Is There Any Hope After You Have Messed up Your Life? Read this Poem

This is a poem from my book, THIS DAWN IS A PLACE OF HOPE.

WHY DID I WRITE THIS POEM

We all make bad or poor decisions and are trapped in regrettable situations, but hope exists. God has a plan and more than just a plan; He has a desire, a longing, and a loving aspiration for you. I wanted to give the reader hope that even though we mess things up, He wants it all to be a blessing. I wanted to say, "Yes, we make mistakes, but that is not the end; God's purpose for you has not changed, and His will for you is still for your best blessing." 

THE TITLE

YOUR DESTINATION is a phrase that suggests the ultimate end of a journey, but the point is not the ultimate end but the ultimate purpose. The subtitle that it is a Poem of the Wind-Maker reminds us that it is all about God. 

THE STRUCTURE

The poem is 24 lines long. Most of the lines in this poem are six beats, but a few are longer to emphasize different points.   

    YOUR DESTINATION

    A Poem of the Wind-Maker

    From before the first lights,

    God meant for you to be

    Like a beautiful ship

    With beauteous graceful lines.

    You should glide across seas

    To find the sunny ports.

    But your charts mislead you

    With vain calculations.

    Now your sails hang limp

    Like a useless ghost

    Over a stagnant sea.

    He who made the North Star

    Would be your true compass.

    He waits for you to trust in Him

    So that He Who Holds Winds,

    May send His steady breeze.

    Give to Him the tiller,

    And

    He will take you across

    The night cast starry waves

    To His harbor of joy,

    A place of rest and peace,

    And there you will always

    Face the dawn.

THE SCRIPTURE

Illustration for the Poem, Your Destination

As in all my poems, God's Word is at the heart of it. The scripture I chose to close this page was Psalm 73:26 

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26, ESV

THE ILLUSTRATION

I drew a picture of a bot in a harbor with the sun rising behind it and the Dawnstar in the sky. 

If you need encouragement or know someone who does, you should order a copy today. You will be glad to have this book.

Does Anybody Believe In Me?

WE ALL HAVE TIMES WHEN...

We all have times when we feel misunderstood. Sometimes we feel that we will never be understood or known. So, we ask Does anyone believe in me?

I thought about that question and those feelings when I wrote the poem, YES, IT IS ABOUT YOU, A Poem of Because. It is in my book of poems BEYOND THESE DARK LANDS ARE EDGES OF JOY. A collection of poems of comfort and hope. 

THE TITLE

We are taught as children not to be selfish. Our modern culture says life is not about you but it is about community, service, family, and all those things that we must surrender our interest to and all our needs. But there are times when it is about you, and it is not selfishness, conceit, and vanity to think so.

If God loves you so much and sent His only Son to die for you to pay for your sins then it is about you 

THE STRUCTURE

All the poems in this book are short and this one is only 20 lines long.  It is comprised of a series of triplets each one starting with the phrase, "I believe you."  Though the phrase, "I believe you," is repeated several times and thus runs the risk of being redundant or boring, it builds up a rhythm that makes the last line more impactful. Each triplet has a statement of faith in the reader to experience different blessings.

YES, IT IS ABOUT YOU,

A Poem of Because 

I believe you 

Will get through this day

And have a tomorrow.

I believe you 

Will find God’s love,

His peace, and His joy.

I believe you 

Will become stronger,

And find hope and courage.

I believe you

Are an inspiration

And others will ask how.

I believe you

Will be a blessing

And people will be grateful

For you.

I believe you

Will rise far higher

Than ever before.

I believe 

That there are many

Who believe in you,

I only ask

That you believe.

THE MEANING

The meaning is simple. It is not that I believe in you but that you are believed in. Not only are you believed in you are believed in by many people. 

THE ILLUSTRATION

I used a very simple image of clouds and the rays of the sun. The dawn star which is a typification of Christ is in the upper left corner of the picture. 

Illustration for the Poem, 
Yes, It Is All About You

THE SCRIPTURE

The Bible verse that I chose for this poem is John 7:38. It is a verse that offers a promise that if we come to Him we will not only find fulfillment but we will be a fountain of blessings to other people. 

 

John 7:38 says,

Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ John 7:38, NLT

I cannot tell you how true this poem is in my heart for you. I believe we all have potential and we all are capable of being a blessing to everyone around us. 

Does Anybody Care That You Are Having A Hard Time?

Does anybody care that you are going through a hard time and have to start over or rebuild?  

