True Magic

We all know magic’s fake, but magic’s fun,
we like to dabble in the mystery,
but science says there is no magic--none,
and we find none in all of history.

Yet TV teen shows make it seem so real,
New Age is just religion’s substitute,
our moral magic’s based on how we feel,
we wonder why we bear such rotten fruit.

God comes along with magic that is true,
does miracles, reveals His mysteries,
then frightens us with real commandments too,
His magic love is not just aimed to please.

God’s true love really rules, be not afraid,
His Magic Kingdom--heaven--will never fade.

                by Pete Voelz      9/5/13

God Draws

I see so much, but it is God Who draws,
no matter what I see, ‘tis God attracts,
I see His good Creation, and God awes,
and draws me far from evil’s fierce attacks.

God draws the breath that I assume I draw,
He draws my soul from out of nothingness,
He draws a picture of me framed by law,
to heaven someday, my soul He draws to bless.

To know unknowable God I too am drawn,
I’m drawn to mystery and miracle,
to serve Him long before my soul is gone,
to live His Good, His Truth, His Beauty full.

O Lord, the me You knew before You drew,
prays to draw closer evermore to You.

                     by Pete Voelz      9/4/13

There God to Here

To God out there I used to pray,
but He is not out there,
He’s only out there in a way
that doesn’t lend to prayer,
a way where I can let Him stay,
and not get in my hair.

The place we need to meet is here,
deep inside my heart,
the place I often don’t go near,
not knowing where to start,
to meet Him here I greatly fear
--we’re better far apart.

For here God makes demands on me,
He says, “Pick up your cross.”
Though He gives it so tenderly,
to me an albatross,
a win He helps me choose for free,
without it--terrible loss.

My way lies with His victory sign,
in here I hear His voice,
to share in His design divine,
I’m forced to make the choice.
Why fear to face this choice of mine,
to weep or to rejoice?

God in my heart, I talk to You,
and see You face to face,
I know that all You tell is true,
so help me to embrace
whatever You ask of me to do
to gain Your strength and grace.

You I can’t run from nor deceive,
no place for me to hide,
Your words out there I do receive,
but finally here inside
is where I freely must believe
and in Your love abide.

            by Pete Voelz      9/2/13

Thank God for Angels

(and thanks to Ogden Nash too)

Whenever I am in dangel,
I pray for an angel.
When I find myself in jeopardian,
I call on my guardian.

If I'm threatened only by a motorcycle,
I turn to St. Michael.
But if it's an automabriel,
I ask for St. Gabriel.

And if it's just a tiger being playfael,
I bring along St. Raphael.
Instead of being some bad old cuss,
isn't God nice to us?

That when we're in dangel,
instead of a strangel,
He sends us -- an angel.

     -- by Pete Voelz       1999

Though Flowers Fade

The rhododendrons wither in the sun,
as children’s prayers dance to eternal tunes,
hibiscus close and fall when day is done,
love lasts for good in heaven’s honeymoons.

The crocus blooms of early spring soon die,
God’s Word will just go on and on and on,
though kinnikinnick berries multiply,
their blossoms leave, our hope is never gone.

If dwarf brunfelsia last in summertime,
called “yesterday-today-tomorrow” too,
their violet florets wilt beyond their prime,
while those of paradise spring ever new.

Sweet transient flowers fade on sullen earth,
but God’s good buds will always see rebirth.

                       -- by Pete Voelz      10/04
pmvoelz.blogspot.com

Up to Me

If I do good, O God, it’s up to me,
though You have given me everything I’ve got,
and if I sin, I sin because I’m free,
for good or bad, You see, I’m free a lot.

It’s like You give me all, then take it back,
then leave me free to take it all again
and choose to take the things I think I lack,
and then I’m free to also choose to sin.

 This freedom’s mine to use or to abuse,
responsibility comes with this great power,
to love You, Lord, or love You not, I choose,
my choice of faith allows Your grace to flower.

Though, Lord, Your might leaves so much up to You,
my destiny is up to me, ‘tis true.

                              by Pete Voelz       8/27/13

Tear Prayers

God takes my tears and turns them into prayers,
the tears that take and tear my heart apart,
for it is God Who knows and shares my cares,
and shows a tear is where a prayer can start.

God sees my wounds that only He can heal,
but He wants me to turn to Him in tears,
the tears that prove my turn to Him is real,
shed by my sorrow and my desperate fears.

God wants my tears, my prayers, my heart and soul,
He wants to see me win my earthly race,
and to defeat the sins that take such toll,
to make my worldly grace eternal grace.

To You, O Christ, Who wept for me down here,
I’ll give my soul that starts out with a tear.

(Inspired by the words of St. Ambrose to St. Monica
about her son St. Augustine before his conversion:
“It is impossible for the son of such tears to perish.”)

                               by Pete Voelz       8/29/13