A Teacher

A good friend passed away last week and we attended her memorial on the 23rd.  That morning as I sat in bed, I wrote my own little memorial to her.


The angels said “A teacher
A teacher’s what we need
Someone to guide the others
Someone to take the lead
Someone with that special skill
Someone who’s always done His will
Someone who will do it still
A teacher’s what we need”


So God looked down upon this earth
To find someone of special worth
He found so few – then picked the best
Who clearly out shown all the rest
Each time He put her to the test
A teacher – yes indeed

A loving mother, loving wife
Who dedicated her whole life
Who gave herself unselfishly
To church, to school, to family
To those in need that she did see
A teacher – yes indeed


She was so loved, she will be missed
By all of those whose lives she kissed
Her earthly strings He has untied
So we can use her as our guide
And she’ll fit nicely at his side
A teacher – yes indeed

Mdailey 4/23/10

Remembering a friend

We had a good friend pass away last week.  She was only 59 years old and appeared to be in good health and then all of a sudden she was gone.  Talking to my wife and thinking about our friend, I tried to capture my thoughts in a couple of poems.  The first was written from the persceptive of our friend, the second from the perspective of the one she left behind.

You’re Grieving



I know that you are grieving
Don’t think of me as leaving
Think of me as somewhere down the road
Ahead of you, preparing
That life that we’ll be sharing
Once we leave our earth abode
I know that there’ll be crying
With my far too soon goodbying
But I really don’t want you to be sad
You’ll always have my love and
I’ll be watching from above and
Remembering the good times that we had
So grieve, then go on living
Loving and forgiving
Knowing that our true love will not die
And I will be here waiting
Greatly anticipating
Until we’re back together by and by

Mdailey 4/18/10

Mountain in the Road



How can I bear the load
There’s a mountain in the road
A mountain that appeared when you were gone
And it makes the road I travel
All my life plans to unravel
And makes me wonder how I can go on


Oh, I know I’ll take it step by step
In spite of all the tears I wept
I’ll find a way to make it ore’ the mound
And I’ll take it all in stride
Till I’m on the other side
And finally living back on level ground


And someday looking back
Along my life long track
I’ll realize my life did not implode
But you’re leaving is so haunting
And to go on is so daunting
You see, you left a mountain in the road

Mdailey 4/18/10

I Remember Easter

I Remember – Easter  -  I am not sure this qualifies as a spiritual poem or not but it shows that I have mixed memories of Easter - some of them very secular and some more mundane.  Some from early childhood and some from a more grown up perspective.  What is it you remember about Easter?

I remember
Mom’s big hat
Where we sat
At Easter
I remember
New church shoes
Old church pews
At Easter
I remember
Moms and sisters
New shoe blisters
At Easter
I remember
Pure white dresses
Summer tresses
At Easter
I remember
Festive bonnet
Flowers upon it
At Easter
I remember
Flowered purses
Bible verses
At Easter
I remember
Choirs sang
Church bells rang
At Easter
I remember
Peter Rabbit
Nuns in habit
At Easter
I remember
Fake green grass
Latin Mass
At Easter
I remember
Dressing up
The wine and cup
At Easter
I remember
World and heaven
Bread unleavened
At Easter
I remember
Hidden treasure
Love unmeasured
At Easter
I remember
Flowers bloom
The empty tomb
At Easter
I remember
Candy sweet
Satan’s defeat
At Easter
I remember
Spiral ham
The great I AM
At Easter
I remember
Our Lord Jesus
How he freed us
At Easter

Mdailey 3/22/10

FAITH

This was another poem composed while driving.  I think the rhythm of the road gets my mind to working on poetry better than just sitting at my desk.  I hope this means something to someone out there.  I would love to hear any comments you might have.    Mike

Faith, you gotta show it
If not, you simply blow it
Inaction – and your faith just isn’t real
For eternal satisfaction
You have to take some action
You have to show the world just how you feel

Examples? Look through Bible pages
Throughout history; all the ages
Men and women took their chances
And found eternal life enhances

Faith can move mountains
But YOU have to push
Get off of your knees
Get off of your tush
Get out in the world
Wear your faith on your sleeve
So that others can see
What you truly believe


