Category: Poetry

Love, Not Hate: Christmas Eve

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, love, poems, Poetry10 Comments
cardinals, goldfinch, bluebird, nuthatch, chickadee:
art credit: James Hautman

It was Christmas Eve all through the land

All the birds stared in amazement at the Christmas tree so grand

The little birds could barely contain their excitement

The older birds looked on, filled with contentment

The eagle remembered how far they have come

He remembered all the work ALL the birds have done

Which made this day an even more special day

He took his place and said: “Birds, I have something to say”

 

Want to see one--not at a zoo--SOON!:
photo credit: Paula Krugerud Photography

“I’ll keep it short since tonight the little ones can’t be up late.”

“It has been a long time since we chose to love instead of hate.”

“It was a lot of work to repair our broken relationships.”

“As you all know, it hasn’t always gone to script.”

“We have learned from our mistakes, our experiences.”

“We have learned to work through our differences.”

“We have returned this land to the way it was created.”

“For that reason alone, tonight we ALL should be celebrated!”

“We are gathered here today because of the one who was born.”

“Who also died for us, tattered and torn.”

“As some of us birds are getting older,

We know we can’t carry this land on our shoulders.”

“We must teach the next generation

That love is the only way to rule this nation!”

All the birds started to sing

A beautiful sound that caused a gathering

All the animals from the forest came

The deer, the rabbit, the skunk and others you know by name

They gathered around the Christmas tree

They held hands and all sung with glee

The sound reached near and far

Then humans arrived, by foot and by car

They couldn’t believe their eyes

It was then they started to realize

Everything they thought they knew had to be ruled out

Because right there was a hawk singing with a field mouse

There was a bear beside a deer

There was a sheep standing by a wolf  with no fear

There was a fox right beside a hare

All these beautiful birds were there

They could hardly believe their ears

When the animals said: “There is nothing here to fear!”

“Yes, at one time we were all enemies!”

“We decided to let love rule our hearts until our eyes could see!”

Then the humans held each other’s hands

All the different people across the land

Blacks and whites, Muslim and Christian

All races, all people, could see the animals vision

The eagle then spoke once again:

“One last thing to say my friends.”

“To move forward you must move on from the past!”

“You have to live as last is first and first is last.”

“Let every man, every woman, every boy, every girl

Know what it’s like to have peace in this world!”

“Let ALL our voices join together as we sing Silent Night!”

Then they sang Joy To The World  and We Wish You A Merry Christmas

I can only say it’s all true, as I was there to witness

All the birds of a different color

Helped all the people discover

Instead of fighting they should ALL join hands

Because love is the only way to rule the land

Merry Christmas to ALL and to ALL a love filled night 

Image result for birds of a different color winter christmas tree

art credit: Peter Rabbit

Image result for bible verse on christmas

Let It Be Christmas by Alan Jackson – 

My Grown Up Christmas List by Amy Grant – 

Better Together by Gaither Vocal Band – 

Join With The Angels by Matthew West – 

Little Drummer Boy/ Peace On Earth by Bing Crosby and David Bowie – 

Rest In You Tonight by The Oak Ridge Boys – 

Gather Round by Band Of Merrymakers – 

My Wish For Christmas by R Kelly – 

Love Is Christmas by Sara Bareilles – 

Happy Christmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon – 

The Night Before Christmas by Brandon Heath – 

Love Is Here by Laura Story – 

A Joyful Noise by Little River Band – 

Wish List by 7eventh Time Down – 

Love Can Build A Bridge by The Judds- 

Prayer Of St. Francis by Sarah McLachlan – 

Silent Night by Pentatonix – 

Joy To The World by Jeremy Camp – 

We Wish You A Merry Christmas by Celtic Women – 

Love, Not Hate: Part Two

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, love, poems, Poetry8 Comments

Image result for dove

Please take a minute to read part 1 :

The birds of the land lived in peace for quite a long time

They shared everything, what’s mine is yours and yours is mine

They sung songs together and visited each other’s nest

Peace, nothing to worry about when their feathers would lay down to rest

Then one day the unthinkable happened

The skies of blue suddenly blackened

During a training flight, a blue jay crashed into a warbler

I can’t put into words, it was indeed horrible

Image result for blue jayImage result for black and white warbler and blue jay together

The warbler fell to the ground, it had been killed

Mourning came to the land, his little heart had been stilled

It didn’t take long for the warblers to blame the blue jays

Even though the birds that witnessed it said the warbler flew the wrong way

They demanded justice, the words were harsh that they spoke

They didn’t consider that the blue jay’s heart was broke

He was terribly sad for what happened but said he wasn’t to blame

The warblers attacked his nest, the land would never be the same

Attack after attack, nest after nest

None of the birds could find rest

A dark cloud had overtaken the trees

No bird was safe, no bird was free

The eagle couldn’t believe what his eyes did see

He thought, Have they forgotten our history?

