Finding The Secret

More Than Conquerors
May 2003

“[The kingdom of heaven] will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

“ ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents, For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have in abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” –Matthew 25:14-30

As humans, we tend to want to be great. We want to perform some great action or set up a memorial to be remembered by for all times. We want our lives to be more than just a period of time between our birth and death.

Jesus said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,” and in reality life has no lasting value until we learn to love our neighbor as ourselves. The only type of greatness that will truly last forever is the greatness of love that lays down itself for others.

However, if we want to become great in any way, whether it means becoming the servant that Christ meant us to be, or developing our talents to a level of prestige among the world, there is only one way to do it: start out with the small. If we want to become great, we have to start with our duty, the tedious things that lie right in front of us.

In the parable of the talents that Jesus taught, it was only after the servants were faithful with what they were entrusted that they could be given greater responsibilities. The master said to the faithful servants, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” The servants had to be faithful with the little they were entrusted before they could be entrusted with many things. The servant that was not faithful with that one very small, very insignificant talent (to his and our eyes) was thrown out into the darkness. He could not be entrusted with even the five or two talents until he had learned how to care for one talent.

Each person knows in their heart what the great Master has entrusted to them to do, whether it is being more gentle with your wife, helping a brother or sister wash dishes, or feeding the rabbits. And until each person is faithful with the small, they will not and cannot be entrusted with greater things.

Some people, who have already proved themselves faithful, may be entrusted with something a little greater (five talents), and some with something a little less significant (two talents), and some people are asked to start at the beginning, with one talent. Each person is rewarded for his or her faithfulness. The servant that was faithful with two talents was honored, just as the one faithful with five talents. And the servant who was not faithful, whether he was given one, two, or five talents, will be condemned for his faithlessness in the duty set before him.

So let us be faithful with few things, and our Master will be able to entrust us with many things. Let us start with that single talent that seems so small to us, but is so much in God’s eyes.

To Reach A Star

I see a brilliant star
That’s shining in the night
If only I could reach
That little point of light!

The wise men chased a star
It brought them to a town—
They found the greatest gift
From heaven had come down!

And if you’d like to see
Your greatest dreams come true,
You must first set out on
The path set before you.

This is what I have learned:
If you want to reach a star,
You must follow the twinkle
That seems so very far.

—Benjamin Graber

Tomorrow - Today

If I could only change tomorrow,
So it might be just like I say;
Oh, the joy of in the morning.

You can, by the way you live today!
Jesus Christ the better way!

For, tomorrow I would be wealthy,
Rich in diamonds, jewels to dispose;
To see the world in all its wonder,
Buying everything that I chose.

You can by the way you live today.
Jesus Christ, the better way!

I would fly in planes up yonder,
Sail over lakes and seas,
Climb the mountains tall to wonder,
Find the depths beneath the seas.

You can by the way you live today,
Jesus Christ, the better way!

I would escape to worlds asunder,
Climb and search the mountain steep,
Dive to depths in seas of wonder,
Finding secrets of the deep.

You can by he way you live today.
Jesus Christ, the better way!

When in youth, I was amazed
at all the things around me so.
I wanted, then, to learn and ponder
of the things of life to know.

You can by the way you live today.
Jesus Christ, the better way!

The greatest secret of tomorrow
is what I am today!
I learned it as I searched tomorrow.
What is important is today!

You can only change tomorrow,
by the way you live today!
Jesus Christ, the only and better way!

Used with permission

Preserve the Heavenly Gift

I've been given a gift,
O, glorious gift!
One that I could not each detail sift.

’Tis imperishable,
Quite imperishable.
Was given in love incomparable.

It’s called my salvation.
Sweet gracious salvation!
Bestowed upon me for my soul's preservation.

This gift comes in sizes,
O so many sizes!
Each day will uncover new hopes and surprises.

It's received by so few.
Such a precious few!
Now to us who've received it, just what'll we do?

Our strengths have been counted,
Our weaknesses counted,
And this life is a test to see what we've amounted.

Some heard the call,
They followed the call,
And glorified God to the end of it all.

But we're given a choice,
An important choice,
To follow our God or to ignore His voice.

This gift can expand;
God can make it expand!
Just trust Him and work through the power of His hand.

You expand as you choose.
God will let you alone choose.
Will you use this good gift, or faithlessly lose?

—Samuel Popiel

Who never lost, are unprepared
A coronet to find;
Who never thirsted, flagons
And cooling tamarind.

