Love, Not Hate : Part 1

On March 26, 2018March 25, 2018 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, love, poems, Poetry13 Comments

We sit on this branch all flocked together

All of us birds of a different color

We fly from tree to tree and limb to limb

Helping whoever is in need for we are all friends

There was peace in the land, air, and trees

We were brothers and sisters, no difference between you and me

Until one day the robin said I can do better on my own

Off to another land he had flown

Then, the cardinal said, I can do that too

Off to another land he flew

One by one they each left the branch

Scattered apart throughout the distance

The only bird that stayed was the dove

Because he still believed the answer was love

One day the cardinal didn’t like the land he was in

He flew off and attacked the land of the robin

Then the yellow finch thought his land was too narrow

He went and attacked the land of the sparrow

The robin and the sparrow started a new land

Joining together, they formed a very strong clan

They attacked the yellow finch and the cardinal

The destruction of all the land was quite remarkable

Then the eagle was flying around

He couldn’t believe the destruction on the ground

He knew he had to make a stand

He had to do something to unite the land

What could he do? he thought in his head

If he didn’t do something soon, almost all the birds would be dead

He could use force, tear all the birds apart

But today , love was the only thing in his heart

He wanted to try love, to put it to the test

He flew down to them, he was much bigger than the rest

When the eagle came near

All the birds cowered in fear

But he gave them a helping hand

He helped them rebuild the land

He said “My fellow birds, is this how we want to live?”

“Instead of taking, we should learn to give.”

“Remember the time when we were never in need?”

“When one of us bled, we would all bleed?”

“Let all of this land be united as one.”

“It doesn’t matter our color, or where we came from.”

“Give love, teach love, be the love you want to see.”

“You see I have learned, the greatest change has to happen in me.”

With that said, the birds joined together

To make this land great again, forever

I Believe by The Infamous Stringdusters feat Lee Ann Womack –

Change by Christina Aguilera –

Friends by Blake Shelton –

I Will Rise Again by Jason Gray –

Man In The Mirror by Michael Jackson –

Be The Change by Shuree –

Imagine by John Lennon –

Hope For The Future by Paul McCartney –

I Believe by Blessid Union Of Souls –

I Still Believe In Love by Blessid Union Of Souls –

Love Will Find A Way by Michael Franti –

We Are More by Ziggy Marley –

Love Like Jesus by Rhett Walker Band –

Love Come To Life by Big Daddy Weave –

Love Can by Decemberadio –

Love Has No Walls by Billy Ray Cyrus (cover of Matthew West) –

A Break

On March 25, 2018March 25, 2018 By roberthansen1317In Christian life7 Comments

I am taking a week off from work this week. A much needed break.

It will give me some time to finish writing all the drafts I have started. It will give me some time to spend with the family. It will give me some time to relax. It will give me some time to evaluate some things.

Like, why am I so tired all the time? Many of you know I run and was actually kind of fast. Not win the race fast but usually finished in top 5% fast. In a few half marathons I was in the top 1%. In a race of ten thousand to be in the top one hundred finishers I thought was pretty cool.

But then I hurt my knee and it has been one endless injury list after that. I would take a few months off and could resume running and do a 5k with no problems at all. Then this last time I could not get my hamstring to heal. I finally decided to take several months off and just cross train. I was not sitting on my butt.

I have been back to running for a little over two months now and I can not do anything. I can’t run a mile without stopping. I can’t catch my breath. I’ve tried running slow, I’ve tried running fast. I’ve tried intervals, HIIT, inclines, declines, cardio, cardio/weights and NO improvements. I should have improved after two months.

My diet is good. My wife is a health nut so that has not changed. My weight is the same. My sleep schedule is the same at night. My heart rate is good. Resting heart rate 62-64 bpm. While running it is around 150-170 which is normal. So why am I not able to run?

I am tired all the time. I will do a five mile run/walk and then have to take a nap an hour later. I don’t get it. So I think it’s time to go to the doctor. Maybe something is wrong with my heart or lungs or something where I am not getting the oxygen through my body like I need.

This week while I catch up on drafts I am going to repost the birds of a different color series. Have you ever written anything you really liked and thought had a good message and they get no views? Then you throw something together in five minutes and it gets a lot of views. That’s how the birds are for me. No views compared to most of my other posts. I don’t know why they don’t get views.

My mom and wife say maybe it’s the title. Maybe people think they are about birds so they don’t click on them. They are not about birds. Birds are just characters to portray us humans. Maybe I posted them at an odd time and people were busy with their lives. Beats me. But just in case it is the title I am going to do an experiment and post them with a different title. Maybe it will make a difference, maybe it won’t.

