Poems

The Race

The idea of a race brings excitement to the heart,
If you are a participant, you’re challenged by the start.
You plan for it, you practice it, and even in your mind,
If not involved in practicing, no rest your heart can find.

You size up where the race is held and note the competition,
You evaluate the strength you own and look for an addition.
You dream of the excitement as the date is drawing near,
Some days you’re feeling confident; some days you’re touched by fear.

You think of all the glory, the fun, the expectation,
The final grasping of the prize, the feeling of elation.
But then, you feel a twinge of pain, for only one can win,
You know the odds are up there; your head begins to spin.

In all the races here on earth, one winner takes the prize,
The competition’s hard to beat, and there the sadness lies.
There is one race, however, in which all souls can win,
The judge is eager for each man to grasp the prize within.

I speak of man’s salvation, the greatest race of all,
In which the prize is offered so none will need to fall.
The price was paid at Calvary to give to every man,
There isn’t any second place when following God’s command.

No other race can be compared, which offers such a prize,
That can be won by every man and comes with great surprise.
No eye has seen nor ear has heard the glory saved for men,
Who walk with God and win the race when He shall come again.

— Sandra A. Haynes

Poems

Our Great God

Our God is like a diamond bright, with facets of light to shed,
His truth will brighten our path thru life; He is the nourishing Bread.
He’s the Water of life to refresh the soul, the Great Physician who cares,
He’s the Rock whom we can depend on, the Shepherd who’s always there.

He’s the Lily of the valley below, the bright and morning Star,
He’s the One who sees what we could be, yet takes us where we are.
He’s the God of heaven, the Son of man, the Father of our creation,
The One who planned before man’s fall to bring to us salvation.

He’s the One who left the heaven above because He could not stay,
When seeing His children self-destruct and carried from love away.
He’s the One who loves you, oh, so much, He became the dying Lamb,
So that you could live forever with Him-the marvelous, great I AM.

— Sandra A. Haynes

Poems

Death

What happens when you die, my friend? It’s not a mystery,
The Bible makes it clear enough for anyone to see.
The Bible talks of death as sleep of which you don’t awake,
Until the Savior comes again; of this, make no mistake.

For death is but a quiet sleep until the resurrection,
When Jesus comes with judgment from a heavenly inspection.
One does not go to heaven or hell but sleeps within the grave,
Until the Lord has come again, His righteous ones to save.

The dead do not know anything that happens under the sun,
They do not come to earth to visit father, mother, or son.
Your loved ones who are dead and gone cannot return to you,
Though the devil can employ his tricks to make you think they do.

For evil angels can appear to look like those you knew,
To tell you contradictory things that really aren’t true.
Do not involve yourself with them, or you will be deceived,
Instead, believe in God’s own Word, which you should now believe.

When God created Adam and gave him life and breath,
He then became a living soul until his time of death.
For when man dies, the breath of life goes back to God above,
The breath and spirit are the same, bestowed on man with love.

Then do not be confused by death, and do not be deceived,
But study what the Scriptures say, and you will be relieved.
Let not your heart be troubled, but look forward to the day,
When God will take the righteous home, forever there to stay.

— Sandra A. Haynes

Poems

Marriage Bond

Marriage and the Sabbath Day are God’s two special gifts,
He gave them both at creation time to offer men a lift.
When God made man, he knew that man would need a special friend,
God wanted the couple to share their lives until the very end.

Thus, God caused Adam to fall asleep and took a rib from his side,
From which He made the beautiful Eve, and she became his bride.
When Satan was cast to earth below, hating God and all He had made,
He worked to destroy God’s special gifts, and thus, his plans were laid.

He would cause confusion in the home with hatred and jealousy,
He would spark dissatisfaction with both, till one or the other would flee.
When a couple plans to be married, they need to keep God in mind,
He needs to become their Partner, so they can happiness find.

A threefold cord won’t easily break, but two may fall apart,
And only God can make things right with issues of the heart.
Take time when choosing a special friend, for if you marry in haste,
You’ll tend to repent at leisure, my friend, which surely would be a waste.

Marriage can be a foretaste of heaven, or else it can smack of hell,
It can be the treasure which you desire, if you have chosen well.
Let not this special gift from God be spoiled by selfishness,
But let each partner who marries a spouse, determine his partner to bless.

— Sandra A. Haynes

Poems

Which Day is God’s?

Christ said He was Lord of the Sabbath day: the seventh day of the week,
While others claim the first day is the one whom man must seek.
At the end of creation, the seventh day was the day God set aside,
In memory of His creative power, in which man was to abide.

The Ten Commandments, from God Himself, were written down in stone,
The fourth says, “Remember the Sabbath day,” the only one God owns.
When Jesus was here, He kept this day, and so did the early church,
The apostles honored the seventh day; you will find this if you search.