The book of poems, THIS DAWN IS A PLACE OF HOPE, opens with an answer to that question.

Here is the poem that introduces the book.

PROLOGUE

A Poem of My Why

I wish that I was there

Illustration from the Dedication Page
THIS DAWN 

When you fought the darkness 

To get to this place.

I wish I could be there

As you face this new day,

So I could hold your hand

And lend you my shoulder.

I would cheer each success

And weep for each defeat.

But I am far away,

So I send you these words;

They are my prayers, hopes, and

My well-wishes for you. 

I hope we meet someday,

And you give me a chance

To hear about this time

When His light cleared the darkness,

And you saw the great deeds,

The marvels and wonders 

Done in you,

By Him, who is 

The Dawn Star. *

*Revelation 22:16.

When I wrote this poem, I was trying to say that I care, I sympathize, I mourn, I would set my own feelings aside, and I would carry yours. I am not perfect, but Christ has given me a new life, and a big part of that life is to love others. I struggle with caring and not being selfish. I wish I was better- not for my own esteem but for your sake and for the sake of God who gave His Son for you and for me. 

Yes, I care, but not perfectly; still, I am trying. This book of poems is one thing I can do to show I care about you and to make a difference. 

This poem says there will be a time when your trials will be over,  

"...give me a chance

To hear about this time

When His light cleared the darkness,

And you saw the great deeds,

The marvels and wonders."

This time of your struggle will be over because God cares. He shows that He cares in a lot of ways, and one of them is through people.  

God offers a new beginning and a new life through Christ, who is figuratively referred to as the Dawn Star as the poem says in its concluding lines,

Done in you,

By Him, who is 

The Dawn Star. *

This poem is accompanied by the scripture from St.John's vision in Revelation, 

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Revelation 22:16, NASB 

I feel that the idea of the bright morning star is a symbol of hope. So as I illustrated this book of poems, I put a star in each picture.

I hope you find someone in your life that cares. I pray God brings that person to you and that God shows His love to you through that person. I hope you find your new beginning and a new day. I would be honored to have some small part in it, so I wrote this book of poems hoping they offer some help. 

If you are interested in obtaining a copy of my book, THIS DAWN IS A PLACE OF HOPE, use the button below to purchase a copy directly from me. 

Blessings,

A. E. Dozat

Where Can You Turn for Hope When You Are Living in Bad Times?

The news recently has been so discouraging, and every time you hear an update it gets worse.  Now the bad news is not about some faraway person or place it is increasingly personal. Where can you turn for hope?

I believe that there is a God who still loves you and is active in your life to bring you much blessing.  So I wrote this book of poems to encourage you when you are feeling that the world is getting dark around you.

Illustration for the
Poem, Patience

The message in this book of poems is a message that we all need to hear at different times in our lives. In many ways, it says that God is in charge of these difficult times and that He cares for you while you are going through times of discouragement.  It says that you will get through these times, and one of the purposes of God is to bless you when you do.

I believe, and I wrote it out in many ways in these poems, that you are coming to a time and place of good and blessing.  If I could say anything to you, it would be, do not give up, keep your eyes on God, and continue to trust in His goodness. You may not yet see the hope, but it is there, and it is bright.

I hope someday you read my book of poems, Through These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy, it will encourage you. I have friends who tell me they read a poem a day for a time; others say that they sometimes read it through at a sitting- it takes less than an hour. And when they tell me that it encourages them and helps their faith, and then I feel very humble and grateful.

© A.E. Dozat 2020

Poems in Prison

A woman in Vermont was excited when she read this book of poems when she received it as a gift.

She believes it will inspire and give hope to some special people she knows. She volunteers in a correctional facility and the inmates often ask her to read the Bible to them.  She said that she will be bringing Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy with her when she volunteers at the correctional facility and read from it as well.

I know she is going to have a lot of very interesting conversations.

Many poems in this book touch those who are incarcerated.  This book of poems gives hope and encourages people in their darkest times. It has a message of hope in God who is abundant in love and forgiveness.

This book offers a hope that is not just wishful thinking but based on the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that while we were still sinners Christ died for us and that any who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

I pray that the gospel explanation at the back of this book of poems will be used by the Lord to bring many to himself.

© A.E. Dozat 2019

The Poet Discusses His Poem, ASKING, From the Book, Beyond These Dark Lands.

The Poem, Asking, a Poem of the Second Answer, is found on page 25 of my book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy.

I wrote this poem because I hoped it would encourage people in a certain way.