Help your father, help your mother
Help your sister, help your brother
And do it just because you know it’s right
Even better, help a stranger
Be a modern day “Lone Ranger”
Do it even when you’re out of sight


As Nike says – Just do it
There’s really not much to it
If you believe, you act on that belief
For faith is love in action
And heaven’s great attraction
And that is this week’s spiritual in brief

Mdailey 3/12/10

God Hears

I wrote this on the drive from Wilmington, NC down to our place in Ocean Ridge - about an hour's drive.  I like to compose poems in my head while I drive but sometimes I get a little nrevous about remembering all the words in my head when I finally get to my destination and write them down.  Today was no exception.  I hope this poem inspires you to say a prayer for someone you love - you never realize just how much that helps.

When I get to the pearly gate
I’ll simply tell Saint Peter
That I’m sorry that I’m late


But I had loved ones praying
Hard for me each day
And I am simply living proof
God hears us when we pray


When I was young I drank some
Much more than my fair share
If I heard there would be drinking
I’d try to be right there


But I had loved ones praying
That I would change some day
And I am simply living proof
God hears us when we pray


When I was just out driving
I knew I drove too fast
And when I hit that slick spot
Thought my end had come at last


But I had loved ones praying
That I would be OK
And I am simply living proof
God hears us when we pray


And if I ever doubted
God was in my life
I only had to think about
The day I met my wife


For I had loved ones praying
That she’d show me the way
And I am simply living proof
God hears us when we pray

Mdailey            3/10/10

The Garden Gate

I was unable to write a new poem for this week. I have a theme and some thoughts rattling around in my head for a new poem but the words just are not coming. So this week I am sending you one I wrote a while back. It was originally part of a longer one but I split it into two poems as the two parts did not mesh all that well I only had to tweak it a little to stand alone. I don’t recall circulating this one before. It is short and to the point without my usual ramblings. If you like it pass it on to someone else.


Every day in every life you come to that fork in the road
Turn left or turn right it all depends upon the weight of your load
Take the one more traveled; in case you may break down
If you doubt your mode of travel - if your faith is not that sound
Or take the road less traveled, its narrow but it’s straight
It leads to where you want to go, straight to the garden gate


The Bible is your guide book with key turns pointed out
From the Garden to the desert and wanderings all about
With the simplest of guidelines – just listen to the Lord
He ask no more of any man than what he can afford
Love each man as your brother; let there be none you hate
And you will find your savior waiting at the garden gate

Mdailey 2/19/08

If you want to sign on as a follower of this blog, just click on the colorful box there on the left that says "follow".  It lets me know who is reading my poems which gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling that all writers love.  I have been stuck at 5 followers for quite some time now and would love to see the number grow.
Mike

What Do You Want

Do you remember when you were young and you asked someone in authority (your parents or teacher) just what it was that you were supposed to do knowing full well what was expected of you but hoping they would give you something easier?  Do you think that maybe sometimes we do that with God?


When Jesus of Nazareth came into town
He spoke of the devil and what’s going down
And when he was through some guy came around
“What do you want me to do?”


So He told of a rich man and basically why
A camel would easier pass through an eye
And after the story, a guy would come by
“What do you want me to do?”


So He gave them the sermon from up on the mount
And listed the things that really did count
But not all who listened knew what’s paramount
“What do you want me to do?”


And then there on the cross when He died for our sin
A thief asked forgiveness and He took him in
Yet after all that, we still ask of Him
“What do you want me to do?”


Repent; ask forgiveness at the end of the day
Remember that Jesus’s the light and the way
Follow his lead and you won’t have to say
“What do you want me to do?”

Mdailey 2/19/10

I was not sure I liked this at first.  The question just popped into my head and I could not get it out without composing a poem of some kind.  I kept repeating it in my head to see if I could come up with something better but I was stuck with what I had.  Let me know if you like this or not.  You can add a comment to this blog if you want.  You can even sign in as annomomous if you want.

Believe in Miracles

Do you believe in miracles?
Not just those the Book defines
The turning water into wine
The feeding thousands at one time
But the extra-ordinary kind

The sunrise each and every morning
The sunshine sometimes when it’s storming
The gentleness of bees when swarming
Do you believe in miracles?

