by Pat Severin

When God looks down on all of us,
this world that He created,
does He still say that “This is good,”
or sigh, exasperated?
Does He see sinners penitent
that ask Him to forgive?
Or does He see His children lost
forgetting how to live,
too busy, harried, and consumed
with what is unimportant,
the children who’ve forgotten Him,
existences discordant?
I think you know the answer here.
The world that God has made
has fallen prey to worldly things,
allowed it to persuade
our hearts and minds away from Him,
refuse the gifts He’s given,
repeatedly ignored His pleas,
until His heart is riven.
Yes, torn in two to think that we’ve
forsaken our Redeemer,
the sacrifice of His own Son,
His gift to each believer.
But what of this, what can be done?
He’s said these words before.
He is the Way, the Truth the Life.
His words we can’t ignore!
But recommitment will take strength
and our determination
to cling to Christ, and choose Him first.
avoid the world’s temptation.
Remember what the Devil does,
He says, “Things weren’t that bad,”
compelling you to choose the world,
take back the life you had.
Be wary of his wily ways
He’s cunning and convincing.
He’ll tell you if you follow God
there’s something you’ll be missing.
But what you’ll miss is God’s true love
a life with his forgiveness.
And when life’s through the gift of Heaven.
That’s true, as God’s my witness.

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Pat Severin is a retired Christian school teacher who serves her Lord in many ways, including teaching, church and teen ministries, and her current ministry of creating cards that include her original poems of encouragement. She sends these cards weekly to those going through difficult life struggles.
She has been published in Agape Review, Clayjar Review, Thewayback2ourselves, Words of the Lamb, Vessels of Light, Heart of Flesh and Pure in HeartStories. In addition, she has been published in many of the Southern Arizona Press Anthologies, as well as the following three books, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lessons I Learned from My Dog, I Chose You: Imperfectly Perfect Rescue Dogs and their Humans and most recently, When Love Wags a Tail: Inspiring Stories of Love, Loyalty and Laughter.