Living in God's Rhyme

100, 10-10, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 4/20/2023) Today we are reading and discussing a poem about what God has offered us and 2 new poems written for today's podcast.We'll start with a poem from God's Rhyme, on page 106.JOHN 3:16“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (NIV)God loved us, He gave us,His only Son,For everyone,Who believesIn His SonShould not, Will not,Perish,But have LifeEverlasting.What could be more poetic,More comforting than this?No words of yours or mineCould convey love like His.Gave His son,Whoever believes,Life everlasting,There is nothing,Not a thing,Left to say.Except,Thank you Lord For Your love.Reflection:So, one day I thought I could make god's love for us sound more poetic, make it sound more . . . whatever that it is in the Bible. I couldn't and happily admit it. The work of God in human hands . . . It should be left in God's hands.Discussion:THE PRAYER ROADThe time has come,At least for some,To kneel in prayerFor what is there.‘tis not the end,Hearts left to mend,Once having heardThrough prayer a word.In the race we run,Is the shining Son,Filling us with loveAs we look above.The road we take,That God did make,Follow through faithKnowing His grace.It is not goodbye,No question of why.We did kneel and pray.He will lead the way,And in knowing Him,So we will follow. tcarter, 4/9,10/2023Discussion: NOT PERFECTNot perfect, but willing.God continues instilling,My soul constantly filling.I look to the skies,Wipe tears from my eyes,Answering my whys.Not perfect on this earth,Yet I have found my worth,That began with a birth.Not perfect today,So again I prayI follow God's way.I am not perfect in my present life, but God is perfect and Jesus willlead me to perfection. (tcarter, 4/11/2023)Discussion:As we come to the end of today's podcast, let us pray.Dear Heavenly Father, Dave, I thank you for the time You have given us to record these podcasts. Through this time, we both have experienced growth in our faith and the need for You in our lives. We hope that we have been able to touch at least a few listeners when they needed to hear what You have done in our lives and the patience You have had with us during this time, and before, in our lives. We know that this is not the end of our days with You. We trust in You, knowing that if we are open to Your will for...

99, 10-9, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 4/13/2023) Today we will be reading poems about prayer.The first poem is in God's Rhyme on pg. 33.PRAYERDear Jesus, how do I pray, what do I say?What words do I speak for the peace that I seek?I give thanks to You for all that You do,for the blessings You are giving in this life I am living.I praise Your blessed name, forever & always it is the same.Yesterday You guided me, today You helped me see.Forgive me for all the wrongs,keep me singing happy songs.From temptation set me freeso that in You I can be.I praise YouI thank YouI worship YouI honor YouJesus, You set me free, now I can see.When my vision is blurred You show me Your word.As I have been blessed, now I pray for the rest,for my sisters & brothers who think they have no other.For our salvation You are risen, for us new life You have given.Use me as You would that others may have what they should.I praise YouI thank YouI worship YouI honor YouOn bended knee or with hands upraised, it is Your life that is praised.And as I give You my life You take from me my strife.You have given me so much; joy, life, love & the such.& all You have taken is my life's burden.You are all the love from Heaven above.& Jesus, each time I pray there is not enough to say. Except, I praise You & Your holy name, I thank You for what You have done, I worship You as my Savior & Lord, I honor...

98, 10-8, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 4/6/2023) Today we are reading and discussing 3 poems about Jesus, the Lamb of God, what He has done for us and the blessings that we receive as we receive as we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, lived on the earth as one of us, a life without sin, took the sins of the world upon Himself, as called to by His Father, a death that was the final sacrifice God required for the forgiveness of man's sins. If we will believe we will receive everlasting life in Heaven with our Savior.THE GATHERING LAMBPage 110 God's Rhyme“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6, NIVThe Lamb of God, with God before time,perfect, as is God, in every way,before the words were written in linesJesus, the unblemished Lamb was there.Jesus and God, with the Holy Spirit,indivisible, the Trinity;so the Lamb of God is also God,who saves our souls for eternity.We, living on this earth, a herd of sheep,we wander, are lost not knowing the cost,not knowing, we cause a pain so deepthat God sent Jesus to find and save us.An earthly shepherd has a special one,one of the herd that seeks the wandering, those sheep that are lost, that have gone astray,returning them home before the day is done.Our Heavenly Master has sent His Sonto find the lost and to gather the strays,to bring us home before the end of days.The Lamb of God, a never ending search. Before we knew Him He knew who we were, He knew our thoughts,He knew our prayers.And He knew of our rebellion,Before, He has always known.Yet He loves us stilland He always will.He sent His Sonto be the onethat would seek us outeven as we doubt.He sent His Son to gather us in,the unblemished Lamb, the Sacrifice,to pay the price, to die for our sinsso that with God we are finally put right!.Reflection:The result of Bible study. The lamb who gathers us in, who died for our sins.Discussion:THE LAMB OF GODPage 14, Living in Gods Rhyme“Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne . . .Revelation 5:5-6As I sat reading of John's visionI felt as if I never fully understoodThat for eternity God's decisionRemains forever for my good.Yes, I have read of the cruelty Of his beating on the way to the cross,Of the agony of his death,The death of God's son.The death of my condemnation.I know that by God's graceI will be with him forever.I know I will see his faceAnd feel his loving embrace.But reading the words of what John saw,Though they shouldn't, they rub my wounds...

97, 10-7, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 3/30/2023) Today we will be discussion the call to missions in our lives. We are called to spread the gospel to the nations.THE MISSIONARY'S MISSION (Living In God's Rhyme, pg. 65)They leave the comfort of homeWhere they were raised and grown,Where seeds of faith were sown,By those who gave them a home.With the love for those,These that God choseHave a yearning to shareThe love of God's care.Traveling across continents and seasTo spread his word and plant the seeds,Prayerfully hoping that their good deedsWill show more how God's grace does please.Where language is a barrier His word speaks to all,No matter the carrier,More will hear your call.More will hear your callBecause they, many of them,Love you and those in needOf hearing a word, Of sharing a good deed.It is God's love that leads the missionary.It is his call that sends them forth,That sets the missionary on a course.He has set their hearts on fireWith a spirit full of desireTo help their sisters and brothersIn a way not done by others.God will blessThose who helpMore who have less,Those who reach,Those who teachThe one or moreWho need help.He will bless evermore.Pray for those with a heart,A desire to live apart From the comforts of a life,To live with those in strife.May their living,May their giving,Be the gift,Give a liftTo the spiritOf many more adrift,Perhaps not knowingThat as more do hear it,The words of worksMore will share,More will careThat it is God's wordMore will be sowing.Reflection on The Missionary's MissionI got the idea for this poem on my way to work . I had a few good lines that I fortunately remembered to write down when I got to work. However, when I wrote it, I struggled. I'm not sure what that means, if anything. Maybe it was because I was writing about something I know little about. But upon reflection during the day I realized that we are all called to be missionaries. Where ever we are we are to share the good news of salvation. At work, on the street, with friends, and especially at home. And it all starts with our story.HIS WORD MAY IT LEAD US (Living In God's Rhyme, pg. 63)Matthew, Mark Luke and John,Paul, Peter, Timothy and Jude,Books and letters written To show us the way to God's love,The love of his sacrifice,The love of his grace,The love he has for us,The human race.Jesus said,Believe,Be baptizedAnd spread the Gospel.We should not only pray,Pray every day,For those who have not heardHis mighty saving word.We should speakSo that we reachThose souls we knowOf the gift we have receivedSo they will not be deceived.We need to shoutTo the world aboutThat Jesus saves,He is what God gaveSo the end will be better,So it will not be bitter.After ThoughtsAs believers we can meet in clustersSo that faith and desire we can musterThat as we leave the roomWe do not have a sense of doomBut the faith to share,Share that we care,That others hearWhat we hold dearTo...

96, 10-6, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 3/23/2023) Today we are going to follow up on Dave's suggestion to read a specific poem. This poem has one of my favorite titles, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrowday. Sometimes I like to play with words and even make my own words. Yesterday, today and tomorrow are all days of our lives. And no, I have not watched this soap opera on tv. I'm not sure how clean I would be after watching an episode.Ok, enough, I'll get to reading. Our first poem is found in Living in God's Rhyme on page 157.YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROWDAYAs I write this it is today.I wrote the one for yesterdaySometime earlier today.You will read this tomorrowday.Yeah, it sounds nonsensical.Maybe it's like something from A long lost, thankfully, musicalWhose tunes you cannot hum.For some that is the total sumOf a week of days ever so weak;There was yesterday's yesterdayAnd then tomorrowday's tomorrowday.But we must remember the timesWhen writing of the week's rhymesThat spellcheck continues to tell us we that we are wrongerWith those red squiggly lines under words that are stronger.(Writers comment: Man versus machine, God always wins.)One day tomorrowday will be yesterday.We cannot worry about whatever dayWe find ourselves living inWhether we lose or we win.As we face each day we must pray,Pray aloud that God removes the cloudOf doubt so we may shoutFor the world to hear that we have no fear.Yes, we will have our coffee,We will have the lives we live,But these things become smallWhen we answer God's call.Yesterday I wrote, and today I writeAs I will tomorrowday write,“All I need today is a little Dr. PepperAnd a whole lot of Jesus”Pray that we mayStay with him always,That what we sayMay reflect the wayHe has saved us,God's Son, Jesus.Discussion:Not much to say. It's how my mind works. Crazy, I know; the voices in my head are constantly telling me so.Let's see what I wrote some other day. This is found on page 53 of Living In God's Rhyme.SUDDEN DAYThe first day of the week,We worship him in churchAs comfort in our lives we seekBefore out the doors we lurch.Tomorrow begins the weak days,Those days when we can easily forgetWhat on Sunday he did say.As we step in the puddles our feet are wet.It is meIn the mirrorI do see.In the morningThere is a warningIn the prayer saidThat all I needIs his word to heedAnd I will be ledMy soul will be fedAnd then I open the doorTo the world that wants more.Each and every day I seeA reflection in the mirror.But there are so many aboutAs our lives we live outThat have not heard Us speak of his word.We must care,We must share,Let them knowAs we sowThe seedsThat will feedMore than five thousand,More than loaves and fish,More than they could ever wishIn years beyond a thousand.We can lead them to eternity.Away from God's enmity,So that when it does arriveSudden Day they...

95, 10-5, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 3/16/23) Last week I asked for prayers that God would answer a question: Should I read poems I have written and posted on Facebook about the times we are living in. My concern was the political content of some of the poems. And again, I am stating that it is not the politics of today I want to discuss, rather it is the fight of good and evil that overrides all things.About 3 hours after finishing recording last week's podcast I went to the computer, got on line and checked our bank statement. Then a thought came to me while looking at the 3 books on the desk next to a pile of podcast files. I wondered to myself, are the poems in here and is this what God has led me to. I picked up Living in God's Rhyme and was led to 3 poems. I love the answers to prayers.The first poem is found on page 114.IS THIS THE HUMAN CONDITION(This is not a question)Where is God when we need him?Why has this happened again,Over and over again?We were told you were a good God,A loving God who cares for his people.Where are you in our times of need!Before our time of need We should take time to readOf the history of his chosen ones,His beloved daughters and sons.In their times of greedThey did not see the needTo honor his glory and heedHis word, words that feed.It is there for us today.Did we not know so we cannot say?Did we not know as we walked awayThat you despised our way?Did we not hear that Jesus cameNot just for the Jew, but also the Gentile?He came so that with God we could reconcileSo as Jew and Gentile we are all the same.If we love God and his Son,No matter what we have done,His love for us never is never ending.Our lives forever he will be mending,If we love him we must followWith words and prayers not hollow,We must be true to him who loves us,Loves us so much he sacrificed Jesus.There is a reason us rhymes with Jesus.But we never learned the lesson,Maybe because we never readOf God's anger over the adulteryOf his chosen ones with idolsAnd false gods, the gods of othersThat do no good, but only harm.Gods of wood and gold, some were so boldTo worship nothing instead of everything,All that their God had for them.So where is God today as children are slaughtered,As lives are abandoned and hope forgotten?He is everywhere, where are we?Reflection on Is This The Human ConditionI think that I mentioned before that I had no idea what direction the book I am writing here would lead me. Although I talk of reading God's word and receiving the words of the poems from God, I am probably the last person, if I were on the outside looking in, that I would think could have that relationship. It has grown since I started writing this book. But the poems continue to surprise and amaze me. I was reading Hosea before writing and I just stopped and wondered at the times God's chosen people walked away from Him and then when trouble came, well you know what we all do at those times. Today we are in the same place. I had no idea I would what I would write other than the titleDiscussion: The next poem is found on page 159MEANINGLESS WORDSFirst came the...

94, 10-4, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 3/9/2023) Today, we will be reading and discussing 4 consecutive poems from God's Rhyme. They are found on pages 5 through 11. My journey to salvation may sound unusual to some. I first had the desire to know Jesus and understand His love for me through the love Father Larry Dunn shared. I have shared before, I was raised In the Episcopal Church, was married in the Catholic Church and later converted to Catholicism, and many years later was led by God to leave the Catholic Church and am now attending an Evangelical, bible believing, teaching and professing church. The following poems are 4 of the first Christian poems I wrote in the later 1970's. MY FRIEND JESUS Take my hand as we walk this land,feel the sandas time drifts away,hear what I say,just be what you maywith my friend Jesus.A little boy, a baby girl;sometimes the dayslike a waterfall swirluntil I feel the sun's rays& I know it's the Son, Who, tho blinded to some,is Who I will follow.A walk thru a field& I find I must yield,give of myself, die to my wants.I opened the door& found Him waiting there,wanting no morethan that breath of fresh air.I found the way.As people had said,it's not what you sayor the thoughts in your head.It's not just the grace of an evening meal.It's something you always feel,something that starts deep in you heart.Take my hand& walk with me;There is so much to be.Together we can stand,not just the two of us,because we are threewith our friend Jesus.Discussion:FOR YOU TWO Thank you Jesus for loving me, for being able to see that I am more than I think I can be.When the world seems to swirl around & sounds are blurred,somehow your love is heard.You've given me a life; a loving wife, the sweet joys of a baby girl & a little boy.I have been blessed.I just need to take time to look between the stress of a world that wants what is mine.I know I don't often tell You,I'm so often overdue in remembering it's not just the words, but more the actions that are heard.With You tho, I have a new start In seeing thru the lies, for it's not just with...

