Pray

Life is a mystery  .

You are in so much pain .

You may not be able

To do the things

You once did every day .

You can not talk 

You can not see 

What you once saw .

because of an illness .

You can not hear 

Like you did .

You can not do much 

Of anything  .

Do not be afraid .

 Remember 

You are never alone  

And no matter  what 

You can always pray 

With your mouth shut

Because  God hears everything .

There is no mystery in God 

So do not be afraid  to pray .

                      I Love You All

                         By Brock 

Time Of Uncertainty

We face uncertain times ,

We do not always receive 

All that we hope for .

Like all of us ,

By faith we possess a longing 

For a better country 

A heavenly one 

And God prepares the heavenly place 

Witch will ultimately satisfy 

All our longings .

                              I Love You All

                              By Brock 

Friends

When God bring friends together ,

He always has something bigger in mind  .

It could be works of mercy ,

Service to the poor ,

An apostolate or vacation 

That will flow from the gift 

In His people  .

There is no telling what might ignite 

When interpersonal relationships

Are caught up in the flame 

Of the Spirit .

                              I Love You All

                              By Brock

Each Person

Each person is distinctive and special .

Each of us has something special to offer ,

And each of us is missed

When our participation is absent  .

Our uniqueness means 

That we can offer something 

Fresh to our world .

What freshness is God calling us to bring 

To The lives  of those around us today ?

Could it be your special kindness?

Could it be your special smile ?

Could it be your special ability to listen ?

Could it be your special hug ?

Could it be your special touch 

That only you can give ?

Could it be your compassion? 

Could it be your special spirit 

That you share ?

Could it be that special love you give 

To the lonely and the sad 

With no questions asked ?

It could be that you always had

that special leap

Of faith  .

We should all give all that we have .

Let us all thank God today .

                         I Love You All

                        By Brock 

Complain

We complain and grumble .

We blame God for leaving us 

In the wilderness of our own sins .

God sends His only son to be the savior 

To the venomous poison of sin  .

Jesus bears our stubbornness 

And  grumblings , offering Himself 

For sinners .

He Himself is lifted up on the cross 

So must  the Son of Man 

Be lifted up 

That whoever believes in Him 

May have eternal life .

                            I Love You All

                            By Brock

Parents

Everyday parents lay down 

What they previously thought 

Of as living for their child ,

They take up the cross  at working ,

Putting food on the table

Their sleepless nights

Wisdom when the child

Does not want it .

Parents give up a lot of things .

It is in the sacrifice 

That parents 

Are gifted with the opportunities 

To know love and to grow with it 

And they love their child 

Then 

And love them in heaven today .

Remember  we want you

To always follow your heart

And your dreams always

Our child .

We will see you in heaven  .

We will always love you. .

                         I Love You All

                         By Brock

What If

When my what if questions become long 

And tiring ,

I begin to pray .

I do not want to dwell on those questions 

Which were not only  unanswerable 

But unhealthy 

And unhelpful .

As I began crying out to the Lord  for help ,

Suddenly I felt at peace  .

My heart felt the love of God 

And the love of my family .

Remember , God. hears our cry 

For help and  comforts us  .

When we pray ,

God will dwell us  closer  ,

Given us an awareness 

Of our  Creator’s love for us .

                                        I Love You All

                                         By Brock

My Prayer

When I did simply offer a few 

Quick prayers in the morning 

When I was young .

My prayers tended to skitter along 

The surface  like a flat pebble going

Across a lake .

However now that I am getting 

Older 

I spend my time in longer

Deeper prayer

I have become more eager

To reach out to God again .

Prayer then becomes a regular 

And meaningful part of my day . 

                             I Love You All

                             By Brock

We The People

We are people who worry ,

We are people who always 

Need to hold on to something  .

However if we live as though nothing 

Material was permanent 

We might find it may be easier

To hold everyone around us 

With compassion and hope

In our hearts  and gratitude .

Think about it ?

                         I Love You All

                          By Brock

Twinkle

A baby girl is born 

And she has a twinkle in her eyes .

When her dad picked her up 

For the first time 

Her twinkle in her eyes 

Hit her dad’s heart .

When the young girl got married ,

She showed her twinkle to her husband .

