God's Investment

God gives me blood and cartilage and ears,
the miracles that move an animal,
but then He gives me laughter, talk and tears,
and I am not an animal at all.
Then He does more with His creative will,
He adds my reason, will and soul to me,
His God-like image He gives me until
my life is ready for eternity.
He gives me knowledge, grace and talent too,
then His sweet skill of love for me to share,
in Scripture His own Revelation true,
it seems almost too much for me to bear.
O God, You've vested me with all I am,
the least that I can do is give a damn.

                        -- by Pete Voelz          5/06

The Faith of Prayer

Each word of prayer is that much faith in God,
my praying little shows my faith is small,
if I pray much, my faith is not facade,
if I pray not, then there's no faith at all.
What is my prayer except my faith's expression?
What is my faith if not expressed in prayer?
The outward words reflect a deep impression,
we show in word the thing that's really there.
The words aloud need not be loudly said,
they may be only told in silent thought;
they may be ours, they may be only read,
spontaneous words, or prayers that we've been taught.
The fool scoffs at words sent to no one there,
but God, Who made fools too, answers our prayer.

                                -- by Pete Voelz         2/04

Too Much Too Soon

O God, if You're so good to me down here,
what merit will be left for me up there?
You must confess, O Lord, You soothe my fear,
You even count and care for every hair.
You lend more love than ever I deserve,
You hear and answer every prayer I send,
You pitch to me and never throw a curve,
You leave me love and laughter without end.
When I'm in church, You can't help but inspire,
and when I teach, You make sure I am taught.
When have You not fulfilled my blithe desire?
When have You not helped me when I have fought?
So, Lord, how much reward is left to be,
when all Your blood’s already flooded me?

                             -- by Pete Voelz         9/09

Happy God

God is so happy when I take His side,
He counts on me to really be His own;
He wants me here and not to run and hide,
He never wants to see me all alone.
When I say, "God I love You," God is glad,
when I repent my sins, He's overjoyed;
He always comes to save me when I'm bad,
He wants me good and healthy, not destroyed.
When I pray to Him, He is full of joy,
and when I sin, He welcomes me right back,
when my ship's lost, God shouts to me, "Ahoy!"
God makes up for whatever I may lack.
If God's so for me, how then can I lose?
it all depends on what I choose to choose.

                             -- by Pete Voelz      1/04

Unfading Flowers

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.
In early spring the crocus blooms 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 drawf brunfelsia last in summertime,
called "yesterday-today-tomorrow" too,
their violet florets dim 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

Cling to Your Faith

Death brings an end to everything we know,
my buttery toast and jam, my chocolate cake;
no food or toys come with me when I go,
my faithful soul, the only thing I’ll take.
I do not understand the how and why
God put us here with hope to go above;
I do know He expects us all to try
to grow our faith and most of all to love.
Enough God gives me so I can believe,
He proves a lot, but wants some faith from me;
to make a better world before I leave,
to leave it up to me, He made me free.
So to my faith in You, O God, I cling,
and someday You will tell me everything.

                     -- by Pete Voelz     10/10/11

God's Last Resort

When all else fails, my last resort is God,
I turn to Him, whose first resort is me;
like billions He has made, I get the nod,
far more than what He gives a galaxy.
God runs material things with greatest care,
but still to Him the spiritual world comes first;
manipulating molecules with flair,
in my soul poor He's even more immersed.
While I with my supply of lies still try
to hide from all the treasures of His love,
He willing gives Himself to even die
to offer me what I'm not dreaming of.
In God I really should seek more support,
from last resort to me His first resort.

                         -- by Pete Voelz      7/07