JAMESTOWN (Father Manny)

JAMESTOWN
(c)2002, Stephanie Durand, November


Jamestown
Pilgrims of the New World
That sailed the darkness of the night
Arriving at the dawn to a new light
Setting forth unto land untoiled
For the glory of our King, the Lord, the Almighty
Faith was their guide in the wind
For the ship with the children, women, and men.
Disciples of our Lord, the glorious multitude of children
Aboard the Mayflower.
They arrived, they blessed the land
They had the world in their hand.
They build upon rock
and give thanks and praise
For the fruits of their harvest.
the soil they tilled, both with faith and hands in
God's New World.
Men of wisdom and women of faith.
Children, the fruits that they bore
Together gave praise to their Lord.
The cobblestones were placed,
The pumpkins were harvested, the grains of seeds
were planted,
For a nation.
A nation to come,
From fruits of the harvest,
The Lord's chosen apostles who bult their
Houses upon rocks of faith,
And seeds of love.
Seek first his name, and the glory
of the New World and a New Kingdom
will be fullfilled, until
the seed is uprooted.
The seed of faith,
The stones were placed,
the hands that tilled the soil,
the rocks they built upon,
will be torn down by nations,
that so gave thanks to the Pilgrims of Praise,
and honor and faith.
For the glory of the seed that harvested the
fruits of wealth and prosperity,
of great men,
of unity,
until,
man
forgets
what he
was originally
giving thanks to,
and dishonoring his
forefathers, who sailed the darkenss of the night
to see the dawn of a new light,
searching for a place to honor and glorify
their King, thier Lord, the great I Am.
So, November,
we remember,
the brave and the faithful
Apostles of God

God blessed America
In God we Trust,
Or do we? Has the seed been removed.
Have the stones been thrown to sea?
Has the soil become infected?
Have we built our homes on sand that could wash away?
Have we read the Pilgrim's story?
Have we read about their covenant with God?

November, 2002
____________________________________________
STORY BEHIND THIS POEM

(2002) Before I wrote this poem, I only knew a little about the Pilgrims. I knew they had fled for religious freedom, but I did not know all that I found out after writing this one. This poem became like a bible study for me. I certainly had no desire to write about Jamestown...but i kept hearing words, "Jamestown, stones,.." what? I thought. I knew it had to be written, so later that night, I put on my music, and waited...and then began to type. Nothing made sense to me (like usual) at first, as I was writing. Nothing was rhyming, and the words did not seem to match the story I knew about the Pilgrims. I just had never heard of them being "Apostles" like the Canaan's/Israel. I knew they were called "Puritans/Separatists" but not Christians. The key words that seemed important after I wrote were: Jamestown, Rock, Stones, Unity, Bringing Light to the Darkness, Apostles of God. In my search for after writing I found: they boarded that ship and said goodbye to their friends in search of a world where they could spread the Gospel, the Word of God, to others and to be an example for the whole world. The Indians were converted and their ways became more civilized and even the old asked to be saved. One asked, "Am I too old?" and they told him "No!" God blessed them with a HARVEST of food and a generation of people that would later become "the superpower"- "the melting pot"- people fled from their countries to come and get what we were blessed with - the blessings, the harvest, the fruit of the covenant that the Pilgrims made with God and sailed with faith and prayers, along with fear. They prayed for God's guidance on the sea. They knew he would lead them to the land he promised, "The Promised Land" he had chosen for them! Isn't that awesome! The "stones" I found out were His Words. The "unity" I found out was the unity of their belief and faith that they would honor Him and trust Him and let Him guide their ways. The "seeds" were not only corn and vegetables; the "seeds" were the spread of Christianity. Thanksgiving was not a celebration of food, but a celebration of fulfilling what they believed God had told them to do and now as promised to his people, he blessed them with "much food, a harvest!