93,10-3, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 3/2/2023)Revised 2/26/2023Today we will be reading and discussing poems about what God gives us.AS ONLY YOU CAN (Living In God's Rhyme, pg. 116)I look at the clouds and I wonder aloudWhat lies beyond the skies?What ever can be though looking I cannot see.I look at the wonder of it all and I hear your call.Beyond the skies is Heaven above,Where there are no whys, just your love.But first we share in this world of oursFor what we care in each day's hours.The mountains, the valleys,The meadows, the deserts,And the vast deep waters,They all exist inside of us.You spoke the earth into existence,You breathed your breath into man,Your power knew no resistance.It was only and is only you who can.May we live in your glory,Be a part of your story.May we every day striveTo have you in our lives.May we see the splendor,Of all you do, of who we areAs we shine brighter than the starsWhen we let you, Lord, be who you are.Discussion:THE WONDER OF GOD'S WAY (Living In God's Rhyme, pg. 182)God's love is shown and Jesus is knownAs the words of King David are heardMany years after and many years before,After the creation and before the resurrection.In times of grace and in time of wasteGod's love for us never falters, never fails.His is a love we may never understand,While on this earth we are merely man.David writes:the LORD is compassionate and gracious,slow to anger; abounding in love.He will not always accuse,nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserveor repay us according to our iniquities.For as high as the heavens are above the earth,so great is his love for those who fear him;as far as the east is from the west,so far has he removed our transgressions from us.(Psalm 103:7-12)How can we on this earth understand this love?We live our lives struggling for love While we struggle at times to give our love.We shake our neighbor's hands with winter gloves.If we have fear for the Lord, the awe and respect he deserves,We have opened the door to our hearts to receive his grace,If we truly believe and accept this and are not reservedIn our faith, he is faithful to forgive and remember never.Be thankful that as Isaiah writes of God,For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways.”declares the LORD .As the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your waysand my thoughts than your thoughts.(Isaiah 55:8,9)Live in awe filled wonder and his voice will not thunderBecause of who he is, as we live, he forgives.By faith through his grace, we have the gift to forever liveThrough the death of his Son, who took upon himself our sin.Be thankful God is who he is and always will be,Be thankful God loves you and loves me,Be thankful God created us in loveSo by believing we will see him in heaven above.God so loves us that he sent his only Son to die for our transgressions.If his ways were our ways, we would still be dying in those transgressions.Be thankful and accept his love,

10-2, 10-2, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 2/23/23) Today we have poems about prayer and a poem competition that I think I lost years ago.The first poem is unpublished and was written in September of 2020.AN ANSWER TO PRAYERI thought I could stopThe up and down hopGoing on in my mind.Could peace again I find?Speak upShut upWhat is rightNot what mightSo, I knelt and began to pray.The answer, “do not betrayYour fellow believers,Expose the deceivers.”There are momentsI hear commentsSaying words I've writtenShould never be hidden.As my mind started to wander,I knew it was time to pray.Tilting my head I looked yonderAnd asked God, “what do I say?”I see the world in a haze,With so many in a daze,Not knowing where the truth laysToo many yays, too few nays.I said, “Lord, what can be done?”He answered, “it is simple my son.Read the book of prophecy.Not books of philosophy.”“Today you prayTo know the way.You already know it,Now you must share it.”So, I will continue to writeOf how yesterday and todayHave and still explain tomorrow,As the “god of this world” brings sorrow. (2 Cor. 4:4)I was left with this:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Put on the full armor of God, so you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For your struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians :10-16, NIV)9/19,20/2021, tcarterDiscussion:The next poem is also unpublished and was written in August of 2022.WORDS FROM A PRAYERWords to write on this night,I had a thought of what they oughtThis night to say, first I must pray.Dear Father in Heaven above,I pray this night for words of love,The words I can shareExpressing Your care.The words of thanksgiving,The life I am living,My tomorrowWithout sorrow.May the wordI have heardBe what I writeThis blessed night.In Jesus' name I pray.Amen, again this day.Thank You Lord.I have...

91,10-1, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 2/16/2023) Corrections 2/12/23 Today 2 poems that could have been part of last week podcast. One about church and one about the Cornerstone. And 2 more unpublished poems.CHURCH IN THE SKYThe steps into the churchLeading to the HeavensOnce filled with believersLooking beyond the dayAll that was heardWas a love songGod's saving wordForever longSinging as God they praisedOvercoming all fearsSinging so many yearsThrough faith the roof was raisedToday walking through the open doorI look above to where eagles soarAnd hear the praise of many voicesCelebrating their saving choicesThe church was raisedAs God was praisedLifted through the skyFaith the reason whytcarter, 9/7,8/2022 Inspired by painting by Cynthia GonzalesDiscussion:Cindy's paintings inspired the poems Church in the Desert in God Still Rhymes and Wind River, an unpublished poem we read on a previous podcast.CALM IN MY DAYThe constant motion,Then the commotionFrom dawn through evening,Not ever leaving,Ever testing my devotionThat leads me from my grieving.In the smog covered hueOf the morning skyAnother day may be new.I again ask why.Then the Lord said to me,“Sit quietly and reflectOn what is and what you see.As your thoughts you collectThere is more for you and Me.As you pray I will protect.It is not the color of the sky.It is not the reason why.If you need, take time to cry.The days will still be young.There are hymns to be sungAnd church bells to be rung.Remember my child,Through your faithAnd by My graceYou run the raceWith your faith.Know you are my child.”Salvation has been wonThrough Jesus, God's Holy Son.Now at the rising sunMy worry is done.In this world I no longer live alone,My life now built on the cornerstone.Now as I live,As I believe,I do receiveWhat God does give.8/31/19, tcarterDiscusssion:TRUST TO BE LEADIn God I will trustNot in my lust,As thoughts are swirledAround in this worldIn which I live.I will let God giveTo me His allAs I hear His call.From my eye remove this logSo I may see above the fog,And at the end of nightI will have won the fight.May I not judgeNor hold a grudge.I will forgiveAs life I live.May Your love I share.May I be awareOf other's fears,Shedding their tears.As I walk,As I talk,May my foot prints beSpoken words not of me,But the words God has spoken,Mending lives that are broken.May I liveThat I giveWhat I receivedWhen I believed.tcarter, 7/14/2022Discusssion:WE WILLWe will fightIn the lightFor what is right,Forever long,Always strong,Singing His song.With God's might,Never wrong,With tomorrowAlways in sightWithout...

90, 9-10, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 2/10/2023) Three poems today, one from each book. They all were inspired by thoughts of church.The first one is from God Still Rhymes, and is found on pg. 67.UNDER THE STEEPLEEveryday peopleunder the steeple,bells are ringing,voices are singingsongs of praisefor the life he did raise,Jesus Christ,our savior and Lordwhose life we savor.We live in God's favorwhose love we have storedin each and every heartas we wakeand then makethe promise of a new start.In his grace forgivingthe life we were livingwith Jesus we are raised,In worship he is raised.Our God is good,he understoodour fear of belief.He gives us reliefin the troubleof life's rubble.He loves us.this Jesus,God's only son,his holy one.His life sacrificed,we have been made right,we will never dieso we sing,the bells ringbecause we are his peoplegathered under the steeple.With the cross There is no loss.The lost have been foundmaking a joyful sound. Discussion:The second poem is from Living in God's Rhyme, on pg. 152.THOUGHTS ON THE WAY TO CHURCHThe lost sheep,Are we led,Led to the wayOr led astray,Are we fedBy the Bread of LifeOr captive to strifeThere are random thoughts that cross my mindThat make me seek the words to findThat will feed me and lead meTo the right words to writeNo questions,No exclamationsPeriod?Just the question,As lost sheep are we led,As lost sheep are we fedTo the truth, by the truthOf who God is, What Jesus has doneAnd the mission Of the Holy Spirit?Do we ever question God's love?Do we ever shout an exclamation?Or do we just end with a period?God's love for us is never in question,We should shout to the world in exclamationThat with God our lives will not end with a period.Discussion: I was driving to church, as the title says, one day and these thoughts came to me.The next poem is from God's Rhyme, on pg. 122.THE CORNERSTONEThe cornerstone, the first block laid,upon which the foundation is made,in which the line is straight and true,the beginning holding the clue.A clue of the templeA view of the houseA pew of His churchThe fewThe blessedThe meekThe poorThe SpiritThe SonThe FatherAll found in . . . the cornerstone.Old and new, we can read testamentsof the blocks which rest on the cornerstone;so perfect in line, lest we lament,lest we reject, lest we build on our own.Jesus, the cornerstone on which we build our lives;a temple, we as one become a churchbuilding on His perfection we strivethrough His life, we end our search.Building on the cornerstonewe are no longer a stranger,we no longer build alone,not since that birth in the manger.“We are members of His household,Built on the foundation of the apostles and...

89, 9-9, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 2/2/2023) Today we will be reading and discussing 3 poems from the Last Notebook, an umpublished manuscript from 2020.March 29, 2020An interesting evening last night and an interesting morning today. Interesting, more like enlightening.The following poem is a result of last night's revelation from God. This morning when I opened my Bible, it opened to Psalm 31. This was not of my doing. I know that the poem is rather cryptic. But is what I believe I was lead to write.Psalm 31For the director of music. A psalm of David1 In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness, 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4 keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me LORD, my faithful God. (NIV)BEWAREYesterday my world was turned upside down,Or so I thought.I had been caughtBelieving the lieAnd was wondering whyThe words of the songWere ever so wrong.Jesus often said, “Let those who have ears hear,And those who have eyes see.”What did I hold dear?What would I be?So many times we were warnedBy the voices the world scorned.We were told to take beware.We were told to take care.I had believed more than one false teacher.For that there is no rhyme.My focus was still Jesus,God's Son who saved us.But there are those who changed God's wordSo often through songs we have heard.Yesterday I was given sightInto the darkening lightOf too often believingThose who are deceiving.One can say Jesus is LordTo the lost earthly horde.But what lies behind the wordThey have sung that we have heard?When the singing does end,What message do they send?We must understandThis has been planned,Beyond the song,For way too long.May our faith be strong.Our God is never changing.We are not to be rearrangingHis word spoken that we have heard.Jesus is the Word.He is all we need.Our needs he does fed.There is nothing beyondThe word of God,Nothing to add to it.Look beyond the songThrough faith strong.Look beyond the song book.Look for the hook.My world turned upside down.No, it was set rightSo I would not drown.In truth there is no fright.3/29/2020, tcarterDiscussion:NEVER FORSAKENThose who know Your name trust You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:10What words of hopeAs we live to copeIn the world that surrounds us.Never forsaken, God sent us Jesus.We believe,We receiveGod's loving grace.We do run our raceKnowing we will fall.We will hear His callAs our bodies raise.It is God we do praise,His forgiving waysAs we live our days.Seek and you shall find.Knock and the door will be opened.Having done so,He will never forsake us.And this we knowBecause we walk with...

88, 9-8, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 1/26/2022) Today we are going to follow up on a thought that came to me during last week's podcast – Colors, In looking through poems I found 3 with the word color in the title. Unfortunately the last one I hoped to us is rather lengthy and I couldn't break it down into sections that would make it easier to understand and discuss. The title of it was Colors. That leaves 2.The first poem, A Flood of Colors, I was challenged to write. In 2019 I attended Book Con, a national book fair in New York City. I was one of three authors highlighted by my publisher. One of the other authors was also an artist. Over lunch one day he challenged me to write a poem about colors. The following poem is the result of that challenge.A FLOOD OF COLORSRed,Orange,Yellow,And green,Blue,Indigo,And violet,Together become a rainbow,A promise of God so long ago.The blood of Jesus, The blood of the lamb,The blood that saves us,Salvation, God's plan.The fire of God's deliveranceAs we passionately praiseThrough our faithful observanceOf the life God did raise.The glory of God now shown,Finding joy in our faith,Knowing we will see God's face.Through His reign we have grown.The new beginning,Promised restorationFrom lives of sinning,Now with adoration.The authority of Heaven,Fed on bread unleavened,Led by the Holy Spirit,God's word, we hear it.The infinite and the finite,One is God, the other man.Jesus is the bridge over the chasmThat was created by Adam.The priesthood, the kingship,The royalty, the mediator,It is Jesus we worshipWho is One with the Creator.The rainbow, a sign of the mercy of God (Genesis),The colors, the glory of God (Ezekiel),At the end, the power of God (Revelation),The rainbow, a reflection of God,Yesterday, Today,And tomorrow.Post Script:An artist paints with colors,A poet paints with words.Both tell a StoryOf all God's Glory.Tim CarterJuly 7, 2019Discussion:The next poem was written in august of 2021. It happens to have a color word in the title.SATURDAY EVENING BLUES8:09 pm, looking out the window,Watching as the setting sun still glows.Earlier, the rising sun and sky of blueBrightened the welcoming of the day anew.There was rain in the afternoon,But it stopped fairly soon.The clouds moving over the lakeLeaving a gentle breeze in their wake.The light of the setting sunGives the sky of different hue.The blue sky now shining brightMixed with the Son's glorious light.Above the horizon,Beyond the sun,Above the stars,And what is oursThe Son shines bright.He is our guiding light.8/1/21, tcarterDiscussion:The next poem was written on January 13th of this year. It is one of my favorite poems. It, as usual did it end up like I thought it would. HIS WORD, HIS LOVETime for reflectionOn the collectionOf the words and deedsOn which my mind...

87, 9-7, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 1/20/2023) Corrections, 1/15/23 Today we are reading and discussing poems from the first book, God's Rhyme. The first two were written in the late 1970's, when I first stated to fully understand God's word and got to truly know Jesus and salvation. The third poem was written in 2014.MY FRIEND JESUS (pg. 5)Take my hand as we walk this land,feel the sandas time drifts away,hear what I say,just be what you maywith my friend Jesus.A little boy, a baby girl;sometimes the dayslike a waterfall swirluntil I feel the sun's rays& I know it's the Son, Who, though blinded to some,is Who I will follow.A walk thru a field& I find I must yield,give of myself, die to my wants.I opened the door& found Him waiting there,wanting no morethan that breath of fresh air.I found the way.As people had said,it's not what you sayor the thoughts in your head.It's not just the grace of an evening meal.It's something you always feel,something that starts deep in your heart.Take my hand& walk with me;There is so much to be.Together we can stand,not just the two of us,because we are threewith our friend Jesus. Discussion:Make Melody to God is on page 41Let the word (spoken by) the Christ, the Messiah, have its home (in your hearts and minds) and dwell in you in (all its) richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom (in spiritual things and sing) psalms and spiritual songs, making melody to God with (His) grace in your hearts.”Colossians 3:16 AmplifiedMAKE MELODY TO GODWe sing Your Wordwhich we have heardwith our earsthroughout the years.We sing& the words ringof what You have donethru Jesus Your son.Psalms & hymnssung of HimWhose life is praised,from death he was raised.Living for yearsknowinglife's fearscryinghurt tearsThen,believingwithout sightacceptingnow the lightliving thru His might.We sing even moreof His glorious splendor,of the life He has givenunlocking the gates to Heaven.Psalms, hymns & spiritual songs of His righting our wrongs,we sing of His glorythat all may hear his story.May our living be a melodyto God & His Son's body.May we sing with His graceIn our hearts in faith.Discussion:HAVE YOU, HAVE I (pg. 95)Have you seen how beautiful is grace? Have you felt the comfort of His embrace? Have you looked into your neighbor's face? Have you heard the sweetness of the sound? Have ever you been lost, but now are...

86, 9-6, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (1/12/2023) Today, 1 poem from God's Rhyme & 2 recent ones.THE RETURN (God's Rhyme, Pg. 38)listen – I hear, I hear a whisper;a soundever so gentle,as if a cool breezecomfortingin the heatwere found when standing still.Shh . . . . . I hear it again,calling,calling me, . . . “come,come, you are falling,feel My arms, I will catch you.”“I'll comfort you son.”Oh, thank you Father, I love You, I missed You.”“Welcome home,We rejoice in your homecoming, son.”“Your room is as you left it;as are you & I, as we once were.”The water drops on His sleevewere not from storm clouds;gone they now are. No, my tears fell,fell freelyon His majestic robes of grace.He so loved me and rejoiced in my return.I wept joyfully in His arms,My Father, My Redeemer, My God.Reflection:THE RETURN, a recurring theme. One I wish I didn't have to write about, but am glad that I can write about. No matter what I may do, God will always welcome me back. And when I later realized how I must hurt God when I wander, I also realized that I must also forgive myself. If I don't, I am still distant from God until I do forgive.Discussion:The next two poems were written are the first two written in 2023.DAY TWODay two,The year is new, So much to doBeyond day two.As I have been blessed,I must help the restFind peace in their lifeOvercoming strife.Yes, I can write a wordOthers may have heard.Now I must shareWith love an care.My life no longer mine,I have now seen the sighOf words ever divine.I see the finish line.I will follow where He leads,I will pray and plant the seeds.He has prepared good deedsFor me to serve other's needs.tcarter, 1/2/2023Discussion:WHAT IS WRITTEN(1/2/23)Opportunity...