If you have read them before maybe you can comment and let me know.

With Easter just a week away, maybe they can be a reminder to love and not hate.

If they get no views again then I will say God is telling me no one is viewing them because he doesn’t want many people to read them so I can turn them into books. Positive attitude doesn’t hurt anything right ?

Why I Write

On March 23, 2018March 23, 2018 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, poems, Poetry6 Comments

Image result for why i write

How can a man named Dr. Seuss

Write books with words that have no use

Made up words like wumbus and yuzz -am-tuzz

A cat could bark, a bee could meow and a dog could buzz

He can write about a Grinch who stole Christmas

And teach what Christmas should mean to each of us

I could write all day about fizzlepops and gobblygooks

And maybe sell a hundred or even a million books

That would be nice, I can not lie

But that is not the reason I write

Related image

In the stories I choose to tell

I write about heaven and hell

I write of angels and demons

And things I believe in

I write stories that are short and stories that are long

I write poems and, sometimes, put my words in a song

I write about marriage and divorce

I write about the good and things that are worse

Image result for why i write

I write about abuse and suicide

I write of God’s truth and the devil’s lies

I write about the darkness of this world and the evil that’s done

I write about good news, love, Jesus and how to overcome

I write things that are personal and true

I write things that I hope will help you

I bare my soul for all to see

Knowing some comments might hurt me

I write what words God puts in my head

They go to the world and I pray they are read

I’ve written nine stories on birds who teach love instead of hate

I’ve written about pebbles, flowers, squirrels, and a disabled fish

I’ve written of a hermit crab and a raccoon who only has one wish

That you get to know him for who he is inside

And that we all wear masks as a thin disguise

Image result for why i write

I would like the words I tell

To be published and have lots of sells

That would be really nice

But that’s not the reason I write

I don’t write for fortune or fame

I don’t write for everyone to know my name

I only write to hopefully be a light

To teach how it’s hard to always do what’s right

That even in the darkest night we must continue to love

When the world drags us down we must always rise above

So it’s okay if I never make a dime

Or not sell one story, not even one time

As long as I have given hope to someone in need

As long as I have told what God has done for you and me

As long as I can shine a light on someone’s darkest night

It’ll all be worth it if these words saved just one life

Image result for why i write

My Story by Big Daddy Weave –

Called To Serve by Calee Reed-

Come Back To Me

On March 21, 2018March 21, 2018 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, God, God is there, poems, Poetry6 Comments

Image result for god waits for the prodigal

I won’t beg and plead

For you to come back to me

You have your own choices to make

You have your own roads to take

You will take many wrong paths

But the tough times will not last

I will be there, waiting patiently

Until that moment you come back to me

There will be people placed along your way

Most you will not listen to what they say

A few words will stay in your mind

A few others will be left for you to find

All will be where I want them to be

Guiding you to come back to me

You will be tossed around in the wind

Many branches will be trimmed

You will curse, you will rage

Nothing you do will take my love away

Even when all you see and hear are thorns and thunder

Doesn’t mean there are not roses and rainbows and wonder

Dead men do indeed bleed

But you can still come back to me

You can choose to live in a dilapidated shack in a deserted wasteland

You can choose to live in a lush garden in a castle so grand

You can choose to live in a prison in your own mind

You can choose to live with eyes that see but are blind

You can choose to live free

You can come back to me

Image result for god waits for the prodigal

There will be hurt, suffering, and pain

Without them true transformation will not find its way

You can ignore life and choose death

But that is not why I gave you breath

There is so much light around you yet you choose to live in the dark

I will be here waiting when you are ready to open your heart

Take these words as my guarantee

I will always be waiting for you to come back to me

Though your branches shake in the breeze

Don’t you know your roots grow deep

A candle gives off light because it endures the burning

To find the truth you must never stop learning

Every step taken closer to your destination

Every step taken to your current location

Every step farther away from where you began

Each and every step was all part of my plan

I will be here waiting patiently

Until you come back to me

Image result for god waits for the prodigal

Prodigal by Sidewalk Prophets –

One Step Away by Casting Crowns –

Lift Your Head Weary Sinner by Crowder –

Come To Jesus by Mindy Smith –

Lean On by 7eventh Time Down –

Forever Starts Today by Disciple –

The Painter

On March 19, 2018March 19, 2018 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, poems, Poetry8 Comments