When she had her children  ,

And she became a grandma 

And got old ,

She always had a twinkle 

In her eyes for all her loved ones .

When ever she had trouble sleeping

She always had a twinkle in her eyes 

And love in her heart . 

                                    I Love You All

                                    By Brock

Trouble Seeing

So many people have trouble 

Seeing the Lord .

Maybe they are over come with worries

And doubts .

Perhaps they are beguiled 

By the world’s temptations  .

The question we must ask ourselves ,

Do they see Jesus in us ?

Do we who have been baptized 

In the Spirit live 

 As if we know and love Jesus ?

                                I Love You All

                                By Brock

Spiritual Energy

Our inner spiritual energy supplied

By the Holy Spirit 

Like wise can be diminished.

By the parasitic draw of distractions 

And Idols.

Difficult news , social media , pride ,

Grudges , greed , self sufficiency ,

Desire for recognition 

And success May all , 

That can steal our spiritual energy .

This can lead us away from our relationship 

With God ,

From fallowing Jesus 

And from serving others .

But prayer , praise and worship ,

Bible Study 

And fellowships with Christian Friends 

Restore our spiritual energy .

                                   I Love You All

                                    By Brock

I Believe

I believe in the mercy of God 

And I know that is never to late  

To make the best choice .

God gave me a king , his son 

To shepherd me .

Jesus placed the needs of others first 

And sent the Holy Spirit to be with me ,

To always help me to  love 

Serve and forgive one another .

I pray to choose to become 

A living example 

Of the Gospel 

In the world I pray .

                                  I Love You All

                                  By Brock

The Priorities Of Listening

A listening requires a shift in priorities 

It requires us to stop what we are doing ,

Turn in the  direction of the person 

Speaking 

And give them our full attention .

That is why prayer is more than just 

Our words .

Prayer is a frame of mind 

Oriented toward God .

It is enough silence and stillness

To rest our busy minds 

And better prepare ourselves to hear 

What God might be saying to us .

Remember ,

Prayer is placing ourselves 

In the best position possible 

To talk to God . 

                            I Love You All

                            By Brock

Hold Nothing Back

We want to pray ,

But it can be difficult .

Sometimes we bring our body to prayer 

While our mind stays busy elsewhere .

Or we bring our mind ,

But our heart stays away  .

We might be unaware of our hearts desires

Or feel unworthy to bring the deepest 

Part of ourselves to yGod  .

The saints tell us not to give up 

On prayer 

But keep bringing our bodies there ,

Even when that is all we can do  .

For in the end ,

The Lord wants all of us 

And will keep wooing us .

                     I Love You All

                     By Brock

Are You Sure

When we are not sure

Of where we are headed 

Or how God will lead us ,

We can choose to trust 

In Christ 

And focus on the illuminating grace 

Of his presence .

Christ’s light  can guide us 

Through the often tumultuous 

Waves of life .

                          I Love You All

                         By Brock

Oh To Reach Out

We are called to reach out to someone 

Who is like the bruised reed

Or the smoldering wick ,

Someone made especially vulnerable 

By illness or accident 

Or aging or diminishment 

Of any kind .

We are called to work to change 

The system and structures 

That leave out. Neighbors hungry 

Or homeless or oppressed .

                                I Love You You All

                                By Brock

We Ask God

We ask God to protect  

The hospitalized

Who are suffering 

And need healing .

We ask God to help those

Who are caring for them .

Tears filled my eyes .

Overcome with gratitude  ,

I feel peace filling my soul .

My loving Father has heard my cry 

And allowed someone else

To give voice to my need today .

                                   I Love You All

                                   By Brock

A Vessel Of Compassion

Sometimes I come to the point 

Where the only place left to go 

Is to go to my knees 

And cry out to forgive my transgressions 

And welcome me home 

Like the prodigal son  .

I spend my days trying to be the man 

God created me to be ,

Trying to use my experience 

And years of suffering 

To help others .

Today I take comfort in knowing 

That the Lord is using me 

As a vessel of compassion and love .

Today I allow God to use my life  ,

As an example of truth spiritual  

Transformation .

God will change me  with compassion  

For God has compassion to give

And to share anytime  .

                           I Love You All

                           By Brock

Action And Words

It is vitally important to know 

That we are loved. .

