IF YOU WOULD EXERCISE

 “If you would exercise, first, work your mind, and pray that all your fears would leave your heart. The most important thing is bein’ kind, and bein’ kind ta you ‘s one place ta start. Yes, ask the Lord for love, and wisdom, too, and offer thanks for everything he gives. You’ll find your praying ‘s really helping you! The one who prays more fully, freely lives!”

Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

OVERCOMING ANGER

 “When fearful fools desire ta kill their foes, those fools could choose ta love those foes, instead. ‘Cause courage Is an option, Heaven knows, and kindness is the path that wise ones tread. Please, Heaven, help me choose the wisest way, and bless me now with lots o’ self-control. Please, help me practice mercy, every day, with all my mind, my strength, my heart and soul!”

Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

LOVE AND LIFE, NOT ANGER AND MURDER

“Anger is murder.”

"Will murdering my victims bring me bliss? Will anger lead me home ta self-respect? When I the mark of mercy badly miss, it’s Jesus Christ himself whom I reject. No Good is ever gonna come from That; true wealth, good health, and love I’ve thrown away. No, murderin’ ain’t Never where it’s at, and what I need ta do lots more is pray! So, Heaven, help me practice self-control, and help me love my self and all today. ‘Cause if my fears and anger take their toll, how will I Ever make it all okay?"

Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Gifford

FORGIVENESS POEMS

Forgiveness Poems

Trust in You

Lord, Help me Love the Crazy People, Please! FerGive 'em All the Hurtful Things they Do! 'Cause Loving God and All – that's Heaven's Keys; please Help me Every Day ta Trust in You!

Please. And Thank You!

Prayer for an Angry Suitor

Lord, Help my Heart ferGive this Lovely Girl, fer Goodness' Sakes, that's What I Gotta Do! You've Shared with Me a Very Precious Pearl – please Help me Give her Love… that's Deep and True.

Prayer for Help with Forgiving

Lord, Please, ferGive 'em All the Harm they do! I Gotta Love with Love that's Really True. I CAN, with Help from Perfect Love, from You!

Copyright 2013 by Marie L. Nickerson

TO DO THY WILL

To Do Thy Will

Now, Help me, Lord, ta Do your Holy Will, with Kindness, Courage, Promptness, Patience, Too! Your Plan fer Me toGether Let's fulFill; please Make me DiliGent in All I Do!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

KEEP ME FREE!

Keep Me Free!

Dear Jesus, Keep me Free from Anger, Please? And Anger FELT by Me I Shall rePort; or Else my Path ta hell it's Gonna Grease; might Even Have ta Face a Judge, in COURT! 'Cause Wrath can UnderMine your Self-conTrol! Now, Wrath is Murder, Friend, and That's a Fact; just Plain old Anger Takes a Deathly Toll! Much Better CHILL, perForm a Kindly ACT! And THAT could Help ya Reach the Highest GOAL! AND THAT'S WHERE YA WANTA GO, YA KNOW? Don'tcha Know That?

Copyright 2013 Marie Louise Nickerson

SALVATION ON THE WAY

Salvation On the Way

When I’ve inDulged my Self in pleasant Junk, I’ve played so foolishly... and caused some Pain. My Ship is getting Gradually Sunk, while I’ve Bound Me inside with ball-and-Chain! The Key ta Life and Freedom’s Loving All, espesh’lly Buddha-Christ, the Living Truth; so best Be Sure to Answer Lov-ing’s Call – the Wisest bravely Cop in Tender Youth!

So Choose the Blest: the Life, and Truth, and Way, and gently Discipline Your-Self in Love. Be kind to You in Work, and Rest, and Play, and Ev’ry sorry Woe, You’ll rise aBove! Let’s Share the fruits of Peace and Freedom ‘round, let All the fearsome Hate and Tempers cool; let’s Pray so each and All of us git Found – may Justice, Truth, and Mercy Ever Rule!

And When you’ve Stayed-the-Course, and Life is Done, may You still KNOW the Savior Sweet-and-True; may Life then Glow just Like the Setting Sun, and Heaven’s Peace and Glory Wait-for-You!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

BEATING THE LAZY BLUES

Beating the Lazy Blues

What's Something Kind that I could Do for Me? Just What do I now Really Need ta Do? What Little Somethin' Could I Do fer Free? A Harmless Deed I Wouldn't Later Rue! There's Gotta Be a Loving, Helpful Way, a Way ta OverCome these Doldrums, bro! Like, What's an AffirMation I could Say? Now, What would Be a Worthwhile Row ta Hoe? InSpire me Quickly, Please, don't Let me Sink! EmPower Me! Oh, Please, don't Let me Fade aWay! I Must more PosiTively, Brightly Think... now, MUST BE DRAGONS SOMEWHERE I COULD SLAY! Now, I could Start by Making Just One Step, can't Let those Beasts deVour Me toDay! I Gotta Show some Vigor, Vim, and Pep, so, Dragon, Meet yer DRAGON MEAT GOURMET! I'LL KILL YA DEAD WITH KINDNESS, LAZY BUM! I'll Lift ya UP and Put You ON-YER-FEET! Now, Don't you Dare deLay till KINGDOM COME! That Maiden's WAITIN' AND She's Super-SWEET! SO PAY YO DUES, AN ACTION CHOOSE, IT'S TIME YA LOSE DEM LAZY BLUES! HEAR ME? I HOPE SO! NOW HURRY UP!

A PRAYER FOR ME

A Prayer for Me

Oh, Save me, Lord, from All my Selfish Ways, cast Out my Fears and Build my Self-conTrol! Please Fan my Spark of Love, create a Blaze, that Sweet comPassion's Warmth may Make me Whole!

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson

WORDS TO MY GUY

Words to My Guy

The World Wide Web can Be a Sneaky Thief, if Surfing Ya aDore; you’ll Need a MIGHTY Load o' Sweet reLief, from Craving More and More! No Need ta Be comPulsive, Hapless, Man, aBandoning your Health; those Pixels, Sounds, and Bytes canNot sufFice, so Kindly Watch yourself! Okay?

Copyright 2013 by Marie Louise Nickerson