by Paul Mayes Jamar

Acts 16:19-30

Paul and Silas were thrown in prison
their feet fastened into iron stocks,
yet they sang hymns, and praise to the risen
at midnight, an earthquake loosened their locks.

The keeper of the prison feared they fled,
and took his sword out to kill him,
but Paul and Silas cried out to him instead,
to stop, for they were still there within.

The prison keeper took care of Paul and Silas,
and asked them what he could do to be saved,
they led his whole household to Jesus the pious,
forever more, they served Jesus, and were amazed.

No telling how many prisoners who had heard,
Paul and Silas sing hymns until God freed them,
believed also in Jesus Christ, God’s Word,
and changed their lives away from evil, and sin.

Today we need to remember when in our prison or jailed,
God is the greatest one to organize a prison break,
if we sing praise and hymns when we are held,
He will free us of our shackles when the earth does shake.

Paul Mayes Jamar was born in Brownwood, Texas in March 1955. He spent most of his life in Texas, just within the last twenty years he moved to Missouri. He graduated from Angelo State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Mr. Jamar was a third generation radio broadcaster owning several stations in the Austin, Texas area. He has written four books of Christian poetry. He hopes to get published soon. He has been published in Highland Park Poetry’s website with his poem, “Bluebonnet Sonnet,” and “Sunrise,” and in their book on Shoes, with His poem, “Shoe Holes.” Also, soon to be in Central Texas Writers Society’s Anthology on Nature with his poem, “The Big Red Ant.” He has also published over twenty poems with Agape Review. Mr. Jamar lives with his wife Cynthia Jamar, and has three children living elsewhere.