BLUE ROSES

BLUE ROSES

Why do I always have to be the one

that starts to do laundry and there's no detergent?

Well, I guess it was time for me to do my store run,

which included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags and Clorox.

So off I go. I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies,

and headed for the checkout counter only to be blocked in the narrow aisle

by a young man that appeared to be about sixteen-years-old.

I wasn't in a hurry,

so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there.

This was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air

and declared in a loud voice, "Mommy, I'm over here."

It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged,

and also startled as he turned and saw me standing

so close to him, waiting to squeeze by.

His eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said,

"Hey Buddy, what's your name?"

"My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother,"
he responded proudly.

"Wow," I said, "that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny,
but my name is Hal." "Hal, like Halloween?" he asked."
Yes," I answered. "How old are you Denny?"

"How old am I now, Mommy?" he asked his mother

as she slowly came over from the next aisle.

"You're fifteen-years-old Denny;

now be a good boy and let the man pass by."

I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny

for several more minutes about summer, bicycles and school.

I watched his brown eyes dance with excitement
because he was the center of someone's attention.

He then abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section.

Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face as she thanked me

for taking the time to talk with her son.

She told me that most people wouldn't even look at him,

much less talk to him. I told her that it was my pleasure and then

I said something I have no idea where it came from,
other than by the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow and pink roses
in God's garden, however, "Blue Roses" are very rare and
should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness.

You see, Denny is a Blue Rose and if someone doesn't stop

and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose

with their kindness, then they've missed a blessing from God.

She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked,
"Who are you?" Without thinking I said, "Oh, I'm probably just a dandelion,
but I sure love living in God's garden."
Please the next time you see a BLUE ROSE
don't turn your head and walk off,
take the time to smile and say Hello.
Because by the grace of GOD this mother could be you.
This could be your child, grandchild, niece, nephew.

What a difference a moment can mean to that person or their family.

From an old dandelion. Live simply. Love generously.

Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

(Arranged by G. Blank ~Author Unknown)

PROTECTION

PROTECTION

Like a mother hen her brood protects
From storms and stealthy predators of harm,
And calls her babies to her outspread wings,
With clucking noises sounding the alarm,
Our heavenly Father comes to our defense
With words of warning which we need to heed,
And calls us to the safety of His wings,
To be protected in our hour of need.
(c) G. Blank

Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
thou that killest the prophets,
and stonest them which are sent unto thee,
how often would I have gathered thy children together,
even as a hen gathereth her chickens
under her wings, and ye would not!
Matthew 23:37

THE UNLOCKED DOOR

THE UNLOCKED DOOR

On the door the sign said, Welcome,
To this house of clemency and love.”
There was no lock.
Upon that door with hearts adorned,
Did I dare knock?

But when I knocked,
It opened wide.
Love said, “You are most Welcome here-
Please step within.”
“Me, dare I so to greeted be,
Covered with sin?”

Love asked, “What can I do for you?
You look so famished, frail and tired,
Please seated be,”
“These rags I wear… can they not see
I’m here unworthily?”

Love said, “We are your new found friends,
We love you just the way you are,
Please rest a tad.”
“Me, who knew no friends, could it be true,
I now friends had?”

Love spoke again, "We have a feast
Prepared for you, to dine with us,
Please come with me.”
“All the while these rags I wear,
How can it be?”

Love said, “All who through these doors come
Have been transformed- eternally,
Are holy seen.”
I looked, my clothes were not the same
They glistened clean.

At last I had my hearts desire,
The love I craved, forgiveness too-
Forevermore!
I only had to knock upon
An unlocked door.
© G. Blank
Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find;
knock and it shall be opened unto you.
Matthew 7:7
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He that overcometh, the same shall be
clothed in white raiment;
And I will not blot out his name
out f the book of life.
Revelation 3: 5

CONTEMPLATION
I walk along a country path
Often times at end of day,
And watch the tree tops rustle
As soft breezes gust and play.
I feel the joy of living,
I feel free to dream and muse
With cares all but forgotten
While my weary mind renews.