CAM00460

painting by my mom, Reba Hansen

With a single stroke of her brush she paints the first word of the line

Each brush stroke adds more words over time

The paintings will tell a story without saying a word

Doesn’t matter it it’s a landscape or of a single bird

What will she paint? She wonders as she starts from scratch

She contemplates every color, how to mix and match

Acrylic, water, oil, or some kind of gloss

She looks at the wall, drawing her inspiration from the cross

A bluebird lands on her window sill and sings a song

A smile comes over her face, she knows her studio is where she belongs

A squirrel grabs a nut and takes a seat

Watching every brush stroke as it has it’s own beat

A rabbit sneaks in the door,

Watching her as she paints more

Her technique is as unique to her as she is unique to God

A deer peeks in the window, the beauty has him awed

A little green there, add some orange and brown

She looks at the animals gathered around

She adds some pink and red, and a touch of blue

She says to my vision I must be true

She looks at the painting, yes, it is complete

She looks down at the dog laying at her feet

Well, boy, what do you think?

He wags his tail and gives her a wink

She wonders where she would be without God’s love

At that moment, like God was listening, in flew a white dove

She whistles a tune from a time when she was in a different place

Then she starts to sing, the hour I first believed, amazing grace

CAM00459

paintings my mom, Reba Hansen

I Didn’t Like You

On March 15, 2018March 15, 2018 By roberthansen1317In Christian life4 Comments

An older post as I finish up some new writings. Hope you enjoy.

Dear friend,

I am writing this today to be honest with you. I hope you know you are near and dear to my heart now but when I first met you I didn’t like you. When I first saw you I didn’t like the way you looked. I turned away from you and didn’t give you a chance. The second time I saw you you were with a group of people I knew so I came over to talk to everyone. I didn’t like the sound of your voice or how you laughed- at everything. The third time I saw you were just sitting there staring out into space. I was like what’s up with this guy but for some reason I was compelled to sit beside you. We didn’t even say a word. Funny when you look back on it since I can’t stop talking to you now. The fourth time I saw you I actually introduced myself. I remember it felt kind of awkward since we have been together before but I didn’t even know your name yet. I don’t know why but it came as a surpise to me that my favorite NFL team was also yours. Not many Dallas Cowboy fans in Ohio. I almost quit talking to you when you told me you were from Michigan and liked that team up north.

I remember I didn’t see you for a few months after that. I asked around but it seemed like no one knew where you went. You just disappeared. When you came back you weren’t the same. I could tell something was going on but I am not one to pry. As you know I am an introvert and I don’t reach out easily. We didn’t really have any conversations for awhile. Just the occasional hi, how are you, see ya later, keep in touch. Every time I thought to get more involved and invest some time in you, fear kept me from opening up. I could see you were hurting but I didn’t know what to say. I am so sorry I let you go through that alone.

I then met a girl and she was a Christian. I didn’t know much about God or praying and the have not but she invited me to go to her church. I was reluctant at first but I really liked her. I finally gave in and went. That first time was a little awkward but I could feel something. It was like someone was pulling me. The second time I went I opened the Bible and the page it opened to was in the book of Job.

It was like God was talking to me about you. Then I flipped through the pages and stopped. It stopped on Ecclesiastes 4.

Even a doubter like me was starting to think something was going on here. I said ok God, third time is a charm. I shut the Bible then opened it up and you would not believe where I opened it up to. 1 John 3:17.

Just for kicks I said one more time and I opened the Bible to 1 Thessalonians

God was giving me a message.

I asked this girl about prayer. She told me she prays all the time. Prays for me, her family, strangers, friends, her dog, her old rickety car to last one more day, etc.. I was thinking if she can pray for all those things all the time it can’t be that hard. My first prayer was “Dear God” and that was it. I couldn’t think of anything else to say. What kind of person am I? She told me not to give up, God knows what I need before I do. He knows what I will say before I do. I laughed, so what’s the point of asking for something He already knows I need. I think I offended her but she was patient with me. I was really falling in love with her. I kept trying and I got past the “Dear God” part and I prayed for you. I prayed that whatever you are going through that you will be okay. I asked her if it was selfish to pray for myself and she smiled and said heck no, I pray for myself all the time. I then prayed for me. I prayed that God would give me the courage and the words to say to you to help you.

As you know it’s been ten years since I reached out to you. You know I married that girl and that we have four girls now. I am so sorry I waited so long to talk to you. I know I wasted a lot of time that I can never get back. I know that I missed hours and days of laughter and tears with you, even though I still didn’t like the way you laughed. I know you are a loving, special, awesome person who changed me for the better. You made me a better person. You taught me a lot about God, hope, faith, family. You are like a brother to me.

