I wrote a short poem about the fall of man,

and the return to love:

Imperfect but forgiven

Created by God’s love

We soon fell from grace

Then God sent us his Son

Jesus came here to save us

And return us to love

Imperfect but forgiven

Given grace from above

Imperfect but forgiven

To love we return

God’s arms open wide

As he welcomes us home.

__by Gene Allen Groner

geneallengroner@gmail.com

There is a newer song that speaks to people needing a place of safety, a place where they feel a sense of belonging. The song was made famous by the singer Celine Dion, and she sings it beautifully, with deep feeling and love.

I love her singing with Josh Groban. Andrea Bocelli and Katherine McPhee also have a very beautiful rendition of the song, known simply as The Prayer.

Read and feel the words of The Prayer, written by Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster:

“I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where

 we go

And help us to be wise in times when we don't

know

Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way

Lead us to the place, guide us with your grace

To a place where we'll be safe

I pray we 'Il find your light, and hold it in our hearts

When stars go out each night,

Remind us where you are

Let this be our prayer, when shadows fill our day

Help us find a place, guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we'll be safe

A world where pain and sorrow will be ended

And every heart that's broken will be mended

And we'll remember we are all God's children

Reaching out to touch you

Reaching to the sky

We ask that life be kind, and watch us from above

We hope each soul will find another soul to love

Let this be our prayer, just like every child

Who needs to find a place, guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we'll be safe

Needs to find a place, guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we'll be safe.”

 geneallengroner@gmail.com

https://www.amazon.com/Gene-Allen-Groner/e/B077YTVSJZ

The Golden Rule

I wonder how the world would be

If we lived the “Golden Rule”

And walked with God each day

And talked with Him in prayer

O, how sweet the sound would be

With music everywhere

Hearts filled with love and joy

With peace on earth

And love to spare

The world in perfect harmony

We touch the heart of God

We see the stars

God holds our hand

We walk with God in prayer.

geneallengroner@gmail.com

https://www.amazon.com/Gene-Allen-Groner/e/B077YTVSJZ

“Living Water”

“The water that I will give will become a well of water springing up to eternal life.” These are the words of Jesus that he spoke to the woman of Samaria that warm summer day. She was thirsty.  He gave her water to drink. She was tired.  He offered her rest for her soul. She was weary of the life she had lived. He gave her a new life and a new hope for the future.

She had many husbands.  Jesus told her she only needed one. He was the one she needed. Jesus is the one we need. He is the “Living Water.”

Behind my house is a living spring. Every day it brings forth fresh water from the earth.

It never fails, never falters, never forgets. Fresh, clean water every day, without missing a drop.

When I think of the water from our living spring, It reminds me of Jesus and his everlasting love, the kind of love I need. I am no different than the woman from Samaria.

We are the same, she and I. We both drink from the same well, the well touched by the hands of Jesus.

The same hands that healed the blind and the lame. The same hands that blessed the bread and the wine. The same hands that prayed to the Father. The same hands that blessed the little children, that lifted the fearful and nearly drowning Peter from the stormy sea, and raised Jesus’ friend Lazarus from the dead.

Hands that will never grow old or tired. Kind hands that are made for blessing and for healing and for holding us in his loving arms.

Hands that are full of love for the poor. Hands reaching out to help and to bless and to forgive.

How I love those hands. Those are the hands that I long to touch and to hold. Those are the hands that we all want and need to hold. Those are the hands that created the world. Those are the hands that heal the broken-hearted. One day those same hands will carry us home. Home to the place where we belong.

Home to the place of light and love. Home to the place where the Father waits for us. Home to the place of living water. That’s our eternal home. It’s called heaven.

