Patmos Collections

Loss Taught Me - a poem extract from 'Excursions in My Mind'

2010-06-19T00:31:00.001-07:00

Loss taught me.
Loss taught me that death comes
Both to the old and the young.

Loss taught me.
It taught me that I won’t have people around me forever.
The good I need to do to someone today,
I may not have the opportunity to do tomorrow.

Loss taught me.
It taught me that what I have is the present.
The future lies only with God, who knows it.

Loss taught me.
It taught me that life gives
No advance early warning in many cases.
Events happen without notice,
We must be prepared at all times.

Loss taught me.
It taught me that life must be forged
In the midst of hardships.

Loss taught me the value of tears.
Just as the rains come down to wash away debris and dust,
Tears unleash can bring relief.

Loss taught me.
It taught me the priceless value of friends.
I would have lost it but for friends.
For friends who care.
For friends who pray.
For friends who visit.
For friends who text and email.
For friends whose words I rely upon to keep sane.
And the greatest friend of all – Jesus.

Loss taught me the strength of faith.
Faith in a God who understands.
Faith in a Saviour who gave His all.
Faith in a Comforter who walks by my side.

Loss taught me the relevance of family.
And it brought strongly to me the responsibility I have
Towards my wife and children.
Towards my parents and my siblings.
Towards my flesh and blood.

Loss taught me about the frailty
And transient nature of man.
It taught me humility.
It taught me about the urgency of service,
Of touching lives,
Of mentoring,
Of legacy.
Of making hay
While there is still sunshine and life.

Above all, loss has made me a better person.
I don’t take things too much to heart.
I can smile at irritations.
Loss has taught me
to enjoy the journey of life,
not just the destination,
To smell the roses,
To watch the setting sun,
To laugh
when something is funny.

Loss has made me
Look at work/life balance
In a whole new light.

Loss has made me
Look at future decisions
In a whole new light.

Loss has really taught me.

Poem 21: Blest Grace

2007-07-05T00:30:00.000-07:00

Oh what blest grace
We from grass can raise
To enjoy in fullness the joy
Only Christ’s blood can buy

Poem 20: Overtaking

2007-07-05T00:29:00.000-07:00

When the Lord will decide
That His blessings reach
His holy saints
Even the whole of hell
Cannot stand its velocity
Of approach!

Poem 19: Forgiveness

2007-07-05T00:27:00.000-07:00

Oh how hard the heart is
Harder than flint this fella is
Struck with the bullet of hurt
This fella hardly will melt

If only for once he will reflect
On the love of One he can’t neglect
On whom so much love showed
When on the cross His blood flowed

He demonstrated His love in this
That when His grace we still did miss
He came from glory above to die
So we can life find

If only the heart will consider this
Then it will surely hurt dismiss
Out of his bowels forgiveness will flow
Knowing that’s the only way it can gratitude show

Poem 18: The Lord's Church

2007-07-05T00:05:00.001-07:00

I established my church
I nurture my body
I guide my ministry
I sustain my vision
I am the Lord
The church, the ministry
Is mine, not yours
Why fret?

Poem 17: Integrity

2007-07-05T00:00:00.001-07:00

Going against the tide
Keeping my integrity intact
Hanging on to God’s standard
A constant challenge each day

Poem 16: Whispering Winds

2007-07-04T23:58:00.000-07:00

Ssssh!
Hear the
whispering winds
Cold frigid winds
Balmy? Soothing? No

The wind bits
The heat hits
Sharp as the needl’ point
Painful, biting, piercing

Next step
Where to, I ask
The blackness ahead
Is there a light, a beacon?

My eyes grow dim
Senses numb from hoping
Dull faculties, overstressed
Stress, burden, pressed down

Whispering winds
Whispers of comfort
The source same as
The breadth of life
Strength for tomorrow

Whispering winds
Fresh from above
Source? From a dove
Love sacrifice gave

Whispering winds, grace
Occluded in love
Fresh from above
Given to face the morrow

I receive,
Lord, I perceive
I acknowledge
Lord, I accept
I am refreshed by
your
whispering winds
Of Grace

Poem 15: Prayer - Lift, Lay, Leave

2007-07-04T23:52:00.000-07:00

Are you troubled
Because of problems
All around you
Difficulties, mountains
You cannot overcome
Lift them up
Lay them down
Leave them there
In the Lord's hands

Are they family problems
Problems with marriage
Relationships
Being on the brink of
Divorce, breakup
He said "Unto me all that labour,
Come"
Come on,
Lift them up
Lay them down
Leave them there

Financial difficulties
The gold and silver are His
Worried about what to wear
He clothes even the lilies
Troubled about what to eat
The sparrows grow not
But eat big!
Our Lord is all-sufficient
Get smart
Lift the problems up
Lay them down
Leave them there

What marvellous promises
In His Word
In Luke He said not to worry
In Matthew He said we must ask, knock and seek
In Philipians He said
Be anxious about nothing
But in prayer
Lift everything up
Lay everything down
Leave everything
Here in my Hands
Come on, obey
Take the best step -
Pray

(c) Nana Damoah
1993

Poem 14: No Longer Lost

2007-07-04T23:51:00.001-07:00

Aliens from the Commonwealth
Of Israel
Alienated from the body of Christ
But now we are co-heirs with Christ
Oh what grace! Oh what love!

