My Prayer For Today
Miracle Man
10/15/2024
Before today’s sunrise I awoke feeling blessed,
ready to do bidding with some new day’s test.
In prayer, I ask you, to make me an advancer,
it's me again Lord, seeking from you an answer.
I pray, Lord I’m weak and need your strength,
that I’ll feel your nearness, not at arms length.
That those requesting prayer, I will remember,
both those unknown, and each church member.
Lord, send me to one, whose faith has grown weak,
then give me the words that you’d have me speak.
Increase my faith toward this day’s unknown,
and at my day’s end bless the seed I have sown.
From your given mission I pray I’ve not wavered,
from one who feels blessed, and highly favored.
Amen
His knowledge was his untapped wellspring,
After 93 years of learning anew;
He valued knowing something about everything,
From construction & farming, to baseball & screws.
Early in life, a dairy farm taught him,
To think on his feet, with vast common sense;
Learning math at the sawmill, he estimated lumber,
And rebuilt old motors, appliances & fences.
For years he delivered, automobile parts,
To Tar Heel cities & Outer Banks towns;
Till one day, Wayne County rewarded his smarts,
With leadership to run, their buildings and grounds.
A Lion's Club/Odd Fellow—active for decades,
Making differences in the lives of many;
A loyal church member, a Jack of all trades,
Directing great efforts, that helped countless plenty!
Later in life, he started Smith’s Crafts,
With Logs that told Weather--Cow Clocks that told time;
Wrote a book on a bell, he loved to autograph,
Reading local history aloud, literary passion sublime!
His legacy is people, warm and loving,
Celebrating them in visits near and far;
Shelton Eugene Smith, Sr. a one-of-a-kind,
Honored by many, remembered by all!
(In honor & Memory of one of the world’s most fascinating men)
I will always recall the look on Ed’s face
As we lunched underneath an oak beside the river
We stopped at an ideal spot on our canoe trip
Ed said, “This sure does remind me of Nam!”
A chill ran down my spine.
I knew Ed suffered from debilitating flashbacks,
And I had seen him in the worst of PTSD throes.
I thought, “Suppose he decides I am the Cong”
He always dressed in fatigues, carried his knife.
He was in church with his family every Sunday,
But I had alerted the town policeman,
Also a church member, to be aware my concerns.
“I think it’s time we move on down the river,”
I suggested, and we began to pack up,
We had a marvelous day on the New River
Although my heart raced at some things Ed said.
His tours in Vietnam had destroyed his life.
A few months later, Ed shot himself to death.
He left behind a beautiful wife and two children.
written March 6, 2022
Pastor, I know every church member,
Who during your sermon would slumber
And could supply you the entire snoring number,
If you badly want it this November
Or much later in December:
When distractions will lessen and you’d remember
One of them, a barrister with Onward Chamber,
Supposedly doing well here in Pemba…
Still note, of discord, I fan no ember
Nor entreat you to them dismember,
Jesus and I sure it won’t last like the Sun’s rare penumbra.
Westboro Baptist Church Member At A Funeral
By Elton Camp
A sign he held and tee shirt wore
Same as he went to funerals before
Mourners gathered around the grave
To him, some outraged looks gave
While they were dressed all in black
He had “God Hates You” front & back
The poster he lifted these words did tell
In large, red print it read, “Rot In Hell”
He reacted with the greatest of surprise
At the looks he saw in the mourner’s eyes
“How you folks feel, I really don’t care
To funerals, this is what I always wear.”
One pointed out the name on the headstone
That showed the identify of the one gone
When a gander the man did take
He realized his horrible mistake
Fred Phelps was the dead man’s name
Westboro Church Founder was the claim
He took his sign and slipped away
He’d use it again some other day
But more carefully he’d investigate
Just who it is he intends to berate
The talents Christ entrusts to us
Are purely for His work with cheer
Gifts and blessings in abundance
You’ll see them everywhere
Most souls sitting in a pew
Have gifts not yet revealed
To those all around them
Their fate’s not yet been sealed.
Encourage each church member
To make an offering to their Lord
Of the beautiful gifts in diversity
That the Holy Spirit does afford
For none have been left bereft
Of gifts for the mission field
Whether that gift is hospitality
Or a sermon others to yield
If you think you have no talents
To offer to your Lord
Then pray for His guidance
Pray with others in one accord
Your gifts may be simple
They needn’t be complex
For there’s diversity in the souls to reach
And gifts to help the variety of shipwrecks
Some make wonderful teachers
On others faith has been bestowed
Some as missionaries go to other countries
God’s love to be showed
By building schools and churches
Offering their talents and time
In the Beauty of this Diversity
God’s given this poet a rhyme.
Copyright © Maureen LeFanue 2007-2012
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