Who never climbed the weary league—
Can such a foot explore
The purple territories
On Pizarro’s shore?

How many legions overcome?
The emperor will say.
How many colors taken
On Revolution Day?

How many bullets bearest?
The royal scar hast thou?
Angels, write “Promoted”
On this soldier’s brow!

—Emily Dickinson

And yet, we are fools if we think we can be faithful
in even the smallest thing without help from above…

I'll Try

I have no fancy words, Lord,
No streaming violins;
Only heartfelt love and gratitude,
From somewhere deep within.

You know that I'm not perfect, Lord.
I get discouraged and afraid.
But, I'll try hard to do your will,
For the sacrifice you've made.

I'll try hard each day, to let someone know
That you can save their broken soul.
I'll say the words as best I can
And try to touch the hearts of man.

If I should fail while at this task,
Lord, pick me up. That's all I ask.
Guide me through another day.
Help some lost soul to find their way.

Used with permission

Long Barren

Thou who didst hang upon a barren tree,
My God, for me;
Though I till now be barren, now at length
Lord, give me strength
To bring forth fruit to Thee.

Thou who didst bear for me the crown of thorn,
Spitting and scorn;
Though I till know have put forth thorns, yet now
Strengthen me Thou
That better fruit be borne.

Thou Rose of Sharon, Cedar of broad roots,
Vine of sweet fruits,
Thou Lily of the vale with fadeless leaf,
Of thousands Chief,
Feed Thou my feeble shoots.

—Christina Rossetti

Can’t Look Up

With head hung low
I cannot speak.
Shame holds me so
I fear to think.

I failed again;
I toed the line,
Chose rebellion,
And fell in time.

Broke my own heart,
But cannot weep.
The pride of my heart
Keeps me from sleep.

My heart is fixed,
My soul pinned down.
My mind pulls tricks,
My head spins 'round.

God’s hand is firm:
His will be done.
I cannot squirm,
For he has won.

When I stared down
He grasped my chin.
Without a sound
He watched me in.

I couldn't see;
His eyes worked best.
His gaze saved me;
Watched me to rest.

—Samuel Popiel

Looking Back

Looking back over the years
I see how far I have come,
And all the places and lands
That I have journeyed from.

There have been times I’ve tasted
The crispness of mountain air,
And felt the joy of a breeze
And played on heaven’s stairs!

But there were also times
When I’ve traveled through valleys;
Shadows darkened every step
And my heart was not at ease.

But through the valleys and hills,
There’s one thing I’ve always known:
God’s hand has been leading me—
I have never been alone.

And today I cannot see
What’s lying ahead of me,
But I can walk in the black
Knowing God will forge a track.

—Benjamin Graber

Life

Never take life for granted,
Whatever comes your way.
Just grasp it, in both hands,
And enjoy it every day.

Sometimes, sorrow comes your way;
Blocking out the light.
That's the time to pray and
To know you'll win the fight.

Life is but a journey
Through mountains, hills, and vales.
We cannot have the sunshine,
If we have no rain and gales.

So, enjoy each precious moment
And always give your best.
Remember, keep faith in God.
Then, you'll be truly blessed.

Used with permission

A Handful of Star

This faith gets me a handful of star—
A seed of mustard, a mountain removed—
A speck of hope seems to drown me in joy—
Providence is a torture soothed.

—Joanna Spencer

New Beginnings

Today’s a new day,
With a promise of its own.
No longer will I look back
To days that have passed on.

This is a new beginning,
A chance to do things right;
A day to show compassion
To others in their plight ...

Reconciliation
With friendships that went wrong,
By words not chosen wisely,
Hoping, now, to carry on.

Yes, today is a new day
And, lessons I have learned
Have taught me to consider,
Friend's trust I must earn.

So, I’ll value new beginnings
And cherish them as gold,
With each new friendships made.
In my heart I’ll always hold ...

A promise to consider
Other’s hopes, fears, and dreams;
To encourage, cheer, and pray for them ~
To hold in high esteem

© 2002 by Marie Williams

Used with permission

Thank you, God...

For guiding my path through the valley,
Where you held my hand...

The mountain tops that You
Tugged on me to climb...

My parents that were given to me
By Your divine order...

For my children that You sent
To me in Your timing.

I praise You...

For my salvation.

The mind that you gave me
To understand the Old Rugged Cross

For Your presence in my life, today.

Thank you, Lord...

For your patience with a sinner such as I.
The love that You have shown
Through the wrong paths that I chose.

