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these are poems from early 1997
Just another busy day
The Race of Life
Unblemished, Without Spot
A Prayer for the Lost
God is Not Slack
Signs? What Signs?
Yearning or Yawning?
No More Excuses!
My Heart is Fixed
Lead Me, Good Shepherd!
Just another busy day
Just another busy day
With no quiet time for You;
Just a couple of hurried verses
And a murmured prayer or two.
I have plenty of excuses
But I know that, deep inside,
I will make time for the urgent
While the "important" tends to slide.
You are last on my "to do" list;
" I'd read more if I had time"
Or perhaps, I just can't concentrate
For I have a cluttered mind!
I hurry here and hurry there;
The stress and pressure takes its toll;
In the hectic bustle of my life,
I'm neglecting my own soul.
Lord, slow me down and grant to me
A measure of serenity.
I know that I must "run the race"
But I will let You set the pace!
Lori Fiechter
3-9-97
The Race of Life
No simple sprint; no easy stroll;
This race has an eternal goal.
The call goes forth, "Be true, Be true;
And keep the finish line in view!"
No turning back, the race is on;
It is a full-fledged marathon.
My muscles ache, my legs are sore;
I feel that I can run no more!
And then, I look ahead and see
SomeOne is waiting there for me:
A Face, encouraging and kind
Awaits me at the finish line.
I will not quit; I will not stray:
I long to see that Face some day!
I long to hear those words, "Well done!"
And so, I run
and run
and run.
Lori Fiechter
3-9-97
Unblemished, Without Spot
He ascended the mount of Olives and paused;
The people spread clothes in His way.
He was waiting to hear, "Behold the Lamb!"
On this "lamb selection" day.
They did not understand--they wanted a king
Not a Lamb to take sins away.
They waved their palm branches
and shouted, "Save now!"
Hosanna! This is the day!
This is the day that the Lord hath made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it!
Save now (Hosanna!)
we beseech thee, O Lord,
O Lord, we beseech thee,
save now!
When He was come near, he stopped there to weep
Over the city that lay at His feet;
"If thou hadst known--at least in this day
The things which belong to thy peace,
but I say:
That now, they are hidden, are hid from thine eyes;
Jerusalem will be compassed on all sides;
Because you rejected your Passover Lamb;
Because you did not understand.
The stone which the builders refused
Is become the head stone of the corner.
This is the Lord's doing; it is miraculous;
Marvellous in our eyes!
...He is our Passover, our Lamb without spot,
If we are not too blind to see.
Let us not turn away and reject Him this day--
But trust in His blood and believe!
lori fiechter
4-15-97
A Prayer for the Lost
Lord, open the eyes of the spiritually blind
And help them to realize--
there isn't much time;!
Life is a vapor which passes away
And the time of Your coming
draws closer each day.
The stakes are eternal--
this isn't a game!
The prince of this world won't relinquish his claim;
Souls have been blinded,
deceived, and enslaved;
They won't admit they are lost--
how can they be saved?
Lord, open their ears--
why haven't they heard?
Soften their hearts to the truth of Your word.
They are walking in darkness
where the Enemy reigns
Only You can release them
from their bondage and chains.
Loose them, unbind them!
Let Your truth set them free!
Take the scales from their eyes
and allow them to see!
Call them and draw them to step out in faith;
Until, snatched from the fire,
they are saved by Your grace!
Lori Fiechter
3-8-97
God is Not Slack
God hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked
But that the wicked should turn from his ways.
Turn ye, Oh turn ye,
for why will ye perish?
He wants all the world to repent and be saved!
God is not slack concerning His promises;
But He is long-suffering and patient toward us.
He is not willing that any should perish
But He won't wink at sin,
He is holy and just!
For yet a little while and He that shall come
Will come, and not tarry--
His Word will come true!
Our Lord will return at the time He's appointed;
He won't tarry forever--
and neither should you!
3-16-97
Lori Fiechter
Ezekiel 33:11 II Peter 3:9 Habbakuk 2:3
Hebrews 10:36 I Timothy 2:4
Signs? What Signs?
A spotless red heifer;
A "burdensome stone";
The nation of Israel
Left nearly alone;
A Union in Europe and
Several "blood moons";
So--where are those signs
That His coming is soon?
Earthquakes and famines
All over the place,
Comets and "aliens"--
is there "life in space"?
Biotechnology,
Computers and cloning;
The earth filled with violence,
Creation is "groaning"!
But relax, there's no hurry;
His coming isn't near!