EYE OF THE STORM (Father Manny)

EYE OF THE STORM - Part I
(c)2004 Stephanie Durand

I wrote this one when my life was perfect! Little did I know, just a couple of years later, i would face the worst "hurricane" of my life...the "worst storm" I ever went through. I did have to do much of what this poem talked about and it amazes me reading it now...but i must say...there is not one person that does not go through some test, some trial, some tribulation, and it is definately not easy to still believe that God is in control when we have so many questions about "why" something happens to us...BUT...we CANNOT lose hope, our faith, or our trust in HIM, we must stand still "in our faith" even if the ground is shaking below us! We must hold on! We must have patience, which is so hard sometimes, but it is the only way, and we have to pray, pray, pray, and continue to pray, and don't give up!-------------------------

In the eye of my storm in my life
The winds were picking up speed
It was a category five.

My world was spinning around and around and around
Then the eye of the storm came...
and I sat down in the silence and cried
Where should I run?
Where should I hide?
In this storm of my life

The winds were howling around me
I did not know where to run
I did not know where to hide
Then I looked up
The Lord had heard my cry!

"You have to leave everything behind
and run to me," he said
So, I blew everything I had to the wind
I reached out to my savior
I reached out to him

I crawled through the wind
I could hardly see
The debris was ALL around me

He said, "Push it to the side
and come to me"
"Come to me," he said

The rubble was so high
"It's like climbing a mountain to you," I cried
"I'm rumbling through the debris of my life,
A hurricane surrounds me and I do not know if I am strong
enough to survive."

My life was not forecasted to be like this
I was living in a hurricane, a category five
The winds were picking up speed around me
The dust was a whirlwind around me
and I could hardly breathe

Then the Lord reached down
and he breathed life back into me
and he said,
"Lay low, and crawl to me"

A hurricane surrounded me
It was not forecasted to hit yet
But here I am
Sitting in the rubble of my debris
He said, in the eye of the storm,
"Crawl to me, Let the wind take it all!"

So I started crawling
through the debris of my life,
I crawled, I crawled
It was so high
Then...in the darkness, I saw a Light

He said,
"Come, to me,
Crawl through the rubble!"

And through the rubble
I could see the LIGHT ...
I crawled FASTER!
He said,
"That's right, my child, keep coming forth to me,
I will SAVE YOU! I will set you free"

I continued to pray and crawl through the rubble,
I crawled through the rubble, and in the light,
he reached out to me,
Out I came and
He breathed life back into me!

I let the wind take it all! and I went to Him!
My Savior!
and His word set me free, His promise of holding on to me,
comforted me when it was too dark to see,
His light guided my path through the darkness,
a darkness that I never thought I would see.

-------------------------------------------
Looking back, this storm that blindsided me
taught me so much about life and raging seas
He IS the rock that rises in the stormy seas,
He IS the calm in every storm,
He IS our light
He LONGS to be our savior if we trust in thee.

Amen
when we cannot see

YOUR SON - GIVE HIM GOD

YOUR SON - GIVE HIM GOD
(c)2005 Stephanie Durand
(written for a mother I met who's son was "lost" and she didn't know how to help him...years later, he is doing very well and their bond is so much stronger! Teenage years are tough for teenagers and their parents, but we have to try to understand our children's concerns, fears, and sadness and really listen, and continue to pray for them... and for us ..to have wisdom and keep them filled with hope, and not despair, and teach them to pray for themselves and others)

Your son,
Do you worry about him when you lay your head down at night?
Your son,
Do you not know what you see when you look into his eyes?
Is the pain behind the look too hard for you to bear inside?

Have you given him everything in his life
that a mother could give
But have you given him....God...to turn to

Do you not understand the pain you see in his eyes
Can you not reach him though you have tried

Can he turn to Jesus when his life is not going right
When he moves out, will he know who to turn to when he
is alone at night

Give your child the peace, the everlasting life,
Let him call on Jesus, when he hurts and cries at night

A friend to turn to...a savior to call on
when he is alone at night

THE SEED (Father Manny)

THE SEED
(c) 2003 Stephanie Durand


God said, "Take this seed,
Plant it, Nourish it, Watch it Grow
Love it, Rejoice in it,
Release it and Watch it Grow

This seed I give to you,
A part of me, now a part of you
A part of mankind
Teach him love and kindness
and watch it grow

Hold his hand, teach him to stand,
Teach him about the world
Teach him about happiness and joy
Teach him about sorrow and pain
Teach him about me and watch him grow

Teach him to give and teach him to receive
Watch over him like only a mother can,
Protect him and be his shadow,
and follow him where he goes.