TITLE
The first part of the title is just the word, ASKING. When you are going through dark times, there are many questions you ask yourself and God. It was for those times that this poem was written.

The second part of the title is A Poem of the Second Answer. This is to make you think that we must keep on asking because there is more than the simple common answers that we at first find.

STRUCTURE
This poem is 25 lines long, and each line is four to six syllables long.

The first four lines introduce the question of "why?"
     "The question of "Why?"
     Is a heart-scream of pain."
Lines 5 through 10 acknowledges how hurtful our pain is.
Lines 11 through 17 tell us that pain is real, legitimate, and should be faced.
Lines 18 to the end tell us that there is another question to ask and it may be the most important.

The Fork in the Road
Illustration for the Poem Asking
from Beyond These Dark Lands
Are Edges of Joy

The overall style is blunt and straightforward.

MEANING
There are times in our lives when we are faced with pain, and that pain is so deep that it causes us to doubt God, life, and anything good. It is in those times that we ask the big questions. Pain starts a process in our lives and souls, but we must be sure it is only a start and that we do not stay in the place of pain. Sometimes we need to be intentional about moving on.

SCRIPTURE
The accompanying scripture is from Job, “The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.” Job 17:9, NLT

ILLUSTRATION
The illustration I drew for this poem is of a road going through the countryside, and the road divides in a fork going two opposite ways.

© A.E. Dozat 2019

The Poet Discusses A Poem From the Book Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges Of Joy

When Battle Plans Go Bad, it is a poem on page 24 of my book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy. If you are discouraged this book of poems will give you hope.

TITLE
The first part of the title, When Battle Plans Go Bad, tells you that this poem is about a struggle that does not turn out well. The second part of the title, A Poem of Success, turns it around. It has a suggestion that there is something about losing a battle that is successful or maybe it is perspective.
It makes you think that perhaps there is a success in our failures.

STRUCTURE
This poem is 24 lines long and each line is less than seven syllables long.
The first eight lines give a picture of the situation we often face
"You feel that
failure follows you
like a stalking hound"
But lines 9 through 17 turns our attention to God who knows your situation with understanding and a solution.

Illustration for a poem,
When Battle Plans Go Bad
From Beyond These Dark Lands
Are Edges of Joy,
© A.E Dozat 2018

Lines 18 through the end offers the hope of giving God your "broken life" and receiving His answer.

MEANING
This poem assures us that God knows your hurt and He already has a solution to your need. At the heart of this poem are the lines,
But God knows your mess.
He understands
And answers
With love,
Acceptance,
Atoning sacrifice,
And an empty tomb.

IMAGE
My drawing for this poem shows a scene of a road entering a landscape where a battle was fought. Broken swords and weapons litter the sides of the road.

This poem assures the reader that there is a victory ahead in spite of our failures.

I chose this scripture to accompany my poem.
“But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57, NLT

If you want to read this poem it is on page 24 of my book which you can purchase below.

© A.E. Dozat 2019

How an Uber Driver Will Use My Book of Poems in His Ride-share

Why my uber driver friend gives out copies of my book of poems to his riders. 

Let me tell you about it.

Sometimes I work on my writing at one of the cafe areas at the local shopping mall. Glancing up I saw somebody smiling as they approached me. After a moment I realized that this was a dear friend. I asked him to join me and we caught up on what we both have been doing.

My friend is a man of faith and he shared that God is working in his life, some things have gone well and others have not; but he still sees God's loving touch in it all. He explained that driving for uber has helped him to make ends meet. He was excited that driving for a ride-share has given him opportunities to talk to people. Grinning, he said, "It's like I'm a bartender, everybody tells me their problems. They just open up." He offers them the kindness of a listening ear and every day he tells others about his faith in God.

I felt that God was speaking to me to give him some extra copies of my book of poems of encouragement, and his face lit up. He told me that it was a great idea to give copies to people who rode in his uber and that he would keep a few in the back of his car for his riders..  He reminded me that there are times when such a book will speak to someone's heart in ways that a sermon or minister couldn't. He said he knew people would be blessed and encouraged by the poems in the book. He said that just having copies for his riders to see will open up doors of opportunity to speak about God.

Of course, I appreciated the encouragement and felt very humbled by his praise. I hope he has many opportunities to share his faith and the book. I pray that God will be honored and people will be encouraged.

To order my book at wholesale directly from the printer CLICK HERE.

I am very excited that this book of encouraging poems is now available on Amazon. Amazon seems to be the way that people want to shop, so I am glad to make it available on their site. 