Especially to know 

We are loved by God. .

Sometimes I sit quietly outside 

And watch the clouds 

And birds go by 

With the Lord ,

I open my hands ,

And say ,

Jesus , I received your love .

Father , I received your love .

As I receive love from God ,

I open my heart 

To receive your love every day .

I can pass the love 

To others both through action

And words .

                             I Love You All

                             By Brock

Roadblocks

Life is full of roadblocks 

And we can become discouraged 

Thinking we have reached the end .

Remember God’s ways are different 

Than ours .

God’s perspective on our situation 

Is much different than our limited view .

We need to trust God’s perspective 

No matter the circumstances

And have hope that what seems 

Like an ending 

Might also be a beginning .

                               I Love You All

                              By Brock

Loss

We all experience  loss

Be it the life of a loved one ,

A broken heart ,

Or an unfulfilled dream .

Whatever we are going through  , 

God is aware of our situation .

Do not loss heart ,

For God is always with us .

In time , God will wipe our tears  ,

Open other doors for us

And bring new joy  to our lives.

Just as Jesus comforted the widower 

And brought him new joy and hope,

He will comfort us 

And offer us hope too .

                                I Love You All

                                By Brock

Angels Walk

It would be great to consider 

All people as God’s angels 

Who walk the earth .

And they have answered my calls

I have not walked alone .

As I write this 

Things are good  .

Not all days are easy 

But I know God’s angels 

Are always just around the corner 

Maybe with a smile  ,

A good morning ,a hug ,

I care , I love you  , a kiss ,

Or a delivery of food .

Angels walk the earth 

So watch for them .

               I Love You All

               By Brock

Words Carry Weight

Words carry weight  ,

How we use them deeply impacts 

The people around us  .

Oh to throw off bitterness ,

Rage and anger hurt  ,

Replacing them with speech 

That benefits and builds up others  .

Even when sharing different truths 

We can express ourselves 

With  appreciation , gratitude ,

 Friendship , compassion and love   

Each day brings opportunities 

To speak wholesome , helpful words 

To others  .

                                 I Love You All

                                 By Brock

A Wreck

No matter what we are going through ,

God hears our prayers  .

When we find ourselves  wrecked

By life’s troubles  ,

When we feel overwhelmed and hopeless,

We may not be able to hear God .

But God can and does hear us. .

God hears our cries of pain

And desperation 

And offers comfort and encouragement 

To help us endure  .

                                       I Love You All

                                       By Brock

A Wreck

No matter what we are going through ,

God hears our prayers  .

When we find ourselves  wrecked

By life’s troubles  ,

When we feel overwhelmed and hopeless,

We may not be able to hear God .

But God can and does hear us. .

God hears our cries of pain

And desperation 

And offers comfort and encouragement 

To help us endure  .

                                       I Love You All

                                       By Brock

God Does It

 

Life is like a maze .

Many times we ask God 

Why certain things happen to us .

We try to grasp difficult situations 

But are unable to understand them  .

We hurry here and there 

Looking for the right path .

Obstacles stop us in our tracks 

And we do not understand 

Why we must back track 

Or even face those obstacles 

In the first place  .

It becomes crucial to allow 

God to guide us 

Through the twisting 

And turning passage ways of life 

So that we can find the path

That will lead to the fullness of joy 

That only God can offer. 

                                         I Love You All

                                         By Brock

Writing

Writing is hard work sometimes  

It requires discipline and commitment ,

As well as a teachable spirit  ,

Rejection though discouraging ,

Are also a catalyst for continued learning 

And practice  .

So when discouragement threatens 

To derail my efforts it hurts me .

Why I write ?

It is an expression of my love for others 

And God .

Like when I call someone smiley 

It is never to hurt anyone 

Or when I give a hug 

It is my way of telling someone 

It will be OK  .

Whether or not my poems are published  ,

God is pleased with my efforts.

When God weaves within me

A divine purpose ,

God also equips me to persevere 

And so as my words flow on paper ,

I continue to answer God’s call .

                                  I Love You All

                                  By Brock

Honor God

Our prayers do not have to be 

Long and winded like me !

Short prayers throughout the day 

Strengthen our relationship with God. .