We who once were far off
Directionless, lost with hope
And without God in this world
But now people of God, His own nation
Oh what grace! Oh what love!

Gentiles once in the flesh
Called the Uncircumcision
Once beyond the walls of salvation
But now can go through into the broken
Curtain of separation
Oh what grace! Oh what love!

For Christ has brought us near
By His blood
He has abolished in His flesh
The law that separated us
He has become our peace
And reconciled us unto God
What grace! What love!

We has access by one Spirit
To the Father
Right into the throne room of Grace!
Behold what manner of love
The Father has given unto us
That we should be called the children of God

No longer strangers
No longer aliens
Halleluyah, no longer lost!!
Indeed, what love!
Frankly, what Grace!

(c) Nana Damoah
2003

Poem 13: Service to God

2007-07-04T23:48:00.001-07:00

It is not the depth of your intellect
Or the breadth of your experience
It is the extent of your yielding
And the strength of your passion
It is not the eloquence of your speech
Or the sweetness of your tongue
It is the purity of your heart
And the love for the Lord
It is not the qualified that He calls
It is the called that He qualifies
If you would be available
Willing
And obedient
It will be YOU the Lord will use

© Nana Damoah
Sept 02

Poem 12: A shepherd's prayer

2007-07-04T23:45:00.000-07:00

Make me one, oh Lord,
A shepherd who cares
For His flock
Make me one

Make me one, oh Lord,
A shepherd who doesn’t
Scatter or destroy the Sheep
Make me one

Make me one, oh Lord,
A shepherd who tends
His God-given flock
Make me one

Make me one, oh Lord,
A shepherd whose flock
Are neither terrified nor afraid
Make me one

One who rules wisely
Who does what is just
And right
Who listens to, and
Walks with you

Make me one, oh Lord,
A shepherd YOU will love
After your own heart
Make me one, oh Lord,
I pray

Poem 11: I found Him

2007-07-04T23:44:00.000-07:00

A Saviour I found
My faith in Him so sound
Because He's always around
My life is as firm as the ground

When my life was in tatters
And all my plans shattered
When my destiny was in Satan's fetters
I found Him, and my broken life He plastered

My past He erased
My deliverance from sin He eased
My dignity and status He raised
My life with hope He laced

Is your life in a heat
Being devoured like meat
The solution- only a miraculous feat
Come; my Saviour, come and meet

Then, with me, we will look above
And sing of Jesus' mercy and love
We shall hallow His Name
His Name shall we proclaim
For creating for us such grace
We shall show forth His praise
High shall we lift our voice
With a song shall we rejoice
Oh, what a Saviour we found
Our faith in Him so sound
Because He is always around
Forever our life shall be as firm as the ground

Poem 10: In your presence

2007-07-04T23:43:00.001-07:00

I love it in your presence
A session before your throne
Like the cool that caresses in the morning
Like the sweetness of honey dripping
Is time spent in your presence worshipping

Oh I love your presence
The cool of your presence
The privilege to tell you my need
With knowledge you'll pay heed
The Holy Spirit you then give as a seal
Even to increase my zeal

Your Word you give
My sins you forgive
Light to guide my way
As I tread through the day
Oh I love to talk to you
When the leaves still hold dew

Grace and mercy
To help in time of need
Power and strength
All into me you feed
Peace you grant in the fullest sense
When I abide in your presence

My troubled heart you calm
With your touch like a balm
My needs you supply
Even as your Word apply
Comfort and love you shower
Making my sorrows seem fewer
My infirmities away you peel
My diseases you completely heal

Joy and laughter
I experience
Throughout, after
A session in your presence
Is over
Sometimes many ask
When in your joy I bask
Why so much joy and happiness
Then in form of answer
I tell of your power
Oh, how I enjoy your presence

Into your presence I will always come
Before your throne I will make my home
For there goodness and mercy
Shall follow me always
Oh, how I love it in your presence
A session before your throne

Poem 9: Friends

2007-07-04T23:42:00.001-07:00

I love my friends
Great companions all mine
How I treasure these ones
Precious friends all mine

They sharpen me like iron
Play a great part in my formation
Significant , though unpleasant , their correction
Even to working out my salvation

They are there when I need comfort
I know I can rely on their prayer support
To the extent of sacrificing on my account
They portray love of great amount