I watch as forest creatures
Scamper from my watchful eye-
Watch as bluebirds and blackbirds
Use the wind to soar on high.
I have time for contemplation
And my mind soon upward turns-
To the hazy sky above me
As my spirit strangely yearns,
For the One who made this beauty
Calling to me through the air,
Giving me a glimpse of heaven-
Restored, I know I’m in His care.
© G. Blank
He giveth songs in the night
.....He giveth songs in the night Job 35:10
Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praise upon the harp unto God:
Who covereth the heaven with clouds,
Who prepareth rain for the earth,
Who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
He giveth to the beast His food,
And the young ravens which cry.
Psalm 147: 7-9

BE STILL

BE STILL
“Be still,” we hear this inner voice
So difficult to heed,
But when we do the quietness
Speaks to our inward need.

We hear it in the dawning morn
When birds first take to wing,
Before the bustling cares of life
Drown out the songs they sing.

We hear it in the darkened night
As twinkling stars go by,
And in the quietness and peace
It wafts down from the sky.

We hear it in our sleeping hours
When repose does not come
And we can just reflect upon
The one we have become.

We hear it in the storms of life
Deep in our inward heart,
“Be still, and know that I am God,
My peace, I will impart.”

We hear it in our present joys-
And in plans dreamed distantly,
But ever is this wisdom best,
“Be still.” Expectantly.
(c) G. Blank

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock,: if nay man hear
My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,
And will sup with him, and he with Me.
Revelation 3:20

HANDS

HANDS

Dear God,
What if you had never given
Hands to humans you have made,
So that we could not express
Our love by gentle touch displayed.

What if we could never hold
A baby in a soft embrace,
And see the sensuous delight
Shimmering in their silken face.

What if we were like the fowl
Winged to fly in skies unknown,
But joy of service never know
Because of hands we did not own.

What if we could not console
Someone in their hour of need,
Lacking hands to hold them close,
And in praying for them plead.

So thank you Lord for giving hands
To work for you along life’s way,
To love, to touch, a blessing be,
Hands to honor you each day.
To gratefully exalt your name
In ways which we were meant to do,
As with our hands upraised we sing,
Joyfully our praise to You.
© G. Blank
Thus will I bless Thee while I live:
I will lift up my hands in Thy name.
Psalm 63:4

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea,
she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Proverbs 31: 20

BLIND BARTIMAEUS

BLIND BARTIMAEUS
Blind and begging by the wayside
Just outside of Jericho
Sat the blind man Bartimaeus
Crying with a voice of woe,
“Have mercy on me, Son of David,”
Was his cry so loudly heard
That they charged him to be quiet
And to utter not a word.

Jesus heard the beggar calling
Asked that he arise come near,
For he knew the blind man trusted
In the words he soon would hear.

“Go your way, your faith has healed you,”
Words the Master spoke that day
Brought discipleship and wholeness
And a follower in the way.
He still calls us to His healing,
He still wants us in His fold,
But like sightless Bartimaeus
We must let our faith take hold.

And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way;
thy faith hath made thee whole.
And immediately he received his sight,
and followed Jesus in the way. Mark 10:52
(c) G.Blank

RAINDROPS

RAINDROPS
Raindrops come in colors
To match our mood they do.
When we’re sad and teary
They come in shades of blue.
When the world is rosy,
It’s pink the raindrops hold,
But when our hearts are happy
They’re glistened through with gold.
© G. Blank
----he shall be as the light of the morning,
When the sun riseth,
Even a morning without clouds;
As the tender grass springing out of the earth
by clear shining after rain.
2 Samuel 23:4

OUR VISITOR

OUR VISITOR
By faith we have a Visitor, we asked Him to come in.
It is because of our belief that He now dwells within.
His entrance was so quiet we scarcely knew Him there-
We only sensed the wonderment of which we were aware.
We did not hear Him coming, His footsteps were so light-
Closed doors did not betray Him, He came on wings of light.
He came to breathe His wisdom, to whisper to our soul,
To make us channels of His love His wondrous ways our goal.
He dwells so deep within us we oft fail to recognize,
His unseen touch that buoys us up our lives to vitalize.
And when we probe the deepest depths of our unworthiness,
In humbleness we realize, He is our Righteousness.
Perpetually a resident, forever just the same,
Though we may change, He changes not-
Blessed be His holy name.

