Inspired: A Book of Poems

By S. M. Anderson

I write rhyming poems that tell stories, expose truths and hopefully inspire. The majority of the poems are spiritually based with feelings and beliefs expressed in rhyme.

Some of the poems explain differences of opinions. Some honor people and their beliefs. Some will make you stop and think. Some are written simply to entertain.

Find a nice quiet place to sit and relax. Read a poem, then stop and reflect on how you interpret its meaning.

"Rude and Crude" was published over ten years ago in Best Poets of the Western World. It is my favorite poem, it's meaning and message reflect what is happening in America today. Don't be the fish...

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jun 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781663228444

S. M. Anderson

Born and raised in Michigan, now retired to Arizona. Grandparent of 9, great-grandparent of 1. This book and all those that follow are my legacy to those children.

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Copyright © 2022 S. M. Anderson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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NLT

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Website

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6632-2845-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-2844-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022908306

iUniverse rev. date: 06/21/2022

CONTENTS

Dedication

Biography

Able with God

A Family Torn

All Days

An Angel

Angels

Army of the Lord

Art

Attitude of Gratitude

Bad News – Good News

Be Brave

Before and After

A Better Life

Bible Study

Blessed

Book of Isaiah

Change

Changing Music

The Chaplain

A Child Lost

A Christian

Christ in Christmas

Christmas

A Church Family

Contrast

Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Yearly

Darkness to Light

Direction and Guidance

Do You Believe in Angels?

The Eagle Soars

Every Day Card

Everything to Me

Everywhere

Faith

Family Evermore

A Father

Feelings

Finding True Faith

The Forest

Freedom

Freedom of Religion

Fulfilled

The Gift

God’s Call

God’s Inspiration

God’s Love

God’s Plan

God Works

Good Times – Bad Times

Gratefulness

Hail Mary

Heaven

Heavens Door

Help, Lord

He Saved Me

His Will

Hope

How Great Thou Art

How Many are Free?

How Many More?

Influence

Inspired

Isaiah 43:2

Is It Near?

It Gets Better

It Only Takes One

Its Wonders

I Want to Go to Heaven

Jim

The Journal

Just A Prophet?

Just Be Kind

Lady’s Bible Study

A Light

Listen Up

The Little Things

Living Free

The Lord is Near

The Lord Speaks

Loss

Lost

Love

Love for A Child

Love is A Commitment

Miracles

Money

Moses

My Epitaph

My Faith

My Faith in God

My Poems

My Refuge

A Needed Change

A New Friend

Never Apart

Night Poems

Noah’s Ark

Now and Then

The Old Man

One Lone Tulip

Our Bells

Our Food Pantry

Our Faith Restored

Our Christmas Wish

Our Church

Our Gift

Our Hymns

Our Retreat

Out of Darkness, Into The Light

Outreach

A Pastor

The Pastor’s Wife

Paul

Peace in Jesus

Peace with God

Pessimist or Optimist?

Power of the Word of God

Prayer of Praise

A Preacher?

Protected

Proverb 22

Religion?

Remain The Same

The Right Road

Retirement

Rude or Crude?

A Satisfying Life

A Senseless Act

Silent Angel

Sodom and Gomorrah

So Many Songs

Someone is Missing

Spirit Versus Flesh

Sunday

Thanksgiving

Thanks Giving

Thanksgiving Day

Three Presents

Tomorrow

Too Soon

To Soar

Total Faith

A True Christian

A True Christian Mother

A True Friend

Trust

Trust & Faith

Unconditional Love

Veterans

The Void

Walk Across The Street

The Wall

We Compromise

What If

What is A Home?

What is Heaven?

When I Go to Heaven

Who Else?

Why Be So Mean?

With God

You Let The Devil In

DEDICATION

To those who inspired me:

Family who stand by me,

Friends from far away and near,

Veterans with their bravery,

Pastors who preach love, not fear.

Strangers who I do not know,

Their faith and hope are so clear.

But most of all my own Lord,

Whose inspiration I hold dear.

BIOGRAPHY

I began writing poetry in 2001. My first poem

was written for a Valentine’s card

My poems began as I reminisced about my life and family;

my grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren.

Eventually my poems became more spiritual. As we attended different

services, I became inspired to write more poems about faith, hope and love.

I became inspired by sermons, bible studies, a bible passage or just life itself.

We eventually retired to Arizona and found our perfect church

and a precious new family. It seemed that inspiration was

everywhere and I continued to write. I am still writing.

It took me past retirement age to begin writing books and

poems, something I studied to do in my early 20’s. God

knew when I was ready and able to fulfill my dreams.

My prayer is that you enjoy these poems and will be

inspired by at least one, if not more, of them.

ABLE WITH GOD

I talked to my son today, he didn’t have much to say.

His blood pressure went so high, passed out; lay facing the sky.

He’s been stressed way too long, doesn’t stop to hear the songs.

Told him to put things in God’s hands, He’s the one who’ll understand.

Said God didn’t pay his bills, that was the reason for his ills.

Told him what he said was true, I have to pay my bills due.

But God made sure I could pay, and blessed me along the way.

I learned to put faith in God, that he’d always do the job.

He’ll see me through, I won’t stress. He’ll always clean up my mess.

My blood pressure is now stable because God made me able.

I trust in Him every day to always show me the way.

A FAMILY TORN

God blessed me with three kids,

Two of them now stay well hid.

Disowned us all, walked away.

Scorned our family’s love that day.

No word now for last eight years.

Grandchildren no longer near.

Tore our family apart,

Broke so many, many hearts.

But our lives are still so full

With son and grandkids who pull

At our heart strings every day.

Always have nice things to