Poems That Preach, Teach and Reach

By Dr. Paul A. Madsen

This is a book of poems written over many years and inspired by sermons, friends, family, Bible verses, and circumstances. They review the thoughts from sermons, they teach the lessons from the Bible, and they reach out to those who are hurting and are distressed by things that happen to them. The poems are meant to bring comfort, insight, challenge, blessing, guidance, and information to readers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 14, 2018
• ISBN: 9781973644200

Dr. Paul A. Madsen

Paul Madsen at the young age of eighty eight is publishing his first book of poetry. He began writing poetry at the age of ten and has written poems for family, friends, school and church since. He has a Masters Degree in Christian Education from Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC, A Masters Degree in Supervision and Administration from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC and a Doctor of Education Degree from Nova University in Ft Lauderdale, FL. He is a retired School Principal residing in Plant City, FL.

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Copyright © 2018 Dr. Paul A. Madsen.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-4419-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-4418-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-4420-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018912991

WestBow Press rev. date:   11/09/2018

Dedication

This book of poems is dedicated to God, the Creator and Sustainer, Who, through the Holy Spirit, inspired and gave me courage to write down the thoughts He gave to me; to Gerry, my wife of almost ten years, who encouraged me to publish my poems; and to J.G. Doc Hunter, whose computer skills and general advice made this published work possible.

Contents

Introduction to Poems That Preach, Teach and Reach

Assurance

Assurance

Thankful for Assurance

Why?

Bible

Can Anyone Really Understand the Bible?

My Word Brings Victory

Psalm 91

The Bible, an Art Gallery

The Bible, a Mirror

The Gist of Titus

Words and Deeds

Christian Life

Abundant Life

Be Not Afraid

Faith and Works

Friend or Foe

Gird Our Hearts with Truth

When Trouble Comes

Christmas

Celebrate Christmas?

Christmas

How Christmas Has Changed

Provisions of God

The Gift of Christmas

The Gifts We Bring Our King

The Music of Christmas

The Shepherds in the Field

The Shepherds

What Can I Give to the King

What Does Christmas Mean to Me?

What Is Christmas?

Church

A Prayer for a Great Church

A Successful Church

Amen!

Chapel Dedication

Excuseitis

Growing Together in Faith

My Church Like Me

Reminiscing

Seeing Christ through Me

The Missionary Pair

Death

Bill

Death, Life

Death

G. B. Drake’s Memorial Service

God Knows What Is Best

God’s Promises Are True

Helen Masters Dead?

I’m Not Alone

In Loving Memory of Gilbert Reed

In Memoriam

In Memory of Boots Stone

In Memory of Dr. Hugh Garner

Life

Mom

Not Yet

Psalm 23

Remember Jean

Saying Goodbye

Stronger than Death

The End

To Die Is Gain

Easter

Easter

Seven Powerful Lessons from Passion Week

2

The Meaning of Easter

Fathers

A Letter from the Father

A Word for Father’s Day

What Do You Expect?

God’s Guidance

A Pilgrim or a Settler

Essentials

Forget What Is Behind

God Is in Control

God Is Looking

Jesus Has a Lot of Faith in You

Make Your Dreams Come True

Obedience

One Step at a Time

Small Decisions, Big Results

Suffering with Him

The Dark Road

The New Year

Using God’s Gifts

Walking with God

What God Wants to Do with You

Whatever Comes

Will It Be Worth It All?

Heaven

Heaven’s Home

Looking toward Heaven

Rejoice, It’s Written Down

Living Cross

God so Loved the World

He Is Alive

The Highest Price

The Living Cross, 1990

The Living Cross, 1992

Living Cross, 1993

The Living Cross

Lost

No One Cares for My Soul

The Soil

Memories

Fiftieth Anniversary

Anniversary Memories

Be My Valentine

Birthdays

Happy Fiftieth Anniversary to Helen and Vaughn Martin

Happy Seventy-Fourth Birthday, Flo

Memories of Iris Glover

Memories

Remember Me

Seventy Years

Tragedy and Trust

Young and Old

Miscellaneous

Another Poem for Valentine’s Day

Christian Paralysis

Faith without Works

Friends

Full Moon Love

Give Your Best

God’s Love

How to Get the Job Done

How to Live without Fear

Looking at You

Looking Forward

Mighty Is Our Savior

My Testimony

Rejoice

Retired?

Retiring

Separation Brings Victory

The Four Seasons

The Game

The Gospel Salad

The Heart

Third Anniversary

Time

Wave the Banner High

Mothers

A Mother, 1984

A Mother Is Someone Special

A Mother’s Day Poem

A Mother’s Heart

About My Mother

For Flo on Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day,

It’s Mother’s Day Again

Mom

Mother’s Day Song

Mother’s Day, May 8, 2016

My Mother’s Day Dilemma

Song for Mothers

The Perfect Mom

Music

A Concert of Praise

An Evening of Music

Fall Keyboard Concert

Good Friends, Good Food, Good Music

Music for the Soul

The Heritage of Our Faith

Praise

Gifts that Bring Overflowing Praise

Praise from the Heart

Praise to God

Prayer

A Prayer for Every Day

Christian Privileges

Power in Prayer

The Circle of Prayer

What Is Prayer?