The many friends that You
Sent into my life to love.

Thank you...

For the guidance You
Will give me tomorrow.

For the forgiveness that You
Have given me, today.

Continue to guide
My path, dear Lord...

The path that seems
So uncertain to me.

You know where I am going
And where I have been.

Thank you for listening
To my prayers.

God's Army

God's building an army
I want to be there.
God's building our future
So please be aware.

It's our job as His children
To bring unto Thee.
As many spirits as we can
So He can set them free.

Here is our calling
From the Man from above.
Gather as many as we can
So He can show them His love.

William Luciano
Copyright ©1998

Used with permission

This is a long poem, but it is worth reading…

Willie’s Question

Willie speaks.

Is it wrong, the wish to be great,
For do I wish it so?
I have asked already my sister Kate;
She says she does not know.

Yester eve at the gate I stood
Watching the sun in the west;
When I saw him look so grand and good
It swelled up in my breast.

Next from the rising moon
It stole like a silver dart;
In the night when the wind began his tune
It woke with a sudden start.

This morning a trumpet blast
Made all the cottage quake;
It came so sudden and shook so fast
It blew me wide awake.

It told me I must make haste,
And some great glory win,
For every day was running to waste,
And at once I must begin.

I want to be great and strong
I want to begin today;
But if you think it very wrong
I will send the wish away.

The father answers.

Wrong to wish to be great?
No, Willie; it is not wrong:
The child who stands at the high closed gate
Must wish to be tall and strong!

If you did not wish to grow
I should be a sorry man;
I should think my boy was dull and slow,
Nor worthy of his clan.

You are bound to be great, my boy:
Wish, and get up, and do.
Were you content to be little, my joy
Would be little enough in you.

Willie speaks.

Papa, papa! I’m so glad
That what I wish is right!
I will not lose a chance to be had;
I’ll begin this very night.

I will work so hard at school!
I will waste no time in play;
At my fingers’ end I’ll have every rule,
For knowledge is power, they say.

I would be a king and reign,
But I can’t be that, and so
Field marshal I’ll be, I think, and gain
Sharp battles and sieges slow.

I shall gallop and shout and call,
Waving my shining sword:
Artillery, cavalry, infantry, all
Hear and obey my word.

Or admiral I will be,
Wherever the salt wave runs,
Sailing fighting over the sea,
With flashing and roaring guns.

I will make myself hardy and strong;
I will never, never give in.
I am so glad it is not wrong!
At once I will begin.

The father speaks.

Fighting and shining along,
All for the show of the thing!
Any puppet will mimic the grand and strong
If you pull the proper string!

Willie speaks.

But indeed I want to be great,
I should despise mere show;
The thing I want is the glory-state—
Above the rest, you know!

The father answers.

The harder you run that race,
The farther you tread that track,
The greatness you fancy before your face
Is the farther behind your back.

To be up in the heavens afar,
Miles above all the rest,
Would make a star not the greatest star,
Only the dreariest.

The book on the highest shelf
Is not the greatest book;
If you would be great, it must be in yourself,
Neither by place nor look.

The Highest is not high
By being higher than others;
To greatness you come not a step more nigh
By getting above your brothers.

Willie speaks.

I meant the boys at school,
I did not mean my brother.
Somebody first, is there the rule—
It must be me or another.

The father answers.

Oh, Willie, it’s all the same!
They are your brothers all;
For when you say, “Hallowed be Thy name!”
Whose Father is it you call?

Could you pray for such rule to Him?
Do you think that He would hear?
Must He favor one in a greedy whim
Where all are His children dear?

It is right to get up and do,
But why outstrip the rest?
Why should one of the many be one of the few?
Why should you think to be best?

Willie speaks.

Then how am I to be great?
I know no other way;
It would be folly to sit and wait,
I must up and do, you say!

The father answers.

I do not want you to wait,
For few before they die
Have got so far as begin to be great,
The lesson is so high.

I will tell you the only plan
To climb and not to fall:
He who would rise and be greater than
He is, must be servant of all.

Turn it each way in your mind,
Try every other plan,
You may think yourself great, but at length you’ll find
You are not even a man.

Climb to the top of the trees,
Climb to the top of the hill,
Get up on the crown of the sky if you please,
You’ll be a small creature still.

Be admiral, poet, or king,
Let praises fill both you ears,
Your soul will be but a windmill thing
Blown round by its hopes and fears.

Willie speaks.