The sunset each and every evening
The smile you find when you’re done grieving
The grace with faith that you’re receiving
Do you believe in miracles?

That no two snowflakes are the same
That even down to earth He came
The warmth you feel speaking His name
Do you believe in miracles?

That missionaries are so driven
Any and all sins forgiven
That though He died, He has arisen
Do you believe in miracles?

That you believe – not understand
That you are part of God’s grand plan
That Jesus was The Great I AM
Do you believe in miracles?

Then maybe you sometime today
Can take a minute out to pray
Or bow your head and simply say
I do believe in miracles.

Mdailey 2/13/10

Walking on Water

Try walking on water
When you need a place to go
It’s just doing what you oughta’
Doing what you know
You don’t have to be a preacher
Or thump the Good Book so
Just listen to the teacher
Take the path that he will show

Try walking on water
When the Lord calls you out
Keep your eyes on the savior
And not what’s all about
He won’t disappoint you
He won’t let you fall
Let the Spirit anoint you
When the Lord comes to call

Try walking on water
Let your faith be your guide
In the footsteps of Jesus
Let your spirit abide
The road won’t be easy
But would surely be harder
Without faith in the Lord
Try walking on water

Mdailey   2/19/08

A Glimpse of Jesus

Sometimes you do not see what is directly in front of you.  And sometimes you think you see something becausse you are wanting to see it.


I caught a glimpse of Jesus
On the face of my child asleep
I wasn't looking for Jesus
But I saw something I'd like to keep

I caught a glimpse of Jesus
When my wife looked at me just so
I wasn't looking for Jesus
But Jesus was there I know


I caught a glimpse of Jesus
In the eyes of a stranger down town
I wasn't looking for Jesus
But he appears to be always around

I caught a glimpse of Jesus
Today when I looked in the mirror
I wasn't looking for Jesus
But the image of Jesus was clear


I caught a glimpse of Jesus
I thought "how can this be"
I wasn't looking for Jesus
But Jesus was looking for me


The moral of this story
And I swear this one is true
In all his grace and glory
Jesus is looking for you

Mdailey   02/12/09

That Old Rugged Cross

The first line of this poem popped into my head the other evening.  I don't know if I heard it on the radio or TV or overheard someone's conversation - it was just there and I had to see where it would take me. This is one of a very few that took more than one sitting to write and I am not really sure that I got to where I thought I was going with it.

That old rugged cross never meant much to me
Just a hymn in a book from all I could see
But I sang along to appease family
Though that old rugged cross meant nothing to me

Church to me was always the views
Of all the cute girls out there in the pews
I paid little attention to all the Good News
Or the consequences of the things that I’d choose


When I came of age I left churches behind
They were just not my thing- a complete waste of time
It was not the Savior I was looking to find
And the old rugged cross never entered my mind


Then as I grew older with kids of my own
There was nothing inside me and I felt so alone
I looked back at my life and I should have known
And that old rugged cross was calling me home


To that old rugged cross that just had to be
A symbol of that man who died there for me
On that old rugged cross so that I would be free
To follow my savior for all eternity


He died for the sins of this unworthy man
Died for that’s central to God’s holy plan
And He rose once again as only He can
From that old rugged cross to the greatest “I AM”

Mdailey 01/24/10

Isaiah 43:1

Sometimes when I listen to a sermon, I get to thinking about how I feel about the topic or the objective of the sermon and start composing a poem to capture my thoughts.  I think of these as my own little prayers and I would love to share them with all of you.  Let me know what you think of them.

Isaiah 43:1  (I have called you by name – you are mine)

I have a name
Not that given at birth
That means more to me
Than all things here on earth
A Michael or John
I mean – what is that worth
He has called me by name
I am His


Yes, I’ve had a name
Since I met the Lord
And now He and I
Are of one accord
That following Him
Is the greatest reward
He has called me by name
I am His


His – as an example
Not just a façade
His – as a beacon
His own dowsing rod
His – as in brother
Together in God
He has called me by name
I am His


Christian’s the name
Of which I am proud
It separates me
From the worldly crowd
So just call me Christian
And say it out loud
He has called me by name
I am His

Mdailey 01/10/10