© G. Blank
For His Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts,
and tells us that we really are God's children.
Romans 8:16

REDEMPTION'S STORY

REDEMPTION'S STORY

They clothed Him in a robe of majesty,
and then they bowed to mock the Son of man,
but His transcendent glory paled its jaded
beauty, in God’s eternal perfect plan.
They thought to place upon his brow a curse-
a jagged crown of thorns in ribald jest,
but the cruel crown became a symbol of
a King who died to give us heaven’s best.

They laughing thrust into His hands a reed-
a taunting token of His realm above,
unmindful of the scepter that was His
of power, held in leash because of love.

They drove the nails into His hands and feet,
vile, and uncaring in their unbelief-
while He in pain pled mercy for their soul,
and gave forgiveness to a sorry thief.
He provided for His mother Mary,
then “It is finished” were the words He cried.
Redemption was reality at last-
With bones unbroken and a pierced side.
And all the world took note with loud acclaim
With rending temple veil and quaking earth,
And darkness o’er the land from noon to three.
In death He gave to mankind their new birth.

© G. Blank

And when they had platted a crown of thorns,
they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand:
and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him,
saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon Him,
and took the reed and smote Him on the head. Matthew 27:29-30

Then said Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know not what they do. …..
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me
when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee,
To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Luke 23:34, 42-43

MAKE US LIKE A GARDEN

MAKE US LIKE A GARDEN

Make us like a garden Lord,
Waiting for Your touch unseen-
Like those particles of dust
That burst
With Verdant leaves of green
As from the earth they're thrust.

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Make us like your magic soil,
Like the life within Your earth
Waiting for Your gentle rain
And sun
That blossoms might unfold
That long have dormant lain.

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Help us let Your Word so plain
Become knowledge in our hearts
As revealed in earth's design,
So we

Would serve you with delight

Our lives to echo Thine.

(c) G.Blank
For the invisible things of Him from the
creation of the world are clearly seen.
Being understood by the things that are made.
Romans 1:20

THE TAPESTRY

THE TAPESTRY

The Tapestry of our life
Is fashioned
Stitch after stitch
Into a finished work,
By the way we weave the threads
Unchosen-
Given us,
To be used this way or thus,
Through circumstance or Divine
Encounters meant to refine
The product of our making-
The Tapestry,
That consumes our waking.

Not until eternity
Will we see
How God took strands
Of heartache and of joy,
Intertwined them for our use
In ways we did not understand,
Until at last,
Designed
By His unseen direction,
The tangled threads all mended,
And all the colors blended,
We present to him complete-
Our Tapestry,
An offering at His feet.
© G. Blank
For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath ordained
that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10

I WANT TO KEEP ON SOWING

The Sower ~ Vincent Van Gogh

I WANT TO BE A SOWER
I want to be like Jesus, sowing seeds of grace,
not just to those I know, but to people every place.
I want to sow in kindness so everyone I meet
will get a glimpse of Jesus upon life's busy street.
It may be in a letter or just a short phone call,
but let my words reflect His love and care for all.
Seeds have a way of sprouting in unexpected spots,
whether they be scattered in gardens or woodlots.
We must sow the seeds and trust they grow a plant or tree,
knowing they may disappoint and ever dormant be.
I want to keep on sowing and scatter lavishly,
in faith then leave to Jesus what the results will be.
(c) G. Blank

.....Behold a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds
fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up....
But other fell into good ground and brought forth
fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
Matthew 13: 3, 4...8

PEACE

PEACE
In our anxious times of life,
Serenely Peace stands by,
Observing us with godly eyes
She hears our every sigh.
She walks into our sorrows,
To comfort when we feel,
The need of tender, loving care
Our hurting hearts to heal.
And if we’ll only let her
She’ll become an inner guest,
Consolation giving
When our aching soul needs rest.
She is the peace that Jesus,
With love, this promise made-
“My peace,” He said, “I leave you,
and do not be afraid.”
© G. Blank
Peace, I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, giveth I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27

WHY

WHY
Why is it God the Father
Who created man and beast
Has more trouble with us humans
Than the beasts which are the least?

The Ox does know his owner,
And the ass his master's crib
But us mortals mock our Maker
Unthankfully act so glib.