__Gene Allen Groner

geneallengroner@gmail.com

The Holy Land

The following story is but one of the many wonderful experiences I had while on my journey to Israel. Others can be found in my autobiography titled, Journey of a Disciple, published by Amazon.com:

I had a spiritual experience upon exiting our bus when it stopped at the Mount of Olives. As I stepped onto the ground, I could feel the presence of the Lord, warm and gentle throughout my body. I was made aware that I had set my feet on holy ground.

I walked down to the Garden of Gethsemane and saw the narrow paths flowing through the garden. One path was lined with flowers and olive trees. One of the trees looked very old. I asked our guide about the tree. She told me some have believed the tree was here 2,000 years ago, however, scientists at the Hebrew University have determined the tree’s age to be only about 1,500 years old.

The name Gethsemane means “olive press.” The garden sits toward the bottom of the Mount of Olives. There was a small stone bench in the garden that I sat on.  I rested there in the peace and quiet of the morning and stayed for a while to pray and meditate, absorbing the beauty of the garden around me. I was the only one in the garden at the time. The early April day was warm and sunny, and above me I heard a bird singing sweetly. I thought of Jesus kneeling to pray to the Father on the Friday evening before He was crucified. How he must have suffered then, knowing what lay ahead.

“And he said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’”—Mark 14:36, NIV.

Higher up the on Mount I walked to the Abbell Synagogue at the Hadassah University Medical Center, famous for its 12 magnificent arched windows around the four stone walls. There are three windows on each wall, each one depicting symbols of one of the 12 tribes of Israel. The stained glass illustrates animals, fish, and flowers. The view is breathtaking, overwhelming by their beauty and powerful imagery. The windows were created and given to the synagogue by world-renowned artist Marc Chagall.

"This is my modest gift to the Jewish people who have always dreamt of biblical love, friendship and of peace among all peoples. This is my gift to that people which lived here thousands of years ago among the other Semitic people."—Marc Chagall, February 6, 1962.

The stone floors of the synagogue reflect the light entering in through the windows, creating a beautiful and colorful glow inside the sanctuary.

After sitting down and silently praying for a while, I arose and walked outside and into the fresh April air. 

My spirit and soul were lifted high above, with the awareness of God’s presence and grace upon this land and its people, Israel. And then I prayed for the peace of all people everywhere, and for the return of Christ and his kingdom.

I believe with all my heart in the return of Jesus Christ. Every day I wait for him. He will come again, just as he promised, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.” (1 Thess. 4:16)

geneallengroner@gmail.com
https://www.amazon.com/Gene-Allen-Groner/e/B077YTVSJZ

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

                                 __Galatians 5:22,23 NIV

 Put Your Trust in Jesus

When you’re worried and troubled

Talk to the Lord who loves you

Tell him exactly how you feel

Why you’re upset and worried

No one but Jesus understands

The way you think and feel

He’s always ready to take your hand

And give you the answer you need

You may not get all you want

But one thing is for sure

When you put your trust in Jesus

Everything you need is yours

Here is the text of my favorite song, a song of

hope and of faith in Jesus Christ as the Lord of

all:

Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each

spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about

With many a conflict, many a doubt,

Fightings and fears within, without,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;

Sight, riches, healing of the mind,

Yea, all I need in Thee to find,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

Because Thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown

Hath broken every barrier down;

Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

(written by Charlotte Elliott in 1835)

Hope Springs Eternal

 Hope springs eternal

My mother used to say

When all else is gone

We still have today

All we really have

All we really need

Is found in this day alone

In presence we are freed

Free to be all we can

To focus on this day

On the eternal scheme of things

To live to love to pray

To live and walk with God

To love all those we meet

To pray with all humility

Live love pray complete

Seeking justice for the poor

Kindness for our kin

Walking humbly with our God

Integrity within

What more can we hope for

What more can there be

To live and laugh and love

Today’s the best you see

Yesterday’s a cancelled check

Tomorrow’s an unwritten journal

Today is all we really have

Be glad, hope springs eternal

https://www.amazon.com/Gene-Allen-Groner/e/B077YTVSJZ