Jesus Open My Eyes and Heart, #94

94, 10-4, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 3/9/2023)

Today, we will be reading and discussing 4 consecutive poems from God’s Rhyme. They are found on pages 5 through 11. My journey to salvation may sound unusual to some. I first had the desire to know Jesus and understand His love for me through the love Father Larry Dunn shared. I have shared before, I was raised In the Episcopal Church, was married in the Catholic Church and later converted to Catholicism, and many years later was led by God to leave the Catholic Church and am now attending an Evangelical, bible believing, teaching and professing church. The following poems are 4 of the first Christian poems I wrote in the later 1970’s.

MY FRIEND JESUS

Take my hand

as we walk this land,

feel the sand

as time drifts away,

hear what I say,

just be what you may

with my friend Jesus.

A little boy, a baby girl;

sometimes the days

like a waterfall swirl

until I feel the sun’s rays

& I know it’s the Son,

Who, tho blinded to some,

is Who I will follow.

A walk thru a field

& I find I must yield,

give of myself, die to my wants.

I opened the door

& found Him waiting there,

wanting no more

than that breath of fresh air.

I found the way.

As people had said,

it’s not what you say

or the thoughts in your head.

It’s not just the grace of an evening meal.

It’s something you always feel,

something that starts deep in you heart.

Take my hand

& walk with me;

There is so much to be.

Together we can stand,

not just the two of us,

because we are three

with our friend Jesus.

Discussion:

FOR YOU TWO

Thank you Jesus for loving me,

for being able to see

that I am more

than I think I can be.

When the world

seems to swirl around

& sounds are blurred,

somehow your love is heard.

You’ve given me a life;

a loving wife,

the sweet joys of a baby girl

& a little boy.

I have been blessed.

I just need to take time

to look between the stress

of a world that wants what is mine.

I know I don’t often tell You,

I’m so often overdue

in remembering it’s not just the words,

but more the actions that are heard.

With You tho, I have a new start

In seeing thru the lies,

for it’s not just with my eyes,

but now I see with my heart.

Thank you Jesus

when I think of us.

For if it’s Your life we’re living,

we have so many thanks to be giving.

Discussion:

When we started going to Guadalupe we had a two year old son. Then a daughter, and another, and another, and two more. I wrote a book for one Christmas for the kids, a fictional biography. At one point I wrote about the discussion between a priest and myself occurring in the hospital hallway as my wife was wheeled toward the delivery room. The imaginary priest was telling me that before number 4 or was it 5 I had to convert before the baby could be delivered. After all it is Catholic families that have alot of kids.

When I finally experienced the joy of Jesus, everything was right.

One thing I noted at this time in my life occurred at work. I worked outside, surveying. I noticed the sky was bluer, the clouds whiter and the air clearer. All around me, nature was at peace and beautifully so.

I BELIEVE IN JESUS

I believe in Jesus

His body & blood shed

that I might live.

I believe in Jesus

knowing what lies ahead

for me in life

He died

for the times

my eyes

failed

to see Him

in my neighbor

as my Savior

I believe in Jesus

His life, His word

are Truth forever

Yes, I believe in Jesus

and how He served

that I might too.

Discussion:

MY SWEET JESUS

Oh Jesus, sweet Jesus,

I pray that when you lay

me down for my final rest

it is in Your arms, I pray.

But for now, let me live

such that in all I do

in my life is to give

as You have to me.

In this life I am living

may I pass on to others

the way of gentle forgiving

You have given to me.

May the weakness

in this life

give way to meekness

everlasting with You.

Living here today,

maybe gone tomorrow,

Your word shows me the way,

the path I must follow.

Discussion:

During a second Marriage Encounter weekend I remember sitting in the auditorium of an old convent surrounded by other couples when suddenly I felt a peace within my body that I had never experienced before. After that weekend the sky was bluer, the air clearer, the snow whiter, life absolutely enjoyable.

As we come to the end of today’s podcast, let us pray.

Dear Heavenly Father we come to you in prayer as we end today’s podcast. Dave and I thank You for leading us through the day and into tomorrow. We thank You for all you have led us to and through.

We pray for our listeners and viewers; for their needs, healing and the salvation of those who have not yet accepted the gift of Your grace by faith.

We pray, Lord, for this world in which we live. Father, as Christians lead us to proclaiming the gospel where ever we are. May we do so in a loving way. Lead us to the truth of the days we are living in.

Dear Lord, prepare us and our listeners and viewers for the coming week. We pray that it is You we live for and You who leads us. As we walk with you this week, may it be Your hand clasped around our hand so we may feel the grasp of Your love.

And this week may we remember the words from 2 Corinthians, 12:9;

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,

my power is perfect in weakness.”

At the beginning and at the end

And every moment in between,

May our strength be for His strength

So His perfection may be seen.

(from God Still Rhymes, Concluding Prayer)

We pray in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer.

Amen (2/26/23)

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