For one day, when all the lessons have been taught,
and his guidance leads his way
He will always know how to get there
For you have taught him how to pray

A man with his own shadow now,
and a seed of his own,
To plant, and nourish, and rejoice in,
and teach her the lessons he was taught
To love, protect, and cherish
and look up above for guidance
and she too, shall grow.

______________________________

I wrote this when my son was about 15. His is now 21 and has a little girl :) God just made me smle with this one!

I'M NOT WORTHY YET (Father Manny)

I'M NOT WORTHY YET
(c) 2002 Stephanie Durand

Holy is the one
Who called me by name
Holy Lord, I called out
As out of the darkess, I came

Crying out to you, Jesus!
I'm tossing it in a pile at your feet
I'm discarding my old, tattered robe
I'm running to you so weak!

I'm trying, Jesus
To get to you as fast as I can
I'm tripping, Jesus
For I have the flesh of a man

I'm not perfect yet, Lord
I'm not worthy, I called out in shame
He said, "Come, my child, broken,
For I have heard you cry out my name.

Come dirty, for the blood of my
Father's covenant will clean your weary soul
Come ashamed, my son,
For my Father will make you whole.

My father knows his sheep have wandered
But he is calling out to them
To listen to the voice of the Shepard
Instead of chasing the wind.

Come as you are now, my son, dirty and unclean,
Come and let me cleanse you of your sin.
For your heavenly Father has been waiting
So every patiently to hold you in his arms again.

And say to you "Welcome Home, My Son"


________________________________________
--November 15, 2002, after Father Many

THE STRONGEST MAN (Father Manny)

THE STRONGEST MAN
(c)2004 Stephanie Durand

One day in church
I saw a man down on his knees
I saw him put his hands up
and
He cried out to God
To put the pieces back together in his life,
To heal...his family, his children, his marriage, his wife


To the alter...I watched him walk
His head he bowed, and he silently talked
to God
And as I watched the tears roll down his face
I saw the heavens open up and pour down on him
our Father's love, His mercy and His grace

You think a man can't cry and ask for help
But that man
He was the strongest man I've seen in my life
He bowed his head at the alter
for everyone to see
He begged for God to set them free
He thanked him for His son, and all that was sarcrifed
and I knew...
I had just seen one of the strongest men I'll ever see in my life

THE LITTLE BOY

THE LITTLE BOY
(c)2003 Stephanie Durand

There is a little boy
who cries himself to sleep at night
He tries so hard
to be the little man
his father wants him to be

But without fail
The child comes rushing out of him

And his father doesn't understand
That he is not yet a man
And sometimes he fights
His will is strong

But he still...cries himself to sleep
at night,
Because his father doesn't understand how hard
he tries
To fight the little child that comes out sometimes

He is just a little boy
who needs hugs and loving words from his father,
who needs his father to understand....that he is only a little boy
many years away from being that strong man
his father yearns and wants for him to be
For his father's heart to always realize
that he is only three
and that his little hand needs to be held
and those tears need to comforted and wiped away
for one day that little boy will be no more
and his daddy will look back and yearn for that far away day
When his little boy was only three
When the simple things like baseballs, frogs, and little trucks
made his little heart so happy and free

SURRENDER (Father Manny)

SURRENDER
(c)2003 Stephanie Durand

Are you tired?
Do you cry yourself to sleep at night?
Is the pain too deep in your life?
Have you lost...your family...your child...your wife?
Have the pieces of your life fallen apart?
Do you cry at night?
Do you feel alone? Do you feel lost in this world?
When you lay your head down...at night

Did you know when you lay your head down at night
That your heavenly father sees your tears
He feels your sorrow...he is so near

Surrender....