The apostle Paul said that when he was gone, there would be a “falling away”,
In which error would enter the Christian church: this is how it came into play.
To accommodate the heathen folks who already worshipped the sun,
The Emperor Constantine changed the day to Sunday in 321.

Then the Roman Church would claim this day as her mark of authority,
Saying all must worship on Sunday, which amounts to a travesty.
The devil hates God’s Sabbath Day, which reminds men of their Creator,
And thus, this change, which Rome now claims, evolved from its instigator.

If God had wanted to change the day, He would have changed it while here,
But He offered not a word of change; thus, the truth is perfectly clear.
Since God has said, “I change not;” each man has a choice to make:
Will you keep man’s tradition or God’s holy word? Will you God’s commandment break?

— Sandra A. Haynes

Poems

A Question of Default

Most men are out for number one, whatever it may cost,
To get on top the ladders here and run the world like boss.
Other men are viewed as competition, climbing, too,
Who gets there first will rule the world, despite what others do.

This sad default is what has caused the plight the world is in,
It’s fine to strive, but there are limits; otherwise, it’s sin.
When Christ was here, He said His kingdom wasn’t of this world,
He came to be a servant in which helpfulness unfurled.

He didn’t force the folks around to follow, but invited,
He made no threats but hoped that they were by His love, ignited.
He healed their sick, He fed them well, and even raised their dead,
He trusted them to follow Him along the path He led.

No coercion filled His mind; He gave to men a choice,
For He admired humility and gave all men a voice.
Perhaps the rat race that we know would be slowed down a bit,
If men would think of others, being satisfied with it.

— Sandra A. Haynes

Poems

Heard on the Grapevine

Much wisdom can be harvested from nature that we see,
And lessons can be gathered that will last eternally.
A lesson from the grapevine is one that comes to mind,
A gem now waiting, tucked inside, is what you’ll surely find.

The sap within the branches will keep the grapevine growing,
Providing life and nourishment within each leaf bestowing.
The sap must flow to every part: the root, the branch, the vine,
Resulting in the luscious fruit that one expects to find.

The sap is vital to the vine, or it will bear no fruit,
The vine will need this vital force to nourish branch and root.
The Holy Spirit in the life is much like vital sap,
Which nourishes the Christian life by filling every gap.

It generates new life within the soul beset with sin,
Revitalizes broken hearts and offers peace within.
It sanctifies surrendered souls and nourishment provides,
Discouraging the avenues in which temptation hides.

For nature is a treasure trove of lessons to be learned,
Displayed on earth by God above, by willing hearts discerned.
One only has to look around, God’s lessons now to see,
A foretaste of the joys above that last eternally.

— Sandra A. Haynes

Poems

Black and White

If you should see in black and white, consider it a blessing,
For those who see in shades of grey, in time must come confessing,
For when it comes to right and wrong, there is no compromise,
The Ten Commandments point the way, if kept before the eyes.

Although our God is merciful, since truth is surely known,
Men should not be presumptuous, a wrongful choice to own.
For shades of grey will often cover subtle compromise,
Convincing self that things desired are right, within one’s eyes.

If you should compromise with sin, you’re on a slippery slope,
For God is never colorblind; don’t push the envelope.
No middle ground with God exists, whatever the temptation,
One only tends to fool himself with self-exoneration.

The only choice that one can make with no apology,
Is not to compromise the truth with loose theology.
God runs the universe in white; no shade of grey is fit,
To meet the heavenly standard or be a part of it.

Then stick with truth and all that’s right, and rise above the grey,
Though you be thought extreme by some, and narrow be the way.
Then make decisions thoughtfully; don’t deal in compromise,
Avoid the doubtful shades of grey; be seen by God as wise.

— Sandra A. Haynes

Poems

Dressed for Success

Are you dressing for success to arrive at heaven’s gate,
Where the multitude of angels now expectantly await?
Has your robe been duly washed in the blood of heaven’s Lamb?
The passport that will indicate you know the great I Am.

The robe is white and simple, yet it shines with luster bright,
Acknowledging the character of him whose heart is right.
It tells of perseverance on the straight and narrow way,
And patience taught by trial in the presence of delay.

It speaks of full surrender at the foot of Calvary’s cross,
As the bounty of earth’s pleasures are considered but a loss.
It tells of sweet dependence on the Savior one has known,
As the friendship is developed on the way to heaven’s throne.

You needn’t pack a suitcase to prepare for heaven’s flight,
While clothed in heaven’s garment, you will find a great delight.
When arriving at the pearly gates, you surely will be blessed,
When Jesus says, “Well done”, my child, come enter into rest.

— Sandra A. Haynes

Poems

True Love

The most twisted word in the language is love, when conferred on both ice-cream and God,
This ambiguous use is confusing at best, of all words misused on earth’s sod.
For love’s original meaning is lost, when applied to things inconsequential,
It detracts from the characteristics of love, which are vital and most essential.