I did not write this book to make money but to be an encouragement to others.  That is why I priced it so low. I do not make much and what I do make I use to buy copies for those who need it and cannot afford it. 

© A.E. Dozat 2018

Why I Give Poetry to the Homeless

I am glad to share my book of poems with people, and it fills me with joy to share it with someone who is feeling down or oppressed. It is a book of encouragement and hope, and ideal for those who are needy.

While stopped at a light a homeless man with a sign asking for handouts approached the car. I gave him five dollars, and a copy of my book of poems of encouragement and hope. There was only a moment of time before the light would change, but I took the moment to tell him that I wrote this book of poems for him and I hoped it would give him encouragement and hope. He was grateful and said that he is looking forward to reading the poems.

I do not know what he appreciated more, the book or the five dollars, but I was glad for the encounter. If my life was different, it could easily have been me standing there asking for hand-outs. He is a man who is made in the image of God just as I am, he is a man whom my Savior died for and a man who once had a mother just like me. But I had an opportunity to show him some kindness. I hope that when I am in the time of need others will reach out to me too.

I know that my book encourages people who read it. People who read it tell me that it inspires them and that it helps in their troubled times.

I hope that he gets on his feet and finds happiness, and I hope he finds faith in a loving God.

I give this book away at every opportunity as an act of love, and sell it for as low a price as I can so others may do the same.

If you are in need of encouragement or know someone who does you should order a copy today, you will glad to have this book.

© A.E. Dozat 1/6/18

How She Used a Poem For a Thanksgiving Blessing After Her Time of Loss

When she told me her plans I felt like falling on my knees and raising my hands to heaven and exclaiming, "I am not worthy."

Her husband was a pastor for a lifetime, and his passing was a loss felt by many. His eloquence and gracious speech were as legendary as his nobility and integrity. Holidays are a season when a missing loved one is felt in its sharpest and deepest pain. Often, those left behind must deal as best as they can, and his passing will be very hard on them.

One of his traditions was to say the Thanksgiving blessing for a large gathering of family, nieces, in-laws, and friends. This year, the Thanksgiving blessing was in danger of being unsaid because no one felt comfortable taking the place of someone they so revered. No one felt they had the eloquence or right to take his place.

His widow worried that not saying the blessing would dishonor his memory and cheapen a treasured tradition, and even worse, it would dishonor God, for whom the very holiday is meant to celebrate.

Then she got an idea. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense to her. She would ask one of the relatives to read a poem she selected from my book of comforting and encouraging poems. She bubbled with excitement as she told me.

It was the perfect solution for her. No one would have to come up with eloquent words or fear they would say the wrong thing. Since many of the poems speak of God's provision of comfort, she could find one that was ideal for the Thanksgiving Holiday and deal with their loss. Since each person is in a different stage of grieving and the poems all focus on God as the answer for our broken lives she felt reading one would respect and touch each person where they are in that process.

I was humbled to hear of her idea and also very joyful that my poems are used by our Heavenly Father to touch His children.

If you need encouragement or know someone who does, you should order a copy today. You will be glad to have this book.

© A.E. Dozat 12/2/18

The Author Explains His Poem, Who Not To Blame

Every one of us goes through difficult times, even times of dark desperation, and it is for those people that I wrote this collection of poems so they may find hope and comfort.

Let me tell you about one of the poems in my book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy.

Who Not to Blame, a Poem about the False One, is found on page 23 of Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy.

TITLE
At first glance, the title looks straightforward. It is, Who Not to Blame, a Poem about the False One. You think it might be about identifying the right person or cause for a problem. The reader might think it answers the question of fault. The reader begins to contemplate that they blame the wrong parties for our suffering.

STRUCTURE
This poem is 24 lines long, and the lines are of various lengths. It has three different phases. The first establishes the issue of guilt. Lines 1 through 11 says,

Guilt
Sneaks in the back door
Of your suffering...

Then moves to the questioning that guilt puts you through.

The second phase of the poem declares grounds for guilt:

If your actions
Brought your suffering,
Then you would know it...

The final phase refers to Ancient Job, who suffered the loss of all he owned, his family, and even his health.

MESSAGE

Illustration for the poem, Who Not To Blame
from the Book Beyond These Dark Lands
Are Edges of Joy,
By A.E. Dozat © 2018

The message of this poem is understood through the reference to Ancient Job, a figure from the Old Testament.