I love the times we break bread
In the Name of Christ our Head
Times we pray with one accord
Pledging to with one another be in concord

How I love these friends of mine
Great companions all mine
Lord all thanks is thine
For such friends so fine

Poem 8: As one together

2007-07-04T23:41:00.000-07:00

As like oil down Aaron's beard flow
Refreshing when love is kept aglow
Precious in the sight of the Father
When brethren in unity dwell together

Like the dew of Hermon, that dew
Like the fragrance of flower so new
Pleasing it is to the Father
When brethren before Him gather

Since we are but one crew
Dissensions amongst us need not brew
Destined to be together
Determined not to be put asunder

Observe the reaction of Christians, how slow
When millions to hell like a river flow
Can't we try a lit'le bit harder
Can't we stop the horde Satan daily to himself gather

See how unbelief in our world grows
Is it not tome to deal Satan some great blows
Know how we can harvest souls like plunder
Possible only when we as one move out together

For by this testimony all may know
When love, pure love amongst us we show
That Christ Jesus is our Leader
Then onto Him all shall surrender

When seeds of unity we sow
When the line of togetherness we tow
Pleasant when we call one brother
How pleasant when we as one live together

Poem 7: Election

2007-07-04T23:38:00.000-07:00

*Written to celebrate Ghana's Election 1996

As we prepared for the election
To make our selection
In the midst of trepidation
We turned to God in fervent petition

We prayed in fear
That God should hear
With anxiety we couldn't bear
Prayed that all should be clear

In His mercy God did hear
He being ever so near
He's given us peace in our Nation so dear
Peace as a garment to wear

Thank You Lord we are in forward gear
That we didn't one another tear
That none now is in the rear
Oh THANKS for the election year

Poem 6: My Trust

2007-07-04T23:37:00.000-07:00

In God I trust
In Him I hope
With faith that
Does not rust
I cling to Him
Like a dope

In the midst
Of the storms
Amidst the mist
That forms
When the world
Around me shakes
And the foundations
Of my life rattles
I am stabilised
With this thought
That my God cares

My hope is
In the Rock
The Rock to
Which many flock
Though I shake
Many times
Upon the Rock
It never for once
Shakes under me

Like Mount Zion
That shall never
Be shaken
Is he whose
Trust in the Lord
Is unshaken
But cursed is the man
Whose trust is in man
Who trusts in the arm of flesh
Forever shall I be blessed
For my trust
My unflinching trust
Is in the Lord

My heart shall
Always be glad
A song shall always
Be on my lips
Dancing shall be my lot
Joy shall be my garment
Healing shall be my food
Strength shall be my clothing
Because in God
Have I hoped
In Him
I have put my trust

Poem 5: An Ode to Handel (Unto Us a Son is Born)

2007-07-04T23:35:00.000-07:00

*A Poem written to celebrate the birth of Kobby Ewool, son of Sammy and Ama Ewool (Sammy is a Past President of Joyful Way Incorporated, Accra, Ghana)

In our prayers and supplications
In our requests and pleas
In our praises and waiting
We trusted that
HE will be born

In our joy and happiness
In our shouts and hallelujahs
In our praises and singing
We are glad that
HE is born

Born to a couple so dear
Entering a home so blessed
To be weaned by a mother so sweet
We are grateful that
HE is here

Faithful, his parents
Plenty, his uncles and aunties
Prayerful, his family
Wonderfully, we proclaim
That HE will be great

A pillar of faith
A fountain of wisdom
A spring of joy to all
Ah, how sweet to know
That HE will be a blessing

Grateful, our hearts
Oh God of miracles
Our lips sing your praises
We thank you Father that
HE has been given onto us

Poem 4: Celebrating His faithfulness

2007-07-04T23:33:00.000-07:00

Without a testing, we would have had no testimony
Without a storm, where would our song be
Without a trial, no triumph results
No sinking, no salvation
And no salvation, No Celebration

Whatever your experiences
You’ve qualified for Celebration!
For our Jesus has triumphed
His triumph is our Heritage and Joy
His victory is our Crown
Do we have any choice, but
To Celebrate His faithfulness?

Poem 3: Till we meet again

2007-07-04T23:30:00.000-07:00

Prelude: Do not feel totally, personally, irrevocably
Responsible for everything.
That’s my job.
– GOD

The future is unknown
So they say
But the future, your future,
Is known
This I say

Because I refuse to accept
The opinion of the majority
And I choose, with determination,
To hang on to the unchangeable facts
In the Book of the Almighty

They say this future
Is like the sacred groove
He who treads into it
Does so with fear
That this future is
Ever shrouded in uncertainty
But once again this is false
And I say so

Because I know a God
This God I want to believe
You all know too
This God knows the future
He is the Beginning, and the End
And so I want to declare
That your future can be known
Settled and sure
If only you’d but place it
In His Hands
The Hands of this Known God

