason to celebrate that is so often sold.

 

frustrations
daniel m  klem

when You do not seem to answer
i get frustrated
when You do not do what i ask
i get frustrated
when no one listens about You
i get frustrated
when i can not seem to find You
i get frustrated
when i can not seem to love You
i get frustrated
when i can not feel Your love
i want to cry

Taken from simple words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 40.

Here is a little reminder for you:

No matter what is going on in your life, no matter how frustrating and lonely you feel in any situation, God loves you so much that He came and sacrificed Himself for you. Life might seem horrible now, but imagine being one with complete love and joy and then being cut off and separated from that complete love and joy. That is what Jesus Christ did for you. He gave up His life, suffered the most horrible shame, frustration, abuse, and loneliness that any person can feel, all because of His love for you. Most amazing of all, He came back to life to give you hope that He has overcome all of that, and He wants you to overcome it all in and through Him.

Do not give in to your frustrations. Give in to the restoring and renewing power of the grace of God the Father through Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, which we have access to through the Holy Spirit! It can be tough, but He wants to help you. Trust in Him. I cannot promise that your frustrations will go away, but I can promise that you find your outlook change and your hope grow.

Merry Christmas!

2011
12/11
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Discouragement
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Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 12/04/2011

As we are now in December, it is a perfect time to share the gospel message (any time is good, but being the month we celebrate the birth of Christ makes seem a little extra special, you know?). If you are not friends with me on Facebook, you may not have seen this one as of yet. Last year on Thanksgiving, I awoke, got into the shower, and then this poem sprang into my mind. I wrote it down, and typed it up. Today you can enjoy it!

How much does He love us?

How much does He love us?
Living in eternity;
Living in perfect unity;
Demonstrating community
In the Holy Trinity.

But He said it is not enough
And so He created stuff
All for His ultimate creation: us;
But we just had to mess it up.

How much does He love us?
Adam and Eve lost the Garden
And now we are born with original sin.
God knew our relationship with Him
To restore we could not even begin.

God looked on us down on Earth,
Seeing us in our moral dearth.
For some reason He saw some worth,
So He came to us through childbirth!

How much does He love us?
Jesus Christ gave up royalty
To live amongst our depravity.
Jesus in all of His divinity
Entered the world as a tiny baby!

He grew up living a sinless life
Until by John He was baptized.
Religious leaders He did chastise
While helping people to realize.

How much does He love us?
After a few years of ministry,
He went to God’s holy city.
In our backward objectivity
We nailed His sinless body to a tree.

He was aware of His Path,
That it included a painful death.
“It is finished” He said of forgiveness
As He took his final breath.

How much does He love us?
Through our Lord’s sacrifice
We can receive new spiritual life.
Our redemption came at a great price,
But we are washed in the blood of Jesus Christ!

Choose to believe in His grace
So that we may see Him face to face;
So that we may join Him in the eternal place
As His holy and redeemed chosen race.

2011
12/04
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Gospel
Love
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