For if God is love, as the Bible states, ice-cream is far down on the list,
For taste is a temporal, fleeting thing, while God is the fact we exist.
His Son sealed the true definition of love as He hung on His infamous tree,
In that He was willing to spend and be spent for beings like you and like me.

His act put a high definition on love, compared to all else we could choose,
For He left all the treasures that humans may crave, to suffer through pain and abuse.
For the essence of love is selflessness, which lavishes gifts on another,
It denies the self in deference to those who may need our help as a brother.

True love is not a feeling or whim or sentimentality,
But rather exists as a principal fact that guides eternity.
It’s not in getting but in giving away that a man gains utmost delight,
For love is the essence of living God’s way, which shares His merciful light.

No wonder the meaning of love is confused when we’re taught by voices around,
That to gather whatever treasures you can is where happiness surely is found.
The essential meaning of love is made cheap by the usage we lend it today,
And even in marriage, when misunderstood, it’s reduced to having one’s way.

The world would be a much better place if the emphasis placed on the self,
Would not be the focus of all that we do, nor the grasping of worldly wealth.
For the world has it backwards when it’s all about me, and others are left behind,
And it’s only in lingering there at the cross that the essence of love you will find.

— Sandra A. Haynes

Poems

War Is Hell

War is but the door to hell; whoever said it, said it well,
Though each side will its cause defend, no glory will the outcome lend.
Whatever the conclusion sought, no war escapes disturbing thought.
For war leaves men and cities broken, leaving sadness as a token.

It rarely matters who is right, but focuses on those now left,
As measured by the sad expressions, borne with grief by those bereft.
The young, who were the nation’s pride, lay cold and fallen in a heap,
While those who dared to start the war will often less than comfort reap.

The greed and malady that thrives within the selfish, human breast,
Will not be satisfied by blood, nor can they promise peaceful rest.
For war is not the answer now, nor will it in the future be,
It only serves to ruin lives, erasing future destiny.

If men would only honest be, and take the time to know a friend,
Discussing problems as they rise with no self-interests to defend.
Who knows but that all war would cease, and in its absence, love would rise,
And peace at last could reign on earth, while blessing men with sweet surprise.

— Sandra A. Haynes

Poems

God of Freedom

Our God is a God of freedom; He will not force the mind,
His law is a law of liberty; there is no better kind.
He asks for loving obedience with a will to walk His way,
He gives each man a priceless choice:to follow or to stray.

Any religion that forces men to do just what they say,
Cannot be true religion, and should be cast away.
The separation of church and state on which our country grew,
Has granted men the freedom to which each soul is due.

To demand a blind obedience and bind the conscience of men,
Has never been the will of God, but that which Satan sends.
God will not force men to obey; He wants their choice from love,
Ad only those who do so, will arrive in heaven above.

For love cannot be demanded; it doesn’t work like that,
You cannot force one to love you; the command will just fall flat.
Each man is free to choose his way, but God will judge in the end,
By taking those to heaven above who choose to become His Friend.

— Sandra A. Haynes

Poems

Evolution or the Bible?

When all around us shows design upon this earthly sod,
What foolishness it seems of men to say there is no God.
For who could spread the hills around with flowers that unfold,
Or grow the trees with majesty or form the mountains bold.?

Some men insist that life evolved by tiny increments,
Or from a bang in outer space, which doesn’t make much sense.
For anything that’s seen is made by planning or design,
Explosion in a print shop will not printed works define.

It took a Master mind to thus create the things we see,
And no one else but God could now create someone like me.
It takes distorted thinking and a wild imagination,
To just imagine life has happened without cogitation.

It takes great faith for man to say life happened just by chance,
When simple reason would suggest there’s planning in advance.
For any object that can work, each part must be in place,
To say each part must thus evolve leaves egg upon one’s face.

If nothing here confirms your faith, gaze up to heaven above,
At the countless stars and galaxies as evidence of God’s love.
If that doesn’t work, please recognize creation’s not on trial,
But just admit that willfulness would rather choose denial.

— Sandra A. Haynes

Poems

Prophecy

Prophecy is given ahead of time, before the facts come due,
So that when events occur in time, you’ll know that they are true.
For long before Messiah came, these prophecies were conceived,
An assurance for when they came to pass, that you would then believe.

Many instances of Messiah’s life were written by prophets before,
So that no one else could fulfill these facts, which for years were kept in store.
Crucifixion had never been heard of then, when His method of death was proclaimed,
Yet, a prophet had said, hands and feet would be pierced, and registered with His name.

Micah was told the place of His birth; Daniel told of His death, chapter nine,
The silver amount of betrayal was known; casting lots for His clothes was defined.
Many things of His life were predicted before, which for certain, we know have come true,
No other person who has ever lived, fits these facts as Messiah can do.

