THE DELAY – A Poem

Years ago I had a desire to become involved in Vacation Bible School (VBS), so I asked the Lord to open a door for me to do so. The years passed and no opportunity came. I all but forgot my prayer until one day, years later, it came to mind again and I asked the Lord why He didn’t answer my prayer, because I thought it was a good prayer. I also told the Lord that I accepted His ways in my life, and that He knew best, even though I didn’t understand. It was at that point that my prayer was answered. 

THE DELAY

Once upon a summertime past,

I talked to the Lord, and this I asked,

Remember my prayer for a VBS,

Lord, why did it never come to pass?

*

A good prayer I thought, for the summer season,

But Lord I know you have a reason,

I will trust whatever comes from your hand,

But I must confess Lord, I don’t understand.

*

A still small voice I heard in my spirit,

“Do it now” … I could hardly believe it!

The timing was perfect, this I now saw,

The children around me, the Lord would draw.

*

I was so excited, all doubts were gone,

That very summer a VBS was born,

Neighborhood children, so many were they,

Gathered together they learned of God’s ways.

*

The Bible was taught to these sweet little ones,

A beautiful work our God had begun,

They ate and they played, and sang many a song,

We had VBS for three summers long!

*

The Lord hears all of the prayers we have prayed,

And in His great wisdom sometimes He delays,

To answer until the time is just right,

Giving us seasons of joy and delight!

Cathy White 2018 ©

The VBS lasted for three summers. The parents were very open to their children coming and some even asked if we would have another VBS when summer came around again the following year. I gave each parent a sheet of paper showing them what would be taught, and I asked them to sign a permission slip for their children to attend. I also asked the parents to list any food allergies their children had. (I used to work for a large church.) These were the children and families that I knew, and my grandchildren knew, from the neighborhood.

1 Corinthians 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Delay is not denial…

John 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

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BORN AGAIN

The necessity of the new birth is a fact of life, a fact of Scripture, whether we believe the words of Jesus or not. Whether we are born again or not will determine our eternal destiny. There are many wonderful promises in the Bible, but “tomorrow” is not one of them. Time is short. Today is the day of salvation.

BORN AGAIN

Nicodemus was an old man

Who had some questions for the Lord

He saw His mighty miracles

And wanted to know more

*

In the darkness, in the starlight

He made his inquiry

Hoping for some answers

To the signs that he had seen

*

Surprised by the Lord’s answer

He said how can these things be

Be born again at my old age

Nicodemus could not see

*

Yes, Nicodemus had some questions

He, an old man getting closer to the tomb

How could he be born a second time

Again, from his mother’s womb

*

But Jesus was not talking

Of his flesh that soon would die

It was the Holy Spirit

That would give a man new life

*

Except a man be born again

God’s kingdom he cannot see

Except a man be born again

In God’s heaven he will never be

*

Jesus loved Nicodemus

Wanted salvation to bestow

Jesus loved Nicodemus

And He wanted him to know

Cathy White 2017

 

REMEMBERING TRACEY WITH A POEM ON THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSRY OF HER DEATH

This month, on April 19, 2017, was the anniversary of my sister-in-law’s death. It’s hard to believe a whole year has gone by. She was only 48 years old when she died.

Tracey had cancer. She was a real trooper during her years of suffering, keeping her emotions in check when they began to drift towards self pity because of all the hard things she had to endure. One of her frequent exclamations was “Only Jesus!”. Jesus was the One she called upon and the one who gave her the strength to carry on that was so evident in her life.

Though Scripture forbids communication with or prayer for those who have died, we can still “hear” Tracey’s voice by remembering the words she said when she was still here with us.

Tracey loved her husband and family immensely. I can attest to that. She once told me that maybe if she was healed of her cancer then her sister would get saved.

But even seeing a miracle does not guarantee salvation or move a person to seek truth. The Bible records the great miracles of Jesus and it also tells us that in spite of those miracles his Word was rejected by many. But there were some who did seek the Lord. Nicodemus, to his eternal benefit, was one such person. More on him later.

I also remember Tracey telling me back in the Spring of 2014 that she felt the Lord tell her to “speak up”. I was thinking that perhaps the Lord wanted her to be more direct in evangelizing our family.

I wrote the following little poem for the one year memorial of Tracey’s death. I believe that this is what she would want said to those she loved so much. The poem is taken from the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John, chapter 3.  Therein we have preserved in Scripture, and for our benefit, what transpired between Jesus and a very religious man named Nicodemus more than 2000 years ago.