At first we just ignore Him
Just as though He were not there,
Then comes our gross defiance,
Sinning acts we even dare.

Yet God's great love and mercy
Is held out where ere' we roam
If we'll come back to our Maker
Like the beasts who know their home.
(c) G. Blank

Hear,O heavens,
and give ear, O earth:
for the Lord hath spoken,
I have nourished and brought
up children,
and they have rebelled against me.
The ox knoweth his owner,
and the ass his Master’s crib:
but Israel doth not know,
My people doth not consider.
Isaiah 1:2-3

THE YELLOW ROSE

THE YELLOW ROSE

He stepped inside the flower shop,
A little boy of five,
And waiting with a quavering heart,
He watched the clerk arrive.
With coin held tightly in his fist,
He pointed in between
The plants and flowers hanging there
To something he had seen.
"It's for my sister, sir, he said,
Her birthday is today-
I know she'd like it very much
If only I can pay."
He then held out the silver coin,
"Is that enough?" asked he.
The clerk, who was the owner smiled-
"That's what the charge will be."
He reached up for the yellow rose,
Tied it with silken band,
"It's just a quarter, son," he said,
And placed it in his hand.

(c) G. Blank

It is possible for a man to give away and
recieve more; to be generous and become
rich, because by being generous to others
he is bringing blessings to himself.
Proverbs 11:24-25 (A paraphrase)

WRITING IN THE SAND

WRITING IN THE SAND

He writes silently in the sand,
Jesus the Son of God,

As Pharisees stand by and nod,
And wag, and watch His writing hand.
The words unknown without a sound
Convict the gathering crowd.
They quiet down, Who once were loud.
They leave. Their stones now cast aground.
He still is writing in the sand,
Probing Our sinful heart-
Forgiving, telling us, "Depart,
And sin no more, is my command."
(c) G.Blank
When Jesus had lifted up Himself,
and saw none but the woman, he said
unto her, Woman were are those
thine accusers? hath no man condemned
thee?" She said, No man, Lord. And
Jesus said unto her, Neither do I
condemn thee: go, and sin nor more.
John 8:10-11

BEYOND DEATH'S DOOR

BEYOND DEATH'S DOOR
A rose lives on beyond death's door
Unseen by human eye,
It's roots now placed in heaven's soil
Where blossoms never die.
And memories' like the rose exude
Fragrance evermore,
As love lives on within the heart
To reach beyond the door.
For love exists untouched by death
Connecting earth and sky,
Reminding us of happy times
To heal our hearts deep sigh.
And though we cannot see the rose
Beyond the pearly door,
In faith we know it's blooming there
Blossoming more and more.
(c) GBlank

For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face....
1 Corinthians 14:12

THE ROSE

THE ROSE
Sometimes God picks the rose that we have

loved so well and takes it home to heaven

where soul and spirit dwell. He saw its petals

falling and swept it up in love to place it in a

mansion by His grace to live above. So we

grieve not as the faithless, asking why

He took the rose, for we know that blooming

yonder is our rose in sweet repose.

(c) GBlank
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 anymore pain:

for the former things have passed away.

Revelation 21:4

A MATTER OF THE HEART

Heartaches,
Heartbreaks,
All around me
Are calling me to prayer.
I do not know them by their name
But you do Lord
And you care.
It is not pleasant, Lord
To think about the hurts
Out there-
That unloved little child,
The one no home has known,
That careworn mom who struggles on
With little hope in sight. Alone.
And of the ones in many lands
Who live amidst the violence every day
Of war, Of fear,
Of persecution, just a step away.
Lord, as I sit here in this easy chair
Cause my heart to break,
To forsake this comfort
And drop to my knees in prayer.
Perhaps you have put me in this place
Just for this time
To seek your face
In their behalf,
Before Your throne of grace.