I miss you. I can’t believe I let you go through that alone. All because I was afraid. I can’t believe today is the 9th anniversary of your death. I can’t believe you have been with God for 9 years now. I can’t believe I only had one year to truly get to know you. Even when you were at your weakest you were the strongest person I have ever met. Thank you for being my friend.

Hard to believe I didn’t like you at first.

P.S. Until I see you again I will talk to you all the time. Don’t laugh. You know I don’t like your laugh. Okay, your laugh isn’t all that bad. Thinking of you all the time my dear friend. I love you.

Your friend,

Rob

I don’t know where this letter came from. My original intent was to write about songs I didn’t like at first. Then I started to type and God put the words in my head. I don’t even know what songs to put on here now. I do have lyrics to a song I am trying to get out there on this topic.

How many times have you not liked someone because of the way they looked, the clothes they wore, the food they ate, the color of their skin, their disability, the way they talked or laughed? How many times have you not liked someone because they weren’t like you? The list to not like someone is long but the list to like someone is short.

Jesus hung out with tax collectors, lepers, adulterers, women, sinners – just like you and me. What if Jesus said I can’t be your friend because….?

Maybe Today

On March 13, 2018March 7, 2018 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, God, God heals, poems, Poetry2 Comments

Image result for the shack quotes

There was a time

When I would hit my knees and pray

Thanking God you were mine

But that was before He took you away

I was upset, no, I was angry

Eyes sewn shut

No light could get in

I never thought to look up

Image result for the shack quotes

Running in circles

Can’t catch my breath

Don’t want to live

I would prefer death

I am out of tears

I scream and shout

I don’t want to grab the hand

I can see reaching out

Image result for the shack quotes

It never occurred to me

That I was on the wrong side

Until through a single crack

Appeared a slither of light

A feeling I can’t explain

A weight lifted off my chest

I could suddenly breathe again

A time to heal, a time to rest

Image result for the shack book quotes

All the hurt and pain diminished

Understanding the tears I cried

Then a voice, I understand your pain

For my own son died

Image result for psalm 61 2

Spinning by Disciple-

Pull The Plug by I Prevail-

On My Way by Hayden Panettiere-

Keep Your Eyes on Me by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill –

The Wound Is Where The Light Gets In by Jason Gray –

The Pier

On March 12, 2018March 12, 2018 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Short story3 Comments

I remember the first time I saw her. Standing all alone in the water. I stood in awe at how beautiful she was. A true work of art. It was love at first sight.

It was our first vacation together to the beach. Our first of many.

I remember the first time I walked out on her, I stood so far out into the ocean. The beach looked so far away. I was so far out all the people on the beach looked like ants.

I learned all about her. From the beginning when she was first being made until now. All the storms she had been through, everything that made her into the beauty she is today. I couldn’t help but wonder if other people looked at her the way I did.

How many sunrises and sunsets have we seen from that pier? How many long talks have we had walking the beaches and that pier while holding hands?

Every year, before we would go back, I would look at the old photos of us taken on that pier. The first one taken when we’re just dating, the first one taken as a married couple, the first one with our daughter as a baby and all the ones through the years as she, and we, grew older.

Image result for piers covered in fog

Throughout the years, I always knew the pier would be there when we were. The times when we would walk early in the morning and the fog was so thick we could barely see our hands in front of our face. But somehow, I knew the next step would land on the next plank. On the dark nights when we could not see the end of the pier because of the darkness, I still knew it was there.

Image result for old wooden piers at night

Then I looked at the last picture, the one from last year. The pier was showing her age but she was still so beautiful to me. Our daughter had grown so strong and beautiful, ready to go out on her own. There was something off about the picture though. There was a light missing from your eyes. Maybe the smile wasn’t as big as years past.

Maybe it was just my imagination. I couldn’t get the thought out of my head.

Do you believe in coincidences? As I was staring at the picture there was a breaking news alert. The hurricane hit the pier and she was gone. I couldn’t believe it. All those years of storms and sunshine, cold winter nights and hot summer days, all the things the pier had been through and now she was gone.

Image result for pier destroyed in myrtle beach

A tear came to my eyes as I stared In disbelief. Was it real or was I dreaming? Was she really gone? All these pictures, all the memories, all of it gone. No, they were still there but as I looked at the empty space in the ocean I knew things would never be the same.

I couldn’t help but look at the last picture again. The one where the light in your eyes was gone and your smile wasn’t as big. All the storms we have faced and survived. All the good days and the bad days. I couldn’t help shake the feeling that a storm was coming. A storm bigger than we have ever faced before.