Religious

Chosen, Set Apart, Empowered

Lessons from the Potter

Light and Darkness

Resurrection

After the Resurrection

The Potter

Resurrection Peace

The Resurrection

What Is Next?

Salvation

Jesus, the Way, the Truth, the Life

John 3:16

New Birth from Above

Psalm 34

The Roman Road

Scripture

A Piecrust Promise

Bochim

Dreading God’s Call to Discipleship

Honor Your Parents

How Does God Speak to You?

How to Really Love Your Spouse

It’s Always Darkest before Dawn

Jailed but Joyful

On Getting a Second Chance

Posthumous Living

Remember, He’s Coming Back

Salt

The Farewell Command

The Second Coming of Christ

The Valley of Psalm 23

What Is Christianity?

You Must Resist the Devil

Thankful

Be Ye Thankful

Have You Thanked God Lately?

Thank the Almighty

Thank You, Lord

Thankful for Our Home

Thankful for Our Pastor

Thanking God through Trials

Thanksgiving

Why Be Thankful?

Trust

Found Trustworthy

Trust His Promises

Trust in Him

Trust in the Word of God

Trust Jesus

Widows

The Father Knows and Cares

Witnessing

Can I Retire?

Do You Know God?

Give Me Strength

What Can I Do?

Worship

What Is Worship?

Worship

Introduction to Poems That Preach, Teach and Reach

I’d like to bring to you today

Some sermons that I’ve heard

That help us all to understand

And follow God’s own Word!

I’ve put them into poetry

In the hope that they will reach

The hearts of many others.

And I call them poems that preach!

So listen very carefully

As these sermons come again,

To heal the brokenhearted

And to help some lives to mend.

May the message come as clearly

As the first time it was heard.

May the short time that you listen

Help you understand God’s Word.

There are some other poems too

That try to teach the Word.

They’ll give to you a thought or two

As in my life they occurred.

So poems that preach and reach and teach

Will all appear right here.

I hope they’ll bring you closer to

The one who I hold dear!

Assurance

How can I know that I am saved?

Is it a feeling that I have,

Or is there something more concrete

That will make my faith complete?

I know in chapter 3 of John

That God has promised that His Son

To us eternal life will give;

If we believe in Him, we’ll live.

I’d like to know and have no doubt

That I am saved within, without.

But what assurance can I have

That Jesus has the power to save?

The apostle John has written words

That help us know that we’re the Lord’s.

He says that He who has the Son has life

And will be freed from sin and strife!

So if in Christ you’ve put your trust,

Then in His light to walk you must.

And if your brother needs your love,

You’ll give it if you’re from above.

Then walk in light, and share His love.

Delight yourself with those who have

Joined the family that God has started.

Your fellowship will never be parted.

Can I know? Can I be sure?

Yes, here’s the one thing you must do

So your salvation will endure.

Just trust in Christ to see you through.

Believe the Word that God has told.

He cannot lie; He’s in control.

He’ll give you power to love your brother

For He can do it as no other!

He’ll also help you walk in light

And keep you from temptation’s plight.

If you confess your sin to Him,

He’ll cleanse your heart from every sin.

For Christ in the flesh has come

And promised you a heavenly home.

Believe that Word, and you will know.

God’s promise is He loves you so.

So know that God has saved your soul

And through Christ’s blood has made you whole.

Put all your confidence in His Word.

My last thought is, Just trust the Lord!

Thankful for Assurance

There are so very many things

That I am thankful for—

Especially for God’s assurance

That I’m saved forevermore.

John tells us in God’s Holy Word

That we can know for sure;

Once we’re saved, we’re always saved.

Our salvation is secure.

We know of many promises

Jesus gives us in His Word.

Salvation is eternal, and

That message must be heard.

Everyone who trusts in Christ

Lives eternally in His love

For the Spirit bears us witness

That our names are written above.

So thank You for assurance, Lord.

It means so much to me

To know that I am eternally secure

And that it lasts for all eternity!

In My Book of Thanks in which I write what I am thankful for every day of the year.

February 8, 2016

Why?

When things grow dark and dim

And you begin to question, Why?

When you are looking for light and hope,

And instead, you heave a sigh,

Then it’s time to trust the Lord.

God has a plan for you,

And somehow in the turmoil,

His plans will see you through.

You may not understand it,

But if you will follow along

Through tears and disappointments,

He’ll bring to you a song.

His presence will go with you

As the problems you endure;

His comfort, love, and blessings

Are all in life that are sure.

So give to Him the glory

That is due unto His name,

And He’ll give peace and comfort;

Never changing, He’s the same.

Inspired by words from the book Let’s Roll by Lisa Beamer.

February 7, 2003

Can Anyone Really Understand the Bible?

Too difficult to understand?

Why, even little children can!

Too many different translations?

From the original came their interpretations.

But the Bible is too old!

It still applies today, I