The Bible tells how the Devil argued with God and claimed Job loved God only because God had blessed him, so the Devil took away all of Job's blessings, but Job never cursed God and continued to be faithful to God. In Job's case, no wrongdoing on his part caused his suffering; in the same way, we may experience evil without being at fault.

While we must not ignore guilt but should bring it to God and seek forgiveness through Christ, we should also be aware of false guilt that has no foundation in our actions. We should not belittle the pain in our lives but know when not to blame ourselves for it.

ILLUSTRATION
On the page with this poem is a drawing in pen of a road leading through a rolling wilderness landscape of rocky grasslands with a single tree beside the road.

VERSE
The verse that I choose to go with this poem is 1 Peter 1:7,
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:7, NLT

Guilt 

Sneaks in the back door 

Of your suffering

Then follows you around

Like some shadow-man

In the night.

Guilt is like elevator music

Whispering doubtful words

Like, what did I do wrong?

Did I commit sin?

Why am I punished?

If your actions

Brought your suffering,

Then you would know it

And would not ask why.

But if like ancient Job

You have no fault

And if you ask, "Why?" 

Like ancient Job,

You may not get

An explanation.

And like Job 

Your pain is real,

But your guilt is not. 

There are times in life when we suffer, and in our suffering, we add unnecessary guilt. This poem gives comfort and hope during those times. You can read this poem in my book on page 23. To order a copy, see below.

To order this book from the printer at the wholesale price CLICK HERE 

© A.E. Dozat

The Perfect Thank You Gift, Illustrated Poems of Encouragement and Faith

I am humbled and amazed when people contact me to request copies of my book of poems, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy.

To order directly from my printer and receive wholesale pricing, CLICK HERE.

Recently, a lady contacted me to order ten copies as thank you gifts for friends who worked with her on a committee she leads. She said the book of poems was so moving and inspirational that she felt she had to give a copy to each person.

She wanted to give something to each person after they put on a big event. In the past, she would give each one a $5.00 gift card for a donut shop or coffee shop. She decided that, although it would cost twice as much, she would make a book gift instead. She felt it was the right thing to do since several persons were going through difficult times with loss and discouragement.

I am grateful that God uses my book of poems to encourage and comfort people with His love.

I am very excited that this book of encouraging poems is now available on Amazon (see the link below). Amazon seems to be how people want to shop, so I am glad to make it available on their site. 

I did not write this book to make money but to be an encouragement to others.  That is why I priced it so low. I do not make much, and what I do make, I use to buy copies for those who need it and cannot afford it. 

© A.E. Dozat 2018

Wonderful Book of Poems of Comfort and Hope, Now on Amazon

This book is so perfect for you to give to someone who needs encouragement. And if you are looking for hope and peace in your own life you will find that this book will guide you to that place in a gentle way. The poems in Beyond These Dark lands are Edges of Joy, Words of Comfort and Hope speaks to the heart of those going through struggles and hardship.

I am very excited that this book of encouraging poems is now available on Amazon, (see the link below). Amazon seems to be the way that people want to shop, so I am glad to make it available on their site. 

I did not write this book to make money but to be an encouragement to others.  That is why I priced it so low. I do not make much and what I do make I use to buy copies for those who need it and cannot afford it.

© A.E. Dozat 2018

The Author Discusses His Poem, PEACE, A Poem of Source

This poem makes a simple statement. It puts our struggles in perspective by bringing them into contrast with the peace of God.

To order my book directly from the printer and receive wholesale pricing, CLICK HERE.

TITLE
Like all the poems in this collection, this has a two-part title. First is the word "Peace." This gives a feeling of hope. The second part of the title, "A Poem of Source," is the key to understanding the poem. This part gives us a compass arrow that points to what is our source of peace.

STRUCTURE
This poem is less structured than most in my collection: it is only 20 lines forming five sentences.

Illustration for the poem, Peace, from the book
Beyond These Dark Land
are Edges of Joy
By A.E.Dozat © 2018

The first four lines ask if you will find peace when you are surrounded by so many troubles. The sixth is composed of the one word, "but," to indicate a new direction. Lines six through eleven begin to challenge our ideas of peace.
"True peace is not
Just the absence of cares,
Worries or troubles."

Lines twelve through fifteen are the voice of peace answering the challenge of what peace is and isn't.

Lines sixteen through the end concludes with who is the source of peace.

MEANING
This poem acknowledges you have problems, and they are real. You can find peace if you look for it in the correct place. Peace is not in the absence of troubles but the presence of Him, who is bigger than our troubles.