Did you know...that God feels your pain
Did you know...that God longs to wrap his arms around you again
He longs to help you pick up the pieces of you life
Save your family....your child....your wife

Some say that a man shouldn't cry
Some believe it's in a man
to fight the way he feels inside

But a real man surrenders his feeling
A real man can give it all up to God
When he can't fight anymore
and he's choked up inside
And he feels the tears about to come down
He can give it all up to God

He can surrender
He can give up the fight
It's alright, he can cry out to God

It takes a strong man to surrender
and not fight the feelings
he feels inside
To let the tears roll down his face
When he prays to God
Surrender
It's ok
You don't have to fight anymore
Let him into your life

Surrender to God
Surrender to God

Let it all come out when you pray to him
Let the tears...come down
Surrender your family, your child, your wife,
And at his feet,
Surrender, "your" life

GATEKEEPERS (Father Manny)

GATEKEEPS OF THE LIGHTHOUSES
(c)2002 Stephanie Durand

Calling all Gatekeepers,
The Lighthouse is open
The beams of light have flooded the waters
Come, climb up and take a look around
For the waves are about to come ashore.
Stand gaurd in your lighthouse.
Hold your lights high and shine them across the nations
The beams of light have flooded the land
The sand below is still and damp
Stay atop the lighthouse and wait
The lighthouse is your guide through the dark nights
The lights, can you see them
Shining from nation to nation
From sea to sea
The lights are shining
The lights are infiltrating the earth, beaming through to the floors
of the ocean, through the core of the earth,
Stay in the lighthouse,
Continue to beam across the sea from nation to nation to nation to nation
Hold them high and keep them lit
Day after day after day after day
Night, day, night, day, keep the lights on
The Lord's hand is infiltrating through the light
Lifting the nations up
Higher, he says,
Lift the lights higher for the whole world to see
Higher, he says
Let each nation see even if it is only a ray
Infliltrating their shore, the beams of light
have energy that can move mountains,
Energy that can overcome all, the energy of the world
Is in the light,
The light of the Lord
Will infliltrate the world
Hold them high for our Lord,
And stay atop the Lighthouse,
Do not waver them, shine them,
Glory be to the heavens here on earth,
For the stars on land
That shine for the world to see.
Rejoice, rejoice, the stars of the lighthouse
Are energy and will never go out.
November 13, 2002
one of first poems after Father Many

2013 - editing - Bible verse I opened to:
Isaiah 58:8-10
"Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.  Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here I am.  If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."

LET YOUR LOVE RAIN DOWN (Father Manny)

LET YOUR LOVE RAIN DOWN
(c) 2002 Stephanie Durand


Long ago...I was told
Jesus died for our sins
I was told...if I would ask
He would wash me of my sins

There would be peace
Like the rain that falls from the sky

Let your love rain down on me!
Rain wash over me!
Cleanse me of my sin
Let your love rain down on me!

I was told that is why he hung from the cross
on the hill
He did not...shed a tear
The pain...he endured...for me

Let your love rain down on me!
Rain wash over me!
Cleanse me of my sin
Let your love rain down on me!

PRAYER OF LIGHT (Father Manny)

PRAYER OF LIGHT
(c)2002 Stephanie Durand

Lord, renew my mind
And teach me your ways
Walk with me through the shadows
That I may face each day

Guide me with your wisdom and truth
When I begin to fall,
So I can tell the world how
I rose up and stood tall

Divinely inspire me when
my well has run dry.
Hold me close to you when
you hear me cry

Let your kingdom reign in me
For all the world to see
Let me shine your light
From sea to shining sea.

Amen

DO YOU DRINK (Father Manny)

DO YOU DRINK?
(c)2002 Stephanie Durand
Dedicated to those struggling with alcholism and to families helping their loved ones through this disease. May God guide you and protect you always. There is no problem too big for God to help you through. You must want his help with a sincere desire in your heart. He knows the desires of our heart, even when our flesh fails us. He is a merciful God. He is a caring God. He is a loving God. He is near to you and your family, waiting to lift you up and heal you!

Do you drink? says the Lord
Do you think that I don't see?
Do you drink? says the Lord
Remember child, it's me

Do you drink, says the Lord
To hide from the pain and tears?
Do you drink? says the Lord
When you have things you fear?

Do you drink? says the Lord
From my cup, or your own?
Do you drink? says the Lord
When you get home?

Do you drink? says the Lord
When your days do not go right?
Do you drink? says the Lord
Whether it be morning or night?

Lay it down, says the Lord
Lay it down by my feet
Lay it down, my child
No, you are not weak.