85, 9-5, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 1/5/2023) Today we have a mix of poems. Three are poems written on the Notes app on my phone and one is from Living In God's Rhyme. The theme that ties them all together is Jesus.BROKEN HEALINGThinking of words that rhymeYes, I do this all the timeThere's that voiceThere's a choiceThen . . .When . . .I'm not sureThere's a cureSo I endureKnowing in the endPatience will mendMy broken thoughtsBattles are foughtAnd ultimately wonAs I pray to God's SonFor the peace of mindIn Him I will findI will follow JesusThe wayThe truthAnd the lifetcarter, 9/18/2022, 8:37 pmDiscussion:WORDS FROM A PRAYERWords to write on this night,I had a thought of what they oughtThis night to say, first I must pray.Dear Father in Heaven above,I pray this night for words of love,The words I can shareExpressing Your care.The words of thanksgiving,The life I am living,My tomorrowWithout sorrow.May the wordI have heardBe what I writeThis blessed night.In Jesus' name I pray.Amen, again this day.Thank You Lord.I have adoredThe rhymes You are givingAnd the life I am living.May I now be led to shareThe blessing of Your loving care.tcarter, 8/8/2022, 10:49 pmDiscussion:The next poem is found on page 135 in Living in God's Rhyme.An Eternal HeartTherefore we do no lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away,yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.2 Corinthians 4:16As our years pass our outer body shows age.In the book we write of life every year turns a page,But with God every day our soul he renews.The outside and inside present different views.For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us and eternal glorythat far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:17In the earthly life we live we will faceTrials and troubles that will test our faith.It is in each trial and trouble that we findAn answer from God that is beyond our mindTo understand because his ways are not ours.He loves us all for all time through all the hours.The strength of our faith will growAs his seeds God does sow,Seeds of love for him in those who are meekSo that at all times, in all things it is him that we seek.So we fix eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18It is only with God that we can look at the unseenWith the hope and promise that goes beyond our being.We have the promise through Jesus, God's Son,That after our death, for eternity with him we will be one.We live in a temporary state in these jars of clayKnowing that we will be with God at the end of our days.Through eternity and beyond we will be foreverWith our Heavenly Father, we will live forever.Discussion:We'll...

84, 9-4, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 12/29/2022) Today we are going to talk about the new year and what it can and hopefully will mean for us.We'll start with a poem that comes after the Christmas poems in God Still Rhymes. This poem was probably written in 2017THE YEAR'S LAST THOUGHT (God Still Rhymes, pg. 125)(Not what it oughtNot what he broughtNot what he thought)At that hour it was dark.He was carrying the booksAs he walked through the park.Strangers gave him strange looksAs they crossed his path.Pausing – you do the math:What is two times too many?More than a pennyBut less than time?He asked, “what of me is mine?”Then it was as if the soles of their feetHad trampled his soul as he crossed the street.The task . . .Was it lying or lying ahead?Where was the truthWhere all was false?Could there be an heirWaiting in the air?What is there,What is fair,Does one care,Does one dare,As one staresAt the stairs?Is there dangerWith the stranger?Can the doctorCure the sickBy doctrineOf infectious wordsThat cut and sting,That strangleOne's lifeAnd maybe another's?Yes, in the Almighty Healerthere is Hope.Reflection on The Year's Last ThoughtI'm sure I know why I get in moods like the one I was in when I wrote this poem. Sometimes I distance myself from the people I should be getting closer to. For some reason I had this foolish thought going through my mind for quite a few days. The thought, are all poets tortured souls. I had no I idea. I just knew that I was allowing myself to be that tortured soul. Was it so I could write this poem? I didn't know. But, I do know there was a reason for it. Now as I am writing this explanation I know it was God calling me to come home again. I added the last two lines after realizing God's purpose for this poem.Discussion: As I reread this poem when looking for poems or today's podcast, I realized that is reminds me of today, how in the world we are living in now can do this to us if we do not have Jesus to lift us up and above the everyday – everything the world wants for us.The next poem is from one of the unpublished files.GO GENTLEGo gentle into the nightAnd into the fading light.There is no more fightSurviving on God's might.The shadows will fallAs you hear God's call.There will come a timeWhen you hear His rhyme.Worry not about the morning dewKnowing that God loves you.Go gentle into your living,Embrace what God is giving.7/30/19, tcarterDiscussion:Even though this was written many months into the year, I believe that it is how we should start our new year, by turning over our lives to Jesus. We can turn over a new leaf with a New Year's resolution year after year, or we can turn over everything to Jesus and let Him lead us into joy and satisfaction that is everlasting. Once and always forever.One from God's RhymeHIS BLESSINGS RHYME (God's Rhyme, pg. 88)My hopes, my needs, the cure for my...

83, 9-3, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (12/22/2022) Today, 2 Christmas poems from the unpublished manuscript, The Last Notebook and one from God's Rhyme..THANK YOU JESUSRead the text,Know what's next.Jesus is risen,Sins forgiven.We will know,He will showThe great sorrowOf tomorrow.From the grave He did save.When fearIs near,Then upon us,It is JesusWho gives us restWhere we are blessedThrough His loveTo rise aboveThe sins of man.It is He who can,He has won,The risen One.Live today.Kneel and prayThen raise your hands.He understandsThis life we liveAs He did giveHis!4/23/2020, tcarterDiscussion:MY CHRISTMAS WISHDear Lord,As I prepare to shareThis holiday with othersMay my wish become a prayerFor my sisters and brothers;That they may find Your care,That they receive the gift Of Your grace as you liftThem to rise above,Feeling Your love.My prayer is that we knowIt is not the gift of a toyThat brings eternal joy.It is the gift as we grow,Having received Your graceThat we share this season,A reflection in our faceOf the love of JesusWho receives us Tattered, tornAnd forlorn.May others find the joy And their worthIn the birthOf this baby Boy.May your Merry Christmas become Blessed.May the lights on the tree shine forth.May your present be His presence.12/18/19, Tim Carter (135/31)Discussion: The next poem is from God Rhymes, page 138.ONE CHRISTMAS DAYS " In the beginning was the Word, and the Wordwas with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." John 1:1,2, NKJVBefore the Christmas carols we did sing,forever before a single church bell did ring,before we could shout to the world with joy,was the Word, God's baby boy."And the Word became flesh and dwelt amongus, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten Son of the Father." John 1:14, NIVThe Word was born in the flesh, as is man,dwelling among us, as only God can,from creator to sacrificial blessing,born of a woman to cure our distressing.What would this world be like without His birth,amid the chaos what would life be worth?In His saving grace, if we believe,our sins, our sorrows, He does relieve.God loved us before we loved Him.His love is there for each of us,today, tomorrow and yesterday,manifest through the God man, Jesus."Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to taketo you Mary your wife, for that which is conceivedin her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bringforth a Son, and you shall call his name JESUS,for He will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:20,21, NKJVWe have read His word,we have heard the story,songs of joy we have stirredproclaiming His...

82, 9-2, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 12/15/2022 ) Poem added 12/11/22Today we are reading and discussing 2 poems about walking with God and Living in His light. We are also reading a Christmas card poem that can be found in Living in God's Rhyme.Discussion:WALK WITH GODFor every season There is a reason.In the good timesAnd those not soOur faith, it does grow,As we find His rhymes.With every day,With every prayer,God leads our way.He's always there.Feast on God's peace,Find strength so kind,His righteous way,.Throughout our daysWe shall then findWill never cease.Don't know what to pray,Then take a walkAnd start to talkTo God in Heaven above.He will show you His loveAs you follow His way.12/6/2022, tcarterWALK IN THE LIGHTThere is a time& there is a placein this world we faceto hear His rhyme.As we look aroundwe do hear the soundof many voices speaking their choices.Whether slight or wrong,their words ever strong,spoken with the starknessof living in darkness.While those living in God's sightnow live in His constant light.With their eyes they see,with their ears they hear,knowing that fearwill never be.Walking in the light,always in God's sightthroughout your earthly timeHe will give you His rhyme.4/5/2022, tcarterDiscussion: This poem came to me in the Gospel of John, Chapter 11, where Jesus brings Lazarus back from the dead. Then after 2 days He told the disciples, “. . . Let us go to Judea again.” (John 11:7, NKJV) The disciples questing this and He replied, . . . if anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” (John 11: 9-10, NKJV). Read Chapter 12: 42-50 for more on walking in the light. Side note: Although I had read John's Gospel numerous times before, it really came to life for me this time. Starting around Chapter 10 to the end it was like something I had never read before. The words I read suddenly came to life and gave meaning to me that I had never felt before.The Christmas card poem can be found in God Still Rhymes on page 123.THE EVERLASTING CHRISTMASWhat is it that we want,That is for Christmas?What is it that God wants,That is for us?To open the gift he has given us,An expression of his loveAs he looks down from above.Through his grace this Christmas dayAnd every one before,And those yet to come,He has given us a present,To live forever in his presence.To live with eternal joyUnwrap the gift of his son Jesus.It's not just this Christmas dayOr those of yesterday,It is that every day can beA Christmas day.Today or...

We are back from the break, and happy to be back81, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (Scheduled 12/8/2022) Returning from November hiatus.1. The why2. The rest3. The rethinking4. The result5. The prayingOur first poem is titled ONE SUNDAY IN CHURCH Let the little children dance to the Lord, And in doing so find the lost chord. May they dance a song of joy With love for God's baby boy. The congregation will sing And the children will bring The pleasure of their smile, Leading us through our miles. May we all be that child Whose heart is so mild, That we will sing and dance When given the chance. Yes, the children will teach us To be happy with Jesus As we sing and pray Each and every day. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14 ESV) 11/27/2022,. Tim CarterDiscussion:The church I attend has chairs instead of pews and the music is mostly songs writtenmore recently than the hymns Dave and I were raised singing. I have seen some of the younger children dancing as the songs are sung. They have big smiles on their faces and some times the mothers join them. After seeing this, the dancing and the smiles on the girls and mothers faces I was moved to write the poem. I never thought this was inappropriate, but I realized that Sunday the children were dancing for God, for Jesus, and as they grow older that joy of dancing will follow them in their faith and the joy of celebrating the birth of God's Son, our Savior, Jesus. I then knew that they were experiencing worship more deeply than I did as a child when I had a coloring book and crayons, and sat on the kneeler with my coloring book on the pew. I was, for the most part, unaware of my surroundings. So, yes, let the children dance to God, to Jesus as we sing our songs of worship.I made a card with the poem to give to the mother's of 2 of the girls. My 7 year old granddaughter, Aria, drew the picture.The next poem is from God's Rhyme, page 134. It was written in 1984 and was our Christmas card that year.THE WONDER OF CHRSTMAS (GOD'S GIFT)Oh let us sing...

80, 8-10, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (Scheduled  10/27/22)                         Today, more cell phone notes app poems. Discussion: Update for November podcasts THE SHADOW ON THE WALL Entering the room I heard a sound. Looking as I turned around I saw a shadow on the wall. And again I heard a voice call. There was only me. How could this be? The shadow did not move, Nor did itself remove. Again a voice I heard It said only one word, “Believe.” Believe. Then, “the battle has been won. Why do you worry my son?” Then the shadow moved from the wall, And again I heard a voice from within call. “Life, do not fear it. I am the Holy Spirit. Sent from God above With his infinite love.” “I will lead you in all you do. The old is gone, we will find the new. As you believe Now do receive.” “God has a plan  For every man Who confesses And professes.” “Be still, and know that He is God.” The shadow then entered me, And now all that I can ever be Is what God does see. I have been set free.                                                             11/20/2021, tcarter Discussion: THE WALK Oh those old and aching bones Walking on a sea of stones, Following the path set before him He smiles and sings a mighty hymn. There is One who walks before, Who once did open the door And invited the other to walk, And follow, to pray and talk There were many star filled nights And many sunlit glorious sights. He who walked first would pray, The other only wanted to stay One day the journey did end. The other said to his new found friend, I believe it is time, I have lived my rhyme. The One took him into his arms. And the other knew no harm Would come upon him, He had sung the hymn. Before, he had given his life To the One who took his strife And led him to the certainty Of being with the One for eternity. Who is leading your journey? Know the Truth of Jesus and be set free from worldly distractions. Find peace in your day and  eternity's days. 9/17/2021, tcarter Mute.  Okay. That would be a good title for a poem.  Mute the sound in that I have found. Weakness will abound  cuz no one will hear,  No one will fear  what the world has for us  without Jesus. 10/23/22 @ 1:20pm MY CONFESSION God uses a sinner Though not a beginner To pen each word That he has heard Did this man wonder Having gone asunder Why the words were there Found floating in the air What did God see Why could this be In times of distraction Why now this attraction Because the world abounds With the Heavenly sounds That will astound As one is found Forgiving his sin God never gives in On His love for us So he sent us Jesus That is why this man Writing the words can Write each word He has heard. 12/29/2020, tcarter I wrote two tonight And I wonder why It is not a fight Distracted to try Discussion: WHERE HIS WORD LEADS Reading the prophets, Reading the Psalms, Praying and giving alms. Hoping all that calms My soul will grow In the seeds I sow. From deep inside my pockets I will remove my hands to praise The One our God did raise. Having suffered and died My sin He could not abide. He took my rightful place For my life of disgrace. I more than know, I believe And through God's grace I receive Forgiveness of my sin. Now in this race I...

79, 8-9, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (Scheduled  10/20/2022)                      Today we will be reading more poems that were written at night on the notes app on my cell phone. LEAD ME Jesus, lead me  Where I do not see So that I may be More than just me But become we 6/25/21, tcarter Discussion:   4 A.M. WEDNESDAY MORNING Come on into the light Where all is ever bright, Where the starkness Of the darkness Has been overcome And the total sum Of all we have done Erased by God's Son. The Son has risen. We are forgiven If we believe And receive God's grace, Our place In forever, It will never Be in doubt As we shout Jesus Christ is Lord, God's Son is adored, He is the light Making us right In the Father's sight. We no longer fight In the dark of night, It is through His might We see the truth of all Having heard His call. 1/6/21, tcarter Discussion: THE LETTER I'm feeling better. Read your letter, Your year in review Continues to renew, Not your fears, Not your years. But your tears Like a river flow And the weeds still grow. What is left to reap? That is why you weep. And you shared your hope, How it is you cope With the daily news, Differing views. You shared a voice And you made a choice. It said, “My son There is Good News, Jesus, My Son. The battle now won, Death overcome. What the world will bring You shall never sing. I have your hand. Walk through the sand And I will carry you Through all you will do. You are not of this world. You are forever Mine. Forever through time, Yes, that is Our rhyme. 1/13/2021, tcarter Discussion: The Rewritten Letter Stupid Love Like a glove It covers your fingers, All that lingers. The burst bubble From your perceived trouble. Hard to move forward Without God's Word, Though as we live our day May we constantly pray To the Lord Jesus, Who died to save us Will always be there When we are in his care T. Carter 10/16/22 at 2:00pm MY HEART My heart was stirred Reading God's word My burden lifted As I was gifted By God's grace His embrace I saw the light Ending the fight As I continued to read I was reminded my need Was not of man Nothing he can Can ever save my soul As I run toward the goal I will follow what God has planned As I forever understand It is only the Son of Man Who fulfilled God's Holy plan Dying for our sin Whatever it has been Then rising from the grave It is Jesus who does save Our hearts so torn As we are reborn Believe Professing Receiving Blessing tcarter, 9/5/2022, 9:45 pm Discussion: IN THOSE TIMES In the times of trouble, Those moments of struggle, When you need to snuggle, As you feel life's harms Then raise up your arms And feel God's embrace As the world you face. In the world's rejection Live in His protection. You are safe in the love Sent from Heaven above. And as you rest You will be blessed. God's love is forever plentiful, So we may live forever thankful. 8/5/2022, 2:10 am, tcarter Discussion: PSALM 51:10 10 Create in me a pure heart, oh God,        And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence        Or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation        And grant me a willing spirit,            to sustain me. I have been reading the Psalms, Revelation and rereading Ephesians 6:10, The Armor of God. I have found peace and hope and also understanding: Peace and hope in knowing God is in control, and the understanding of the tomorrows...

