Tough as Nails: Poems Inspired by God

By Karen J Chisholm

The compilation injects a strong dose of humility, helping people come to the realization that they are but part and parcel of the supreme and that, in the grand cosmic sense, humans are miniscule.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bookside Press
• Release date: Apr 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9781990695353

Karen J Chisholm

KAREN J CHISHOLM is a pianist, singer, songwriter, and author retired from a support position in the U.S. Space Program and fromher position as Director of Music Ministries at a local church. She has been a speaker at various ladies' meetings and leads singingoccasionally at her church. Karen has recorded a CD of her original songs entitled I Delight in You which can be heard on YouTube by typing Karen J Chisholm into the search bar.

Book preview

PREFACE

When we wait on God daily and get to know Him, eventually the time is right and God gives direction for those treasures He brings from our innermost being in the quiet time He calls us to. He has placed different gifts in each of us that He calls forth for His purpose at the appointed time.

When I was thirty and had written many songs, I thought I was ready, but God said the time was not yet. He let me know that I would be old when the time came to bring them to the world. So I waited and I wrote and I sang for local churches and anyone who would say yes when I asked them, Hey, would you like to hear the song God gave me?

Then the lyrics began to grow in length and I didn’t hear a melody in the background sometimes, and I put those words away thinking the melody would come later. It never did. Today I know God was doing a much bigger work than I could have believed in myself to accomplish. The songs and poems and written reflections fill stacks of spiral notebooks, and the time is now. The songs are turning into CDs. The poems are turning into books. The reflections will find their own medium in time—blogs, articles, books, whatever.

God’s ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We are called to follow, to take the next step, to keep coming. We don’t know what God is doing, and He has a reason for that. I know I have tried to help many times, and God has graciously cleaned up my messes, set me back on my feet, and kept my feet on the path as I followed Him.

I know these poems will bless you. They have blessed me. Sometimes I just stood on the side and wrote what God was saying. I wasn’t even part of it, but I wrote the words and was amazed. I am still amazed today. And God is getting great glory for Himself.

THE CALL

TOUGH AS NAILS

So you’re tough.

Had to be.

Grew up rough.

Sad to see.

Been around,

Know the score.

Bring it on.

’t’s what I’m for.

Done it all.

Screw the world!

Seen before.

Punches hurled.

Cut and battered

As a kid.

Lived in tattered

Dive and skid.

Done it all,

Smoked and lined.

Hated women

Who were kind.

Prefer only

One-night stand.

Can’t abide

A preacher man.

Don’t come ’round here

Spoutin’ tripe,

Talk forgiveness,

Healin’ stripes.

You ain’t buyin’

Easy grace.

You want ugly,

In-your-face

Truth.

I’m a sinner.

Yeah, so what?

Think you’ll put me

On the spot?

Just stop tryin’

I’m not buyin.

Find someone else,

Someone who quails.

Think again.

I’m tough as nails.

You’re the man,

The one I’ve chosen.

I’ve plans for you

‘Fore life’s door closin.’

I’ve toughened you

For plans I’ve made.

I’ve sharpened too

With Spirit’s blade.

I’m giving you

A brand new heart

And new life too,

A brand new start.

Your life is Mine,

Born in a day

To reach your kind

Because you say,

I’m tough as nails.

My only Son,

My sacrifice.

Condemned, alone,

He paid sin’s price.

He hung and died

For men like you

Whose strength is pride,

Who speak hard truth.

You show you’re tough

By words and deeds.

He stayed the course,

In silence breathed.

Asked Me forgive

All those who killed:

Ignorant men,

Murder hearts filled.

They didn’t know

All life’s from Him.

Their breath, their thoughts,

Even whose their kin.

If they knew,

Their hearts would fail

’Cause the cross proved

He’s tough as nails.

He’s with you now,

Stands toe-to-toe

With you today

To let you know

You’re the man

He died to save,

The one he wants

From this life’s grave.

Look you in the eye

Who without fail

Knows sordid truth,

Is tough as nails.

And so My call

Is on you now

And you won’t run

Or fall and cow.

You’ll meet His gaze,

Honest with sin

And take His grace

And let Him in

And learn this life’s

Hard training trails

Made you His man—

As tough as nails.

ARE YOU THE ONE?

You are an instrument in My skilled hand.

You are the one that I chose.

Writing for Me the words I had planned,

See what I’ll do now with those.

You think the words are too strong, but you know

Easy words just won’t offend.

There’s no alarm when an easy word comes.

Men don’t consider their end.

I’m picking