You are my child, says the Lord
For that I am well pleased
You are my child, says the Lord
Your pain, I can ease.

I'll show you how, my child
Lay your troubles at my feet,
Hold my hand for awhile
and Trust in me.

I have been here all the while
Trust me, my child,
I have already forgiven you
Cry to me, my sweet one.

Lay your head in My Lap
Let me hold you near
It is only a choice, my dear.
Let me wipe away those tears.

I am your Father
I love you
For you, I gave my only son
So for you, a new day will soon come too

I will heal the scars that hurt inside
if you will only come to me for a while
So give it up, says the Lord
Give it all up to me

And I will raise you up
and from my love,
you will drink
from a new cup.

Salvation is a gift for all,
no matter the sin
All I ask is that you repent
and let me in.
........
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:12-14

“Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take.
Nehemiah 9:18-20

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
Psalm 103:7-9

FATHER OF CREATION (Father Manny) Tears To Treasures - ProLife Song

FATHER OF CREATION (still editing)
(c) 2004 Stephanie Durand
dedicated to Tears to Treasures/Right to Life


You are the father of creation
Who holds my little child
You hold him up for the world to see
That creation is not a choice
Though I thought it was for me

But your glory and love healed my scars
Lord, you comforted me and forgave me
Lord, you loved me and held me close
Lord, you wiped away my tears

I sing for joy now as I walk with you
Lord, you have lifted me up
Lord, you have given my child back to me
Thank you for renewing my life, Lord
And letting my child be with me

My father of Creation
Who holds my child for the world to see
That creation is not a choice
Though I thought it was for me

My Father of Creation
Who holds my little child for the world to see
Your kingdom is filled with children
Children that you have set free...
Who thought that creation was... a choice
Children just like me

Your love surrounds me
As I walk for you
I walk for the children
for others to see
That our Lord is the Creator
Who came to set us free

Our Lord is the....Creator
Who came to set us free
Who holds up our little children
For the world to see
that creation is not a choice
Though I thought it was...for me

Your love remains with me
Lord, you live with me
You lifted me up
So I could walk with you
So I could walk for the children
For the world to see
That creation is not a choice
It never was for me


You are the Father of Creation
Who holds the children....for the world to see
That creation is not a choice
It never was for me
Your love surrounds me..
The children...who are now set free
Children just like me

WHY YOU SENT JESUS DOWN by Brittany Whatley (Father Manny)

WHY YOU SENT JESUS DOWN (c)Brittany Whatley, 8 years old

(Brittany was eight years old when she wrote this. A few days before "her poems" we had went to a healing mass with Father Manny. I was composing at the computer when she asked if she could sing some songs. I typed what she said after I listened. She recorded five songs that day. It never happened again, just this one day. Her songs were powerful for an eight year old, brought tears to our eyes, and I will always treasure her little voice on those CD's singing these words!)

I know that you died for our sins
And I know how you died on the cross
So think of us and try to forgive us
For all the things we have done
Don't let the sharks get to us
Tell the dolphins to save us

Just remember, I know
that I have been told
I know that Jesus came to teach us
But there was no way for you to..
So, you sent Jesus down
To tell us for you

Now we are thankful
When you came and tried to tell us
People didn't know
And when they heard the news
You sent Jesus down for us
And to bring us to you
And how they were surpised
We were all so thankful

It had to do with our sins
And how you forgave us
We were so thankful for Jesus
For him to come down
We opened our eyes and seen the light
And also...Jesus
And oh, how you love us
Now I know how you died on the cross
Now I know you love us more than anything
And how you love us more than anything
and
I love you too

MARY'S CHILDREN by Brittany Whatley (Father Manny)

MARY'S CHILDREN
(c)2003 Brittany Whatley, 8 years old

Oh God, now I know why you tell Mary
to talk to the children
And let you do the rest
Now I know why you love us
more than anything else

You built me and everyone
Now I know why you want Mary
to talk to the children...
They need to know too
About Mary and you

Now I know why you know all this stuff
because you built this earth and heaven and everyone

And I know about you
and I know I know you

Sometimes I know it hurts
It's not just the friends you have
It's everybody around the earth

