Ripples

During the closing ceremony of our Management Workshop, each participant was given the following poem, entitled, RIPPLES.

Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,
Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea.
And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you forget,
But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet,
And those little waves a-flowing to agreat big wave have grown;
You've disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on.
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading from the center as they go,
And there is no way to stop them, once you've started them to flow.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute you forget;
But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripple circling yet,
And perhaps in some sad heart a mighty wave of tears you've stirred,
And disturbed a life was happy ere you dropped that unkind word.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: just a flash and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,
Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave
Till you wouldn't believe the volume of the one kind word you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute you forget;
But there's gladness still a-swelling, and there's joy circling yet,
And you've rolled a wave of comfort whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water just by dropping one kind word.

-author unknown


So there. Watch your word. As Proverb 25:11 say, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."


God is good... All the time.

Poem: Together

I wrote the following poem for Eva, who eventually became my wife. This was my marriage vow. Love is stronger when husbands and wives together serve the Lord with love. Love is more precious when it imitates the way Jesus loved us. Thirteen years has passed since I made this vow. In all those years we exerted efforts to serve God- TOGETHER, hence, the title.


Together


Together we will build a home
Where God is at the throne;
Together we will build our dreams
With true love as their beams.

Each day my love on you will dawn
The way He loved His own;
My life, my all belong to you,
My dreams and treasures, too.

I will lead you to my Master;
We will love Him ever.
Together we will sing His song;
We’ll serve Him all life long.

-pids
April 19, 1992.
Room 101, Fina White House Hotel
Kaduna, NIGERIA

Gain

Do you deem it foolish,
to leave the things you love,
the dreams you hold so dear,
and give the wealth you have,

To gain eternal gold,
by clinging to the Lord?

Will you count it as loss,
to turn from worldly ways,
forsake sinful pleasures,
as throwing thrash away,

And live for Him who died
Each day in Him abide?

Is it insanity,
to give your last two mites,
your every ounce of strength,
your precious days and nights,

For Him who gave His all,
Who saved you from the fall?

-pids
November 3, 1988.
Kansai Kenshu Center
Osaka, Japan

Your Grace Is Great

No tongue can tell, nor lips may say,
My gratitude to God each day;
For his mercy and boundless grace
Has cleansed my heart without a trace.

‘Tis Jesus Christ who paid my debt
At Calvary: The price – His death.
Therefore to Him I give my praise,
My heart, my will, and all my days.

I thank you God. I thank you Lord.
The tongues of men can’t find a word
Nor phrase, nor rhyme to say my praise
For unto me You’ve shown Your grace.

So in my heart, O God who sees,
There read my thoughts, whose sum is this:
I’m grateful Lord, Your grace is great,
You cleansed my heart from sin, from hate.


-pids
June 20, 1990
Legaspi City.

There Is Hope For Me

I lived in sin and bound for hell,
My daily grief no man can tell.
But Jesus said, “I’ll set you free.”
The Savior came to die for me.

So Jesus went to Calvary
To take away my misery;
As sacrifice up on the tree
The Savior spilled His blood for me.

He agonized and cried in grief
How God forsook Him like a thief;
And then He died for all to see.
The Savior gave His life for me.

They brought Him down, they buried Him
Because of me, my pride, my sin.
But there is hope for men like me
For Jesus rose and lives in me.

-pids
March 28, 1992.
UNDP Guest House Flat 2 Room 3
Lagos, NIGERIA

Must God?

Must God forever hide Eternity in Eternity
And leave me seeking His perfect will
Everytime, everyday?

Too many roads to choose from.
Where must I go?
What must I be?

He whom I love
Will lead
And guide me.
The Lord knows the way.


Must God forever keep perfect love in His heart
And let suffering engulf and threaten me.
Day in, day out?

Too many storms
To face and weather.
They tear my hope apart.

His Word is true:
God is love.
There's nothing
To worry about.

-pids
November 5, 1991

Another Comforter

The Holy Spirit is indeed the Great Comforter. He walks with us in troublous times. He shares our joys and griefs. Here's a poem on the Holy Spirit:

Another Comforter

My Jesus sent a Comforter,
He’s much like Him in every way;
In times of grief, in times of care,
He’s by my side day unto day.

Holy Spirit – the Comforter,
He guarantees I’ve been redeemed;
He is my Guide, Friend, and Teacher;
He’ll walk with me when path is dimmed.

My perfect Guide is leading me
To Godly path that Jesus took;
“Be like the Lord,” He urges me,
“Obey each day His holy Book.”

The Comforter is teaching me
That godly trail ends at His feet;
There happiness and endless glee
Shall fill my heart when Him I meet.

Spirit of truth, be my Teacher
That I may know His will for me;
Enlighten me guide me ever
That I may be what I should be.

-pidio.
April 18, 1992
Room 101, Fina White House Hotel
Kaduna, NIGERIA

The Name I Love

There is a Name I love so much;
There is no name as great as such.
That Name is Great, and Wonderful;
There is no name as beautiful.

The Name I love is powerful:
It heals the sick and makes him whole;
It overcomes the pow'r of sin,
And frees the soul and makes it clean.

That Name I know is full of love:
His love for me is from above;
He loves me not for what I've done;
He showed His love by what He's done.

That dearest name is Jesus Christ;
He is the LORD, the First and Last.
I love His Name for He is True;
I'll serve Him well, yes through and through.

-pids
April 17, 1992. Good Friday
Room 101, Fina White House Hotel
Kaduna, NIGERIA

Poem for God: I Am A Wooden Barrel

I Am A Wooden Barrel

I am a wooden barrel
In the Master’s palace;
Though rough and needing chisel,
He bought me for a price.

What could a wooden vessel
Be doing in this place?
Oh how I could serve Him well
Who chose me by His grace?

He plans the best for me,
And that I know full well;
He’ll use me for His glory,
As God’s wooden barrel.

-pids
May 17, 1992.
Room 101, Fina White House Hotel
Kaduna, NIGERIA