78, 8-8, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (Scheduled 10/13/2022)                         Today we will be reading and discussing poems about prayer and God's rhyme written later at night, sitting on the edge of the bed on my cell phone.   ONE AND THE NEXT DAY   The end of my day, I took time to pray. Nothing left to say, Except . . . I praise God for leading me From where I could not see Beyond my doubts, Where trouble mounts, Where I will mumble And may well stumble.   That was yesterday, What follows is today.   Gone is the sunlight, Giving way to the night. It was a blessed day Through which I did pray. Mistakes were sighted, Then they were righted. I was patient with time And could sense the rhyme Of where God was leading me. Into the night I could see An old and open book. So I went to take a look. It was the book of God's word. Seeing that my heart stirred. Psalms led to John's first letter. The night was getting better. What had been on my mind While reading I did find Answers to my doubt Swirling around in my head From other's words I had read. His words turned my heart about So all I could then see Was Jesus in front of me.   Believe, Trust, Wait, Receive.   Amen          10/3,4/2021, tcarter   Discussion:     WORDS FROM A PRAYER   Words to write on this night, I had a thought of what they ought This night to say, first I must pray.   Dear Father in Heaven above, I pray this night for words of love, The words I can share Expressing Your care. The words of thanksgiving, The life I am living, My tomorrow Without sorrow. May the word I have heard Be what I write This blessed night. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen, again this day.   Thank You Lord. I have adored The rhymes You are giving And the life I am living. May I now be led to share The blessing of Your loving care. tcarter, 8/8/2022, 10:49 pm   Discussion:     HE IS THERE IN PRAYER   I sat out of sight As I prayed tonight Praying for a prayer That an answer be there With my head bowed I spoke not loud Knowing God would hear And wipe away the tear Of uncertainty Giving clarity In His time With His rhyme   I've seen His grace In another's faith I've felt His grace As I run my race I will move forward Following His word Knowing the reason For this season   I will pray Every day Hearing His call Thankful for all For me He has done Through Jesus, His Son   tcarter, 9/19/2022, 9:40 pm     Discussion:     AT NIGHT KNOWING TOMORROW   Sitting beside the dim light The day has turned into night As I bow my head to pray I am thankful for this day   As I lay my head to rest I know that I have been blessed And when I awake in the morning I will not live as before in mourning   It matters not the day I will follow God's way I will answer His call As the world does fall   Division Derision The governed way Now led astray   I will survive Remain alive Through another's death And resurrection   I will follow Jesus He has made me worthy Not at the world sees us As only worthless   I am a child of God As Jesus has risen I am now forgiven No longer of this world.   3/7/2022, 9:52 pm, tcarter   Discussion:   THE ROAD, GOD'S WORD   At those times, There are rhymes, I often find I am not blind To what I have heard As I read God's word.   What is true, Is not new; It was yesterday As it is today. And in believing tomorrow He will overcome our sorrow.   Once walking the lonely road, Weighed down by my earthly load, I grew tired and weary Living a life so...

77, 8-7, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (Scheduled 10/6/2022)                         Today, poems about the joy of the peace of living our days with God in our lives, living in the promise and hope we have in Jesus. THE GATHERING LAMB (God's Rhyme, pg. 110) “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us  has turned to our own way; and the Lord has  laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  Isaiah 53:6, NIV The Lamb of God, with God before time, perfect, as is God, in every way, before the words were written in lines Jesus, the unblemished Lamb was there. Jesus and God, with the Holy Spirit, indivisible, the Trinity; so the Lamb of God is also God, who saves our souls for eternity. We, living on this earth, a herd of sheep, we wander, are lost not knowing the cost, not knowing, we cause a pain so deep that God sent Jesus to find and save us. An earthly shepherd has a special one, one of the herd that seeks the wandering,  those sheep that are lost, that have gone astray, returning them home before the day is done. Our Heavenly Master has sent His Son to find the lost and to gather the strays, to bring us home before the end of days. The Lamb of God, a never ending search. Before we knew Him He knew who we were, He knew our thoughts, He knew our prayers. And He knew of our rebellion, Before, He has always known. Yet He loves us still and He always will. He sent His Son to be the one that would seek us out even as we doubt. He sent His Son to gather us in, the unblemished Lamb, the Sacrifice, to pay the price, to die for our sins so that with God we are finally put right! . Reflection: The result of Bible study.  The lamb who gathers us in, who died for our sins. Discussion: BLESSED IS LOVE (God's Rhyme, pg. 25) Blessed are they who love the Lord thy God, for they shall love one another & those around them. We are commanded to love God our Father with all our heart & all our soul. And after, to love Thy neighbor As we would love ourselves who are created in the image of our Creator. Love with all  our hearts & all our souls as He did who saved our souls on Calvary's hill. Father, Son & Holy Spirit; One & the same for eternity. Likewise, the Ten Commandments Jesus said are one; “Love one another as I have loved you.”  The love that God commands is the love He has given. Blessed are we who accept His love, for we can return the blessing. Blessed are they who love the Lord  for they, like God,        are love, & love, like God, goes on forever. Discussion: HIS GRACE (GOD STILL RHYMES, pg. 127) “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast.” (Eph : 8-9, NIV)   It is by grace that we embrace  Our salvation, our hope, That in this race we see his face, That in this world we can cope. What is grace? His love for us, A fallen race. We have lost Our way, our place, Since the time In the Garden. Asking what is mine Without thought Or concern For what we ought To do or think. And as the eye Does blink We wonder why As we wander, As in the journey The path meanders, Til the day's end Not knowing Whether friend Or other We did treat One we did meet As a brother. Grace is his love given freely, A gift we will never deserve. But it is there for us to accept, Accept the love he does give In this life we do live. And we share that gift As others we uplift So as we follow, we serve. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus ...

76-8-6, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (Scheduled 9/29/2022)                         Today we are going to read poems about and discuss man's rebellion against God;  what it has done and what we can do about it. BROKEN HEARTED (God's Rhyme, pg. 141) A chosen people led to a land promised by God, And in another land God chosen by the people. I. The Promised Land After the fall of man sin prevailed. There were times when sin was hailed. Amid that sin in which the world regaled Lived a people, God's chosen ones. Throughout their history in Old Testament times, Through prosperity and captivity, perils and dangers, Whether living a promise or amidst strangers, They were at times distracted from looking toward the manger.  Though they had the Law, All around they saw The perversions of idols As their faith became idle. If they could only have seen God at the end of the prophesies. Knowing what it would mean, Would they have forsaken idolatry? the rebellion the forgiveness again and again and over again God's chosen people since the time in the Garden Sinned and mocked their Father Creator, Then the sacrifice of a spotless lamb of wool To forgive the sins of their hearts so full. year after year tear after tear a new sacrifice for the after life After so many years and so many tears The ultimate sacrifice had to be made, Sorrow upon sorrow Left no time to borrow. Discussion: II.  God As Man So . . .  God, through Jesus, by human birth became man, To become one of His own creation, To live in this world as one of us So He could complete His saving plan. Jesus, one with God, humbled Himself, The ultimate and eternal sacrifice, To pay the price, not by earthly deeds or self,  But by His precious shed blood. Not a sacrifice to be repeated year after year, Jesus died for sins from the time of the Garden,  Now and until the end of days So we  may stand before God without fear. Discussion: III, The Days Anew Then as an hour in a day Of a thousand years, A people persecuted for their faith Left where they could no longer stay. Their ocean voyage a second journey to the promised land. Believing they were fulfilling what God had planned; As Israel became the first Jerusalem, America was to become as a new Jerusalem. * God prevailed a people thrived the land was hailed for those deprived now able to worship to pray to God without the kingship commands of man but the world interrupted and lives were corrupted idols revered God not feared As in ages before. though a revival or two Man still ate from the tree of strife.. They were so many more than a few Never, not ever, foreseeing their life. Discussion: IV, Yesterday And Today The chosen ones, worshiping false gods, Sacrificed their children on altars of sin; Hundreds, thousands, breathing now dead. Hoping ... , forgetting ... , denying God. Now today, a people who chose God Are taking their children, those unborn, And, though not understanding the sacrifice, Are killing their children at the altar of Satan. There are those today who believe we are falling Again - failing and flailing as we turn, Not just our backs, but our hearts, from God; As those before us, so do we burn. Yesterday, today and tomorrow Worshiping all but what is right, Seeking, then reeking, lying in sin, Rebelling openly and eagerly in His sight. For seventy years in Old Testament times Jerusalem  besieged, taken captive by Babylon. Today, the new Jerusalem can look to the future To destruction by the rise of the new Babylon. Discussion: V. The Broken Hearted "My God, my God, why have you...

75, 8-5, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (Scheduled 9/22/2022) Peter Foxwell Interview, Part 2                         Today we have part 2 of our interview with Peter Foxwell, the Pastor of Cornerstone Church in Clyde MI. Discussion: INTERVIEW, PART 2 I would , as I did last week, read a poem inspired by Cornerstone Church. WINDOWS TO GOD ( God Still Rhymes, pg. 65) Continue discussion on church during covid:      Loss of members The structure of church services:       Differences between experiences growing up and today Sermons:      What is reasoning for decisions on what topics to use      Pastor's main calling is teaching and preaching from the Bible      Explaining, clarifying passages from the Bible Structure in church services:      Discussion between Dave and Peter      Leadership Team Discussion:      Elders Team      Staff Team Dad and 10-minute sermons Peter, some structure and the Holy Spirit Cornerstone, life changing Need for another Great Awakening There is hope Jesus' call to build His church Go to www.FamousGod.com and click on the Jesus tab      Dave talks about what he found there Thank you Peter for this interview.   End of Part 2 Follow is on our website                                                                 http://www.livingingodsrhyme.com/ (www.livingingodsrhyme.com)   Let us know your thoughts through Speakpipe https://www.speakpipe.com/Livingingodsrhymepodcast (https://www.speakpipe.com/Livingingodsrhymepodcast)   You can buy Tim's books at the following websites https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/god%20rhyme%20tim%20carter (god rhyme tim carter | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)) https://www.amazon.com/s?k=God%27s+Rhyme+tim+Carter&ref=nb_sb_noss (Amazon.com : God's Rhyme Tim Carter) https://www.lettrapress.com   Please follow us on Facebook and Like us https://www.facebook.com/Godstillrhymes ((6) Tim Carter, God Still Rhymes | Facebook)   Please follow us on Youtube.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqSR3-0c9FfAZnblwJ2u0dA (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqSR3-0c9FfAZnblwJ2u0dA)   You can hear us on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Pandora, Stitcher, IHeart radio, Tunedin Radio. and all the other podcast sites.  Please subscribe to the podcast Tell all your friends about us and have them tell thier friends, Thank you for being here, we are blessed that you listened. Tim and Dave   "If you give Him the times As you live His word rhymes " "We are the King's kids and you'll never get rid of us because we are His with Jesus." This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

74, 8-4, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (Scheduled 9/15/2022) Peter Foxwell Interview, Part 1 INTERVIEW, PART 1 Today we are going to share Part 1 of our interview with Peter Foxwell, the pastor of Cornerstone Church in Clyde, MI, just outside of Port Huron.  This the church I attend. I have always found the parts of Peter's story that I knew to be interesting.  I also find his faith and teachings to be inspirational. PETER FOXWELL INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS PART 1   Introduce Peter His Journey:      Born and raised in Scotland      After high school, attended Aberdeen University, graduated with law degree      Encountered Jesus second year of college, changed trajectory of his life      Became a lawyer      Years he was led to be led to the ministry      Attended Divinity School in Grand Rapids, Michigan      After graduation he returned home only to return to attend Seminary in Michigan      Met his wife, a Michigan native        After graduating from Seminary Peter and his wife spent 7 years in Canada in ministry      Last 25 years at Cornerstone Church Discussion:      What would Peter tell people about Jesus?      Christian faith      Jesus lived, He was real      Son of God      Jesus intercedes for us with His Father      Talking to people about Jesus Recent College Experience:      PHD in Leadership      Online      5 years      Discussion on the process ad research      Stress of pastors during Covid      Interviews with pastors Further Discussion:      Stress & struggles during Covid      Need for churches to have online presence End Part 1 Discussion: INTERVIEW, PART 1 Discussion: I'd like to end with a poem from God's Rhyme I wrote after attending Cornerstone church for awhile. THE CORNERSTONE (God's Rhyme, Pg. 122) The cornerstone, the first block laid, upon which the foundation is made, in which the line is straight and true, the beginning holding the clue. A clue of the temple A view of the house A pew of His church The few The blessed The meek The poor The Spirit The Son The Father All found in . . .  the cornerstone. Old and new, we can read testaments of the blocks which rest on the cornerstone; so perfect in line, lest we lament, lest we reject, lest we build on our own. Jesus, the cornerstone on which we build our lives; a temple, we as one become a church building on His perfection we strive through His life, we end our search. Building on the cornerstone we are no longer a stranger, we no longer build alone, not since that birth in the manger. “We are members of His household, Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, With Christ Jesus as the chief cornerstone.”  Ephesians 2: 19, 20, NIV Before the beginning and beyond the end, Jesus, our Savior, is our cornerstone; building on a life, a death that God did send, the house He builds becomes our own. (Yes, He was the cornerstone the Psalms tell us the builders rejected.  But for those who believe, He is the cornerstone for all that is good.  In Him we have our faith, our hope, our joy, our eternal salvation.) Reflexion: This is about the church I started attending while in Bible study.  In...

73, 8-3, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (9/9/2022) Recent poems, some written on my notes app an my cell phone, others written in a notebook or random piece of paper, and  one on the computer.  No set theme, only the theme of my wandering mind. THE ROAD As the week is ending I am feeling God's mending Through the love He is giving. With the world I am dealing It is through His healing The peace I am feeling. Now and forever, Leaving me never. I shall move forward Following His word. As I faithfully follow His words are not hollow. As He lifts me up I shall drink from His cup, No longer living in fear As he holds me ever near. He has taken my load As I travel this road. As He leads I succeed. As I pray I find the way Beyond what I see To what will be. tcarter, 8/26/2022 #LivingInGod'sRhymePodcast Discussion: THE CALL The wall was breached As the message was preached. Many heard the call As the mighty wall Through words did fall. More lies to expose As the Spirit rose Of so many voices Making their choices. With hands upraised The Creator was praised. And with the rising Son, The reign of Jesus begun. Lies repeated, Now defeated. May we know the way As we kneel and pray For God's protection Through the resurrection Of God's Holy Son. Jesus is the One Who saved us And will raise us Above the fray Of our earthly day. Give thanks in prayer, He is here, there, He is everywhere. tcarter, 8/26/2022 #LivingInGod'sRhymePodcast Discussion: THE TRUTH The meteoric rise Of one man's pride; Many have cried, Many have died Believing the lies Misleading their lives So another may rise Above human pride. Those who have cried Over the ones who died Still believe the lies Rearranging their lives. My friend, Before the end Kneel and pray That this day You know the King Promised to bring, Through His worth, Peace on earth. Lord, Jesus, Please save us. On You we rely To hear our cry, Our constant prayer Always and                everywhere. As we are blessed We pray for the rest. tcarter, 8/27/2022, 11:07 pm #LivingInGod'sRhymePodcast Discussion: THE LETTER I am writing this letter To family and friends Asking for forgiveness And to make amends For the uncertainty and fears I have caused over the years, Too much pain, too many tears. I look at the clock, So many thoughts block The words I need to say. But they have gone astray. Looking for a rhyme, Can I find one this time? I could read no more. Looking at the door I felt a hand on  my shoulder. Why now, I had grown older? Then as the hand did squeeze I was then set at ease. I felt a release, Suddenly at peace, Overwhelming love. I turned and looked above And I saw Jesus smile. He had been the all the while. tcarter, 8/27/2022 #LivingInGod'sRhymePodcast By my believing I was receiving The confirmation Of my salvation, The promise of God's Son Overcoming all I have done. 8/29/2022 Discussion: THE CHURCH Colossians 1:24 24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you,  and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in  the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of  His body, which is the church, The Bible, God's written word, Read or spoken we have heard In prophecies, gospels and letters How One life would make us better. By the spirit, through the body of man, What we cannot do, surely God can. He has and continues to lead us By the life and death of His Son, Jesus. The church today filled with believers, Having rejected the worldly deceivers, In churches gathered together To praise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Through the storms we do weather By God's love, so we then must share it.