ILLUSTRATION
This poem is illustrated with a pen drawing of a tree stump with a shoot coming up from one of its roots as a statement that hope may come out of loss.

VERSE.
The scripture accompanying this poem is a classic, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid." John 14:27, NIV.

This poem will encourage anyone who wonders why they do not possess inner peace. It will show them that the source of peace is not themselves but God, and if they seek Him, they will find peace.

If you want to read this poem, it is on page 22 of my book.

© A.E. Dozat 9/13/18

The Poet Explains His Poem, The Forever Part of The Pain, From the Book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges Of Joy

I wrote this poem for my book of hope and faith because I wanted to give hope that God uses your difficulties to bless you in many ways. A time may come when what remains of your pain becomes a gift for others.

To order your copy directly from the printer and receive the best wholesale pricing CLICK HERE.

TITLE
The title is in two parts, the first part is, "The Forever Part Of The Pain." It is an attempt to respect that pain leaves a piece of itself with us forever. We may recover, move on, and heal but there is something that never goes away. This is not something that should discourage us but a reality we can live with.
The second part of the title is, "A Poem of the Gift." This part of the poem is curious and makes the reader wonder what gift there can be in pain. It also suggests that it is a hopeful poem that will point to something valuable.

STRUCTURE
This poem has 26 lines. Each line is fewer than five syllables long. The first half describes the aftermath of pain and how it cools and seems to fade, "After the furnace fires of tribulation have cooled,"
The second section is only three lines and tells us that others will seek us out for this gift.
The last part, lines 18-26, are beautiful and among my favorite in the collection. They tell that the gift left by pain is something you can give to others.

MEANING

Illustration for the Poem
THE FOREVER PART OF THE PAIN
From The Book,
BEYOND THESE DARK LANDS
ARE EDGES OF JOY
© A.E. Dozat 2018

You will get over the experience, but something of pain remains. It is different for each person, and you must draw your own specific about the nature of the gift left by your own loss, it may be compassion, experience, comfort or understanding. But you wouldn't have this gift if you did not go through pain. The surprise is that this gift is not as much for you as it is for others when you share it with them.

ILLUSTRATION
There is a picture of an oak tree with a chair swing hanging from its branch. The chair swing looks like it is for two people sitting side by side. You can imagine two people may sit there to talk about their experiences.

SCRIPTURE
This poem is accompanied by a verse of scripture from the New Testament.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NLT

This poem offers comfort that because of your pain there will remain something that you will have that will bless you and others.

If you want to read this poem it is on page 21 of my book which you can purchase below.

© A.E. Dozat 9/13/18

The Poet Explains His Poem, IT IS ALL ABOUT WHAT IS INSIDE

The poem, It is All About What is Inside, is a part of the collection of poems titled, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy. This book of poems give comfort and hope to those going through dark times. This poem is one of the ones that encourage you to think about God's purpose in sending difficulties and problems into your life.

To order directly from my printer and receive the best wholesale pricing CLICK HERE.

TITLE
The Title is in two parts. The first is, It is All About What is Inside.  At first read, it seems to have no connection to the actual poem. It was my purpose to cause the reader to think about their feelings and desires in contrast to the work of God in our lives. The second part of the title is, "A Poem about the Intent."  It refers to the reason for God's purpose in our difficulties.

STRUCTURE
This poem was written with a very simple approach and at first looks like free-verse. The 21 lines vary in length. Each line makes a single statement that weaves with those around it to develop the poem's meaning. Lines 8 and 17 are points of transition in the meaning.

MEANING

Illustration for the poem, It is All About What is Inside,
From the Book,
Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy
© A.E. Dozat 2018

This poem begins by pointing out that we have our desires, wants and the idea of what is best for us. Then we keep waiting for "God to send it."
The 8th line introduces the first "But," and we are faced with God sending something that is, "contrary to our wants." At that point, we often find ourselves fighting against God, and even asking Him to deliver us from this thing that is opposed to our desire.
Line 17 brings the next change with the second "But" and begins the conclusion. It concludes with a blunt and bold statement that God is using that very thing to bless us.

ILLUSTRATION
The illustration that I drew for this poem is of a backpack resting against a tree beside a road that leads up into the mountain.

SCRIPTURE
The poem is accompanied by the verse from the epistle of James. "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12, ESV

This poem, like all the poems in the collection, will give you hope that there is meaning in the problems you face and that God is working for your good through them. Anyone going through a struggle will be encouraged by this poem and book.

You can read this poem in my book Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges Of Joy on page 20.