Nothing good will come from this

He bowed his head and prayed his wish

O mighty father above, help me find a way

To help these birds remember our yesterday 

When we nearly destroyed our homes, our land

We fought over the colors of our feathers right where they now stand

How eventually we put aside our differences and came together 

We joined as one as we each held those different colored feathers 

He opened his eyes and looked around

Hate wasn’t the answer, love had to be found

Image result for eagle talking to birds

He once again called a meeting

He searched hard for the words he would be speaking

He looked left, he looked right

He said “My fellow birds, why do we fight?”

“I’m not saying what happened was right or wrong

But don’t you remember when we all sang the same song?”

“Warblers, I know your hearts are bleeding

But violence isn’t the answer to what you are needing.”

“Blue Jays, I know your heart is breaking

But fighting back leaves only hate for the taking.”

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“I ask both of you is this really the answer?

Look around, can’t you see the disaster

We’ve been here before, look at our history books

There can never be peace if we are all crooks.”

“I know what happened is a travesty

But anger and hate only lead to more tragedy!”

“I ask you birds, can we move on from the past?”

“Today is a new day, the anger and hate don’t need to last!”

“I ask you birds not to forget yesteryear

I tell you birds it’s okay to shed a tear

But let’s not let history repeat itself

It’s time we put hate and anger on the shelf!”

 

Image result for love is the only answer

 

“How easy it is to forget we are all one

I’m not asking you  to forget what is done!”

“I am asking you to join hands

Reunite all the birds in this land!”

“I’m asking you to look at your communities

Ask yourself, is this who we want to be?”

“If you have even an ounce of love in your heart

Let it ignite and become a spark!”

“We do not need to fear each other !”

“You are my sisters, you are my brothers!”

“I end with these words said not long ago

That love is all we need to know

We are all created equally

We all can live peacefully

Look into the depths of your hearts

And let today be a new start

But you must not let the evil of anger and hate

Destroy our land. It is not, it will not be our fate!”

It was then he looked up and saw a  dove

The symbol of peace, the message of love

Image result for love is the only answer

Everyman by Blackfoot – 

Love With Your Life by Hollyn – 

Be The Change by Britt Nicole – 

What You Want by Tenth Avenue North – 

Jesus Built This Church On Love by Ivan Parker – 

Jesus Again by Tamela Mann – 

Future + Hope by New Hope Oahu – 

Common Ground by Julianna Zobrist – 

Love, Not Hate : Part 1

On 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) – 

Why I Write

On 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

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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

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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 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 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

 

 

 

 

Maybe Today

On 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 – 

I Am Not Who I Am

On 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 – 

A Troubled Heart, A Kind Heart

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, poems, Poetry4 Comments

Image result for a troubled heart

A troubled heart used to beat so strong

A kind heart, thought he could survive the wrongs

A troubled heart broken but still loves

A kind heart pauses and then just shrugs

A troubled heart stitched back together for the hundredth time

A kind heart thinking I will try just one more time

A troubled heart looks around but can’t speak

A kind heart slowly becomes weak

A troubled heart wishes someone could see the trouble it’s in

A kind heart too tired to try, too worn out to try again

A troubled heart wonders why it’s still alive

A kind heart decides to give up tonight

A troubled heart can no longer see

A kind heart decides to no longer beat

A kind heart turns into a hard heart

A hard heart turns to stone, sets itself apart

A hard heart tries not to feel

A hard heart makes walls of steel

A hard heart acts like it doesn’t care

But inside a kind heart still beats there

A hard heart looks at a world that deceives

A kind heart must choose to continue to beat

Image result for a kind heart discouraged

Oh My Soul by Casting Crowns- 

Troubled Heart by Kutless – 

Joy Is In Our Hearts by Sara Groves – 

 

 

 

This Chapter

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, poems, Poetry2 Comments

I wrote this awhile ago,  just a reminder no matter what you are going through, it is only a chapter.  Keep flipping the pages, the next chapter could have you on top. Hope you enjoy reading.

This Chapter

 

This chapter in my life is only a chapter

Full of sadness and so little laughter

This chapter is only part of my story

That I must go through to see your glory

When I look back at what has been witten before

Did I love this life or I did I love You more

I read the chapters that have been

I am amazed how much I have sinned

This chapter is only a small part

How will I let this chapter affect my heart

This chapter is like a grain of sand

This chapter is being written by Your hand

I ponder on the blank pages of the future

I know your hands will finish the picture

As hard as I try to write the words down

I know only in You will they be found

These early chapters written on how I’ve died and how I’ve lived

How selfish I have been and how little did I give

This story is not complete and only You know how it will end

Will I live the rest trusting in you, not trying to comprehend

This chapter is only a small part

How will I let this chapter affect my heart

This chapter is like a grain of sand

This chapter is being written by your hand

God I pray as you write the next chapters

I pray it will be You I seek, You I am after

Even if in the present I don’t understand

I pray I will remember it is all part of Your plan

Seasons by Lydia Laird – 

A Season by Pillar – 

Seasons In The Sun by Terry Jacks – 

God Of Every Story by Laura Story – 

My Life Is Based On A True Story by Joey & Rory- 

My Story by Big Daddy Weave – 

New Story by Johanna J – 

Story Of My Life by Bon Jovi – 

The Chapters That Follow by Danger Silent – 

Write Your Story by Francesca Battistelli –