72,8-2, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS  (Scheduled 9/1/2022) Today we are going to talk about taking up our cross and following Jesus.  I was given a wooden cross that gave me the inspiration for today's podcast. We'll start with three times in The Bible Jesus tells those He is with to do this. Matthew 16:24-26 NKJV, Jesus is with His disciples after feeding the four thousand. 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Mark 8:35 NKJV, Jesus and His disciples were at a house in Capernaum. When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Luke 9:23 NKJV, Jesus is with His disciples after feeding the five thousand. Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. THE CROSS OF JESUS How do we react to the cross? Yes, there is death and loss. And beyond in our strife There is a promise – eternal life. The Son of man, living as one of us. The Son of God, the God/man Jesus Showed the way As He did pray On that fateful night When good an evil did fight. His prayer: “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me;  nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42, NKJV) Dying for the sins of others, His sisters and brothers, He gave of Himself For our Heavenly wealth. No, not money or fame. Nor words that do not rhyme. It was for the forgiveness of our sin So forever we might live with Him. We must also commit to the cross. Overcoming sin is not a loss. No, we take up our cross for gain Knowing God's protection always remains. Jesus said, “Take up you cross and follow me.” On that fateful day, He took up His cross for all to see. Taking up our cross we follow Jesus. We die to self in absolute surrender. We will lose the live we lived on this earth, We will follow as Jesus walked And greet others as He talked. We will find our Heavenly worth.      (tcarter, 8/19/2022) Discussion: I would like to follow this with the Armor of God.  As we take up our cross and follow Jesus, I believe it helps to also put on the armor of god, so we are able to stand against the forces of evil.  I have no poem for this, I am just going to read the verses from the Bible. Ephesians 6:10-20, NKJV, 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [a]wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [b]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known...

71, 8-1, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS  (Scheduled August 26, 2022) Today we will be reading and discussing poems that were influenced by a picture or object that inspired me. THE CLOCK, THE TIME, OUR HOURS (God Still Rhymes, pg 7) Time, is it ours or is it hours, The hands that do not move? As we move through time Do we make life rhymes? Whose face is on the clock? Does it reflect      the number of years,      the number of fears,      the number of tears? The rhymes that age us As we look in the mirror, Is it ours or the face of time? Will the hands on the clock Give us time to unlock The secrets we keep, Our sins so deep? Do we have the hours, At least to start, To open our heart And release what was ours? Time will wait for no one. Will we be standing still At the end of time? Time will not go on into infinity As we wait for eternity. We are free, what ever we want to be for all to see especially he that is in  Heaven above. Will we choose his love before the end? Will we accept the grace he did send? In the shining sun, do we have time  to accept his son, his sacrifice  to make us right? The hands on the clock sometimes move so odd. At times they do mock each and every minute of the day. But if we make time to pray we will see the hand of God, feel his infinite love his saving grace his sacrifice  for our righteousness,  that we will be for eternity. Discussion: The clock that inspired this poem also inspired a full chapter in God Still Rhymes:  The Broken Clock, Still The Clock Is Still, Our Time Standing Still, and The Clock A Few Months Later.  Grandfather Clock was written many years before.  It seem like a good introduction to the other clock poems. WINDOWS TO GOD  (God Still Rhymes, pg. 65) An ancient cathedral, an old country church, filled with worshipers praying, singing, hearing as his word is heard as sun shining through windows of stained glass. The history of our faith, of a journey through the ages, reflecting sorrows and joys ever present for us to see. As it may seem the lighted beam seen through the glass as time does pass the hands of man reflects his plan. Then at church today, walking through the door, no windows reflecting a journey that has passed, now in muted hues photographs black and white, joy without sorrow, husband, wife, a child, give hope for tomorrow. The journey unfinished, they are looking forward. We see the Son shine through many smiles. Now we can see what we can be, the simplicity for you and me, life he did save, the gift he gave. Whether by the sun shining through multicolored stained glass or the Son shining through a photograph of white and black, both are windows through which we can see the work of his hand. Reflection: The church I attend was having its 18th anniversary.  The only windows are in the entrance atrium and the classrooms.  To celebrate this occasion pictures of some of the members were taken and enlarged.  These were put up on the walls around the church.  They reminded me of the stained glass windows in the churches I had grown up in. Discussion: WHICHEVER WAY THE WIND WILL BLOW (Living In God's Rhyme, pg. 207) A storm, a boat, the disciples with Jesus . . .  He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet!  Be Still!”  Then the wind died down And it was completely calm. (Mark 4:39. NIV) When there is a gentle breeze Then we find a life of ease, But when the wind will blow Does our spirit sink low? It is at those times When facing life's storms, With the wind at our face As we run our life's race, We feel tattered and...

70, 7-10, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, Revised 8/13/22 (Scheduled August 19, 2022) Today we are reading and discussing my evenings before going to bed. I like to sit on the edge of the bed before I actually get into bed  and write a short poem on the Notes app on my cell phone.  Today we will be reading some of those poems. PSALM 51:10 10 Create in me a pure heart, oh God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence Or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation And grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. I have been reading the Psalms, Revelation and rereading Ephesians 10, The Armor of God. I have found peace and hope and also understanding: Peace and hope in knowing God is in control, and the understanding of the tomorrows we will face. With God we will be prepared for tomorrow. With the Armor of God we will find peace in the hope we have through Jesus. Our God has prepared us For all to come through Jesus, By His grace we are with His Son Through whom the battle has been won. We will face fears, We will face tears, Still we will not die From another's lie. Living for this world, no, never. Living for Jesus, Our salvation will last forever. He has saved us. Hallelujah, praise the Father. Hallelujah, praise the Son, Hallelujah, praise the Holy Spirit. Praise God for His never ending blessings. Amen tcarter, 9/28/2021,  Discussion: AN ANSWER TO PRAYER I thought I could stop The up and down hop Going on in my mind. Could peace I again find? Speak up Shut up What is right Not what might So I knelt and began to pray. The answer, “Do not betray Your fellow believers, Expose the deceivers.” There are moments I hear comments Saying words I've written Should never be hidden. As my mind started to wander, I knew it was time to pray. Tilting my head I looked yonder And asked God, “what do I say?” I see the world in a haze, With so many in a daze, Not knowing where the truth lays Too many yeas, too few nays. I said, “Lord, what can be done?” He answered, “it is simple my son. Read the book of prophecy. Not books of philosophy.” “Today you pray To know the way. You already know it, Now you must share it.” So I will continue to write Of how yesterday and today Have and still explain tomorrow, As the “god of this world” brings sorrow. (2 Cor. 4:4) Put on the full armor of God, so you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For your struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  tcarter 9/20/2021, 10:22 pm Discussion: SPOKEN WORDS There are days We live in haze Through our ways Our wayward daze So many have spoken Many more are broken Their lives but a token Until they are awoken Who are the fools Those making rules Or those who follow Words that are hollow There is one word When it is heard Hearts become stirred Truth is not blurred It is the Word of the Creator Not the sounds of a berater It comes without shaded hue No, the word of God is true It is our choice As we have heard To use our voice And I pray it is To speak God's Word Today I pray for this All words have meaning. Some, over time and context, have changed, others still are. Meanings change to change meaning to change reactions that lead to actions that change the ways we are led astray, so we don't get in the way, but obey as we are led astray. There is One whose word is the same today as it was yesterday, and will still be the same all of our tomorrows. It is the Word of God. The Word of truth, the Word of creation and the Word of hope. tcarter, 3/6/22,8:31 pm...

69, 7-9, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,   Today we are going to read poems and discus where faith leads us.  All of the poems are from Living In God's Rhyme. THE GENTLENESS OF FAITH (pg. 125) Our faith is a reflection That upon recollection By those whose lives we passed. Will see a love that lasts. Our faith is not quarrelsome, We speak in gentle tones To those who do not know the Son So they see the love he has shown. His spirit may raise our voice, Though never in anger, but in joyful song Of a love that will make eyes moist As the lost find that for which they do long. Love is gentle in its forgiving As shown by how we were living, That as Christ redeemed us at the cross So now we may live without the loss, The loss of, The love of his promise, The gift of his grace, That with Christ we will rise When his call will end our race. For God so loved us he gave his only Son So we could join him and be the ones To share, To care, To be there, Anywhere He calls, Standing tall So others hear There is no fear In God's embrace As the world we face. Without love for others, For our sisters and brothers, Our faith is but mist in the air. So how to the lost do we share? Pray that our faith leaves no question Of who God is and who we are in him. May the gentle love of God Be the gentleness of our faith. Reflection on The Gentleness of Faith I was led, or more likely I meandered, through four books before getting the inspiration for this poem.  It came from 2 Timothy 2:24.  “And the Lords servant must not be quarrelsome But must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.” (NIV) Discussion:  HIS WORD MAY IT LEAD US (pg. 63) Matthew, Mark Luke and John, Paul, Peter, Timothy and Jude, Books and letters written  To show us the way to God's love, The love of his sacrifice, The love of his grace, The love he has for us, The human race. Jesus said, Believe, Be baptized And spread the Gospel. We should not only pray, Pray every day, For those who have not heard His mighty saving word. We should speak So that we reach Those souls we know Of the gift we have received So they will not be deceived. We need to shout To the world about That Jesus saves, He is what God gave So the end will be better, So it will not be bitter. After Thoughts As believers we can meet in clusters So that faith and desire we can muster That as we leave the room We do not have a sense of doom But the faith to share, Share that we care, That others hear What we hold dear To our hearts So they may start To see what they can be That when with Jesus They will be free. Discussion: THE RHYME OF GOD, THE RHYME OF ME (pg. 34) There may be no rhymes As in other times. But it is not that the Lord Has struck a lost chord. (if he did it would be sung as every church bell was rung) His rhyme is his word, The scriptures we read Through which he plants the seed, With hope that we have heard. It is through his grace That we see his face In those we meet And those we greet. If we believe, In us lives his rhyme Forever in time. He will not deceive. Then I decided to write About something right, But got it wrong Because it was me, Me, just me, alone. I can wander in this world, Oblivious to all that is good. I can try by myself To lift myself up, Up above the  Hustle without The bustle, And fail  Because the bustle Of this world Is the hustle That tells me All I see Is all I need. Then I awake from what I hope was a dream, Hoping that all is not what it seemed. I look in the mirror and see The reflection of what I used to be. What I used to be before My Savior redeemed me, Made me righteous in his eyes, The eyes of his Father in Heaven above. Every moment of every day I felt his...

67, 7-8, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (8/4/2022) Today: Christian faith and the world view have been at odds since the time of Jesus' resurrection.  I am using the word faith instead of religion because faith is from God not religion without the reforms man has instituted into religion.  We Christians must be able to separate the word of God from the words of man.  To do so we, will be led to pray to God our Father, the Creator. We must be ready to face and live in this world which . . . this world which does not like us.  Sorry. I'm trying not to let words get the worst of me before we start reading.  But as the world is against us, God is for us. And by His grace we can run the race before us and cross the finish line that those of the world are unaware of. We'll start with poems from God Still Rhymes. SHELTER FROM THE STORM (PG. 83) Who will give us shelter as we suffer and swelter from the impeding heat of the city street? Who will in our lives so torn shelter us from the storm, from the pouring rains, from the winds of pain? Some do not like to consider God's wrath as out they strike along their earthly path. His word on our path, where it leads do we heed, heed his word,  have we heard? Do we care as we stare never knowing what we are sowing? Do we live among the herd, do we ignore his word looking for treasure and earthly pleasure? There are so many who refuse to hear, to look in the mirror. Joy there isn't any. They do not know the seeds they sow will always grow death in the weeds. There are oncoming storm clouds as the world shouts not knowing the pain of the oncoming rain, Not knowing the wrath because of their path, not knowing, having never heard. Jesus has calmed the stormy seas, has rescued those in fear and need. And through his sacrifice for our sin he calmed God's wrath for those who believe. Discussion: Yes, I like Bob Dylan and have at times tried to write like him.  This shelter from the storm is completely different than the one he wrote with the same title.  They are like faith and the world. Another from God Still Rhymes, pg. 85 BORN THEN SCORNED Into this life you were born So that you might be scorned. Never seeing your worth While on this earth, Though seeing the torn veil, Not knowing that you would prevail. (John 11:45) Jesus threatens the comfort of our lives Just as he threatened the Pharisee's lies. For that he would die. Did they, do we know why? The Messiah, the Son of God, For that and all he said They wanted him dead. The world hasn't changed. He who controls rules. The law, did it have the clues? Not for the ruling few Who believed they knew. But what did they know? What seeds did they sow? Leading the lost sheep astray, Did they ever ask or pray? Today, What do we say? Do we ever pray That we not be Led astray, But find The Way The Truth, And the Life? Please pray that your life can be more than you see at the beginning of the day. Pray that your life may be changed, priorities rearranged, That all you say, that all you do, is not for you alone But for others through him that does atone. May God's grace shine upon your face. May the gift of salvation be your restoration. May you be joyful in the Lord, Believing through faith That Christ alone is the Lord of your life. Discussion:    The last one from God Still Rhymes, pg. 90 AFTER READING HABAKKUK God will punish those who oppose him, Those who worship false idols as gods, Gods of wood, silver and gold, Those who oppress his holy people. But at the same time the people of God Will also suffer at the hands of their oppressors, Those who do not believe that he is  The God of Heaven above, the...

67, 7-7, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (July 29, 2022) Today we are going to talk about love, God's love and our love.  Reading poems about love came to mind having written down the words of I Corinthians, Chapter 13, verse in a notebook after reading one night.  I have been wanting to use this verse as the theme of a podcast ever since.  As I prayed about the poems to use the word “Love “ was the center of my focus.  So, I looked through the index of each book and found 6 poems with “Love” in the title.  His Love! Paul had been talking about some of the gifts of the Holy Spirit as Chapter 13 starts.  He ends with Verse 13: “And now abide in faith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (NKJV) Our first one is from God's Rhyme, pg. 13 LOVE Love is a song of not just how long I have loved you but of Your forgiveness thru all I have done wrong You are love & how I love You, my Lord, my Savior. You, Jesus, are love I can see. Love is the warm sun before each day is done, that feeling inside that is hard to hide when walking with the Son. You are love & how I love You, My Lord, my Savior. You, Jesus, are love I can feel. Love, Jesus, is You & all I can do  I know is give each day I live to those who need You too. You are love & how I love You, My Lord, my Savior. You, Jesus, are love I can be. Discussion: Also from God's Rhyme, pg. 25 BLESSED IS LOVE Blessed are they who love the Lord thy God, for they shall love one another & those around them. We are commanded to love God our Father with all our heart & all our soul. And after, to love Thy neighbor As we would love ourselves who are created in the image of our Creator. Love with all  our hearts & all our souls as He did who saved our souls on Calvary's hill. Father, Son & Holy Spirit; One & the same for eternity. Likewise, the Ten Commandments Jesus said are one; “Love one another as I have loved you.”  The love that God commands is the love He has given. Blessed are we who accept His love, for we can return the blessing. Blessed are they who love the Lord  for they, like God,        are love, & love, like God, goes on forever. Discussion: The last one from God's Rhyme, pg. 31 We have read this poem on a previous podcast.  And it fits into today's podcast perfectly. YOUR LOVE Your love fills my heart at day's new start. Your love so fills me I give thanks to Thee. Your love fills my life with children & a loving wife. You loved me before I ever loved You. You love me still inspite of what I do. You love me & because You do I try more to deserve You. Your love  shows me right. In darkness  You are light. Your love, as only it can, is so perfect, more than man. Your love aways reaches my needs. I love you Jesus. Discussion: We have one from God Still Rhymes, pg. 103 LOVE I can't help but cry, No matter how I try As I wonder why He was the one to die. To endure the pain That he may reign, His love to give That I might live. At the cross My life's loss Now forever lost As he paid the cost. There is a song about being  Before God in Heaven,  “I Can Only Imagine.” Well, his sacrifice  For the sin of my life, That I can never imagine. The praying in the garden, The emotional turmoil The fears of man. Then as the Son of God Praying to the Father,  “Not my will, but yours.” Man and Deity, Knowing the end He endured The brutality of a Roman flogging, The braided whip laced with metal balls,...