If you are in need of encouragement or know someone who does you should order a copy today, you will glad to have this book.

© A.E. Dozat 8/26/18

The Poet Explains His Poem, Your Tears Are Not In Vain.

Is there any good in crying, or is it all meaningless grief?

This is an exceptional special poem, and even though it is short and seems dark at first, it points to deep and hopeful meaning in our times of sorrow.

This poem is from the book of poems of comfort and hope titled BEYOND THESE DARK LANDS ARE EDGES OF JOY. 

TITLE
The title of this poem is in two parts, like all of my poems in this collection. It begins by acknowledging that we have sorrow and tears. It further points out that there is a purpose in our grief and sorrow. The second part of the title is A Poem of Divine Virtue, and of course, the Divine refers to God. The Virtue brings us to think of the good He does.

STRUCTURE
It is a short poem since it is 15 lines long. The lines form only four sentences. Each line is six syllables except for the last one, which uses five syllables for impact.

MEANING

Illustration for the Poem,
Your Tears are Not in Vain,
From Beyond These Dark Lands
Are Edges of Joy
By A.E. Dozat © 2018

The title gives away the meaning. But the poem develops the point with several provocative statements that define God's purpose for our tears.
The opening line challenges the common belief that sorrow is meaningless,
"Tears are a gift from God:"
Line four presents the idea that our time of sorrow is not permanent and has an end,
"For once your tears are spent
And your grieving is done..."
Then we are lead to an image in lines six through eight of becoming free from the things that grief brings to hold us back.
Line 10 begins the conclusion,
"God gave tears to teach us,
They instruct us in hope."
Lines 13 through 15 speak of the ultimate hope in God.
Truly, it says a lot in a few words.


ILLUSTRATION
The illustration for this poem is a pen drawing of a path disappearing into the distance. For a twist, the road is made not earth but flowers.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
The scripture footnote to the page is, "Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them." Psalm 126:6, NIV

This poem gives hope to those who are going through loss and suffering. It says there is meaning to our tears, and tears teach truths that only those who suffer can know.  You may find it on page 19 of the book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy Words of comfort and Hope, to read the poem.

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YOUR TEARS ARE NOT VAIN,

A Poem of Divine Virtue

Tears are a gift from God;

They come not from weakness

But from a soul in growth.

For once your tears are spent

And your grieving is done 

Then you are ready to walk

From the cold black shackles

Whose chains bind our hearts

And keep them earthbound.

God gave tears to teach us. 

They instruct us in hope.

For surely those who weep

Are the ones who know that

Resurrection cannot

Come without a tomb.

© A.E. Dozat 8/13/18

The Poet Explains His Meaning in the Poem, Not Only Are You Known

My Poem, Not Only Are You Known, is a poem of comfort and hope that may touch you on many levels of your life.

To get it through Amazon CLICK HERE.

TITLE
The full title is, Not Only Are You Known, a Poem about God. I choose these long titles to break away from the current trend to give minimal titles and to engage the reader's curiosity from the beginning.

The long title also suggests a key to understanding the poem. For this poem, there are two keys to understanding it. First, "Known," makes the point that we are known, but there is more to it than us simply being known by some universal awareness.
The second part of the title is, "A Poem About God." This takes us away from ourselves and brings us to God. People have a naturally self-aware view of life and see things from a self-vantage point, but I wanted to take us to God's vantage point and explore His view of us.

STRUCTURE

Illustration for the poem, Not Only Are You Known,
From Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges Of Joy
by A.E. Dozat © 2018

This poem is 24 lines long and forms six sentences. Most of the lines are three to five syllables. The short lines give emphasis and slow the reader down, so they do not miss the meanings in the poem. The first section is made up of five "God knows you" statements.
God knows you
With all your flaws,
And He accepts you.

Line 16 starts the second section with

And since
God knows...

The poem begins with God's general knowledge of us and then goes to His knowledge that moves Him to act for us. 

Lines 20 to the end describes God's act of sending Christ to fulfill our greatest need. That need is echoed in the theme of knowing.

MEANING
The meaning of this poem is that God knows you with all your flaws and he also accepts you completely. But he knows you have not only flaws and sins, but you have a need that you cannot meet on your own; so He sent his Son, Christ, to die as our Savior and become the answer to that need.

ILLUSTRATION
The illustration for this poem is a drawing of a cross beside a road that leads over the side of a mountain.

