Faithful Care

If God is everywhere, then He is here,
He is not God if He's not everywhere.
If God is close to me, why should I fear?
And with Him near, we have a lot to share.

What this all means is God must care a lot,
and if He cares so much, why shouldn't I?
I know God always cares though I may not,
and if I don't care much, I ought to try.

God pours His love, how can I not get wet?
His love burns so, how can I not get warm?
God gives so much, I'm always in His debt,
His love's so great, He, not I, sets the norm.

O God, I know You care so much for me,
since You're so faithful, then why can't I be?

                           -- by Pete Voelz        4/08

Always Back

No matter what, I must come back to You.
Who else can dress the lilies of the field?*
I see Your laws, and every one is true,
when I need help, You are my sword and shield.

With molecules, I haven’t got a clue,
I can’t draw one, but You make every star,
my DNA?--The fingerprint is You,
through microscopes and telescopes You are.

I change my tune, but I hear yet Your song,
I wear dark glasses, still Your sky is blue,
though church may bore, I know where I belong,
for there is where I most come back to You.

I bump into You, Lord, at every turn,
after a while, you’d think I’d finally learn.

* Matt. 5:28-29

                       -- by Pete Voelz       1/6/13

My Ambiguity

Sometimes I'm lost in ambiguity,
while here my sins leave me in desolation,
yet there some parts sing like a symphony,
and, God, I look to You for affirmation.

I know I try to take care of my own,
and aiding them, I'm always wanting more,
yet Judgment Day, instead of all alone,
I want to be surrounded by the poor.

O God, I know Your mercy's always there,
and Your forgiveness is forever free,
so desperately, I turn to You in prayer,
and place my trust in You to care for me.

O God, if here I'm not sure what to do,
let me not be ambiguous to You.

                -- by Pete Voelz      10/07

The Trinity and Me

What is the frame of my relationship
with Father, Son and Spirit God in Three?
On my horizon are they but a blip?
Who am I to this Blessed Trinity?

Do I see them as Three or are they One?
God Who created me I call my Father,
my friend is Jesus Who's my Father's Son,
with Holy Spirit I can barely bother.

It's hard relating to Them as a group,
it doesn't all make sense, this mystery;
Each does His thing, yet They're all in the loop,
Each has a role as They relate to me.

How we all fit, I leave You to decide,
O God, let me with just You Three abide.

-- by Pete Voelz        12/05

His Strength

How can I bargain from a place of strength,
if I must bear my sins that make me weak?
How can I forge my depth and width and length,
if I must always turn the other cheek?

Like David's psalm, my strength is in the Lord,
Who, by His power, for me made heaven and earth,
Who conquered death by mighty spiritual sword,
Who helps me conquer all with spiritual worth.

Christ takes my sins, He makes my weakness strong,
when I repent, His tender mercies flow,
it's God Who makes me deep and wide and long,
with God's love I make friends of every foe.

O God, help me to conquer self and sin,
true victory--the crown I hope to win.

                              -- by Pete Voelz          3/10

If All Men Stopped Their Love

If all men stopped their love, would I stop too?
If all would cease to care, would I still care?
If no one loved You still, would I love You
in that same way that even now is rare?

If mankind watered down its love for God,
would I stay faithful to His love for me?
If I felt following Him was truly odd,
would I give up and from His rule break free?

I see our paganing culture drift apart
from all God's loving ways I know are true;
I feel the constant tugging at my heart
to quit unpopular paths and try the new.

O God, if I do drift I pray the more--
take me to loving You the day before.

                  -- by Pete Voelz          1999

To Give or Just Get

Christ asks of us to give, we wish to get,
we want lots of possessions in this life,
He offers us just heaven, but not yet,
we hope to fight the devil without strife.

We put our trust in things, He says, “Trust Me,”
we like the physical, He’s spiritual,
 we much prefer to deal with things we see,
He wants our hearts, that takes a miracle.

God wants our love, but we don’t have the time,
we’re worried about money and our worth,
He says seek first His kingdom so sublime,
our eyes are focused here and now on earth.

I do not wish to think beyond the grave,
yet, Christ, I know You have the power to save.

                      -- by Pete Voelz       12/29/12