It is about the people who don't have houses
And don't have any food
He sends special people to take care of us
And tell us more about Jesus

No one is special people

Tell the people more about you
Tell the children around you
Hug them tight and don't let go
Go and tell them why you sent them here
To teach them all about
anything you would want them to know

Don't let them be upset
Don't let them be in the dark
Just let them be in the lighthouse
Bring them to the beach
You know where to go
You know where to go
Go the the lighthouse
To the light

THE CONVERSATION (Father Manny)

THE CONVERSATION
(c)2004 Stephanie Durand


Has the Lord spoken to you
Do you know his voice?
Are you ready to have a conversation with him

The Great Almighty will listen and bow his head
He will sigh and rejoice in a way that only the Lord can

And he will ask you
Do you know my son?

Do you believe I sent my son to save you
Do you understand how many sins he died for

Has the Lord spoken to you
Do you know his voice

For every sin that caused you pain
For every sin that made you ashamed
I sent my son to die...for your sins
Do you understand...how many...sins...he DIED for

Do you believe I sent my son to SAVE you

Do you accept my son as your friend and YOUR SAVIOR
Do you accept MY SON as your friend and YOUR SAVIOR

Has the Lord spoken....to you?
Do you know his....voice...

COME MY CHILDREN

COME MY CHILDREN
(c)2003 Stephanie Durand

Come my children and run to me
When the waters are deep....Run to me
When the tide of tears come ashore for you...Run to me
When life is just too hard for living...Run to me
When all around you have given up on you...Run to me
I am your heavenly father
My arms await your soul...your living flesh
Peel away the pain, the torment, the loneliness
And run to me...I am waiting for you
I am waiting to wash away the pain, the guilt, the shame
Learn from my son
Whose mortal body lay wretched on the cross in agony
Your body is hanging on the cross right now
It is time to come down and receive your glory
Wipe off the blood of sin...Take off your thorns of despair
Heal your cuts and bruises, wash them, clean them,
and take care of them with the Holy Spirit
and run to me.
Run with your tattered body...It is time to heal.
Call out my name and I will come to you.
I am the peace, the everlasting life,
I am your will to live.
Your cross can be carried for your glory awaits you
Yes, it is heavy, and yes, it is dirty,
It is a burden to carry that cross through life
But you will know when you can take that cross,
and clean it, and it will shine like the heavens for everyone to see
For that cross I gave to you...for you alone have to carry it
For you alone have to decide when to lay it to rest
I have always been here waiting for you,
Run now...with all of your human strength and
Do not look back.

MARY

MARY
(c)2004 Stephanie Durand


Mary
What a gift you gave to the world
You carried the lamb

Mary
God had a purpose for your life
Your son's light would shine forever

Mary
Did you walk for all the mothers
to see
What a special gift the children can be

Mary
How you must have cried
When your son, on the cross, died

Mary
How you must have rejoiced
When he rose
To his father

Mary
Your tears must have been like rain
Your smile....
When he ROSE

MY JESUS

MY JESUS
(c)2004 Stephanie Durand
(written for a man i met who had decided to accept God's forgiveness! He still struggled with some things, but 10 years later after writing this, he life has definately been "transformed" and he shares what he has been through and he helps others know that they do not have to be "perfect" to turn to God, he wants you as you are, and then He will help you...to turn your life around. The strength to change comes from Him, so never be afraid if you are not living the "perfect" life to accept God's forgiveness and let Him come into your heart.)

My Jesus
How I give thanks to you
You have given my life back to me
You have blessed me with your love and forgiveness
You loved me when I could not love myself

You healed my scars when I thought they were too deep
You carried me when I could barely walk
You listened to me when I could hardly talk

When the pain was so unbearable
You gave me the strength to call upon you
You guided me here
You had a plan for me when I thought I was lost

You held my hand when I was ashamed
You have forgiven me
I am loved
I am a child of God who art in Heaven
Whose peace reigns down on me
Who sent my savior to hold my hand
When I thought it was too dirty

I want to walk with you now
For I no longer have to be carried
I'm willing to share the Good News that your blood
was shed for my sin
I'm willing to hold someone else's hand now
Dirty or clean

Thank you Jesus