Being A Shepherd Today

Sometimes before poems are born, I truly suffer birth pains and do not even realize at the time what they are for until the poem comes out. This one was no exception. I had a real rough week last week. I am a mission leader and I was struggling with one of my missionaries. My team lead talked to us Friday about how to reach the ones who are doing well and are not a problem, how to assure them that they are doing well. All of this brought me to the birth of the following poem:

A Shepherd

Were you His shepherd today?
Did you show the sheep the way?
Did you search diligently for the lost
And look for all the tempest tossed?

Did you look for one who went astray?
For her or him did you kneel to pray?
Did your heart pour out for them all
That they might not stumble or fall?

Did you encourage each lamb today
And praise him when he did okay?
Did you plant love's little seed
And pull out each selfish weed?

If you do your very best each day
In keeping His sheep from going astray,
Then He will say to you, "Well, done
My good and faithful daughter or son."

3 August 2009 Suzanne Halliday

Matthew 25:21 "His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the Lord."

I have been humming the hymn: "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go", off and on since yesterday and tonight the words began to flow. Then as I was writing the poem the hymn "Have I Done Any Good?" began coming to me. "Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad? If not, I have failed indeed. Has anyone's burden been lighter today Because I was willing to share? Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way? When they needed my help was I there? Then wake up and do something more Than dream of your mansion above. Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure, A blessing of duty and love."

His Touch

Friday I was under a lot of stress. I had planned on cleaning house after my morning meeting but the meeting lasted all morning. Reports were due; I had missionaries to contact and things to iron out. My internet was acting up in the morning and that prevented me from seeing everything I should have been in the meeting. My excell report got damaged and had to repair itself and then became totally unusable. By the time my evening shift was over my soul was in turmoil. I was standing at the kitchen sink when I felt a physical touch on my shoulder and I knew all was well. The following poem describes my feelings:

His Touch

I was down in a hole
When He touched my soul
And made it whole.
By the world I was battered
And left torn and tattered
But His hand touched me
And from turmoil I was free:
For His peace filled me
And drew me ever nigh
Releasing my sigh.

The world is a busy place,
But for those who seek His face,
He daily offers grace.
The world touches us all
And somedays we fall,
But He hears our humble cry
And feels our very sigh.
And draws us ever nigh.
Upon us in our darkest hour
His love will shower.

1 August 2009 Suzanne Halliday

Matthew 9:22, "...Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole."