26, 3-6 – SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS – Revised 10/11/21
Here we are again, 4 poems from Living In God’s Rhyme whose common thread is God & Jesus & one other thing. I like the randomness of our discussions when I don’t set it up in the show notes. I’m sure there is a better word than randomness I could use. All 4 are from God Still Rhymes (©2017 by Tim Carter)
Our first poem is found on pg. 74
THE HEALING OF FORGIVENESS
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling
and slander, along with every form of malice.
Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Eph. 4:30,31
What needs to be said about this verse?
Though some words may sound terse,
They are covered in the blood
Jesus shed for those he loved.
He has loved
And still does.
Though we have sinned
He has sent a mighty wind
To lift his people up
As we drink from his cup.
We are hurt in so many ways,
Slander, malice, anger and rage.
We are left alone, left defeated.
That’s what we do to those God loves.
Sometimes we are they, the other one,
To whom the harm and hurt is done.
We all keep a running total, we tally the sum
Of each and every day they block out the Son.
We are told to forgive throughout God’s word,
Told enough that we should have heard,
If with God we live
We are called to forgive.
If God can forgive, so must we.
It is by his forgiving of our sin
That over death we do win.
Why is it so hard for us to see?
God loves so much that he died.
Died in the form of his Son
For the times we lied,
For all we have done.
A death we deserved,
A death we did earn,
But now as we turn
Our place is reserved.
Jesus died once for all,
For all who hear his call,
The call of God’s holy grace
That one day we may see his face.
We are but mere mortal man.
How can our sin against another
Be greater than our sin
Against he who created man?
We are commanded to forgive,
So then we must have the trust
To accept the word we have heard
That for God and his children we live.
God loves us
And if we love him,
We will follow his commands.
We will love our neighbor
And with them we will stand.
It is when were are one with God
And one with our fellow man,
Those who have scorned and hurt
That the healing can begin.
God healed us through the death of his Son.
His forgiving of our sins has healed our souls.
Though God is perfect, was he healed of a broken heart?
Does he smile more at each new day’s start?
Do We Forget?
It is often said, “I can forgive, but I will never forget.”
His word says, our sins forgiven, he will remember no more.
Forgiveness begins the healing, forgetting is the cure.
His ways are not our ways
And our ways are not his ways.
But though we may ask why,
We must always and forever try,
Try to understand
What he commands.
Reflection on The Healing of Forgiveness
The idea for this poem came to me on the afternoon of Day 29 of posting this books poems on Facebook. Mary Lou and I discussed it at an early dinner at the Atrium Café. After finding the verse I wanted and started walking toward the computer I had this thought; a word smith could spend more than an entire...