We will survive it or we will fall like the pier?

Related image

Almost Broken by Sister Hazel-

Church Clothes by Kelleigh Bannen –

Performance by The XX –

A Day To Be Alone by One Less Reason –

Even If by MercyMe –

That Could Still Be Us by Keith Urban-

Where We Go From Here by Jason Gray –

Where Do We Go From Here by Oleander –

Something Beautiful by One Less Reason –

Broken Together by Casting Crowns –

I Am Not Who I Am

On March 9, 2018March 9, 2018 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, poems, Poetry6 Comments

I am not who I am

I have setbacks and I have sin

I may lose and I may win

I am not my selfish ways

I am who You have made

I may be slow to forgive

I may forget how You want me to live

I may give joy, I may give pain

I may lose what I have to gain

Some days I follow, some days I fall

Some days are silent, some days I hear Your call

Sometimes I pray all night and all day

Sometimes I forget and I have nothing to say

Sometimes I scream and shout

Sometimes I wonder what this life is about

Sometimes I know You, sometimes I forget who You are

Sometimes You seem so close, sometimes You are so far

Help me to remember who You made me to be

Help me to remember it’s only You I seek to please

Help me to remember I am not who I am

Help me to remember You died so I can

Remind Me Who I Am by Jason Gray –

Change It All by No Resolve –

Honest To God by Devin Dawson –

Why Is He Back?

On March 8, 2018March 8, 2018 By roberthansen1317In angels, Christian life, Short story2 Comments

Image result for demon in mirror

It was a difficult time. I knew that she was not being herself. I knew the enemy had attacked and she didn’t fight him.

I told God, I told the devil, whoever would listen that I am stronger than she is. Take the demon from her and put it in me. Release her and let me deal with it.

I don’t cuss. I don’t scream. Most of the time nothing bothers me. I just let it roll right on off and go on with life. Yes, I get discouraged when I am taken advantage of, over and over and over. But life goes on. Stay the course. I tell you this because you need to understand the change that happened when I invited the demon into me.

The change was immediate. I felt like a different person. I could feel the tension inside of me. I turned into a person that screams, yells, and cusses. She deserves every bit of it for what she did. I don’t need her so let’s beat her down until she can’t get up. She did this, not me.

I looked in the mirror and the eyes looking back were not mine. I could see him in there. I knew he was there. He knew I knew. A small sinister smile appeared. You asked for me to be here so here I am.

It was a battle between who I am and who he is. Sometimes the angels won, sometimes the devil won. Sometimes I didn’t care who won.

Sometimes I even enjoyed him being there. No more Mr. Nice Guy. No more kind heart. Be the bad guy they all want anyway.

But I can’t be the bad guy. As hard as it tried, it’s just not who I am. It is who he is. Telling me things, telling me I need to do this or do that. I fought it.

I could eventually feel him come at all hours of the day and night. I would feel my eyes shift and I knew he was there. It would be like blinking and the world just looked different. He was the one looking from behind my eyes, not me. I would wake up sweating but my teeth were chattering because I was freezing. I would start shaking, like I was having a seizure, in middle of the day.

Where did he go when he wasn’t in me? Or was he always there and the angels just kept him subdued? If that’s the case, did the angels leave me to deal with this on my own? I don’t know.

I had to get control.

I could not take it anymore. God take this from me. Silence. I guess I did ask for it. Maybe I was not as strong as I thought I was. Maybe I still am not that strong.

I went to a Christian counselor to see if this was just in my head or what was going on. She suggest we do this rapid eye sensory thing, something they use for PTSD cases. Anything was worth a shot.

Holy crap, I will never doubt counseling again. I could see the demons face, he told me his name. It was like he was sitting right beside me. It gives me chills just talking about it now. After a few treatments, and since I now knew its name, I asked it to leave. Amazingly, it did.

That was five years ago.

I finished brushing my teeth yesterday and looked in the mirror. To my surprise, he was looking back at me, then he smiled his sinister smile.

Image result for demon looking back at me

Oh no! was my first thought. I didn’t ask you to come back here. What are you doing here? Then I thought, I don’t even care. I am too tired to fight it.

I just stood there looking at myself, and not myself was looking back, smiling.

I resigned myself to this is how it is going to be. I must well give up. But then I saw a flash of light in the mirror behind me.

I knew the angel was back also. I was not alone. I would not have to fight this alone. I will fight this.

I will fight.

Image result for angel flash of light