(Some souls are so blind,
They won't see 'til He's here!)
Lori Fiechter
3-23-97
Yearning or Yawning?
Would we welcome the Lord if He came today
Or would there be shame and regret?
Are we ready to meet Him right now--
in the air--
Or are we saying,
"Don't come back just yet"?
"Wait a little longer, Lord--
Don't return so soon!
Heaven sounds fine--
some other time....
There is too much I still want to do."
"Life is so good with family and friends;
I really enjoy it here!
Heaven's OK--
but just not today;
Maybe...some other year."
It seems our priorities are a bit skewed;
Yes, life should be lived to the full,
But in all of our "busyness",
let's not forget--
Heaven should still be our goal!
Lori Fiechter
4-12-97
No More Excuses!
Here I am Lord--now, send someone else!
I'm not at all fit for the task.
You know that I fail at whatever I try;
I don't know why You even would ask!
"Where is your faith, child? Where is your trust?
I won't send you out all alone.
I will give you the strength
and the will to go on"
--But my mind is made up, I won't go!
Then I feel a chill and a sadness sets in;
Why do I choose my own way?
Why am I so stubborn,
unbending, self-willed?
Help me to yield, Lord, I pray!
Help me to step out in faith and just trust;
To say, "not my will, Lord, but Thine".
No more excuses--
I promise You now:
Not my will;
Not my way;
Not this time!
Lori Fiechter
4-12-97
My Heart is Fixed
My heart is fixed;
I will not fear--
Though evil news
Surrounds me here.
My heart is fixed
And I will sing:
All praise to Thee, Lord
I will bring!
My heart is fixed;
My mind is stayed;
I will not let my
Mind be swayed!
Not tossed about;
Not immature;
Not wavering;
My Anchor's sure!
Lori Fiechter
4-26-97
Lead Me, Good Shepherd!
Show me where to place my foot;
The path is rough and steep.
Although I feel so weary Lord,
I know I dare not sleep.
Rest will come--
but not today;
Right now, I need to watch and pray!
Guide my steps along the way--
Good Shepherd,
lead this sheep!
I dare not trust in my own skill;
One false step,
and I'm through!
Starvation, cliffs, and hungry wolves...
Where is the path that's true?
Lead me--
so I'll make no mistake;
Show me the right path to take;
I'll follow--
and all else forsake;
I'll keep my eyes on You!
Lori Fiechter
4-27-97
Today is Enough
We've arrived at Today--preoccupied;
Without the perspective to cope.
For the future looms large
And the shadows of the past
Swallow up any joy, any hope.
But Today is enough!
It is where we live...
Another thread of our life yet unwinds.
If Today is squeezed out
By both future and past,
We are living too much in our minds!
God, in His wisdom, grants us 24 hours;
Not too long, or too short, by design.
Each day, a fresh start; a new beginning;
One more chance for "redeeming the time".
"Tomorrow will take care of the
Things of itself".
Today, we can live; we can serve.
He gives us Today--it suffices on earth.
(It is all--here--of which we're assured.)
Lori Fiechter 5-2-97
We're Not Yet Home!
Although this life feels substantial and real,Yet we sense there is something beyond...
Our spirits, now encased in these mortal shells,
Glimpse a place where we'll truly belong.
So don't expect too much here--
For this is not Home.
Don't expect all your needs to be met.
Disappointments and sorrows
And setbacks abound.
It's OK--we are not home, yet.
Don't lose sight of the goal that your
spirit can sense;
Press on; See--
the path is well-worn.
The angels are watching (with saints gone before?)
Hear them shouting?
They are cheering you on!
Lori Fiechter 5-5-97
The Heart Is Gone
It happened so slowly,so subtly...
Sheer momentum now
pushes you on.
And you've kept up the
outward appearance
But the heart--
the heart is now gone.
How long have you
gone through the motions?
A "habit" is all you have left.
You're a cold, empty shell,
still performing,
But of heart and pure joy,
you're bereft.
How was it lost?
Can it be retrieved--
This "heart" you possessed
when you first believed?
You have taken for granted
His blessings and grace!
Yes, the heart will return--
But you must
"seek His face".
Lori Fiechter
5-12-97
Strength in Weakness
Empty and broken;
Emotionally drained;
Your self-confidence
torn clean away;
When you're feeling so low
Any change would be "up"
And it takes all your effort to pray;
Then--only then--
can He use you in full;
Only then can His power
shine through;
When your pride and self-effort
have melted away
Then--His strength is
made perfect in you!
Lori Fiechter
6-1-97