Remember smile rejoice away 

Pray without ceasing 

And give thanks in all circumstance .

This means not just praising 

God for the things

We are happy about  ,

But also for things that might 

Not give us joy  .

Rejoice , praising  , praying 

And thanking 

God are all ways we can include 

God in our day  

And I believe it is a wonderful way 

To Honor Gods .

                                 I Love You All

                                 By Brock

All Weekend

As we run , fished and hunted 

And swam ,

And enjoyed the outdoors ,

I could sense the fine detail

God has woven into creation .

I remembered how nature affects 

Our entire being and involves

All encompassing so that it 

Would command our attention .

The sun’s heat affects every 

Part of the earth 

As it circles the sky  ,

God’s love effects every part of us 

As we live every day 

In God’s presence  .

                                  I Love You All

                                  By Brock

Leading Today

The life  I am leading today 

Is a living witness to the words 

Of the psalmist ,

Though I walk through the valley 

Of the shadow of death ,

I will fear no evil 

For thou art with me  .

Through my experience  that day ,

I have seen the full promise 

Of the Lord who stayed with me 

All the time and walked with me 

Through the valley 

I thank the Lord 

For giving me new life .

I need to remember 

To always believe in hope

And that there is always a new day .

                             I Love You All

                            By Brock

The Birds

Seeing pheasants fly high today 

Reminds me of the time Jesus 

Was teaching us about worry .

He tells us that God takes care 

Of the birds in the sky 

And that we are more 

Important than the birds  .

As I pondered the scripture 

And its meaning ,

I began to appreciate somethings 

I had taken from granted  .

I felt God giving me much 

Needed inner strength .

I appreciate the quit message 

God did send to me 

In a time when I most needed it .

                                 I Love You All

                                 By Brock

God Is Kind

God is kind and helps us

With everyday situations 

Like lost household items .

But God is greatly concerned 

About people who are lost 

Those who have drifted away 

Or who have never been close 

To begin with .

God longs to bring all of us home 

And restore us .

When we have lost our way

In the struggles of life 

We can come to God

And pour our heart 

Out to our Father  .

God will always welcome us ,

Embrace us , love us 

And restore us .

                          I Love You All

                          By Brock

The Tunnel

While we travel in the tunnel of life 

There may be times when it is hard 

To see the light 

At the end because of all the twists 

And turns along the way .

But remember , Jesus has already 

Been through the tunnel 

Of sin , death and hell .

He has made a way 

Through it for us .

And He who is the light 

Of the world walks with us always. .

                                   I Love You All

                                   By Brock

Every Place Every Situation

The Lord wants to be close to us 

Through the work of the Holy Spirit ,

We can all be with Jesus

By simply opening the Bible 

And reading and praying God’s Word .

The Holy Spirit also brings us to Jesus 

In our Baptism 

And in Holy Communion 

As He forgives sins 

And strengthens faith  .

May we rejoice in the comfort 

That we are never alone ,

For Christ is with us. 

In every place and situation. 

                        I Love You All

                        By Brock

The Darkness

Out of the darkness of this world 

We are called to walk by faith 

As we face the uncertainty  of life .

We can be certain what God 

Has in store for us 

When someday our time 

Will be no more .

There will be a new heaven 

And a new earth ,

The resurrection of the body 

And life everlasting 

A new life with our Lord 

In everlasting glory 

God’s promises , found in His Word

Proceed us into this new world 

With new blessings yet to unfold .

                                 I Love You All

                                 By Brock

Without Him

Without Jesus , we know where  all the ways 

Of the world ultimately lead .

Deities of stone do us no good 

Addiction to drugs and other things 

In life leave us wanting more ,

Yet are never enough.  .

Human beings  have a way 

Of letting us down .

Man made philosophies 

Can not give us lasting answers .

Even if we could lump together 

Tre treasure of the world 

And give them to God ,

They would not put a dent 

In our debt of sin. 

                            I Love You All

                            By Brock

Easter Stone

Just as the Easter stone 

Could not hold 

Jesus in His grave so sin death 

And the work of the devil

Can not destroy us .

Our Baptism is our power source  .

Christ’s Word is our truth .

We are God’s beloved children ,

His precious loving stone ,

Is alive in Christ. .

                              I Love You All

                              By Brock