Tim Carter sees God everywhere, even in the most difficult of times, reminding us that God is present in all moments of life. "I will let God give to me his all as I hear his call." Tim Carter is a Christian poet and author. He has written two books of Christian poetry, "God's Rhyme: Expressions of Faith" and "Living in God's Rhyme." This is Tim Carter's story... Tim Carter sees God in the good and bad moments of life. He sees God in the smiles of strangers, in the birth of new life, and even in death. He is reminded that God is present everywhere, even in the most difficult of times.. In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. The power of rhyme in communicating and connecting with God 2. The importance of being aware of one's own judgmental tendencies and working to overcome them 3. The ways that God shows himself to us in everyday life, both in the good and the bad Resources: [Insert any lead magnet/CTA links from Guest here]  Chapter Summaries: 1) Tim is Tim's brother Dave's brother tim is Tim and Dave is Dave tim doesn't like to hear himself talk on the podcast, so he changed the name of the podcast to Living in the rhyme from Living in Grief's rhyming. 2) Tim and Dave are going to read and discuss some poems that have encouraged them as they have lived them. The first poem is called Trust to Be Led. The second one is called. I removed the log from my eye and I will forgive as I live. Recently, Dave has found that he is becoming a worse driver. There was a glass house on the lake shore between Marysville and St. Clair, Michigan. Dave used to throw stones at people. He used to do that too. But now he's aware of it less and less. He thinks it helps us to be aware of things, so we're less likely to do them. 3) This week especially for some reason, I feel his grasp has been a little bit tighter. I find myself asking for forgiveness more often, but I also find myself not doing as many things that I think I need to ask for forgiveness for. Believing and being around and being with Jesus is fun. 4) All right. That was a good discussion. There was some good thoughts and questions. 5) The rhymes are what got me started. I had to give up a few stances because I could not find a Rhyming word that made sense. I kind of liked where I was going, but because I started rhymes, I knew I needed to finish. 6) The first two poems are Christian poetry that aren't published. The second poem is found on page 31, and it's called Your Love. Jesus' love is perfect more than man. Jesus is a loving and righteous deity. He loves people lovingly even when they do wrong things in their lives. 7) Tim was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009. He was treated with radiation in the hospital for three days and 25 low dose radiation treatments. After that. The hospital where he had his treatment at was 45 miles away from home, but they took him there at 7:30 instead of 800. Tim was able to get back to work by 8:30. 8) As his faith expanded through church and through reading. He wants to read more of the Old Testament as it gives him more of a desire to read the Bible. He is not a Bible expert, but he has been in groups with discussion about the Old and New Testament. 9) Tim and Jesus are running a race two weeks in a row. They were talking about the director of their show earlier. Tim and the director got together this weekend and they can't wait to be with Jesus next week. They are going to do a podcast called Preparation. Dave is in Florida. Paul and Tim are in Michigan. Dave is thankful they are there. Dave has been to the hospital before. Dave and Tim have been hospitalized recently. Tim and Dave will talk about this in the show notes. They will also talk about Tim's and Dave's relationship with Jesus. 10) Dave and Dave pray for their listeners and viewers. They pray for the nation of Ukraine and its people. They also pray for those who have not yet...

65, 7-5, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  Today we will be reading and discussing poems about ,the beginnng of our rebirth as Christians, then living our lives to reach the goal, the quiet of our faith, and the grace of God.  2wo poems each from God's Rhyme and God Still Rhymes. Discussion: WE WERE BORN IN BETHLEHEM  (GR, pg. 90) We are the children of the Father of Abraham,  children dispersed to all the nations     We are the children of the Father of Moses  who led his people from captivity    We are the children of the Father spoken of  in the books of the Old Testament      We are the children of our fathers and  mothers and generations that came before. We are God's children Both Gentile and Jew Through His death and resurrection And the promise of God's covenant We are God's children We have been chosen Whether it is by His saving grace Or a promise to an ancient race We are God's children His face on this earth As the ancient scriptures did foretell Covenants old and covenants new We are God's children And so we must live Praising Him with words ever so bold Singing songs and hymns both new and old We are the children of the Father of Abraham, children dispersed to all the nations     We are the children of the Father of Moses  who led his people from captivity    We are the children of the Father spoken of  in the books of the Old Testament     We are the children of our fathers and mothers and generations that came before Discussion: RUNNING TOWARD THE GOAL (GR, pg. 129) “All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of His resurrection, to share in his suffering and become like him in his death in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life.”     Phil. 3:10 GN The race I could never win, no, not on my own. I stumble & fall, I sin. & many times the race seems too long. But for me, the race has been won. Following God's heavenly course, Jesus, my Savior, His holy Son, has received all the glory. Knowing where my life ends I continue to strive & run the course Jesus set before me, hoping that with Him I will become one. “May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord.”     Phil. 4:4, GN I must look ahead, never behind, keep running by the power of His love straight toward the goal & prize –  God's call thru Jesus to life above. As Jesus has done before me to see, I must follow the course He so perfectly set before me, avoiding the obstacles of this human world. & when I do finally & joyfully arrive, He will take this weak & mortal body & like His it shall become alive in glory by the power of Him who has created all. “May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again, rejoice!” Discussion: HIS GRACE (GSR, pg, 127) “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast.” (Eph : 8-9, NIV)   It is by grace that we embrace  Our salvation, our hope, That in this race we see his face, That in this world we can cope. What is grace? His love for us, A fallen race. We have lost Our way, our place, Since the time In the Garden. Asking what is mine Without thought Or concern For what we ought To do or think. And as the eye Does blink We wonder why As we wander, As in the journey The path meanders, Til the day's end Not knowing Whether friend Or other We did treat One we did meet As a brother. Grace is his love given freely, A gift we will never deserve. But it is there for us to accept,...

64, 7-4, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  Today we will read and discuss poems about my need to be open to God through my day, throughout my life: what do I have to offer to God' and finally thoughts I on the way to church one Sunday.  All of the poems are from Living In God's Rhyme. Just a side note for the show notes:  in one of my radio interviews I was asked what my favorite Bible verse was; I answered, “The last one I read.”   And today if you were to ask me which is my favorite of the three books, I would say, “The one we are reading and discussing on the podcast.”  Yup, some days that could be 3 favorites. DRAW ME CLOSER (PG. 122) Dear Lord, draw me closer to you In all I desire in all I do. Lord, open my heart to your Holy Spirit, Your spirit that dwells within me. Lord, I do not want to knock on the door So that you may open it for me, I want the door to always be open. I never want it to close. Those moments when we share My prayers and your answers Are special moments I pray Will never end, but continue Throughout my day. With the door open  I allow you to lead me from temptation, I allow myself to be in your presence,  One with you, Abba, Father. Abba, that relationship I pray will never end. Thank you, Father For leading me to  The way, The truth And the life  With you  Through your Son, Jesus. Amen. Discussion: MEET ME (pg. 123) Lord, meet me, set me free. You know where I've been, you know of my sin. And although you know, you continue to show That I am your child with a love so mild. Lord, you met me when I could not see Beyond my sight, what I thought was right. You met me in the dirt of my earthly hurt. My life you did raise so that you I could praise. Finally found, hearing your sound, The whisper of your spirit, loud enough that I did hear it. You met me in uncharted seas with the waves washing over me And calmed the storms in a life forlorn. My Morning Prayer: Meet me, Lord, every day As I lift my head from my bed. Help me to pray that each new day I hear you before rising to my feet. You, Lord, are my anchor, You are my healer, You are my redeemer, My hope, My joy. You, Lord,  Are my everything. Without you, Lord, I am nothing. With you I can be everything You want me to be,  Everything that you have for me. My Evening Prayer: May my life be as unleavened bread, Without the yeast as the world serves it, So when we meet I can hear the words said, Well done, my good and faithful servant. Discussion: I HAVE NOTHING (pg. 151) I have nothing to add to the word of God. I have nothing to add to his love for me. I have nothing to offer to make me worthy. I have nothing to add to God's rhymes. That is true, but . . .  I can believe in His word. I can accept his love for me. I can accept that through Jesus I am worthy. I can become one of God's rhymes. I can offer my life to God. I can spread the Good News of salvation. I can be a reflection of his love. I can share the end of the Christmas story. I have nothing on my own to give to God,  But with God I have everything to give. I have every reason to live for him. I have hope for life eternal with him. I have nothing until I have God in my life, Until I accept the atoning sacrifice That showed his love for me. I can accept Jesus, my savior, My redeemer, my hope, my everything. Discussion: THOUGHTS ON THE WAY TO CHURCH (pg, 152) The lost sheep, Are we led, Led to the way Or led astray, Are we fed By the Bread of Life Or captive to strife There are random thoughts that cross my mind That make me seek the words to find That will feed me and lead me To the right words to write No questions, No exclamations Period? Just the...

63, 7-3, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,   Today we are starting with the poems for Chapter 2 of God Still Rhymes.  It is titled Just a Thought with a note that says, not long to read, not that long to write.  Chapter 2 can be found on pages 11 - 19. I Wonder What I wonder what does this mean Snow falling in a summer scene Leaves falling from autumn trees  From the wind of a spring rain breeze Life, so many questions Strife, not so many answers Like a surgeon's dull knife Saving an alcoholic's wife Discussion: Won't Be In the Book When I die Where will I lay On the judgement day What will I say It will be too late to pray In the great by and by Reflection on Won't Be In the Book It is how God works.  The title was to mean that this poem won't be in the next book.  But with God, it means if you haven't said the prayer of salvation, you won't be in the Book. Discussion: Rest When life has taken your best, Take a step back, but don't look around. Do not be disturbed by the sound For all you ever need can be found. All you will ever need, in God's rest. Discussion: Love Reborn Your love is like a warm glove In winter's storms. Your hand protects me  Against life's storms. When I feel tattered and torn You remind me I've been reborn. Discussion: The Words Of  The words of action, Our actions silently speak, Silently telling the story  Of who we are Beneath the stars of night And the shining sun of day. I pray that all we don't say Tells the world of God's Almighty Glory. May our actions Guide our words So that reactions Reflect what others  Seeing have heard. Discussion: In My Pessimism  In my pessimism there is hope. Knowing what God's word says Relieves my fears,  Wipes away the tears, Knowing what the world faces The places that will burn. Yes, there is pessimism  In knowing. But more, there is hope Knowing that there is time, Time for more to turn. Blinded by sight, There is time that  They may be made right. Hope is always there, Always through prayer. Discussion: Our Loss at the Cross The cross, not for our loss. The pain for what we gain. We can withstand if we do stand, not as the world sees us, but through the eyes of Jesus. As he was raised we sing with hands upraised that he might be praised til the ends of the day. Discussion: Through his Eyes His eyes are on me.  Oh, it might be.  Yeah. I pray that what he, that, what he does see  is not what I will be,  but who I am  to the great I am. Tim Carter Living in God's Rhyme Podcast 6/30/22 We'll end with a poem from Living in God's Rhyme.  It is on page 114.   Is This The Human Condition (This is not a question) Where is God when we need him? Why has this happened again, Over and over again? We were told you were a good God, A loving God who cares for his people. Where are you in our times of need! Before our time of need  We should take time to read Of the history of his chosen ones, His beloved daughters and sons. In their times of greed They did not see the need To honor his glory and heed His word, words that feed. It is there for us today. Did we not know so we cannot say? Did we not know as we walked away That you despised our way? Did we not hear that Jesus came Not just for the Jew, but also the Gentile? He came so that with God we could reconcile So as Jew and Gentile we are all the same. If we love God and his Son, No matter what we have done, His love for us never is never ending. Our lives forever he will be mending, If we love him we must follow With words and prayers not hollow, We must be true to him who...

61,7-2, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (6/23/2022) Today is all about God's Rhyme, poems from the first book, God's Rhyme first published in 2015. The first part of the book has poems I wrote in the 1970s and 80s for The Jesus Poems.  I submitted the manuscript for publishing in 1983.  It was accepted for publishing, but I could not afford it at the time.   The introduction: “The Jesus Poems” We all know that Jesus  Is the Son of God & the Holy Spirit completes the Trinity From the beginning of time & even before, Jesus, as God, with the Holy Spirit created the earth & all we know as good. So, though not always mentioned as Jesus, this book is dedicated to Him to whom we relate in human form. May this glorify His Holy Name. & may it also bless you as He has blessed me in knowing Him better. An experience of growth,  which even now continues, it, therefore, is offered incomplete. Reflection: In 1978 my wife, Mary Lou, and I attended a Marriage Encounter weekend, a retreat to make good marriages better.  We were led through the weekend by two couples and a priest.  It was a weekend filled with revelations about each other, and others and God.  The priest whose name was Larry Dunn was a Jesus filled man.  As we found out that weekend and for many years to follow, to be with Larry was to be with Jesus.  Larry was the priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission in our home town.  And that is where we started attending church regularly. Many of the poems from "In the Beginning" were written during those years we attended Guadalupe.  It was a time and place where Jesus was celebrated; where everyone was hugged during the sign of peace; and the music, so full of joy, got you through the week. Discussion: This was the beginning of my journey which has taken many twists and turns and led to the following poem also in God's Rhyme MY FRIEND JESUS (pg. 5) Take my hand  as we walk this land, feel the sand as time drifts away, hear what I say, just be what you may with my friend Jesus. A little boy, a baby girl; sometimes the days like a waterfall swirl until I feel the sun's rays & I know it's the Son,  Who, tho blinded to some, is Who I will follow. A walk thru a field & I find I must yield, give of myself, die to my wants. I opened the door & found Him waiting there, wanting no more than that breath of fresh air. I found the way. As people had said, it's not what you say or the thoughts in your head. It's not just the grace of an evening meal. It's something you always feel, something that starts deep in you heart. Take my hand & walk with me; There is so much to be. Together we can stand, not just the two of us, because we are three with our friend Jesus. Discussion: Jesus became approachable to me in at this time in my life.  Not only was he part of the Holy Trinity, he was a friend, someone I could talk to freely.  My prayers and worship revolved around Jesus as my Savior. MY SWEET JESUS (pg. 10) Oh Jesus, sweet Jesus, I pray that when you lay me down for my final rest it is in Your arms, I pray. But for now, let me live such that in all I do in my life is to give as You have to me. In this life I am living may I pass on to others the way of gentle forgiving You have given to me. May the weakness  in this life give way to meekness everlasting with You. Living here today, maybe gone tomorrow, Your word shows me the way, the path I must follow. Reflection: During a second Marriage Encounter weekend I remember sitting in the auditorium of an old convent surrounded by other couples when suddenly I felt a peace within my body that I had never...