SCRIPTURE
The scripture that accompanies this poem is, "And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world." 1 John 4:14, NIV

This poem offers comfort that you do not need to hide or run from God because He already knows you and He accepts you. It offers hope through the Gospel that Christ came to bring us to God so we can know His love.

To read the poem you may find it on page 18 of the Book Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy Words of comfort and Hope

© Adron 7/23/18

The Author Explains His Poem, Freedom, a Poem of leaving Darkness

The poem, FREEDOM, is one of my most sincere poems in the book, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy. You can download a PDF of the book at the link below.

TITLE
The full title is FREEDOM, A Poem of Leaving Darkness. There are many poems about freedom. In this poem, freedom comes from forgiveness.

The second part of the title is the important part. We are in darkness that enslaves us. The title gives us hope that we can leave the darkness and become free.

STRUCTURE
This poem is 26 lines long forming seven sentences. The majority of the poems in this collection are written in the third person; but in this one, I use the first person to tell the story of the reader.
"I see you oppressed
And driven through darkness..."

Illustration for the Poem Freedom,
From the book Beyond These Dark Lands
Are Edges of Joy,
By A.E. Dozat © 2018

and

"...What you are seeking

I would give freely."

Each line is five syllables long, so it has some structure.

OUTLINE

The first five lines describe the searching oppressed reader who seeks freedom. 

Lines six through thirteen describe the speaker's reaction to the one who is seeking freedom. 

Lines 14 through the end are a testimony of having found freedom and the supernatural response to share it with others.

MEANING
The meaning of this poem is that though you are in darkness and troubled with guilt, but you can hope because freedom from your guilt is available. It says that others have found freedom through Christ, and you may find it too.

This poem is one of the places where the book becomes personal; here, I, as the author, speak directly to the reader. It is a poem of hope and goodwill. It makes clear that Christ's forgiveness is hope for the lost.

This poem is illustrated with a pen drawing of a dark, narrow ravine and a path that leads to the open space.

SCRIPTURE
The bottom of the page has a verse of scripture from the epistle of Colossians. ”For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14, NIV.

This poem tells you that there is hope and you can find freedom from all your inner darkness.

© Adron 7/3/18

The Author Explains His Poem, Not Only Are You Known, A Poem about God

My poem, Not Only Are You Known, is a poem of great encouragement. It is from my book of poems, Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges Of Joy, Words of Comfort and Hope. This is a book that will uplift and encourage someone who is going through difficult times.

You can order your copy directly from the printer at wholesale prices. CLICK HERE.

TITLE
I chose this title because I wanted to cause a little curiosity about God's knowledge of you. Of course, as an all-knowing God, he knows your existence, but I want to prompt that there is more to it than that. Yes, God knows you, but that is only the beginning.

STRUCTURE
The simplicity of this poem makes it beautiful. It is only four sentences, and the sentences are broken up into 22 lines. Most of the lines are three, four, or five syllables with a few being six. The praise, "God knows you," is repeated six times each time expressing the depth of His knowledge of you. For example the first is,
God knows you
With all your flaws,
And He accepts you.

Illustration for the poem,
Not Only Are You Known,
From the book,
Beyond These Dark Lands Are Edges of Joy
© A.E. Dozat 2018

Each of these "God knows you" statements reaffirms God's love and acceptance of you. In lines 13 - 22 the poem leaps to the ultimate affirmation of God's love where He knows we needed a savior and He provided one. 

MESSAGE
On the surface, this appears to be about how God knows you with all your imperfections; but it concludes by saying that God knew that you needed a savior and sent Christ to be our salvation. The poem assures the reader that although God knows your failings, He still desires to have a relationship with you.

ILLUSTRATION
Illustrations of a road unite the poems of this book. For this poem, I drew a cross beside a mountain road to emphasize The Savior who died to pay for our sins.

This poem is for a person who feels that they could never come to God because they are too evil, or have committed some unforgivable sin. This poem helps them to see that God knows their failings and still sent His son to become their Savior. No matter how far you are from God remember that Christ is still the way back.

THE SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. 1 John 4:14, NIV.

NOT ONLY ARE YOU KNOWN,

A Poem about God

God knows you

With all your flaws,

And He accepts you.

God knows you

With all your trash,

And He esteems you.

God knows you

With all your vice,

And He treasures you.

God knows you

With all your bad,

And He watches for you.

God knows you

With all your sins,

And He loves you.

And since

God knows

That you

Could never find Him

He sent His Son

To die for you

And be the way,

So you could know

Him.

 Adron 6/23/18

You can order your copy directly from the printer and receive the wholesale price. CLICK HERE.