These Present Sufferings

Two poets walking by a field, Did spy a lady there, One thought her stripped and barren, The other thought her fair. “Do see her face,” the first proclaimed, “It's cold and hardened – pale, “What might have held two lovely eyes, “Is shrouded by her veil.” “Her body's dry, her skin is peeled, “So frail, yet thick – so dead. “To think! To think! What soon will come, “O'erflows my heart with dread.” The second poet softly mused, His gaze out o'er the sky, Then turned he to his saddened friend, To give him this reply: “Are not the roots that quiet'ly grow, “Her hidden, inner beauty? “I see wherewithal bloss'ming here, “Is not it blatant to thee?” “She waits for that which soon will come, “How eagerly she sings, “But thou, O friend, the winter sees, “While I dost see the spring.”

Communist China 1994 “They wanted me to kill you, Pastor.” Suyin grasped the bars and tried to pull herself up so she could see into the next cell. She was very young, still in her teens, but from her treatments her face was aged beyond her years. Her hands and back ached and she slumped to the ground, content to converse from the floor. “They wanted me to shoot you, and they would free me.” “Did they beat you much?” the pastor replied from the other cell. “I could bear it,” she said. “So, they did.” “Don't let it trouble you. Have they done the same with you?” “Yes.” “Did they-” “Child, I am tired, let us both rest.” I listened to the conversation as I stood by the gates to the inner cell space. I was ordered to suppress all discourse from the cells, but I tried not to if possible. The Christians' speech intrigued me at the very least, and struck me at most. Today I expected to hear some sounds of defeat, considering the treatment I had watched them go through. No! No ! Suyin&

I roamed away down to the sea, Where the dolphins live and the mermaids be, Twas light and airy, twas airy and free, But I'll ne'er go wandering again, again, I'll ne'er go wandering again. The waves – they beckoned, the wind – it called, So pleaded me to join them all, And in their midst was I enthralled, But I'll ne'er go wandering again, again, I'll ne'er go wandering again. The voices carried on the gust, “Come out, come out, and follow us!” Felt I compelled that dare I must, But I'll ne'er go wandering again, again, I'll ne'er go wandering again. Deep blue – the sea, fair blue – the sky, Jewels and shells which feed the eye, More precious than the love that's thine? But I'll ne'er go wandering again, again, again, I'll ne'er go wandering again. I roamed away down to the sea, But traversed I back, to come to thee, For thou, my love, holds all of me, And I'll ne'er go wandering again, again, No, I'll ne&

Recent manuscripts have discovered that Mary the mother of Jesus wrote another song that did not make it into the Bible because it was widely believed to lack divine inspiration. Yet, in all its full motherly glory, it is presented here, for your entertainment and enjoyment, in honor of the beginning of the Christmas season. When Jesus was born, I thought, “Hooray! “This must be my lucky day! “And nothing can rain on my parade, “Cuz I tell you, I got it made, “I'm raisin' the Son of God.” But He already knows his ABCs, His “Three Little Bears” and His 123s, Sometimes I wonder if He's teaching me, And life's a little tough you see, When you're raisin' the Son of God. But I never need to spank Him or shout, Cuz He never whines or fusses or pouts, He keeps the straight and narrow route, Yet it makes me wonder what motherin's about, Since I'm raisin' the Son of God. Sometimes I just yell at the others, “Why can't you be more like your brother?” And t

Liberty! -man's great desire, Engraved on every heart afire, All fulfilling of the soul, 'Tis liberty that makes men whole! Liberty! -man's deepest fear, Where obligation's dread comes near, Merit's debt commands its due, For liberty demands virtue.

Disdain me not! Tho wandering sinner I, In my dire state, Do not abhor my cry! I, a prodigal, Oppressed within, without, In cruel despair, Desire to quench my drought. For with those, Who holy precepts keep, I am not counted, But for the tears I weep. Can I offer A spirit clean and whole? Nay, but Thou dost love, The broken sinner's soul.