61, 7-1, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (6/16/2022 ) Today we will be presenting the late night edition of Living In God's Rhyme podcast.  The poems we will be reading and discussing were written on my notes app on my cell phone at night as I sat on the edge of the bed.  When finished, usually between 9:00 and 10:30 at night, I would post them to my personal Facebook page.  So, here is the late night edition. OUR LIGHT IN THIS WORLD AT NIGHT KNOWING TOMORROW TRUTHDAY THE RISEN LIGHT THE HOPE OF HIS CARE BEFORE I SLEEP AS WE CLOSE IN PRAYER, MAY WE CONTINUE IN PRAYER Follow is on our website                                                                 http://www.livingingodsrhyme.com/ (www.livingingodsrhyme.com)   You can buy Tim's books at the following websites https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/god%20rhyme%20tim%20carter (god rhyme tim carter | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)) https://www.amazon.com/s?k=God%27s+Rhyme+tim+Carter&ref=nb_sb_noss (Amazon.com : God's Rhyme Tim Carter) https://www.lettrapress.com   Please follow us on Facebook and Like us https://www.facebook.com/Godstillrhymes ((6) Tim Carter, God Still Rhymes | Facebook)   Please follow us on Youtube.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqSR3-0c9FfAZnblwJ2u0dA (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqSR3-0c9FfAZnblwJ2u0dA)   You can hear us on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Pandora, Stitcher, IHeart radio, Tunedin Radio. and all the other podcast sites.  Please subscribe to the podcast Tell all your friends about us and have them tell thier friends, Thank you for being here, we are blessed that you listened. Tim and Dave   "If you give Him the times As you live His word rhymes " "We are the King's kids and you'll never get rid of us because we are His with Jesus." This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

60, 6-10, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (6/10/2022 ) When life gets in my way, or when I get in the way, then feeling God's love again. SHAKEN What we hold dear, Overcoming fear Of what has been taken When our life is shaken. It is then to rest, Time to be blessed, Know that what was lost, It was worth the cost. The pain of loss, Lost at the cross, The loss of one's self, Taken off the shelf. What loss does bring Costs not a thing. What then is found Is love profound. The loss of strife To save your life, No longer forlorn, Now stronger reborn. 8/1/19, tcarter #MomentsofRhymesinGodsTimes Discussion: July 10, 2019 (Poem 9.9) Book 4 will be full of short poems, at least short for me.  There is still my need to write the longer poem.  This came out last night when the idea for a poem came to me.  Not sure if it will make the book or not.  And yes, I did pray before I write the first line.   I NTERRUPTION   God beat me up today. Not really, He let me do it to myself, He did, really. I had not wanted to pray, Then he took me off the shelf.   Yes, there was a beating, It was me fighting and receiving the punches I was throwing at myself, Punches of despair And discouragement Solidly landing On my broken soul.   The rhyme was gone, So was the song. It did not take long For all to go wrong.   The Lord had blessed me. Jesus had set me free. So tomorrow I could see What God meant me to be.   And then, Just when Doubt had crept in Began the sin, The sin of unbelieving, Rejection of my receiving.   I had turned my back And did not want to ask Why I could not cry, Why I could not try. Was this my good-bye Or was it just a lie?   Then I heard a voice, “My son, it is your choice. Have no fear, I hold you dear To My heart.” He removed the dart.   Then came news of the rhymes. There came word of the times Of yesterday, Words for today. Words of hope That I may cope.   God did quietly wait As I wandered astray, Wandering from the straight Path leading the way To the patience I need. If I wait, His word will feed.   I had faltered, Though that hadn't altered The love God has for me. When in darkness I cannot see, At the right moment in time He covers me with His rhyme.   Afterthought: I once read a book, “Love Wins.” I would change that to, “God's Love Wins.” His love overcomes sin. It is through His word we win.   7/9/19, tcarter   Discussion: DO WE DO THIS TO JESUS? (LIGR, pg 37) Do you believe that every word Jesus spoke is true, Or do you believe of all the words in just a few; His word at creation, His word of the resurrection, His word of the door, The bread of life. His Father in Heaven, His word over death, His word that heals? Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, It is his word we must follow.  And then we are told, What so ever you do  To the least of my brothers, That you do unto me. Do we as Christians mistreat Jesus? Do we see him in those we meet, Those we pass in the street, The homeless one, The child on the run, The one in rags, Possessions in bags? Are we better than them? Are they not a reflection of, A reflection of his love? And when we judge them to be less, Can we expect to be blessed? Jesus ate with sinners,  And those less fortunate In the eyes of the world. Must we ask ourselves why? Do we ever try, Try to understand? His word is a command. I can hurt Jesus when alone, With no one else, just my bones. But I must not mistreat him, Must not commit the sin Of judging him When I do others. Reflection on Do We Do This to Jesus? We may never know, perhaps the one we judge to be less is the one God sent to bring us to Him. Later in the day after writing this...

59, 6-9, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (Scheduled 6/3/2022) Today we are going to talk about children.  Our children and the trust they have in us.  And as God's children do we come to Him?  As children do we know how to pray? This first reading is from a tentative manuscript title Moments of Rhymes in God's Times. This is the Facebook post: I need your help.  The book I am writing now, Moments of Rhymes in God's Times, started out as a book of short poems.  Something different for me.  The other night I had the idea to write children's prayers.  There are four of them.  I would like feedback on what you think of them.  Should I write more or go back to my normal writing?  Thank you for taking the time. Dear God, I pray for  my family, I pray for my friends, I pray that Your goodness, That it never ends. Dear God, Open my eyes As I get out of bed. I see the sun rise, Now I pray  That I see You today. Dear God, Thank you for today, Forgive me for my wrongs So I will sing happy songs, For this I do pray. Dear God, I know You are everywhere, I know that you care, Today it is my prayer, To see you everywhere. Dear Lord can be used in place of Dear God.   7/25/19, tcarter #MomentsofRhymesinGodsTimes Discussion: THE CHILDREN  (God's Rhyme, pg. 40) Bless the little children for they are what we were & what we should be when we come to God. Come to Me as children, He said, innocent             trusting obedient. & most of all with love,             unquestioned             unchallenged             undemanding. Bless the little children for what they can teach us; to smile with a heart full of joy that comes from Jesus. Reflection: Just a thought about Jesus telling the disciples to let the little children come to Him and how we must come to Him freely, openly and with loving arms outstretched without the requirement of expectations. Discussion:  THE STORIES YOU COULD HEAR (God's Rhyme, pg 56) There was a time when every word in every line was heard, for only a dime your thoughts were stirred,  riches of gold mines were yours to herd. The old gray man and his yarns – do you think you can reap your farm with oriental fans and thatched barns, and not dam up fantasy with harm? Leaning on the ground, spinning tales, a journey you're bound on thru gales on a ship aground hunting whales: pictures of sound sown never fail. Ancient glory upon you so near, a sand quarry full of deer, dream lore he reflected like a mirror; oh the stories you could hear! Reflection: What I thought a Grandfather should be like.  My one Grandfather died when I was 12 and we had moved away from our home town.  Now that I am one, I hope I can tell those stories. Discussion: THE DINNER TABLE (Living In God's Rhyme, pg. 89)       At the end of the day, before the stars of night, A family sits at a table, holding hands they pray, Thanking the Lord for his bounty, the food they eat, The hands they do hold, for all they receive. Perhaps it is the first prayer a child does learn, That all we need comes from his infinite love, That the fruits of our labor are on the table, And even more in our love for him and his children. The family around the table shares their days, Their joys, their sorrows, their hopes, their desires. By starting their meal with a prayer They have set the course for their lives. At...

Today, 2 unpublished and 2 published from Living In God's Rhyme.  Today my hope, my prayer is that it is God's words, not my words, and God's voice, not my voice that are heard.  May the power of God lift us up as we read and discuss today's poems. 8/11/19 A daily devotional I was given by a neighbor and I have been reading has led me to new understanding of what God has for us (me).  It has led me to a more thorough understanding of prayer, waiting and hope.  The book is Streams In The Desert, complied by L. B. Cowman.  My neighbor thought I would like it because of the poetry that is in some the devotions.  I'm sure there was another involved in this decision as every day since I started reading the devotions are exactly what I need. VICTORIOUS You are my King and my God, who decrees  victories for Jacob.  Through you we push  back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.  (Psalm 84:4-5, NIV) A thousand and more years Overcoming our fears, Defeating our foe So onward we go. Love for His chosen ones, His daughters and sons, Through God's grace They find faith. Today, our foes still in sight, We have victory, through God's grace Over the foes we fight, The enemies we face. The battle against temptation Has been won through our redemption. The battle against sin Our savior did win. Through death And by the grave, Through His resurrection, Jesus has defeated our foe. As heirs to the Lord, When we face the horde, And as we live with the discord Of this world, Jesus is our sword. Call out to the cross And proclaim the loss Of our enemy. Claim His victory.  Jesus was victorious, Victory is our chorus, The song we claim In Jesus' name. 8/9/19, tcarter Discussion: I am still amazed how God works.  From what I heard one the news today to reading His word tonight came the following.  I also realized how His love works through the encouragement of others.  God does work in His ways, not ours. THE LOVE OF HIS COMMAND I heard the news today. Yes, I changed a word, The lyrics from the sixties Last century that is. Yes, I did hear and I did read the news. Sometimes when one speaks one's views The truth comes out, then others shout, Wondering how views like that come about. I once wrote about a long ago idol Whose thoughts one day became idle. He sang the words all you need is love, To which I replied, all you need is God's love. I believed, he did not, what Jesus said, “A new command I give you.   As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, If you love one another.”  (John 13:34-35) The love of man, yes it can Give us relief from the grief Of the lives we live And what we did give. It is there today and maybe gone tomorrow. There will be so many days with sorrow. What is this love we need? This love, what does it feed? Is it freely given to everyone Living with us under the sun? Maybe, Maybe not. Jesus said, as I have loved you. Commanded, this we must do. Not a love of this world, No, with the love of God. Sending his Son to live among us, This man, the Son of God, Jesus, Loved us all, the good and the bad No matter the lives that we had. He loved those in need, That is you and me, all of us. Whether living in the weeds Or in the fields, he loves us. Oh, there are those who will fall When it is time for the final call. But by loving without standing behind a wall There will be more in God's love standing tall. The rich man, the poor man, The tattered and torn And those dressed well worn, One and the same in God's hand. To deny our love to others We do judge our brothers, Judge them to be less, Judge them to be useless.

57, 6-7, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (Scheduled 5/20/2022) Today's theme is, He is always there.  He is God of the good times and is God over the bad times. We'll start with what started as 3 but became 4 recently written unpublished poems.   TO WANDER AND WONDER He sat under a bridge Overlooking the ridge White skies of blues And various hues It had been more than an hour Since he lost it all turned sour Though once considered a poet He no longer did know it The sun began to set His eyes were getting wet The few he had met He did not regret There were times There were rhymes Of nickels and dimes And words of the mimes There were question marks Though with few remarks The sentence ran off With words of a scoff Then in the distance a shout That triggered all doubt Whatever could this be That he could not see The oncoming clouds Were like woven shrouds Hiding the oncoming rain Thunder rattling the brain He curled in a ball Then later did crawl From under the bridge Overlooking the ridge Then startled he awoke And began to choke On the sense of despair He had felt in the air 5/9/22, tcarter Discussion WORDS OF A TALE, WILL IT PREVAIL? Fighting the wind, It was then he sinned. Tree branches swayed. He should have prayed. But instead he ran away, Resisting what may Be the end Around the bend. There was a wall As he did fall To the ground Without a sound. He had no voice To make his choice; The decision, Then the vision. Right and wrong, Words of a song He once did sing. What did it bring? Perhaps contentment Without resentment. Perhaps hesitation On his destination. Once upon a time Committing the crime, It was then he knew  What he must do. But did he? Could it be? What did he see, A rising sea? No one knows. The story grows With ugly turns And half-filled urns. Will this ever end, This message we send? When the end is near, Will we live in fear? 5/6/2022, tcarter Discussion TO BE CONTINUED I was sitting on a bench in the park, I had left my bad day at work on a lark. Rain was spitting down upon my head. Now bereft, I should have stayed instead A passerby said, “Hey fella, Wake up and where's your umbrella?” And I asked,  “Why do you worry ? understand I'm in no hurry.” As the time slipped slowly away Nothing was left for me to say. But the rhyme had always been there, And the buzz I heard off somewhere What to do sitting in the rain? What is this sorting through my brain? This is new, can this ever be What I miss when I think of me? Ever strong I shall now become Ever living, no longer numb, Now the song of my salvation I sing, giving Him adoration. I did know of this yesterday I did grow and would daily pray. And now I am again amazed And I cry as  His name be praised. One bad day that led me astray Now I pray, to be led from pain. Ashes burned as I walked away Have turned now to Heavenly rain. Jesus is risen, I am forgiven. Without the cross Life is a loss       3/10/2022, tcarter Discussion THE ROAD, GOD'S WORD At those times, There are rhymes, I often find I am not blind To what I have heard As I read God's word. What is true, Is not new; It was yesterday As it is today. And in believing tomorrow He will overcome our sorrow. Once walking the lonely road, Weighed down by my earthly load, I grew tired and weary Living a life so dreary. Then shown a ray from the Son, The light of God's Holy One. And all I could then see Was what He had done for me. At the end of the road He took my heavy load. His rhyme, His time, Now I will live As He did give. My hands I will raise And His name will praise....

56.6-6, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,   Unpublished poems from the Last Notebook manuscript.  The poems were written in March and April of 2020. THE LAST NINE PAGES Over the years there have been written Many pages of the times I was bitten, More pages of when I was smitten While living in Michigan, the mitten. Now though has come the time To confess all my crime, Days when out of a rhyme I was covered  with grime. No point in looking back; The time I got sacked Or the book on the rack,  So much still in the stack. Now I must look ahead At tomorrow instead, Not forgetting today To let God set the way. When confessed God will forgive Yesterday's sins I did live. And I must repent Of those days spent. I will write of this no more Knowing what may be in store For my tomorrows Will not be sorrows. The last nine pages in this notebook Have now become seven, The number of God's perfection, Living in His resurrection. My prayer this day: May God bless you In all you do. May those you meet On the city street Feel His love Rain from above. As you live May you give All you have Because you have LOVE! 7/16/2020, tcarter Discussion: Monday, March 23, 20 After much reading  and listening to the issues surrounding the COVID-19 virus, the following words came to me. IN TIMES OF TROUBLE When one is lost Is there a cost  That must be paid, Confession made? As this virus Does tire us Do we pray Night and day? Without words to say In those times we pray It is through God's Spirit Our prayer, He does hear it. Lord, there are those ill And so many still Waiting in fear Of what is near. Lord, may Your will be done, May we follow Your Son, May we see Your grace In the world we face. Lord, draw us near. Lord, wipe the tear So our eyes may see What tomorrow will be. Save us, Jesus, You our Lord, From discord. Heal us, Jesus, Save us, Jesus From our ills As you fill Our hearts with the love From Heaven above. May we not be afraid, The ransom has been paid. 3/22/2020, tcarter Discussion: The next two poems are part of a series is must have written for Facebook.  They are part 3 and 4.  I couldn't find Parts 1 and 2.   But I did'nt look at every poem in the manuscript either. Day 3 IN THIS WORLD WE FACE I. TODAY Through our years We have faced our fears. We have overcome Better than some. And on one asks why. It is we who must try In this world we face To share God's grace And stand and pray Before the end of the day For healing From the reeling Of this world's disease And lead them to believe. II. TOMORROW They will see the Son Rises in the morning, In gray clouds storming. They will be set free, Forever with Jesus be. III. AFTER THOUGHTS A virus, Covid19, is our world for this season. Surely for the confusion we see there is a reason. As followers of Christ we must do more than pray. Knowing the love of God we must lead the way By living in the Truth, the Way and the Life So those now living in fear and strife Will find comfort and peace, healing of their souls As they encounter life's rocky knolls. May we live a prayer, May we live to share Our faith in Jesus Who died to save us. 4/2/2020, tcarter Discussion: Day 4 NEVER FORSAKEN Those who know Your name trust You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You.   Psalm 9:10 What words of hope As we live to cope In the world that surrounds us. Never forsaken, God sent us Jesus. We believe, We receive God's loving grace. We do run our race Knowing we will fall. We will hear His call As our bodies raise. It is God we do praise, His forgiving ways As we...