BORN AGAIN

Nicodemus was an old man

Who had some questions for the Lord

He saw His mighty miracles

And wanted to know more

*

In the darkness, in the starlight

He made his inquiry

Hoping for some answers

To the signs that he had seen

*

Surprised by the Lord’s answer

He said how can these things be

Be born again at my old age

Nicodemus could not see

*

Yes, Nicodemus had some questions

He, an old man getting closer to the tomb

How could he be born a second time

Again, from his mother’s womb

*

But Jesus was not talking

Of his flesh that soon would die

It was the Holy Spirit

That would give a man new life

*

Except a man be born again

God’s kingdom he cannot see

Except a man be born again

In God’s heaven he will never be

*

Jesus loved Nicodemus

Wanted salvation to bestow

Jesus loved Nicodemus

And He wanted him to know

Cathy White 2017

The necessity of the new birth is a fact of life, a fact of Scripture, whether we believe the words of Jesus or not.

Whether we are born again or not will determine our eternal destiny.

There are many wonderful promises in the Bible, but “tomorrow” is not one of them.

Time is short.

Today is the day of salvation.

So what do I believe Tracey would have me say on her behalf?

If heaven is to be your eternal home … “You must be born again” … and we will see each other again, we will meet again one glorious day.

Oh, what a promise!

1 Thessalonians 4
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

FAMILY – A Poem

This poem is about our family, our family that we love so much, and what transpired way back in the year 1988 when my husband and I were first saved and began sharing the Gospel with our loved ones.

FAMILY 

When we were saved, we told them all,

That they were products of the fall,

And that they needed to be changed,

But they all thought we were deranged.

*

Born again, we were made anew,

Wanted them to be newborn too.

They closed their ears, said we are fine,

Don’t tell us more, don’t cross the line.

*

There’s nothing we could say or do,

Convince them that God’s Word was true.

A word of warning and of love,

We must all be born from above.

*

So here we are, the years have passed,

Who would have thought, who would have guessed.

Nothing has changed, but we still pray,

And hope they’ll all be saved one day.

Cathy White 2016 © 

John 3

1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

IF I COULD VISIT DAYS GONE BY – A Poem

When our parents are alive we somehow think they will always be around.  We take them for granted.  My mother went to be with the Lord 9 years ago yesterday.  She was saved, so I know that I will see her again one day, even so  …

IF I COULD VISIT DAYS GONE BY

If I could visit days gone by,
I know what I would do.
I would go into my mother’s home,
And show my love anew.

I would kiss her cheek, hold her hand,
And tell her she’s the best.
I would listen to her carefully,
And know that I was blest.

I would comfort her in sorrow,
And keep her company.
I would bless her any way I could,
And share this world’s journey.

If I could visit days gone by,
I know what I would do.
I would go into my mother’s home,
And show my love anew.

Cathy White 2016 ©

DEATH – A Poem

Ecclesiastes 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

Romans 12:15 … weep with those who weep. 

Death is a great teacher. Joey Feek has left this world. Mountains high and valleys low. Her story has touched my heart and caused me meditate on the sorrows of this world, and the reason that each of us, at the appointed time, will pass through the door of death.  

 DEATH

The crimson stain of sin.
Death, again and again.
This world, our lives, our all,
Touched and marred, by the fall.

We see it all around.
We hear the heartbreak sound.
And those who weep anew,
Remind us of this truth.

Joey’s father came to the Lord during her illness. She said … “I told my dad, ‘I would go through all of this again, if that meant one person came to Christ because of it.’”

She recorded the beautiful (prophetic) song, When I’m Gone, a couple of years before she became ill.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 3

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

2 Peter 3

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Revelation 21

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Poem by Cathy White 2016 ©

A MOTHER’S DAY POEM

Parents.  

Love them while you still have them.  

You’ll have no regrets when they’re gone.

LOVE FROM ABOVE

Love your parents, love each one,

Love them for the good they’ve done,

Love them hard and love them long,

Love them still when they are wrong.

*

Love them young when all is bright,

Love them old in dark of night,

Love them oh so joyfully,

Love them in humility.

*

Love them with what matters most,

Love them in the Holy Ghost,

Love them truly from your heart,

Love them dear before you part.

*

Love a gift from God above,

Love is lasting, only love.

When their time on earth is spent,

You’ll have treasure heaven sent.

Cathy White 2015 ©

1 Corinthians 13  And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.