If this God is the One
In whom you’ve believed
Then your future is known
Because the Master Planner is your God
Your future is structured
And determined
‘Cos the Perfect Builder is
The foundation of your life
Your future is not in a balance
For the Great Architect
Holds your life
In His Hands
Hmm, what a beautiful plan it is

A bird whispered in my ears
As I prepared for worship today
A beautiful white dove He was
Which same dove is here now with us
That herein are some Leavers, Finalists

Well, this – His message for ou
I know the plans I have for you
Plans for good and not for harm
Plans to give you a hope and a future
This hope is an anchor for your soul
This hope is certain and firm
This hope takes you behind the curtain
Right into the very throne room
Of the Most High
From whence all good gifts emanate

The storms may come
To test the strength of your anchor
Tears may collect, gather
As you eagerly await the fulfillment
Of your heart desires
But then He is not saying
There will be no rain
No storms, no tears
But He’s promising you a heart full of singing
At the very things that once brought pain
The storms may endure, but for a season
But laughter comes with the morning
The sun smiles after the rain
This same hope will see you through

The promises of God are Yea, and Amen (in Christ)
And not even one of them concerning you
Shall fail to come to pass
Be patient and wait for the timing of the Lord
Trust the Clock of the Most High
Will never runs too slow
Thought yours may run fast
Wait for Him
For He is no man that He should lie
Nor a son of man that He should change His mind
Has He said, and will He not act
Has He promised, and will He not fulfil

Know that there is no divination against you
Nor is there any sorcery against you
Blessings, blessings alone shall follow you
Because the Lord will never forget
Your labour and pain for His kingdom’s sake
I have received a command to bless
And bless I will
The Lord has blessed and it cannot be changed

Be like Mount Zion which cannot be shaken
Because you have put your trust
Your unflinching trust in Jehovah El Shaddai
As you dwell in the Secret place of the Most High
Know that His eyes are upon you
To prove Himself strong on your behalf
On behalf of you whose hearts are committed to Him
To strengthen you and hold you

We shall surely meet again
And when we do
It shall be said of you, and you
“See what the Lord has done”
And then you shall with a face
Brightly lit with heavenly smiles, declare:
“Yea, the lines have fallen
To me in pleasant places;
Yea, I have a good inheritance.”
May the Good Lord bless you,
And keep you faithful to Him
And aglow for Him

Till we meet again.

Written for a Leavers’ Worship Service at KNUST, 1997.

Poem 2: The finished work

2007-07-04T23:21:00.000-07:00

It began at Gethsemane
The struggle, the tears
After three years of toil
That last moment mattered
To go to the finish or not
Consultation in prayer
Sweaty earnest prayer
The ground drank in
The blood-like sweat
That drenched the body
Of the Man who is Lord
The decision was made
The Lord’s decision
His will into the Father’s
Hands was laid
The prayer’s closing line
“Thy will be done”

The kiss of betrayal
The strike of the sword
The touch of renewal
The arrest of the Lord
Before the Sanhedrin
The scribes gave their approval
To take the Lord
To the land of the Dead
Through all this
The Lord’s will was being done

He was silent
Before Pilate
Pilate who was to
Determine His fate
The Christ He
Wanted to set free
Not to give vent
To the Scribes’ hate
Between Barabbas and Him
Barabbas was freed
In answer to the crowd’s wish
The incitement by the scribes
At a greater rate
So it happened
That the Christ’s fate
Was sealed
To be sent to
The land of the Dead
The Lord’s will
About to be done

He was stripped
Flogged, wounded
Punished, oppressed
Pulled, whipped
Taken, up
Carrying, the cross
The cross, mine, yours
Nailed, in pain
Hated, not hating
Forgiving, redeeming
On that tree, that cross
Carrying, burdens mine
Yours
Cried out
It is finished
Finished
The redemption work
Finished, the cleansing
Work,
For you, for me
Mine, yours
Our sins
He finished it
For you, for me

Poem 1: Lift up your eyes

2007-07-04T23:16:00.000-07:00

You face trials
Many kinds
You get battered
Every side
Life deals you
Many blows
Lift up your eyes

The stress becomes
Very deep
Depression looms
Very near
The going becomes
Very tough
Lift up your eyes

The weight of
Your adversity
Very very Big
Denying you sight of
What you should see
Very present
Lift up your eyes

For close to you
Very close
Is the source
Of Your Help
Ever present
Look, your Help
Lift up your eyes

Our Help is
The Lord
Very Big God
Neither leaving
Nor forsaking
Ever near
Ever present in need

Into your situation
Factor God
Almighty, Very Big
He – He is your Help
Never sleeps, never slumbers
Lift up your eyes
Behold and access
Your Help!

© Nana Damoah
7 April 06 (written in Hallward Library, University of Nottingham, UK)