Philippians 2:9-11 "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Jesus The very name inspires! That represents a soul's desire The word which sums up all the grace Hope, peace, love, joy, and holiness Into a single phrase When formed by fervent lips Such power holds And though all names Of princes, kings, and lords Shall pass away One name shall be the same: Jesus My Lord! The very name brings tears When in anticipation Falls on listening ears The word, the name That makes the spirit long To shout! And be silent Here in awe Of the majesty and power Commanded at the name of Jesus

Jesus I could not but hope To die for Your great name To throw this worthless body Into that Holy flame What blessing is such sweetening death What joy to me untold What honor to Your Blessed Name To die for You, my Lord Jesus Just one thing I ask It is to love Thee more

A little different than most of the others, perhaphs even to the point of being odd, but I'd love to hear any comments... Drowning Oct. 3rd, 2007 2 Corinthians 4:8-12, 16 "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you....Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. " In the swirling, churning waters, Here I lie and here I drown, Tis' such blissful, sweetening sorrow, In this river that's been found. This the fountain deep and trickling, This the gushing, roaring current, Yet still deeper, deep I

This is my most recent and favorite poem so far. It is also the first poem I have made an effort to put to music. The video is the accompaniment to the first verse. I wrote the melody, and my piano teacher did all the rest (which was most of it). This is him playing. I Need No Other Comforter Charli Mills Sept. 6 2007 How blessed are we! Our Savior, Lord, Has mercies overflowing, That He descends to seek us here, His blessings us bestowing. I need no other comforter, I need no other comfort, 'Tis Jesus, Yes! My all in all, This peace is not my effort. This Jesus He, who took on flesh, And down to earth decendeth, To pay for sin, each bloody man, His glory to us accredits. I need no other comforter, I need no other Savior, 'Tis Jesus, Yes! My all in all Who for my burdens labored. How can I live but live for Him? My love words can't describe, He loved me first, that love so pure, For me He came to die. I need no other comforter, His love o'er me enfolds, 'Tis Jesus,

In your hands I commit my spirit, In you arms I surrender my soul, What once was mine was always yours, To pour out is to be full. In your hands I commit my spirit, Let my heart wait not in vain, I devote to you all of my being, For this loss can only be gain. In your hands I commit my spirit, Let your beauty to me be known, Keep me humble, I so undeserving, In my dishonor your glory is shown. In your hands I commit my spirit, Let me follow you all the day long, Lord be thou mine only fortress, For in my weakness I am made strong. In your hands I commit my spirit, Let my soul be gentle and stilled, For you always may I be longing, For such desire is always fulfilled. In you hands I commit my spirit, In your arms I surrender my soul, Take me, break me, mold me, make me, To be broken is to be whole.

I'm still revising this one; bear with me. _____________________________ See the sparrow fall from the sky, As the flocks graze in the feilds. The shepherd watches the sparrow, On green pastures over the hills. If the shepherd watches the sparrow, Watches he not o'er his sheep? As a father watches his children, The shepherd his flocks will keep. See the shepherd pick up the sparrow; Gently cradles it in his arm. And the shepherd carries the sparrow; Carries it in his heart. If the shepher carries the sparrow, Carries he not his sheep? As a father carries his children, The shepherd his flocks will keep. See the shepherd care for the sparrow; Carefully mend its broken wings. And his heart bleeds for his young one, As softly his song he sings. If the shepherd cares for the sparrow, Cares he not more for his sheep? As a father cares for his children, The shepherd his flocks will keep. See the shepherd, he loves the sparrow; His compassion will never be swayed. His devotion is alway

Ecclesiastes 12:1a "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth..." Remember your God O young one Remember Him while you are strong Remember your God O young one While your days are peaceful and long Remember your God O young one Remember Him in the fight Remember your God O young one When you leave and take your flight Remember your God O young one Remember Him while you are home Remember your God O young one In the days you long to roam Remember your God O young one Remember Him in life's joys Remember your God O young one In the midst of hell's dark ploys Remember your God O young one Remember Him in your fear Remember your God O young one For He is always near Remember your God O young one Remember him in your youth Remember your God O young one For he remembers you ~Charli Mills June 1st 2007