55, 6-5, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (5/6/2022) Today we have poems the unpublished THE NEXT NOTEOOK and THE LAST NOTEBOOK. The first one is from April 26, 2020, Facebook UNFINISHED  Thought One: Drive on through the rain Whatever the pain. At the end of the day It is His way. As I drive the highways I often find Thoughts of my ways Litter my mind. The byways of life At times lead to strife. Do I turn left or right To take me through life. Through the fog and haze It is Jesus I praise. He is never wrong. He is my song. Thought Two: Let us now sing Jesus is King His name be praised With our hands raised Thought Three: The end is near The end of days Though have no fear Following His ways The world Has swirled Cast adrift  From the rift A Special Thought: There was a schedule, Surgery to be performed. She was prepared, Then words were spoken Leaving her broken. Her life had been blessed, Children and grandchildren, Family and friends always, And always her Lord, Jesus There were times of distress, A loved one's death. Perhaps times of doubt, But there was her Lord, Jesus. As always she will pray That He lead the way Through each and every day Walking with her Lord, Jesus. Let us all pray That in His loving embrace She will know His healing grace Throughout her days. Tim Carter From April, 2020 Yesterday I happened upon a music video of Simon and Garfunkel's Sounds of Silence.  I find it haunting and thought provoking.  The thought of this poem have been in my mind for years.  What will we find in the silence? Jesus said, knock and the door shall be opened.  As a nation we at some time shut the door.  And so many ask where God is today and question His silence.  My prayer today is that as a nation we are healed of the divisions in our lives, of the hatred for others, of our trust in our leaders, and as sheep having the wool pulled over our eyes.  We ask why and where, but do we care?  Lord God, Heavenly Father I pray for the healing of this country and the hearts and minds of its citizens.   I pray the we open the door, take it off the hinges and break it apart so it can never to be closed again.  I pray Father in the name of Your son, our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus. DO WE HEAR THE SILENCE Amid the noise do we hear The silence of the sound That is only to be found When to one we are near? Voices today shout And throw word about Rights and wrongs. Who writes these songs? Death and destruction Led us to obstruction Of what was understood To be sought after and good. Today people take Him to task As they have the audacity to ask, “If You are a God of love, Why not descend from above.” Then a voice was heard And He spoke these words, “I have been here, But you refuse to hear. You did not want Me near Because of your fear The truth would be found In the voices of the silent sound.” God's word is clear: Let he who has eyes see And he who has ears hear. What more do we need Than His word to heed? What could this world be? 4/16/2020, tcarter Discussion: Links to Sounds of Silence videos Simon & Garfunkel https://youtu.be/NAEppFUWLfc Disturbed https://youtu.be/Bk7RVw3I8eg December 4, 2019 – More from The Last Notebook Many times I start a poem an a scrap of paper just so I remember my thoughts when I sit down to finish the poem hours later.  I never got to those hours later with these 4 beginnings.  I finally realized they are finished, they stand on their own. RANDOM THOUGHTS #1 When life bodes ill, pray that it is God's will not that of ours. In the passing hours we will see what will be. #2 Over times

54, 6-4, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (Scheduled 4/29/2022)   Today, we will be reading and discussing unpublished poems, no planned theme.  We'll just see where we are led.     THIS WORLD AND THE DOOR   He made an about face And then he found his faith. His journey has been long. Among friends he felt strong, Living, loving the days And his carefree ways.   One day he stood still. He then looked around Hearing such strange sounds. Had he had his fill? Now empty to the core. There had to be more, More than he knew From his world view.   He looked toward the sky And shouted out loud, why; Why must this be, This world I see, The evil that does live, The wrong we do give?   Uncertain, to home he rambled, His thoughts and desires scrambled. He rummaged through the attic. Thinking he had been an addict, Knowing he had to look For that long lost book.   In letters bold he saw As  he looked in awe A family heirloom In that dusty, dark room. He picked up the book And his hands, they shook.   God's Holy Word He once had heard Will change your life, Erasing the world's strife,. Opening the Bible he began to read. And as he read God planted a seed.   One day a door did appear. He felt a calm and did not fear. He knocked on the door, Then he turned away. And when the door was opened . . .    6/8/2021, tcarter   Discussion: CALM IN MY DAY   The constant motion, Then the commotion From dawn through evening, Not ever leaving, Ever testing my devotion That leads me from my grieving.   In the smog covered hue Of the morning sky Another day may be new. I again ask why.   Then the Lord said to me, “Sit quietly and reflect On what is and what you see. As your thoughts you collect There is more for you and Me. As you pray I will protect.   It is  not the color of the sky. It is not the reason why. If you need, take time to cry. The days will still be young. There are hymns to be sung And church bells to be rung.   Remember my child, Through your faith And by My grace You run the race With your faith. Know you are my child.”   Salvation has been won Through Jesus, God's Holy Son. Now at the rising sun My worry is done. In this world I no longer live alone, My life now built on the cornerstone.   Now as I live, As I believe, I do receive What God does give.   8/31/19, tcarter    Discussion:   EVER THE SAME   Your love is ever the same As is your Holy Name. Your love is ever growing, Constantly flowing Through my heart From day's start.   Your love knows my needs, Feeds my needs. Your love grows, Your love sows Seeds in me For others to see.   Your love is all I need, Every minute of every moment Of every day in every way. Your love forgives  The way I love. I live without scorn, I have been reborn.   7/12,13/19, tcarter     Discussion:    GO GENTLE   Go gentle into the night And into the fading light. There is no more fight Surviving on God's might.   The shadows will fall As you hear God's call. There will come a time When you hear His rhyme.  Worry not about the morning dew Knowing that God loves you. Go gentle into your living, Embrace what God is giving.   7/30/19, tcarter     Discussion:  THE LIFE I FOUND   My ear to the ground I heard not a sound. Then looking around, It was then I found             The way,             The truth             And the light. All I saw Was God's awe,...

53, 6-3, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (4/22/2022)   Today's podcast is about song lyrics.  I have written lyrics for a few songs, but only a few with music also.  I played the trombone from 5th through 8th grades.  I college I bought an alto recorder and eventually graduated to a tenor recorder.  I was able to play songs by ear.  Later I was able to write the music to a couple of songs by giving the fingering positions on the recorder the same numbers I gave to the lines on the musical staff. I had actually thought of writing a musical play at one time using the songs. 2/15/17 (Facebook) I guess I will have to brush up on my music skills.  This is going better than I thought. WHO IS THIS ONE Verse 1 Born of Mary's womb the Son of God became the son of man       (15) No room but the manger for the Word of God born of woman      (15) Like you, like me the Word living like you, like me, just as we         (15) Living our lives from morning through night, seeking to hear God's word      (15) Refrain Who is this one, who is this son     (8) The Son of God, the son of man    (8) A lowly birth born on this earth     (8) He came for us, God's Son Jesus    (8) Verse 2 He became the son of a carpenter with hands holding nails     (15) The nails of a carpenter who builds a roof for protection          (15) This Son who would build a temple with nails driven through his hands     (15) When did he know he would one day be the salvation of man     (15) Refrain Who is this one, who is this son The Son of God, the son of man A lowly birth born on this earth He came for us, God's Son Jesus Verse 3 From carpenter to shepherd building the temple within man     (15) Becoming the Good Shepherd gathering the lost sheep of God     (15) Straying, having lost the way he lived that we might see our hope     (15) Saving then building our hope, preparing a room in Heaven          (15) Refrain Who is this one, who is this son The Son of God, the son of man A lowly birth born on this earth He came for us, God's Son Jesus Who is this one, who is this son The Son of God, the son of man A lowly birth born on this earth He came for us, God's Son Jesus 2/14/18, tcarter THE BEGINNING In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2 Verse 1 Six days in His creation, then one to rest,                        (12) Seven became the number of completion                       (11) Of His creation, His divine perfection.                               (11) Then those created in His image began their quest.       (12) Refrain Did the angels sing                               (5) When creation was...

52, 6-2, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS  (4/15/2022) Today is Good Friday and we prepare for the celebration of Easter this Sunday, the resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus.  Today we have poems from all three books that were written about this time. Discussion: The first one is from God's Rhyme, pg. 99 WHEN DID JESUS PRAY ABBA? Someone asked, “Did Jesus call out Abba while on the cross?” “Abba?” was the next question to be spoken. “Yes, Abba, if one were to be speaking in Hebrew,  to call out Abba would one be calling out daddy?” And more Time and  Translations Languages From one To another To the Greek, Abba is father; it's origin from the Aramaic. Abba, Father of a child, as in YAHUAH, the  Creator of Heaven, the stars, the sun, the earth, the Father of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus. Then the search becomes research, which is all well and good as long as it doesn't get in the way by making the simple harder to say. Simply put as would a child calling out to his father, calling out to Abba, his papa shows a child's endearing love. And so it was in the garden, where before the cross, Jesus prayed. knowing the end was the beginning. knowing, both as man and God. He fell to the ground and prayed,             “Abba, Father", he said,             "everything is possible through you.             Take this cup from me.             Yet not what I will,             but what you will.”  (Mark 14:35,36, NIV) Abba, Father, Daddy, Father. Abba, the personal intimacy. Father, the proper sign of respect. Together, a cry of understanding. So it was at Gethsemane. in the garden while the disciples slept. It was here that He did pray so that the very next day while on the cross, dying for the lost, His prayer would be heard, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know  what they do.”  (Luke 23:34) Sometime near the end of 2011 I had gotten restless, not with God, but in my celebrating God.  Many more times than not, I felt worse when I left church than when I left the house to go to church.  I had the opportunity to talk to a good friend about this.  His memories of our friendship are philosophizing, and sitting on the front porch.  I told him that I needed to find peace in my worship.  He told a friend who told a friend who called me one day and asked if I would like to attend a weekly Bible study group.  I said yes.  This was a new experience for me.  I felt alive and experience more growth in my faith than I had in years.  This became my church, at least for awhile.)  At on meeting the question came up, when did Jesus use "Abba."  Dan, the friend of a friend, asked me to research this for the next week's meeting.  I'm pretty sure he knew it would be written in poetic form. PS:  Dan and I lived on the same block, just around the corner.  Even though our daughters played together and our wives knew each other, we had never met until Bible study. Discussion: As I was preparing the Show Notes, the words from Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do,” struck a chord with me.  I asked myself, what am I willing to forgive. The next poem is from God Still Rhymes, pg. 103. LOVE I can't help but cry, No matter how I try As I wonder why He was the one to die. To endure the pain That he may reign, His love to give That I might live.

51, 6-1, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (4/8/22) Season 6, Episode 1, who would have thought?   Only with God.  Amen Reflection of the previous seasons: Today we have one poem from God Still Rhymes and 3 unpublished poems.   My hope is that these poems will lead us to Palm Sunday and Easter.   We'll start with an unpublished poem, I WEPT I wept As a thought crept Through my mind Only to find I had left behind What did bind My heart At the day's start. It was forgiveness, In which I had been living, But had not been giving To another. That guilt did smother The joy of my day. So I knelt to pray That as God does forgive That I may live As God has done Through Jesus His Son, Forgive And live. Who knows why this came before I went to sleep.  Then as I wrote the last sentence I understood.                                                                                                 4/14/2021, tcarter Discussion: Another unpublished poem.  First the reflection at the end: Leading up to Easter Sunday I read the accounts of the Jesus' triumphant entry int Jerusalem, the last supper, His rejection by the people, His being nailed to the cross, dying and His resurrection in the four Gospels.  Putting them all together was quite eye opening.  Easter Sunday I started reading the Book of Acts.  Following my previous days reading, it also was eye opening.  Then on Monday I watched the evening news before reading further in Acts.  This is the result of the news colliding with God's word. OUR ACTIONS TODAY “Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.   Stretch out your  hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy son Jesus.”   (Acts 4: 29,30, NIV) Yesterday, today and tomorrow The world does live in sorrow, By many accepted, By others rejected, The decrees of man Demanding what never can Bring everlasting relief, Just an everlasting grief. As followers of Christ His name we praise. Risen from the grave We live with God given rights. In pain the world squeals Not knowing Jesus heals. For others we must pray Each and every day That God's word is heard And help those in need So they may overcome What the world has done. Through Jesus they can have life No longer living in strife.                           3/5/21, tcarter Discussion: Our next poem is from God Still Rhymes, pg 61, THE TREES From the garden to the cross, From the fruit that gave man loss, Thru Mary, the first fruit of her womb, And resurrection from the tomb, The Garden of Eden, where life began, It was here that God breathed life into man. And of the fruit of the trees they did eat; Nourished, their needs God did meet. There were two trees unlike the rest, One whose fruit gave life eternal, Constant blessing, forever in God's love, The fruit of his blessings, nourishing eternal. The fruit of the second was forbidden; The tree of knowledge of good and evil let sin in So that once eaten death would arrive, Man for eternity would not...

50, 5-10, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS,  (Scheduled 4/1/2021) Revised 3/24/22, 3/27/28 Today we are going to read poems about prayer.  After praying for guidance, I found five poems that are about prayer.  Prayer is in the title.  And if we have time I'ii read a poem about prayer that I wrote after the five prayers were chosen.   We'll get April Fool's day out of the way so we can move on to our theme for the day. Today, April fools, I wonder who rules, The don'ts or do's. Is it April Who does fill Our minds with nonsense, Not dollars and sense? Is it April herself, Now off the shelf, Who has the last laugh When it starts to rain  On our parade, Turning our tears of laughter Into raindrops falling on my head? Sorry if you were expecting a joke.  April Fool's day is no joke,  You better be prepared for it. Discussion: Our first poem is from God Still Rhymes, pg. 57 MY PRAYER TODAY Lord, tell me what to pray. Tell me what I should say. May your Spirit that is holy Be at my side, my guide solely. What I do learn I do not earn, But by your grace I now have faith. You lead me not astray. You show me the path to stay. It is thru your Spirit That I now can learn it. Lead me, guide me, Take my life and set me free. Discussion: The next poem is also  from Living In God's Rhyme, pg 85 THE STORY OF MY PRAYER Dear Father in Heaven I pray that I live for you today. Dear God I pray that all I say Is that your will be done, that I live for your Son, That with the setting sun, your will has been done. My heartfelt hope, my desire Is that I not deserve your ire, That by your indwelling spirit, The voice of your words, I hear it. So why today do I feel defeated? Why do I know there is a distance Between you and me, and what I see? Why do I know it is all because of . . .? As I am lay my head upon my bed I feel the fear that you are not near. The fear that I know is that of what I did sow, That when I shut the door, I feel your presence no more. It is time that is wasted, In a vast waste land that is my mind. It is blessings that are squandered As not trying, you I did not find. Then your word as I pray to repent: He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your god. (Micah 6: 8, NIV) As I get ready for sleep, as my soul does weep, I pray that what I did sow, tomorrow will not grow. As I get ready for sleep, I pray that my soul you keep, Keep it from the dust, that I do what I must. Yes, Lord I pray for your help in living my life In a way that pleases you and those I meet. I do pray for your help keeping me from strife, From falling in the gutter of the crowded city street. But more than that prayer I pray that you remove the door, The one that I keep closing, That when closed keeps you out. When that door is closed My voice is silent And my hearing deaf, My sight is blinded. So I ask Lord that this be my prayer: But  for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me (Micah 7: 7, NIV) Discussion: One more from Living in God's Rhyme, pg. 170.  We'll start with the reflection at the end of the poem in the book. Reflection on Pray Always: Again this is not what I thought I would be writing about today.  It was two nights before this would be posted, Labor Day evening.  It wasn't a busy day, but it wasn't a wasted day either.  I was trying to think about what to write and came up with a couple of ideas.I even had the title of the poem typed on the page.  After a minute or two of looking at the titles of the other poems I had written for the...