Then put me in the way,
For you, papa, are a man:
What thing shall I do this very day?—
Only be sure I can.

I want to know—I am willing,
Let me at least have a chance!
Shall I give the monkey-boy my shilling?—
I want to serve at once.

The father answers.

Give all your shillings you might
And hurt your brothers the more;
He only can serve his fellows aright
Who goes in at the little door.

We must do the thing we must
Before the thing we may;
We are unfit for any trust
Till we can and do obey.

Willie speaks.

I will try more and more;
I have nothing now to ask;
Obedience I know is the little door:
Now set me some hard task.

The father answers.

No, Willie; the Father of all,
Teacher and Master high,
Has set your task beyond recall,
Nothing can set it by.

Willie speaks.

What is it, Father dear,
That He would have me do?
I’d ask Himself, but He’s not near,
And so I must ask you!

The father answers.

Me ’tis no use to ask,
I too am one of his boys!
But He tells each boy His own plain task:
Listen, and hear His voice.

Willie speaks.

Father, I’m listening so
To hear Him if I may!
His voice must either be very low,
Or very far away!

The father answers.

It is neither hard to hear,
Nor hard to understand;
It is very low, but very near,
A still small, strong command.

Willie answers.

I do not hear it at all;
I am only hearing you!

The father speaks.

Think: is there nothing great or small,
You ought to go and do?

Willie answers.

Let me think:—I ought to feed
My rabbits. I went away
In such a hurry this morning! Indeed
They’ve not had enough today!

The father speaks.

That is His whisper low!
That is His very word!
You only had to stop and listen, and so
Very plainly you heard!

That duty’s the little door:
You must open it and go in;
There is nothing else to do before,
There is nowhere else to begin.

Willie speaks.

But that’s so easily done!
It’s such a trifling affair!
So nearly over as soon as begun,
For that he can hardly care!

The father answers.

You are turning from His call
If you let the duty wait;
You would not think any duty small
If you yourself were great.

The nearest is at life’s core;
With the first, you all begin:
What matter how little the little door
If it only let you in?

-----

Willie speaks.

Papa, I am come again:
It is now three months and more
That I’ve tried to do the thing that was plain,
And I feel as small as before.

The father answers.

Your honor comes too slow?
How much then have you done?
One foot on a mole-heap, would you crow
As if you had reached the sun?

Willie speaks.

But I cannot help a doubt
Whether this way be true:
The more I do to work it out
The more there comes to do;

And yet, were all done and past,
I should feel just as small,
For when I had tried to the very last—
’Twas my duty, after all!

It is only much the same
As not being liar or thief!

The father answers.

One who tried it found even, with shame,
That of sinners he was the chief!

My boy, I am glad indeed
You have been finding the truth!

Willie speaks.

But where’s the good? I shall never speed—
Be one whit greater, in sooth!

If duty itself must fail,
And that be the only plan,
How shall my scarce begun duty prevail
To make me a mighty man?

The father answers.

Ah, Willie! What if it were
Quite another way to fall?
What if the greatness itself lie there—
In knowing that you are small?

In seeing the good so good
That you feel poor weak, and low;
And hungrily long for it as for food,
With an endless need to grow?

The man who was lord of fate,
Born in an ox’s stall,
Was great because He was much too great
To care about greatness at all.

Ever and only He sought
The will of His Father good;
Never of what was high He thought,
But of what his Father would.

You long to be great; you try;
You feel yourself smaller still:
In the name of God let ambition die;
Let Him make you what He will.

Who does the truth, is one
With the living Truth above:
Be God’s obedient little son,
Let ambition die in love.

—George MacDonald

Rest…

Sometimes I feel so tired
Where can I go for rest?
How can I be inspired
After being so depressed?

Rest…
Oh, where is Your
Rest?

Lord, light the fire again
That seems to be burning low
Let your light live in men
That I might live and grow

Zest…
May I have Your
Zest?

But today I will seek
To live for You—and die
To climb Life’s mountain peak
Learning to my self deny

Quest…
Can I live this
Quest?

But, my God, I’ve come to know
That You always have loved me!
You’ve died for me, even though
I have lived so selfishly

Best…
It’s all for the
Best!

Rest…
In You I’ve found
Rest!

—Benjamin Graber

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or
nakedness or danger or sword?… No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
—Romans 8:35, 37

If you have any comments or questions, or if you have a poem to share that you would like included in the next issue, please send an e-mail to bgraber@neo.rr.com

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