(c) G. Blank

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened , that it cannot save;
neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. Isaiah 59:1

GLIMPES OF HEAVEN

I catch a glimpse of heaven
In the things that God has made,
I know that He loves beauty
From the sky to carpet laid.
His color scheme is perfect
Blue above and green below
Accented with the lighting
From the sun and its warm glow.
He set the stars to twinkling
And the moon to light the night,
And planets in their orbit
Often come within our sight.
God gave us eyes to witness
The rainbow following rain
Painting the sky in beauty
His promise affirmed again.
And when I get to heaven
And its wonders there behold
I will thank my Creator
For the beauty earth foretold.
© G Blank
….Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;
they toil not neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you,
That even Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these.
Matthew 6:28-29

ENMITY

ENMITY

If you see the donkey of a former friend who hates you
fallen down with its load, do not leave and go on by;
be sure to stop and help him with it. ( Exodus 23:5)
Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey and she said

to Balaam, "What have I done to you that I deserve your

beating me these three times?"
(Numbers 22:28 )

Do not leave the fallen donkey
And its master by the road.
Though the hate between you mutual
And the way you avoid usual,
You must help your neighbor with his load.

Though you might offer up a prayer,
A kind deed is the best move,
Towards a reconciliation,
Ending years of alienation
To help all your enmity remove.

It is not the owner’s donkey
Lying there in deep distress,
That has caused the kindred hatred
Which the two of you have rated
As your item number one to bless.

So begin to help the donkey
Be the first to make a start.
Then just choose to work together,
Just decide that you would rather
Become friends and have a change of heart.

Then walk down the road rejoicing
For your friendship now renewed,
Knowing God used again a donkey
In life’s affairs to strangely monkey,
Using love to end a bitter feud

© G. Blank
Photo, entitled, Donkey Fallen, used by permission
Bob Stuplich, ArcImagingDirecto of Expeditions
NoahsArkSearch.Com

CLIMBING

Step by step we're climbing upward
Toward the Lord's great judgment day,
Rich and poor we'll stand before Him
Awaiting what He has to say.
Gold and silver will not matter,
Works we've done will not avail,
Knowing Jesus is the secret,
Of whether we shall pass or fail.
In the book of life is written
All the names of those redeemed-
Those who served Him on the climb
And His righteousness esteemed.
Prayer it takes to make the journey
To the top step of the stair
Blessed Saviour, then we'll see Him
As He waits to greet us there.
Heaven's door will open to us,
Mansions promised we will see,
O, to hear Thy words of welcome
Keep us climbing Lord, to Thee.
copyrighted: GBlank
And there shall in no wise enter into it anything...
But they which are written in the Lamb's book of Life.
Revelation 21:27
Painting above entitled, Stairway to Heaven
is from the art of Jim Warren http://www.jimwarren.com/

DESERT ROSES

Roses will grow in the desert.
For God said they would blossom there,
So cling to this promise tightly
And then watch for the blooms with prayer.
Our personal deserts of life
May be filled with pain and despair,
But roses will bloom when we place
Our grief’s on His shoulders with prayer.
Our deserts of life, our sorrows
May seem countless as grains of sand
But roses will grow as promised
When we reach for His outstretched hand.
© G.Blank

………and the desert shall rejoice,
and blossom as the rose.
It shall blossom abundantly,
And rejoice even with joy and singing……
Isaiah 35:1b, -2a

ALZHEIMER'S

ALZHEIMER'S

What if Yesterday were never
And Tomorrow never came,
And Today just stayed forever
And forever all the same?

Would the tides still move the ocean,
Would the thunder's horn still blow,
Would the sun still rise in splendor,
Would the stars in heaven glow?

Would the earth still whirl in orbit,
Would warm showers softly rain,
Would the scent of summer breezes
Tell us roses bloom again?

If our Yesterday's were never
Would our memory be no more-
Would our friends all be forgotten
And all others gone before?

If no Tomorrow's ever came
With it's hopes to set aflame
Something better than our present,
Would we sigh for lack of fame?

Well, for some it makes no difference
Their Today's are all they know.
Their knowing has been stolen
By a stealthy thief and foe.

Alzheimer's is the culprit-
God please help us find a cure
So that our Yesterday's are ever
With Tomorrow safe and sure.

And though we do not have an answer
Why for some it's just Today
We know that God will help us
Unlock the mystery s ome day.

Copyrighted GBlank

While the earth remaineth,
seedtime and harvest,
and cold and heat,
summer and winter
and day and night
shall not cease.
Genesis 8:22