If you have some doubts of Messiah today, and all He’s accomplished for you,
Just open your Bible, and study the facts; you’ll find that each one there is true,
For no other name has been given on earth that can save you as Jesus the King,
Not your pastor or priest, not imam or pope, can deliver the hope Christ will bring.

Then what is your reservation, my friend? Can you doubt that Jesus is Lord?
For He’s coming soon to reward His friends; to others, He comes as a sword.
Don’t be found on the outskirts of what He’s prepared; a place is reserved for you,
Just give Him your heart, let this old world go, for shortly, His coming is due.

— Sandra A. Haynes

Poems

Acts of God

Since men were made in the image of God, whose image the devil hates,
The devil despises men as well; thus, problems he creates.
In Satan’s attempt to get even with God, he causes a hell on earth,
Then whispers to men that God is to blame, casting doubt on heaven’s worth.

The devil employs his restless power, by earthquakes, floods and fires,
He brings destruction upon the earth and stirs up evil desires.
He causes men to curse God’s name, as if God had brought the trouble,
He sends diseases, pain, and death, while dissolving hope like bubbles.

When these things come, please keep in mind that these aren’t “acts of God”,
Instead, they belong to God’s enemy, who was thrown from heaven’s sod.
Men tend to forget the battle above, which Satan started in heaven,
In which he had spread lies about God, which finally grew as leaven.

For God is perfect; He’s holy and true, loving the creatures He’s made,
When they had fallen to Satan’s lies, the price of their doubting He paid.
What more could He do for those that He loves than to die on a wretched cross?
So that foolish and ungrateful men on earth would not have to suffer a loss.

As God withdraws His Spirit from earth, because of the evil of men,
It’s time for all to be aware that Christ is soon coming again
He comes to take His people home who all His commandments keep,
It’s time to get ready to meet Him now, the joys of His kingdom to reap.

Then when you are tempted to castigate God for heartaches that come to you,
Remember, an enemy hangs around to destroy what you’re longing to do.
Instead, cast your worries and needs upon God, for He loves you more than you know,
And if you are faithful, depending on Him, it’s true that His blessings you’ll know.

— Sandra A. Haynes

Poems

The Irony of the Cross

Jesus fed five thousand souls after preaching during the day,
For when the people were hungry and tired, He was loathe to send them away.
He fed them all by a miracle then, from five barley loaves and two fish,
When seeing the wonderful things He could do, the people had only one wish.

The crowd was excited as word got around: they would try to force His hand,
If they crowned Him King, much glory He’d bring with the Romans under command.
When Christ perceived the mischief afoot, He sent His disciples away,
He dispersed the crowd, but none understood why things could not happen that way.

For His kingdom was not to be of this world; if so, His disciples would fight,
Christ had a better plan in mind, to set the world aright.
Christ knew that this movement would crush His plan to feed men’s spiritual life,
For insurrection would come of it, resulting in problems and strife.

The promise of greatness and glory on earth became a grand delusion,
And even the disciples could not perceive that  their plan would end in confusion.
For the irony of the wretched cross would become Christ’s coronation,
Because it was the only means of buying man’s salvation.

For man is limited in His view and cannot the future see,
His need is to seek the will of God and follow Him trustingly.
God’s ways are not the ways of men; He always knows what’s best,
And if you surrender your heart today, then God will take care of the rest.

— Sandra A. Haynes

Poems

Moral From a Monkey

Punch, a baby monkey, lived far across the sea,
Deserted by his mom at birth, it seemed a tragedy.
He roamed around all by himself, and no one seemed to care,
The other monkeys shunned him, too, and wouldn’t with him share.

They didn’t want to play with him; they left him all alone,
Until the zookeeper noticed him, no joy to him was known.
And thus, one day, the zookeeper came and threw him a toy baboon,
Although it seemed a funny gift, it didn’t come too soon.

Punch touched the baboon lovingly, for it looked like him a bit,
He took it with him everywhere; it was a perfect fit.
He looked a little comical when hauling it all around,
Because it seemed too large for him wherever he was found.

He dragged it here and hugged it there, as if it were his mother,
Until the monkeys took him in, as if he were a brother.
At last, he’d found a family, and he was happy then,
If this story has a moral, it’s the value of a friend.

For no one wants to be alone; be kind to all you meet,
For one day you may need a friend to save you from defeat.
A deed of love and thoughtfulness to someone on his way,
May turn the world around for him and brighten all his day.

And even if a smile is all that you may have to give,
You never know if just a smile will cause a soul to live.
If you happen to be wondering if this incident is true,
I saw it on the evening news, displayed for me and you.

For nature has her lesson book from which we all can learn,
The lessons that she gives to us which we may then discern.
Then look around where may be found, that needy, longing soul,
By whom your gift of helpfulness could make him warm and whole.

— Sandra A. Haynes